To view this issue on the Web, use this link: http://www.marketingprofs.com/webnews/8/news3-11-08_0.asp ============================================================== MARKETINGPROFS - TODAY ============================================================== March 11, 2008 Volume 7, No. 10 ============================================================== sponsored by: THE LADDERS http://clk.atdmt.com/LDR/go/thlddlad0070001137ldr/direct/01/ =============================================================== THIS ISSUE'S ARTICLES: 1 - 10 Steps to Building a Better Blogger-Relations Program http://www.marketingprofs.com/8/blogger-relations-what-it-is-how-to-do-right-solis.asp 2 - Building Bridges with Your Corporate Communications Officer http://www.marketingprofs.com/8/building-bridges-between-marketing-corporate-communications-young.asp 3 - Email Etiquette—Use It, or Lose Business http://www.marketingprofs.com/8/email-etiquette-use-or-lose-business-towner.asp 4 - Social Networking: If You Let Them Build It, They Will Come—The Story of Best Buy's BlueShirt Nation http://www.marketingprofs.com/8/social-networking-best-buy-blueshirt-nation-maruggi.asp 5 - Blurring the Lines Between Advertising and Entertainment http://www.marketingprofs.com/8/blurring-lines-between-advertising-entertainment-mininni.asp PREMIUM CASE STUDY: How an Online Business Increased Conversions (Sales) on Landing Pages by Up to 12% http://www.marketingprofs.com/casestudy/79 A NOTE TO READERS: Camp Twitter After some initial skepticism, I've pitched my pup tent in the Twitter camp. If you don't know, Twitter is a free service that allows its users to send "updates" (or "tweets") via text posts of up to 140 characters to the Twitter site. Essentially, it's a conversation platform that asks the question: "What's up with you now?" Updates are displayed on the user's profile page and instantly delivered to other users who have signed up to receive them. Users can receive updates via the Twitter site, instant messaging, RSS, or in other ways. In blog-speak, it's called micro-blogging. Think of it as part Instant Messaging, and part water cooler chat: Essentially, it's a great way to keep connected to your contacts – business or otherwise – and it's also a way give your brand a human face. One of the best things about it is its low barrier of entry: In other words, if you're savvy enough to open this newsletter, you can access Twitter. There's been a lot written about how you can use Twitter here and here and elsewhere. One of the most comprehensive, however, appeared here. Twitter and marketing "can be condensed to the simple aim of tracking and directing attention," the post writes, because it "allows you to monitor how influencers think or feel...." As I write this, I'm a little reluctant to sing its praise as a marketing tool. The truth is, it's a lot more than that. If you approach it simply as another marketing channel -- as a way to simply drive traffic to your site -- then you're selling yourself (and your brand) short. For me, the real value of Twitter is with the mundane but critical stuff of the workaday life. When I was recently looking for a few marketers who could also write, I turned to Twitter. Another time, I got a pile of replies for the name of a DC hotel with a pool. And although I don't go to every trade show, I get an idea of what's happening at them via conference briefings streamed on Twitter. If you aren't on Twitter, start by signing up for an account and simply lurking and listening. You can follow MarketingProfs here. ============================================================== sponsored by: SILVERPOP http://www.silverpop.com/landing/08MarketingProfs/Web20.html ================================================================ 1 - 10 STEPS TO BUILDING A BETTER BLOGGER-RELATIONS PROGRAM Here's the foundation that will help you and your company engage with bloggers more effectively and genuinely. http://www.marketingprofs.com/8/blogger-relations-what-it-is-how-to-do-right-solis.asp **************************************************************** 2 - BUILDING BRIDGES WITH YOUR CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER By understanding what your firm's CCO does, you can gain insights into how to build a relationship that benefits everyone. http://www.marketingprofs.com/8/building-bridges-between-marketing-corporate-communications-young.asp **************************************************************** 3 - EMAIL ETIQUETTE—USE IT, OR LOSE BUSINESS Email is a powerful tool, and you must know the rules of email etiquette. http://www.marketingprofs.com/8/email-etiquette-use-or-lose-business-towner.asp ============================================================== sponsored by: EMMA http://www.myemma.com/?utm_source=MarketingProfsT&utm_medium=newsletterad&utm_content=march-08 ================================================================ 4 - SOCIAL NETWORKING: IF YOU LET THEM BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME—THE STORY OF BEST BUY'S BLUESHIRT NATION How Best Buy built an internal social-networking forum for its 140,000 employees. http://www.marketingprofs.com/8/social-networking-best-buy-blueshirt-nation-maruggi.asp **************************************************************** 5 - BLURRING THE LINES BETWEEN ADVERTISING AND ENTERTAINMENT We are living in an interactive, entertainment-oriented society. What's that mean for your marketing programs? http://www.marketingprofs.com/8/blurring-lines-between-advertising-entertainment-mininni.asp **************************************************************** ============================================================== ================================================================ TOP ARTICLES FROM OUR LAST NEWSLETTER SEVEN STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL MARKETING BLOG http://www.marketingprofs.com/8/seven-steps-successful-marketing-blog-reece.asp SIX SNEAKY SEO TECHNIQUES THAT WILL GET WEB SITES BANNED http://www.marketingprofs.com/8/sneaky-seo-tactics-get-web-sites-banned-shah.asp WEB 2.0 POLITICS: WHAT BRANDS CAN LEARN FROM THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS http://www.marketingprofs.com/8/2008-presidential-campaign-social-media-marketing-hogeboom.asp THE SIX CS OF PERMISSION EMAIL MARKETING, PART 1 http://www.marketingprofs.com/8/six-cs-permission-email-marketing-part-1-talavera.asp **************************************************************** SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FUTURE NEWSLETTERS Not a subscriber? Get the latest web and off-line marketing know-how delivered bi-weekly. Solid ideas backed by theory, experience and understanding. We give it to you free without the hype and self-promotion found elsewhere. http://www.MarketingProfs.com/Newsletter/signup/subscribepage.asp?t=MPnews **************************************************************** INFO ABOUT MARKETINGPROFS.COM MarketingProfs.com is an online publishing company that specializes in providing both strategic and tactical marketing know-how to Internet and offline marketing professionals through a combination of provocative articles and commentary. Get original, not recycled ideas. ADVERTISING INFO If you want to reach a marketing audience, won't find a better place to advertise on the web. Go here to get our contact info., demographics, and our current media kit. http://www.marketingprofs.com/about/adproducts.asp **************************************************************** You received this newsletter at this address (%%email%%) as part of your membership to MarketingProfs.com, or because you subscribed to our newsletter. You can easily change the newsletter format to text or html, change your email address by going here http://www.MarketingProfs.com/d.asp To stop delivery, please send us a blank e-mail here: mailto:%%remove%% Copyright © 2008 MarketingProfs.com. All rights reserved. We protect your privacy MarketingProfs, LLC | 419 N. Larchmont | #42 | Los Angeles, California | 90004 All logos and names are the copyrights of the respective owners Helping marketers from all industries succeed online through highly effective email technology and professional services.