Prime Time for Social Media Marketing

Image: Smi23le

Five Social Media Startups top $1BN: http://tiny.cc/8p609 By now, everyone in the known world is aware that masters of the universe Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) have invested $500MIL in the still privately held Facebook.  So what?  I hear you ask.  Isn't this just another one of those rich-get-richer schemes?  Well maybe a bit; of course it's very cool to let slip that you have shares in Facebook - but that's not the whole story...

Wall St. bankers may be many things but stupid probably isn't one of them; with a history of wealth creation and massive profits you have to ask - if they're doing it why aren't we?  What do they know that we don't?  A skeptical view might be that they are simply buying pre-IPO stock that come 2012 (the word on the street is that in 2012 Facebook will launch its IPO) will sky-rocket in value and while that might be true there are in fact more solid investment angles here:

1. Goldman Sachs group offering of private shares in Facebook has created a feeding frenzy among wealthy investors who want in on the ground floor at any price.  This imbalance in supply and demand  has created the perfect environment for a market in derivatives and who is better positioned to create these derivatives than Goldman? But that's just speculation.

2. Facebook now has 600 million (and still growing) subscribers.  Facebook is changing the way people communicate and share information.  This has created a new marketing paradigm that cannot be ignored by anyone serious about the future of marketing. When Facebook added that little 'like' button it had marketing professionals around the world scrambling to understand the broader implications.

3. The tech boom-bubble-bust of the late 90's taught us that companies must have real value before investors will flock to the gates.  Facebook, linkedIn, Twitter, Zynga and Groupon (a discount coupon sharing site just turned down a $5BN offer to sell) are all examples of new millennium companies with billion-dollar-plus value.

So if you're still wondering whether you should consider social media marketing as a real option for you business - Hello!

Steve Earle is Strategic Sales and Marketing Consultant at E2Mktg, call him on 954.806.2188 and get started with a Fast-Track Marketing program today!

Why you should use QR codes

Scan Me!

If you're in marketing chances are you know what QR codes are.  QR codes are high-contrast images that can be scanned by smart-phones and other devices and can direct a smart-phone scanner app to a website or other resource.

This is incredibly useful in all manner of marketing scenarios and immediately offers marketers valuable feed-back without going to the expense of costly biometrics.

QR codes are particularly useful to the Digital Signage industry - many advertisers have looked to Digital Signage as a means of engaging customers in a two-way conversation.  By implementing QR codes, retailers and advertisers will get information about what customers and consumers are scanning and the impact of that interaction. 

Because QR codes can be printed on almost anything and read by almost any consumer phone or smart-phone (a small app must be installed - they are plentiful and free) the opportunity to deliver additional consumer experiences is unlimited.  Additionally, the scanned codes are saved by the app for review by consumers at any time.

Their use in anything from museum exhibits to restaurant menus may make the traditional kiosk obsolete as more and more consumers are carrying what amounts to a kiosk in their pocket.

Steve Earle is Creative Guy at E2Mktg, call him on 954.806.2188 and get started with a Fast-Track Marketing program today!