Continue reading »]]>

I’ll be the guest on The Best People We Know Radio Show (Motivational Radio Show) on: February 3, 2011 and at 7pm (EST). We will be talking about:

• marketing
• search engine optimization
• website design
• graphic design
• social media
• …and more

Host Deb Scott

Deb Scott is an award winning author of, The Sky Is Green & The Grass Is Blue -self help book- and a certified professional coach and motivational speaker. She is a terrific host and an incredible person. If you have not meet Deb, make sure to visit her site (motivational website).

Православни икониИкониikoniПодаръциикониикониПравославни икониикони на светцииконописikoniсвети георгиikoniхудожник на икониИкони на светци

Continue reading »]]>

You’re starting to gain traction in your quest to build a social network, now it is time to think about, how to be a great social media friend. The definition of a friend is, “A person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard …a person who gives assistance; patron; supporter…”. The important thing to remember is the social media friendship just begins at the acceptance or friend request. Once the lines of communication are open, it’s what you say and do that counts; and a social media friendship is about communication: liking, commenting and sharing with others. To be a great friend you have to have a good balance between listening and talking. My friendship formula is: two-thirds my time is spent promoting my friends; and one-third the time promoting myself.

I like the two-thirds to one-third formula because it allows me to learn about others and share their interest with my friends, while giving me time to talk about my interest; and that is what a friendship is about.

Twitter -

• Re-tweet the things you find interesting.
• Mention and thank new followers.
• Mention or Direct Message a friend that has shown “a lot” of support. You don’t need to do this after every re-tweet or mention, just special occasions.
• At least one or two times a week, “go beyond the re-tweet.” Get to know a friend better. Visit their site or blog and tweet what you find with others.
• If a follower, friend or fan are active on another social network, tweet a link to their “public profile.”
• Watch for specials or events friends are promoting and do your best to tweet the news. If you know someone in your network is hosting a radio show (or going to be a guest), tweet the show.
• If a twitter connection uses LinkedIn, tweet their public profile.
• Tweet friends Facebook Fan Pages.
• Use hash tags to help tweets get found on searches. The hash tag is the number sign on the keyboard. This is important because a lot of people use Twitter search to find subjects/people they are interested in finding/meeting. If you are not familiar with Twitter Search go take a look and search for something you are interested in. click here >> Twitter Search

Facebook-

The coveted Facebook Fan! Wan’an be a good fan …or a GREAT FAN! Come on don’t be shy. Get involved. Share. Comment and like what you see. This does two things:

1. Fan interaction makes a page interesting and fun.
2. Facebook’s live feed algorithm loves to see comments and likes on a fan page. The more the better.  And (not everyone knows) that when a status update is posted on a fan page, not all fans will see the update. To determine what fan page updates will be posted to a fan’s news page, Facebook first must determine if the content is something “the fan” will be interested in. The fan pages with a large number of fans will get priority. But, the more comments and likes a post receives, the better chance that update will be seen on a fan’s wall. So commenting and liking status updates is very important.
3. Also, if the situation is appropriate, make sure to use the Add to My Page’s Favorites. This is very easy to do: When you are on a fan page you like, in the left sidebar is a link, Add to My Page’s Favorites. Here is a screen shot for those not familiar with the link:

How To Be A Great Social Media Friend -

Do you have a GREAT social media friend you want to brag about. Give us a little professional background on them and why they are such a good friend. Make sure to post a link to their profile so we can get to know them too. Please, keep it to one link. Thanks for sharing.

Continue reading »]]>

The internet is getting bigger and social media has become a powerful marketing tool. While the future seems to be clear -the internet is not going away and social media will continue to grow- many business owners are still unsure how to use social media to promote their brand and generate sales. The good news is understanding how these new marketing tools are used does not have to be difficult. Although developing an online social network takes a lot of time and a decent understanding of social media tactics, the role social media plays in today’s marketing plan is a relatively simple concept to grasp.

A Websites

1. A website is similar to a store-front that is open 24/7.
2. A website can also be described as an online brochure.

Google:

1. Google is like the Yellow Pages (Phone Book)
2. A search engine can also be compared to the Library. Remember that place?

LinkedIn:

1. LinkedIn is similar to using a Chamber of Commerce to network with other business owners.
2. LinkedIn can also be described as a modern, Referral group (like BNI).
3. All the old timers out there will appreciate this comparison, LinkedIn is like the Rotary Club.
4. LinkedIn can be thought of like the White pages of the phone book.

Twitter:

1. Twitter is like a cocktail party -Lots of short conversations flying around the room.
2. Or, tweeting is similar to driving by a billboard on the freeway. You only get a glimpse to get the message.
3. For all those raised when newspapers dominated, tweets are like headlines. The goal is to get the reader to stop and read the story (click your tweet if there is a link ..etc.
4. For those who like videos, here is a classic video about twitter. It is from the Late Night Show with David Letterman interviewing Kevin Spacey. Great video. Lots of fun.

Facebook & Fan Page:

1. Facebook is like hanging out at the Barber Shop or Beauty Salon, only you can’t get a perm or color with facebook, yet -maybe there’s an app for that???
2. Coffee shop or Diner. I’m not just talking about Starbucks.

Email Signature:

1. Adding a signature at the bottom of your email with links to your social network accounts and website/blog is like a modern day business card.

Blog:

1. Blogging is like giving a presentation.
2. Blogging is also like a press release (depending on the content.)
3. Some people might compare blogging to sending a letter to the editor of their local newspaper. Imagine that, sending a letter by mail.

When social media and the internet are described in these terms, confused business owners might get a better idea of how modern marketing tools are similar to traditional methods. If you have any comparisons you would like to share, be sure to  comment below. I would really like to read your ideas.

See Ya Read ya soon,
Gary

Continue reading »]]>

When I think of marketing I’m reminded of extreme sports.

I have surfed an 18 foot wave -Ya it was a rush. I have sparred with a 260 pound guy who had a left jab that felt like a right hook. I’ve SCUBA dove at 125 feet to watch the gray sharks. I have jumped off a 50 foot cliff into the ocean -and I don’t like heights. I do these things because I want to, not because I have a death wish. Sure each activity carried a certain amount of risk. But with training and practice I can make sure I’m prepared. This risk to reward ratio is also how I approach Extreme Marketing; and when the day is done the reward  is worth pushing the marketing limits.

What is Extreme Marketing?

Extreme Marketing is about creating new and imaginative ways to use the latest marketing tools to promote your brand or service. But before I go higher and faster I’m going to make sure to DO IT RIGHT! Sometimes bigger is NOT better. It is NOT about crashing …or failing. It is about correctly using every marketing tool available. This translates into:

• Search Engine Optimization -Being above the competition in Google.
• Social Networking -Using sites like Twitter to promote a brand, promotion or event.
• Traditional and Online Marketing -Coordinating a direct mail campaign with a landing page.
• Creative Promotions -Attract customers with a text messaging campaign.
• Email Marketing -Knowing how to contact customers using an email campaign.
• Logos and Branding.
• …and more

The owner of Caliber, Dan Ryan, has a quote he likes to say,

“If you always do what you have always done …you will only have what you had before.” -By the way Dan is the king of extreme automotive marketing.

This saying is what Extreme Marketing is about. It is why I keep pushing myself to stay ahead of the competition. I will not lie, it is not always easy to motivate myself. There are many days I don’t want to develop a new technique, or learn the latest marketing tool. But something in me will not rest and I’m always searching for the next best marketing technique.

The First Step To Extreme Marketing

Extreme Marketing means being in front. Blazing the tail and cutting a path “…being ahead of everyone to enjoy an unspoiled view.” For some clients the “Extreme” part starts with taking the first step on that untraveled path. For the conservative business owner who is still trying to learn how to email, I might start with a website. Later we might talk about a landing page for a pay per click campaign? However for the client that is ready to take their marketing to the next level, I can also create a marketing campaign that uses all the latest tools. This might include: designing a website and blog, create a promotion that uses text messaging and an online contest. Or, a client might want to coordinate a direct mail campaign that uses an online sweepstakes to generate a buzz around their product, service and brand.

The possibilities are endless. The point is that marketing does not need to stop at a direct mail postcard …at least not if you are into Extreme Marketing.

If you have a marketing technique that has worked for you make sure to share it with our readers.

Continue reading »]]>

I laced up my hiking shoes, grabbed my day-pack and hit the trail. I packed my powerbars, trail-mix, emergency supplies and filled two 12 oz water bottles. My goal was simple, to get away from work and enjoy the great outdoors. That also meant no phones, computers, cars or crowds. Just me and nature. Together for six hours on a round trip day hike to the top of Mount Baldy and back. It just does not get much better than that. Fresh air. Sun. Trees. Ahhhh, the good life. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not pretending to be a poster boy for Environmental Heroes. I’m just your average guy, working too much and playing too little. So when I do get some free time I like to spend it outdoors. That being said: I don’t drive a hybrid, I’m not a vegetarian and I don’t own any hemp clothing. I guess my “green-ocrisy” only goes so far, but I’m doing my best to keep the environment clean.

When at home, shopping and working, my wife and I try to do the green-thing. Our trash service offers a small recycling program, so we separate our plastics from the other trash. We also try to support manufactures and products that are earth friendly, just our little way of doing our part.  When I am at work, I try to offer clients earth friendly options. For example, instead of using a vinyl banner, a client might want the option of using a 100% cotton banner. If a client is going to press, I try to offer products like: recycled paper, eco-friendly based inks and soy based solvents.

Going Green Facts

The other day I read an interesting study on the going green topic. It was from greenmarketingcoalition.com –they claim:

• 43% of companies plan to increase spending on green marketing practices in 2009.
• 82% of consumers are focused on buying green products and services.
• 7 out of 10 consumers pay attention to company practices regarding the environment and 35% have a higher interest today than
• 57% of the population is now aware of the term “carbon footprint” up from 38% in 2007

Although the article did not give a “sample size”, my unscientific assumption is that the study is in line with today’s business and consumer sentiments. I’m basing this on present marketing and advertising trends. For example, banks are finding customers like the ease of at home banking. Sure banking at home saves time, but banks are really playing up the environmentally friendly benefits too. There are programs like, Your Easy Branch -a paperless at home banking program designed and developed Marketing Hawks, a bank marketing firm. Through programs like Your Easy Branch, banks are finding that customers like the fact that banking at home is earth friendly. On the other hand, banks like these programs because it reduces their operating cost by lowering the amount of printed material and postage. Furthermore, banking at home means less driving -something I think most of use can agree, the less driving the better.

Companies Going Green

Paperless programs are just the beginning. Frito-Lay is putting out Sun Chip bags that contain plant-based materials. Banner companies are offering 100% cotton banners that are sprayed with a bio-degradable fire-retardant. Printers are using more recycled papers, eco-friendly inks and solvents based on soy. All this in an effort to emit low traces of volatile organic compounds. Deer Park, a bottled water company, brags about their small labels saving trees. Coca-Cola Japan has produced a new bottle that is 40 percent lighter than comparable water bottles; and it can be twisted and crushed when empty.

Examples Of How Going Green Can Save You Money

I think “Going Green” is great. It can save a business money by:

• reducing direct mail cost.
• products can be made lighter reducing shipping costs.
• smaller labels can lower print cost.

Furthermore, customers are becoming increasingly drawn to the various types of going green programs, like:

• going paperless.
• using recycled products.
• using bio-degradable products.
• using low emission products.

I found a good article by The Sierra Club, it is called The Green Life: 10 ways to Go Green. But if you know of a good environmentally friendly product make sure to let us know. Or, if your company is going green make sure to tell us how.

Continue reading »]]>

Blogging and Affiliate Marketing

I want to start by stating the obvious, to make money blogging you need visitors. But once you get visitors what is the best way to make money? One method is to provide relevant ads on your site. You can do this by using affiliate marketing programs and advertising marketplaces. These services pay publishers based on:

• When an ad gets clicked (CPC)
• Or, when an action is performed (CPA)
• Or, an ad gets displayed a certain number of times (CPM)

There are a number of different services available that use different methods. Some offer video advertising, while others use images, banners or in-line text that a publisher can use to advertise.

Using a variety of advertising methods is usually the best way to make money blogging.

As a “publisher” (someone who puts an ad on their website) signing up is usually free, fast and easy. Once you sign up for an ad network or affiliate advertising community, your site is reviewed for approval as a publisher. If approved you can pick advertisers and how you want to display the ads that you feel fit your content.

This list of affiliate programs and advertising marketplaces is provided with short descriptions and links for more information on each advertising network and their advertising programs.

CPC ads / Text link ads / Image ads

Google Adsense
Google’s AdSense is probably the most used advertising network on the internet. To start publishing ads all you have to do is sign-up. It is free, fast and with a little knowledge placing the code into your website or blog is easy. Website publishers of all sizes can display relevant Google ads on their website’s content pages and earn money. This is a pay per click type ad that pays you as visitors click the links.

Chitika
Chitika is another popular ad network for making money on your blog. Sites looking for an AdSense alternative or AdSense compatible solution can use Chitika for their full-service on-line advertising network. One cool thing that Chitika offers is the ability to only “…display an ad when a visitor finds your site in a search engine”.  So if a repeat visitor comes to your site via a bookmark, or they type in your domain name directly, the Chitika ads will not be displayed.

text-link-ads
Text-Link-Ads supports websites that use server-side processing. You can use it on a static site (htm), but TextLinkAds is really well suited for any site that uses PHP, ASP, PERL, Ruby on Rails, etc. To ensure that only relevant links appear on your website, you can choose to approve or deny any Text Link Ad prior to the links being published on your website or blog.  You can display Text Link Ads on the same page with Google AdSense, Yahoo! Publisher Network, and… other contextually served ads.

Kontera (contextual advertising for your blog or website)
Kontera has a wide variety of ad formates: ContentLink Flex, ContentLink Video, ContentLink Billboard, ContentLink Image and ContentLink Text. All these methods of advertising are displayed in a small to medium sized pop-up window that is displayed when the in-line text link is rolled over.

LinkWorth
I want to mention two products LinkWorth offers to publishers: LinkAds and LinkWords.  LinkAds is a text based advertising that directs a visitor to a specific advertisers. LinkWords are embedded directly into a keyword depending on an advertiser’s preferred keyword strings. When a visitor to your website mouses over the “double hyperlink”, an in-line advertising window is launched to display information about the advertiser’s product or service.

Blogs RSS Feed

Feedburner ads / Google AdSense
Since Google bought Feedburner, you configure your blogs feed via Google AdSense. There is some flexibility on how the ads are displayed: each feed item, every 2 feed item, every 3 feed item or every 4 feed item. Among other settings you also have the option to display on top or on the bottom of the feed item.

Affiliate Networking

Commission Junction
Get paid for every sale and lead you generate. Commission Junction is the largest affiliate network in North America, powering almost 50% of the top 500 web retailers affiliate marketing programs and operates worldwide. Commission Junction has a network of advertisers they call the, “CJ Marketplace” using a text link and image style advertising.

Link Share
Link Share is another affiliate marketing and Lead Generation Network. Link Share offers a number of products for publishers: Merchandiser Product Feeds; Dynamic Rich Media (DRM); Flex Links for video, widgets and Flash content; and Mobile Links. You get paid a commission when a sale is made or when a lead is acquired. The sale can also be tied to a specific action such as filling out a form or downloading a trial.

Google Affiliate/ DoubleClick Performics Affiliate
First, the Google Affiliate Network (affiliate network) is separate from DoubleClicks DART for Publishers (DFP). The Google Affiliate Network provides a network of advertisers and publishers. To join you have to submit an application that is reviewed by a Google Affiliate staff member. If you are approved, you can apply to a variety of advertiser programs. Advertisers must first accept your offer to advertise their products or services. Once an advertiser agrees to accepting your site, you will have the ability to add the advertiser’s banner or text link on to your web site or blog. You’ll be paid on a cost-per-action (CPA) bases for leads or other action.

DoubleClick
“DART for Publishers is a comprehensive Web-based technology that enables websites and networks of websites to manage online ad serving and reporting. The system architecture, hardware, and software are maintained and updated by DoubleClick. DART for Publishers uses DART technology. -source, Google employee”

Affiliates -independent Cost Per Action (CPA)

Amazon Associates
Advertising Amazon products by using links or banners. When you add these links and banners to your web page and visitors click on them from your page, you can earn up to 15% on all purchases (CPA) made during their shopping session.

Ebay / eBay Partner Network
Getting paid from eBay is on a cost per action (CPA) bases. So you need either a bid, purchase or registration.

Product promotion posts

payperpost
Do you like to blog about products? Get paid to write about web sites, products, services, and companies. An advertiser will post an “opportunity” and if you qualify for the opportunity you can submit “take this opportunity”. If your post is accepted, you earn $15.00 for each post that provides your opinion and feedback to advertisers and consumers.

blogsvertise
Blogvertise is a pay per post type system that pays an average of $5-$15 per post. If your blog is approved, the blogsvertise administrator then assigns writing tasks they want you to mention in your blog. Your blog post does not have to endorse the product or service, just mention the advertiser in your blog and link to the advertiser’s website in the post.

Advertising Marketplaces

buysellads
Buysellads is an advertising marketplace for small to medium sized website owners/publishers. I feel this service is best suited if you have already established some traffic and you want to sell ad space on your blog.

ShoppingAds
ShoppingAds focuses on displaying products on your website. When your visitor clicks on the ad you can make money on a CPC (cost per click) or CPA (cost per acquisition) basis. You can run with Google AdSense and is compatible with all other ad systems.

BidVertiser
BidVertiser focuses on merchants bidding for ad space on your site or blog. They offer: Banners, Buttons, Inline Ads and Skyscrapers Displays.

Banner Advertising, Picture Advertising and Video Advertising

adbrite
Adbrite is like most advertising networks offering a variety of display ads, text and banner ads. But they also have a few interesting products like Full Page Ads and BritePic ads that allow you to monetize photos on your site with interactive text ads.

valueclickmedia
Display Advertising – ValueClickMedia runs an ad network of advertisers. They are also an affiliate type network with a variety of standard banners, pop-unders and rich media that you can use in a CPM and CPC payout structure.

Continue reading »]]>

Logo Design

It is always interesting to see a huge company like Kraft Foods change their logo. But for the first time Kraft has also added a tag line. This new addition to their brand is,  “making today delicious“. For a company like Kraft, a change in their logo really reflects a new company image and brand. In this case, the new Kraft Food’s logo is much lighter, softer and sleeker. The new Kraft logo has a much fresher feel, with a burst of flavor at the end. I’m suspecting this is to parallel a more healthy, delicious selection of products.

So why change this iconic logo? Not only was the BIG BLOCK font and BOLD RED outline not current and hip, but it was heavy. Heavy and bold are two descriptions that are juxtapose to today’s attempt at health healthier. After all, Moms don’t want BIG BLOCK kids eating heavy food. They want healthy, sleek children eating nutritious and natural food. So does this new Kraft logo achieve all this? Will we start to see a new line of products hit the shelves? My guess is the new logo design is just the beginning of a big marketing and advertising push that will be in full swing come summer. There will be more TV ads, radio ads …and yes, internet marketing. I’m sure we will soon see a Kraft Twitter account filled with tweets about nutrition and information on healthy eating. Today a new Kraft logo, tomorrow a healthier, more delicious Kraft product.

Now do you think the new Kraft logo is a copy of the Yoplait logo?

logo design -Kraft Logo and Yoplait Logo

Continue reading »]]>

Social Networking

Social networking is changing the way people work and play online. Social networking sites are nothing new to the internet, in fact you probably heard of Geocities and Usenet, two early social networking websites. But unlike Geocites and Usenet, today’s social networking websites like: mySpace, facebook, digg and the recently popular LinkedIn and Twitter, appeal to a broad range of users that go beyond teenagers.
From the graph below you can see a sharp increase in “social networking” based on search volume.

Social Networking Trend - source, compete.com

What is social networking?

Generally a social networking website is an online community that is based around either professional or personal relationships.

If you visit a social networking website, you will find the majority of sites are created around a niche and membership is usually free. Once you join you will create a profile based on both personal and professional information. When your profile is completed,  you can:

• Join groups.
• Chat.
• Discuss topics in a community forum.
• Post news or articles.
• Search for other members with similar interest.

Why do people use social networking sites?

The appeal of social networking is different for everyone. On a personal level it is a great way to meet interesting people with similar interests. On a professional level, social networking sites have become a great way to:

• Expand a company’s online brand.
• Promote business articles.
• Promote blog posts and blogging.
• Keep current on the latest news.
• Watch the competition …ok “spy” on the competition.
• Meet colleges.
• Find employment.

From the points above, I want to discuss blogging. Blogging is huge online and social networking websites are a great place to promote a blog. But to really understand how big blogging is, I’ve gathered some information starting with the three most popular blogging platforms WordPress, Blogger and Typepad.

popular blogging software: Blogger, WordPress and Typepad

Interesting stats:

• Unique visitors Blogger -#28,147,310 (2/08-2/09)
• Daily estimate search for keyword, “blogger”: #1,716
• Unique visitors WordPress -#22,147,374 (2/08-2/09)
• Daily estimate search for keyword, “wordpress”: #6,466
• Unique visitors Typepad -#9,611,366 (2/08-2/09)
• Daily estimate search for keyword, “typepad”: #11

Note -The Unique Visitors metric only counts a person once no matter how many times they visit a site in a given month. Unique Visitors are typically used to determine how popular a site is. (stats from–compete.com)

Now add those statistics to the an estimated 175,000 new blogs every day; the total as of 8:23 CST on June 27, 2008 is: 209,593,000 (source -Technorati’s count on February 11, 2008 via: youdesignit.blogspot.com)

So with social networking you can promote: a blog, yourself, find contacts, find a job, promote articles and meet interesting people …and more.

Most popular social networking sites

The recent serge in online social networking also has a lot to do with how social networking sites are adding new features and languages. Sites like Facebook have seen a huge increase in popularity as they expanded internationally, while simultaneously improving user control over content.  Recently facebook’s efforts have resulted in huge growth, overtaking mySpace.

Facebook and MySpace unique visitors

Interesting stats:

• Unique visitors Facebook -#73,787,766 (2/08-2/09)
• Daily estimate search for keyword, “facebook”: #355,929
• Unique visitors mySpace -#53,066,785 (2/08-2/09)
• Daily estimate search for keyword, “myspace”: #366,765

To help demonstrate how big facebook and mySpace have become, here is a graph the compares the unique visitors of mySpace, facebook and Google.

Unique Visitors For Google, Facebook and mySpace

Interesting Stats:

• Google unique visitors: 130,285,302 (2/08-2/09)
• overall daily search estimate for keyword, “google”: 445,684

Two more popular social networking sites used to promote articles, blogs and news are Digg and Stumbleupon. I’ve also added a niche site that focuses on developing business contacts, the social website is called LinkedIn:

Unique visitors to Digg, Stumbleupon, LinkedIn

Interesting Stats:

• Digg unique visitors (2/08-2/09): #33,433,760
• LinkedIn unique visitors (2/08-2/09): #11,228,746
• Stumbleupon unique visitors (2/08-2/09): #4,418,609
• Daily estimate for keyword, “digg”: #1,204
• Daily estimate for keyword, “LinkedIn”: #4,204
• Daily estimate for keyword, “stumbleupon” : #1,074

Flickr, Photobucket and Webshots are three social networking sites related to photo sharing:

Unique visitors for: Flickr, Photobucket, Webshots

Interesting Stats:

• Photobucket unique visitors (2/08-2/09): #24,470,242
• Flickr unique visitors (2/08-2/09): #23,769,885
• Webshots unique visitors (2/08-2/09): #4,565,611
• Daily estimate for keyword, “photobucket”: #27,828
• Daily estimate for keyword, “flickr”: #24,227
• Daily estimate for keyword, “webshots”: #5,392

Two social networking sites for blogging communities are BlogCatalog and MyBlogLog:

Unique visitors for BlogCatalog and MyBlogLog

Interesting Stats:

• blogCatalog unique visitors (2/08-2/09): #1,898,783
• MyBlogLog unique visitors (2/08-2/09): #955,648
• Daily estimate for keyword, “blogCatalog”: #53
• Daily estimate for keyword, “mybloglog”: #49

Finally, “at this time”, the hottest social networking site is called, Twitter.

Social networking site, Twitter

Interesting Stats:

• Twitter unique visitors (2/08-2/09): #7,935,441
• Daily estimate for keyword, “twitter”: #8,074

There are many reasons why someone will use social networking. For business it can mean additional exposure to brand and products. As an individual, a social networking web site may offer an online community with other people who share common interest. Either way, the social networking style website has become very popular with men, woman and childrren …the numbers don’t lie.

Continue reading »]]>

Logo Design and Branding

The internet is a lot of things. It is social networking. Online marketing. Websites. Blogs …and more. But did you know that the internet is a great tool for promoting your brand? I’m not just talking about your logo stuck in the top left corner of your website. No. I’m talking about thousands of people seeing your logo every day! Of course to do this you will need a few things, starting with a logo. Next you will need an avatar and logo icon. And finally you will need a favicon. If you are not familiar with an avatar, logo icon or favicon don’t worry, I will show you what they are …just keep reading. As for a logo, I am going to show you why investing in a custom logo is worth every cent. I’m not going to talk about colors, text or symbolism of using blue vs red. For a business person you need to know how and why a professionally designed logo is better than a free logo. So, today I’m going to show you five ways to market your brand online and how a custom logo will increase online branding options in ways a free logo does not. Speaking to the business person, this means more profits. So lets get started.

With the help of a logo the internet can become a conduit for boosting a brand. This is especially true when a logo is incorporated in an avatar, logo icon or favitar. What all this amounts to is more real estate in more places.

To begin taking complete advantage of the internet and online marketing,  your internet branding campaign will require three tools:

1. A LOGO- a logo is the first tool a business needs in order to take advantage of online branding opportunities. With the aid of screen shots I will demonstrate that online marketing can boost your brand to incredible heights. Furthermore, you will see why a logo requires a professional graphic designer whom understands the internet and how a logo design can be applied to an avatar, logo icon and favicon; something a free logo design software does not provide …and this is a huge disadvantage when using free logo software.
2. LOGO ICON and AVATAR – Compared to a logo, the logo icon and avatar are usually smaller. As a professional graphic designer when I design an avatar or icon logo I focus on a small part of the logo that carries over some specific and recognizable element in a usually small area.
3. FAVICON – Simply put a favicon is an avatar for your browser. It is usually very small so it needs to be designed with one recognizable element from your logo.

With this simple explanation of how an avatar, logo icon and favicon are based off a logo, lets go over how they are used in an online marketing campaign, social networking, blog or website.

First, lets start with the website with the logo in the top left corner. This is a common place for a logo since it is one of the first areas the eye will go.

Next, the favicon is displayed in the visitors browser next to the domain name in the address bar. It is also displayed if the website is bookmarked, so when the user opens their favorites, your logo is there too.

Put the website and favicon together and you get some impressive online branding. Imagine your visitor or customer seeing your logo as displayed below!

Using social networking to increase your brand exposure can be done using an avatar. One such method is using Twitter to splash your logo/avatar across the twitter network. Here is a snap shot of my tweetDeck, only imagine your logo being displayed everyday in front of your followers …WOW!

Using Twitter For Online Branding

Perhaps now you are beginning to see the value of having a professional graphic designer create your logo? Specifically, a professional can design with all these elements in mind. This can leave a lasting impression and one that should not be left up to some free logo design software.

If you are still not impressed, let me show you more. Online branding goes beyond Twitter. Another method is one that has been around the internet for years, that’s right …the forum.

A forum is another online branding opportunity to display your logo

Forums also have profile areas where your logo design can be viewed.

Forums also have profile areas to display your avitar or logo

Estetica Design Forum is a great community with discussions around graphic design and website design, but if a forum is not for you, than try to use one of the newer social networking communities. For example, one of the more popular professional social networking groups is called LinkedIn.

Finally, using FeedBurner to syndicate your blog can also be a way to promote your brand by adding your logo to your blog feed.

Branding

I hope you are starting to see the picture and how a professional graphic designer can take your logo and use it to turn the internet into an online branding machine. For a business, a professionally designed logo is more than colors, pictures and text that goes on a website or business card. Furthermore, I only touched on five ways to market your brand online: website, social networking, forums, favicon and you RSS feed (FeedBurner). I did not even touch on a dozen other online branding resources available to boost your brand online; which for all the bottom liners means, increased profits though branding.