Increasing Relevance to Improve Ranking

I can’t stress the importance of research, strategy and planning (enough) in any good marketing strategy. I attempted to describe this in my post from this April titled: Moving the Needle with “New Media” – Technically Speaking (under the subheading: Finally, don’t just throw your time or budget away!) A solid digital business strategy will ensure that the work done has an incremental and long-term value for years to come. Is this branding at its best?

Yesterday, I was training a small group on best blogging practices. Good thing, I’m able to use my own blog as an example of how content marketing has a “shelf life of years.”

I have started several blogs over the years either for friends, clients and even myself – all with a variety of different purposes or strategies. This very blog (http://www.freshmenz.wordpress.com) (originally) started in May of 2008 to discuss products that my family uses in our home.

In May of this year, I started using this blog to discuss topics of interest to share certain passions, experiences and stories in my life. Thus, I began writing somewhat regularly on this blog. As it began to pick up popularity with my content on social media and digital marketing, this caused some confusion with some of my audience.

For example, I had a Michigan business coach tell me that he loves my blog but “what is up with Freshmenz Enterprises offering UV air purifiers, laundry products, UV water purifiers, etc?” Although he knows why, I understood what he meant. It is confusing to a user searching for this information (potentially looking for air and water purification products) and end up coming to a blog (mostly talking about digital media and social strategies.)

Back in 2007, I had started an e-commerce website (using the domain http://www.freshmenz.com) and set up a low budget website with a shopping cart to sell these products directly. I mass distributed a press release and was also very active in social communities engaging people with similar interests, sharing and collaborating on information about the green technologies that I was passionate about, used in my home and offered via my e-commerce website.

Content Marketing Relevancy

I originally intended for people to find me and ask me how these products have helped my family. At that time, I found how to becoming a valuable resource for people online (rather than trying to sell directly to them) results in developing many great relationships. I developed a nice customer base with customers all over the United States because they found my content useful and/or informative (via various locations on the Internet.)

Today, I use this domain for my blog yet this content still exists on hundreds of web sites driving traffic to this property. Although, I am still a resource for these products the user experience may be confusing for those who click through looking ti find information on how to clean their clothes without using laundry detergent (e.g. LaundryPure). That is… unless they find this specific post (or some other specific previous post), it is easy to understand how they could easily be lost, confused and annoyed. The fact that this content has a shelf life for many years is exactly why you want to have a solid strategy in place first (and foremost.)

I’ve worked with small brands (e.g. Freshmenz Enterprises), medium brands and large International brands on digital marketing efforts that use content to become an authority in a variety of different areas. Whether you are a major automotive supplier, a non-profit organization, a small business or a professional blogger… your Internet presence needs a strategy for long-term success.

I apologize for (originally) not having a specific plan in how I would use this domain and this blog. However, it has been a great example to show friends, colleagues, prospects and clients. Does your brand have a long-term digital strategy?

About Me

I have held the position of Marketing Manager and Director of Social Media with SmartFinds Internet Marketing since October 2007. I am involved with a diverse arrangement of responsibilities related to Research, Strategy, Planning, and Project Management for a variety of clients. I am also the Director of Social Strategies for SmartFinds and have strong web DNA and a passion for developing social footprints for my client’s and their brands.

To help ensure flawless execution for all projects, I works closely with client marketing and advertising teams and am responsible for managing and facilitating the development and implementation of client solutions by working closely with internal teams and partners.

As a 10-year veteran of marketing communications, I have focused on Digital Communications throughout my entire academic and professional career. I certainly feel “at home” with SmartFinds providing digital media services and complete solutions for companies wanting to acquire and retain customers – build relationships, that is. My expertise is in creating compelling digital strategies including content marketing campaigns, online advertising campaigns, social strategies and other emerging digital marketing channels.

After an internship for Budco The Dialogue Company my Junior and Senior year, I began my career at VSI Holdings and from 1999 to 2006; I provided successful support to my teams, serving as a highly qualified professional with varied experiences in I.T., Operations and Program/Process Management. Along with my leadership and ability to work in multiple system applications fluidly, my true passion is providing customers with real solutions that get measurable results. My global perspective and comprehensive experience with a diverse roster of Fortune 500 clients are valuable tools for continued SmartFinds growth and success.

During an entrepreneurial moonlighting gig in 2005: I successfully facilitated the rapid growth of an emerging e-commerce surgical supply company, aggressively winning several major Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) RFP’s under my guidance. After strategically acquiring funding in late 2006 by a Management Group based out of Saginaw, Michigan, I worked with organizations such as the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to help the surgical supply company network in Southeast Michigan to promote breakthrough growth. In early 2007, with the great success in the surgical supply business, I was carried on to other consultation jobs within the healthcare industry prior to coming on board with SmartFinds Marketing.

I hold a B.A. in Communications and a B.S. in Psychology from Michigan State University.

Safe, Green, Connected and Innovative Automotive Technology

Freelance Writer (with SmartFinds Marketing) Mike Trudel has written great automotive articles for Delphi. Here is a sample of his work:

Automotive Safety Features Go Green

By Freelance Writer – Mike Trudel

Every year, millions of drivers are injured in automobile accidents. It’s no wonder, then, that experts recently confirmed the automotive market is driven by three major demands: fuel efficiency, environmental responsibility and safety features.

All of this seems straightforward enough. Meeting market demands, however, can be complicated. Adding safety features may mean adding more weight to the vehicle – which can lead to lower fuel economy. Reducing weight in the wrong places could leave passengers’ safety in jeopardy. But leading automotive engineers are somehow finding ways to do it all.

The importance of many advanced safety features lies in their ability to utilize electronics in ingenious ways. Lane departure warning systems, for instance, can use forward looking cameras, which – through advanced technological adaptations – signal an audio or visual alert to drivers when they travel out of their respective lanes. Similarly, infrared side alert systems help drivers become aware of vehicles in their blind spots when making turns or changing lanes with audible and/or visual alerts.

Night vision systems integrate near-infrared illuminators into the headlights and are used with an infrared-sensitive camera and a head-up display to improve drivers’ nighttime visibility without blinding oncoming traffic. The adapted headlights illuminate the road ahead, the camera captures the image, and the head-up display provides an enhanced version of that image to the driver.

While night vision helps give drivers a clearer view of what is happening on the road ahead, smart cruise control with headway alert and stop-and-go actually responds to traffic conditions by reducing the need to manually adjust speed, apply the brakes or disengage cruise control. This type of advanced system can also warn drivers of slower traffic ahead.

Even more exciting, multiple vehicular systems can be integrated – “talk” with each other and create a cocoon of safety around the vehicle. In the future, vehicles may even be able to “talk” to each other through wireless communication. Such technology carries with it the hope of eliminating accidents altogether. Imagine a world where roadway accidents simply aren’t an issue.

Developing the technology for each of these advanced safety features is only one part of the puzzle. Weight, space and environmental challenges must also be met in order to actually apply these technologies. Integration of multiple vehicular systems is one way that automotive engineers are able to find space for the addition of new technologies, while also minimizing added weight. For example, one radar can be used for both Adaptive Cruise Control and Pre-crash sensing. Another strategy is to develop and utilize materials that are lighter and smaller than those already being used on a vehicle.

Achieving high-tech, fuel-efficient cars with a green environmental consciousness is complicated, but today’s automotive engineers are up to the challenge. As the automotive industry continues to find creative ways to reduce the weight and size of new and existing automotive technologies, they can fit more of these innovations into the same space while improving fuel economy. More safety features can mean a less hazardous ride. Combined with better fuel economy and an elevated environmental consciousness, that means a better product. It creates a win-win situation – for both the consumer and the environment.

Automotive technology has created possibilities, and with possibilities come hope and expectation. Consumers have big goals and high standards. It’s not enough for vehicles to look good and guarantee a degree of safety. They need to have high-tech safety features, be environmentally friendly and promise fuel efficiency. All of this is possible, and it’s the little changes along the way – like better system integration, smaller components and computer chips, and technical innovation – that will help make it happen.

Delphi is committed to contributing state-of-the-art technologies and innovations in order to help make our roadways safer and greener. For more information, visit:

http://www.delphi.com/4innovation
http://www.delphi.com/4safe
http://www.delphi.com/4connected
http://www.delphi.com/4green

Delphi HEV Customer Center Video

Delphi Controls Security Customer Center Video

==To see additional automotive articles by Mike Trudel, please visit the following Squidoo Lenses==

* http://www.squidoo.com/car-safety-features
* http://www.squidoo.com/seat-belt
* http://www.squidoo.com/active-safety
* http://www.squidoo.com/adaptive-cruise-control
* http://www.squidoo.com/car-audio-systems
* http://www.squidoo.com/car-pc
* http://www.squidoo.com/auto-radio
* http://www.squidoo.com/in-car-entertainment-system
* http://www.squidoo.com/automotive-safety-components
* http://www.squidoo.com/automotive-safety
* http://www.squidoo.com/hybrid-vehicle-technology
* http://www.squidoo.com/carputer

CHECK OUT THE AMAZING LAUNDRYPURE

Check them out here:  http://www.freshmenz.com

http://www.ecoquestintl.com/freshmenz

Going Green: Laundry Tips, Green Commutes and Uv Air Purifiers

Going green isn’t very hard. For example, here is a great green laundry tip – start with not using laundry detergent. My family and friends started to use a machine called a LaundryPure by Ecoquest to get clothes clean. This works great by eliminating the need for laundry detergent by utilizing silver ions and UV water purifier technology.

Now instead of buying laundry detergent, we buy laundry equipment such as replacement UV bulbs and silver ion probes. The return on investment is great because we not only don’t have to buy detergent any longer but it only uses cold water for every cycle. We recouped our investment in the machine in about a year and a half.

We also use a UV air purifier in our home to keep our indoor air quality fresh. Mother earth is hurting and so are our lungs. According to the EPA (from a study in 1987), “the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) ranked indoor air pollution fourth in cancer risk among the 13 top environmental problems analyzed.”

Everybody is exposed to a variety of risks to our health as we go about our everyday lives. Whether driving in cars, flying in planes, participating in recreational activities, we are all being exposed to environmental pollutants and all pose varying degrees of risk. Many of these risks are unavoidable, yet some risks we simply choose to accept because we don’t want to impede our lifestyles. Other risks we might decide to avoid if we had the opportunity to make informed choices. Indoor air pollution is one risk that you can do something about.

Why wait until earth day or someone to market green products to take some time and make some changes. There are many ways to go green besides the typical recycling stance. We recycle everything we can, don’t get me wrong. But take this as an example, I work from home so I have a “green commute.” I already gave a great laundry tip. Also, using a UV air purifier or water purifier can do wonders. And Learning about air contaminants and how they effect our health. Or how about, reviewing the growing media coverage on the results of poor air quality to gain a better understanding of our planets ailments and how you can help. And finally, seeing how our breakthrough technology can improve the quality of the air you breathe.

There are many sources to relieve the affects of these harmful risks. For example, according to Ecoquest, with over 5 million air purifiers sold and a 98% satisfaction rating, Fresh Air by EcoQuest is the safest, most sought after air purifier in the world. In fact, our Fresh Air technology has been given the exclusive “Certified In Space” distinction by the NASA associated Space Foundation.

Freshmenz Enterprises offers UV air purifers, laundry products, UV water purifiers, laundry tips, healthy living technologies and green products, please visit: http://www.freshmenz.com “Breathing air is not optional, unfortunately breathing clean air is.”