Mike Stewart Reports

Managing Emails

2012-01-26T13:03:00.000-08:00

We have used and promoted Ratepoint for managing Email Marketing. They have a great product, but they are going out of business (some say as a way to get more money out of their customer base? - additional information can be found HERE).

Constant Contact is the industry leader in this field and has most of the tools offered by Ratepoint. We have been impressed by their service and products.

For additional information, please visit Constant Contact.

Esearchfor.com, Inc.

2012-01-23T07:49:00.000-08:00

Esearchfor.com, Inc.:

'via Blog this'

Check out our Facebook Page.

need insurance in memphis

2012-01-16T08:54:00.000-08:00

check our new insurance page

Three Billion Years and Counting

2012-01-09T10:59:00.000-08:00

Science thinks that Life has been around for a little more than 3 billion years.

Life seems to be pretty complex - showing that God is very smart or Nature working for 3 billion years can accomplish a lot. Or both.

How long is 3 Billion Years? Imagine that you had a magic car (a Delorean ?).

Putting this car into Space Drive, it would be a normal car. You could start at the Atlantic Ocean near New York City and drive about 3000 miles and arrive at the Pacific Ocean near Los Angeles. If you averaged 60 miles per hour, the trip would take 50 hours.

But now imagine that time stretches continuously back from present day LA to New York City as it was 3 Billion Years ago, and that you have switched your magic car to Space/Time Drive.

You could then start where New York City and the Atlantic Ocean will someday be and drive westward toward the future. Outside your magic car, your speed in space would be as before - 60 miles per hour; but each mile you traveled would move you a million years into the future.

The first 2400 miles (40 hours) of the journey would be pretty boring. No land animals or plants large enough to see would exist.

About 230 miles from the Pacific Coast, we might see our first Dinosaurs. They would abruptly disappear just before we begin the last hour of our trip.

When we are a thousand feet from the Coast, we know modern man has developed in Africa.

Ten feet from our destination, you might look up to see the Star of Bethlehem as Jesus is born.

If we stopped one foot from our destination, the Revolution War would be underway back on the East Coast. World War II starts about four inches before we touch the Coast. Everyone alive today appears in the last six inches of our Journey.

ENJOY YOUR INCHES !!!

If I have made you think, please support our clients - Like Tomsin Steel Processing on Facebook.

If you need insurance, visit bhpmemphis.com

Kindle Fire and Search Engine Optimization

2011-12-28T08:32:00.000-08:00

Well, got a Kindle Fire for Christmas.

Now I can carry our best websites in my coat pocket (at least an old coat). Or I can quickly show how our clients rank high on Google.

If you are not in the Insurance Industry, buy me a cup of coffee and I will show you how we can probably help you.

If you are in the Insurance Industry, call me and I'll buy you a cup of coffee and show you how we can definitely help you.

Please like our clients on Facebook - for example, Tomsin Steel Processing

Will Facebook and LinkedIn Last?

2011-11-05T04:29:00.000-07:00

The answer is "YES" (the number of users of both has increased about 60% in the last year), but why did I ask the question?

I recently join a couple of LinkedIn Groups ( Steel Manufacturers and Processors - 6000 members - took some time to be approved, and Steel Professionals - 3500 members). Groups put you in contact with people who have similar interests and I was interested in promoting a client ( Tomsin Steel - Click Here to Like their Facebook Page ).

From one of the Groups, I was able to get 25 new LinkedIn Connections - well worth the effort if LinkedIn lasts - Thus the question above.

Internet Marketing requires you integrate your use of Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. We also use Ratepoint for effective email marketing and control.

Why Time seems to Pass Faster as We Age

2011-10-16T12:01:00.000-07:00

I was listening to "Coast to Coast" with George Noory. It was mentioned that time seems to pass faster as we age. The guest, with his sophisticated nasal twang rambled on with a report of his pseudo-scientific philosophies that pretended not to ignore the question.

Many have noticed how relative time is (not in an Einsteinian Syntax). Everyone knows that "time flies when you are having fun". And it goes even faster when we are sleep. On the other hand, it drags when we are bored.

I have never seen a scientific discussion of this phenomena. It may be that we think about this as part of an overview of how we see reality and thus a question for psychologists or philosophers.

I think that this subject should be addressed by Biologists or Neuroscientists. With a little thought, however, a non-biologist like me can come up with a reasonable theory.

It is common knowledge that we slow down as we age. The clock tells me my daily walk (3 miles) takes me longer than it did ten years ago.

How does our Brain/Mind perceive Realty, which includes our perception of the passage of Time?

Without getting all philosophical on you, I don't think we can answer that question. But, I do think we can understand how an older, slower mind would perceive time as passing faster.

Suppose, a Grandfather and his Grandson look at the world and both, while blinking, think "what a beautiful day!". If it takes the Grandfather slightly longer to have this thought, will it affect his perception of the passage of time?

We can show that it would if we visualize a world where we think drastically slower as we age. Here, the Grandson would have "time for" thousands of thought per day, while the Grandfather would only have "time for" a few.

In this world, both Grandson and Grandfather would feel that it took little time to have the thought "what a beautiful day!" - after all, how long can a thought take? But after only a few thoughts, the day would be over for Grand Dad - the days would fly by.

(If you liked this article, "Like" my Clients - Like Tomsin Steel and our Other Clients )

Steel and the Memphis Economy

2011-10-12T14:02:00.000-07:00

‎10 Reasons to Like Us and our Clients - #1 - It's Free! #2 - You can follow our marketing efforts and gain valuable insight, #3 - Follow the steel industry for a better understanding of the Memphis Economy Like Tomsin Steel , #4 - I'll come up with other reasons later, but #1 should sell you.

High on Search Engines - What does that mean?

2011-06-20T10:15:00.000-07:00

Everyone wants to be high on Search Engines, but what does that mean? A website does you no good if no one ever sees it. If you are in a competitive or popular business, it is hard to get ranked high. To be ranked high means that when a prospect wants your service and does a Search, one of the first entries he sees points to your website.

Guessing what your prospects will enter is the first step (most people realize this) and Search Engines are very sensitive (most people don't realize this). A personal example will illustrate this sensitivity.

One of our services is website design. Today, if you enter "Memphis Website Design" into Google, Deluge Studios is number 1 on the first page. We (Esearchfor.com) are number 2.

If, instead of "Memphis Website Design", you enter "Website Design Memphis", we fall to number 3, while Deluge Studios falls to number 4.

For other search terms that I believe are important, our company is ranked #1. Since it is a competitive world, everything is visible on the web, and my competitors are technically savvy, I won't mention these terms in my blog.

SEO

2011-06-14T12:24:00.000-07:00

Helping the World find You - http://www.bruceburtonco.com/

Google's Email Problems

2011-06-03T09:29:00.000-07:00

Since this blog is supported by Google, do they monitor it for statements critical of Google? Just Wondering.

Noticed that gmail has been hacked recently. Just another reason to talk to me about how and why our clients have better email (this is just one of many reasons you should be one of our clients - it is not even a reason we stress).

Mike Stewart

(901) 881-2017

Does Google Hate Facebook?

2011-05-20T07:56:00.000-07:00

My User Name on Facebook is "Kenneth.M.Stewart". Google doesn't list me (on the first page) if I search using "Facebook Kenneth.M.Stewart". Using the same search on Bing and Yahoo, I come up as the first Entry.

Does Google hate Facebook?

Don't be A One-Legged Centipede

2011-05-09T07:54:00.000-07:00

The Marketing Plan of most big businesses is like a hundred leg centipede. They have infinite money and can use it in a hundred ways to get your attention.

You can think of each marketing strategy as a "leg". Some examples of legs are:

(1) Run Newspaper Ads.

(2) Get High on Search Engines.

(3) Advertise in Magazines.

(4) Use Email Marketing.

(5) Use Social Networking for target marketing.

(6) Develop a website.

(7) Advertise on TV.

(8) Develop an "air of expertise".

(9) Use Twitter.

(10) Use Text Marketing.

(11) Integrate multiple websites.

(12) Promote Facebook Business Pages.

(13) Use outdoor (billboard) advertising.

(14) Stress Referrals (paid, unpaid, online, offline).

(15) Use the latest "new thing".

(16) Collect and display references.

(17) Use Guerrilla Marketing techniques.

(18) Advertise in one of the "Yellows" - Yellow Book, Yellow Pages (In my opinion, a bad idea).

Legs need to work together. Big business often has trouble coordinating their legs. Big business takes a long time to implement the latest "new thing" - creating opportunities for the more nimble small business.

Different businesses need different legs. Selecting the right legs for your business can give you a leg up (pun intended) on your competition. A business with these legs can run to success.

Our business is to help a few local small firms choose and use the right legs.

Websites and Twitter

2011-04-22T08:36:00.000-07:00

Been figuring out how to tweet from a website. I'm sure one of my subcontractor is up on all of this, but I love to program (or whatever the modern term is). Twitter should be one part of any comprehensive marketing plan.

Who is Golden?

2011-03-21T08:06:00.000-07:00

Most businesses treat Prospects as if they were Golden and Customers as if they were "a Dime a Dozen". If I have to chose, I would reverse this.

Power of Tweets

2011-03-16T08:06:00.000-07:00

Saw a website selling a book. It had a link letting you download a chapter free if you first tweeted your friends that you were reading the book. If you can give something away free, consider adding a link like this to your website.

Jack of All Trades, Master of All Trades

2011-02-24T14:06:00.000-08:00

In today's world, your clients expect you to know everything. If you work hard, you don't have to disappoint them. Know what you are best at. Work hard to cover other areas. Consider subcontracting for areas you don't have time to master. Google can give you the advice of the best experts in the world.

Should you have a Referral Program?

2011-02-04T08:52:00.000-08:00

Directv $100 Referral Program may be the most famous "Finder's Fee" program. I guess it works or they wouldn't promote it so much.

A good rule is, if you are a small business, consider doing what the big companies are doing. If your expected profit from a new sale can support a reasonable referral fee, consider offering it. Commonsense rules can protect you and may lead to a significant increase in sales.

If you are interested in Esearchfor.com's Referral Program, please contact me (I wouldn't bother to mention it if the return wasn't much greater than Directv's).

Your Business, Your Problems, Are they valuable?

2011-01-26T09:35:00.000-08:00

If you have been in business long, you have overcome problems.

Have you ever wanted advice from someone who has faced the same business problems as you? Maybe your clients could benefit from your experience.

We design and host web sites, get people high on search engines, and provide general computer services. But perhaps our most valuable services is sharing what we have done right and wrong over decades of being a Memphis business.

What irritates you

2011-01-21T10:15:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had a computer problem – and your call to technical support was answered by a machine – or – a person who may or may not be speaking English? - think about what makes you mad - if it makes your prospects mad, offer a solution.

Our clients have my cell number.

Do People trust you?

2011-01-04T08:35:00.000-08:00

Is trust an issue? People won't buy from you if they don't trust you. Have you thought about how to gain their trust in an honest, ethical way? If you can convince someone that they need your services and can afford them, then lack of trust is the only thing in the way of a sale.

If you are honest, there are simple techniques to overcome this last obstacle.

Think Selfish, Then Unselfish

2010-12-28T06:46:00.000-08:00

Think about what you want (for example, more customers) and then ask yourself if your customers and prospects want the same thing. If so, then ask yourself how you can help them get what they want (and why you are the one to help them).

Esearchfor.com, Inc. (23)

2010-12-19T08:37:00.000-08:00

Esearchfor.com, Inc. (23)

2010-12-18T10:39:00.000-08:00

Esearchfor.com, Inc. (23)

Esearchfor.com, Inc. (31)

2010-12-15T10:26:00.000-08:00

Esearchfor.com, Inc. (31)

Snap Judgments

2010-12-10T09:41:00.000-08:00

I think Snap Judgments are valuable if we recognize we may be completely wrong. For example, I don't like Quickmark, a QR code reader app. I can't make it work and don't have time to study their Help section. Good apps need to be unbelievably intuitive. We are all drowning in a sea of information. We need to make snap judgments, but be willing change our minds.

Outbrain - Related Link Widgets

2010-12-02T12:59:00.000-08:00

Experimenting with the blogthis tool

Outbrain - Related Link Widgets

QR Code and Outbrain

2010-12-02T12:20:00.000-08:00

Downloaded Quickmark QR Reader to iphone - jury out on usefulness, outbrain shows promise.

Experimenting with Outbrain

2010-12-01T10:56:00.000-08:00

Went to a meeting today, Outbrain was recommended, there is too much information in the world.

Search Experiment, Travel Agent, Memphis

2010-09-24T08:48:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a "Memphis Travel Agent", see godestinationwedding.com

Using LinkedIn for promotion

2009-08-03T06:50:00.000-07:00

No one reads my blog but me, but I can copy pieces for a LinkedIn promotion.

Sales Marketing Society

2009-03-22T11:10:00.000-07:00

I recently joined the online Linkedin SMS Group.

What a Business needs to Do

2007-04-04T06:58:00.000-07:00

You compete with the World! You and your business must make sure that the quality of all your services and products are equal to your competitors, for some services your quality is superior to your competitors, and that you have a few services that are unique and that your competitors cannot duplicate. Then you must make sure your prospects know your story. See www.noticemybusiness.com.

Conventional Wisdom

2007-03-30T08:13:00.000-07:00

You only get one chance to make a good first impression - Wrong - Everytime you meet a new person, you get a chance to make a good first impression ! - So, try to make a good impression, but if you fail, don't worry. You will have another chance.

Marketing and the Internet

2007-03-28T15:12:00.000-07:00

I don't want to make the marketing professional mad, but I think marketing (especially on the internet) is just common sense.

For example, if you have ever spent hundreds or thousands of dollars for a Newspaper Insert that everyone ignored and trashed the next day or "invested" in any advertising that you weren't sure if it helped or not, there are simple (internet related) procedures to track effectiveness.

Another example is that when I first started developing websites, I realized (as anyone who thinks about it would) that it is much easier to remember a website address than a phone number. One of our clients is Kitchen Solutions (domain name: www.kitchensolutions-inc.com, phone number: 901-624-5331). I don't think I am a genius because I told this client to put his domain name on company vehicles and everything else. Obviously, if you decide you want a new kitchen six months from now, you are more likely to remember the domain name than the phone number.