Poll says Websites are still Important

Posted on May 28, 2012 Written by 1 Comment

By Paul Pannone

An ongoing poll of eWedNewz readers so far says websites are a vital part of today’s business. eWedNewz coverage of the problems with some websites and Social Media platforms raised questions about the credibility of all online media. Some extremists say websites are doomed because of the growing popularity of Social media. But on the wake of what appears to be a failure at Facebook‘s ability to outpace its over-valuation, current eWedNewz poll results could be right on target.

 

The failure of Facebook’s IPO proves no one is ready to abandon successful marketing that includes a website and slam their face into something that’s overvalued. You need both.

 

Currently only 22% of the poll say website importance is  declining, while 46% say websites are as important as ever. Many business owners we’ve spoken with say consumers still look for a website for credibility. None denies they also look for a presence on Facebook, Twitter and if the ownership of the company shows up on Google. The most successful businesses are transparent and have a presence everywhere there are possible consumers.

Many business owners say they’re not comfortable building a fan base on platforms they don’t own. Many object to the unannounced and sudden changes on Facebook or having to follow their rules. None says they feel all Social Media platforms are stable, fearing more takeovers and consolidation in the future.

Successful business owners say their website if the hub for all proprietary information and consumers services and all other media feeds the traffic to the hub. If any one of the various sources that feeds the hub drops out, there are still others that could be used to fill the gap. No smart business owner says they want to be too dependent on any one, singular source of traffic.

Discussions with business owners say they pay close attention to where the traffic is generated through analytics. But many say they’re finding the benefits of communicating directly with their customers on Social Media, allowing their audience to share in positive information and feedback from satisfied consumers.

So far an ongoing eWedNewz investigation, supported by the poll, shows websites are important to any business. But the website is not a sustainable wedding business.

 

 

What do you think?

 

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Filed Under: Data, eWedNewz, facts and figures, General News, Ongoing Story Coverage, Ongoing Story Investigation, Poll, wedding websites Tagged: , , , , , , ,

So What’s Your Klout Score?

Posted on May 2, 2012 Written by Leave a Comment

By Paul Pannone

 

The internet and understanding how it works continues to mystify most people who say they can barely figure out how to make a call on their smart phone. But with the changes brought about and  growing importance of the internet, keeping up with a working knowledge of what’s popular is as important as paying your mortgage.

With Facebook set to IPO this month commanding an estimated valuation of nearly $10 billion dollars and Twitter coyly staying out of the fray, it’s anyone’s guess how high the ceiling will rise, as the Internet’s impact on civilization continues to overtake everything in its path. Old-timers, newcomers and everyone in between have more questions than there are answers at the moment. Anyone that tells you they have the answers are mistaken, especially if they’re trying to charge for the information. The Internet was conceived as a free source of information. But you have to be smart on who you trust and why.

 

If you want clout on the internet, it may be time to check your Klout.

 

 

In the past six months we’ve kept up with Klout; a resource that takes an index of your Facebook and Twitter information and through the miracle of their purported hocus-pocus assigns a status to your profile and claims to know your reach in cyber space. Wonderful. So now you’re a Broadcaster– so what?

 

According to Klout these are the possible choices you can fall under:

Celebrity (ex: @barackobama, @aplusk)

You can’t get any more influential than this. People hang on your every word, and share your content like no other. You’re probably famous in real life and your fans simply can’t get enough.

Taste Maker (ex: @missrogue)

You know what you like and your audience likes it too. You know what’s trending, but you do more than just follow the crowd. You have your own opinion that earns respect from your followers.

Pundit (ex: @scobleizer)

You don’t just share news, you create the news. As a pundit, your opinions are wide-spread and highly trusted. You’re regularly recognized as a leader in your industry. When you speak, people listen.

Thought Leader (ex: @chrissaad)

You are a thought leader in your industry. Your followers rely on you, not only to share the relevant news, but to give your opinion on the issues. People look to you to help them understand the day’s developments. You understand what’s important and what your audience values that.

Broadcaster (ex: @huffingtonpost)

You broadcast great content that spreads like wildfire. You are an essential information source in your industry. You have a large and diverse audience that values your content.

Curator (ex: @chrisbrogan)

You highlight the most interesting people and find the best content on the web and share it to a wide audience. You are a critical information source to your network.  You have an amazing ability to filter massive amounts of content to surface the nuggets that your audience truly care about.  Your hard work is very much appreciated.

Feeder (ex: @loldrivers)

Your audience relies on you for a steady flow of information about your industry or topic. Your audience is hooked on your updates and secretly can’t live without them.

Syndicator (ex: @DrShock)

You keep tabs on what’s trending and who’s important to watch. You share the best of this with your followers and save them from having to find what’s hot on their own. You probably focus on a specific topic or cater to a defined audience.

Networker (ex: @lewishowes)

You know how to connect to the right people and share what’s important to your audience. You generously share your network to help your followers. You have a high level of engagement and an influential audience

Socializer (ex: @bobbrisco)

You are the hub of social scenes and people count on you to find out what’s happening. You are quick to connect people and readily share your social savvy. Your followers appreciate your network and generosity.

Specialist (ex: @joefernandez)

You may not be a celebrity, but within your area of expertise your opinion is second to none. Your content is likely focused around a specific topic or industry with a focused, highly-engaged audience.

Activist (ex: @alexlines)

You’ve got an idea or cause you want to share with the world and you’ve found the perfect medium for it. Your audience counts on you to champion your cause.

Coversationalist (ex: @kuratowa)

You love to connect and always have the inside scoop. Good conversation is not just a skill, it’s an art. You might not know it, but when you are witty, your followers hang on every word.

Dabbler (ex: @ask500people)

You might just be starting out with the social web or maybe you’re not that into it. If you want to grow your influence, try engaging with your audience and sharing more content.

Explorer (ex: @nitinchitkara)

You actively engage in the social web, constantly trying out new ways to interact and network. You’re exploring the ecosystem and making it work for you. Your level of activity and engagement shows that you “get it,” we predict you’ll be moving up.

Observer (ex: @adrockus)

You don’t share very much, but you follow the social web more than you let on. You may just enjoy observing more than sharing or you’re checking this stuff out before jumping in full-force.

With any rating system, beauty contest, best baby award, etc., criticism often follows the venue and Klout is no different. According to Wikipedia;

“Several objections to Klout’s methodology have been raised regarding both the process by which scores are generated, and the overall societal effect. Critics have pointed out that Klout scores are not representative of the influence a person really has, highlighted by the fact that President Obama has a lower influence score than a number of bloggers.[7] Additionally, some social critics argue that the Klout score devalues authentic online communication and promotes social ranking and stratification by trying to quantify human interaction.[8] The site has also been criticized for violating the privacy of minors, and for exploiting users for its own profit.[9]

John Scalzi has described the principle behind Klout’s operation as “socially evil” in its exploitation of its users’ status anxiety.[10]Charles Stross has described the service as “the internet equivalent of herpes“, saying that his analysis of Klout’s terms and conditions reveals that the company’s business model is “flat-out illegal” in the United Kingdom, where it conflicts with the Data Protection Act 1998. Stross “strongly advise(s)” his readers to delete their Klout accounts and opt out of Klout services.[11]“

 

Do you know your Klout score? Does it matter? Let us know by voting.

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2012

Filed Under: eWedNewz, facts and figures, General News, Poll, The Internet, wedding websites Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Samantha Goldberg Face Book account gets Hacked; Marni Gold attacked

Posted on March 28, 2012 Written by 1 Comment

By Paul Pannone

This week perpetrators posing as Samantha Goldberg hacked her Facebook account and ranted about an event in Summit in New Jersey headed by Marni Gold. The rants appeared on walls of wedding industry  personalities causing Goldberg to issue explanations of what was happening.

 

Rants on Samantha Goldberg’s Facebook involved the cancellation of Donnie Brown speaking at the event and criticizing the organization and event.

 

 

The rants involved speaker Donnie Brown with net proceeds going to Wish Upon a Wedding;

The EPIC Summit, is a new Wedding and Events Industry Conference coming up on March 30th at The ELAN in Lodi, NJ.  The EPIC Summit is an exciting conference bringing together the best and brightest in the industry to educate wedding and event professionals all for a great cause!  All Net Proceeds of this event will be donated to Wish Upon A Wedding New Jersey/New York Metro Chapter!

Goldberg issued statements after the late night rants disappeared before people woke up in the morning.

 

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Advertising Resources Diverted to Social Networking

Posted on February 13, 2012 Written by 4 Comments

 

By Paul Pannone

Undeniably, the explosive growth of Social Media displaces all forms of marketing and redirects company resources while revamping budgets that normally went to more tradition forms of advertising. Over five years ago, we reported how differently companies would spend their advertising/marketing dollars; today we’re here to restate our position and give some insight into where the money is going.

 

Hey guys, want to put out a magazine today? How about wrecking the use of websites?

 

 

In the beginning there were websites; slowly they displaced traditional advertising budgets and eventually, both lived in harmony. Almost immediately, the size of print ads and the frequency of use in television and radio suffered, opening dollars to web presence and flow of traffic to websites. In the end, traditional forms of advertising yielded to a supportive role, directing traffic to company websites for more information.  That was over a decade ago. Has the website become obsolete?

Wedding website expert, Christine Boulton weighed in;

“You need a website to be found by today’s consumer. But unless you’re a major corporation with huge requirements, the average business should budget between 2,500 and 5,000 dollars.”

When asked of the growing importance of Social networking Boulton shared an article she just posted for her followers. The article deals with Facebook upping its significance, launching greater ways for businesses to market their  products, build their brands and connect with consumers. Facebook continues to combine the utilities of email, telecommunication, instant access to information with the power of consumer interactivity.

But it still doesn’t answer the question about websites; after all, both Social Networking and wesbites are digital, right?

Not according to Social Media Sean;

“Web sites are “traditional” regardless of whether they are digital.”

The newZ is difficult to comprehend for many narrow-minded thinking business decision-makers that struggle with the idea the money invested in websites and SEO could be diminishing at the hand of free advertising. Most are years away from understanding in-house social media programs will eventually replace most forms of advertising. Some still have no clue how to leverage the power of the internet in any form, including websites.

Most still say they feel the responsibility of promoting products and create demand rests on the shoulder of manufacturers– and rightfully so. But they fall short when they insist manufacturers fritter away money on expensive, traditional campaigns that no longer work– but seem more impressive or look prettier than Social Networking.

In an ongoing eWedNewz Poll, we asked what type of advertising do you use? Remember, eWedNewz readers are smarter than followers of just plain news.

So far 57% of combined responses that took the poll said they turn to the internet for marketing. Broken down further 30% use Social Networking and 27% said they still rely on email blasts. Evenly split 15% said they use radio and or television. 13% of respondents said they use some form of printed marketing, including yellow pages.

Take the poll:

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Consumers Won’t Buy What They Can’t Find; Tuxedos in Trouble Again

Posted on January 3, 2012 Written by 3 Comments

 

By Paul Pannone

 

The New Year is here and the future seems brighter than ever for business owners who took social media seriously the past few years. eWedNewz follows several key portions of marketing affecting the success (or failure) of businesses and finds the best results include the effective use of social media.

Topping the most cost-effective  means includes the proper use of Face Book and Twitter to attract local attention. Experts agree the use of Face Book and Twitter is not a debate or even a question any longer.

According to Denise Wakeman, “No matter how great your product, service or business is, if your prospective customer can’t find you on the web, it’s like you don’t exist.”

In nearly every source the explosive growth of the internet is on its way in toppling all other forms of media in the next five years. Some organizations like Pingdom are ready to draw conclusions on data spanning the past decade saying;

“If anyone ever thought the Internet was something of a fad, those mouths have been permanently silenced during the past decade, and these numbers show why.

We also like how the Internet is becoming more widely distributed across the world. It’s no longer a club dominated by a few top countries.

And you have to admit that it’s interesting looking back and realizing how relatively small the Internet was back in 2000. The 361 million Internet users from back then seem a tiny amount compared to today’s (almost) 2 billion.”

So with the foregone conclusion and growing use of the internet why are some industry’s still resisting its importance?

eWedNewz watches the formal wear business closely and notices the problems they’re having with the new way of marketing online. In fact the formal wear business– minus major players like Men’s Wearhouse, Jim’s formal wear and only a few others– stay stuck in a time when marketing/advertising and promotions came in the form of paper or an occasional radio commercial. But at least in the time we’re talking about– before 2000–  the tuxedo products in stores weren’t 30 years-old– yet.

Of course this isn’t true for all stores. Many are making the changes, adapting to new products, marketing, advertising and promotions. Yet stores are not changing fast enough for consumer that are already years ahead of them. Consumer expectations are not being met by tuxedo stores that are losing ground to larger operators, eating their lunch.

 

The sale of in-store cut-out products originated on the internet, according to Michelle Long of Eye For Design.

 

“We’re seeing a lot of activity and interest in the Situation this season. We’re selling cardboard stand-ups of Mike (the Situation) since you talked about it on Face Book,” according to Michelle Long of Eye 4 Design marketing.

Long told eWedNewz demand for FLOW images, specifically the Situation, has steadily increased since the summer when the the tuxedo manufacturer announced a deal with the television celebrity. The deal with the Situation replaced dollars that normally appeased buyers with pages in magazines that arguably did little or nothing to create demand and traffic to stores in search of products. Long said awareness and sale of all Situation promotional products increased since they appeared on the internet.

Millions of consumer are now aware of Situation tuxedo products because of the online campaign. FLOW numbers alone show over a million views on their Face Book Fan Page and growing everyday. Coupled with the Situation’s 4 million fans on Face Book and another million on Twitter, tuxedos are getting the biggest boost ever.

FLOW estimates there will be greater demand in the coming weeks and months, as the Situation Tweets and directs traffic to stores that carry his products.

Because of the phenomenon eWedNewz had to use a new set of measuring standards for the top ten stories, omitting stories about the Situation. When he tweeted the story or mentioned them on Facebook, the numbers skyrocketed way above normal levels because of the consumer views.

While adjustments for technology continue experts say the formula for success is the same.

“It’s a simple formula; you need to start with a good product. You need to have your product information featured on a website. Then you need to promote your product and your website, shouting from every possible place. That’s where the all the Social Networks come in. If you’re lucky enough to have a deal with a celebrity and can leverage their reach, that can really take the campaign over the top,” according to Wedding Analyst, Christine Boulton.

Boulton and other experts say a proper balance of all forms of media is necessary to reach today’s complicated consumer.

“Consumers are everywhere; to totally omit any form of advertising is simply not good business,” according to Jim Duhe of Bridal Guide Magazine.

Duhe reports good sale of Bridal Guide magazines on the news stands but also agrees with how importance an internet presence and promotions involving advertisers of the magazine are to the overall health of any media business.

While the overall standing for tuxedos improved in 2011 because of the efforts of FLOW, consumers are prone to use stores that carry up-to-date merchandise that promote themselves and give excellent service. Stores that whine, complain and are generally associated with “old” anything are the walking dead– along with anything else not visible on the internet.

 

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Bridal Magazines, Celebrity, eWedNewz, General News, Men's formal wear, Promotions, Publications, retail, The Groom, Top Stories for the Year, Wedding Water Cooler, wedding websites Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,