The Blog of Deep River Communication

Google Wave first impressions

2009-11-12T15:16:00.001-05:00

With my first Google Wave under my belt, I see a lot of potential.Embedding maps, polls and interactive editing are just a few of the features. With the addition of Google Gears to your machine, some drag and drop of local files into the Wave becomes available. But, as with any Google service I see the need for a Google Account as a hindrance to widespread, public adoption of the Wave service.

Google Launches Music Service Onebox

2009-10-30T12:55:00.001-04:00

Many users of Google today should see Google's new Music preview feature for any search involving a song title. Music can be reviewed and/or purchased from any of the partners including iLike and Pandora.

10 Social Media To Dos

2009-10-22T21:37:00.001-04:00

1) Ensure all your social network (Linked In, Twitter, blog) profile pictures are the same.
2) Participate! Nothing happens without action on your part
3) Participate regularly and with relevance.
4) Participate
5) Set up some automation ( http://www.TweetLater.com )
6) Add your Twitter updates to your blog/Facebook
7) Add your blog feed to your Facebook page
8) Set up a Facebook Business page for your business
9) Add your Linked In/Twitter url to the signature of your emails.
10) Organize your Twitter "universe" into lists using http://www.TweetDeck.com or similar.
Rob Ainbinder is Owner of Deep River Communication.
The firm specializes in Search Engine Optimization, Internet Strategy and Web Analytics for small to medium size buinesses. In addition, the firm offers Pay Per Click Advertising, E-commerce, "Blogs to Go", Lead Generation and Web Design.
Deep River Communication – Internet Visibility & Strategy

Tracking Your Web site Investment

2008-11-29T20:07:00.002-05:00

I recently wrote a column for the Randolph Observer entitled Tracking Your Web site Investment.

Hopefully, business owners will get a little better understanding about what's happening on their sites.

Rob Ainbinder is Owner of Deep River Communication.
The firm specializes in Search Engine Optimization, Internet Strategy and Web Analytics for small to medium size buinesses. In addition, the firm offers Pay Per Click Advertising, E-commerce, "Blogs to Go", Lead Generation and Web Design.
Deep River Communication – Internet Visibility & Strategy

Brief History of Internet Marketing: Part 1

2008-11-02T14:25:00.003-05:00

The Internet: New Medium, Budgets, Challenges and Opportunities
(c) 2008, Rob Ainbinder, Deep River Communication

Abstract
The evolution of the Internet and Internet Marketing in particular has fundamentally changed the way we market, how we market and the allocation of marketing budgets.

The evolution of the Internet and Internet Marketing in particular has fundamentally changed the way we market, how we market and the allocation of marketing budgets. We have transformed from an era of one-to-many mass communication into an era of one-to-one mass communication. At the same time that these new mediums have arrived marketing budgets have had to be adapted to encompass the new mix of opportunities and challenges. A brief discussion of the evolution of these new marketing vehicles and their impact on marketing budgets will be discussed in the pages that follow.

Some of the earliest electronic advertising by today's standards is considered to be spam. A message was posted on Usenet promoting an immigration law firm and so began electronic advertising (Fiest & Everret-Church, 1999). The Usenet is one of the oldest structures pre-dating the Internet. With the Usenet's introduction community organizers quickly discovered the need to make announcements and summarize communication on the Usenet forums. These early “newsletters” were entirely text only messages. The discussion groups we use today, were largely influenced by these early discussion groups.

The introduction of HTML, e-mail protocols and messaging platforms that render this code gave the marketer and the recipient an increasingly more content richer experience with graphics to support branding, product pictures and video to support sales. Even as e-mail was developing their were more developments happening online.

__________________________________________
(c) 2008, Rob Ainbinder
Deep River Communication
Internet Visibility & Strategy
http://www.deeprivercommunication.com

Google Chrome Undocumented Keyboard Shortcuts

2008-09-05T18:08:00.001-04:00

While messing around with Google Chrome this week we uncovered some keyboard shortcuts not available via the interface.

Note: all shortcuts here involve holding the Ctrl (control) key while pressing the shortcut key.

CTRL + A : Select All
CTRL + G: Find
CTRL + F: Find
CTRL + E: Search Google for
CTRL + K: same as CTRL + E
CTRL + O: Open
CTRL + W: Quit

Kitchens & Candles Opens Doors Online

2006-10-03T19:59:00.000-04:00

Asheboro, NC - Kitchens & Candles, the winner of Randolph Mall's Retail Challenge, has recently launched it's Web site. The Web site (http://www.kitchensandcandles.com) features information about the retailer, lines carried and contact information. More features are planned based on customer feedback.

The Web site, domain name and hosting services are provided as part of the contest winner's package by prize sponsor Deep River Communication of Asheboro, NC.

Kitchens & Candles can be found on-line at http://www.kitchensandcandles.com.

Deep River Communication provides Internet Marketing, Web Design and Copy writing services to a diverse client base. Deep River Communication can be reached on the Web @ http://www.deeprivercommunication.com

Randolph County Political Candidates Offered Free, Next Generation Web Sites - Blogs

2006-08-26T09:25:00.001-04:00

Randolph Is Talking (http://randolphistalking.blogspot.com), a free, community based initiative of Deep River Communication, is extending their project by offering Randolph County candidates for political office free initial set-up and training on campaign blogs.
Blogs are the next generation of self managed Web sites that offer unprecedented access to voters and the public at large. A blog is free, easy to promote, use, and keep updated.

"Blogs are an ideal platform for candidates of any party affiliation to continue the dialog on the issues. As voters have become more sophisticated in their use of the Internet, they are looking for better ways to engage the candidates. A blog gives voters the opportunity to interact with candidates one-on-one on the voter's schedule. Once a candidate enters office they can continue the dialog via their blog and solicit feedback and input on issues. Elected officials can use a blog to explain, directly to the public, their thought process and feelings on decisions" says Rob Ainbinder, Internet Marketing Consultant for Deep River Communication.

Deep River Communication provides Internet Marketing, Web Design and Copy writing services. Clients include: Salama Chiropractic, CJ Renovators, and iNet Realty.

Deep River Communication can be reached on the Web @ http://www.deeprivercommunication.com

Deep River Communication presents Blogging 101 Workshop.

2006-03-23T07:20:00.000-05:00

A workshop on blogs and blogging will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 23, at the Asheboro Public Library. Presented by the library’s K&A Programming, Deep River Communication and sponsored by the Friends of the Library, the program is free and the public is invited. Refreshments will be served. Potential bloggers will learn how to get started and perform basic blog functions, with on-the spot sign-up available. You'll also learn about the brief history of blogs and their impact on current events and media. Additional details in the Library's newsletter (Adobe PDF).

Customer feedback wanted

2006-01-31T12:16:00.000-05:00

You are invited to comment on any of our services and/or matters of customer service. Just use the comment link below to add your feedback. We will not delete honest feedback. However, we will get rid of profanity, anonymous heckling, and juvenile comments.

Deep River Communication Added to List of Sponsors for "The Piedmont Retail Business Challenge" presented by Southern Community Bank and Trust

2006-01-26T13:59:00.000-05:00

Deep River Communication announces that it has reached a sponsorship agreement with Randolph Mall, Asheboro, NC for the The Piedmont Retail Business Challenge presented by Southern Community Bank and Trust; a contest to find the best business plans in Winston-Salem, High Point and Asheboro.

Under the sponsorhip agreement, Deep River Communication will provide a Web site package (valued at $1,300) to the Randolph Mall winner which includes: a professionally designed Web site, one year of Web site hosting and a one year domain name registration.

"The Piedmont Retail Business Challege is a great opportunity for small business. We are delighted to be a sponsor of this contest. With the number of large manufacturing companies leaving the county on the increase, small to medium sized business will help fuel more of Randolph county's growth in the future. We hope to help more of these businesses reach their goals." notes Rob Ainbinder, President of Deep River Communication.

Deep River Communication provides Marketing, Web Design and Copywriting services to grassroots, non-profit and for-profit clients. Clients include: the North Carolina Zoo, Randolph County Volunteer Center,CJ Renovators and Randolph County United Way.

Contact:
Rob Ainbinder
President
Deep River Communication
Phone: 336-207-3337
Web: http://www.deeprivercommunication.com

Web sitings: InBubbleWrap

2006-01-13T17:25:00.000-05:00

The Web site InBubbleWrap (or iBW for those in the know) is the offspring of 800CEOREAD.

If you'd like to win a free business book sign yourself up then, check for a new offer each workday. Some authors contribute books and others have also included personal conference calls for your business! We are addicted and you could be too. Some really great opportunities to get a free book, free advice and of course, some free bubble wrap.

Happy Cyber Monday!

2005-11-28T08:58:00.000-05:00

Today has been dubbed Cyber Monday. That's opposed to Black Friday. The latter is, of course, the Friday after Thanksgiving and supposedly the biggest retail shopping day of the year. But today, the Monday after the holiday, has achieved the dubious distinction of being the biggest online shopping day as everybody who saw what they wanted to buy over the weekend goes back to the office (and the high-speed Internet connection) and buys it on Monday.

PowerPoint Rule to Live By...

2005-11-11T15:50:00.000-05:00

"The 10/20/30 PowerPoint rule: No more than 10 slides; no more than 20 minutes; 30 point typeface."

- Guy Kawasaki

Is RSS the Next Killer App?

2005-09-30T07:18:00.000-04:00

I was at a High Point Chamber meeting recently and one of the panel spoke in glowing terms about RSS and it's intergration with your computer's desktop.

You may be asking: "What is RSS?"
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is an XML-based format for distributing and aggregating Web content (such as news headlines or blog postings). Web site and blogs package the information up in a standard format, called a feed, and makes these feeds availablee to anyone who has 'subscribed' to them.

Even within the early stages of this content distribution method advertisers have entered offering to advertise within RSS feeds of popular Web sites and blogs.
But, as far as RSS being much a part of your desktop; we still have the proverbial last mile to go.
If we view the timeline on RSS application development we see e-mail like applications and web browser toolbars. But, RSS isn't integrated with the computer desktop, yet.

Want to know more about how your business can leverage RSS to it's advantage? Please contact us.

Deep River Communication Adds North Carolina Zoo to Growing Client List

2005-09-29T17:33:00.000-04:00

Deep River Communication announces that it has added the North Carolina Zoo to it's growing list of clients. Under the agreement, Deep River Communication will provide Web site updates and ColdFusion® application maintenance.
"The North Carolina Zoo is an invaluable resource to the citizens of North Carolina and surrounding states. Our job is to provide needed technical services for the award winning Web site," notes Rob Ainbinder, President of Deep River Communication.

Deep River Communication provides Marketing, Web Design and Copywriting services to grassroots, non-profit and for-profit clients. Clients include CJ Renovators, Randolph County Volunteer Center and Randolph County United Way.

An Area Blogger Affects Change at Winston-Salem Journal

2005-08-26T14:45:00.000-04:00

Looks like this story has made the roundtrip from Blog to Blog to PR Newsletter.

"...Most of the time, probably not, but it's interesting to watch when a blog post actually catches a company's attention. That occurred earlier this year, when a North Carolina blogger, Jon Lowder, made a quiet complaint about his hometown paper, the Winston-Salem Journal, and compared it, unfavorably, with a newspaper 30 miles to the east, the Greensboro News & Record.

Part of the post read, "I live in Winston-Salem. I have the Winston-Salem Journal delivered every morning. But I don't feel like I know anyone there… I get all the N&R blogs via RSS. I don't get their paper… yet. But I still feel closer to the N&R."

There are a million and one wistful comments like this on the web, but somehow this one got traction. For one thing, it was quoted by NYU's Jay Rosen, the author of the PressThink blog, a widely read site.

For another, both the Winston-Salem Journal and the Greensboro News & Record responded to Lowder's original blog post. Indeed, the News & Record's top editor posted a brief reply.

More remarkable still, though, was what happened at the Winston-Salem Journal. Not only did the paper respond to the post and supply contact information, but it went and created an RSS feed just days after Lowder's original post."

There's a powerful marketing/customer service lesson here that shouldn't go unnoticed. Learn some more about what a blog can do for your organization.

Randolph County Blogger's Meeting

2005-08-24T17:49:00.000-04:00

Please join us for the second R.C.B. (Randolph County Blogger's) Meeting.
When: August 29, 2005, 7 - 9 pm
Where: Coffee Exchange - Asheboro (42 North location)
Why: An opportunity for local bloggers to talk about blogging, new tools, share tips and advice. For those new to blogging there will be help on hand to get you started. Enjoy some coffee, a dessert and/or cool smoothie.
RSVP: Here

The event is sponsored by the Coffee Exchange, Randolph Is Talking and Deep River Communication.

HookedGear Launches

2005-08-13T14:30:00.000-04:00

We are excited to announce that our line of t-shirts, stickers and hats (dubbed HookedGear) is now available in our online store.

Loyalty is Not a Pocket Full of Barcodes

2005-07-21T19:43:00.000-04:00

It struck me the other day that these paper laminated “key fobs” represent the end product of loyalty programs. But, these six barcodes, adding some bulk to my already unwieldy key chain, are not rewarding. Sure, the promise of these programs to connect customers to retailers still holds great potential. The premise is simple enough: I give a retailer certain information. In exchange the retailer has the benefit of customized offers suited to my purchasing history and demographics.

From my vantage point, as a consumer, I don’t see much value yet. The only thing I get is an occasional valuable coupon in a long print out at the checkout.

I'd challenge any retailer that has a loyalty program to take a second look at the performance and relevance of the print outs.

How Blogs Influence Purchase Decisions

2005-07-18T13:03:00.000-04:00

July 18, 2005
By BIGresearch

Do consumer blog-reading habits impact shopping and purchasing behavior? BIGresearch has the scoop.

The following is from our SIMM VI database of over 14,000 respondents displaying the differences in the influence of blogging directly on purchase decision to eat out, telecom services, medicines, car and truck, home improvement, grocery, apparel/clothing and electronics.
Dollar General and Dollar Store are two distinct discount retail chains where most items sell for $5.00 or less.

Overall, for Dollar Store customers, blogging has greater influence than Dollar General bloggers on their purchase. Blogging has greatest influence on Dollar General customers in purchase decisions regarding home improvement, electronics, telecom services and grocery, compared to Dollar General customers.

Blogging has very little influence on purchase decision in almost every category, but it does compare favorably on eating out. The above data can start to chart the potential power of the new media influence on concrete purchase decisions by retail channels. Media planning and ROI elements by retail channel are important to retailers and manufacturers.

BIGresearch is an Ohio-based online marketing intelligence and internet-powered marketing research company.

Don't Bore Me With Your Blog

2005-07-12T17:37:00.000-04:00

Susan Solomon makes some good points
"If you're going to blog, become an expert on something. This is especially important for blogging in the business world. ....Blogs are for sharing information, not pointless doggerel (or catteral)."

She includes six points to make your blog "sizzle". Worth reviewing.
Read the whole article

Susan Solomon has been in healthcare marketing for more than 20 years. She teaches marketing communications at two Southern California universities.

Blogs: A Primer

2005-07-02T08:42:00.000-04:00

Blogs, short for Weblogs have recently made headlines on TV, Newspapers and business publications. A blog is free, fun, way to show the world (almost) anything that interests you via a blog on the World Wide Web.

A blog is a means of sharing thoughts and ideas. Your blog can be a personal diary, a project collaboration tool, a guide, or any means of communicating and publishing information on the web. Its uses are as limitless as your imagination.

Authors use their blogs for creative writing. Others for political writing or technical writing. Teachers and educators use blogs in their courses and classrooms.
Blogs are now a great source of information and quotes for the media about your business. Get your blog mentioned in an article - that's free PR. Or, you can start a community with your blog. Blogs are a great way to drive traffic to an established Web site.

Blogs are free to start and very easy to update. Blogger (http://www.blogger.com) the leading service provider allows you to set up a blog in just a few easy steps.
Give your blog a name, provide a username, password, select a template and you are ready to start blogging. No Web designer required.

A blog has several parts which include:

Date: The date the post is written. Posts are generally presented in reverse chronological order (most recent first).
Title: Each post is given a title. This is a pithy phrase, a pun, or even a series of symbols.
Time stamp: The time the post is uploaded to the blog. The time stamp often is a link to a permanent page just for this post. This allows other bloggers to link to a post.
Post: A word, sentence, paragraph or essay, with links and names and current news. Key words and names are sometimes highlighted in boldface, which makes the post 'scannable'.
Author nickname: The name or nickname of the person who wrote the post. For blogs written by one person, the author is often left off (because the author identification can be found on the Profile). For collaborative blogs, the author helps to differentiate contributors. The nickname can also be a link to a page of all the author’s posts.
Comments: A software feature that allows readers to leave their own comments and reactions to the author’s post.
TrackBack: A way for one blog post to link to the post of another blog. In other words, one blogger can write about the content of another person's weblog, and the two posts are linked in a web.

Where to Find Blogs

Once your blog is started you can add links to other blogs you’ve read and enjoy. It’s easy to find blogs in almost any city. Just type in blog and the city name into your favorite search like Google (www.google.com) and a list of blogs is often found.

Some Local Blogs of Note:

Randolph is Talking – a community blog that connects citizens to local bloggers.
Russlings - the blog of Russ Williams, Executive Director of the North Carolina Zoological Society.
Flying the King of NASCAR – the blog of Mickey Pugh, pilot to Richard Petty.
In the Stacks – the blog of the Randolph County Library

Qumana: Our test report

2005-06-29T11:24:00.000-04:00

As promised we have tested Qumana a desktop blogging application. What better way to try it than create the post for our trials.

The Download/Installation
The download went well. Although at 4 MB at first glance it seemed a little heavy.

Configuring Publishers/Server Admin

This was fairly intuitive and our tests with Blogger login seemed to confirm good API integration with the Google service. Enter your blogger user name and password, test the connection and then...

Select a Blog

We were delighted to see all of the Blogs associated with our Blogger account.

Select the blog you want to publish to and then compose.

Composing your Post

A familiar Windows/Word/Outlook type toolbar is displayed. Interface is clean, all icons have tooltips. Includes spell check and thesaurus. Seems complete. Select POST and your done, almost.

After the post we looked at it and it needed some HTML tweeking.

Somethings we'd like to see

Image upload integration - All the images have to be uploaded and the URL specified. For Blogger accounts we'd like to see Qumana tied in with Bloggers image facility.
CSS template synch - While we were impressed with the ability to specify any font style on our local machine we'd much rather have seen the styles from Blogger that are applied to our template become the default to assist the user in maintaing the look and feel.

Overall Assesment
A good program to assist posting to a blog but, not ready for your CEO to start blogging. Considering the features we think it's a reasonable size download.

This post powered By Qumana

This Ad's for You -- Just You

2005-06-28T16:42:00.000-04:00

"Invidi Technologies' CEO David Downey explains how his company's system sends viewers targeted commercials based on their TV usage

Do consumers plagued by incessant TV, radio, outdoor, and Internet ads hate advertising, or do they just hate advertising that's irrelevant to them? That's what cable operators are going to find out as they start testing software designed by Princeton (N.J.) company Invidi Technologies "

Businessweek