Sunday, March 05, 2006

Willowbank Heritage Estates Online in the Niagara Heritage Guide

Willowbank Heritage Estates is now online in the Niagara Heritage Guide.

The Niagara Guide Inc. is committed to giving back to the community we live and work in and any non-profit organization in Niagara is eligible to free advertising in any of our websites.

Yes. Any and all Niagara non-profit organizations are eligible for this.

Yes, it's free.

No, there are no "hidden catches". It's free.

The only caveat - it may take a little time before your advertising goes live. Depending on our workload, it may be a long time. However, we do our best to provide the advertising in a timely manner.

Welcome aboard Willowbank!

Niagara Recreation Guide Updates

Niagara sports updates in The Niagara Recreation Guide

Niagara Hockey Clubs. Yes, I know, too late for this year. Better late than never though.

Niagara Skating Clubs. Yes. I know. See above.

Niagara Soccer Clubs. Aha - finally ahead of the curve : )

Just a quick FYI.

Saturday, March 04, 2006

Northwest Goju Ryu Karate Joins The Niagara Guide

Northwest Goju Ryu Karate is the latest Niagara business to discover the power of effective Internet marketing through The Niagara Guide.

In much the same way that Northwest Goju Ryu Karate focuses on serious training in the ways of Okinawan and Japanese Goju Ryu Karate-do, The Niagara Guide is focused on providing effective Internet marketing for local Niagara businesses.

Great to have you aboard Sensei Meagher!

Thursday, March 02, 2006

Our first Niagara Business Podcast

By the way, I should mention that Carrie Aiello of "KNOW it ALL" Niagara was our first ever guest on the Niagara Business Podcast series.

Want to know what Niagara's #1 Marketeer is? Listen in to The Niagara Podcast.

The Niagara Podcast Site is Live!

Well, it's been a little while in the making, but the Niagara Podcast website is live!

Am I thrilled or what?

Okay - it's probably just me. However, we already have three local businesses just waiting to be podcasted, so expect this site to be updated regularly.

Lots of people haven't heard of podcasts yet, so naturally, I've been asked a lot about why bother?

Consider the following:

  1. Right now, podcasting is where e-mail was a decade ago. How many people had e-mail a decade ago? Not many. That's EXACTLY how many podcasts there are in your chosen field. Not many. This means you have a great opportunity to get ahead of your competition both locally and globally when someone does a search for a podcast about your particular expertise. Could be haircutting. Could be public speaking. Could be golf. Could be Internet marketing. Could be whatever. The point is, by adopting this technology now, you will be at the leading edge of the wave.
  2. Not everyone responds the same way to print. Being able to provide information in an audio format allows you to convey energy and excitement about a product or service that isn't possible in print. It's also more interesting for people to listen to information in some cases. Provide a variety of content and please more people.
  3. Get the "cool" factor working for you - you're on the cutting edge here. Tell people to listen to your podcast and they'll usually go "Huh?". Then you get to talk to them more about your business than you would have otherwise. Great for making you more memorable at networking functions.
All in all, podcasting is a great marketing tool for any business to consider. If you ever wanted to be on the radio, this is a great place to get started.

For more information, visit The Niagara Podcast website at http://www.niagarapodcast.com.

Hope to "hear" you soon!

Time Management Seminar from "KNOW it ALL" Niagara

Okay - I did get one press-release - after the deadline...

Carrie Aiello of "KNOW it ALL" Niagara is holding a seminar on time & life management.

Full details can be found here.

It's happening March 23, 2006.

Niagara Press Release Musings

I was lamenting the fact that at a recent event, we challenged all the participants there to submit a press release to us within 5 days and they would receive a free podcast interview.

I received exactly ZERO press releases.

Originally, I thought it was interesting that I asked people to take action to get something free. Not just anything free, but something that's on the cutting edge of cool and hip with the Internet, that has the opportunity for them to add free content to their website and get more exposure and many other good things - and nothing happened. I figured the problem was asking people to take action.

It could just have been the people I asked, I suppose.

But then again, I asked people to do something specific - write a press release.

How many people know how to write a good press release?

Ever thought about what's new in your business that's press release worthy?

Website updates are good : )

What about a new product? Event? Award?

Restaurants - nicer weather means opening your patio - announce that!

If it's new at your business, it should be talked about, and a press release is a great way to do that.

Tips: Don't make it sound so much like an ad. Make it benefits-oriented and interesting to others. So many press releases are all about "the company" as opposed to how the company can meet your needs.

There are a lot of press release distribution sites around the Internet. We have one ourselves.

Here's the link to our Niagara press release distribution service. It's free, and we encourage you to give it a try.

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

1000 Chocolate, um, Specialty Chocolates for Women's Place

Lara at Sweet Rage sent in a press release about their fundraising collaboration with Women's Place St. Catharines & North Niagara.

The final Niagara production of The Vagina Mologues is happening at the Niagara Casino Fallsview Resort on March 7 and Women's Place asked if Sweet Rage could provide 1000 chocolate vaginas.

Now THERE's something you don't see everyday in a press release.

Heck, it might even make it into the newspaper.

Anyway, it's in OUR press release section. Click here to see the PDF.

So, what have YOU done that's unique in your business today?

Just send us a press release to let us know about it!

Podcast #3 now available

I'm at the Lunch & Levitate luncheon today being hosted by "KNOW it ALL" Niagara and thought I'd let you in on a little offer we're putting forth.

Just listen to the podcast online!

Friday, February 17, 2006

As promised - the 2nd Podcast Episode

Is Marketing a Cost or an Investment? - The Podcast!

There will be a separate RSS feed set up for our Podcasts shortly, but in the interim, stay tuned through the blog. Thanks!

The Birth of The Internet Marketing Package

The Niagara Guide has been running for a few years now and after having gone through a few twists and turns, I think I've finally realized what the heck has been missing from it for advertisers.

You see, my background is in Internet marketing and website development. One thing I've known for a very long time is that websites are commodities to most people. There are plenty of inexpensive website development companies and services available and frankly, I don't purport to be one of them.

Why? Because ultimately, I don't want to create websites that sit around and collect cyber-dust for their owners. If I create a website for you, I want it to be a living, breathing, vibrant, money-making investment for you that you just can't imagine living without. THAT'S what I want to create for people.

Now, in the case of The Niagara Guide, I got stuck early on thinking that it was JUST a business directory that we would sell advertising in. Bad - very bad. Most people think of advertising as a cost - and usually, a waste of money but a necessary evil.

I had that view reinforced today by a fellow who said that he'd committed his advertising budget for the year and couldn't afford to take us up on our new no-risk, money-back-guaranteed Internet marketing service.

I guess I didn't communicate my message well enough - or, I didn't get through the prevailing attitude that marketing is an expense.

I shouldn't be surprised, but in light of what I am offering to Niagara businesses, I guess I was.

I'll give you the stripped down version of our offer (the full details of which can be found here).

The Niagara Guide is offering a full Internet marketing package, complete with listing in The Niagara Guide, custom copywriting for your listing, banner advertising, couponing, article & tip submissions, first page placement in a variety of categories and best of all, built-in e-mail marketing to our opt-in list of subscribers for the measly price of $197 / year.

Here's the guarantee - if you don't make at least three times your investment in sales within the first 90 days, I'll give you a full refund. The catch? You have to take full advantage of all the services we offer in our Internet marketing package. If you don't take action, we can't be held responsible for the results.

Now, here's the thing that surprised me. This fellow indicated he'd spent his advertising budget for the year. It's only mid-February and he's got everything planned out for the year.

The way I read his comment, it seemed to me that he's resigned to spending his money on the methods he's always used, content to receive the same results he's always achieved.

Maybe it's just me, but I found his response illogical. I mean, when's the last time a newspaper or The Yellow Pages guaranteed you would achieve three times the ad cost (within 90 days, no less) or you'd receive a full refund?

We've built a lot of benefits and value into the features we offer in our Internet marketing package and I encourage you to take a look at what we have to offer.

I should also mention - for our existing customers who would like to take advantage of this new package, you can upgrade for a reduced fee.

That's all for now! I'll be doing a Podcast on the general topic of Effectiveness in Advertising as well. Stay tuned!

The Niagara Podcast - the Journey Begins

In keeping with The Niagara Guide's plan to be the place where effective Internet marketing reigns supreme, we are proud to introduce what we believe to be the first Podcast offered by any Niagara directory service.

Excited are we? Absolutely!

Okay - the first podcast isn't all that exciting - but I'm happy that we've started on this path and we're going to continue podcasting as an extension of our blogs and frankly, we're going to do things that we can't possibly do in a blog - such as have interviews with local business leaders and influencers. I'm also working with a colleague on starting video podcasting - the first of which should be ready to roll in the coming weeks.

For those of you who may not have experienced Podcast before, simply click on this link to get to the first podcast and click on the green "play" button to hear it.

Oh yeah, I'm EXCITED - and I JUST CAN'T HIDE IT!!!!!

Focus Mark, focus . . .

Friday, February 10, 2006

A very unique service for chocolate gift-givers

WrappaCandy is the newest business to be listed in The Niagara Shopping Guide.

It's a pretty unique service - custom wrapped Hershey chocolate bars.

Who would'a thought?

Definitely a Niagara first - unless you know otherwise.

Just in time for Valentine's Day too. Great timing!

Plan your Valentines Day at The Spice of Life!

The Spice of Life in Port Dalhousie is once again offering their fabulous Valentine's day menu.

The food's always great and the desserts are simply awesome. Reservations DEFINITELY required on Valentine's Day.

Click here to visit The Spice of Life online!

Blue Orchid Weddings now online

I never knew wedding planning didn't have to cost anything and that using one would reduce my overall wedding bill.

So says Lisa at Blue Orchid Weddings, the latest company to join The Niagara Guide. Find their listing specifically in The Niagara Bridal Guide.

So, how's it work?

Wedding consultants can buy wedding products and services at significant discounts, so they can save you a lot of money on your total wedding bill. The savings are usually more than the cost of the consultant's services, so ultimately you save money and more importantly, you save time and reduce stress.

Sounds like a great idea to me. While I'm not in need of a wedding right now (and hopefully for many years to come - hear that kids?), I'll certainly be considering one when the time comes.

Welcome aboard Blue Orchid Weddings!

The difference between networking and marketing

I had a conversation with Carrie Aiello of "KNOW it ALL" Niagara and have to say I'm sorry.

I stand correct - "KNOW it ALL" Niagara is NOT a networking group. It's a marketing organization. You still join it, but it's for the purposes of marketing, not JUST networking.

That's one of the things Carrie's passionate about - Marketing. To her, networking is just a subset of the overall service "KNOW it ALL" Niagara provides, which is helping companies market themselves better.

Of course, people don't commonly join "marketing" groups - because it's not what business people are accustomed to. We're all supposed to join networking groups like the Chambers, BNI etc., and expect to participate in their regular events to get business.

Where "KNOW it ALL" Niagara differs is through their use of direct e-mail marketing to help its Linkers (think "members") get their message out.

Carrie also helps market your business in other ways, but she can explain that better than I can. Visit her site at www.knowitallniagara.com.

Saturday, February 04, 2006

Niagara Falls Business Directory

Niagara Falls business directory services abound, don't they? I mean, the ones in print seem to be all over the place, in the form of place mats, tourist maps etc., but it's harder to find information online.

Well, The Niagara Guide is working on changing that. Just to give you folks a heads up, we're working on a new database which will break out businesses by city. We have this already in our Niagara Restaurant Guide, but we're going to be breaking things out in other directories as well.

Lots of things are happening to The Niagara Guide to make it the natural choice for Niagara business owners to be listed in.

Have a great day!