Monthly Archives: March 2009

Posting to your WordPress Blog

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Categories: How To Do It

Posting to your WordPress Blog

At RedFusion Media we most commonly use WordPress to power your Blog. WordPress is a fairly straight forward program. Below are a few links to help walk you through the posting process.

Introduction to Blogging
http://codex.wordpress.org/Introduction_to_Blogging

Writing a Post
http://codex.wordpress.org/Writing_Posts

WordPress Lessons
http://codex.wordpress.org/WordPress_Lessons

WordPress Login.  In most cases, we will have given you a username and password to login. If you have lost it, please contact support.

ADDY’s Awarded to Redfusion Media

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Categories: Uncategorized
Multi-media package for San Bernardino County Museum’s Hall of Geological Wonders wins big.
To view all of RedFusion Media’s ADDY award-winning entries, visit http://www.redfusionmedia.com/art_2009_addy_awards.html
 
REDLANDS, CA - RedFusion Media™, the Inland Empire’s leading web development and marketing content company, received top honors at the 2009 American Advertising Federation-Inland Empire ADDY® Award Gala on March 20, 2009, at Victoria Gardens Cultural Center, located in Rancho Cucamonga.
The RedFusion Media team received the coveted Judges’ Special Award. Selected from all of this year’s Gold ADDY award recipients, and judged as having best overall copywriting and art direction, the award honors the development presentation package created to promote the funding of exhibits in the new San Bernardino County Museum’s Hall of Geographical Wonders. Only one award of this kind was given this year.
Representing creative excellence in the advertising industry, with over 60,000 annual entries received nationally, the ADDY® Awards are the undeniably the world’s largest, toughest, and most prestigious advertising competition. The Awards recognize creative excellence and execution within all types of advertising media, and serve over 50,000 professionals in the advertising industry, represented by 200 American Advertising Federation clubs and 15 districts.
The project also received a Gold ADDY Award in the category of Advertising for Arts and Sciences, collateral materials. Sharing the honors for both the Judges’ Special and Gold Awards for Arts and Sciences were project team members: Ron Burgess, art direction; Molly Burgess, copywriting; Cindy Barents and Jeff Robertson, graphic design; Vincent Sanchez, Flash; Margaret Rippetue, publication management; Eric Shorett, Crown Printing, San Bernardino and Rex Williamson, Good Impressions Printing, Tempe Arizona.
Molly Burgess, General Manager of RedFusion Media received the impressive crystal trophies on behalf of the company’s team. When interviewed about receiving the awards, Burgess stated, “We are very pleased to receive these awards, and to receive this recognition by the advertising industry for our work. We share these awards with our clients, who continue to give us the opportunity to create original solutions to fulfill their marketing needs.”
Other wins for the company include the Riverside Mission Inn website; Eagle Land and Sea website received a silver award for Flash. Webmasters and designers honored for their contribution to these websites include RedFusion Media team members Jon Burgess, Rich Rutledge, Michael Scott Burgess, Aaron Webre, and Vincent Sanchez. Also winning in the mixed media campaign for “Footsteps in Your Field,” an advertising campaign for AvoTerra™ by Index Fresh™, Inc., a leading avocado distributor, with credits to Ron Burgess, Molly Burgess, Cindy Barents, Margaret Rippetue, and Eric Shorett, Crown Printers of San Bernardino.
The annual awards event was presented by the American Advertising Federation, Inland Empire, in the first level of the three-tier competition. At the second level of the contest, local winners compete against winners from 15 other District competitions. The final tier represents the national level of the ADDY® awards. An affiliate member of the American Advertising Federation (AAF), the AAF-IE works to enhance the visibility and to support the growth of the advertising community within the Inland Empire.
Helping clients tell their stories, RedFusion Media™ provides friendly customer service as they steer clients through the complexities of website design, intuitive navigation, search engine optimized (SEO) website copy, and online advertising strategies.
Services for small businesses and non-profit organizations nationwide include: Internet marketing consulting, web design, SEO consulting, content development, website content management, copywriting and editing, RSS Feed services, Blog installations and training, self-posting web tools, targeted advertising campaigns; rich-media design (flash, video, audio); public relations, print design and print management.
RedFusion Media maintains InlandEmpire.US, the top-ranked regional website, providing RSS feed services; Redlandsweb.com for All Things Redlands; and RedlandsWeddingGuide.com. For more information, visit RedfusionMedia.com.
To view all of RedFusion Media’s ADDY award-winning entries, visit http://www.redfusionmedia.com/art_2009_addy_awards.html
 
Contact:
Molly Burgess, General Manager
RedFusion Media™
909-798-7092

Outbound Blacklisting of Email

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Categories: Email Practices

Over just the past few weeks, we have had a distinct escalation of outbound emails being blocked.  This has happened to a number of clients, using various Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and with large email providers.

The causes seem to vary, but boil down to two main issues.

  1. SPAM is being received by networks, thus the receiving network blocks not only the domains that sent the email, but the IP address, and in somecases ranges of IP addresses, and even whole networks.
  2. Filters are become more proactive, scanning for SPAM on the outbound emails, not just the inbound emails.

We recently had an issue where the our email provider for most of our clients, Everyone.net, was blocked by some of the largest email receivers in the world. All caused by a few bad apples.  The blacklist was noticed by a number of clients and took more than 12 hours to fix.

“The blacklist by Hotmail, MSN and Earthlink has been lifted and all issues resolved. Everyone.net cleared and locked all accounts causing the blacklisting this morning by approximately 9:30 am PT. While Everyone.net worked with Microsoft to clear the block, Microsoft temporarily rate limited Everyone.net. All emails sent that did not receive a non-deliverable error message will be delivered.”

What can you do?

Well, don’t SPAM….. most of you do not, and we have found over the last few issues, that a real SPAMMERS have probably caused the problems.  There is nothing we can really do about that, so with most of the problems we have seen, we are at the mercy of the larger networks to fix the problem.

Make sure you have SPAM, VIRUS, FISHING, SPYWEAR, protection on all of your computers.  If you get a virus, they want to multiply, and many time that means they will SPAM out of your email box.

Make sure to have an internal email policy for your staff, so that your company doesn’t accidently get blacklisted. Suggestions for Your Company’s Email Policy

Send out “clean” emails. We have had a few situations where outbound emails were being blocked by filters because their “signature block” had too much custom coding.  Suggestions on formating your Email Signature block.

Forwarding a Domain Using GoDaddy

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Categories: Hosting How To Do It

To forward domains registered through GoDaddy.com, first go to the following address: http://www.godaddy.com/default.aspx

Next, login with your username and password. Once logged in, click on the “My Domain Names” or “Domain Manager” link. This will open a page with all of your domains listed. You will do the following process for each domain that you wish to forward.

Click on the name of the domain. You will see all information for the domain listed on this page. Look for a section titled “Forwarding” with a link beneath that should read, “Domain is not forwarded.”  Click on this link. A box will open at the top of the page, select the “Forwarding” tab. Check the box that says “Enable Forwarding.” This will allow you to enter the URL that you want your domain to redirect to into the “Forward To:” field. Select the box that says “301 Moved Permanently” and click “OK.” These changes may take a bit to process so check back at the domain periodically.

As Much Time Online as at Work?

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Categories: Business

Neilsen Online reports online activity monthly. The Current Global Index says we spend 36 hours a month online (down from 37) November 08 compared with October 08.  The average person visited 72 different domains each month. See more below. Or check the website.

Month of November 08, Panel Type: Home
November 08 October 2008 % Growth
Sessions/Visits per Person per Month 36 37 -2.22
Domains Visited per Person per Month 72 72 +0.47
Web Pages per Person per Month 1,594 1,600 -0.33
Page Views per Surfing Session 43 42 +2.16
PC Time Spent per Month 37:06:49 38:07:33 -2.66
Time Spent During Surfing Session 1:02:19 1:02:36 -0.44
Duration of a Web Page Viewed 0:00:50 0:00:50 +0.72
Active Digital Media Universe 375,520,162 366,579,976 +2.44
Current Digital Media Universe Estimate 552,694,455 544,618,961 +1.48

 
Month of November 08, Panel Type: Home
November 08 October 2008 % Growth
Sessions/Visits per Person per Month 36 37 -2.22
Domains Visited per Person per Month 72 72 +0.47
Web Pages per Person per Month 1,594 1,600 -0.33
Page Views per Surfing Session 43 42 +2.16
PC Time Spent per Month 37:06:49 38:07:33 -2.66
Time Spent During Surfing Session 1:02:19 1:02:36 -0.44
Duration of a Web Page Viewed 0:00:50 0:00:50 +0.72
Active Digital Media Universe 375,520,162 366,579,976 +2.44
Current Digital Media Universe Estimate 552,694,455 544,618,961 +1.48

 
Month of November 08, Panel Type: Home
November 08 October 2008 % Growth
Sessions/Visits per Person per Month 36 37 -2.22
Domains Visited per Person per Month 72 72 +0.47
Web Pages per Person per Month 1,594 1,600 -0.33
Page Views per Surfing Session 43 42 +2.16
PC Time Spent per Month 37:06:49 38:07:33 -2.66
Time Spent During Surfing Session 1:02:19 1:02:36 -0.44
Duration of a Web Page Viewed 0:00:50 0:00:50 +0.72
Active Digital Media Universe 375,520,162 366,579,976 +2.44
Current Digital Media Universe Estimate 552,694,455 544,618,961 +1.48

42% of Internet users say they are motivated to begin an online search after viewing a television ad

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Categories: Advertising SEO - Natural Search
motivated to begin an online search after viewing a television ad.A new study of the web and TV ads indicates that a company’s website may be the benefactor of some “organic” traffic from TV advertising. While recalling an ad is difficult for most potential buyers, in increasing numbers many make online searches after seeing an ad that peaks their interest in a product.

This is a great by-product of your TV advertising. But, does the prospect find YOUR site? Add Pay-per-click search advertising and capture those prospects searching for you. Call Jon or Molly (909)798-7092 to discuss how we can assist your targeted online ads.

Television advertising and search advertising support each other, increasing their effectiveness and your results. The best advertising campaigns often involve a mix of TV advertising and Search.

“Not every consumer (who watches a TV spot) is going to call now or go online to find more. But instead, they organically “remember” the next day and then decide to search about whatever the TV commercial stimulated,” stated Lynn Fantom, CEO, Interpublic Group’s ID Media.

This information and research was provided by SpotRunner.com

Contact: Ronald L. Burgess, 909-798-7092
104 East State Street, Suite P
Redlands, CA 92373

Television advertising and search advertising support each other.

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Author:
Categories: Advertising

Exerpts for our full article on RedFusionMedia.com

A new study of the web and TV ads indicates that a company’s website may be the benefactor of some “organic” traffic from TV advertising. While recalling an ad is difficult for most potential buyers, in increasing numbers many make online searches after seeing an ad that peaks their interest in a product. Continue reading the full study…

Stretching Your Marketing Dollars The New Marketing Hub

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Categories: Uncategorized

When times get tough, tough businesses tend to watch expenses and market more. Both of these can be done by re-thinking your website and turning it into your marketing hub. Online marketing and advertising reaches most target audiences at a lower cost than traditional print or radio.

Creating more exposure for lower cost can be accomplished for smaller businesses through targeted key phrase pay-per-click advertising, and carefully selected community or industry websites.

Stretching Your Marketing Dollars The New Marketing HubWhen you advertise in a regional newspaper, radio or cable TV, you also have to pay for those who are not your prospects, as well. So part of your cost is always wasted. Contrast this with yellow pages, where only those interested in your product see your ad.

Like the phone book, key phrase (or keyword) advertising is seen only by those who type into a search engine the word or phrase they are looking for. But, unlike the phone book, you only pay if they actually view your website. You many not get any calls from yellow pages, but you still have to sign an annual contract.

If you need display ads, as many businesses do, select geographically or interest level websites to place your ads. Unlike the traditional media people can click your ad and go right to your website. Local websites like InlandEmpire.US and RedlandsWeb.com are examples of geographically oriented sites. RedlandsWeddings.com is an example of an interest site for brides-to-be. These and many others are low cost and more targeted than traditional advertising.

Cutting your traditional advertising and putting 75% of that budget in online ads will usually increase your exposure for less money.

Other online methods exist such as blogs and email campaigns. But all online advertising depends on your website. Your website should be more than a list of what you do; it should also sell your services. Of course your promotional materials can be distributed from your website, but few websites attempt to close business online.

Good websites have carefully crafted text, aesthetics, and navigation. They have sections and techniques just for prospects and the sales approach. Websites like this are very rarely developed in-house, just as high-end brochures are rarely developed in-house. So find a reputable firm or agency with multiple talents to do this work such as RedFusion Media.

The additional cost to develop your website promotional techniques is an investment that will be available to you for years, and is usually the cost of just two or three page ads in a newspaper; good for just one day!

Your website, as your company’s marketing hub, becomes an effective place for printed material distribution, collecting emails, product descriptions, prospecting and closing new business. It is also the first place many people will look from your traditional advertising.

If you are considering cutting your marketing spending in the hard times coming, then consider working with professionals on making your website your marketing hub.

By Ronald L. Burgess
Marketing Consultant for 25 years.

 

Contact: Ronald L. Burgess, 909-798-7092
104 East State Street, Suite P
Redlands, CA 92373

San Bernardino Aids City Dealerships to Boost Auto Sales

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Categories: Uncategorized

The Economic Development Agency of San Bernardino is launching a promotional effort to help boost auto sales for the new auto dealerships within its city limits. Approved by the City Council, the plan allocates up to $150,000 to help generate sales, with $100,000 allotted to rebate packages and approximately $50,000 for advertising. Anyone who purchases a car at one of the seven participating dealerships between March 25 and April 5, 2009 will receive a rebate for the local city sales tax. It is not necessary to be a resident of San Bernardino to qualify for the rebate, and it is applicable whether purchasing a new or previously owned vehicle.

 
“This is a combined effort among the dealerships, the city, media outlets and the San Bernardino Convention & Visitors Bureau,” states Wayne Austin, president and CEO of the San Bernardino Convention & Visitors Bureau who is responsible for placing the media advertising with cable, radio and print. “We have all joined forces collectively and want this to be a success for the dealerships which in turn would be a success for the city, media outlets and ultimately the new car owners.” Auto sales have traditionally been a key source of sales tax revenue for San Bernardino. 
 
Participating dealerships include Crest Chevrolet, Fairview Ford-Lincoln-Mercury, Moss Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge, Nissan of San Bernardino, San Bernardino Mitsubishi-Mazda, Subaru of San Bernardino and Toyota of San Bernardino. 
 
“With all of the factory incentives, special factory financing and exceptional deals currently available at all of the dealerships, this is one more reason to buy now,” Cliff Cummings, owner and general manager of Toyota of San Bernardino said. “We are excited that the EDA is assisting San Bernardino dealers with this 215 Auto Corridor promotion and rebate plan. It is great to have their support.”
 
The San Bernardino Convention & Visitors Bureau (SBCVB), producers of the Route 66 Rendezvous®, is a private, non-profit corporation providing destination sales and marketing services for the city of San Bernardino. As a sales and marketing organization, the main objective of the San Bernardino CVB is to promote and market the San Bernardino area as a visitor destination and meeting site. For more information go to www.215autodealers.com