It's that time of year and the flu season is back once again, reminding us who is in charge. Go to any office and you're bound to find someone coughing and sneezing. Contagious to everyone around them... eventually spreading it to people they don't even know.


Viral marketing works the same way, only without the coughing and sneezing. It's that elusive advertising technique that we all talk about. You know the one I'm referring to... the great idea that started as a whisper in a small town... the worldwide MySpace phenomenon... the most downloaded video on YouTube.

So how does viral marketing work? Who spreads it? And how much does it cost?

The Symptoms: Viral marketing can start anywhere and at any time. It's the idea that hooks people, just like that flu bug we talked about earlier. It's an idea that sparks interest and people start to pass it on to others. Just remember that building brand awareness of your products or services doesn't have to be boring.

The Outbreak: Ever heard a rumor you passed on to others? How about an urban legend? Viral marketing is popular because it doesn't require much work to execute the campaign. Most people want to advertise for you and just don't know it yet.

The Prescription: No one really likes to get a shot. Viral marketing's main strength is its ability to obtain a large number of interested people at a relatively low cost.

Now let's take a look back and say that you have no idea what YouTube is for a moment. Are you interested? Have you already clicked the link to YouTube's site? That's viral marketing grasshopper. Now make the marketing flu work for you.

Want to share a new bug? Cough it up... you never know when something might catch on!

Posted by 2MONSTERS at 11:30 PM | Permalink | Comments

Have you ever tried to tell a mechanic that you're hearing a noise under the hood? If you did, maybe you remember the stare that ensued for the next two minutes as you tried to describe the noise... thinking at any moment that a light bulb would suddenly turn on, causing them to know how to fix your car.

That frustration is how most people feel about Search Engine Optimization. And if you're confused by optimization, don't worry, you're not the only one out there who doesn't know their way around an engine.

Let's look at just a few tips on better optimizing your website to be search engine friendly.

Keyword Selection
Pick relevant keywords that you'd like to rank on common search engines. This step is important because it will influence all aspects of your optimization campaign.

Analyze your business carefully and think of all the words that relate to your company or product. Let's say you sell birdhouses. What words would you search for when looking for the same product? Ask your colleagues and friends to think about the same question.

Website Tags
Choose your keywords wisely. Place them inside of your website tags. Nearly five years ago, meta tags were the most important part of any website. Today, many meta tags aren't read by some search engines, as they become increasingly savvy to spammers. Tags, such as the HTML title, are significantly more important for search engine optimization.

We recommend putting keywords in the following tags:

• HTML titles (the most important tag on the page
• Meta tags (search engines still look at these)
• Content tags (such as header, bold, etc.)

Website Content
Optimizing your content is a constant battle but can play an important role in creating a search engine friendly website. The reason? The text on your website is valued the most by search engines. The text that you write will be included in the search engine database and used to match user queries to your site.

Posted by 2MONSTERS at 10:38 PM | Permalink | Comments

Where are the first 103 tips on email marketing? We should mention that there is undoubtedly a method to our madness. Stay tuned for regular tips, we promise you won't be disappointed. Changing the subject...

The Subject Line - One of the most important points of any email campaign is the subject line and it often goes overlooked. Don't make it the last line item on your list. Think about these helpful tips the next time you are sending an email.

Your goals when writing a subject line should be:

• Writing a subject line that gets through filters.
• Creating a compelling offer so that your recipients want to open your email.
  
• Maintaining the expectations your recipients had when they signed up for your emails.
  

Helpful tips when writing the subject line:

• Avoid too much punctuation.
• The word FREE has become a four letter word. Don't use it.
  
• Make it short and sweet. The default subject line area in most email applications is 40-50 characters.
• Tell them why they want to open the email.
  
• Give your recipient a "reason" to open your email and don't generalize.

Posted by 2MONSTERS at 2:50 AM | Permalink | Comments

Many clients begin by telling us horror stories of design projects gone wrong... horribly wrong. That can be the worst thing and potentially the best thing that any other designer will hear.



The worst part about a client's previous bad experience is the obvious repercussions that it has on the design community. This may lead to negative communication between the client and other potential clients in the marketplace... causing industry skepticism and "BAD BLOOD".

The only good thing that can come from it is the opportunity it creates for the next designer who can get their foot in the door. It won't be easy. But good customer service can overcome a previously bad experience.

Tips on good customer service in a crisis:

1. Always tell your customer what you CAN do for them. Don't begin your conversation by telling them what you CAN'T do.
2. Allow irate customers to vent. Do not interrupt them or start to speak until they have finished having their say.
3. Diffuse anger by saying "I'm sorry or "I apologize."
4. Make certain that your "solution" to the customer's problem is acceptable to them. Get their approval and agreement.
5. Remember to ask if there is anything else that you can do for your customer. Taking the time to ask the question often results in increased business and a more committed customer.
   

There's articles everywhere on customer service and some helpful hints on how to give...and get the best customer service.

Posted by 2MONSTERS at 4:12 PM | Permalink | Comments

2MONSTERS creative group has launched the STOMP YOUR COMPETITION blog. STOMP is an email newsletter and blog resource center combination, designed to provide clients with marketing and design tips that may help their brand nurturing efforts.

The overall goal of STOMP is to create better brand awareness for small businesses, while simultaneously giving fresh new ideas to seasoned veterans.

Posted by 2MONSTERS at 2:02 PM | Permalink | Comments