The Drudge Report's Ad Impressions, Yahoo's Trademark Policy, And "Yourcompanysucks.com" domains, All Featured In The Debut Of SEM Report Card

Phoenix, Ariz. (PRWEB) July 20, 2007

No one is excluded from scrutiny or praise in the debut of Semreportcard.com, an interactive journal with an unconventional approach set to explore the evolving world of online business and search engine marketing. SEM Report Card turned heads following its launch in late May as Tom Crandall, CEO of Ayohwahr Interactive, editorialized on such topics as Yahoo's trademark policy, questionable tactics by the Drudge Report, and brand protection issues with companies like Allstate Insurance.

Crandall, a relentless brand advocate in the online space, shares his experiences and industry insight with a fresh, new approach to search engine marketing for brands in SEM Report Card. An expert on brand marketing online, coupled with his understanding of the importance of brand protection on the web, Crandall shares his views with a no-holds-barred approach. Crandall provides insight on areas of opportunity for some of America's leading brands while addressing many of the issues facing Brand Marketers today.

"I am excited to address these issues in a public forum. I hope to spark some debate and more importantly, encourage frequently searched brands to find the path to maximum profitability online," said Crandall.

Some of the recent topics discussed on SEM Report Card include:

The questionable tactics used by the Drudge Report to increase pageviews, thereby inflating the numbers reported to current and prospective advertisers. An issue which is especially alarming to interactive marketing professionals who manage online advertising campaigns based upon CPM models.

A practical look at how brands advertising in Glamour Magazine support their offline campaigns with online messaging and calls-to-action, to truly engage targeted prospects and develop a brand relationship.

Dramatic screenshots of searches for Best Buy explain how Yahoo Search Marketing's trademark policy negatively affects brands; an issue which bobs in and out of the headlines as companies seek to protect their IP assets in the online space.

And a look at a brand protection issue that is scarring major brands in the search engines. Companies such as Allstate Insurance and University of Phoenix ignore negative websites (i.e. Allstateinsurancesucks.com) which are prominently visible in the first page results of Google. Learn how to eliminate or mitigate unwanted visibilty in your "brand real estate."

SEM Report Card has already made an impression on industry leaders and practioners alike since its launch. As He addresses everything from brand performance online, to the successes and failures of many to adequately protect their trademarks, copyrights and other IP assets in the online space, Tom Crandall is starting some conversations that need to be addressed. Expect this and more as SEM Report Card continues to spike debate.

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7 Card Tricks That Improve Your Personal Networking Power

(PRWEB) April 29, 2004

Your business card can perform many different promotional jobs and usually all at once. I call these little jobs “Card Tricks” because they work like magic.

All you need to do is be aware of what you want the end effect to be and then set your business card up to work the magic for you.

Here are 7 Card Trick ideas:

Get a Most Wanted Response (MWR)

Get Read (Break The Ice)

Get Kept (And Referred To)

Get Passed On

Qualify/Disqualify Prospects

Sell Stuff

Make You A Celebrity

1. Get A Most Wanted Response

This is the action you want your new contact to take next as a result of your communication. In this case it’s your business card that provides the communication.

You are responsible for the outcome of your communication so it goes without saying that you must have a clear outcome in mind to make the most effective use of your business card. If you don't create a business card with a clear idea of what you're expecting as an outcome then you can't expect to generate a consistent response. Your networking will be hit and miss and you’ll miss more opportunities than you deserve to.

Although your eventual goal will be to get someone to buy, buy again and then tell all their friends your first MWR when networking will rarely be “buy my service” straight away. You may want your prospect to give you permission to follow up first or to book a meeting or request more information. These types of response all build the relationship and make your final goal much easier to achieve.

A good first response is to create curiosity and then follow it up with a specific action… Consider the following ideas:

Make Them Visit Your Website And Leave Contact Details By… offering a FREEBIE on the back of your card. You could handwrite the URL (website address) each time you hand one out for that extra personal touch.

Get Them To Set Up A Meeting Immediately By… offering a FREE consultation and providing an appointment reminder form on the back of your card which you fill in as you’re talking to them.

Get Them To Call You As Soon As They Return To Work By… suggesting you have a secret FREE report and repeating your phone number nice and big on the back. You could give them a password or phrase to say when they call to be told more. People love to learn secrets, don’t you?

All along you should be looking to build your credibility and their level of trust. Your business card isn’t 100% responsible for this process but if it’s wrong you’ll be causing yourself unnecessary problems.

2. Get Read (break the ice)

3. Get Kept (And Referred To)

4. Get Passed On

5. Qualify/Disqualify Prospects

Be explicit about what you do, for whom and in what situation. This will help your card to do the difficult job of separating the wheat from the chaff, in terms of people you’d like to do business with.

A strong, targeted message on your business card will free your phone line up for enquiries from inspired, interested and applicable prospects. People who don’t fit your target will then know not to waste your time or theirs, and if they like you they can pass your details on to people who are right.

6. Sell Stuff

7. Make YOU A Celebrity

A key goal when networking is to stand out and be recognised. When people know your face and know what you can do for whom, introductions and positive gossip will become rampant.

The problem is, people in general, aren’t very good at putting names to faces until they’ve met you a few times. If you want everyone to know your name and to say, “There’s Mr/Mrs X” when you enter a room then here’s a really easy trick…

Put a photo of yourself on your card. Maybe even use up the whole of one side and include a link to a FREEBIE or a quote with it.

Then if you frequent the same networking groups and events often enough, your name will go before you.

It’s also a great ice-breaker and gets people to take a second look.

Some people believe that a picture could put people off who judge by appearances (ie too young, too old, don’t like the colour of that sweater etc). My question is… Do you want clients who make such assumptions in the first place? If not then fine. If you do then this might not work for you.

Did you want tricks 2, 3, 4 & 6 too? If you want all the top 7 Tricks plus loads of other ideas, including examples of real business cards and a business card makeover, then you can have them for free by going to http://www.leanmarketing.co.uk/card-shark

"Dangerous" Debbie Jenkins is an author and speaker who takes no prisoners with her, explosive and scathing attacks on the greedy and lazy textbook marketers who've never spent a penny of their own money on marketing in their life. See why she's mad and "Detox your Marketing" at...http://www.debbiejenkins.com

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