Web analytics doesn’t sound like fun. The minute you see those charts, tables, numbers, and geeky acronyms, it will sound even less fun. But analytics – or the analysis and reporting of Internet data with the objective of understanding web usage – delivers information that is essential to all businesses with some form of presence or another on the Web. It helps you understand what you’re doing right, what you’re not doing right, and what you can do to improve. Enter Clicky at GetClicky.com. Used on about a quarter of a million websites, Clicky is a web analytics tool that is, at the very least, on par with the biggest and most comprehensive analytics tools out there right now. But it’s not that which makes Clicky unique, for what really sets it apart is that it makes analytics fun. Easy to understand. Easy to manage. Oh, and unlike the traditional favorite Google Analytics, Clicky measures data in real-time. You won’t – Read the full article
When looking for targeted search traffic for your website, there are two popular ways in which to get these results – Organic search, which we believe is the best SEO ever, and PPC, which stands for pay per click advertising – in our case we talk about Google ads. In order to choose which is best for your website you must first understand the advantages and disadvantages of each. PPC is all those ads you see on right column Google, Yahoo and Bing. Webmasters pay a specific amount of money for each click to their website from the various search results or ads placed on websites. With Google, you will find these ads on the right side, at the top of the searches or on web pages. Of course, in order to get the best location on the search page, you will have to pay a higher per click amount. On the good side, you will only pay if someone – Read the full article
In its effort to bring together today’s most dynamic business leaders and entrepreneurs, Business Network Chicago (BNC) is holding a panel discussion on Wednesday morning to help business owners and professionals establish themselves and foster successful relationships in the city’s business community. Entitled “Panel Discussion on What does it take to run a small business”, the event will be held on February 10 at the Wells Fargo Advisors, Adams and Canal, 3F South Riverside Plaza in Chicago. The agenda is to share resources, best practices, and experiences crucial in supporting BNC’s members – startups, small business owners, and solo entrepreneurs, among others – and helping them lead a successful company. The discussion will feature four panelists: Pattie Cagney Sheehan, marketing and advertising professional and cancer recovery advocate; Donald Strzepek, owner of leading Chicago jeweler The Tucker Company; Priscilla Taylor, owner of a Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees & Smoothies franchise; and Lakeshore Branding’s very own Chris Campbell, visionary entrepreneur and SEO – Read the full article
An Internet marketing summit featuring the best talent from the Chicago and Milwaukee areas, and which focuses particularly on search marketing and social media, is poised to become one of the most talked-about events in Wisconsin this February. Dubbed “Think Tank Live!”, the summit brings together several of the most dynamic and talented Internet marketers this side of America, as well as C-level executives, small and medium-size business owners, top branding and communications professionals, and IT and web design experts. “Think Tank Live” will be held February 23 at Country Springs Hotel, Waukesha, WI. Sponsored by Biz Times Media and Mashable and organized by I.M. Think Tank (a collective group of integrated marketing professionals in Chicago and Milwaukee areas), the summit will focus on educating people on utilizing today’s best Internet marketing and social media practices to strategically drive business results, increase profits, and lower costs. “Think Tank Live!” will have a track on Internet marketing strategies that align businesses – Read the full article
The following video contains really buff dudes dancing without their shirts on. If that’s not your cup of tea, please click away. Meet the Men of Lakeshore Branding As you can see, sometimes things get a little wild in our office, with our team of studs. In the video is Ryan, our Creative Director, Michael, who looks over the books, Brandon the social media marketing guy, Mark works as a consultant, and myself, who does Search Engine Marketing. We made this video not only to make you giggle, but to show you the power of a short video that was created in under an hour. Videos are a great way to communicate with your audience and convey your message. YouTube is now the #2 search engine above Yahoo, and it’s more important than ever to establish or grow your presence on this video search engine. Are you completely nuts? Yes, we are, but it’s this creativity that leads to innovative – Read the full article
So you have an idea for a business website and you’ve hired a web designer. It’s a simple enough collaboration. You’re raring to go live. If, however, you wish to encourage people to keep coming back to your site, understand that this takes more than stylish, colorfully designed pages and great Photoshop skills. After all, there are things that a web designer won’t tell you – or can’t tell you – but which you should know anyway. Here are some of them: 1. “Shiny, sparkly, and splendidly bright” doesn’t cut it. It might work as a lyric for a Michael Jackson single (“Gone Too Soon”), but not as an agenda for web design. Out of propriety, or shyness typical of people with artistic temperaments, a web designer might not tell you to keep off the electric neon-colored background, or the blinking rainbow font, or the head copy that scrolls like a snail. Keep off them anyway. You want your website – Read the full article
“Chris is a brilliant and innovative marketer. He understands the industry on a strategic level and yet has the acumen to grasp technical tactics. Chris has developed key relationships in the industry and has an impressive network. He has the business savvy to identify new market opportunities and the discipline to deliver results. I highly recommend Chris without reservation.” – Ryan Evans, President, Rand Media Group “Chris Campbell has generously volunteered his marketing expertise for our not-for-profit organization for the last four years. He has been willing to share his skill in online marketing with both our organization and with the high school students we serve as a workshop presenter and as a consultant to new businesses. I am always impressed with his willingness to share his knowledge with our state wide organization and with other businesses. He is energetic, creative, fast on his feet, thoughtful, a great net worker and he follows through on his commitments. We love having – Read the full article
A great entrepreneurial consultant and mentor, Al Herbach, has started a new blog, Titled “The Advisor: Illuminating the Path to Enlightenment“. The Advisor covers a wide range of topics on Entrepreneurship, Small Business, and other interesting topics. Al Herbach brings a plethora of experience to his writing. He will be teaching DePaul University’s “Start Up Chicago” workshop series starting April 2009. Read more at Alherbach.com.
