The court ruling is based on the fact that Telstra could not prove that they were the “identifiable authors” of the information.

The ramifications of this ruling is that open source databases can no longer be restricted for use by anyone who wishes to employ such databases.

On the other hand databases where it can be proven that the compiled information is “In-House” and used In-House could be secured by copyright.

Needless to say Telstra is appealing the court ruling. The history of such appeals does not favour Telstra. However, regardless of any future appeal the door has been opened by the Federal Court for the use of such information as supplied in the Yellow and White Pages.

This past week Jack Loneragan and his team met with business owners and executives all across the island of Oahu. They discussed Digital Cartel’s proven online and Google driven marketing solutions and how they can be implemented into the Hawaii marketplace. Digital Cartel is now serving 10 businesses in the state of Hawaii and handful scattered across the mainland states.

Jack and his A-Team will be returning to Hawaii in March were they will begin prepping for a small tour into the heartland of the United States. Digital Cartel is a collaborator with a Hawaii based green business Envirotech BioSolutions. Together they have created a green business platform that offers a turn-key business opportunity for the would be “Green Entrepreneur”.

The Problem (Before we came along)

FCCC had a database in Micorsoft Outlook of some 3,500 people that they had met over many years working in this industry. Some of those (we didn’t know how many) had email address’ and FCCC wanted to contract them to raise our profile so they would think about FCCC, ring up, and use FCCC services so that FCCC would MAKE MORE MONEY!!!!

FCCC had thought about sending an email from within Outlook™ but that was doomed before they started.

And then we met Jack…..

The Solution

Digital Cartel have provided FCCC with a platform to migrate the 1200 contacts with email address’s to a platform that can email them. In addition D.C has set up the templates and different formats that was needed to contact them specifically when FCCC needed, whether it be interest rate changes or the principal’s musing.

FCCC branded Email Newsletters

The Outcome

FCCC now have an active database of 1200 people whom they email at least monthly with the principal’s musing, interest rate changes etc. This has resulted in FCCC selling 5 more products that they would of and also put FCCC at the forefront of so many minds with comments coming back from lots of people agreeing, commenting or sharing other information. The only thing it lacks is more time from the client so they could do more and more…

Project

Build an interactive website for Queensland Racing’s ‘QTIS 600′

Overview

To develop an online presence within their industry by building a new website and implementing search engine optimisation.

Coordinating the elements

Dealing with such a large organisation as Queensland Racing, Digital Cartel had to coordinate all the elemnets of design, development and implementation through many board meetings and different departments. Digital Cartel did this by developing project management that was transparent; it was anticipated that the Client will see the results and not experience the internal workings as too many departments were involved. QTIS 600 was given a full understanding as to the progress of the project at all times.

Project

‘Brand Central’ for Biofest 2010

Overview

Implement and develop a brand as well as a traditional and online presence for the erosion and sediment industry in Australia. After the brand management was implemented, Digital Cartel was assigned the setup and marketing of the conferences themselves nationally.

Coordinating the elements

Biofest 2010 was a startup idea and the brainchild of the leaders in the erosion and sediment industry. Because it was a startup, Digital Cartel had to start from scratch. From logo design all the way through to brand awareness. For Digital Cartel to manage this project we had to break the project up into unique elements… Design, research, event management, development, marketing and strategy. By breaking it up we were able to manage the project more efficiently and deliver the project in the short amount of time that was given to us.

Staying in Touch

Traditionally this industry has not moved into the email and communication arena as quickly as most other industries. So Digital Cartel has implemented tried and true practices of staying in touch and getting potential delegates to the conferences. Digital Cartel built a database of local councils, developers, landscape architects, landscapers and installers and used these companies to spread the word about the Biofest conference. Also for brand awareness, we initiated traditional print ads as well as cost per click advertising so wherever potential delegates looked within their field and industry; Biofest was the first thing they saw!

Project

Eagle Exports online sourcing for the Pacific Islands www.eagle-exports.com

Overview

Digital Cartel had to develop and build a web presence for todays market and technology using applications that work in the Pacific Islands.

Coordinating The Elements

With the majority of the Pacific Islands still using ‘dial up’ internet services, Digital Cartel had to develop a web presence that was simple yet visually stimulating to get Eagle Exports message across. Digital Cartel implemented a website that was fast to load, easy to read (in all languages) and got the potential customers what they needed in the shortest amount of time. To do all of this we had to go back to basics and build a website that was a lot harder with intricacies that haven’t been used in development for quite some time. After putting all of these elements together we had to get it out to the companies and general population of the Pacific Islands. We did this with Google Adwords. Anything that the Islanders searched for; Eagle Exports website and ads would come up first online!

Staying In Touch

Eagle Exports is a well established procurement company and after 16 years of service to the Pacific Islands they had amassed a healthy database. Digital Cartel was then asked to communicate with Eagle Exports database to inform them of new and exciting products that they were offering. In doing so and using templates that were imaginative and informative, Digital Cartel has grown Eagle Exports four fold!

Project

Online branding and marketing for V2i

Overview

To develop an online presence within their industry by building a new website, implementing search engine optimisation as well as connecting with past, current and potential clients worldwide.

Coordinating The Elements

Digital Cartel had to implement all the online platforms for V2i. We started with research and a focus group in their industry to come up with the best and most visual design for their website that would be aesthetically pleasing as well as keep customers on their site longer. We then developed email templates that would drive traffic to V2i in all forms; to their website and to the phones. Thus creating more work for V2i globally. Finally we had to clean, wash and build a database for V2i.

Staying In Touch

After creating V2i’s online marketing solution and developing visual and informative material we managed to increase their client base in a matter of months. With the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) in full swing in 2009 and it affecting the building and development industries harder than most, our work was cut out for us. We had to develop a campaign that invoked trust and commitment to the industry in the shortest amount of time without lowering the high standards that V2i work in.

Business executives around the world are optimistic about next year, according to the “2010 Marketing Trends Survey” from StrongMail. Nearly nine in 10 plan to increase or maintain their marketing budgets, and one-half expect their customers to be spending more in the coming year.

Combining social media and e-mail marketing is a growing trend.

More than four in 10 business executives said integrating the two tactics was one of their most important e-mail marketing initiatives for 2010, just after improving performance and targeting and growing opt-in lists.

Around one-quarter of respondents had already implemented an integrated strategy, and another 24% had formulated a strategy and were researching how to put it in practice. But 18% of business executives wanted to add social components into their e-mail campaigns and did not know where to begin.

Even after getting initiatives off the ground, success can be difficult to achieve—and measure. Although 42% of executives reported a lift in campaign performance after integrating social and e-mail, 35% saw no improvement, and 23% did not know how to measure their results.

“While an unprecedented number of companies look to integrate email and social media in 2010, the data shows that companies need to adopt new tools and strategies to properly measure and monetize their efforts,” cautioned Bill Wagner, executive vice president of business operations at StrongMail, in a statement.