The ULTIMATE Landing Page Design  2010-01-14

Landing pages have one purpose only: simplification.  They are a rather synthesized version of a website that has basic information and a call to action.

I think you have noticed that, every single time I write about landing pages, I talk about "calls-to-action".  Always.  While it is not my intention to underrate your marketing knowledge, you can't imagine how many times the designers and I have had arguments about where to put the call to action, since the customer never made it clear or it wasn't provided at all.

For the sake of my friendship with the designers' team, my own peace of mind and in order to help you get more clicks and sales, I'll say this again:

HAVE A CLEAR CALL TO ACTION!

Done.  Now, today's topic is how to create the ULTIMATE landing page design.

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So, Do you Own The Contents on Your Social Profile Page?  2010-01-12

Many people start their Social Profile Marketing campaigns without having a clue about the rights and ownership over the published contents.  That's not exactly a clever move but, as in high school, common sense has little or nothing to do with trends.

(Purpose one: stop talking about my high school days.  That's why I'm paying a shrink for..)

It is tedious to read the Terms of Service but, if you're serious about your campaign, you have to know the extents of these terms and how they affect the quality and promotion of your message.

When in Rome, post as the Romans...

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Banner Design and Viral Marketing: Do They Clash?  2009-12-15

Banner design, most of the time, is not like a virus.  It's more like a headache: sure, you know it's there, but you can't give anyone a headache just by sharing the same supply of oxygen available in a room.  To be honest, banners are a rather traditional ad tool.  If we think about it, they've been with us for, what now? 15 years?

Viral marketing (or buzzmarketing), on the other hand, is kind of an interesting approach.  By a clever use of content, you create a promotion web around your products and services.  Someone tells someone else something and the word spreads faster than gunpowder.  Of couse, this is an oversimplification of the process, but the main idea is there.  I'll go deeper, don't worry.

On one hand, we have a rather traditional tool.  On the other, we have a random-based system that may or may not work.

Common sense would dictate:  they clash.  Totally.

Now, now: is that true?

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Social Profiles: People Want to be Heard.  2009-12-14

To be honest, one of the many reasons people create a Social Network Profile is to be heard.  The way we live in the cities, always turning around to check out if anyone is following us, scared of being too vulnerable pretty much forced us to colonize the Internet (once the geeks' holy ground) and create new ways to interact and hope to find someone we can finally trust.  I strongly believe that, if we had the means, we would spend more time meeting people in the real world than in this Photoshop-perfect universe we crafted.

I wouldn't say it's evil, but the way some companies approach customers and promote their products is almost cruel.  The premise of a solid ground where we can connect with others is just too strong, a quest we humans have been on for centuries now.

In other words:  if you want to sell, shut up and listen.

People want to be heard

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5 Seasonal Email Marketing Ideas  2009-12-09

Email marketing can be a source of joy or frustration.  One of the most recurrent memories of the Holidays is one of those frustrating gifts that were not fun at all.  Were you expecting for a videogame console or a new bike?  Congratulations!  Here, have a pair of socks and a wooly sweater.  Happy Holidays, everyone!  You better feel lucky.

It makes me cringe every time I think about it.  I've had one too many Christmas Eves on which I don't get what I want.  Sure, that's life in a nutshell but our tolerance levels grow really thin during this time of the year.  We expect to be dazzled by ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING OUT THERE! We can't settle for nothing less than awesome.

So, you think your email marketing campaign is spared from this strife for awesomeness?  Think again.

That's why we want to give you a gift that keeps on giving:  Five ideas to create effective email marketing during the Holidays.

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