Hooked! The Blog of Deep River Communication

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

Rob Ainbinder — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 13:25:00 +0000

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.

Rob Ainbinder — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 12:20:00 +0000

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

Rob Ainbinder — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 17:16:00 +0000

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

Rob Ainbinder — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 18:59:00 +0000

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

Rob Ainbinder — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 22:25:00 +0000

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!

Rob Ainbinder — Mon, 28 Nov 2005 13:58:00 +0000

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...

Rob Ainbinder — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 20:50:00 +0000

"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?

Rob Ainbinder — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 11:18:00 +0000

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

Rob Ainbinder — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 21:33:00 +0000

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

Rob Ainbinder — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 18:45:05 +0000

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

Rob Ainbinder — Wed, 24 Aug 2005 21:49:00 +0000

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

Rob Ainbinder — Sat, 13 Aug 2005 18:30:00 +0000

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

Rob Ainbinder — Thu, 21 Jul 2005 23:43:00 +0000

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

Rob Ainbinder — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 17:03:00 +0000

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

Rob Ainbinder — Tue, 12 Jul 2005 21:37:00 +0000

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.