In marketing and advertising, it can be quite challenging to get accurate measurement data about specific activities and campaigns. Even something as simple as giving out a squeeze ball at a trade show with your web site address on it has the potential to be tracked. Given the number of these distinct campaigns in a given year and the challenge of creating the unique “front door” for the visitors to enter through in order to be tracked, it is understandable why the best tool for measuring marketing success (your web site) often gets overlooked.

I too have this challenge as I market Enthusiast and Site Director so I thought solving my problem might help to solve some of yours too. I talked it over with our team and the solution to my problem is now known as WebForward^tm, my favorite innovation from 2007. This feature will be offered in a soon to be released version of Site Director and will give a new level of personalization and detail to the various events, expos, webinars, and campaigns that go on in business today.

Way to go team!

Now it’s your turn.

Last year’s post was dominated by Google services. I look forward to hearing what creative ways you have used the web for in 2007. Don’t forget to tell us why it’s important to you.

Happy Holidays!

– jc

When I come home in the evenings, I am greeted by my little boy Isaac crawling toward the door. It is precious. My wife Rachael takes a break from “myspacing” as she calls it, looks up, and asks the quintessential “how was your day?”

“Myspacing?” I have resisted myspace for many reasons, most notably the high doses of Excedrin I have to consume to tolerate the myriad visual phenomena that is a profile page.

However, seeing how it has captivated my wife and hearing the stories of her reuniting with college and previous work friends captured my attention as I know the power of networking and relationships over time.

So, I finally gave in and have signed up for Myspace LinkedIn & Facebook and have found similar joys to Rachael.

What I have always loved about the Internet is how interrupting it is. People innovate in even small ways and the pervasive nature and reach of the web push this innovation — with all the change it requires — to the masses.

So, these innovations — called social networking sites — are causing problems now too. Apparently people can’t stay away from them. And maybe for good reason. Wherever there are people meeting and growing relationships, the business of life and commerce happens.

A recent News.com article says 50% of businesses are blocking access to LinkedIn, Myspace and others on grounds of malware but also productivity loss.

Is it blocked at your office? Should it be? If your boss asked you how you are using it in your work, what would you say? (you don’t have to leave your real name. =-)

–jc

I have a 10 month old son. He is my first and I remember how my wife and I debated over his name.

“The meaning isn’t right!”
“It sounds strange.”
“Its too different!” we would interject about each other’s ideas.

What we didn’t do is take our options and see what search equity, if any, they had.

That is what the WSJ recommends saying you’re “nobody” unless your name Googles well. Well, maybe our lack of diligence in that area paid off as some would say our son is already famous.

- jc

p.s.