Cuil Runnings

Last week a new competitor entered into the scene to take on Google for the title as world’s greatest search engine running (actually created by former Google employees). Cuil (pronounced “cool”) brings your standard query to the next level, by not only running a search for a particular text but analyzes the surrounding content to formulate a more relevant result. The search engine stretches out across more web pages (apparently three times as many as Google and ten times as many as Microsoft). You’ll also find that your results won’t necessarily be the most popular sites visited so as to bring forth sites that may not be as frequently visited but happen to be more relevant to your search. Lastly, the program offers a new sense of privacy by not keeping record of the history of your searches.

Why is understanding how these large search engines work important to your e-business? Maximizing your presence on the search engine results page (SERP) allows for greater opportunities to attract potential customers, generates brand awareness, and ultimately leads to increased sales. Cuil shakes up the way we traditional view our SERPs by organizing them into columns with summary text and a picture. It also categorizes and offers suggested searches.

Search Engine Optimizers will need to take note of this new way of organic searching, and adjust accordingly. Understanding the mechanics behind the algorithms can be complex, but increasing your ranking means understanding how the SERP is both generated and formatted. Increasing ranking can include filling your webpage with significant content, images, and having a unique overall presentation. If your site isn’t currently highly ranked by the existing search engines, there could be a real opportunity with Cuil to place your site on the forefront if your site is presented correctly.

So far there are certainly kinks to be worked out with the running of this new search engine (site actually crashed the first day of its launch due to significant volume), but if it is able to deliver on what it has promised to offer, the site has a great deal of potential.

Let us know what you think about Cuil and if you think it has a chance at taking on Google!

Understanding SERPs – Thinking-Outside-the-Box

~Dreamscape Marketing Team

Marketing During Difficult Economic Times??

We are reminded everyday of the dreary state of our economy and when it comes to managing our business, first instinct may be to issue cutbacks in marketing. But it is important to remember that there are always opportunities in even the worst of market conditions and perhaps more so than ever, it is critical to remain a presence to your customers.

To generally explain the sentiment of the average consumer during such a distressed period, is that they are seeking reliability, loyalty, and a sense of strong family values from their brands. For this reason, advertising this very message is key in reminding your uncertain customers of your commitment to continue to serve their needs.

Keep in mind that your competitors may be issuing these very cutbacks. By remaining available to your customers, there is a real opportunity here to increase market share. Additionally, customers are out there looking for the best possible deal, so consider offering price promotions or discounts. From more of an operational standpoint, a re-evaluation of your low performing offerings may also be needed. Can any of your products be re-packaged? Is it possible to improve your means of distribution?

Think about an emphasis on direct marketing to further drive sales. Due to the fact we all are feeling the pressure of this economy, and this includes the media segment, you may also be able to come across some great paid advertising deals. Press releases and community involvement are a great way to reach out to potential customers, and the best part of it is that its free publicity. Again, the idea is that you want to continue to be available to your target market.

The Internet is a rather quick and inexpensive way to market your business. E-commerce sales continue to be on the rise despite the state of the economy and more individuals turn to the web to find answers, so there is a great opportunity to cast a wide net. However, with the number of sites available on the web, it is essential that you differentiate your site by making sure it is of the utmost quality and displays the highest level of credibility. A unique and user-friendly site will help better suit the needs of your existing customers and certainly draw in new customers.

Marketing your way through a difficult economy will prove to be valuable over the long run. This is mainly a result of your newly developed competitive advantage, and more importantly, demonstration of commitment to your customers.

Marketing through difficult times – Thinking Outside-the-Box
~Dreamscape Marketing Team

Give your marketing strategy a KISS!

There is one general rule that can be applied to virtually every successful product or service that has ever been sold. Most people refer to it as KISS: Keep It Simple Stupid. Any product that seems to have the potential to simplify a person’s life has a much greater chance of succeeding.

I give credit to Apple Computers for “hacking” into this idea. Their recent marketing campaign has pounded into everyone’s head that their computers will simplify everything. Even stressing the fact that they only need to ship one box is clever. Granted, I am still sadistically typing away on my PC at the moment. However, I do plan to at least consider an iBook for my next laptop.

The KISS rule is something that all businesses need to consider when developing products, and later when developing their marketing strategy. This rule must be understood by everyone from the CEO to the mailroom. If every employee cannot convince someone of the product’s worth in less than thirty seconds, some major work must be done to change its image.

Apple Computers KISS– thinking Outside-The-Box

~Ryan Bendinelli, Associate Marketing Director

Why is MySpace better than yours???

www.myspace.com/dreamscapemarketing ...go ahead and make us your friend! This popular website, myspace.com, has been an icon in recent pop-culture over the past few years as it allows people of all ages to design a user profile and invite others to be friends based on common interests in their profiles. This site is also very similar to the popular college-targeted Facebook.com online community.

The success of myspace.com at building an interactive online community has been more than substantial and continues to grow. It is growing so much in fact, that groups ranging from small-time garage bands to companies like Nike and Scion are creating communities based on music or sports interests and distributing free samples of music, products, games, or other promotional gear.

With a willing audience of web-savvy members, the sky is the limit in terms of advertising on the MySpace website, or creating a company profile and promoting your offerings through the online communities hosted by MySpace. Don't tell Blogspot, but you can even host your own blog from www.myspace.com!

MySpace.com--thinking Outside-The-Box
~Daniel Gemp, Managing Partner

There's a war out there! How will it gain me market share?

Politics and marketing are often closely linked... although the wars one fights in marketing define victory as a percentage of market share.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS! A little patriotism goes a long way in war time. The simple effort of publicizing your support for the brave troops defending our nation and interests abroad in the Middle East and elsewhere makes a lot of difference in the eyes of consumers.

It might even be a good idea to send care packages to the boys of the local 101st to show that you and your business care.

This is a patriotic and compassionate way to take on an active role in the local and national communities. It is a small public relations effort that could make a big impact on the minds and hearts of your customers and help you to feel like a more active member in the American business community.

This same strategy can be applied to a lot of other situations as well, including tragic events like Hurricane Katrina or the Tsunami in southern Asia. Make your customers aware of your business' heartfelt contributions towards these aid efforts as well.

Support your market share by supporting our troops!--thinking Outside-The-Box
~Daniel Gemp, Managing Partner

So I've got a website, now what?!

Aren't there supposed to be millions of people on the internet? Why aren't they visiting my company's new site??? I paid big bucks for this thing!

Relax, the hits will come. It takes time, sometimes months, for a website to be found by the search programs used by search engines. There are shortcuts to building up traffic to your website however. That is where internet marketing comes into play, which in more cases than not involves an effort to improve search engine rankings.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is understood by a select few web developers who understand how search engines actually work. Other than links and paid advertisements, it is the only way to build new traffic to your site and improve your website's position in search engine rankings.

Programmers can analyze your website and find keywords in the text or title of your site that are most commonly searched by web users. They are even able to add selected keywords to your website that will be given priority status by search engines.

The goal in all of this is to make your website show up in first place on search engine rankings. Just program in the magic keywords, and first place is yours.

SEO+Keywords=thinking Outside-The-Box
~Daniel Gemp, Managing Partner

Get a website, but get it right!

Small businesses, this means you! A website is a limitless resource in terms of the audience it has the potential to reach. A mom-and-pop shop can reach a national or even global market place by creating a simple and informative website. Web design however, much like interior or fashion design, must be custom and tasteful or you risk scaring away just about everyone who comes across your website.

Don't you just love those 2-minute long flash animated introductions to a website, and you still have to click "enter" at the end as though you weren't certain you wanted to enter the site in the first place?

Or worse, you visit sites of "financially conscious" business owners who think that tossing up a quick website from a do-it-yourself template for $50 is the answer to building a web presence on the mystical, magical internet.

A website needs to be viewed as an investment; an entire online storefront. It is a 24-7 sales representative for your company and needs to promote your brand, your desired professional image, and the information your customers want about your products and services in a clear, concise, and attractive manner. Trust me when I say, it will pay itself off in the very near future. It is a one time design cost with minimal maintence involved, so have your website professionally developed on a reasonable budget so that it is as user-friendly, informative, and attractive as possible.

Website=Investment, Not Cost--thinking Outside-The-Box
~Daniel Gemp, Managing Partner