Spam in our Analytics?!... oh my!

Unfortunately, spam is an everyday part of our lives and we just learn to find new ways of filtering it out. As we develop these filters, spammers develop new ways to get through them.

As I was gathering some data for a client report, I noticed some strange referral URLs: golbnet.com and thebesthosting.org. After some initial research it became clear that this is spam. You can also find web.com as a spam Hostname (Visitors > Network > Hostnames).

If you apply a few filters, you should be able to exclude the data. Google claims these referrals should not affect any PageRanks negatively. (we’ll see how they deal with this)

To apply the Referral filters try this:

Select your Website Profile > Edit > Add Filter

Filter Name “Golbnet” (example)

Exclude > traffic from the domains > that contain

“golbnet.com”

Not Case Sensitive

To apply a filter to the Hostname try this:

Select your Website Profile > Edit > Add Filter

Filter Name “Web.com” (example)

Choose Custom Filter radio button

Exclude > Filter Field = “Hostname” > Filter Pattern = “web.com”

Not Case Sensitive

Good Luck!

When we opened DMSF, we decided that quality customer service outweighed anything else we may offer. It’s what separated us from the cheaper automated services. Smaller businesses, in particular, need more hand holding… and we love to hold hands!

This idea of building trust is also important. It shouldn’t be an idea, it should be innate in any service or product based business. Having quality service, having quality business practices, having quality work… what a concept.

By the way, we should remember that for every positive experience someone has with your business, they share it with virtually no one. Guess how many people they share a negative experience with? (hint: 22 people)

Read the article:

According to the American Express Global Customer Service Barometer, 61% of Americans report that quality customer service is more important to them in today’s economic environment, and will spend an average of 9% more when they believe a company provides excellent service.

However, only 37% of Americans believe that companies have increased their focus on providing quality service:

• 27% feel businesses have not changed their attitude toward customer service.
• 28% say that companies are now paying less attention to good service.

Jim Bush, Executive Vice President, World Service, says “Customers… expect superior service… (and) are focused on getting good value for their money… consumers say companies haven’t done enough to improve their approach to service… it’s important to see customer service as an investment, not a cost.”

91% of Americans consider the level of customer service important when deciding to do business with a company, but only 24% believe companies value their business and will go the extra mile to keep it:

• 48% feel companies are helpful but don’t do anything extra to keep their business
• 21% believe that companies take their business for granted

81% of Consumers are far more likely to give a company repeat business after a good service experience, while 52% are unlikely to do business with a company again after a poor experience. Consumers say the three most influential factors when deciding which companies they do business with include:

• Personal experience (98%)
• Company’s reputation or brand (92%)
• Recommendations from friends and family (88%)

48% of consumers report always or often using an online posting or blog to get others’ opinions about a company’s customer service reputation. But when consumers go online they put greater credence in negative reviews on blogs and social networking sites than on positive ones (57% and 48%, respectively).
Mr. Bush continued, “… in the online space, positive recommendations are important, but people often give more weight to the negative. Because consumers… broadcast their views so widely online… every service interaction… becomes even more crucial… “

Importantly, consumers are far more forgiving if a company has earned their trust over time. 86% of consumers report they’re willing to give a company a second chance after a bad experience if they’ve historically experienced great customer service with that company. But companies who get it wrong should realize it’s at a cost:

• Half of consumers (52%) expect something in return after a poor customer service experience, beyond resolving the problem.
• Most consumers (70%) want an apology or some form of reimbursement.

For more about the study, including data from a variety of international countries, please visit American Express here.

DynaMedia SF is thrilled to announce the addition of our newest team member, Director of Business Development, Nikki Pava. Nikki brings to the table her extensive expertise in marketing, sustainability consulting, and business networking.

As founder of EcoTuesday, Nikki has orchestrated monthly networking events that were born in San Francisco and are now held in 9 cities throughout the US. Each month, in San Francisco alone, EcoTuesday brings together 100 people to make business connections and to hear inspirational and groundbreaking speakers in the fields of sustainability, social responsibility, business, and more.

In June of 2008, Nikki earned an MBA at the Presidio School of Management in San Francisco — one of the world’s leading educational institutions focusing on sustainable management. Recently, she has worked in a strategic capacity with Williams-Sonoma on a project to decrease waste in their stores, for Burning Man LLC on its five-year sustainability plan, and as a marketing consultant with Morrison & Foerster, one of the country’s largest law firms, helping it establish its new Cleantech Practice.

Prior to founding EcoTuesday, Nikki traveled the world interviewing CEO’s and managing directors of some of the world’s largest companies, discussing long-term economic strategy, environmental impact and social responsibility endeavors. Nikki’s previous work includes The American Film Institute, InterActive Corp, The Japan Times Newspaper, and Wells Fargo. She also co-created a local non-profit organization and is heavily involved in many community-based social networks.

Nikki’s passion is to create awareness so people can make healthier choices in their businesses and in their own lives. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oregon. Nikki lives in the Bay Area with her husband, Aaron.

With an emphasis on experimentation and community engagement, YouTube is partnering with two Oscar-winning directors to create a feature-length documentary about “ordinary” lives over the course of one day. “Every day, 6.7 billion people view the world through their own unique lens,” explains the YouTube blog. “Imagine if there was a way to collect all of these perspectives, to aggregate and mold them into the cohesive story of a single day on earth.” On July 24, willing community members will have 24 hours to film a snippet of their lives, which they are then encouraged to upload to the YouTube “Life in a Day” channel by July 31. The most compelling footage will then be selected, edited, and incorporated into a film directed by Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland) and produced by Ridley Scott (Gladiator). “Life in a Day” is then expected to premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival in January. Winners won’t be paid but will be credited as co-directors, and 20 participants will be selected to attend the first showing.

http://www.mediapost.com/blogs/raw/?p=3170

The study also found that 83% of people are willing to change consumption habits if it can help make the world a better place to live, indicating a startling consumer shift and trend away from traditional status markers like big houses and luxury cars and toward identification with social purpose brands. The findings overall show that

• More than twice as many people (67%) would rather drive a hybrid car than a luxury car (33%), with Japan (89%) and France (84%) preferring hybrid cars most.

Globally, the study found that

• 70% of people would prefer to live in an eco-friendly house than merely a big house (30%)
• 68% also now feel that it’s becoming more unacceptable not to make noticeable efforts to show concern for the environment (rising to 82% in China) and live a healthy lifestyle (87% in China)
• 69% globally would rather have a brand that supports the livelihood of local producers than a designer brand (31%), North American and most European countries in the study, as well as Brazil, overwhelmingly prefer supporting the livelihood of local producers, with each indicating more than 80% preference

The study results suggest that in both harsh and rebounding economies, brands will continue to benefit from identifying and contributing to a positive social purpose that makes sense for their business, with 64% of people globally saying they would recommend a brand that supports a good cause (up from 52% in 2008, and in the U.S., up 16 points from 47% in 2008 to 63% this year). In addition, 63% of all respondents are looking to brands and companies to make it easier for them to make a difference, with Brazil having the highest expectations at 86%.

Mitch Markson, Edelman’s chief creative officer, president of its brand consulting group, notes that “…People are demanding social purpose, and brands are recognizing it as an area where they can differentiate themselves …not only to meet governmental compliance requirements, but also build brand equity… “

• Brazil proved to have the highest expectations on brands with 89% of Brazilians expecting brands today to do something to support a good cause, and 61% are most likely to say they are more involved in good causes this year
• More than seven in 10 Consumers in India and China say they would switch brands if a different brand of similar quality supported a good cause
• Japan fell short of many of the global results, with the exception of choosing social purpose over social status, overwhelmingly preferring hybrid cars (89%) and eco-friendly houses (87%)
• More than three out of four people in the UK, France, Germany and Italy were willing to change their own consumption habits if it can help make tomorrow’s world a better place to live
• Americans, too, overwhelmingly indicate they are willing to change consumption habits to make the world a better place to live (85%) and are looking to companies and brands to make it easier for them to make a difference (65%)

While the global recession has created limitations, with 70% of consumers saying their ability to give money to community causes has been limited, people are still giving of their time:

• 33% have given less financial support due to the current economic downturn (rising to 51% among U.S. respondents)
• 31% are more involved in good causes than a year ago
• 53% have given more time in support of good causes this year because they have not been able to give as much money
• 56% have tried to do more to support good causes in the past year because charities and other nonprofit organizations have suffered in this economic environment

While the study reveals that social purpose is becoming increasingly crucial to a brand’s success, 66% of people believe that it’s no longer enough for corporations to merely give money away, but that they must integrate good causes into their day-to-day business.

The report says that the biggest global social changes include:

• 83% of respondents are willing to change consumption habits if it can help make the world a better place to live
• 71% of respondents think brands and companies spend too much on advertising and marketing and should put more into good causes – up almost 10%age points
• 64% would recommend a brand that supports a good cause – up from 52% last year globally
• 59% would help a brand promote its products if there was a good cause behind it – up from 53% last year
• 44% are aware of brands that actively support good causes through their products and services – up from 33%

Markson concludes that “Companies that become catalysts for social change and respond to rising consumer expectations… will not only survive, but also thrive in ways their competitors will not… “

Please visit Edelman here for more information.

Article courtesy of Center of Media Research.

For information on marketing for Socially and Environmentally Responsible companies, visit DynaMedia San Francisco.

Great video on the effects of Urban Sprawl.  It’s a promotion for creating Urban “Renovation” or “New Urbanism”.

Would love to hear any thoughts, please comment!

According to a survey from Generate Insight, reported by MarketingCharts, the Millennial generation (ages 13-29) revealed an extremely high level of education about green issues overall. However, while 76% of Millenials ages 13-29 feel it’s very important or important for brands to get involvd in the green movement, 71% of teens (ages 13-17) surveyed say if they ahd to choose between a less expensive product or one that “gave back” to the environment, they would choose the less expensive product. In contrast, the majority of older Millenials, would choose the more expensive brand that gave back in a green way:

The majority of Millennials surveyed found it confusing as to why products that are better for the environment are more expensive. The study noted that the extra cost (without consistent explanation) discourages the majority of shoppers from embracing and contributing to the green movement.

The study also found several other deterrents to Millennials living greener lives:

• Products that require too much effort
• Products that are too time consuming
• Products that not convenient
• Products that are confusing and difficult to understand
• Families that are not involved in, supportive of, or knowledgeable about the green movement

Additional findings from the survey:

• 74% of Millennials believe they can make a difference in helping Earth, but only 48% of 13-17-year-olds feel they can make a difference because the problems are too huge for them to move the needle
• 87% of Millennials recycle; 84% turn off lights when not in use; 80% reduce water use; and 73% use energy-efficient light bulbs
• The top three biggest hurdles this generation faces when embracing the green movement are cost (41%), proof that they’re making a difference (24%), and ease of use ( 12%).
• 76% of Millennials feel it’s very important or important for brands to get involved in the green movement.
• 79% of Millennials say that the internet educates them on environmental issues, while 85% of Millennials ages 13-17 state that school is their main source for eco-education

The study also revealed the top words/feelings that Millennials associate with the “green movement”:

Janis Gaudelli, SVP and head of Generate Insight suggests that brands that present easy, yet effective ways for Millennials to reduce, reuse and refresh will empower this generation

At almost the same time, Elin Raymond, President of The Sage Group, Inc., presented the results of a study on consumers’ beliefs and behaviors surrounding sustainable green packaging. The study found that consumers consider the authenticity and integrity of green claims to be essential, and they recognize greenwashing.

“Green is an organizational cultural keystone, a key brand attribute,” Raymond said, noting that in the shopper’s “eco-perception,” a consumer packaged goods company, its product, and its packaging are an integrated whole.

Grouping respondents into four generational categories: “Millennials” (17 to 25 years old), “Gen Xers” (26 to 40), “Boomers” (41 to 55), and “Matures” (56+), Matures were found to be the most eco-friendly group, while Millennials showed the least proclivity toward green behavior.

The study showed that 89.7% of Matures always recycle, followed by 69.6% of Gen Xers, 67.6% of Boomers, and 56.8% of Millennials. Matures were the most willing to pay more for eco-friendly packaged products (44.8%), and 75.9% of Matures said the eco-impact of packaging has a “big impact” on their buying decisions. The only group that said the eco-friendly nature of products has “somewhat of an impact” was Millennials, at 61.7%.

According to the study, consumers perceive the most eco-friendly packages and products to be:

• Glass containers
• Aluminum cans
• Products sold in bulk
• “Cardboard” packaging
• Paper grocery bags
• Concentrated liquids
• Packaging made from recycled materials

Respondents identified non eco-friendly packages as:

• “Single-serve anything”
• Electronics and toy packaging
• Heavy, hard plastic-packaged items or bottles
• Anything not made from recycled materials
• Anything that can’t be recycled
• “Overkill” packaging
• Most plastic water bottles
• Plastic foam
• Takeout containers
• Plastic can rings
• Clamshell containers

To appeal to each generation with the appropriate green marketing approach, Raymond mentioned 12 strategies. For the two youngest groups, companies must create an online life/friends for their brand. “Millennials and Gen Xers are always linked online,” she said.

Among Raymond’s suggestions for marketing to the 17- to 40-year-olds:

• Keep engaged via two-way social media. This includes hosting online contests, creating a Facebook company profile, and using Twitter to announce events, brand extensions, etc.
• Help them try your brand by providing free/discount coupons on Facebook, MySpace, and other Web sites
• Integrate online and traditional marketing
• Track what’s said about your brand/product via YackTrack.com
• Sponsor environmental or cause-related events in target geographic markets

For Boomers and Matures, Raymond advised the following steps:

• Focus on brand/product environmental attributes and education
• Use green-event marketing in target geo-markets
• Ask for e-feedback on product/brand and reward input

To review the information in greater depth, please visit Marketing Charts here, and the Sage Group here.

The survey found that search engines are the most popular source for finding local information:

* 82% use search engines
* 57% use Yellow Pages directories.
* 53% use local newspapers
* 49% use Internet Yellow Pages
* 49% use TV
* 38% use direct mail
* 32% White Pages directories

Of those surveyed, 50% said search engines were the first place they looked when seeking a local business, while 24% chose the Yellow Pages directories.

92% of searchers say they are happy with the results they get when using search engines, though 39% report frequently not being able to locate a particular known business. This means, says the report, searchers don’t may choose to contact a similar business with a stronger online presence.

Webvisible found that online search and e-mail newsletters are the only forms of traditional media that are growing among consumers who wish to locate local products or services. Compared with two years ago, respondents report they use search engines and email newsletters more, while they use newspapers, magazines, direct mail and radio less:

Despite the growing use of online media for local searches, only 41% of small businesses report turning to online search engines first, and 31% turn to Yellow pages directories first. In addition, only 44% of small businesses have a website.

When using a search engine to find a business they know exists, only 19% of survey respondents report never or rarely encountering trouble locating that business online and 39% say they routinely have difficulty.

Though less than half of small businesses do have a website, the ones that do are not happy overall with their online marketing. Among those small businesses that have a website:

* 51% believe both the quality and ability of their site to acquire new customers is only “fair” or “poor”
* 30% of business owners feel that they typically do a better job of marketing than a close competitor
* 78% believe they advertise in the same places as their competitors
* Only 7% of small business owners say their primary marketing goal is to get more visitors to their website
* 61% spend less than three hours a week marketing their website
* 99% of small business owners are directly involved in the marketing
* 65% believe it is very important to know where their customers come from
* Only 9% are satisfied with their online marketing efforts
* 78% of small business owners dedicate 10% or less of their budget to marketing Of those, 30% do no Internet advertising

Over the past two years, 43% of small businesses say they have increased use of search engines in their marketing efforts. In contrast, use of traditional small business advertising mediums is on the decline:

* 23% say they use the Yellow pages less
* 42% say they use the local newspaper less

For the purpose of this survey, the term “local business” refers to any retail business in a respondent’s local area, including restaurants, entertainment venues, places of recreation, etc. and services such as plumbers or accountants. The term “Internet Yellow Pages” refers to online Yellow Pages websites such as yellowpages.com, judysbook.com, superpages.com, etc.

Louda and Marcine

Networking events are great for any small business. You have the opportunity to represent yourself and your business to a highly targeted audience that is paying attention.

We recommend attending networking events to get your chops and learn how to quickly and effectively describe your business. You’re forced to come up with that brilliant 1 to 2 sentence description of what you do. Talk to people like they have no clue. Don’t get too tied up in technical verbiage or legal jargon ((wink wink)). Most of all, be honest and be authentic. People can smell a sales pitch from a mile away.

Since DynaMedia SF is a young company, we attend a lot of networking events. EcoTuesday is one of our favorites, because it’s fun, and it provides a direct link to the sustainability community. After everyone gets settled in, a mic is passed around so everyone can announce who they are and what they do, and then we’re all turned loose to mingle. Everyone attends–clean tech innovators, students, thought leaders in sustainability, artists, and voyeurs alike. You are expected to bring your business cards, so don’t feel shy about handing them out gratuitously.

Go online and search for your local networking events. Check them all out, they’re usually free. Some may charge a fee, but networking improves your company’s visibility, so think about including these events in your marketing budget.