LotusJump Blog

Been thinking about launching an email marketing campaign?  Check out Contactology, our LotusJump spotlight of the week, for your email marketing needs.

We asked Contactology what the inspiration was behind their company, this is what they had to say:

Contactology was founded in 2002 as a web development company.  Around this time email marketing was emerging as an effective marketing channel, and our clients requested a powerful tool to assist in driving revenue growth through email.  We responded by developing an Email Manager, which would later be branded as Contactology.

The email marketing and online survey component of our business grew quickly, and within four years, the business model shifted from service-based company to a software as a service model.

At Contactology, the core of who we are is in the service we provide.  Our application provides sophisticated functionality at a reasonable price.  Our people deliver by providing strategic and tactical advise to maximize the value of email marketing.  Contactology is more than a powerful product – we are a team dedicated to helping our clients achieve a high return on investment.

When asked what achievement they were most proud of, Contactology said:

Our organic growth is a source of pride for our entire staff.  We bootstrapped our business and have achieved 100% revenue growth in 2007 and 2008.  Our revenue growth continues to accelerate in 2009 despite the recession.  We believe this is in part to our philosophy of offering enterprise level features at reasonable prices.

In addition to our growth model, our aggressive product improvements continue to delight our customers.  Our philosophy of listening and responding to the needs of our clients is responsible for the development of our online survey module, and our EasyCast add-on which allows customers to send email marketing from Outlook or any other email client while still harnessing the powers of our mail servers and tracking. Our development efforts always are a direct response from the needs of our clients.

Continuously building new solutions within our product that meet our customers’ needs is a source of great pride and inspiration for the Contactology team.

We asked Contactology why Internet marketing is so important for their company, this is what they had to say:

As a software as a service company in the technology industry, Internet marketing  has allowed us to effectively target and acquire customers in need of email marketing services.  It has consistently provided us with the highest return on investment for customer acquisition.

We gave Contactology a chance to give a “Creative Marketing Tip of the Day”, this is what they said:

We would recommend creative use of triggered emails. This allows you to send personalized, relevant content to customers and potential customers based on events specific to them. For instance, you can have emails automatically sent on a client’s birthday. This helps cement the relationship – a cornerstone of small business best practices

Thanks Contactology for letting us get to know you a little more!  Leave a comment if you think you’re worthy of a Friday spotlight, and tell us why!

We’re excited to spotlight our LotusJumper of the week MODassic Marketing, a Texas internet marketing firm, who has been using LotusJump in-house to help with their own internet marketing efforts.

We asked MODassic Marketing what the inspiration was behind their company, this is what they had to say:

MODassic Marketing is all based on the idea of “balance”.  Our name comes from combining the words modern and classic, an approach we take in both design and the marketing strategies we utilize.  We combine proven traditional marketing theories with new technologies. Additionally we provide small businesses with a balanced approach to marketing.

When asked what achievement they were most proud of, MODassic Marketing said:

We recently produced an online video and viral marketing campaign for a client at  www.Texaplex.com The video uses viral marketing as a way to solve the current economic crisis. We all hear and talk about the “bad” news and that just makes it worse because we become hesitant and don’t spend. However this project gets the good news out there and despite what people hear and think there is a lot of good news, especially here in Texas. The response has been overwhelming.

We asked MODassic Marketing why Internet marketing is so important for their company, this is what they had to say:

The internet lets you segment and narrow in on the most specific of demographics and reach your perfect target audience. Because of this, small businesses are now able to compete on the a level that was once reserved only for large corporations who could afford massive media buys.

We gave MODassic Marketing a chance to give a “Creative Marketing Tip of the Day”, this is what they said:

“Perfection in design is achieved not when you have nothing more to add, but rather when you have nothing more to take away” - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Thanks MODassic Marketing for letting us get to know you a little more!  Leave a comment if you think you’re worthy of a Friday spotlight, and tell us why!

I caught today’s Jump of the Week (JOTW) on ESPN’s Top Ten highlight reel. I think it deserved #1! Good thing this kid rotated as far as he did…

[On Wednesday's LotusJump highlights a Jump of the Week (JOTW). It can be any kind of jump (over tall things, in search engine rankings, through hoops of fire, whatever). Submit your favorite Jump via comment and we'll consider it for future Wednesday JOTW's!]

After doing a little research on OnlineChineseAstrology.com I discovered that LotusJump, launched in 2008, was “born” in the year of the Earth Rat.  The Earth Rat you say? This is what Online Chinese Astrology has to say about the Earth Rat, “The combination of Earth and Rat is extremely positive when it comes to achieving results. The Rat tends to take a lot of risks, while Earth is associated with practicality and stability. This creates balance and can lead to good profits, increased productivity and all sorts of accomplishments.”

So, here’s to LotusJump, the year of the Earth Rat, and our LotusJump spotlight of the week OnlineChineseAstrology.com:

We asked Online Chinese Astrology what the inspiration was behind their company, this is what they had to say:

My father, Bill Hajdu, began learning about Chinese Astrology 20 years ago on a trip to Korea.  Since then he has devoted a lot of time studying the practice. As the internet came about, he registered as an expert on AllExperts.com where he is currently the top rated astrology expert. When I started looking at what he was doing by hand in creating and calculating charts I realized I could help him a lot by building some computer applications.  We built our first site, www.firepig.com and then subsequently, www.onlinechineseastrology.com.
When asked what achievement they were most proud of, Online Chinese Astrology said:

Two years ago we signed a deal with www.ivillage.com and now provide reports and horoscopes to ivillage, astrology.com, yahoo, and friendster China.

We asked Online Chinese Astrology why Internet marketing is so important for their company, this is what they had to say:

We are purely internet based so getting found by curious internet browsers is critical to us continuing to grow our own traffic and sales. We have a mix of internet marketing and affiliate marketing where we sell through other companies.

We gave Online Chinese Astrology a chance to give a “Creative Marketing Tip of the Day”, this is what they said:

Avoid too much creativity!  It’s important that your messages are clear and consistent.  Every now and then you hit a home run with a quirky idea, but, more often than not, you end up confusing the typical internet customer who’s attention span is low. Use landing pages to convey a clear message and call to action off of every email blast and internet ad you buy.

Thanks Online Chinese Astrology for letting us get to know you a little more and giving us some insight into LotusJump’s exciting future!  Leave a comment if you think you’re worthy of a Friday spotlight, and tell us why!

We’re excited to announce that LotusJump has launched new features and pricing options to make your LotusJump experience even more awesome.

The new pricing structure is setup to fit any size business or budget - the Basic package costs $24/month, and the Pro package starts at $49/month.

So, the question remains… Pro or Basic?

Basic - $24/month

• 1 website
• 1-3 keywords

Pro - $49/month

• 1 website
• up to 10 keywords
• competitive backlink feature gives you an edge on your competition
• option to add-on multiple domains ($19/month)
• option to add-on additional keywords ($10 for 5 additional keywords)

Today’s Jump of the Week (JOTW) is craaaaazy. Mess that up and you’ll have a mouth full of deck splinters! My favorite part might be the mad-cow noises from the slow-mo.

[On Wednesday's LotusJump highlights a Jump of the Week (JOTW). It can be any kind of jump (over tall things, in search engine rankings, through hoops of fire, whatever). Submit your favorite Jump via comment and we'll consider it for future Wednesday JOTW's!]

A BIG thanks to Consupo, a hip up-and-coming consumer reviews site, for today’s Tuesday Tip!

As a site that provides an outlet for consumers’ voices to be heard, we understand the power that comes from customer reviews - both positive and negative.  All companies, whether big or small, should understand the significance that customer reviews can play in increasing your customer base, boosting sales, and as a marketing tool in general.  By encouraging customers to voice their opinions on your company’s customer service, products, and experience, you will gain a great insight into how your business is run, it’s strengths, and its weaknesses.  When it comes to negative customer reviews, don’t be so quick to take measures to get them taken down.  Negative customer reviews can sometimes be just as effective as positive reviews in that they give you a chance to learn valuable lessons, increase customer loyalty, and can actually lead to future sales.

Never underestimate the power of customer reviews.  By responding appropriately you will not only help build your company’s online reputation, but word of mouth buzz will increase and you’ll not only earn the loyalty of existing customers, but you’ll earn the loyalty of future customers as well.

Thanks Consupo for your awesome insight into the significance of customer reviews.  If you’ve got a great marketing tip, leave a comment with your tip and we’ll consider publishing it with a link to your website in future Tuesday Tip editions!

Today we’re spotlighting the LotusJumper Dynamic Data Design, a small business and non-profit web design company located in Boston:

We asked Dynamic Data Design what the inspiration was behind their company, this is what they had to say:

Helping other small businesses. There are a lot of designers and web developers out there, but there seems to be a disconnect between the services available and the small business owners who need the services. Many small business owners believe they can’t afford to hire a professional designer. It may not be cheap but it’s affordable, and in today’s competitive marketplace, it is a necessity.

When asked what achievement they were most proud of, Dynamic Data Design said:

Though I have been consulting for years, I took Dynamic Data Design full time in January 2008. I have learned so much over this past year. I would say my most important achievement is the relationships I have developed with clients. Clients aren’t just a paycheck to me, I have become a sort of business partner with many of my clients. In this relationship, we both put our best efforts together to improve their business. I would never attempt to sell my customers products or services that would not benefit them. They know this and therefore have come to trust my advice. At the same time, I couldn’t possibly know everything about their businesses so I must listen to their advice. The result of this is something both me and my clients can be proud of.

We asked Dynamic Data Design why Internet marketing is so important for their company, this is what they had to say:

Internet marketing provides unique opportunities when it comes to tracking and tweaking. No other form of marketing provides the ability to track and tweak so quickly. This makes it easy to see what is working and what is not. You can test just about anything over the internet.  People have tested book titles using pay-per-click ads. It makes it very easy to test what words appeal to people and what doesn’t work and what converts and doesn’t convert.

We gave Dynamic Data Design a chance to give a “Creative Marketing Tip of the Day”, this is what they said:

Track everything you do! The days of throwing dollar after dollar at your online marketing and hoping it works are over. Track results, tweak, keep what works and throw the rest away. Keep in mind that your marketing campaigns may not be successful the first go-round, but don’t give up. Use the advantages of the web: speed, traffic and statistics.

Thank you Dynamic Data Design for giving us the opportunity to learn more about your company.  Leave a comment if you think you’re worthy of a Friday spotlight, and tell us why!

While there is some controversy over whether Facebook is an effective way to build awareness, market, and interact with your target market, it’s definitely a cost-effective marketing option you may want to consider.  As with any other social media platforms, there are some obvious and some not-so-obvious do’s and don’ts when it comes to having a business on Facebook.  While the following tips won’t apply to everyone, they’re worth considering and, if applicable, applying to your own business practices on Facebook

• Remember, your Facebook page should be reserved for talking about your business, products and services. Avoid mixing your personal life with business on your business Facebook page – it’s just not professional.
• If you’re going to do it, do it right. Your Facebook page should be a way for you to interact with current and potential clients. If you’re not regularly checking and updating your page, you probably shouldn’t have made it to begin with.
• Facebook can be a great way to assist in your company’s online reputation management. Facebook pages and profiles are now indexed and tend to rank highly in the search engines, so the chance of your business’ Facebook page ranking on your business name and keywords are pretty good.
  
• Keep your Facebook page clean. Don’t join irrelevant, potentially offensive, questionably or controversial groups. You never know who many be looking at your profile and you don’t want to run the risk of putting your company in a negative due to a group that you’re associated with.
• Participate in the conversation. Remember, there are a handful of your current and potential customers that spend a good amount of time on Facebook. The fact that you’re there and interacting with them will impress them. Build relationships carefully and strategically and you’ll most likely see these individuals drive new traffic to your actual site.

A special thanks to Qualtrics Online Survey Software for today’s Tuesday Tip!

If you haven’t heard of Squidoo or created your own Squidoo lens, do so today!  For those not familiar with Squidoo, this site is the brainchild of world famous marketer Seth Godin, the father of both Permission and Viral Marketing and former CMO of Coke USA.   Squidoo is a a FREE social networking site that encourages you to market yourself as you build lenses about your business, special interests, etc.  Lenses are interactive, and can contain Flickr photos, Google maps, blogs, Amazon items, eBay auctions, YouTube videos, polls, slideshows, and other links.  If you keep your Squidoo lens updated and and loaded with great content you’ll probably see traffic to your lens increase and maybe even make a few bucks off of the items that you can choose to advertise on your lens.  Over time your Squidoo lens can achieve Page Rank and we’ve even seen some lenses rank on the first page of Google for their keywords.  You can check out our Squidoo lens or make your own Squidoo lens today!

Want to get your brilliant marketing tip published? Leave a comment with your tip and we’ll consider publishing it with a link to your website in future Tuesday Tip editions!