Archive for the ‘Events’ Category

IIMA – Speaker Interview with CEO, Michael Fergusson of Ayogo Games

Charity Robertson – Director of Communications connected with Michael last week for an in depth interview.  Please find attached to this post a link to the PDF version of the interview.  This is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about Michael and about his company before the November 25th event.

Ayogo is best known for its technology platform that enables the rapid development and distribution of games across channels by managing user authentication and sessions, metadata, currency structures, prize trees, micro-transactions, virality, community engagement, and social network feature integration with mobile platforms.

Michael will be presenting – Applying Game Design for Business Success on our November 25th event.

IIMA – Speaker Interview – Selma Zafar

Charity Robertson – Director of Communications connected with Selma Zafar last week for an in depth interview.  Focused on the top questions of the day, features some great advice and interesting perspective.  This is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about Selma prior to her speaking engagement with us on November 25th.

OpenRoad Communications Ltd. is a 25 person software product and professional services firm founded in 1995 that specializes in developing custom web-based applications, public websites, and intranets. OpenRoad also offers professional services for web strategy, user experience design, usability, web analytics, and development.

Vancouver, BC – The International Internet Marketing Association presents Darren Barefoot, Capulet Communications – Warren Sukernek, Lift9 and Stephen Smith of Webnames.ca for an interview to share their unique perspectives on social media.  On December 9th, 2009 this panel of three experts will talk about social media and the return on investment it can generate. 

Registrations for this event have been strong in advance of the event.  At the bottom of this post you will find a downloadable copy of each interview.  This is an opportunity to learn and glean some strategic insight regarding social media.   Follow this link for the details and registration to our event.

Thank you to 6S Marketing, Antarctica Digital, Skript Foundry, Absolute Software, Cellcom Wireless, Graphically Speaking, Central 1 Credit Union and many more for showing your support for this event!

—————–

About Capulet Communications

Darren Barefoot, co-founder, Capulet Communications, is a writer, marketer and technologist. He has spent the last decade working for technology companies in Canada and Europe. He regularly speaks about marketing and Web 2.0, and has been quoted as an expert on social media and marketing on the CBC, BBC, The Wall Street Journal and dozens of other magazines, TV and radio programs. Hes the co-author, with Julie Szabo, of “Friends With Benefits: A Social Media Marketing Handbook”, published by No Starch Press in November, 2009.

For more information about Capulet Communications, go to: www.capulet.com

—————-

About Lift9

Lift9 is a social media consulting and research company that helps brands understand how to strategize, leverage, monitor, engage and measure in the social media platforms. Lift9 provides researchers, analytics & strategists who make relevant & useful the social media conversations related to your brand. It’s not just about the social media listening & monitoring tools, it’s also about the experienced people who make sense of the noise.

For more information about Lift9, go to: www.lift9.com

—————-

About Webnames.ca

Webnames.ca is Canada’s original domain registrar and a one-stop convenience for the online needs of individuals, small businesses, nonprofit organizations and corporations. Canadian owned and operated since 2000, Webnames.ca began as a spin-off from the Internet pioneers who founded the .CA country code in 1987. We have registered hundreds of thousands of domain names, host thousands of websites and manage domain portfolios for many of Canada’s Fortune 500 through our Corporate Services division, including Air Canada, CanWest Global, Pharmasave, BMW and many others.

For more information about Webnames.ca, go to: www.webnames.ca

—————-

The International Internet Marketing Association started in 1998 to bring marketers, agencies and professionals together to discuss the capabilities and potential of Internet marketing. It’s been over 10 years since our first event and our association remains focused on its original mandate – education. Each year, IIMA delivers a series of networking and speaking events hosted by subject matter experts, thought leaders, experts and panels of marketing practitioners.

For more information contact:

James Laitinen – @jlate
Director – International Internet Marketing Association
e.            info(@)iimaonline.org
w.           www.iimaonline.org

by Charlene Brisson, MAPC
Marketing & Communication Specialist, @charlenebrisson

Vancouver, BC – December 15th – What an opportunity it was to attend the Dec 9th IIMA session Social Media: Where’s the ROI! Return on Investment is the holy grail of social media (SM) that marketers are seeking to produce immediately successful campaigns. Proof of time and money spent is critical to show clients and bosses that SM marketing efforts aren’t merely the exploits of fantasy, but will actually lead to customer acquisition.

The full house at the event followed up by an active Q&A provides further proof that the topic is hot and marketers want to know more. Presenters Darren Barefoot, (@dbarefoot) of Capulet Communications, Warren Sukernek, (@warrenss) of Lift9 and Stephen Smith (@Webnames) of Webnames.ca did an excellent job presenting their differing opinions on tracking SM ROI. All agreed that marketers should be very clear on objectives, desired outcomes and metrics before they start their campaigns. As Stephen Smith noted, “one prescription doesn’t suit everyone” and even social media may not be the tool for every company to engage in. Fans and followers fit the culture of some companies more than others.

The disagreement of social media ROI continues. Warren Sukernek and Darren Barefoot have differing opinions, like many others, on how social media should and can be tracked. While Warren presented some concrete examples of measurable success. Darren is more on the side of traditional marketers who recognize that marketing can often be an “an act of faith.” He posted a page of his notes on http://tinyurl.com/y8edbx3

Darren’s experience (and mine too) has shown that social media works much better as one component of an integrated campaign, rather than the only component. It’s advantageous for a prospect to see an ad on a bus and then see you on Facebook. Darren, author of Friends with Benefits, sees SM as providing a lot of the same results as PR – much of which cannot be measured. He cites Fresh Books as a good example. They sent a box of Triscuits to Fiji and got a lot of PR (http://tinyurl.com/y9mskq8). But can it be measured? No. “Some things just can’t be measured”, but that doesn’t mean they have no value. Darren’s hard metrics show that FB works well when trying to change minds; Twitter converts low at about the same rate as newsletters – same as Youtube. Stumbleupon and like social media sites convert really poorly.

His hierarchy of conversion falls out in this order …
1. Paid Search
2. Blogs and Articles
3. Media Coverage
4. YouTube
5. Facebook
6. Twitter
7. SEO – Organic Search
8. All others like Stumbleupon

Warren Sukernek used Twitter to find a job in early 2009 (http://tinyurl.com/ybnyjvs) . He suggests that “if you can’t measure your campaign, step back and find out why.” Here’s three examples he provided of how powerful Twitter can be:

1. Del has sold $6.5M in obsolete goods http://tinyurl.com/ye46qxv
2. Comcast has resolved 500,000 customer service calls http://tinyurl.com/ykw4y4q
3. Over a single weekend, moms forced Johnson & Johnson to pull millions of dollars in Motrin ads http://tinyurl.com/5mbyr
4. Here’s the ad they raged against http://tinyurl.com/5pa93n

Warren also shared a useful SM spreadsheet tracking tool posted on the IIMA membership site. The gist is to identify 10 keywords, give them each a dollar value, and count how many times they appear in your social media efforts. At least you’ll have something to show clients and the boss. Admittedly, the value of course, is no more concrete than the value you’re given for every time your logo shows up in a newspaper ad with 10 other logos. Warren did recommend that the most reliable means of tracking social media is to use salesforce.com on the front end and Web Trends from Radiant6 on the back end to do the analysis.

Through the Q&A, all presenters agreed that the tracking discussed is all primarily done using tools like Google analytics. All-in-all attendees walked away with some valuable insights and a few good tools … and still … the debate of social media ROI continues.

Best Event Tip: Make clever Google Maps – add photos and videos. Why: It’s a big secret. Provided by: Darren Barefoot.

by Charlene Brisson, MAPC
Marketing & Communication Specialist, @charlenebrisson

Vancouver, BC – December 15th – What an opportunity it was to attend the Dec 9th IIMA session Social Media: Where’s the ROI! Return on Investment is the holy grail of social media (SM) that marketers are seeking to produce immediately successful campaigns. Proof of time and money spent is critical to show clients and bosses that SM marketing efforts aren’t merely the exploits of fantasy, but will actually lead to customer acquisition.

The full house at the event followed up by an active Q&A provides further proof that the topic is hot and marketers want to know more. Presenters Darren Barefoot, (@dbarefoot) of Capulet Communications, Warren Sukernek, (@warrenss) of Lift9 and Stephen Smith (@Webnames) of Webnames.ca did an excellent job presenting their differing opinions on tracking SM ROI. All agreed that marketers should be very clear on objectives, desired outcomes and metrics before they start their campaigns. As Stephen Smith noted, “one prescription doesn’t suit everyone” and even social media may not be the tool for every company to engage in. Fans and followers fit the culture of some companies more than others.

The disagreement of social media ROI continues. Warren Sukernek and Darren Barefoot have differing opinions, like many others, on how social media should and can be tracked. While Warren presented some concrete examples of measurable success. Darren is more on the side of traditional marketers who recognize that marketing can often be an “an act of faith.” He posted a page of his notes on http://tinyurl.com/y8edbx3

Darren’s experience (and mine too) has shown that social media works much better as one component of an integrated campaign, rather than the only component. It’s advantageous for a prospect to see an ad on a bus and then see you on Facebook. Darren, author of Friends with Benefits, sees SM as providing a lot of the same results as PR – much of which cannot be measured. He cites Fresh Books as a good example. They sent a box of Triscuits to Fiji and got a lot of PR (http://tinyurl.com/y9mskq8). But can it be measured? No. “Some things just can’t be measured”, but that doesn’t mean they have no value. Darren’s hard metrics show that FB works well when trying to change minds; Twitter converts low at about the same rate as newsletters – same as Youtube. Stumbleupon and like social media sites convert really poorly.

His hierarchy of conversion falls out in this order …
1. Paid Search
2. Blogs and Articles
3. Media Coverage
4. YouTube
5. Facebook
6. Twitter
7. SEO – Organic Search
8. All others like Stumbleupon

Warren Sukernek used Twitter to find a job in early 2009 (http://tinyurl.com/ybnyjvs) . He suggests that “if you can’t measure your campaign, step back and find out why.” Here’s three examples he provided of how powerful Twitter can be:

1. Del has sold $6.5M in obsolete goods http://tinyurl.com/ye46qxv
2. Comcast has resolved 500,000 customer service calls http://tinyurl.com/ykw4y4q
3. Over a single weekend, moms forced Johnson & Johnson to pull millions of dollars in Motrin ads http://tinyurl.com/5mbyr
4. Here’s the ad they raged against http://tinyurl.com/5pa93n

Warren also shared a useful SM spreadsheet tracking tool posted on the IIMA membership site. The gist is to identify 10 keywords, give them each a dollar value, and count how many times they appear in your social media efforts. At least you’ll have something to show clients and the boss. Admittedly, the value of course, is no more concrete than the value you’re given for every time your logo shows up in a newspaper ad with 10 other logos. Warren did recommend that the most reliable means of tracking social media is to use salesforce.com on the front end and Web Trends from Radiant6 on the back end to do the analysis.

Through the Q&A, all presenters agreed that the tracking discussed is all primarily done using tools like Google analytics. All-in-all attendees walked away with some valuable insights and a few good tools … and still … the debate of social media ROI continues.

Best Event Tip: Make clever Google Maps – add photos and videos. Why: It’s a big secret. Provided by: Darren Barefoot.

I hope this blog post finds you well and enjoying this festive season. We have made many changes at the International Internet Marketing Association in the past three months. These improvements will continue throughout 2010 as we bring you more content, more events, and more services. Our membership is growing and we are reaching out to new global territories connecting with the world’s leading marketing experts. In April/September 2010, Vancouver will be the host to the world class Internet Marketing Conference. We hope you can participate.

Sincerely,
James Laitinen – Director / @jlate

Upcoming Events

IIMA Event Review: Social Media: Where’s the ROI?

By Charlene Brisson, MAPC
Marketing & Communication Specialist, @charlenebrisson
What an opportunity it was to attend the Dec 9th IIMA session Social Media: Where’s the ROI! Return on Investment is the holy grail of social media (SM) that marketers are seeking to produce immediately successful campaigns. Proof of time and money spent is critical to show clients and bosses that SM marketing efforts aren’t merely the exploits of fantasy, but will actually lead to customer acquisition. The full house at the event followed up by an active Q&A provides further proof that the topic is hot and marketers want to know more. Presenters Darren Barefoot, (@dbarefoot) of Capulet Communications, Warren Sukernek, (@warrenss) of Lift9 and Stephen Smith (@webnames) of Webnames.ca did an excellent job presenting. Read more…

January 13th, Connect with Jason Billingsley

By James Laitinen @jlate, Director IIMA
Some of the feedback we received regarding the Dec 9th event was for a pre-event opportunity to ask the speaker questions and have them answered at the event. We would like to make those changes and give you a new forum to have your questions asked, and answered by our expert presenter. To submit your questions regarding E-commerce: 42 Things You Can to Sell More Online Next Week we have setup the following options.  

Email: info@iimaonline.org with your first name, last name, company and question for Jason.
Twitter: @iimaonline and use the hash tag #iimajan13
Phone: (778) 373-8785
All questions will be condensed, and a full report will be provided after the event with all the answers for registrants of the event and IIMA members.

Resources & Guides

 
Step By Step Guide: Using Microsoft Windows Live Messenger to Integrate With Your Facebook Profile
By James Laitinen @jlate, Director IIMA
One of the tools that I have always loved is Microsoft Windows Live Messenger. The free downloadable/web versions have only gotten better with the Windows Live services. Considering the user base, the zero cost entry for people to adopt it’s a pretty compelling story. Additional benefits are also now for your contacts are now replicated through your email. You can seamlessly integrate with the Windows Live Mail email client, and it’s a great way to have all your contacts, communications in one place to connect with people. Read more…

13 Simple Tactics to Prevent, Detect Content Plagiarism
How can you prevent and detect Content Plagiarism? Plagiarism is a serious issue in the blog world and it is a prime duty for all bloggers to prevent their content from getting copied and also take the corrective action when needed. Every blogger gets annoyed when someone copies their content and ranks higher than them in the search engines. While it is highly unlikely to stop blog scrappers and splogs from emerging there are some simple measures that a blogger can do to tackle this effectively. As we always know prevention is better than cure and hence the first step is to take preventive steps which will make it hard for the scrappers to copy your content. Read more…

#FollowFriday: The Anatomy of a Twitter Trend
What if you didn’t know who to follow on Twitter? Would you randomly start following people? Would you follow people you see mentioned by those you already follow? Most likely you would ask your friends for recommendations since you can trust that your friends will suggest people who are worth following. Which is exactly how FollowFriday began. Read more…

How To: Find A Job On Twitter
Tough economic times call for innovative approaches. An estimated 51 million people internationally are expected to lose their jobs in 2009, and with the unemployment rate on the rise, how does one find career opportunities fast? One great option is Twitter. Read more…

 

Recipes For The Holidays

Peppermint Martini Recipe - submitted by Charity Robertson @charitysweb, Director of Communications IIMA
Ginger Cookies Recipe - submitted by James Laitinen @jlate, Director IIMA

Just For Fun!

1. Best Christmas Card of the Year! (See the card…)
2. What Not To Do For SEO: Over Disclose on Twitter (Watch the Video)
3. Home Depot – Watch and Listen to Jingle Bells Played with Power Tools (Watch the Video)
4. Host An Ugly Christmas Sweater Party! (Read more…)

Charity’s Book Wishlist (Reading List)

Charity Robertson @charitysweb, Director of Communications IIMA

The Big Switch: Rewiring The World From Edison To Google
Author: Nicholas Carr
While it may seem that we’re in the midst of an unprecedented technological transition, Carr (Does IT Matter?) posits that the direction of the digital revolution has a strong historical corollary: electrification. Carr argues that computing, no longer personal, is going the way of a power utility. Read more…

Purple Cow, New Edition: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable
Author: Seth Godin
The classic bestseller that taught the business world that safe is risky; very good is bad; and above all, you’re either remarkable or invisible. In 2002, Seth Godin asked a simple question that turned the business world upside down: What do Starbucks and JetBlue and Apple and Dutch Boy and Hard Candy have that other companies don’t? How did they confound critics and achieve spectacular growth, leaving behind formerly tried-and-true brands? Godin showed. Read more…

Always Be Testing: The Complete Guide to Google Website Optimizer
Author: Bryan Eisenberg et al.
Stop guessing, start testing, and enjoy greater success with your website. If you’re looking for more leads, sales, and profit from your website, then look no further than this expert guide to Google’s free A/B and multivariate website testing tool, Google Website Optimizer. Recognized online marketing guru and New York Times bestselling author, Bryan Eisenberg. Read more…

I hope this blog post finds you well and enjoying this festive season. We have made many changes at the International Internet Marketing Association in the past three months. These improvements will continue throughout 2010 as we bring you more content, more events, and more services. Our membership is growing and we are reaching out to new global territories connecting with the world’s leading marketing experts. In April/September 2010, Vancouver will be the host to the world class Internet Marketing Conference. We hope you can participate.

Sincerely,
James Laitinen – Director / @jlate

Upcoming Events

IIMA Event Review: Social Media: Where’s the ROI?

By Charlene Brisson, MAPC
Marketing & Communication Specialist, @charlenebrisson
What an opportunity it was to attend the Dec 9th IIMA session Social Media: Where’s the ROI! Return on Investment is the holy grail of social media (SM) that marketers are seeking to produce immediately successful campaigns. Proof of time and money spent is critical to show clients and bosses that SM marketing efforts aren’t merely the exploits of fantasy, but will actually lead to customer acquisition. The full house at the event followed up by an active Q&A provides further proof that the topic is hot and marketers want to know more. Presenters Darren Barefoot, (@dbarefoot) of Capulet Communications, Warren Sukernek, (@warrenss) of Lift9 and Stephen Smith (@webnames) of Webnames.ca did an excellent job presenting. Read more…

January 13th, Connect with Jason Billingsley

By James Laitinen @jlate, Director IIMA
Some of the feedback we received regarding the Dec 9th event was for a pre-event opportunity to ask the speaker questions and have them answered at the event. We would like to make those changes and give you a new forum to have your questions asked, and answered by our expert presenter. To submit your questions regarding E-commerce: 42 Things You Can to Sell More Online Next Week we have setup the following options.  

Email: info@iimaonline.org with your first name, last name, company and question for Jason.
Twitter: @iimaonline and use the hash tag #iimajan13
Phone: (778) 373-8785
All questions will be condensed, and a full report will be provided after the event with all the answers for registrants of the event and IIMA members.

Resources & Guides

 
Step By Step Guide: Using Microsoft Windows Live Messenger to Integrate With Your Facebook Profile
By James Laitinen @jlate, Director IIMA
One of the tools that I have always loved is Microsoft Windows Live Messenger. The free downloadable/web versions have only gotten better with the Windows Live services. Considering the user base, the zero cost entry for people to adopt it’s a pretty compelling story. Additional benefits are also now for your contacts are now replicated through your email. You can seamlessly integrate with the Windows Live Mail email client, and it’s a great way to have all your contacts, communications in one place to connect with people. Read more…

13 Simple Tactics to Prevent, Detect Content Plagiarism
How can you prevent and detect Content Plagiarism? Plagiarism is a serious issue in the blog world and it is a prime duty for all bloggers to prevent their content from getting copied and also take the corrective action when needed. Every blogger gets annoyed when someone copies their content and ranks higher than them in the search engines. While it is highly unlikely to stop blog scrappers and splogs from emerging there are some simple measures that a blogger can do to tackle this effectively. As we always know prevention is better than cure and hence the first step is to take preventive steps which will make it hard for the scrappers to copy your content. Read more…

#FollowFriday: The Anatomy of a Twitter Trend
What if you didn’t know who to follow on Twitter? Would you randomly start following people? Would you follow people you see mentioned by those you already follow? Most likely you would ask your friends for recommendations since you can trust that your friends will suggest people who are worth following. Which is exactly how FollowFriday began. Read more…

How To: Find A Job On Twitter
Tough economic times call for innovative approaches. An estimated 51 million people internationally are expected to lose their jobs in 2009, and with the unemployment rate on the rise, how does one find career opportunities fast? One great option is Twitter. Read more…

 

Recipes For The Holidays

Peppermint Martini Recipe - submitted by Charity Robertson @charitysweb, Director of Communications IIMA
Ginger Cookies Recipe - submitted by James Laitinen @jlate, Director IIMA

Just For Fun!

1. Best Christmas Card of the Year! (See the card…)
2. What Not To Do For SEO: Over Disclose on Twitter (Watch the Video)
3. Home Depot – Watch and Listen to Jingle Bells Played with Power Tools (Watch the Video)
4. Host An Ugly Christmas Sweater Party! (Read more…)

Charity’s Book Wishlist (Reading List)

Charity Robertson @charitysweb, Director of Communications IIMA

The Big Switch: Rewiring The World From Edison To Google
Author: Nicholas Carr
While it may seem that we’re in the midst of an unprecedented technological transition, Carr (Does IT Matter?) posits that the direction of the digital revolution has a strong historical corollary: electrification. Carr argues that computing, no longer personal, is going the way of a power utility. Read more…

Purple Cow, New Edition: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable
Author: Seth Godin
The classic bestseller that taught the business world that safe is risky; very good is bad; and above all, you’re either remarkable or invisible. In 2002, Seth Godin asked a simple question that turned the business world upside down: What do Starbucks and JetBlue and Apple and Dutch Boy and Hard Candy have that other companies don’t? How did they confound critics and achieve spectacular growth, leaving behind formerly tried-and-true brands? Godin showed. Read more…

Always Be Testing: The Complete Guide to Google Website Optimizer
Author: Bryan Eisenberg et al.
Stop guessing, start testing, and enjoy greater success with your website. If you’re looking for more leads, sales, and profit from your website, then look no further than this expert guide to Google’s free A/B and multivariate website testing tool, Google Website Optimizer. Recognized online marketing guru and New York Times bestselling author, Bryan Eisenberg. Read more…

I hope this blog post finds you well and enjoying this festive season. We have made many changes at the International Internet Marketing Association in the past three months. These improvements will continue throughout 2010 as we bring you more content, more events, and more services. Our membership is growing and we are reaching out to new global territories connecting with the world’s leading marketing experts. In April/September 2010, Vancouver will be the host to the world class Internet Marketing Conference. We hope you can participate.

Sincerely,
James Laitinen – Director / @jlate

Upcoming Events

IIMA Event Review: Social Media: Where’s the ROI?

By Charlene Brisson, MAPC
Marketing & Communication Specialist, @charlenebrisson
What an opportunity it was to attend the Dec 9th IIMA session Social Media: Where’s the ROI! Return on Investment is the holy grail of social media (SM) that marketers are seeking to produce immediately successful campaigns. Proof of time and money spent is critical to show clients and bosses that SM marketing efforts aren’t merely the exploits of fantasy, but will actually lead to customer acquisition. The full house at the event followed up by an active Q&A provides further proof that the topic is hot and marketers want to know more. Presenters Darren Barefoot, (@dbarefoot) of Capulet Communications, Warren Sukernek, (@warrenss) of Lift9 and Stephen Smith (@webnames) of Webnames.ca did an excellent job presenting. Read more…

January 13th, Connect with Jason Billingsley

By James Laitinen @jlate, Director IIMA
Some of the feedback we received regarding the Dec 9th event was for a pre-event opportunity to ask the speaker questions and have them answered at the event. We would like to make those changes and give you a new forum to have your questions asked, and answered by our expert presenter. To submit your questions regarding E-commerce: 42 Things You Can to Sell More Online Next Week we have setup the following options.  

Email: info@iimaonline.org with your first name, last name, company and question for Jason.
Twitter: @iimaonline and use the hash tag #iimajan13
Phone: (778) 373-8785
All questions will be condensed, and a full report will be provided after the event with all the answers for registrants of the event and IIMA members.

Resources & Guides

 
Step By Step Guide: Using Microsoft Windows Live Messenger to Integrate With Your Facebook Profile
By James Laitinen @jlate, Director IIMA
One of the tools that I have always loved is Microsoft Windows Live Messenger. The free downloadable/web versions have only gotten better with the Windows Live services. Considering the user base, the zero cost entry for people to adopt it’s a pretty compelling story. Additional benefits are also now for your contacts are now replicated through your email. You can seamlessly integrate with the Windows Live Mail email client, and it’s a great way to have all your contacts, communications in one place to connect with people. Read more…

13 Simple Tactics to Prevent, Detect Content Plagiarism
How can you prevent and detect Content Plagiarism? Plagiarism is a serious issue in the blog world and it is a prime duty for all bloggers to prevent their content from getting copied and also take the corrective action when needed. Every blogger gets annoyed when someone copies their content and ranks higher than them in the search engines. While it is highly unlikely to stop blog scrappers and splogs from emerging there are some simple measures that a blogger can do to tackle this effectively. As we always know prevention is better than cure and hence the first step is to take preventive steps which will make it hard for the scrappers to copy your content. Read more…

#FollowFriday: The Anatomy of a Twitter Trend
What if you didn’t know who to follow on Twitter? Would you randomly start following people? Would you follow people you see mentioned by those you already follow? Most likely you would ask your friends for recommendations since you can trust that your friends will suggest people who are worth following. Which is exactly how FollowFriday began. Read more…

How To: Find A Job On Twitter
Tough economic times call for innovative approaches. An estimated 51 million people internationally are expected to lose their jobs in 2009, and with the unemployment rate on the rise, how does one find career opportunities fast? One great option is Twitter. Read more…

 

Recipes For The Holidays

Peppermint Martini Recipe - submitted by Charity Robertson @charitysweb, Director of Communications IIMA
Ginger Cookies Recipe - submitted by James Laitinen @jlate, Director IIMA

Just For Fun!

1. Best Christmas Card of the Year! (See the card…)
2. What Not To Do For SEO: Over Disclose on Twitter (Watch the Video)
3. Home Depot – Watch and Listen to Jingle Bells Played with Power Tools (Watch the Video)
4. Host An Ugly Christmas Sweater Party! (Read more…)

Charity’s Book Wishlist (Reading List)

Charity Robertson @charitysweb, Director of Communications IIMA

The Big Switch: Rewiring The World From Edison To Google
Author: Nicholas Carr
While it may seem that we’re in the midst of an unprecedented technological transition, Carr (Does IT Matter?) posits that the direction of the digital revolution has a strong historical corollary: electrification. Carr argues that computing, no longer personal, is going the way of a power utility. Read more…

Purple Cow, New Edition: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable
Author: Seth Godin
The classic bestseller that taught the business world that safe is risky; very good is bad; and above all, you’re either remarkable or invisible. In 2002, Seth Godin asked a simple question that turned the business world upside down: What do Starbucks and JetBlue and Apple and Dutch Boy and Hard Candy have that other companies don’t? How did they confound critics and achieve spectacular growth, leaving behind formerly tried-and-true brands? Godin showed. Read more…

Always Be Testing: The Complete Guide to Google Website Optimizer
Author: Bryan Eisenberg et al.
Stop guessing, start testing, and enjoy greater success with your website. If you’re looking for more leads, sales, and profit from your website, then look no further than this expert guide to Google’s free A/B and multivariate website testing tool, Google Website Optimizer. Recognized online marketing guru and New York Times bestselling author, Bryan Eisenberg. Read more…

I hope this blog post finds you well and enjoying this festive season. We have made many changes at the International Internet Marketing Association in the past three months. These improvements will continue throughout 2010 as we bring you more content, more events, and more services. Our membership is growing and we are reaching out to new global territories connecting with the world’s leading marketing experts. In April/September 2010, Vancouver will be the host to the world class Internet Marketing Conference. We hope you can participate.

Sincerely,
James Laitinen – Director / @jlate

Upcoming Events

IIMA Event Review: Social Media: Where’s the ROI?

By Charlene Brisson, MAPC
Marketing & Communication Specialist, @charlenebrisson
What an opportunity it was to attend the Dec 9th IIMA session Social Media: Where’s the ROI! Return on Investment is the holy grail of social media (SM) that marketers are seeking to produce immediately successful campaigns. Proof of time and money spent is critical to show clients and bosses that SM marketing efforts aren’t merely the exploits of fantasy, but will actually lead to customer acquisition. The full house at the event followed up by an active Q&A provides further proof that the topic is hot and marketers want to know more. Presenters Darren Barefoot, (@dbarefoot) of Capulet Communications, Warren Sukernek, (@warrenss) of Lift9 and Stephen Smith (@webnames) of Webnames.ca did an excellent job presenting. Read more…

January 13th, Connect with Jason Billingsley

By James Laitinen @jlate, Director IIMA
Some of the feedback we received regarding the Dec 9th event was for a pre-event opportunity to ask the speaker questions and have them answered at the event. We would like to make those changes and give you a new forum to have your questions asked, and answered by our expert presenter. To submit your questions regarding E-commerce: 42 Things You Can to Sell More Online Next Week we have setup the following options.  

Email: info@iimaonline.org with your first name, last name, company and question for Jason.
Twitter: @iimaonline and use the hash tag #iimajan13
Phone: (778) 373-8785
All questions will be condensed, and a full report will be provided after the event with all the answers for registrants of the event and IIMA members.

Resources & Guides

 
Step By Step Guide: Using Microsoft Windows Live Messenger to Integrate With Your Facebook Profile
By James Laitinen @jlate, Director IIMA
One of the tools that I have always loved is Microsoft Windows Live Messenger. The free downloadable/web versions have only gotten better with the Windows Live services. Considering the user base, the zero cost entry for people to adopt it’s a pretty compelling story. Additional benefits are also now for your contacts are now replicated through your email. You can seamlessly integrate with the Windows Live Mail email client, and it’s a great way to have all your contacts, communications in one place to connect with people. Read more…

13 Simple Tactics to Prevent, Detect Content Plagiarism
How can you prevent and detect Content Plagiarism? Plagiarism is a serious issue in the blog world and it is a prime duty for all bloggers to prevent their content from getting copied and also take the corrective action when needed. Every blogger gets annoyed when someone copies their content and ranks higher than them in the search engines. While it is highly unlikely to stop blog scrappers and splogs from emerging there are some simple measures that a blogger can do to tackle this effectively. As we always know prevention is better than cure and hence the first step is to take preventive steps which will make it hard for the scrappers to copy your content. Read more…

#FollowFriday: The Anatomy of a Twitter Trend
What if you didn’t know who to follow on Twitter? Would you randomly start following people? Would you follow people you see mentioned by those you already follow? Most likely you would ask your friends for recommendations since you can trust that your friends will suggest people who are worth following. Which is exactly how FollowFriday began. Read more…

How To: Find A Job On Twitter
Tough economic times call for innovative approaches. An estimated 51 million people internationally are expected to lose their jobs in 2009, and with the unemployment rate on the rise, how does one find career opportunities fast? One great option is Twitter. Read more…

 

Recipes For The Holidays

Peppermint Martini Recipe - submitted by Charity Robertson @charitysweb, Director of Communications IIMA
Ginger Cookies Recipe - submitted by James Laitinen @jlate, Director IIMA

Just For Fun!

1. Best Christmas Card of the Year! (See the card…)
2. What Not To Do For SEO: Over Disclose on Twitter (Watch the Video)
3. Home Depot – Watch and Listen to Jingle Bells Played with Power Tools (Watch the Video)
4. Host An Ugly Christmas Sweater Party! (Read more…)

Charity’s Book Wishlist (Reading List)

Charity Robertson @charitysweb, Director of Communications IIMA

The Big Switch: Rewiring The World From Edison To Google
Author: Nicholas Carr
While it may seem that we’re in the midst of an unprecedented technological transition, Carr (Does IT Matter?) posits that the direction of the digital revolution has a strong historical corollary: electrification. Carr argues that computing, no longer personal, is going the way of a power utility. Read more…

Purple Cow, New Edition: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable
Author: Seth Godin
The classic bestseller that taught the business world that safe is risky; very good is bad; and above all, you’re either remarkable or invisible. In 2002, Seth Godin asked a simple question that turned the business world upside down: What do Starbucks and JetBlue and Apple and Dutch Boy and Hard Candy have that other companies don’t? How did they confound critics and achieve spectacular growth, leaving behind formerly tried-and-true brands? Godin showed. Read more…

Always Be Testing: The Complete Guide to Google Website Optimizer
Author: Bryan Eisenberg et al.
Stop guessing, start testing, and enjoy greater success with your website. If you’re looking for more leads, sales, and profit from your website, then look no further than this expert guide to Google’s free A/B and multivariate website testing tool, Google Website Optimizer. Recognized online marketing guru and New York Times bestselling author, Bryan Eisenberg. Read more…

Speaker Interview – IIMA presents an interview with Jason Billingsley, founder of Flip Retail. Jason shares his unique perspective on ecommerce including his entrepreneurial success as the co-founder of Elastic Path and the blog Get Elastic. On January 13th Jason will be presenting tactical information in a presentation coined “42 Ways to Sell More Online.” In this two hour session, Jason will deliver information that will help you sell or improve your lead generation online and allow you to make money at it next week.
 
Please find attached to this post a link to the PDF version of the interview. This is an opportunity to learn and glean some strategic insight regarding ecommerce from one of the best local industry experts available!