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Favorite Posts/Press/Site of the Week

May 29th, 2009

It’s been awhile since I’ve done a “favorites” post.

First, big kudos goes out to David Mihm on his 2nd annual local search ranking factors. 27 prominent people contributed to this.

I’m happy to see that the first factor is claiming your business in places like the Google Local Business Center and others. I’m also happy to see that claiming a PO Box (or a fake UPS address) instead of an actual address is a negative factor. That leads to local search spam. Uncool.

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Next, I’m happy to say that my sis and bro-in-law at BuyOnlineNow has made the Internet Retailers 2009 Top 500 Guide once again.

I know the company all-too-well, and you can take my word that they are all full of awesome. Customer service has always been the key. This is why they are full of awesome.

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Do You Know Who I Am?

Really slick new social portal. Got talent? Feel free to go there and sign up. The talent could be niche acting, musicians, comedians, sports, etc. More to come…

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Bro-Sis Marketing Update – Total Success in Madison

May 18th, 2009

This will be the last Bro-Sis Photography Marketing update for little while. I’m happy to say that the Madison event was beyond successful and we couldn’t be happier! It sounds like we’ll be doing some future workshops for photographer groups as well as more speaking engagements. Special thanks to Lew Everling who spoke the morning session.

It’s tough to present about search marketing, local search and social media in just two hours. There’s no way to present a “how to” session as that would take a whole week. However, we were able to “demystify” the concepts and common fallacies for these smart photographers. @JillWhalen would be proud because we did our part to take the BS out of absolutely everything.

I wish I wrote down their names, but a married couple from Wisconsin Dells came up to me afterward and thanked both Heather and I so very much! They get the big-box sales calls and pitches, they vaguely understand the concepts and now have a clear path of what they need to do in search/social as professional photographers. Thank you!

More thanks goes to Krystal Stankowski from Krystal Images Photography for her help to put this on. After the event, I sat with her at the hotel’s business center computer to show things we talked about including Google Alerts, Facebook Pages and grey-hat anchor text. :)

Ok, a picture story…

Here’s Heather talking about the difference between Facebook profiles and Facebook Pages.

Explaining Facebook Profiles vs. Facebook Pages

Explaining Facebook Profiles vs. Facebook Pages

Being pretty passionate on how to easily create your own Google Local Business Center for free while other companies literally charge thousands of dollars to do it for you.

Example for Milwaukee Local 10-Pack Results

Example for Milwaukee Local 10-Pack Results

Talking about good Twitter examples while Heather’s loading a hilarious cartoon parody video of Twitter. You can see the parody video at Twouble with Twitter.

The Good and Bad of Twitter

The Good and Bad of Twitter

Awesome audience during a break

Awesome audience members during a break

Awesome audience members during a break

Lew Everling in a fantastic morning presentation.

Lew Everling

Lew Everling

Fantastic presentation from Lew Everling. The whole day brought some sweet synergy. I look forward to co-presenting with him again.

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Bro-Sis Marketing Update – Another Picture Story and Day One of Madison

May 17th, 2009

This is it! Tomorrow afternoon Heather and I will be presenting an overview of search marketing and social media to a group of professional photographers in Madison. Just earlier today, I saw the official SCPA announcement of it. Also, we met Lew Everling who will be presenting before us. He’s an awesome guy and talented photographer.

Getting close to Madison, I again got sucked in to buy stuff at the MouseHouse CheeseHaus. Both my car and myself were happy.

MouseHouse CheeseHaus

MouseHouse CheeseHaus

I arrived early to get a chance to walk around downtown Madison. I love this city! From talking to Heather’s friend Mariah, State Street is still a pretty crazy place during Halloween.

State Street - Madison, WI

State Street - Madison, WI

Turns out it’s also graduation day for the cool 2009 class at UW-Madison.

Congrats 2009 Graduates

Congrats 2009 Graduates

There was also a very cool biking event, partly going around the State Capital called Wheels on Willy.

Wheels on Willy

Wheels on Willy

From there, it was to the hotel. I had to hit the Apple Store at the West Towne Mall first because I lost my presentation remote. They had me in and out in under 3 minutes. Thank you!

Apple Store Comes Through Again

Apple Store Comes Through Again

Finally, we got together with Lew and a couple of Heather’s friends. Here’s Lew, Heather and I enjoying an after-dinner drink.

Lew, Heather and I

Lew, Heather and I

We’re really looking forward to the event. The one thing we’re missing is audio speakers as they’re not provided. We have a few short videos to show so I plan to hit a Best Buy right when they open to buy a cheap 40 dollar set. I’ll unfortunately have to miss part of Lew’s presentation because of it, but he’ll benefit from having speakers as well.

Thanks to all who have been following our updates, and more will most likely come tomorrow after the presentations.

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Bro-Sis Marketing Update – Fun in Rochester and a May 9th Picture Story

May 10th, 2009

This was a fun day. Heather and I presented a dry-run in Rochester for our May 18 presentation in Madison.

First, thank you very much to those who showed up yesterday. Family was present as well as Sara Hobbs Kohrt from Studio Seven Photography. It was a pleasure to speak with her and get her input as a professional photographer. Her talent speaks for itself.

We’re now more than ready for our Madison presentation to professional photographers. Hopefully, it will turn into a speaking circuit across the Midwest and the Mid-Ohio Valley.

Rochester picture story – here’s Heather setting up:

Heather Setting up for our Presentation

Heather Setting up for our Presentation

Here’s Heather talking about social media:

Heather Presenting

Heather Presenting

Print book advocates who I won’t mention names would drool over these outdated Yellow Pages books in the library print spam isle:

Print Phone Books from Different Cities

Print Phone Books from Different Cities

The Mayo Civic Arena is a skyway walk from the Library, and I admittedly saw Bon Jovi and Cinderella play there back in 1987 as well as plenty of other 80′s hair-rock bands:

Mayo Civic Arena

Mayo Civic Arena

After the presentation, we went to the Rochester Outback Steakhouse to celebrate Mother’s Day. There are 5 awesome mothers in this picture which include my mom, step mom, sister, step sister and niece.

Family with Five Awesome Mothers

Family with Five Awesome Mothers

Growing up in Rochester, I took some other pictures.

Here’s the house I grew up in.

House I Grew Up In

House I Grew Up In

Church I was baptized and confirmed in.

Zumbro Lutheran Church

Zumbro Lutheran Church

John Marshall High School

John Marshall High School

John Marshall High School

Cheap Charlies – The best greasy spoon ever! Back in the day, there were often blood stains on the exterior due to bar fights started around the corner at the North Star Bar.

Cheap Charlie's

Cheap Charlie's

Corn Cob Water Tower. I don’t get it either.

Corn Cob Water Tower

Corn Cob Water Tower

Back to the Outback, it was fun but I think Carver and Alana enjoyed it the most.

Carver and Alana

Carver and Alana

The end.

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