SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE SFIMA PRESIDENT

If you weren't at the E-commerce SFIMA event on Thursday night with Hunter Boyle MarketingExperiments) in Miami, then you really missed out on a great night of education, networking, and a very special announcement. As I drove home from the event passing the illuminated Miami skyline and bridges, and their brilliant reflection on water, it reaffirmed how lucky we all are to be living and thriving in this South Florida paradise. Or, perhaps I was just in a great mood after spending a night with some of my closest friends (and new friends!) at SFIMA.

OK now getting back to the three things you missed out on... I will get to the special announcement first since I know the suspense is killing you.

Special announcement

BGT Partners, recently named "Interactive Marketer of the Year," by the South Florida Business Journal, has generously agreed to donate their talents to redesign and build our new site. BGT is extremely proud to be working with SFIMA and shares our goal of raising the profile of South Florida in the interactive marketing world. The first step to achieving that mission is to build a top-notch website.

Since this is a collaborative process, BGT would be happy to have other agencies submit their ideas and participate in the design of the new site. We will be having weekly calls and meetings, so raise your hand if you want to join us. The SFIMA organization is all about the members; it's your website and we want you to be proud of it. We will be giving you updates on the design and progress in the months to come both at the events, and on the blog. So please reach out to me at President@sfima.com and let me know what you would like to see on the site, and if you would like to help. Again, SFIMA is all about the members - it's all about you!

Ecommerce optimization tips

The e-commerce optimization tips from Hunter Boyle at Thursday's event were stellar. There was so much great content, I wanted to provide a few take-always, which are some last-minute website testing ideas:

- Make discounts, free shipping, coupons impossible to miss
- Add Holiday delivery cutoff countdown or calendar
- Use a prominent Store locator, customer service #, live chat, hours
- Make the transaction forms and process steps as easy as possible (minimize friction)
- Utilize gift finder or selection tools (don't make the consumer think too much!)
- Go to www.MarketingExperiments.com for more info on this topic. Thanks for the great presentation Hunter!

Awesome networking

And, of course, the awesome networking with South Florida's finest marketers is always a staple at SFIMA events. At this event, I was able to meet and spend time with some great marketers like Diego and Leah from City Furniture, Bill from Velocitude, Joey from Wrecking Ball Media, and Loretta Levy is always at the events and it's always great to see her. What a pleasure it was to see Octavio Ramirez, who was a former intern who once worked for me, and now has his MBA and is out networking on the job hunt. And of course Jose Lacal of OpenPHI.com was there and this was his first SFIMA meeting. I was wowed by all of the people that came down from Boca and further north. I hope to see all of you at all our monthly events.

All the best,


Taigh White
President, SFIMA

Special Holiday Rate for Affiliate Workshop

Friday, 11-20-2009

Affiliate Marketing & Lead Generation Strategies to Crush Your Competition

SFIMA Holiday Special - $49 Tickets To All!

Members & Non-Members Qualify - Limited Time. Just a few seats left. Register today!

Join us for a 1-Day Workshop Facilitated by National and Global Affiliate Marketers!

If you have ever wanted to know why Affiliate Marketing is a great opportunity to earn money for your business while leaving your competition in the dust, this is the workshop for you!

This workshop is a must for businesses looking to increase their e-commerce sales. Even if you don't have products that you are selling, you will learn how Affiliate Marketing is one of the easiest and fastest ways to earn money. This workshop is ideal for those with no online marketing experience and even those skilled online marketers. You will hear from some of the top Affiliate Marketers in the industry. The SFIMA WORKSHOP is a must-have for marketers that are looking to learn how to launch and manage successful Affiliate Marketing campaigns.

Moderator and Speaker
Jay Berkowitz - CEO of TenGoldenRules.com, Author, Keynote Speaker, SOFIE Award Winner, Adjunct Professor

Our expert panel includes:

• Julien Smith - Co-Author Trust Agents, New York Times Best Selling Author
• Carolyn Tang - Director of Client Services for ShareASale.com
• Mike Allen - www.ShoppingBargains.com, named Affiliate of the Year at the 2009 Affiliate Summit Pinnacle Awards
• Andy Rodriguez - Owner of ARC Consulting a large Affiliate Agency, Keynote Speaker at Affiliate conferences
• Gaida Zirkelbach & David Bates - Gunster Law Firm, Business, Technology and Internet Attorney

During this workshop you will have hands-on opportunities & experiences where you will learn strategies that you can take back and implement immediately.

The expert panel will teach you:

• Different ways to make money online & tips for each
• Affiliate Marketing techniques that generate results
• How other internet marketers are making top dollar using Affiliate Marketing
• The most important things to know from a legal perspective
• Affiliate Agreements and the Proposed Florida Internet Sales Tax - How Can They Affect You?
• Affiliate Marketing for Marketers
• Affiliate Marking for Affiliates
• Practical steps to Affiliate Marketing

The SFIMA WORKSHOP is a must-have for marketers looking to learn how to launch and manage successful affiliate marketing campaigns.

Who Should Attend:

• Anyone that could benefit from Affiliate Marketing and Lead Generation
• Affiliate Marketers
• Affiliates
• Online Marketing Decision Makers
• Online Marketing Directors
• Business Owners
• Ecommerce VPs
• Sales Managers
• Marketing Directors
• Business Development Staff
• PR Team
• Media Buyers
• Media Planners
• Account Managers

Agenda for Course (details subject to change):

8:00 AM - 8:45AM	Sign-In/Continental Breakfast
8:45 AM - 9:00 AM	Welcome & Opening Remarks Taigh White – SFIMA President and Event Moderator Jay Berkowitz
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM	Julien Smith Co-Author of New York Times Best Selling Book Trust Agents
9:45 AM - 10:30 AM	Ten Golden Rules for Affiliate Marketing – Jay Berkowitz
10:30 AM - 11:15 PM	Morning Break/Refreshments
11:15 PM - 12:00 PM	The Network Perspective Carolyn Tang ShareASale.com
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM	Luncheon Served
12:45 PM - 1:30 PM	The Affiliate Perspective Mike Allen Shopping-Bargains.com
1:30 PM - 2:15 PM	The Agency Perspective – Andy Rodriguez – Rodriguez Consulting
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM	Legal and tax considerations in affiliate marketing "Gaida Zirkelbach and David Bates - Gunster Law Firm, Business, Technology and Internet Attorneys"
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM	Afternoon Break/Refreshments
3:15 PM - 4:00 PM	Conversion Strategies Jim Kukral TheBizWebCoach.com
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM	Brand Case Study
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM	Q&A All Panelists

Registration check-in and continental breakfast from 8:00 am - 8:45 am. Workshop begins at 8:45 am (Lunch and snacks also provided).

This event costs $49 for SFIMA members and Non-Members! Limited time Holiday Special.

$249 passes are also available HERE which include a full SFIMA membership. SFIMA membership gives you free access to monthly educational events and much more. SFIMA Workshops focus on “how to” tactics and are priced 4 to 6 times lower than similar courses because SFIMA is a non-profit forum. Register for this event today and be part of this exciting event at a first time ever reduced holiday rate!

View our last SFIMA Workshop Event

The event is located at:

Nova Southeastern University
H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship located in the Carl DeSantis Building (North campus entrance building #8).
Julian and Ellen Knight Lecture Hall, Room 1124

Paid visitor parking available on the 1st floor of the Library and main student garage (bld. #9). Google Map or Call for Directions: (954) 262-7300

Event Details Time/Date: Friday, 11-20-2009 Place: Nova Southeastern University Julian and Ellen Knight Lecture Hall, Room 1124 3301 College Avenue Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33314 Contact: john@firstclassalliance.com Member Cost & Registration $49 Non Member Cost & Registration $49

Nautical Networking Event 2009!

Check out the video from this year's BGT & Omniture and Live Person Nautical Networking Event, Unmasking Your Potential.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogwX-ztjxGA

Be sure to leave comments. We want to hear what you think. Forward it to all your friends and anyone in the video who wants to see themselves.

Don't forget the next SFIMA event on Friday, November 20, 2009. It's a 1-day workshop titled "Advanced Strategies in Affiliate Marketing To Crush Your Competition."
Register for this event before it sells out and to learn all about SFIMA and other future SFIMA events at SFIMA.com.

Nautical Networking Cruise Tickets Going Fast!

Hurry and get your seats now for the premier networking event of the year! SFIMA's Nautical Networking Cruise will sell out, so get your table or seat before it's too late!

Visit NauticalNetworking.com or SFIMA.com for tickets and details.

Want to get the word out about your company? Sponsorships are still available - get your company promoted at this event and all of the advertising leading up to the event as well!

Competitors Gaining on Your Website Despite Your Best Efforts?

This article by Stoney deGeyter really spoke to me, so I thought many others gain from it as well!

Have you optimized your site and done everything possible to be on top of the search engines, but your competitors are still gaining on you despite your efforts? Stoney's answer is "simple but profound : DO MORE!"

See his full explanation and advice on today's Search Engine Guide Article

Where do I start? Blog Writing 101

So just do it, eh Jay? How about this for a great way to kick start your Internet expertise - a completely online, how to create, start, write, promote and maintain a blog. I don't know about you but I need the discipline of a deadline, a start and end date, commitments to be kept along the way, milestones, to do lists, project plans or whatever system you happen to prefer.

Starting October 12, there is a new Blog Writing 101 course being taught by a phenomenal homeschool mom who has been blogging for many years. But the benefit of the class is the interaction of participants, helping each person find their own voice, providing feedback, encouragement, and support.

Full disclosure, this class is taught by the company I work for, Time4Writing but it is offered entirely as a labor of love only a few times each year. The course teaches both how to create and promote your blog. Cost of the course is $59 for an eight week session. A great product at a great value. If you have ever thought about starting a blog, here's the push you just might need to make it happen.

And as a special offer for anyone that is working for a non-profit or who might be in between jobs, please contact me for a special $9 course rate. My contact is founder@sfima.com.

How to become an Internet Expert - Get Started and "Just Do It!"

I am often asked by people who have a traditional marketing background how they can get into the new marketing.

My best advise is to: "Just Do It!"

As Nike says in their marketing, you must jump in and immerse yourself in the new tools and technologies, it is free and so easy a 10 year old can do it.

Get set up with your own WordPress blog right away so you can practice the different internet marketing skill sets. It only takes about 15 minutes! Pick a subject that you are passionate about and start developing blog posts. Learn how to link, set up Google Analytics and track how many people visit your blog and where they come from. Set up and track your own revenue generating programs such as affiliate banners and Google AdSense Ads - Yes you can make money from a simple blog!

Get involved with one or more of the popular social media sites. Pick one that people you know are always talking about among Facebook, LinkedIn, You Tube and Twitter. I love Twitter, if you'd like some basic tips on how to start a Twitter account and learn about this exciting new communications world read my Ten Tips Twitter Beginners Guide.

Good Luck Just Doing It - Please let me know how it turns out.

Tickets Now On Sale for the 6th Annual SFIMA Nautical Networking Event

The place to be, and to be seen, the 6th annual SFIMA Nautical Networking event sponsored by BGT Partners, LivePerson and Omniture. This year's theme is Unmasking Your Potential.

When: Friday, October 23 at 5:00 pm (networking)
Where: Onboard The Lady Windridge Yacht
Tranquility Marina • 2950 NE 32 Ave. • Ft. Lauderdale
Directions:
I-95 to Oakland Park Blvd. (east) • Drive 3 miles east (cross the Intracoastal Bridge) • Right turn on Ocean Drive (Rte. A1A) • Drive 1 block • Right turn on NE 30th street • Drive until you see the large public parking garage on your right • Pre-pay for parking

Set sail on the Intracoastal with over 400 interactive marketers from around the globe during South Florida's principal networking event of the year. This year, a portion of the proceeds will go to the benefit of Junior Achievement of South Florida, the world’s largest educational charity.
Reserve a table now as space is going fast!

Tickets include an array of appetizers, a sumptuous dinner, elegant desserts, networking games, prizes, raffles and musical entertainment in three parties as one:

1. Pre-boarding networking party, including media event provided by Experian
2. Dinner cruise provided by ExactTarget
3. After-party provided by MarketLinkX Direct at Taverna Opa (don't miss the prize drawings)

Prizes and dinner seating will be announced via text messages provided by Neighborhood America’s Movo Mobile Platform.

Sponsored tables are still available but are going fast. Half tables start at $1,000 for 4 seats.
To sponsor a table, please contact Travis Berger at 917-804-5193 or travis@loringinteractive.com.

To volunteer or donate a prize, please contact Jayne Wesner at 954-695-8889 or jayne.wesner@gmail.com

SPONSORS: AOL, Search Engine Strategies, Undertone Networks, COMCORP, Lucid Media. Mad 4 Marketing, SEO.cc, SLI Systems, Tandem Interactive, Vayan

DONATIONS: BankAtlantic, DTS Direct, Kangen Water, PrivateScubaLessons.com, Random Access, Signs In One Day, Sunshine Boating, Taverna Opa Restaurant, TimeToSpa.com, Warm Wishes Gift Baskets of Ft. Lauderdale, Wing Zone,The W Hotel Ft. Lauderdale

Free Business Advice for Facebook Executives

I hate Twitter. And I love Facebook almost as much as I hate Twitter. I know, I'm not cool to hate Twitter but there is just too much noise to make it worthwhile for me. Even the people I love dearly have too much to say for my taste on good days. I have tried TweetDeck, Seesmic, TwitterBerry, you name it. I just love Facebook more.

I don't have enough time or energy to devote to something that takes too much bandwidth to sift through. Okay, it doesn't help that I have over 1,200 followers (what are they following anyway?) on Twitter but on Facebook I allow only a few hundred of my closest friends to connect with me. Quality over quantity.

So my colleague, John Edelson, wrote a compelling article with "free advice" to Facebook executives. I think if they heed his advice they could insure their survival and ultimate domination of the social media web (Google is the emperor of the entire Internet so Facebook needs to be satisfied with king of social media for now).

Here is a quick synopsis and a link to the article, worth reading and commenting on - well, that is if you want Facebook to win :-) If you know Mark Zuckerberg, please forward the link to him before it is too late.

Sphinn article synopsis:
Free strategic advice for Facebook executives to insure ongoing success delivered in a few hundred words from my colleague John Edelson. Facebook has two challenges: A need to lock in users and a business model that brings in recurring cost-effective revenue. The strategic advice to achieve these goals includes three things: Allow individuals to have multiple Faces and categories of friends/contacts, permit archiving of all digital assets and make groups/subgroups and clubs work. It's just that simple. And no big price tag for a high-falutin consultant either.

A Note about Edelson and His Online Business Areas. Mr. Edelson runs an online homeschooling resource site ranging from preschool activities to high school online writing courses. His parenting forum provides insight about SAT vocabulary, math, reading comprehension, and info about learning today.

Message from the President on NNE and Junior Achievement

We’re halfway through September and the Nautical Networking Event is almost here. We are excited for our 6th annual sell-out event! This year, we are thrilled to have Junior Achievement involved. I’d like to take a moment to showcase an amazing photo and say to thank you to JA for their recent showing of hospitality.


"Biz Town" photo credit Warren Corpus, SFIMA Board Member

JA World is the new HQ of Junior Achievement of South Florida, everyone on the SFIMA Board were not only impressed by the creativity with the interior architectural design, but equally impressed with the vision and passion of the JA World leaders and their dedication to the local community.

Special thanks to Melissa Aiello and Anna Parker for generously hosting our September SFIMA Board of Directors' meeting at JA World. We all had a great time and managed to get a lot done in the "Hall of Fame" meeting room.

SFIMA and JA share a passion for education, personal growth and success. The Nautical Networking Event on October 23, 2009 will benefit both groups.

Learn more about Junior Achievement South Florida

Learn more about the 2009 Nautical Networking Event