Check out www.NightScapeSuites.com the beta tester lounge for the forthcoming social networking MMORPG NightScape. It's the first game created using complete input from beta testers BEFORE it's even made!
Updates on game development can also be found at the company's corporate site www.nightlifeinteractive.net.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Monday, August 14, 2006
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
American Idol UPSET - Chris Daughtry Voted Off
UNBELIEVABLE!! I haven't written about American Idol weekly this year like I normally do but after tonight's Chris Daughtry upset I have to.
I just knew Chris Daughtry was going to be the next American Idol. He was LEAPS AND BOUNDS above the other contestants. In fact I was so confident that I didn't vote for him last night. I didn't vote at all (long story but I was occupied with other activities and couldn't reach my cell).
Anyway, I'm sure the record companies and bands are LINING UP to sign him. In all honesty, Chris Daughtry could become the most successful 4rd place American Idol contestant ever.
He deserves to be at least as successful as Kelly Clarkson if not more so. I just hope he has what it takes to follow through and make it happen.
Chris Daughtry, we wish you the best and look forward to seeing you accept your first Grammy!
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
American Idol Reviews - April 11th by Toli Cefail
If Chris Daughtry doesn't win American Idol, I quit. Every week he is perfect and a total pro.
But what happens to all the guys on the show that get voted off? You never see them! If you ask me, the show producers, the record label and the network are leaving a ton of money on the table. They could be marketing music from all of these kids and making a fortune.
Anyway, this week's American Idol Review from Toli Cefail - Entertainment Critic:
Chris Daughtry was fantastic as usual. He's a super star. No doubt.
Bucky Covington was cool this week. He did a good job. Good enough to stay another week.
Ace Young - Ace is so cute & charming and has a fantastic voice. But he keeps choosing the wrong songs. Here is a classic example of an artist desperately in need of a producer.
Kelly Pickler - She did a great job. We love Kelly Pickler. As usual Simon Cowell is always right - on paper it should have been a disaster but Kelly made it work.
Katherine McPhee - She reminds me of LaToya London - technically perfect and polished but with a warmer and more friendly personality. She has made herself stand out with stellar performances because I didn't notice her at first.
Elliot Yamin - We LOVE Elliot and his voice. I keep thinking he's from New York instead of Virginia. Anyway, he always sounds great even though this week's song choice was a little odd.
Taylor Hicks - Great performance. I see Taylor in a Las Vegas Strip hotel show. I don't mean that as an insult. I just think he would fit in great there. He has that energy that a Vegas performer needs. He also has the quality of performance that you expect in a show on the strip.
Paris Bennett - Fantastic performance on American Idol tonight by Paris Bennett. She chose a very odd Queen song but she really sang it extremely well. See you next week Paris. ;-)
---- Toli Cefail
Friday, March 31, 2006
Saw Oakenfold Last Night - Hot!
Saw Paul Oakenfold last night at Amphitheater (Tampa Bay's hottest club in case you didn't know). He totally rocked.
It was also great partying with my friends who I don't get to see enough :-).
And yes, now you know, I'm a party girl :-) -- Toli
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Mother Of 3 (Size 4) Helps You Lose Weight & Keep It Off
Welcome to Weight Loss at ToliCefail.com
Everything in this category is things that I have actually used to successfully lose weight & keep it off. If you’re a mom trying to lose weight after having a baby, you’ll like this site too. Whether you were skinny & want to get back there, are severely overweight or just need to lose a few pounds, you’ll find useful information here
That’s because I have 3 children. I have successfully lost weight after having kids twice and am now on my 3rd run after the birth of my 3rd child.
I lost all my pregnancy weight after my first 2 children (lost 30 lbs. from my first pregnancy & 45 from my 2nd – yes I gained more weight the 2nd time ). After my 3rd child I’m already down 25 pounds and have about 15 to go.
Why am I telling you all of this? Because everything I’m putting in this weight loss blog are things that I have actually DONE to successfully lose weight & keep it off after having 3 kids.
Having this blog is great because it gives me a chance to share the successful things I’ve found for losing weight & keeping it off.
For example: I’ll show you how I lost 45 pounds while eating cake, cookies & pasta. How just now, I’ve lost 25 pounds eating pancakes.
You’ll learn about how to think about your food in addition to what to eat. Your mental attitude while losing weight is just as important as diet & exercise.
I’ll show you healthy substitutions you can make for your favorite foods that taste just as good or better than what you’ve been eating.
I’ll show you how to eat when ordering out & what to look for on the menu.
I will provide the names of products, brands & foods that are healthy & will actually help you to lose weight while enjoying what you eat.
The information on this weight loss blog is not just for losing weight though. This information will help you keep the weight off and live healthier even if you don’t need to lose any weight.
I will share my experiences AND the experiences I’ve seen of others for a broader perspective on weight loss.
Now for the boring stuff: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. I AM NOT A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL. The information on this weight loss blog is intended for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Visitors who use this information do so at their own risk. You are advised to consult a health care professional before beginning any diet or exercise program.
And now for the FUN STUFF.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Next Bond? Cast Your Vote
Why they're getting rid of Pierce Brosnan, I'll never know. He's perfect. But Hollywood frequently makes idiotic calls.
So cast your vote for the next one here: http://nextbond.net.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Have A Great Product? That may not be enough to make you rich.
"Build a better mouse trap and the world will beat a path to your door."
Many of us have heard this expression. And many of us (who aren't professional marketers of course) have believed it.
The fact of the matter is, that no matter how "great" your product is, no one will even find it (let alone 'beat a path') if they don't know about your product.
How do they learn about your product's existence? Marketing.
A well executed marketing campaign can make even the worst product sell well.
Poorly executed or no marketing can leave the greatest product in the world sitting on the shelf.
Don't believe me?
A trip to any supermarket will quickly prove my point.
Simply walk down the aisle and take a look at how many of the products are actually worthless. The average supermarket today carries about 50,000 items most of which are worthless as far as benefiting us nutritionally. Yet they sell like crazy.
Why? Marketing.
Now let's take the reverse. Yesterday I had one of the best salmon dishes I've ever had in my life. The restaurant I ordered it from is on the verge of going out of business.
They have no marketing campaign. In fact, most of the people in the area that I've spoken with have never even heard of them.
Their mousetrap is better but where's all the business?
The moral of the story is, don't think that just because your product is great that you're guaranteed success and fortune.
By the same token, don't think that because your idea is not so special, that you can't sell a ton with the right marketing campaign. Remember American Idol's William Hung? His album debuted in the top 40!
William Hung had great marketing. While other, significantly more talented Idol contestants have all but vanished due to extremely poor marketing. (The Idol producers are leaving major money on the table if you ask me, but that's another story).
So if you think you have a marketable idea or product but don't know where to start the internet can be your testing ground. Check out a site called TenThousandBrightIdeas.com and no matter what you do, don't stop trying.
------------
Toli Cefail is a veteran marketer for more than 20 years. She is currently the Chief Operations Officer and co-founder of the leading online marketing firm In Touch Media Group. She also has created and maintains a number of sites in the fields of fashion and music.
Many of us have heard this expression. And many of us (who aren't professional marketers of course) have believed it.
The fact of the matter is, that no matter how "great" your product is, no one will even find it (let alone 'beat a path') if they don't know about your product.
How do they learn about your product's existence? Marketing.
A well executed marketing campaign can make even the worst product sell well.
Poorly executed or no marketing can leave the greatest product in the world sitting on the shelf.
Don't believe me?
A trip to any supermarket will quickly prove my point.
Simply walk down the aisle and take a look at how many of the products are actually worthless. The average supermarket today carries about 50,000 items most of which are worthless as far as benefiting us nutritionally. Yet they sell like crazy.
Why? Marketing.
Now let's take the reverse. Yesterday I had one of the best salmon dishes I've ever had in my life. The restaurant I ordered it from is on the verge of going out of business.
They have no marketing campaign. In fact, most of the people in the area that I've spoken with have never even heard of them.
Their mousetrap is better but where's all the business?
The moral of the story is, don't think that just because your product is great that you're guaranteed success and fortune.
By the same token, don't think that because your idea is not so special, that you can't sell a ton with the right marketing campaign. Remember American Idol's William Hung? His album debuted in the top 40!
William Hung had great marketing. While other, significantly more talented Idol contestants have all but vanished due to extremely poor marketing. (The Idol producers are leaving major money on the table if you ask me, but that's another story).
So if you think you have a marketable idea or product but don't know where to start the internet can be your testing ground. Check out a site called TenThousandBrightIdeas.com and no matter what you do, don't stop trying.
------------
Toli Cefail is a veteran marketer for more than 20 years. She is currently the Chief Operations Officer and co-founder of the leading online marketing firm In Touch Media Group. She also has created and maintains a number of sites in the fields of fashion and music.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
American Idol Contestants - Start Tone Deaf Foundation
The fifth season of American Idol has made it apparent that there is apparently an epidemic of tone deafness of enormous proportions in the United States.
In keeping with the tradition of establishing a charity to deal with every type of malady known to man, we here at Tips From Toli are starting the Tone Deaf Awareness Foundation.
The Foundation will offer assistance to individuals planning to audition for American Idol as well as those planning outings to Karaoke bars throughout the nation.
The Foundation will offer regular viewings and listening sessions of such in-tune singers as Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Garth Brooks, Barry Manilow, Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken and others.
The overall objective of the foundation is to prevent the spread of "What The...?-itis", "Oh my God - itis", "I can't believe it! - itis", "what was she/he thinking-itis" and variations of these syndromes.
To volunteer or contribute, contact the American Idol Contestant Tone Deaf Foundation at info@idolonfox.com.
In keeping with the tradition of establishing a charity to deal with every type of malady known to man, we here at Tips From Toli are starting the Tone Deaf Awareness Foundation.
The Foundation will offer assistance to individuals planning to audition for American Idol as well as those planning outings to Karaoke bars throughout the nation.
The Foundation will offer regular viewings and listening sessions of such in-tune singers as Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Garth Brooks, Barry Manilow, Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken and others.
The overall objective of the foundation is to prevent the spread of "What The...?-itis", "Oh my God - itis", "I can't believe it! - itis", "what was she/he thinking-itis" and variations of these syndromes.
To volunteer or contribute, contact the American Idol Contestant Tone Deaf Foundation at info@idolonfox.com.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Marketing In The New Year - 2006
Happy New Year! This year promises to be a great one and we're looking forward to sharing many helpful marketing tips to you.
January is a great month for planning. Take some time this week before all the "action" of the New Year starts, to plan goals for yourself and your company for this year.
Include plans for marketing your products and services. How much do you want to sell this year? Do you want to go after a specific category of new client? Do you have a service that you really want to make take off this year?
Anything like the above should have a plan, no matter how simple. Just take a short time, grab some paper and write something down. You'll thank me when it actually gets done! :-)
Technorati Profile
January is a great month for planning. Take some time this week before all the "action" of the New Year starts, to plan goals for yourself and your company for this year.
Include plans for marketing your products and services. How much do you want to sell this year? Do you want to go after a specific category of new client? Do you have a service that you really want to make take off this year?
Anything like the above should have a plan, no matter how simple. Just take a short time, grab some paper and write something down. You'll thank me when it actually gets done! :-)
Technorati Profile
Thursday, November 24, 2005
New Coke “Mastermind” Takes Job With Star Wars Galaxies by Toli Cefail
Star Wars Galaxies – the once fantastic online role playing game where players could live in the Star Wars universe and pursue a myriad of goals much as one does in real life – has been invaded by what appears to be the ‘genius’ behind the creation of the New Coke formula.
If you play the game and have played lately, you’ve probably realized that the party is now basically over. What was once a fun & life-like game where one was free to choose one’s own destiny has become a boxed-in, restrictive, and limited “experience” that is destined for a short playing time.
For those of you who may be too young to remember, or may have forgotten, the New Coke fiasco, I’ll describe it here. Coca Cola, the world’s favorite beverage for about ONE HUDRED YEARS, decided some time ago to change its flavor. Not only did they change the flavor, but they eliminated the original flavor from all store shelves world wide. The only flavor you could buy was the New Coke flavor. Needless to say it was a colossal disaster.
No one liked the new flavor. People were going crazy trying to find the old flavor. Coca Cola was flooded with complaints and inquiries from consumers, distributors & stores. It was a mess. So soon after this blunder, they reintroduced the original flavor with the face saving label “Coca Cola Classic” which, of course, outsold New Coke by leaps and bounds. This is why your coke cans say “Classic” today.
No doubt some “marketing whiz” told the Coke executives, “you’ve got to be ‘fresh’ to keep up with Pepsi!”, “Out with the old. In with the new!”, “We’ve got to do something major!”. I can see the meeting now where this Madison Avenue “whiz kid” pitched this lunacy.
And so it is with Star Wars Galaxies. If you’ve been playing you know now that the entire game has changed. You’re now forced to choose only one of a limited number of professions; your single path is dictated by the game creators; and don’t even get me started on the mouse control changes. (I’m still getting over my headache).
The only good thing about the SWG changes is the new quests and new abilities.
I’ll never understand this obsession to change everything instead of just changing a few things. I will also never understand the tendency of companies to make sweeping decisions that affect their customers (and profits) without first surveying those customers to see what they want exactly.
I’m sure there were some complaints about the time it took to achieve certain game perks and abilities. But did rectifying that require a radical and complete game change? Did that necessitate eliminating skills and abilities players had worked weeks and even months to acquire? I’m certain no.
Hopefully the “new” SWG changes will go the way of New Coke and their “mastermind” will again be looking for work.
If you play the game and have played lately, you’ve probably realized that the party is now basically over. What was once a fun & life-like game where one was free to choose one’s own destiny has become a boxed-in, restrictive, and limited “experience” that is destined for a short playing time.
For those of you who may be too young to remember, or may have forgotten, the New Coke fiasco, I’ll describe it here. Coca Cola, the world’s favorite beverage for about ONE HUDRED YEARS, decided some time ago to change its flavor. Not only did they change the flavor, but they eliminated the original flavor from all store shelves world wide. The only flavor you could buy was the New Coke flavor. Needless to say it was a colossal disaster.
No one liked the new flavor. People were going crazy trying to find the old flavor. Coca Cola was flooded with complaints and inquiries from consumers, distributors & stores. It was a mess. So soon after this blunder, they reintroduced the original flavor with the face saving label “Coca Cola Classic” which, of course, outsold New Coke by leaps and bounds. This is why your coke cans say “Classic” today.
No doubt some “marketing whiz” told the Coke executives, “you’ve got to be ‘fresh’ to keep up with Pepsi!”, “Out with the old. In with the new!”, “We’ve got to do something major!”. I can see the meeting now where this Madison Avenue “whiz kid” pitched this lunacy.
And so it is with Star Wars Galaxies. If you’ve been playing you know now that the entire game has changed. You’re now forced to choose only one of a limited number of professions; your single path is dictated by the game creators; and don’t even get me started on the mouse control changes. (I’m still getting over my headache).
The only good thing about the SWG changes is the new quests and new abilities.
I’ll never understand this obsession to change everything instead of just changing a few things. I will also never understand the tendency of companies to make sweeping decisions that affect their customers (and profits) without first surveying those customers to see what they want exactly.
I’m sure there were some complaints about the time it took to achieve certain game perks and abilities. But did rectifying that require a radical and complete game change? Did that necessitate eliminating skills and abilities players had worked weeks and even months to acquire? I’m certain no.
Hopefully the “new” SWG changes will go the way of New Coke and their “mastermind” will again be looking for work.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Earth To America - Review
I just watched TBS's special Earth To America. Very funny. But a question comes to mind:
How is it that a bunch of liberal democrats can put on a 2 hour commercial for the democratic agenda with no media repercussions?
About 60 - 70% of this show is filled with digs and cuts on republicans, conservatives, Christians, etc.
Basically if you didn't know better & watched this show, you'd think that conservatives didn't care about the earth or global warming, etc. It does more than "poke fun". It makes anyone who doesn't tout the liberal party line look stupid.
The TBS special, Earth To America, is basically a 2 hour propaganda campaign for the liberal democratic agenda disguised as "caring about the earth". Because every good liberal knows that if you're not a liberal, you don't care about the earth.
Republicans, conservatives & independents TAKE NOTE. Get your campaigns together and get your messages out broadly. Surely there must be some conservatives & independents left in Hollywood right?
---- Toli Cefail
How is it that a bunch of liberal democrats can put on a 2 hour commercial for the democratic agenda with no media repercussions?
About 60 - 70% of this show is filled with digs and cuts on republicans, conservatives, Christians, etc.
Basically if you didn't know better & watched this show, you'd think that conservatives didn't care about the earth or global warming, etc. It does more than "poke fun". It makes anyone who doesn't tout the liberal party line look stupid.
The TBS special, Earth To America, is basically a 2 hour propaganda campaign for the liberal democratic agenda disguised as "caring about the earth". Because every good liberal knows that if you're not a liberal, you don't care about the earth.
Republicans, conservatives & independents TAKE NOTE. Get your campaigns together and get your messages out broadly. Surely there must be some conservatives & independents left in Hollywood right?
---- Toli Cefail
Friday, November 04, 2005
The Hypocracy of The Anti Wal Mart Lobby
I am so tired of hearing these elitist union supporters talking from atop their high horses about how they want to "help the poor". Every person I've ever met who fights for unionization on a lobbyist level has been a rich kid from a rich family.
This "let them eat cake" attitude comes from never having had to work for anything and build something from nothing. They think that since they have everything, anyone else who has is in the same boat they are and therefore "owes" it to the poor to give them something.
Well I can tell you that is a crock. I earned every nickle I have and I don't intend to "give" it to anyone who hasn't earned it.
The hypocracy is that these rich brats get on television talking about companies like Wal Mart and the airlines like these companies should just give money to their employees because the employees don't have money. It's rediculous.
On CNBC today Mr. Blank said that Wal Mart workers "don't have insurance" and that there was "nothing more noble than helping the poor". Yeah right. Like he really cares.
If you really want to help the poor mister, why don't you give them some of your money. That's right, hop on a train up to 125th street (Harlem) and open your wallet Mr. High & Mighty. Why don't you lobby congress to privatize large chunks of government to create more jobs, less inefficiency and waste of hard earned tax payer dollars? Why don't you support a voucher system so poor families can send their kids to private school?
I live in the real world and know that would never happen. These supposedly sympathetic people who advocate unionization and jacking corporations under the guise of "helping the worker" don't care about anything but their own agenda. They are pimping for the man. Make no mistake. Don't believe me? Ask them what they have personally done to help the poor that doesn't patronize them or keep them poor.
These hypocrites look at the poor, minorities, the under-priveleged, etc. like they're "pets" or some type of novelty. They're doing it to make themselves feel better and not really for the poor.
You see because when companies suffer, jobs go away and families can't eat. Where's the bleeding heart for the family that can now afford Christmas presents because of Wal Mart's low prices? They didn't think of that because they don't really care.
Making companies suffer for the benefit of the worker is a communist philosophy. Communists do not advocate competition. They do not advocate rising up in society based on your abilities. They advocate taking from the rich and the highly capable in order to produce an equilibrium of wealth and ability.
Now they'll deny they're communist very passionately. And in all honesty, they probably don't realize their advocating communism. But the result of what they are asking for is the forwarding and implementation of communist ideals. If it looks like a duck...
You want to help the poor? TEACH them marketable skills.
You want to level the playing field? Implement a national VOUCHER SYSTEM for schools so that poor parents can send their kids to ANY school they choose.
You want to make sure all families and companies can afford health care? OPEN up the marketplace so that alternative medicine can openly talk about the illness it can cure. This competition will force costs to go down since alternative medicine costs less.
Anyway... that's my rant for today.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Internet Marketing - Are You Reaching Your Target Audience?
To be sure you're reaching your target audience with any marekting effort and internet marketing in particular. It is important to have certain elements in place. First and foremost is to know who your public is.
Second is to know what they want from your product or service.
Third is to deliver what they want from your advertising all the way through your product or service itself.
How do you know who your public is and what they want from your product or service?
The answer is survey. Ask your public (customers and prospects) what they want with properly conducted market research in the form of surveys.
While there are many firms that perform market research and customer surveys it is important that the survey you conduct accomplish certain key objectives in order for the information to be practically useful when creating your marketing campaigns and collateral.
1. The survey must acertain what type of people are most likely to want and buy your product. If your product has a dual public, such as with children's products, you must survey both publics (e.g. children and parents).
2. The survey must find out what these people would expect your product to do for them - benefits they expect.
3. The survey must get them to tell you how best to present your product to them. This is a tricky one because your questions have to cut through a person's social acceptance mechanisms to get to what really makes them want a product. This is accomplished through careful question construction and is best done by marketers experienced in writing questions that cut through an individual's social veneer.
4. The survey should also ask questions about such things as pricing, packaging, color and name.
5. And finally, the survey should ask questions that tell you how to position your product so that consumers will find it appealing.
Even if you conduct focus groups and product testing, doing these types of surveys early on in the product development and marketing development stages can save a great deal of time and money. At the very least it will give you a direction to go in which will save many hit and miss attempts at getting your marketing right.
---- Toli Cefail
Toli Cefail is a veteran marketing executive and entrepreneur with more than 20 years experience in marketing both online and off. She is currently the Chief Operating Officer at the leading online marketing firm In Touch Media Group (ITOU.OB) - www.InTouchMediaGroup.com.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Marketing & Everything Else: You Get What You Pay For by Toli Cefail
So often prospective clients come to me and expect me to perform online marketing services for them for free. If they don't want it for free, they want it for some rediculously low price like $99 or something.
I don't understand it. I'm still trying to guess what the thought process is.
I mean you wouldn't expect another professional such as an attorney, doctor or accountant to deliver services to you for free right? You wouldn't expect to put ads in a newspaper for free right? Investment bankers, ad agencies (when the buy rate is low) all get retainers right? So why not an internet marketing professional?
I have a few theories:
1. There is a glut of apparently "cheap" internet marketing information and tools on the web. So people expect professional internet marketers to fall in to that same category.
You've seen them. The web pages that go on for days talking about the "MIRACLES OF THEIR SYSTEM" and how you can "Get RICH Instantly" for "NO MONEY" and "NO WORK" are everywhere. YAY!!
These programs, tapes and e-books, etc. usually sell for under $300.
Well, if you have the time to invest in learning from them and implementing their suggestions, great. Go for it. But if you want professional help ...
2. The internet being apparently entirely technology driven has the feel of software. So people treat it like a piece of software and think it's effortless.
Yes. It's effortless like a gymnasts routine. If you've been doing it for 20 years you can make it look easy. But if you want that expertise on your side...
3. Some small business people who are not used to working with real professionals don't understand the etiquette of working with professional marketers and consultants and other types of experts in various fields. So, like children, they have to learn the hard way that if you want real professional results, you have to behave like a company that gets those kind of results (and budget accordingly).
_________________________
Well those are my theories on why some companies don't want to pay properly for professional marketing services.
This is not to say that no companies realize the value of professional marketing done right. My clients do and they are plenty. But it's fascinating to me how many small businesses there are that DON'T recognize the value. Perhaps this is why they stay small.
In any case, if you are trying to market a product on the internet or otherwise, do not underestimate the value of professional internet marketing consulting and services. The old adage "you get what you pay for" is still true today.
I don't understand it. I'm still trying to guess what the thought process is.
I mean you wouldn't expect another professional such as an attorney, doctor or accountant to deliver services to you for free right? You wouldn't expect to put ads in a newspaper for free right? Investment bankers, ad agencies (when the buy rate is low) all get retainers right? So why not an internet marketing professional?
I have a few theories:
1. There is a glut of apparently "cheap" internet marketing information and tools on the web. So people expect professional internet marketers to fall in to that same category.
You've seen them. The web pages that go on for days talking about the "MIRACLES OF THEIR SYSTEM" and how you can "Get RICH Instantly" for "NO MONEY" and "NO WORK" are everywhere. YAY!!
These programs, tapes and e-books, etc. usually sell for under $300.
Well, if you have the time to invest in learning from them and implementing their suggestions, great. Go for it. But if you want professional help ...
2. The internet being apparently entirely technology driven has the feel of software. So people treat it like a piece of software and think it's effortless.
Yes. It's effortless like a gymnasts routine. If you've been doing it for 20 years you can make it look easy. But if you want that expertise on your side...
3. Some small business people who are not used to working with real professionals don't understand the etiquette of working with professional marketers and consultants and other types of experts in various fields. So, like children, they have to learn the hard way that if you want real professional results, you have to behave like a company that gets those kind of results (and budget accordingly).
_________________________
Well those are my theories on why some companies don't want to pay properly for professional marketing services.
This is not to say that no companies realize the value of professional marketing done right. My clients do and they are plenty. But it's fascinating to me how many small businesses there are that DON'T recognize the value. Perhaps this is why they stay small.
In any case, if you are trying to market a product on the internet or otherwise, do not underestimate the value of professional internet marketing consulting and services. The old adage "you get what you pay for" is still true today.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Toli Cefail Is...
Toli Cefail has been a marketing professional for more than 20 years in addition to having a strong administrative and regulatory background. She has overseen the marketing, legal and regulatory affairs for what became a top provider of specialized telecommunications services against competitors such as AT&T, MCI, Sprint and the Baby Bells.
This involved establishing, coordinating and managing regulatory affairs and marketing efforts in 600 counties spanning 41 states. Ms. Cefail was also responsible for obtaining favorable groundbreaking legislation for this company in a number of states as well as creating the firm’s administrative structure and procedures from the ground up.
Ms. Cefail has also assisted in the marketing & web development for the boutique investment banking firm The RC&A Group as well as performed marketing consulting for such prominent entertainers as Doug E. Fresh.
Currently she is a principle of the major online marketing firm In Touch Media Group providing internet marketing consulting services to small & medium sized businesses.
This involved establishing, coordinating and managing regulatory affairs and marketing efforts in 600 counties spanning 41 states. Ms. Cefail was also responsible for obtaining favorable groundbreaking legislation for this company in a number of states as well as creating the firm’s administrative structure and procedures from the ground up.
Ms. Cefail has also assisted in the marketing & web development for the boutique investment banking firm The RC&A Group as well as performed marketing consulting for such prominent entertainers as Doug E. Fresh.
Currently she is a principle of the major online marketing firm In Touch Media Group providing internet marketing consulting services to small & medium sized businesses.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
When China Has An Election, Then We Can Talk About Unocal
When China has an election, call me.
When you can read what you want in China, call me.
When a Chinese citizen can openly and freely practice their religion, call me.
When Chinese parents stop killing their newborn daughters because they’re only allowed 1 child, call me.
When the Chinese government stops controlling what news goes out to the rest of the world, call me.
When I can have my Chinese friends visit me in the U.S. without going through the 3rd degree with their government, call me.
When Chinese leaders stop saying things like “I believe WAR with the U.S. is inevitable.”, call me.
When the government doesn’t censure all media, call me.
When a Chinese citizen can openly and freely speak out against their government, (without getting shot that is), call me.
China is a COMMUNIST COUNTRY. Don’t forget it.
If you think for one second that the Chinese government is not 100% aware of the short-sightedness of the American corporate mentality, and taking complete advantage of that with every opportunity, you are whistling past the graveyard.
When the Chinese make plans they make them in DECADES and CENTURIES. We make them in quarters & years. The communist Chinese know this, and know it as a weakness of ours.
The manufacturing dependence and trade deficit with China was CALCULATED and PLANNED. It was a calculated risk they took starting decades ago and so far, it has paid off.
They’ve decided to seduce us with money and get us to support their way of life by making themselves somewhat indispensable to us.
But this tact is a double edged sword. They now need us MORE than we need them, at least a little bit. Why?
When we own (parts of) companies in China, it helps US. Yes, it helps them too but it also enables them to experience more of our culture. It makes them become less communist. And yes, it creates jobs and commerce for us and them.
But the key is that it does this INSIDE China. We are making money there which we can then bring home here. They need to reform their communist ways to make those companies produce and be successful in China.
If they are allowed to own companies outside China, then they will be taking our money home. They will be less dependent on us. They will have less of a need to reform their own country because now they can make money outside.
It is not in our best interest to lend this kind of support to a communist government. As long as China is a communist country they should never be allowed to own ANY western business by any means.
Would we let Fidel Castro buy an oil company here?
The Soviet Union crumbled because their ECONOMY FAILED. They were too poverty stricken to maintain their government let alone support their people. China, heeding that lesson has attempted to circumvent this inevitable consequence of communism by opening their economy, in part, to western ways.
But if we allow them to become financially strong OUTSIDE of China, they will have no need to allow western ways INSIDE of China.
Use our presence in China to win freedom for the Chinese people. Say NO to the CNOOK / Unocal deal.
--- Toli Cefail
When you can read what you want in China, call me.
When a Chinese citizen can openly and freely practice their religion, call me.
When Chinese parents stop killing their newborn daughters because they’re only allowed 1 child, call me.
When the Chinese government stops controlling what news goes out to the rest of the world, call me.
When I can have my Chinese friends visit me in the U.S. without going through the 3rd degree with their government, call me.
When Chinese leaders stop saying things like “I believe WAR with the U.S. is inevitable.”, call me.
When the government doesn’t censure all media, call me.
When a Chinese citizen can openly and freely speak out against their government, (without getting shot that is), call me.
China is a COMMUNIST COUNTRY. Don’t forget it.
If you think for one second that the Chinese government is not 100% aware of the short-sightedness of the American corporate mentality, and taking complete advantage of that with every opportunity, you are whistling past the graveyard.
When the Chinese make plans they make them in DECADES and CENTURIES. We make them in quarters & years. The communist Chinese know this, and know it as a weakness of ours.
The manufacturing dependence and trade deficit with China was CALCULATED and PLANNED. It was a calculated risk they took starting decades ago and so far, it has paid off.
They’ve decided to seduce us with money and get us to support their way of life by making themselves somewhat indispensable to us.
But this tact is a double edged sword. They now need us MORE than we need them, at least a little bit. Why?
When we own (parts of) companies in China, it helps US. Yes, it helps them too but it also enables them to experience more of our culture. It makes them become less communist. And yes, it creates jobs and commerce for us and them.
But the key is that it does this INSIDE China. We are making money there which we can then bring home here. They need to reform their communist ways to make those companies produce and be successful in China.
If they are allowed to own companies outside China, then they will be taking our money home. They will be less dependent on us. They will have less of a need to reform their own country because now they can make money outside.
It is not in our best interest to lend this kind of support to a communist government. As long as China is a communist country they should never be allowed to own ANY western business by any means.
Would we let Fidel Castro buy an oil company here?
The Soviet Union crumbled because their ECONOMY FAILED. They were too poverty stricken to maintain their government let alone support their people. China, heeding that lesson has attempted to circumvent this inevitable consequence of communism by opening their economy, in part, to western ways.
But if we allow them to become financially strong OUTSIDE of China, they will have no need to allow western ways INSIDE of China.
Use our presence in China to win freedom for the Chinese people. Say NO to the CNOOK / Unocal deal.
--- Toli Cefail
Thursday, July 07, 2005
To Great Britain On Today's Terrorist Attacks - We Are With You
To our friends in England & all of Great Britain, we are with you. Our hearts and prayers go to all the victims and their families as well as all citizens of Great Britain.
Today's attacks showed once again the lunacy of the terrorists. We hope that the G8 will take heed and UNITE with steel resolve to eradicate this vermin from our free world once and for all.
There are really only 2 nations, one of free people with governments who want their citizens' prosperity (spiritual, mental and physical), freedom and tranquility. The 2nd with self-serving tyrants who wish to preserve their hold over their citizens through oppression, ignorance and propaganda.
We are the former, the terrorists are and represent the latter.
Let them know that the more they behave as terrorists and refuse to let people live in peace, the more we "infidels", with our free ideas and religious, gender and ethnic equality will invade every nook and cranny of their society.
Let them know this behavior will not be tolerated. Let them know they need to change their ways and seek to live in peace.
Today's attacks showed once again the lunacy of the terrorists. We hope that the G8 will take heed and UNITE with steel resolve to eradicate this vermin from our free world once and for all.
There are really only 2 nations, one of free people with governments who want their citizens' prosperity (spiritual, mental and physical), freedom and tranquility. The 2nd with self-serving tyrants who wish to preserve their hold over their citizens through oppression, ignorance and propaganda.
We are the former, the terrorists are and represent the latter.
Let them know that the more they behave as terrorists and refuse to let people live in peace, the more we "infidels", with our free ideas and religious, gender and ethnic equality will invade every nook and cranny of their society.
Let them know this behavior will not be tolerated. Let them know they need to change their ways and seek to live in peace.
Friday, June 17, 2005
Google's Hidden Problem #2
GOOGLE HAS AN ACHILES HEAL—WILL THEIR COMPETITORS NOTICE?
Even though Google Revenues continue to soar, the hidden problem that may stifle growth and may even allow Yahoo or MSN to overtake the paid search market in the future lies in two critical phrases: Customer Support, and Customer Training
Approximately 40% of the small businesses we have surveyed have tried Adwords in the past and failed, and some of them have tried multiple times. In some markets the percentage is closer to 60%. Why? because the program was designed by Google engineers, and heavily favors companies with the type of resources that most small businesses do not have. Unlike MSN and Yahoo who have programs that are much simpler in terms of use for small businesspeople, Google favors a technology driven solution that relies less on customer support, and expects users of their system to become more sophisticated.
The problem with this is that it is working quite well for professional internet marketers and search engine marketing companies employed by big corporations, but many small business people who are not web-savvy are by and large left out of the mix. This is unfortunate because this is a huge segment of potential income that is left "up for grabs"
and may be scooped up by MSN and Yahoo who are developing simpler, easier systems with better customer support.
All the major search engines recognize this problem, and getting those "offline" advertisers online is a high priority for all of them, but so far there has not been great success. It is a knowledge and training gap, and neither Yahoo, MSN, or Google has so far been able to address it adequately.
Google's recent acquisition of urchin, a web analytics program illustrates the problem Google is trying to solve. Big Companies getting involved in paid search will still continue to drive big revenues, but the new internet is about verticals and niches, and Google simply isn't making the grade in terms of training their customers well enough.
Where do small business customers go after they "churn"? Many of them go back to what they were doing successfully before; email marketing, direct marketing, and call centers according to our study.
The next growth area will be hundreds of thousands of verticals, driven by small businesses exploiting areas and needs that the fortune 500 companies can not fill efficiently. The search engine company that gets the most advertisers on its side will win market share, and winning will require the ability to service everybody, not just the super sophisticated internet super geeks.
However, many private companies not sanctioned by Google, have sprung up in order to try to bridge the gap between the Google Adwords program and the ability to advertise efficiently on Google and achieve a high ROI. One such company is http://adwordstraining.org that offers free video training and free frequently updated information at http://marketingnewsblog.adwordstraining.org
Simple training videos are available on the site, as well as an advertiser self study course to get non-technical people up to speed with Google Adwords advertising.
Between Google's extensive training program of Google Professionals and private training by private companies, this knowledge gap may be bridged, and in the process a whole new industry of Google Adwords Marketing companies may be created, to facilitate the knowledge gap between Google and the advertisers that want to take advantage of the enormous advertising reach afforded by paid search.
But, this might not be enough for Google to keep its lead, as advertisers often follow the path of least resistance in getting their messages out, and they are the ones funding the growth of the search engine industry.
Where those advertisers ultimately go will determine the ultimate victor in the ever growing search engine wars, and the winner is by no means secure at this point.
Steve Blom
Founding Partner
InTouch Media Group
www.intouchmediagroup.com
Even though Google Revenues continue to soar, the hidden problem that may stifle growth and may even allow Yahoo or MSN to overtake the paid search market in the future lies in two critical phrases: Customer Support, and Customer Training
Approximately 40% of the small businesses we have surveyed have tried Adwords in the past and failed, and some of them have tried multiple times. In some markets the percentage is closer to 60%. Why? because the program was designed by Google engineers, and heavily favors companies with the type of resources that most small businesses do not have. Unlike MSN and Yahoo who have programs that are much simpler in terms of use for small businesspeople, Google favors a technology driven solution that relies less on customer support, and expects users of their system to become more sophisticated.
The problem with this is that it is working quite well for professional internet marketers and search engine marketing companies employed by big corporations, but many small business people who are not web-savvy are by and large left out of the mix. This is unfortunate because this is a huge segment of potential income that is left "up for grabs"
and may be scooped up by MSN and Yahoo who are developing simpler, easier systems with better customer support.
All the major search engines recognize this problem, and getting those "offline" advertisers online is a high priority for all of them, but so far there has not been great success. It is a knowledge and training gap, and neither Yahoo, MSN, or Google has so far been able to address it adequately.
Google's recent acquisition of urchin, a web analytics program illustrates the problem Google is trying to solve. Big Companies getting involved in paid search will still continue to drive big revenues, but the new internet is about verticals and niches, and Google simply isn't making the grade in terms of training their customers well enough.
Where do small business customers go after they "churn"? Many of them go back to what they were doing successfully before; email marketing, direct marketing, and call centers according to our study.
The next growth area will be hundreds of thousands of verticals, driven by small businesses exploiting areas and needs that the fortune 500 companies can not fill efficiently. The search engine company that gets the most advertisers on its side will win market share, and winning will require the ability to service everybody, not just the super sophisticated internet super geeks.
However, many private companies not sanctioned by Google, have sprung up in order to try to bridge the gap between the Google Adwords program and the ability to advertise efficiently on Google and achieve a high ROI. One such company is http://adwordstraining.org that offers free video training and free frequently updated information at http://marketingnewsblog.adwordstraining.org
Simple training videos are available on the site, as well as an advertiser self study course to get non-technical people up to speed with Google Adwords advertising.
Between Google's extensive training program of Google Professionals and private training by private companies, this knowledge gap may be bridged, and in the process a whole new industry of Google Adwords Marketing companies may be created, to facilitate the knowledge gap between Google and the advertisers that want to take advantage of the enormous advertising reach afforded by paid search.
But, this might not be enough for Google to keep its lead, as advertisers often follow the path of least resistance in getting their messages out, and they are the ones funding the growth of the search engine industry.
Where those advertisers ultimately go will determine the ultimate victor in the ever growing search engine wars, and the winner is by no means secure at this point.
Steve Blom
Founding Partner
InTouch Media Group
www.intouchmediagroup.com
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