Comments for Resource Nation Blog - Small Business Articles, Resources and Advice http://www.resourcenation.com/blog Just another WordPress weblog Sun, 05 Jul 2009 02:36:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on How BING Can Impact Your Business’ Online Marketing Strategy by Merrin Muxlow http://www.resourcenation.com/blog/how-bing-can-impact-your-business-online-marketing-strategy#comment-1568 Merrin Muxlow Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:55:58 +0000 http://www.resourcenation.com/blog/?p=293#comment-1568 Both Matt and Rebekah are right- PPC has to be done right if it's going to work, and clicks only yield sales if a PPC campaign is well managed. Given Microsoft's track record, though, it appears that Bing.com has some definite potential (stress, potential) as a PPC platform. This article (http://searchengineland.com/google-yahoo-microsoft-year-to-date-ppc-report-card-11823), though written a few years back, is pretty interesting- it breaks out sales-per-click and advertiser efficiency ratios for a specific sample of companies, and Microsoft does well- really well, in fact. To use an analogy, Microsoft's PPC platform is like a great band that can sell out a local club, but doesn't have the popularity (yet) to sell out a big stadium. With Bing, Microsoft is pulling out all the stops (expensive ad campaign, etc.) to lure the crowds. In my opinion, the success of Bing as a PPC platform really depends on how effective these efforts are at generating much needed traffic. Both Matt and Rebekah are right- PPC has to be done right if it’s going to work, and clicks only yield sales if a PPC campaign is well managed. Given Microsoft’s track record, though, it appears that Bing.com has some definite potential (stress, potential) as a PPC platform. This article (http://searchengineland.com/google-yahoo-microsoft-year-to-date-ppc-report-card-11823), though written a few years back, is pretty interesting- it breaks out sales-per-click and advertiser efficiency ratios for a specific sample of companies, and Microsoft does well- really well, in fact.

To use an analogy, Microsoft’s PPC platform is like a great band that can sell out a local club, but doesn’t have the popularity (yet) to sell out a big stadium. With Bing, Microsoft is pulling out all the stops (expensive ad campaign, etc.) to lure the crowds. In my opinion, the success of Bing as a PPC platform really depends on how effective these efforts are at generating much needed traffic.

]]> Comment on How BING Can Impact Your Business’ Online Marketing Strategy by Matt Commins http://www.resourcenation.com/blog/how-bing-can-impact-your-business-online-marketing-strategy#comment-1567 Matt Commins Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:09:21 +0000 http://www.resourcenation.com/blog/?p=293#comment-1567 I also agree a lot of PPC advertising dollars are spent with both eyes covered. Among the big 3 search engines, MSN produces the lowest amount of traffic which leads to MSN being overlooked by a lot of PPC marketers. That is a big mistake. Quite often MSN can bring more qualified leads at a lower cost than Google and Yahoo. Many times SEO and PPC are seen as separate entities with individual strategies and goals. However, combing SEO and PPC strategies such as keyword mapping and landing page optimization, can bring the most qualified traffic and the highest return for your business. Time will tell if Bing can sustain the increased traffic and conversion potential for PPC marketers. I also agree a lot of PPC advertising dollars are spent with both eyes covered. Among the big 3 search engines, MSN produces the lowest amount of traffic which leads to MSN being overlooked by a lot of PPC marketers. That is a big mistake. Quite often MSN can bring more qualified leads at a lower cost than Google and Yahoo.

Many times SEO and PPC are seen as separate entities with individual strategies and goals. However, combing SEO and PPC strategies such as keyword mapping and landing page optimization, can bring the most qualified traffic and the highest return for your business.

Time will tell if Bing can sustain the increased traffic and conversion potential for PPC marketers.

]]> Comment on How BING Can Impact Your Business’ Online Marketing Strategy by Matt Walker http://www.resourcenation.com/blog/how-bing-can-impact-your-business-online-marketing-strategy#comment-1566 Matt Walker Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:15:27 +0000 http://www.resourcenation.com/blog/?p=293#comment-1566 Rebekah - you make some good points. There is too much money blindly spent on PPC advertising without accounting for conversion. Many people think that they can just throw dollars at a PPC campaign and the sales will come. We all know that this isn't true. Too many times companies/individuals ignore the on-page factors (structure, calls to action) as a way to stretch their marketing dollar. PPC costs have skyrocketed over the years and a campaign must be actively managed for conversions in order to show a positive ROI. With that said, I do think that in many cases people can justify spending more on their PPC campaign...especially if it's working for them. I think that a solid PPC campaign combined w/ proper SEO can be an extremely powerful, and valuable, marketing tool. Bing.com has yet to demonstrate (to me) that it's a valuable PPC platform...if it's anything like MSN/Live was, then it will definitely be valuable to a certain sector of businesses. Rebekah - you make some good points. There is too much money blindly spent on PPC advertising without accounting for conversion. Many people think that they can just throw dollars at a PPC campaign and the sales will come. We all know that this isn’t true. Too many times companies/individuals ignore the on-page factors (structure, calls to action) as a way to stretch their marketing dollar.

PPC costs have skyrocketed over the years and a campaign must be actively managed for conversions in order to show a positive ROI. With that said, I do think that in many cases people can justify spending more on their PPC campaign…especially if it’s working for them. I think that a solid PPC campaign combined w/ proper SEO can be an extremely powerful, and valuable, marketing tool.

Bing.com has yet to demonstrate (to me) that it’s a valuable PPC platform…if it’s anything like MSN/Live was, then it will definitely be valuable to a certain sector of businesses.

]]> Comment on How BING Can Impact Your Business’ Online Marketing Strategy by Rebekah Donaldson http://www.resourcenation.com/blog/how-bing-can-impact-your-business-online-marketing-strategy#comment-1562 Rebekah Donaldson Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:16:48 +0000 http://www.resourcenation.com/blog/?p=293#comment-1562 Merrin - the stats here are great. And you're a great writer. Thanks for an interesting piece. I respectfully disagree that "As Bing becomes more popular, spending more on pay per click services at might be good idea." Forrester reported earlier this year that more than half of all ad dollars are spent on paid search now... but few campaigns are optimized for conversions and actively managed. I believe CMOs have lost a lot of sleep over this very point. For quite good reasons, they're not comfortable insisting to their CEOs that, because more prospects have clicked more of their ads, their advertising is working. CEOs, they know, can't miss it when advertising really works. Merrin - the stats here are great. And you’re a great writer. Thanks for an interesting piece.
I respectfully disagree that “As Bing becomes more popular, spending more on pay per click services at might be good idea.” Forrester reported earlier this year that more than half of all ad dollars are spent on paid search now… but few campaigns are optimized for conversions and actively managed.

I believe CMOs have lost a lot of sleep over this very point. For quite good reasons, they’re not comfortable insisting to their CEOs that, because more prospects have clicked more of their ads, their advertising is working. CEOs, they know, can’t miss it when advertising really works.

]]> Comment on Top Women-owned Companies of Our Time by suziecat7 http://www.resourcenation.com/blog/top-women-owned-companies-of-our-time#comment-1560 suziecat7 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:08:30 +0000 http://www.resourcenation.com/blog/?p=216#comment-1560 Great article - I'm sure there are so many more of these unsung heroes around. Thanks for this. Great article - I’m sure there are so many more of these unsung heroes around. Thanks for this.

]]> Comment on How BING Can Impact Your Business’ Online Marketing Strategy by Kanny Paul http://www.resourcenation.com/blog/how-bing-can-impact-your-business-online-marketing-strategy#comment-1558 Kanny Paul Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:51:04 +0000 http://www.resourcenation.com/blog/?p=293#comment-1558 Interesting! I feel like there is a scarcity of good marketing today. Good marketing means which can convert the leads into sales. The only marketing that has moved me in the last couple of years is Social Media Optimization. Interesting!

I feel like there is a scarcity of good marketing today. Good marketing means which can convert the leads into sales. The only marketing that has moved me in the last couple of years is Social Media Optimization.

]]> Comment on 25 Tips by Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs by Jackie http://www.resourcenation.com/blog/25-tips-by-entrepreneurs-for-entrepreneurs#comment-1507 Jackie Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:59:26 +0000 http://www.resourcenation.com/blog/?p=273#comment-1507 Thanks for the posting, great guide to help you succeed, would like to share this franchise opportunity which I came across - http://www.bizymoms.com/franchises/opportunities/gourmet-dessert-shops.html should be a great business opportunity as they have over 23 years experience in franchising, offers support without all the usual franchise fees. Thanks for the posting, great guide to help you succeed, would like to share this franchise opportunity which I came across -
http://www.bizymoms.com/franchises/opportunities/gourmet-dessert-shops.html
should be a great business opportunity as they have over 23 years experience in franchising, offers support without all the usual franchise fees.

]]> Comment on Top iPhone Applications for Business Professionals by Hassan Ramay http://www.resourcenation.com/blog/top-iphone-applications-for-business-professionals#comment-1501 Hassan Ramay Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:37:37 +0000 http://www.resourcenation.com/blog/?p=165#comment-1501 Xavor launches free iphone web-app for MS CRM 4.0 (dynamics) to access your company's CRM data with your iphone. http://bit.ly/dXgzI Xavor launches free iphone web-app for MS CRM 4.0 (dynamics) to access your company’s CRM data with your iphone. http://bit.ly/dXgzI

]]> Comment on Companies using Social Networking to Boost Sales by Khanchana http://www.resourcenation.com/blog/companies-using-social-networking-to-boost-sales#comment-1486 Khanchana Wed, 27 May 2009 10:30:10 +0000 http://www.resourcenation.com/blog/?p=214#comment-1486 Betsy , The long list of organisations from various industry segments adopting SocNets just goes to prove the immense potential this medium has created. FMCGs may need to use the forums and networks for sales and marketing whereas B2B or High involvement product manufacturers/sellers like Microsoft , IBM , HP etc would need to look at collaboratively developing their products and solutions with their customers- what you call customer co-creation these days . Thanks for the informative post ! Best regards, Khanchana Senior Consultant Infosys Technologies Betsy ,

The long list of organisations from various industry segments adopting SocNets just goes to prove the immense potential this medium has created. FMCGs may need to use the forums and networks for sales and marketing whereas B2B or High involvement product manufacturers/sellers like Microsoft , IBM , HP etc would need to look at collaboratively developing their products and solutions with their customers- what you call customer co-creation these days .
Thanks for the informative post !
Best regards,
Khanchana
Senior Consultant
Infosys Technologies

]]> Comment on Top iPhone Applications for Business Professionals by Patrick P http://www.resourcenation.com/blog/top-iphone-applications-for-business-professionals#comment-1474 Patrick P Fri, 15 May 2009 17:45:15 +0000 http://www.resourcenation.com/blog/?p=165#comment-1474 businessluvr's comments are ridiculous. While the iPhone has some growing up to do with respect to being as comprehensively functional as possible from a business perspective. It's intuitive, ergonomic design makes even it's shortcomings bearable. Over time its applications will come up to speed and then the Palm will probably go into a museum. businessluvr’s comments are ridiculous. While the iPhone has some growing up to do with respect to being as comprehensively functional as possible from a business perspective. It’s intuitive, ergonomic design makes even it’s shortcomings bearable. Over time its applications will come up to speed and then the Palm will probably go into a museum.

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