What do you think?  Are they starting to go too far?

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“How to Get a LOT More Done Online – in less time”

As I mentioned before, it took me 2 years to gather the information for this presentation.  You can signup to attend in person here.

However, the organizer (Keith Schilling) has kindly volunteered to make the live Ustream available to all for free.  All you will need to do is click this link.  (Currently it is password protected.  It won’t be that evening.)

I sincerely hope you can attend in person.  But if not, please be near a computer Thursday, March 4 and click the link to watch live.

PS:  The 6:30 time may actually be for networking.  I think the actual presentation will start at 7:00 PM.  I’ll try to confirm that.

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I’m teaching a class on Thursday and Friday specifically about Google AdWords.  I know this stuff and I know how to make money with it.  I’ve been a certified Google AdWords Professional for several years.  I created my first account in 2002 and I still manage that same account and make money with it.

I honestly think that almost every business can make money by spending a specific and budgeted amount on Google AdWords.  I also firmly believe that almost all SEO work should start with a small amount of Google AdWords.  It’s the BEST Keyword Research in the world.  I show how in this class.

It will be held in the training room at our office and I sincerely hope you can make it.  So here’s my offer…

If you come spend 2 days with me learning how to build and/or refine your Google AdWords campaigns, I have two $100 Google AdWords coupons I will give you for free.  You can use them on new accounts.

After the class, you’ll know exactly how to turn them into even more money for your business.

There’s only one catch.  The class costs $299.  But even at that rate, once you get the $200 in coupons, you’re really paying less than $50 per day for training.

I guarrantee it will be worth it to you.  You can register here.

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I’ve got my entire team really focused on this new initiative.  We’ve got a lot of people involved and I need to stay focused to succeed.

As you can imagine, it involves a lot of Internet marketing and I really want us to hit this one out of the park.  So, I’m learning a lot as I go.  In fact, once I’m done I’ll probably teach a new class on the subject and show what we did, including the corresponding results.

Even though we are busy, I will still be doing…

• February 25, 26, 2010 – AdWords Class
• March 4, 2010 – FREE presentation on how to get more done in less time
• March 11, 12, 2010 – SEO Class 

Please check those out.

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Unlike so many, I’m not a floundering marketer or business owner that bounces from one shiny object to another.  I own several e-commerce sites.  I teach and do SEO, Google AdWords, and many other forms of Internet marketing. 

I don’t chase every new thing and I don’t waste a lot of time in Social Media.

In fact, about two and a half years ago, I stopped taking clients.  Why?  I wanted to work more on the businesses and training programs.  I wanted to help my students more and build my own businesses.

Overall, it worked.

My businesses are growing.  And about 100 students have come through our training programs over the last two years or so.  I still keep in touch with many of them.  A lot of them are doing very, very well.  I love hearing from them.

(It’s amazing.  This Internet marketing stuff really works!  But you can’t just learn it. You have to DO it.)

So what’s next?

I’m not satisfied. 

Over these past two years, I know for a certainty that if I could get more done (even just 10% more) each week, I could grow my business more and help my students more.

In fact, let’s think about it another way…

If I could get just 10% more done each week, I could take 10% of the week off.  I could spend it with with my wife and other loved ones, doing the things I want to do.  (There’s life beyond SEO.  At least for me.)

Think about that.  Just 10% of 40 hours per week is a half day off every week!  Do you work 40 hours per week?  More?  Want a half day off to do anything you want? 

Become more efficient!  Get more done in less time.  That’s the key.

I want to share this.

So I did it.  I got more efficient.  How? 

1.  Better processes for getting things done.
2.  Better layout & organization of my work environment.
3.  Lots of miscellaneous tools and tips.
4.  A little piece of software I found.

I’m not kidding.  I’ve been working at this for two and a half years.  I’ve been making notes along the way.  I think I have it down, although it’s not perfect.  And I want to show you.

I’ll do so on March 4.  It’s a free event at downtown Charlotte and I hope to see you there.  More details here.

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We’re not looking to hire, and it’s not a big job.  However, we are doing more and more with Magento in particular.  So, we’d like to have someone local that we can call upon.  

What we need…

Although we have some specific work now, we are really hoping to find someone that we can call upon for years to come as things come up.

For now, we have a couple of specific projects in the pipeline.

One is pretty much done, but we could use a little more help with fine-tuning our product pages and creating more of a custom look for them.

The other site is in need of a new template overall.  We’re entering all the data quickly and will need someone to take the basic ideas we have and create a new overall design and implement it.

As time goes on, we may need some help with designing some of the content-heavy pages also.

Bottom line?  The work will be off and on, but if you are good, fairly quick, and offer a reasonable price, we may work together for a long, long time.

Requirements…

1.  Freelancers only please.  We’re not looking to hire a company, but a person that can be available to help us when we need them (within reason).

2.  You must have experience in working with Magento e-commerce.

NOTE:  We’re primarily looking for a designer, not a programmer.  We have a good programmer on board.  We need a designer, but with some Magento experience.

If you are interested…

Please drop an email to Corey@Hippo-Inc.com.

• Include your basic contact information (or a link to it).
• Include your history & experience in e-commerce web design.
• Include examples of sites you’ve worked on (or a portfolio link)
• Include your typical cost structure.

NOTE:  Please don’t bother calling me.  For those of you that know me, you know why.  If you don’t know me, you can learn why it’s no use calling me on March 4 here.

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But let’s talk about the SEO & Internet Marketing implications.

But first, let’s move beyond just talking about the poorly named iPad.  It’s barely been a week since the announcement and already we’re hearing rumblings about Google making something similar. 

Why not?  Google is turning Chrome into an OS and have already ventured into hardware with the Nexus One!  Check out the images and videos on this page and see what you think of them. 

Personally, I like the idea of having a slim, non-keyboard appliance to browse the Internet and check email on.  It would be a little easier to have something like this near the couch and perhaps even take with me on short non-work trips.  I welcome the idea.  After all, that’s what I use my iPod Touch for and I love it!

Let’s face it, the Internet is not just confined to a desktop or laptop anymore.  It is there.  But it’s also on our phones, our video games, and elsewhere.

How does this affect SEO?  How does it affect your Internet marketing plans and efforts?

This should not surprise you, but search will still be a major part of these methods of using the Internet.  But it may look different.  

Like Google does now, we will start to see much more than just ten links to web pages.  We’ll see links to videos, images, news, social media, etc.  We’ll see personalized results and localized results.  You’ll soon start to see different results on your laptop, your phone, and perhaps even your “pad”.

So your exact ranking for a particular phrase will become even less useful than it is now.  But SEO is not dead.  Do you SEO best practices.  Work your on-page factors and get your links.  But most importantly, just be the best at what you do.

If you’re still staring at PageRank and obsessing over your exact rankings, it’s time to move on.  Start improving your site and being the best at what you do, no matter what it is.  Write intelligently.  Make good content.  Have good prices.  Create quality video content.  Be the best. 

It’s not hard.  But it does take work.  Build a business, not just a search engine ranking.  It’s in your best interests long-term.

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You find the guy that does it best near where you live.  Then, you ask him to create and teach a class on it. 

That’s what I did about one year ago.  Brandon Uttley knows social media marketing.  He has a background in public relations and works for one of the smartest and best marketing agencies in Charlotte.  He lives one town over from me.

So as you can imagine, I was pretty thrilled that he was willing to work with HIPPO Internet Marketing to provide a repeatable class that teaches how to effectively use Facebook and Twitter.  He does not just teach how to build an audience.  He takes it to the next level and teaches how to market effectively to your audience.

This is the only class we teach that has two instructors.  Now that we’ve taught it a few times, Brandon and I (Corey Creed) enjoy taking turns teaching.  I always enjoy it because I can always learn from Brandon.  I’m not kidding.  He knows his stuff.

So how is your social media marketing going?  Are you using it effectively?  Or do you sometimes feel like it is using you?

Our next class is coming up quick.  I hope you’ll join Brandon and I.  For two days, we’re not just using social media.  We’re going to teach social media MARKETING!

(Visit http://ow.ly/YkCr to register.)

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The SEO students came from a wide variety of backgrounds and had some excellent questions. 

They seemed to enjoy the class.  In fact, the night it ended I got this email from a local Mooresville web developer that attended…

Dear Corey,

I just wanted to drop you a little note to let you know that I am 100% satisfied with the content covered within your search optimization class and the way in which you went over it. 

You outlined the material in a significant and relevant way as we would need to understand the main elements or “best practices revealed”.  Your Question and Answer Sessions were incredibly insightful!

The  resource book you provide is a very detailed and helpful tool which we’ll all be able to refer back to throughout our Internet marketing careers.  I especially love the way you remind us to keep the users in mind as we do our improvements and not focus on trying to get over the search engines.  Fact is, we are not trying to get a robot to buy our client’s product or service, but an actual person. 

Another thing I would like to commend you on is your hospitality.  Your class was in a very comfortable setting, with a comfortable amount of people (not overcrowded) and beverages and snacks were an added treat!  You have made the whole learning experience very enjoyable and I look forward to the opportunity to attend more of your classes. 

Lisa

Our next class will be on Social Media Marketing.  As a reminder, you can see the entire schedule of upcoming Internet Marketing Classes here.

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The panelists were:

• Jennifer Appleby, President & CEO of Wray Ward
• Ronnie Bryant, President & CEO of Charlotte Regional Partnerships
• Michael Burch, VP of marketing at Speedway Motorsports Inc
• Sara Garces, Owner & CEO of Red F Marketing
• Craig Nadler, VP Marketing for the Carolinas, AT&T Mobility
• * Ritch Allison, Partner at Bain & Company, Atllant

* = Moderator

Each local association introduced their organization and one of the panelists.  So the introductions alone are taking about a half hour. 

I had the pleasure of sitting at the same table with a couple people from Lyerly Agency.  (Good people.)

We’re starting with some overview comments by each panelist…

JA – She is energized by the good turnout.  (I am loosely counting about 200 attendees here.)  She says that this past year we have never worked so hard to make so little money.  Everyone seems to agree.  She is excited about the new tools available and feels 2010 will be about elevating to a new level of creativity and using the new tools.  “New Media” is no longer new.

RB – He markets the local area to businesses nationally and internationally looking to move here.

MB – He explains that a local company recently invested in a local marketing company.  They spent $40K and made $400K.  So marketing is working.

SG & CN – Added other positive comments.

RA – (Moderator) Showed some slides about the current economy.  Here are some highlights… 

This is the first time we have had a GLOBAL economic problem.  Global GDP growth is negative.  That will not completely get back to normal until 2011. 

Household income growth will remain weak for another year.  Unemployment was huge in the last 18 months.  This first quarter is showing improvement but it will take several years to recover.

This year will have very slow growth.  Outside capital will be difficult to obtain.

The opportunities?  Growth tends to be slower, but stable.  Like curves on a racetrack, economic turbulance creates more opportunities for passing others.  Similar to racing, slowing down into the curve sets up the best opportunity to accelerate out of the curve.

His advice? 

• Stay on track
• Anticipate unpredictable curves
• Pass with prudence
• Tune the innovation engine
• Strenthen teaming skills
• Mobilize a winning crew

More specifically, regarding marketing…

• Build cross platform campaigns
• Align spend with strategy and target customers
• Set very clear marketing objectives
• Continue to innovate and try new approaches to reaching your customer
• Measure effectiveness and invest where returns are highest
• Establish marketing based on ROI

Now we turn back to the panelists.

What about Charlotte, specifically?  RB says there is a world of difference here in Charlote.  We have never in this region stopped having announcements of businesses moving here.  This region is solid.  The physical aspects of the benefits of this area did not change in the down economy.  The weather is great.  We are centrally located to the rest of the country.  We have the 9^th busiest airport in this country.

JA says there is a lot of mommentum in moving to Charlotte and that is getting national publicity.  It is getting easier to recruit creative individuals.

MB says out of chaos comes opportunity and the current situation challenges us.

How have consumers changed?  CN (from AT&T) says we have seen that deep discounts are now the norm, especially in holiday season spending.  People also spend at the very last minute.  People are looking more toward integrated devices like iPhones.  Data minutes are getting much larger than voice minutes.  Mobile is gaining stregth over land lines.

SG says consumers have drastically changed their mobile phone behavior.  It is the new touchpoint from a marketing standpoint.  You NEED to be thinking about how you can reach people on their mobile devices.  The phone is becoming the TV and Computer.  (AMEN!  You said it.  I agree 100%.  We’ve heard it before, but this year really is the year of the mobile phone computer.)

She adds that hispanics are a consumer group that is best reached via mobile.  Other traditional pieces are important as well.

MB adds that people are looking for value.  Sports fans in particular are still responding and spending, but they want the best value.  Many people wait until the weather comes out before buying.  They need to incentivise those that buy early.  There are still dollars to be had.  But you have to give deals to the early buyers and allow buyers to purchase at the last minute.

JA adds that the consumers are changing the rules.  They DEMAND value.  They determine how they want to be communicated to, not the marketer.

RB says that decisions by consumers are determined by cost now more than ever.  So businesses must cut costs and provide value.

How do you communicate value?  How does it change your marketing message?  MB says he spends time educating consumers.  As marketers, our responsibility is educating the consumer.  Best value is not lowest cost.  We spend time educating people and showing how we are different and not just a commodity.  We spend a lot of time on that.

SG says her businesses are spending their marketing dollars educating consumers.  Consumers expect that.  They know they can compare companies.  They don’t have to leave their home, just use Google.  At the end of the day, all businesses want to know the ROI from their agency.

What about media?  What is your view of Social Media?  JA says it is a revolution.  It is here to stay.  It will always be part of the marketing mix.  Services like Twitter will lead, but may die out.  Customers are ringing the phone off the hook to determine how to use it.

Social media is the next evolution of word of mouth.  It used to be that experiences were shared with their family and friends.  Now they share with the global economy.  Social media is somewhat sexy to marketers, but it really is here to stay.  Companies need to embrace it.  Don’t just dip your toe in it.  That will be a Pandora’s box.  You need to do it full force and be committed to it.

MB says that social media is just tools to have dialogue with customers.  Don’t be cheesy.  Be meaningful.  At some time that relationship will monetize itself.  It may not directly monetize and provide ROI.

JA says the ability to listen is fantastic.  She says:  Our Social Media expert at Wray Ward calls it “Word of Mouse”.  (Hey Brandon Uttley, that’s MY LINE!!  You got that from ME!)  She adds that companies are expected to respond.  So if you get involved, be prepared to listen and reply.

[HAHA!!  Scott Harrington just took a picture of me blogging and posted it.]

JA is being asked which companies use Social media effectively?  Is B2C the only businesses that it works in?  She’s giving good answers.  She says her customers are asking for it.  She is clearly very proud of her “social media expert”.  Go Brandon!

MB chimes in.  He admits that he is a dinosaur, but is not convinced that Social media is worth the time.  (Don’t laugh.  He’s got a point there.)

SG says social media is good but (somewhat mockingly) we are not seeing any “VP of Facebook and Twitter” titles yet.  CN says that if you do it, you get powerful feedback.  The entire organization needs to be on board.  She also says that highly regulated companies really need to be careful with what they say online on social media. 

JA adds that many businesses are afraid to give consumers that opportunity to take over their brand.  It is a tough thing to do for many.

What about new media.  Is print dead?  CN says print is not dead – yet.  It needs to evolve or it may go that way.  The Internet changes what media needs to be.  MB says print may be dead but reading is not.  (That sounds obvious, but it’s a good point.)

That seems to be the end of it all.  Thanks to all the panelists and organizations that sponsored it.  Very nice program.

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