Well everything is going up, food, fuel, everything so how do you make money or save money? One way is to use your web site to cut down on costly documents that have in the past been sent via mail or even fax. If you have a document such as a spec or a service manual that you would like to have on line you can if you know how, pdf the entire document and have your web person put the pdf up on the net in a new section called service manuals. This section can now be used by your customers 24/7 at virtually no cost to you! Just a small tidbit savings using the web!
Have a great day!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Google Adwords success story!
Another success story from Google and the Ad Words team. I highly recommend you consider at least a small Ad Words account to drive traffic to your web site.
"Incredible food, great wines, a wonderful ambiance, and an effective marketing strategy have made First Crush what it is today. Google AdWords is a key ingredient in that recipe."
Wine and Dine
First Crush Restaurant Wine Bar & Lounge used Google AdWords to increase its site traffic by 400%.
Dream come true
Shahram Bijan hasn’t sat still for the past 10 years. After going to school for advertising and marketing, he started a software company and a consulting firm. And then one day, he heard about a San Francisco restaurant up for sale. "I love the art of food and always dreamed of having my own restaurant," Shahram explains. "The opportunity to buy First Crush just kind of fell into my lap, and it was love at first sight." Almost overnight, Shahram became a restaurateur – which meant he had to learn a thing or two about the business.
"First Crush serves California-French cuisine made from sustainable, local ingredients," says Shahram. "With 600 California wines and an excellent wine and food pairing program, I had to know wines inside and out – but back then I was pretty much starting from scratch. So I did a lot of tastings at different California wineries, and people would bring me samples all the time." He sighs nostalgically. "It was a lot of work, but I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it."
Feet in the door
"When I took over First Crush in 2001, I made some changes to create a really welcoming environment where people would want to both dine and hang out," Shahram recalls. "My next step was getting our name out there to bring more people through the door."
In 2002, Shahram learned about Google AdWords™ and signed up for an account. "With my marketing background, I could see how advertising on Google could work extremely well for First Crush. Restaurants work with such a small profit margin that it’s really crucial for them to use their marketing dollars efficiently and get the most bang for their buck. Taking out ads in regular newspapers and magazines is expensive, and you’re bombarded with so many other ads that it’s hard to tell one from the other. It’s also hard to track whether those types of ads are bringing in customers."
"The amazing thing with AdWords is that people are using Google to find specific information," Shahram continues. "When they’re looking for San Francisco restaurants or places for corporate events, our ad comes up. So we’re paying for clicks from people who have already expressed interest in a business like ours. Plus, we can keep track of how much website traffic AdWords is driving. We’re able to use our advertising dollars wisely but effectively."
On the town
Once Shahram had become a wine connoisseur, he set out to learn just as much about his customers. "I paid careful attention to our clientele – where they came from, what type of experience they were looking for. We’re located right in Union Square, a popular tourist destination, and can accommodate large groups, so we get tons of convention and tourist business. About 80 percent of our customers are out-of-towners, and 30 to 40 percent of our business comes from private parties. So I designed my Google AdWords campaign to zero in on the types of customers we serve."
To reach his target market, Shahram shows his ads throughout the U.S. and uses keywords related to group dinners, private parties, and San Francisco restaurants. "Whenever I go to a new city or am planning an event, I research restaurants on Google," Shahram explains. "So I thought of the types of terms I might search on. Now, when people all across the country research restaurants in San Francisco, our AdWords ad comes up. The next step, of course, is getting people to click on it. It’s no easy task to run a restaurant in San Francisco and stand out from all the competition, so we use our AdWords ads to distinguish ourselves from the herd. For example, some of our ads mention that we won Best of Citysearch 2006 in several different categories."
A full plate
These days, Shahram logs in to his AdWords account every few weeks to evaluate its performance, adjust his budget, and add or remove keywords. "That’s one of the great things about AdWords. You don’t have to keep monitoring it all the time. You set it in place and it does the work for you, which is fantastic – especially in our industry, where you have so many things going on every day and it’s hard to stay on top of everything."
"Which is not to say I haven’t noticed the impact of advertising on Google," he continues. "Before AdWords, we got about 200 unique visitors to our website each day. Now we get between 700 and 800. Incredible food, great wines, a wonderful ambiance, and an effective marketing strategy have made First Crush what it is today. Google AdWords is a key ingredient in that recipe. You can have the best restaurant in the world, but if people don’t know about it then they’re never going to go."
On the menu
Six years and several bottles of wine since he ventured into the restaurant business, Shahram is still on the move. In 2005, he crossed the Golden Gate Bridge into Marin County and opened Ora, a Pan-Asian restaurant and lounge, and Toast, an upscale diner. "I also have plans to open a second Ora in San Francisco," he adds.
As he ponders the future of his flagship restaurant and the role Google AdWords has played in its success, Shahram waxes philosophical. "I see a parallel between First Crush and AdWords. One of our goals at First Crush is to help people discover small boutique wineries they wouldn’t encounter otherwise. We also want to make wine less intimidating for the uninitiated. AdWords is also about helping small local businesses get their names out and showing customers what they may be missing out on – and it works for every budget."
"I’ve had a busy decade," Shahram admits. "And Google AdWords will play a big part in keeping us busy for the next one."
"Incredible food, great wines, a wonderful ambiance, and an effective marketing strategy have made First Crush what it is today. Google AdWords is a key ingredient in that recipe."
Wine and Dine
First Crush Restaurant Wine Bar & Lounge used Google AdWords to increase its site traffic by 400%.
Dream come true
Shahram Bijan hasn’t sat still for the past 10 years. After going to school for advertising and marketing, he started a software company and a consulting firm. And then one day, he heard about a San Francisco restaurant up for sale. "I love the art of food and always dreamed of having my own restaurant," Shahram explains. "The opportunity to buy First Crush just kind of fell into my lap, and it was love at first sight." Almost overnight, Shahram became a restaurateur – which meant he had to learn a thing or two about the business.
"First Crush serves California-French cuisine made from sustainable, local ingredients," says Shahram. "With 600 California wines and an excellent wine and food pairing program, I had to know wines inside and out – but back then I was pretty much starting from scratch. So I did a lot of tastings at different California wineries, and people would bring me samples all the time." He sighs nostalgically. "It was a lot of work, but I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it."
Feet in the door
"When I took over First Crush in 2001, I made some changes to create a really welcoming environment where people would want to both dine and hang out," Shahram recalls. "My next step was getting our name out there to bring more people through the door."
In 2002, Shahram learned about Google AdWords™ and signed up for an account. "With my marketing background, I could see how advertising on Google could work extremely well for First Crush. Restaurants work with such a small profit margin that it’s really crucial for them to use their marketing dollars efficiently and get the most bang for their buck. Taking out ads in regular newspapers and magazines is expensive, and you’re bombarded with so many other ads that it’s hard to tell one from the other. It’s also hard to track whether those types of ads are bringing in customers."
"The amazing thing with AdWords is that people are using Google to find specific information," Shahram continues. "When they’re looking for San Francisco restaurants or places for corporate events, our ad comes up. So we’re paying for clicks from people who have already expressed interest in a business like ours. Plus, we can keep track of how much website traffic AdWords is driving. We’re able to use our advertising dollars wisely but effectively."
On the town
Once Shahram had become a wine connoisseur, he set out to learn just as much about his customers. "I paid careful attention to our clientele – where they came from, what type of experience they were looking for. We’re located right in Union Square, a popular tourist destination, and can accommodate large groups, so we get tons of convention and tourist business. About 80 percent of our customers are out-of-towners, and 30 to 40 percent of our business comes from private parties. So I designed my Google AdWords campaign to zero in on the types of customers we serve."
To reach his target market, Shahram shows his ads throughout the U.S. and uses keywords related to group dinners, private parties, and San Francisco restaurants. "Whenever I go to a new city or am planning an event, I research restaurants on Google," Shahram explains. "So I thought of the types of terms I might search on. Now, when people all across the country research restaurants in San Francisco, our AdWords ad comes up. The next step, of course, is getting people to click on it. It’s no easy task to run a restaurant in San Francisco and stand out from all the competition, so we use our AdWords ads to distinguish ourselves from the herd. For example, some of our ads mention that we won Best of Citysearch 2006 in several different categories."
A full plate
These days, Shahram logs in to his AdWords account every few weeks to evaluate its performance, adjust his budget, and add or remove keywords. "That’s one of the great things about AdWords. You don’t have to keep monitoring it all the time. You set it in place and it does the work for you, which is fantastic – especially in our industry, where you have so many things going on every day and it’s hard to stay on top of everything."
"Which is not to say I haven’t noticed the impact of advertising on Google," he continues. "Before AdWords, we got about 200 unique visitors to our website each day. Now we get between 700 and 800. Incredible food, great wines, a wonderful ambiance, and an effective marketing strategy have made First Crush what it is today. Google AdWords is a key ingredient in that recipe. You can have the best restaurant in the world, but if people don’t know about it then they’re never going to go."
On the menu
Six years and several bottles of wine since he ventured into the restaurant business, Shahram is still on the move. In 2005, he crossed the Golden Gate Bridge into Marin County and opened Ora, a Pan-Asian restaurant and lounge, and Toast, an upscale diner. "I also have plans to open a second Ora in San Francisco," he adds.
As he ponders the future of his flagship restaurant and the role Google AdWords has played in its success, Shahram waxes philosophical. "I see a parallel between First Crush and AdWords. One of our goals at First Crush is to help people discover small boutique wineries they wouldn’t encounter otherwise. We also want to make wine less intimidating for the uninitiated. AdWords is also about helping small local businesses get their names out and showing customers what they may be missing out on – and it works for every budget."
"I’ve had a busy decade," Shahram admits. "And Google AdWords will play a big part in keeping us busy for the next one."
The browser wars are hot!
Take a look at these statistics from Digg:
Web Browsers
1 Internet Explorer 6.0 36.85%
2 Internet Explorer 7.0 24.71%
3 Firefox 2.0 23.41%
4 Firefox 1.5 4.05%
5 Safari 2.0 1.16%
6 Opera 9.2 1.15%
7 Safari 3.0 1.00%
8 Firefox 1.0 0.77%
9 Firefox 3.0 0.63%
10 Mozilla 1.8 0.62%
Operating Systems
1 Windows XP 78.24%
2 Windows Vista 7.69%
3 Mac OS X 4.73%
4 Windows 2000 3.07%
5 Linux 1.95%
6 Windows 98 0.96%
7 Windows 2003 0.74%
8 Windows ME 0.36%
9 Windows NT 0.05%
10 SymbianOS 0.04%
As you can see Firefox has almost 28% market share. We at Rossini.com create for multi platform compatibility. When you create a web page it better show in both in Explorer and Firefox!
Web Browsers
1 Internet Explorer 6.0 36.85%
2 Internet Explorer 7.0 24.71%
3 Firefox 2.0 23.41%
4 Firefox 1.5 4.05%
5 Safari 2.0 1.16%
6 Opera 9.2 1.15%
7 Safari 3.0 1.00%
8 Firefox 1.0 0.77%
9 Firefox 3.0 0.63%
10 Mozilla 1.8 0.62%
Operating Systems
1 Windows XP 78.24%
2 Windows Vista 7.69%
3 Mac OS X 4.73%
4 Windows 2000 3.07%
5 Linux 1.95%
6 Windows 98 0.96%
7 Windows 2003 0.74%
8 Windows ME 0.36%
9 Windows NT 0.05%
10 SymbianOS 0.04%
As you can see Firefox has almost 28% market share. We at Rossini.com create for multi platform compatibility. When you create a web page it better show in both in Explorer and Firefox!
Google Veggie power!
This is one example as to why I recommend using Google Adwords!
This article is from Google:
Green Machines
Veggie Wheels uses Google AdWords to reach a national customer base and drive 95% of its business.
Time for an oil change
One moment you’re in a major motion picture, the next you’re running a business at the forefront of the alternative energy revolution. Sound like something out of, well, Hollywood? “I had a role in the movie ‘Because I Said So,’” explains Nate Petre, founder and CEO of Veggie Wheels. “The director had a car that he’d converted to run on vegetable oil. I became fascinated with it. As an alternative to gasoline, vegetable oil is renewable, biodegradable, and reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by 75 percent. So I researched the process and decided to convert my Mercedes.”
Nate was so pleased with the result that he began to think vegetable oil could be the secret ingredient for a successful business. So in August of 2006, he traded in his headshots for headlights and set up shop in Venice, California. “There was just one downside to my new profession,” he says. “Converted cars smell like a deep fryer. People get a whiff of my garage and wonder where the fast food joint is. I cooked my way through acting school, so it doesn’t really get to me, but let’s just say dieters should keep their windows rolled up.”
Elbow grease
Nate knew that even the mouthwatering scent of piping hot french fries wouldn’t be enough to get customers through the garage door. Veggie Wheels needed a marketing plan. “I’d never been a marketer – never even played one on TV,” says Nate. “But I knew we needed to get our message out there. We’re a green company, so wasting paper on flyers was out of the question. Online advertising was a natural fit. When I was researching vegetable oil and biodiesel, I searched the Internet, so it made sense to me that others would do the same.”
Two months after opening Veggie Wheels, Nate signed up with Google AdWords™. He chose to use Starter Edition, a simplified version of AdWords that lets new advertisers create a basic account quickly and easily with a one-page signup form. “I got up and running right away, and inquiries started coming just a few days after I launched the campaign. Now I use Standard Edition, which provides more features at no extra cost.”
AdWords offers a range of options for targeting by location, and Nate chose to show his ads throughout the U.S. “Alternative fuels are big here in California, but there could be interest in other states as well. And sure enough, we started getting emails and calls from Philly, Texas, Washington – you name it. Since we offer delivery, we’re able to serve those customers – and AdWords gave us the chance to reach them.”
Much to Nate’s surprise, AdWords connected him with diesel car owners looking to sell, rather than convert, their vehicles. “That was something we didn’t foresee,” Nate explains. “We’re able to track down and sell hard-to-find models all over the country without lifting a finger: they come to us. So in a way, AdWords ended up changing our business model.”
It’s easy being green
To cast the widest net possible, Nate runs ads for Veggie Wheels alongside the search results on google.com as well as on the Google Content Network, which includes millions of news pages, topic-specific websites, and blogs. Nate’s ads appear on targeted web pages that relate to the keywords he selected, including sites like www.biodiesel.com and www.fillup4free.com and pages about biodiesel and vegetable oil on sites like www.sciencewatch.com, www.ehow.com, and www.howthingswork.com.
“The content network has been just as effective as search in terms of bringing us leads and customers,” says Nate. “Customers tell us they were doing research or reading an article, saw our ad, and clicked over to Veggie Wheels. They weren’t necessarily considering getting a converted car at that point, but they were already interested in the technology. With the content network, we expand our reach while still targeting our very narrow audience.”
“We always ask our customers how they found us,” Nate continues. “About 95 percent of them clicked on an AdWords ad on either the search or the content network. We couldn’t get as much business or traffic any other way – especially for under $100 a month. Once I saw the results from AdWords, there was no question that I would spend the majority of my advertising budget on it.”
Fueling the future
Nate now spends his days converting cars, installing diesel engines into all types of vehicles, and collecting used cooking oil from local restaurants. With a major career change behind him and gallons of vegetable oil in his garage, Nate has no regrets. “Acting is all about you,” he says. “I’m much happier doing something that benefits others – not to mention the environment. Wondering how you can do your part to make our cars greener?” He smiles. “Keep eating those onion rings.”
As Veggie Wheels expands and launches new services, Google AdWords will continue to drive its growth. “AdWords brings together people who want to green their machines with the experts who know how to do it,” Nate explains. “In our business, we definitely provide the oil, but Google provides the grease.”
This article is from Google:
Green Machines
Veggie Wheels uses Google AdWords to reach a national customer base and drive 95% of its business.
Time for an oil change
One moment you’re in a major motion picture, the next you’re running a business at the forefront of the alternative energy revolution. Sound like something out of, well, Hollywood? “I had a role in the movie ‘Because I Said So,’” explains Nate Petre, founder and CEO of Veggie Wheels. “The director had a car that he’d converted to run on vegetable oil. I became fascinated with it. As an alternative to gasoline, vegetable oil is renewable, biodegradable, and reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by 75 percent. So I researched the process and decided to convert my Mercedes.”
Nate was so pleased with the result that he began to think vegetable oil could be the secret ingredient for a successful business. So in August of 2006, he traded in his headshots for headlights and set up shop in Venice, California. “There was just one downside to my new profession,” he says. “Converted cars smell like a deep fryer. People get a whiff of my garage and wonder where the fast food joint is. I cooked my way through acting school, so it doesn’t really get to me, but let’s just say dieters should keep their windows rolled up.”
Elbow grease
Nate knew that even the mouthwatering scent of piping hot french fries wouldn’t be enough to get customers through the garage door. Veggie Wheels needed a marketing plan. “I’d never been a marketer – never even played one on TV,” says Nate. “But I knew we needed to get our message out there. We’re a green company, so wasting paper on flyers was out of the question. Online advertising was a natural fit. When I was researching vegetable oil and biodiesel, I searched the Internet, so it made sense to me that others would do the same.”
Two months after opening Veggie Wheels, Nate signed up with Google AdWords™. He chose to use Starter Edition, a simplified version of AdWords that lets new advertisers create a basic account quickly and easily with a one-page signup form. “I got up and running right away, and inquiries started coming just a few days after I launched the campaign. Now I use Standard Edition, which provides more features at no extra cost.”
AdWords offers a range of options for targeting by location, and Nate chose to show his ads throughout the U.S. “Alternative fuels are big here in California, but there could be interest in other states as well. And sure enough, we started getting emails and calls from Philly, Texas, Washington – you name it. Since we offer delivery, we’re able to serve those customers – and AdWords gave us the chance to reach them.”
Much to Nate’s surprise, AdWords connected him with diesel car owners looking to sell, rather than convert, their vehicles. “That was something we didn’t foresee,” Nate explains. “We’re able to track down and sell hard-to-find models all over the country without lifting a finger: they come to us. So in a way, AdWords ended up changing our business model.”
It’s easy being green
To cast the widest net possible, Nate runs ads for Veggie Wheels alongside the search results on google.com as well as on the Google Content Network, which includes millions of news pages, topic-specific websites, and blogs. Nate’s ads appear on targeted web pages that relate to the keywords he selected, including sites like www.biodiesel.com and www.fillup4free.com and pages about biodiesel and vegetable oil on sites like www.sciencewatch.com, www.ehow.com, and www.howthingswork.com.
“The content network has been just as effective as search in terms of bringing us leads and customers,” says Nate. “Customers tell us they were doing research or reading an article, saw our ad, and clicked over to Veggie Wheels. They weren’t necessarily considering getting a converted car at that point, but they were already interested in the technology. With the content network, we expand our reach while still targeting our very narrow audience.”
“We always ask our customers how they found us,” Nate continues. “About 95 percent of them clicked on an AdWords ad on either the search or the content network. We couldn’t get as much business or traffic any other way – especially for under $100 a month. Once I saw the results from AdWords, there was no question that I would spend the majority of my advertising budget on it.”
Fueling the future
Nate now spends his days converting cars, installing diesel engines into all types of vehicles, and collecting used cooking oil from local restaurants. With a major career change behind him and gallons of vegetable oil in his garage, Nate has no regrets. “Acting is all about you,” he says. “I’m much happier doing something that benefits others – not to mention the environment. Wondering how you can do your part to make our cars greener?” He smiles. “Keep eating those onion rings.”
As Veggie Wheels expands and launches new services, Google AdWords will continue to drive its growth. “AdWords brings together people who want to green their machines with the experts who know how to do it,” Nate explains. “In our business, we definitely provide the oil, but Google provides the grease.”
What has the rising cost of gas done to you?
A good question is what has the rising cost of gas done to your business?
A recent trip to a customer site 3 hours away cost over $80.00 in gas! I know that does not sound like a lot but it was double the cost of just one year ago! How about postage? Have you noticed how postage prices have slowly inched upwards! Yes sending a Thank You note is costing a lot more lately. If you do traditional mailings for marketing purposes I bet you have felt the bite. How about sending out catalogs then you really know what the price of postage is doing to yur business. How can you combat it?
Put your catalogs on line! Let your customers know that they are there and you will see an increase in web traffic and potentially if you use your web site correctly an increase in sales. Use specials on the web and when those customers come in they might just stay longer and buy more. The bottom line is a savings in postage and time if you put your products or catalogs on line.
How about using your list of customer e-mails and start your own e-mail newsletter? An opt in list (thats people who want to hear from you). E-mail newsletters are a great way to inexpensively reach your customers. Over time you will easily justify the initial expense and then turn a "green" profit from the use of it.
The use of a blog is today one of the most beneficial add on's to your web site. A blog if interesting is read and can be used to tell a company story quickly and easily and relatively inexpensively.
By using the above potential options you will start moving your company in a "green" way by reducing paper and postage and handling and more. More importantly...you will make more money!!!
More soon have a great day and weekend coming up!
Joe R
A recent trip to a customer site 3 hours away cost over $80.00 in gas! I know that does not sound like a lot but it was double the cost of just one year ago! How about postage? Have you noticed how postage prices have slowly inched upwards! Yes sending a Thank You note is costing a lot more lately. If you do traditional mailings for marketing purposes I bet you have felt the bite. How about sending out catalogs then you really know what the price of postage is doing to yur business. How can you combat it?
Put your catalogs on line! Let your customers know that they are there and you will see an increase in web traffic and potentially if you use your web site correctly an increase in sales. Use specials on the web and when those customers come in they might just stay longer and buy more. The bottom line is a savings in postage and time if you put your products or catalogs on line.
How about using your list of customer e-mails and start your own e-mail newsletter? An opt in list (thats people who want to hear from you). E-mail newsletters are a great way to inexpensively reach your customers. Over time you will easily justify the initial expense and then turn a "green" profit from the use of it.
The use of a blog is today one of the most beneficial add on's to your web site. A blog if interesting is read and can be used to tell a company story quickly and easily and relatively inexpensively.
By using the above potential options you will start moving your company in a "green" way by reducing paper and postage and handling and more. More importantly...you will make more money!!!
More soon have a great day and weekend coming up!
Joe R
Google News
This is very interesting and informative. Going green is really coming:
AdWords Auto Industry Newsletter July 2008
Search term trends
Go green with Google AdWords
With fuel costs on the rise and concern for the environment growing, consumers are changing their purchase habits. Nearly two-thirds of respondents to a recent eMarketer survey said they would spend up to 20 percent more for green products.3
Where are these consumers searching? In March of this year, Google held the greatest share of searches (nearly 54 percent) for green terms, such as hybrid vehicles, hybrid cars, environmentally friendly vehicles, green fuel, and green fuel alternatives.4
Optimize your ad text
To attract these potential customers, make sure your ad text speaks to their concerns. Thirty-eight percent of consumers said the most attractive marketing focuses on specific user benefits of going green, such as saving money on gas.3 So, if you have information on your website about how your products are environmentally-friendly or how to save money being green, be sure to reflect this in your ads.
AdWords Auto Industry Newsletter July 2008
Search term trends
Go green with Google AdWords
With fuel costs on the rise and concern for the environment growing, consumers are changing their purchase habits. Nearly two-thirds of respondents to a recent eMarketer survey said they would spend up to 20 percent more for green products.3
Where are these consumers searching? In March of this year, Google held the greatest share of searches (nearly 54 percent) for green terms, such as hybrid vehicles, hybrid cars, environmentally friendly vehicles, green fuel, and green fuel alternatives.4
Optimize your ad text
To attract these potential customers, make sure your ad text speaks to their concerns. Thirty-eight percent of consumers said the most attractive marketing focuses on specific user benefits of going green, such as saving money on gas.3 So, if you have information on your website about how your products are environmentally-friendly or how to save money being green, be sure to reflect this in your ads.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Blu-ray DVD format may not dominate for years
This is a very interesting and true article: Blu-ray DVD format may not dominate for years: http://www.kansascity.com/747/story/644714.html
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