Beacon Marketing & Communication Strategies

Here are two great articles regarding Facebook Pages / Groups.  I believe in this synopsis by Mashable’s Howard Greestein.

Groups are great for organizing on a personal level and for smaller scale interaction around a cause.  Pages are better for brands, businesses, bands, movies, or celebrities who want to interact with their fans or customers without having them connected to a personal account, and have a need to exceed Facebook’s 5,000 friend cap.

via Facebook Pages vs Facebook Groups: What’s the Difference?.

2nd Article. http://www.searchenginejournal.com/facebook-group-vs-facebook-fan-page-whats-better/7761/

Data from ComScore, for March 2009, has Google at 63.7 percent of all Internet searches conducted in the United States. Yahoo is a distant second at 20.5 percent, with Microsoft at 8.3 percent, the Ask Network at 3.8 percent and AOL at 3.7 percent.

Google is in no danger. The research firm Hitwise submitted search engine traffic data for April that suggests Google’s lead in the market continues to widen. According to Hitwise, nearly 73 percent of all online searches in the U.S. in April were through Google. Yahoo clocked in for April at 16.27 percent, Microsoft’s MSN Search claimed 5.68 percent and Ask.com claimed 3.95 percent.

Listed below is a list of reputable companies that we’ve worked with and recommend.

Art

Company: All is Well
Tagline: Products that honor age, wear and tear, the imperfect, singular and simply made.
Phone: 615-650-5281
Email: ginny@alliswell.biz
Location: Nashville, TN
Web Site: http://alliswell.biz
Web Site Designed and Maintained by Beacon Marketing

Company: Beacon Photography
Tagline: Finding Beauty
Contact: John Munson
Phone: (617) 848-8299
Email: john@beaconphotos.com
Location: Winthrop, MA
Web Site: http://beaconphotos.com/
Web Site Designed and Maintained by Beacon Marketing

Business Consulting Services

Company: Beacon Marketing
Tagline: Your Holistic Marketing Partner Specializing in Web Design and Online Marketing
Contact: John Munson & Betsy Shane
Phone: (617) 848-8299
Email: info@beaconmarketing.biz
Location: Winthrop, MA
Web Site: http://beaconmktg.biz
Web Site Designed and Maintained by Beacon Marketing

Company: K McCarty Consulting
Tagline: Improving Your Enviornment
Contact: Kathryn McCarty
Phone: (202)-550-2461
Email: kathryn@kmccartyconsulting.com
Location: Arlington, VA
Web Site: http://kmccartyconsulting.com/
Web Site Designed and Maintained by Beacon Marketing

Company: Next Stage Solutions
Tagline: Your outsourced strategic CFO partner
Phone: (781)-929-9125
Email: info@nextstagesolutions.com
Location: Lexington, MA
Web Site: http://www.nextstagesolutions.com
Web Site Designed and Maintained by Beacon Marketing

Company: Zelos, Inc.
Tagline: Strategically effecting change
Contact:  Lou O’Boyle
Phone: (877)-88ZELOS
Email: info@zelosinc.com
Location: Midlothian, VA
Web Site: http://www.zelosinc.com
Web Site Designed and Maintained by Beacon Marketing

Education

Company: Grammar Graphics
Tagline: The Manipulative Language Programs
Contact: Ginny Speaks
Phone: (615)-650-5281
Email: ginny@grammargraphics.com
Location: Nashville, TN
Web Site: http://grammargraphics.com
Web Site Designed and Maintained by Beacon Marketing

Company: The Learning Circle
Tagline: For infants, toddlers and children up to 7 years of age
Contact: Julie
Phone: (617)-628-8884
Email: julie@thelearningcircle.org
Location: Somerville, MA
Web Site: http://thelearningcircle.org
Web Site Designed and Maintained by Beacon Marketing

Home Improvement

Company: 3D Landscape Design
Tagline: Bringing your visions to reality using 3D imagery
Phone: (863) 899-2027
Email: info@3dlandscape.biz
Location: Marion, NC
Web Site: http://3dlandscape.biz/
Web Site Designed and Maintained by Beacon Marketing

Company: Curtains Plus Custom Blinds
Tagline: Trusted Window Professionals For Over 25 Years
Contact: Frank Monteleone
Phone: (617) 846-8066
Email: info@customblinds.us
Location: Boston, MA
Web Site: http://customblinds.us/
Web Site Designed and Maintained by Beacon Marketing

Company: North Shore Pump and Motor Inc.
Tagline: Pump and motor service providing rebuilds abd repairs, on-site diagnosis, and 24-hour service.
Contact: Michael Levins
Phone: (617) 846-2210
Email: mike@northshorepump.com
Location: Winthrop, MA
Web Site: http://northshorepump.com/
Web Site Designed and Maintained by Beacon Marketing

Company: Tropical Temptations Landscaping
Tagline: Featuring 3-D landscape design
Contact: Tammy Meadows
Phone: (863)-528-2894
Email: info@tropicallandscape.biz
Location: Auburndale, FL
Web Site: http://www.tropicallandscape.biz
Web Site Designed and Maintained by Beacon Marketing

Personal

Company: Debbie and Rafael
Tagline: Our wedding web site
Contact: Rafael Lora & Debbie Ingraham
Phone: (978)-828-1404
Email: lorar2@aol.com
Location: Revere, MA
Web Site: http://debbieandrafael.com
Web Site Designed and Maintained by Beacon Marketing

Company:Tommy Dadmun
Tagline: Axiom music site
Contact: Tommy Dadmun
Email: td@tommydadmun.com
Location: Brighton, MA
Web Site: http://tommydadmun.com/
Web Site Designed and Maintained by Beacon Marketing

Professional Services

Company:717Image.com
Tagline: Makeup on location
Contact: Lisa Roche
Phone: 781-913-6736
Email: lisa@717image.com
Location: Boston, MA
Web Site: http://717image.com
Web Site Designed and Maintained by Beacon Marketing

Company:Back in Motion
Tagline: Rehabilitation and mobility through muscular therapy
Contact: Colleen
Phone: (617)-686-8515
Email: colleen@backinmotion.info
Location: Boston, MA
Web Site: http://backinmotion.info
Web Site Designed and Maintained by Beacon Marketing

Company: Beacon Photography
Tagline: Finding Beauty
Contact: John Munson
Phone: (617) 848-8299
Email: john@beaconphotos.com
Location: Winthrop, MA
Web Site: http://beaconphotos.com/
Web Site Designed and Maintained by Beacon Marketing

Company: McGee Chiropractic
Tagline: Chiropractic treatment for your special needs
Contact: Paul McGee D.C.
Phone: (617) 846-4553
Email: info@mcgeefamilychiropratic.com
Location: Winthrop, MA
Web Site: http://mcgeefamilychiropractic.com
Web Site Designed and Maintained by Beacon Marketing

Company: Roman Limousine
Tagline: Experience the greatness
Contact: Julian Tacu
Phone: (857)-928-5105
Email: info@romanlimousine.com
Location: Somerville, MA
Web Site: http://romanlimousine.com/
Web Site Designed and Maintained by Beacon Marketing

Company: Simplicity Chef
Tagline: Simplifying your life one meal at a time.
Contact: Joe Letteri, Executive Chef and Owner
Phone: (617) 742-1196
Email: info@simplicitychef.com
Location: Boston, MA
Web Site: http://simplicitychef.com
Web Site Designed and Maintained by Beacon Marketing

Company: Carl W. Stinson Inc.
Tagline: Auctioneers and appraisers since 1960
Contact: Douglass W. Stinson
Phone: (617) 834-3819
Email: dstinsonantiques@comcast.net
Location: Reading, MA
Web Site: http://stinsonauctions.com
Web Site Designed and Maintained by Beacon Marketing

Retail

Company: Mercato del Mare
Tagline: The North End Fish Market
Contact: Elizabeth Ventura and Keri Cassidy
Phone: 857-362-7477
Email: info@northendfish.com
Location: Boston, MA 02113
Web Site: http://northendfish.com
Web Site Designed and Maintained by Beacon Marketing

Real Estate

Company: CarolineLigotti.com
Tagline: Specializing in Commercial and Residential Real Estate
Contact: Caroline Ligotti
Phone: 617-515-2728
Email: caroline.ligotti@otisahearn.com
Location: Boston, MA 02113
Web Site: http://carolineligotti.com

Sports

Organization: Cambridge Arsenal
Tagline: North Cambridge Soccer Team
Contact: Tim Mayer
Phone: NA
Email: info@cambridgearesenal.com
Location: Cambridge, MA 02113
Web Site: http://CambridgeArsenal.com
Web Site Designed and Maintained by Beacon Marketing

For anyone listening to all the doom and gloom pundits out there, it important to note that online marketing, specifically search engine advertising, is still growing and proving to be very successful. In the article linked below, you will see there was 21.4% growth in 2008 and 15% growth expected in 2009, despite the economic recession. This growth is a result of companies all across the US understanding the value of online marketing, some spending over $200,000 in search ads per month.

US Search Advertising Spending Growth, 2007-2013 (% change)

While US search advertising is still expected to grow 14.9% in 2009 to $12.3 billion, that rate is down from 21.4% in 2008, according to eMarketer. For 2010 through 2013, search ad spending growth estimates are choppy.

via US Search Ad Spending Falters? – eMarketer.

For anyone who missed our Online Marketing presentation/seminar at the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce in September 2008, or anyone who needs help with their marketing strategy, here is some important information about online marketing from Beacon Marketing. To view the full presentation click link at bottom of post.

• A 1993 report by Coopers & Lybrand and Business Science International concluded that “Businesses that maintain aggressive marketing programs during a recession outperform companies that rely more on cost cutting measures. A strong marketing program enables a firm to solidify its customer base, take business away from less aggressive competitors, and positions itself for future growth during the recovery.” Many additional research studies support that claim and we recommend you do the same.
• Despite the down economy and looming recession, online marketing is growing. US Internet advertising revenues for the first half of 2008 were $11.5 billion, reaching another half -year record that represents a 15.2 % increase over the first half of 2007, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB).
• So what is online marketing? There are numerous options which can make it confusing but most of them fall within the following groups: Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Email marketing, Affiliate and Link programs, Display Ads and Rich Media and Comparison Shopping. If you are still confused read our presentation at http://beaconmarketing.biz/map.
• There are many advantages to online marketing since it is often inexpensive, very effective in generating leads and sales, and can be tracked to determine ROI. There are also free options such as emailing clients, posting messages onto forums and blogs, and getting listed in free directories.
• Online Marketing is also very useful for small local businesses since you can geo-target your ads. For example, we’ve launched successful online Pay Per Click campaigns for a private chef, several types of contractors, a preschool, and a chiropractor.
• Despite the myriad of options, the first step of any online marketing campaign is a good web site. It must be easy to navigate, visually appealing, with a clear call to action (usually to order something or to make an appointment). But to dispel a online myth, “if you build it they will not come”. You must drive traffic to your site. You can choose from several options based on your budget and time.
• So don’t let the down economy get you down; beat the odds by going online.
• You can download the PPT presentation here or at:  Online Marketing Map Presentation

CEO and Co-Founder of eMarketer, Geoff Ramsey, makes a good point about staying positive during tough economic times. It is important not to get caught up in the constant doom and gloom reported on the news. He provides some common sense tips on how to stay positive and persevere during these hard times.  It is our belief that companies that expand their marketing reach now and adapt to current times will be the winners that prosper during the future recovery.  See Geoff Ramsey’s article and sensible tips by clicking the link below:

Commentary from Geoff Ramsey: How Staying Positive Is Good for Business – eMarketer.

• Easy to Navigate
• Visually Appealing
• Well Optimized for Search Engines and Social Networks
• Quick Call to Action
• Measurable Results – i.e. sales, leads, subscribers
• Easy to Update – client can add, edit or delete
• Content Rich – i.e. blogs, RSS feeds