I would consider myself an avid Do-It-Yourselfer. I love the challenge of learning new skills and the accomplishment of making broken things work. Recently, I have found myself having to fix a number of things myself. And thanks to the many how-to videos on the Internet, my DIY adventures have been successful.

• First, it was my flat screen HD TV that needed help. I had to replace 4 Capacitors, which I learned by watching a tutorial on YouTube.
• Then, I replaced the LCD screen on my MacBook, again with the help from a You Tube video by Smalldog Electronics.
• After that, I replaced the spark plugs on a VW Jetta with the help from a step-by-step tutorial on a VW forum.

I am currently researching how to replace the water lines to my upstairs bathroom, which brings me to this blog’s topic. While researching processes and replacement materials, I found a great video that easily explained everything related to this particular project. This video was made by the B2B pipe fitting manufacturer WATTS. The video not only introduced me to its new innovative pipe fittings, but also showed me how the fittings work and why they are the best solution for me, the consumer. There were links to additional videos explaining how to use these fittings and install them with various materials. Finding the how-to videos introduced me to this manufacturer’s product which then informed me and sold me.

Loaded with information and confidence, I went to my local Menards and specifically ask for the Watts Quick-Connect fittings. The plumbing experts at Menards also showed me another fitting product comparable to the Watts brand, but already feeling familiar to the Quick-Connect, I stayed loyal and bought those.

With information overflowing on the Internet, Do-It-Yourselfers—and consumers in general—are feeling more empowered than ever. This is a great opportunity for B2B companies to share knowledge and show off products. Just because a company is B2B and doesn’t sell directly to end-users doesn’t mean it shouldn’t speak to them. Using industry expertise reinforces product brand strength, and how-to videos featuring product lines are a great way to illustrate that a brand is anticipating the needs and wants of end-users. Utilizing YouTube videos and channels allows organizations to be the first to reach end-users so they will demand your product in the marketplace.

And, if you’re curious about my current DIY project, this is how I’m going to replace my bad galvanized pipes with PEX and connect it to the existing copper pipes.

-Trevor Nolte

Thanks to Google, search engine advertising is taking another innovative step. When Google came into the search engine market with their shockingly clean, simple homepage with just a logo and a search bar, Google decided to approach online advertising differently. Along with their more relevant search results, they introduced a new way to advertise to search engine users by introducing a pay-per-click platform. No more advertising at a flat fee for whatever comes up; Google decided to allow advertisers to refine where their ad shows up in search results and only charge per click at a competitive auction based price. Google AdWords revolutionized both advertising and search engines and catapulted Google to #1 in the search engine market.

Since then there have been many refinements and improvements to Google’s  search results and advertising. And the most recent innovation brings advertising in search results to a new level.

Google has introduced new ad models, like pay per leads, pay per call, and pay per purchase, along with new ad extensions like product listing ads, video, location, and seller rating.

The most exciting innovation I see here are the new metrics for pay per lead, pay per call, and pay per purchase. I believe that these new advertising models open up a more direct and appropriate interaction with their target market and a better ROI by paying for a specific conversion instead of paying per click. Some of these new models are available now, but others are limited or coming soon.

Take a look at this video about there new ad models:

And follow these links to read more about these new ad models.

http://www.google.com/ads/innovations/newmodels.html

http://www.google.com/ads/innovations/search.html

-Trevor Nolte

Since I am a visual person and have a undying love for graphic design, I view Infograpfics as beautiful brain candy and great tools to gain information, understanding, and spark ideas. Here are my top ten favorite Infographics on social marketing:

Social Media Marketing By the Numbers
“The numbers just tell part of the story, but as they say, you can’t argue with the numbers. You can only take issue with how “great” they are.”

The 2011 CMO’s Guide To The Social Landscape
This infographic “helps you determine which social media tools and channels are your best bet in terms of customer communication, brand exposure, traffic, and SEO.”

Social Media: Bridging The Gap
“This graphic is to bridge the gap between the few who use and know social media tools for business or marketing purposes and the rest of the world (we roughly estimate that to be about 85-90% of all people) who don’t yet use the tools.”

The Social Media Effect
“This infographic is a great way of looking at the way content development is used to create all sorts of goodness for your brand inside (and out of) social networks! Everyone knows that content is king for search engine optimization, but can often forget that content is a primary driver of social media buzz (in turn helping your organic rankings) to leverage the power of the chart you’ll find below (The Social Media Effect) brands need to focus on developing great content on a consistent basis.”

The State of B2B Social Media Marketing [INFOGRAPHIC]
“For a deeper look at the current state of B2B social media marketing, check out this infographic.”

SEO Infographics
A great collection of infographics on SEO.

Are We Too Obsessed With Facebook?
Find out who is and if you are one of them!

The Current State of Social Networks
“We looked at 54 social networks from around the world and after analyzing the data, we came up with some interesting conclusions.”

Mobile Is Changing Social Media
“This is another interesting infographic, this time around how mobile is shaping the way social media is consumed.”

Scanapalooza: QR Codes
“Results from a survey of 500 Americans over the age of 13 to discover where people saw QR codes, how they were using them, and why they were scanning (or not).”

Make your own by using Visual.ly
“Visual.ly helps you create beautiful data visualizations in minutes and instantly apply the stylistic genius of the world’s top information designers to your designs. Plug and play, then grab and go with our push-button approach to infographics and data visualization.”

Be sure to leave a comment with a link to your favorite Infographic.

Read more blogs at SCG’s 41 Stories.

-Trevor Nolte

I like to stay informed. And I also like to share knowledge, so in this blog post I’m combining two things I like. These are my all-time top 10 favorite resources to stay up to date with the most recent news, insights and research in social media marketing. It’s hard to rank my favorites, so instead I listed them in order of the ones I frequent most often.

1. Mashable : Highly addictive, this site fulfills the marketing, social and design geek in me.
   “Mashable is the largest independent news source dedicated to covering digital culture, social media and technology. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world.”
2. Adage.com: A long-running authority in marketing with great articles for marketing issues in the digital age.
   “Ad Age is the leading global source of news, intelligence and conversation for marketing and media communities.”
3. Readwriteweb.com: A tad bit on the geeky/tech side, but still awesome and very informative.
   “ReadWriteWeb is one of the most popular technology blogs in the world, known for offering insightful analysis about each day’s Internet industry news.”
4. Techcrunch.com: Very geeky and techie, but relevant.
   “TechCrunch is a leading technology media property, dedicated to obsessively profiling startups, reviewing new Internet products, and breaking tech news.”
5. Building43.com: Brought to us by our new friends at RackSpace Innovators and Cloud Creators.
   “The web is growing so incredibly fast — it’s so dynamic and has so many new applications. Keeping up with the web and figuring out what is new and interesting is difficult. So, we designed building43 to bring together thought leaders in a variety of disciplines and organizations, from entrepreneurs to those responsible for the latest technologies. They will share knowledge, experiences and advice on how you can use these cool new tools and apps.”
6. Searchengineland.com: Focused on SEO and search news.
   “Search Engine Land is a news and information site covering search engine marketing, searching issues and the search engine industry.”
7. Marketingprofs.com: Very professional and also boasts a great newsletter in case you find yourself unable to check your RSS reader often.
   “It’s a rich and trusted resource that offers actionable know-how to help you market your products and services both smarter and better. Entrepreneurs, small-business owners and marketers in the world’s largest corporations make up its 402,000 subscribers, making it the largest in its category. Through the MarketingProfs Web site, newsletters, conferences, seminars, forums and so on… we help you navigate your way to market your business and keep you informed of the newest and best tools. Think of us as a beacon of light illuminating the path through the clutter.”
8. Clickz.com: Many great experts with lots of helpful marketing information here.
   “ClickZ is the largest resource of interactive marketing news, information, commentary, advice, opinion, research, and reference in the world, online or off. From search to social, technology to trends, our coverage is expert, exclusive, and in-depth.”
9. Socialmediaexaminer.com: Proof that a site can be cute and informative.
   “Social Media Examiner is a free online magazine designed to help businesses discover how to best use social media tools like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to find leads, increase sales and generate more brand awareness. Technorati and AdAge rank us as one of the world’s Top 100 business blogs. Our more than 92,000 email subscribers look forward to our daily original content.”
10. Social-media.alltop.com: The social media news juggernaut and a dashboard for most social media publishers.
    “You can think of Alltop as the “online magazine rack” of the web. We’ve subscribed to thousands of sources to provide “aggregation without aggravation.  To be clear, Alltop pages are starting points—they are not destinations per se. Ultimately, our goal is to enhance your online reading by displaying stories from sources that you’re already visiting plus helping you discover sources that you didn’t know existed.”

Add these sites to your RSS, and share what tools you use to stay up-to-date in the ever-evolving world of social media marketing in the comments below.

Read more blogs at SCG 41 Stories.

-Trevor Nolte

I’m sure by now you have noticed these funny looking pixilated patterns being posted throughout our media landscape.

I am also sure you have wondered: what is it? Is it worth it? How can I use it? Well hopefully I can help answer these questions, and spark some more.

What is it?

It is a QR code (Quick Response.) A QR code can be quickly scanned by many smart phones and transmits just about anything within the phones capabilities, including contact information, messages, websites, maps with directions and videos, just to name a few examples. Once the information is transferred to your device, users can save it to reference later or use the information transmitted immediately.

Is it worth it?

In short, yes. Just think about it. The space and placement of specific media is limiting. A QR code allows your brand and message to be freed from a controlled placement, so it can travel with your audience. It can also convey information that is time and place sensitive. For example, imagine standing at the train station, and there is a QR code on a sign that allows travelers to check the arrival time for the train. Once you scan the QR code, the code sends in the place and time you scanned the code and cross-references it with a database of the train. Your arrival time is immediately at your fingertips. Another example useful to marketers would be a QR code included in a magazine print ad. Limited ad space can restrict a message, but a QR code can provide readers with additional information needed to support the ad’s message. Instantly, readers could have a video playing related content or be directed to a promotional web page with more information on a product, event or promotion.

The advancement of QR codes in advertising has opened up the ability to directly
market to personal devices using multiple media and also allows the information to be mobile and saved.

How can I use it?

Use your imagination and be creative. Marketing with QR codes is in its infancy right now, only limited by the number of smart phones out there. Once you create the QR code you can place it just about anywhere–from printed materials (including fabric) to video screens. And once your code has been scanned, you can display anything from video to websites to contact information.

And to see creative ways QR codes are being use by marketers to promote brands (and even individual resumes), check out this video.

What are your thoughts about QR codes and their role in the future of mobile marketing?

Read more blogs from SCG’s 41 Stories.

-Trevor Nolte

I know I’m always touting Google, and I come off as a total fan boy. But I’m ok with that, because just like Apple, Google is constantly adding value to its products for their consumers. They are innovative, take chances and are constantly moving forward. To me, Google is always thinking of how to improve the user experience and add extra functionality that their user base will want—even before they know they need it.

Now Google is once again stepping out of the box with the release of +1, Google’s attempt at making search results social. When logged into a Google account, a small button will reside next to each search result. The +1 function is also available for Google ads, which I find especially interesting. If you like a certain website, search result or ad just click the +1 button and it can be shared with either your predetermined social circle or the public. It could be compared to the “like” button on Facebook or retweet on Twitter. It’s another way to share something you like on a digital social network.

Social bookmarking sites have used similar interactive features on their ads such as “liking” and “thumbs up or thumbs down” voting, which have proven to be surprisingly successful. Not too long ago I was wondering what happened to the little stars that were on the side of each search result. I used the yellow star to mark that I liked that page so it would stand out the next time I logged on and add it to my Google bookmarks. Now with +1’s release, I wonder if there will be more to it than just sharing interesting results with a social network? Perhaps it’s a start to Google’s own social bookmarking network, conveniently integrated within search results. Only time will tell if this new feature will succeed (or be likened to Google’s failed Wave).

The introduction of Google’s +1 reminds me of when Twitter was first introduced—many people questioned why anyone would use it. But in just five years, Twitter has distinguished itself in numerous ways and has become an important form of communication. Just like Twitter, +1 seems too simple. But because it is simple, it has a vast amount of potential for creative applications and long-term success. I see this as a search engine game changer if it does pick up steam. What do you think?

Be sure to check out these other articles on +1:

Read more blogs at SCG’s 41 Stories.

-Trevor Nolte 

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a posting on a social bookmarking website about the ingredients in Taco Bell’s meat. Then a few days later I noticed a stream of more posts analyzing the ingredients—some shocked at the information about the percentage of beef, others poking fun at the list of ingredients. Then I heard about the class action suit filed against Taco Bell for falsely advertising its taco filling as meat. And once this happened, Twitter feeds and social news feeds were filled with opinions about Taco Bell, some supportive, but most mocking and negative in tone. Eight days later, Taco Bell placed an eye-catching ad with the headline, “Thank you for suing us,” with the main objective to defend their brand, reputation and recipe. In addition to print ads, Taco Bell has posted a video featuring its CEO on YouTube and Facebook and is supplementing the campaign with digital advertising.

As marketers, what we can learn from Taco Bell is that you have to closely monitor what is being said about you, especially online. And when you see negative comments or false information, take action immediately. Don’t assume it will go away as it gets pushed further down people’s News Feeds. In an age when information goes viral in the blink of an eye (or click of a mouse), you can lose control of a brand and reputation that has been carefully and thoughtfully built.

Is Taco Bell on the road to brand recovery? I would like to hear your thoughts. But one thing is for certain. The constant stream of information and communication on the web gives consumers a place to freely discuss your company and brand (positively or negatively). To protect your brand you need to be involved and aware. And when issues do arise be responsive, fast, and creative.

Read more blogs from SCG’s 41 Stories.

-Trevor Nolte

The recent launch of the Word Lens app for iPhone jogged memories of the trip my wife and I took to Paris a few years. A new augmented reality app for iOS devices that instantly translates printed words from one language to another in real time, Word Lens would have been very useful to us had it been available at the time of our trip.

Even though we planned and extensively researched our ten-day adventure in Paris, there was always a nagging thought in the back of our minds that we would have difficulty since neither of us spoke a word of French. We were right. Our troubles started as soon as we arrived and tried to find the exit at the Paris Metro station. We must have circled the entire Metro station five times before we finally sat down on our suitcases nearly ready to give up. We kept seeing a sign reading “Sortie” with an icon of what appeared to be a person walking or running. Scratching our heads, we pulled out our French phrase book and tried to find anything that might help us determine if this is a regular exit or an emergency exit. After all, we did not want to be the dim-witted American tourists who went through the emergency exit and set off the alarms.

This embarrassing episode came back to me in vivid detail as I was reading this month about the launch of Word Lens and how easy it is to translate words into English. You just point your iPhone camera lens at a sign that is written and it immediately provides the English translation. Right now, the Spanish to English and English to Spanish app is currently available with more European languages expected in the future. And word is the developer of the app will next add French!

Better late than never. But I sure wish we would have had this app in the fall of 2007.

Read more blogs from SCG’s 41 Stories.

-Trevor Nolte

Everyone has a special way of celebrating Thanksgiving—from the perfect recipe for stuffing to deep frying turkey to tuning into football games, we all have a tradition that makes Thanksgiving special to us (this year we may have to add shoveling the driveway to our lists!) Find out what our favorite Thanksgiving Day traditions are and share yours!

My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is…

Patrick: Finding time every Thanksgiving to be grateful for family, friends, and the extraordinary opportunities that American freedom and liberty has allowed. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and has been for many years. The traditions are changing quite a bit and getting reinvented anew as I get older, but I always find time to give thanks.

Patricia: Eating the dressing (or for traditionalists – stuffing) the night before. Before it stuffs the bird of course.

Steph: To recover from food overload and then head out the next day to get my live Christmas tree (a Fraser Fir) and spend the rest of the holiday weekend in decoration mode. Let the joyous season begin!

Jeron: Watching my dad, aunt & uncle sit in the kitchen joking about people in the little town they grew up in while they cook dinner. Nobody else has any idea what they’re talking about, but most of the time they wind up crying they laugh so hard.

Jenny: Attending church with my family Wednesday night, to give thanks for our many blessings. My nieces sing with the kids’ choir and we get to all be together, which doesn’t always happen on Thanksgiving Day. And bonus, there is even pumpkin pie served!

Mary: Eating fried turkey and drawing Secret Santa names with my sisters.

Whitney: Waking up to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It doesn’t matter how old I get—there’s nothing better than the cheesy performances, marching bands, giant balloons and (of course) Santa to usher in the beginning of the holiday season!

Joy: Playing a card game called “Pass the Trash.” Nickels can add up fast!

Trevor: Standing outside while enjoying a refreshing beverage and deep-frying whole turkeys. This ritual usually involves my 2 brother-in-laws, a propane tank, an industrial size propane burner, 4 gallons of peanut oil, and 2 turkeys. The deep-frying usually does not take too long but being outside away from the chaos inside, the comradery and the smells all make this tradition memorable and enjoyable.

Chad: Catching up with my relatives while we eat the tons of food my grandmother has cooked.

Jane: Having stuffing from inside the bird. I know that there has been a lot of hubbub lately about baking your stuffing outside of the bird or you risk getting salmonella poisoning. Well I for one am going to keep stuffing my bird and enjoying very moist, delicious home-made stuffing alongside my turkey and mashed potatoes. No dried out stuffing for me!

Randy: Watching the football games with my extended family. The usual bottom feeding Detroit Lions always seem to play an entertaining game.

Carol: Watching the Cowboys play ball. In past years, my most memorable Thanksgiving tradition was going to my aunt’s farm for dinner. All of her ingredients were fresh. She and my uncle raised their own turkeys, vegetables and produce. We all loved going to her house for that wonderful meal.

From your friends at SCG, have a very happy and safe Thanksgiving!

“Google Instant makes no change to ranking algorithm, but significantly affects user experience.”

“Google is now taking a much more active role in leading searchers to not just the answer, but also the question itself.”

You may have noticed some changes when entering a search query into Google. Google Instant, whether you love it or hate it, is transforming how people are searching for information on the web. These changes are impacting how users will take in information. As marketers, we need to be ready with solutions to more readily tap into customer’s search habits.

One of the most prominent changes cause by Google Instant is that a user who searches for a product or service now has no need to press enter. With predictive search in Google, answers are available to them immediately. How does this change impact their searches, and in turn B2B marketing?

I recently viewed Hubspots’ webinar on the new Google Instant. I found some useful insights on these changes to Google and how they can benefit SEO and B2B marketing. The main points I took away from the webinar are:

1. The user can adjust their keyword search by reacting to the instant results. They can instantly narrow down their search results to pinpoint a desired result, or redefine their keywords to more accurately define their search. As a result, traffic to B2B sites is more targeted—those who end up on a site are there as a result of a more accurate search and are more likely to be interested.
2. Google Instant trains users to search better, instead of searching using natural language like, “what is the best figure skate to use for ice dancing.” Google Instant will help train searchers to use more descriptive keywords like, “figure skates ice dancing comfort” to get better results.
3. By creating more effective searchers, the importance of SEO increases. We already know that effective SEO helps to drive traffic to your site. Google Instant increases the habit of browsing and skimming the title and description tags (title and meta descriptions) as the search is occurring. The more effective your SEO tags, the more likely your site is to show up in the first page of results, and also get clicked. Simply, Google Instant enhances the power of SEO.

You can watch the Hubspots’ webinar here or just view the PowerPoint here.

What are your thoughts on Google Instant?

Read more blogs at SCG’s 41 Stories.

-Trevor Nolte