Useful Web Sites

If you are like a lot of media research people, or a publicity professional who is always trying to find useful web sites for your pr marketing strategy project, I have something of great value. First, realize the Internet is pack full of information that makes it difficult to find what you are looking for. Google has done an excellent job in allowing more than keywords, butlooking for web sites allows you to use key phrases for a finer method of narrowing your search. Ever feel lost in the Internet? Im sure you have.

Publicity professionals, pr clients and all advertising companies use the web to gather information for creating marketing plans, or developing a pr marketing strategy. Knowing where to start can be a great help. But how do you do that? Is there a place that actually has grouped, or categorized sites for all us web surfers to find “stuff”?. The answer is yes. Ok, your saying, get to the point…here is a useful web site that has a good listing of subjects: PINAKES, A Subject Launchpad. The site has an array of topics to find most anything from Music, to high tech to arts and humanities to biotech and many more categories.

It may not be the super list of all lists, but as I said, you need a place to start and this is just one of the many useful sites that can get you pointed in the right direction. So the next time your pr client, or publicity professional has a research project, or you need more information to make that next presentation, check out PINAKES.

If you are really ambitious and want to dig deeper for information on a specific topic, then consider sites like DMOZ, the Open Directory, or About.com, or intute. Each has resources that will get you surfing. But beware, this can get habit forming. You might just find yourself spending hours looking and not doing the research project your had started out to do. Put a time limit on your research, and bookmark sites that could be of value. Then go back and make notes on those sites that can help complete your project. For more information on web site listings, call Carson Marketing, Inc. Ask for George Carson.

How To Make a Better Image

Know your core strengths

A new client called us to help them create and improve their company’s image. This is a typical call for us. For over 25 years we have been helping clients like this re-position themselves through a branding program.

Our team of strategists and designers are already working on the client’s campaign.

We will begin with a corporate brochure that will include several insert sheets for them to distribute at upcoming trade shows.

The logo is a well recognized image and we prefer to use the existing design. What was missing was a coordinated effort of the parent name with all the other brand names that the company has acquired over the past few years.

At this time I cannot reveal the name of this company, but they are in the food business and have good consumer recognition, it just hasn’t been positioned properly to compete with other industry companies.

As we are developing the plan, the client has immediate needs. That’s why we are working on the collateral materials. We have the "core" program in mind and are using this to work from. All other campaign elements such as pr, marketing and ads, will use the core identity as the common thread to establish the branding and positioning.

Sometimes a company needs to be reminded what their main (core) business is all about. Too often, as companies grow, or aquire others, they loose sight of their main business. This usually causes a decline in sales and reduced market share.

Need help in establishing a branding program? We’re here to help you as we have for dozens of clients for the past 25+ years. Call us, and we’ll show you how to make a better image.

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Marketing

Have a Plan to be Successful

Marketing is a very general term. It can mean different things to different companies. To many consumers, it means telemarketers calling you at crazy times of the day (when eating diner), or to bug you about a ballot poll.

But to the business community selling professional services or products, it is How You Reach potential customers. It is the methods you choose to get the message out about that new product.

Marketing is an art. It requires careful planning, just like publicity. Once a strategic plan has been developed, you then need to implement the plan. The media sources you use will become the vehicle for the plan. Driven wisely, your marketing can have positive results.

So what’s the secret to a successful marketing plan? Use a professional company to give you the outside objectivity and guidence. If not then your working with blinders and will only see what the company sees…and that’s tunnel vision marketing.

Get on track for the next year. Time is money and it too can be spent poorly if you don’t plan wisely!

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