K.E. Loveless, Web Designer, Developer, Internet Marketing, Web Consultant

An app to Never Eat Alone

Karl — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:21:09 +0000

“Never eat alone?” Besides being the title of a great book on business (and personal) networking, here’s an app with that thought in mind. Here’s a chance to get and give free consultation over lunch or drinks. If you’re looking for talent, looking for a (better) job, looking for new business, this could be a tool for you.

An app to never eat alone | Official website of the LunchMeet mobile app.

Customer Service is the Key to the Lock

Karl — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:12:25 +0000

What’s more valuable, an old customer or a new customer? A new customer’s long term value is actually quite low. Beyond a first transaction its value may never be “unlocked.” An established customer’s value is already unlocked and its value to you is high. Customer service is the key to the lock.

In Social Business, Pay Sales Teams Less And Customer Service More | Fast Company.

Why The Movie Industry Can’t Innovate and the Result is SOPA/PIPA

Karl — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:50:00 +0000

The big media companies continue to rattle sabres against the consumer and moreover, against the entrepreneur and innovation. Big media will be back with another version of SOPA/PIPA. Needlessly. We will win, though.

Why The Movie Industry Can’t Innovate and the Result is SOPA

I’m not “blacking out” today (Jan 18, 2012) but I strongly oppose SOPA/PIPA

Karl — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:57:08 +0000

If you’re not aware of SOPA or PIPA just google it. It’s big, uber-greedy corporations who wrote the bills. They’re trying to squeeze the last drop of profit from Americans through corrupt and foolish politicians and what’s worse, they’re trying to stifle innovation (future competition). If passed, it’s epic fail legislation. This is just the latest and one of the most brazen of several attempts to quash new businesses and the future of this country. The House version is called SOPA, the Senate version is PIPA and they must be stopped.

Oh, one more thing, when you google the terms, be careful of the source you’re reading. If it’s big mainstream media then the story is probably spun with selective omissions.

Fotoshop by Adobé

Karl — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:13:46 +0000

Been saying this for 17 years, since I first discovered how reality only has to vaguely approximate the dream… Except for the reversed effect, at the 40th thru 44th seconds, which is far more difficult to accomplish, it’s nicely done. Tip of the hat to http://jesserosten.com/

Fotoshop by Adobé (Adobe) – YouTube.

Get paid instantly with plastic and your smartphone

Karl — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:20:20 +0000

Do you take plastic? Credit, debit, and pre-paid cards? VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover? Now you can, anywhere, anytime. Without the cost of a swipe device and monthly charges. Take a look at a relatively new payment service that’s catching on: SquareUp

Mirror your marketing with how customers use technology

Karl — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:30:44 +0000

Smart phones, texting (SMS), email, search engines, niche/enthusiast web sites, facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, mobile apps, voice mail, fax, telephone, FedEx, USPS, smoke signal, etc. Be wherever your customers go.

You don’t have to have your message everywhere within the new media, just be where your higher value customers go. For example, who under 30 uses either the Yellow Pages or the White Pages everyday? Each year fewer older people use them. If your business has even a basic listing in the phone book then you’re already on the web, with or without a web site. However, you have little or no control over your marketing message unless you have a web site and a message that you control. You’re lumped together in a general list with all your competitors and quasi-competitors; your distinct message or advantage goes missing. Or worse, negative ratings on sites you can’t control.

Although free social media pages require only your time and writing effort, facebook and twitter pages greatly lack valuable content. Twitter, facebook, and google don’t share much information, they’re “walled gardens,” like AOL was. It’s your properly built web site, with plenty of relevant and unique content, that places you high in the search results. Use your content-driven web site as your marketing hub. The search engines will reward you.

All other marketing efforts, including broadcast and print, revolve around your web site because it’s the one permanent location for your business. Broadcast and print media are perishable and usually irrelevant to most of the audience. On the web, however, targeted video, audio, copy, and artwork can live on and on.

Phone me, Karl Loveless: 937-523-0380

Google+ Is Going To Mess Up The Internet

Karl — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:42:12 +0000

There may be signs already showing up that Google is getting to big for its breeches.

Google+ Is Going To Mess Up The Internet.

Strategic Marketing Subject Matter Expert for Brainbench

Karl — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:53:25 +0000



Some time ago I found an interesting online training and certification company, Brainbench. They have tests designed around “marketing strategy,” which seemed right down my alley — so I pursued it. Little did I know that of the zillions of people they’d tested I was one of only four people across North America to have totally aced it, a perfect score. It pays to have read over 400 books on marketing and a couple hundred more on general business, finance, and economics. Soon after acing their test, a recruiting call rang in from Brainbench asking me to help them develop marketing curricula. So, if you’re really into details of strategic business planning like I am, take their marketing program. That or just hire me and I’ll give you your customized answers needed to boost your sales.

The Brainbench Market Strategy certification test’s outline:

Assessing Opportunities: Competition; Market Growth; Market Maturation; Market Size

Entry Cost: Accessibility; Learning Curve; Long-term Financials; Mid-term Financials; Promotion; Short-term Financials

Importance: Business Function; Changing Markets; Chief Executive; World Economy

Integration: Implementation; Market Understanding; Strategic Response

Market-Led Characteristics: Formal Market-Scanning System; Identify Market Drivers; S.T.E.P. Analysis (Social, Technological, Economic, Political)

Planning: Culture; Interactive Feedback System; Management Structure

Satisfying Customers: Bought When; Buyers; Buying Decisions; What Is Bought

Segmentation: Niching; Targeting

Karl Loveless
937-523-0380 voice/text
Email

You Don’t Take Credit Cards?

Karl — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:09:24 +0000

Now you can — easily. If you’ve got a sideline business or are just getting going in business then you’ve probably been shocked by the hassle of credit card processing. The costs of setup, monthly fees and equipment rental or purchase constantly work against your profits and cashflow. Worse than a pebble in your shoe because you can’t get around it. Actually, Google has come to the rescue of the small scale entrepreneur.

Google Checkout for Merchants has a decent deal. They do take a good sized percentage, about 3% off the top and 30 cents per transaction. But, what you don’t have is the cost of equipment setup charges and no monthly fee at all.

All you need is a bank account and a charge card of your own. Chargebacks go against your own card account and there’s a short-term holdback of your first transaction. Other than that, it’s a pretty sweet deal.