The Digital Bus

“Why We Love…” is an ongoing blog series by Ingenex Digital Marketing highlighting a few of our clients. As a full-service digital marketing provider, we have the opportunity to interact with a wide variety of clients and build lasting, mutually-beneficial relationships. In the series, we focus on one client, highlight its strengths and tell you why love working together.

We love working with…

Weber’s Restaurant & Hotel

Recently renovated to match an upscale, modern clientele, Weber’s is fine dining and luxurious lodging. From the hip Habitat Ultralounge for nighttime entertainment and drinks to the resort-style suites, Weber’s is opening itself up to new, younger clientele while maintaining it’s prestigious reputation as an Ann Arbor convention center chosen by local and traveling business professionals.

Family Owned: Weber’s was founded in 1937 by the Weber family. Today, the boutique hotel is run by Ken Weber and he has taken the hotel and restaurant to a new, digital level with Ingenex Digital Marketing. A new website, social media and pay-per-click campaign has revitalized its image in Ann Arbor, Michigan and globally.

Couple’s Retreat: Weber’s caters to couples with specialized packages. Weekend getaways including dinners, drinks, dancing, and breakfast delight couples that want to get away for an anniversary or an extended date night. Imagine this: You and your significant other want the resort treatment close to home. So, you book the Resort Suite Package. Upon arrival, the upscale hotel and restaurant greet you with a burst of luxe reds and rich, deep woods. Welcoming you to the room is a bottle of French sparkling wine (or cider) with glasses to keep as reminders of your stay. Sipping on the bubbles on your private outdoor balcony, you decide to experience Ann Arbor fine dining at the award-winning Weber’s Restaurant. 2 free after dinner drinks and dancing? A short walk takes you to the Habitat Ultralounge and Ventura Wine Bar. There, live music plays while you dance the night away. Back at your suite, you cash in your movie credit and relax for a romantic night on the plush King size bed. When you wake, Weber’s room service brings your included “Carte Blanche” breakfast and you indulge.

After that, who doesn’t love Weber’s!

Why we love Weber’s

Ingenex Digital Marketing began its relationship with Weber’s Inn at the start of a crisp 2010 January. With a desire to move to the online space more effectively, Ingenex and Weber’s strategized a plan to revitalize its website design and began advertising via PPC ads. Habitat Ultralouge is an obvious choice for young Ann Arbor, so Weber’s wanted to begin a measured social media strategy to attract more of the already hip crowd.

But Weber’s is not just a hotel, restaurant and bar, its an Ann Arbor destination for conventions and weddings as well. Employing its own renowned bakery with a talented pastry chef, Marybeth King, wedding and meetings alike go off with precision and elegance only Weber’s can offer. Ingenex wanted to portray all aspects of Weber’s succinctly and in a palatable fashion to online visitors and succeeded while exceeding expectations.

Doug Chapin, Director of Sales for Weber’s Boutique Hotel and Restaurant says, “Ingenex has helped parlay our 70 years of experience into a worldwide force for conventions, trade shows, weddings, and destination travelers by way of the social media highway.”

We love Weber’s because it encompasses the vibrant lifestyle of Ann Arbor. The local flavors and its mix of tradition with contemporary-chic matches the town to a tee. We love to dine there for a business brunch, enjoy a post-work drink and suggest it to traveling clients. Not only do we work with Weber’s, we indulge in it as patrons. Ann Arbor loves Weber’s, as do our neighbors, Ypsilanti. Make sure to check out Weber’s Boutique Hotel and Restaurant next time you’re in Ann Arbor and discover why YOU love Weber’s.

Tags:   ann arbor · digital marketing · ingenex · Ingenex Digital Marketing · internet marketing · Marketing · Michigan · seo · Web DesignNo Comments.

The easiest place to post my photos, videos, and updates to friends is on Facebook. In fact, Facebook has become my default social network for better or worse. This is due to a number of factors:

1. A ton of people are on Facebook, and I’m connected to most people I care about who want to see my stuff.
2. Facebook allows for easy posting of video, photos, and status updates that can be seen or shared by my friends.
3. Facebook is integrating into other social sites like Pandora and Yelp to make it easier for me to share information w/ friends and see what everyone is up to.

But as cool as Facebook is, I realize the immense benefit of Twitter. Twitter provides a different kind of relationship, one where it’s very public to anyone (not just my friends or network) and one where the rewards can be far greater. That being said I am motivated to stop being lazy on Facebook and get to work on Twitter. What does this mean?

1. Actively engage the audience online, and build relationships by publicly sharing my experience, strength, and hope with people who could benefit.
2. Follow people who can have a positive impact on me, stick with the winners on Twitter and join in their success.
3. Play the game, I used to think Twitter was all show and flash, but I realize now that it’s fun, and by playing the game I can build a network and have fun w/ friends.

Next steps, Stop Being so Lazy! My goal is to use Twitter more to connect w/ people and build a public facing network. Let’s see how many followers and relationships I can build over the next few months.

My current Twitter network is 3,275 followers. You can follow me here – http://twitter.com/mehraban. I will post my progress here. Really want to boost followers so I can rise up on Kent Huffman’s list of Top Professors on Twitter. Currently I am #23, and as much as I like that number (Michael Jordan), I would rather be in the top 10.

Read some Twitter Tips here from a previous Digital Bus post.

Tags:   #HTFL · Facebook · ingenex · social media · Tweet · TwitterNo Comments.

“Why We Love…” is an ongoing blog series by Ingenex Digital Marketing highlighting a few of our clients. As  a full-service digital marketing provider, we have the opportunity to interact with a wide variety of clients and build lasting, mutually-beneficial relationships. In the series, we focus on one client, highlight its strengths and tell you why love working together.

We love working with…

Inforum Facts

Networking and Education. Inforum is one of the largest and most distinguished business forums in the Midwest. By creating opportunities for women to excel in their respective fields, Inforum is the Michigan professional alliance for women. Members enjoy the benefits of networking with other business executives and a growing number of seminars available for education and career development.

Founded in 1962. During Inforum’s early years, the “Economic Club of Detroit” did not admit female members and with an explosive number of women in the workforce, a professional alliance of women was in demand. Originally deemed the “Women’s Economic Club,” the career advancement group was spearheaded by 23 innovative women leaders who desired to foster an dynamic environment of professional growth.

Over 1,800 members. Inforum prides itself on a diverse membership including women in government, health care, retail, the law, and non-profit organizations in Southeast, West, and Mid-Michigan.

Why we love Inforum:

In February, 2010 Ingenex Digital Marketing launched the new Inforum website that allowed for enhanced member profiles, a searchable database, new Chief Executive blog, online video archive and search engine optimization strategy. As our professional relationship grew, so did our admiration for the organization. Inforum provides members with life-long education and connection to fellow professionals. At Ingenex, we love delving into the latest technology and online resources and Inforum as a client permits ample leeway to implement our passion which has proven successful.

One upcoming example is the September 17th Event – “Extreme Change: Four Women, Four Sectors,  Total Transformation.” Inforum states, “These leaders are tearing down old expectations, altering the embedded cultures of their organizations and building something better prepared to succeed in the world as it is now.” During the event, Ingenex will use our cutting-edge technology to simulcast the event to Ann Arbor based restaurant Conor O’Neills. Working as a team, Inforum and Ingenex will bring the prestigious event to viewers all over Southeast Michigan.

Inforum is an innovative and empowering alliance of successful women and we love Inforum for promoting education and leadership in all aspects of career development, even those who are currently in transition. From Executive leadership to financial advice during a career change, Inforum leads the way for women to succeed in business through a powerful, intricate and generous support system.

For more information on Ingenex Digital Marketing and Inforum, visit Ingenex’s Inforum Case Study

Tags:   ann arbor · Business · digital marketing · Inforum · Michigan · Web DesignNo Comments.

Beginning Monday, August 23 Facebook will be implementing plans announced in October of 2009 to remove applications boxes and application info sections as well as reducing the width of application tabs on Pages.

As a digital marketing agency, the team at Ingenex Digital Marketing is accustomed to handling changes to Facebook and other social media sites to ensure that our social media marketing clients continue to get the best result from their company pages. Whether you are a Facebook administrator yourself, or you have a digital marketing agency, like Ingenex monitoring your social media marketing, it never hurts to understand the new changes being made, and more importantly why.

Removal of Application Boxes and Application Info Sections:
The decision to remove application boxes and info sections was made to ease navigation and ultimately optimize the new format for Facebook profiles and pages. Removing the various boxes and placing the information under an application tab will centralize the Facebook page information and ultimately make it easier for Faceook users to find what they are looking for.

Reducing Application Tab Width to 520 Pixels:
This particular change will have a greater influence on Ingenex social media clients. As you can see in this example of Weber’s Facebook Page, the different tabs feature informational pictures of the Ann Arbor Hotel. To accommodate the change, the Ingenex team will make adjustments to the Facebook Mark Up Language (FBML) prior to August 23. The changes will allow for a simple transition from the current application format to the new format.

The removal of application boxes and info sections and the change in application tab width will automatically go into effect on Monday, August 23. Beginning this week, Facebook has given page admins the opportunity to preview their page before the change to determine any changes that need to be made before two weeks is up.

The team at Ingenex is hard at work on the Facebook pages for their clients, to ensure a seamless transition. Follow the link to read the Facebook update.

Tags:   Facebook · Facebook Pages · social media · Social Media MarketingNo Comments.

How does one move from a tweet or two to a marketing powerhouse? Joel Comm, a New York Times bestselling author, with Ken Burge wrote Twitter Power to instruct tweeters on how to effectively harness the power of Twitter for your busness or personal brand. Twitter Power provides a fantastic Twitter overview with relevant and valuable information whether you’re entirely new to Twitter, looking to improve your existing Twitter presence or delivering social media marketing solutions for your clients.

Twitter is so much more than Ashton Kutcher telling the world what he had for breakfast.  Executed correctly, Twitter can be an invaluable tool for building your brand and communicating with your target audience online.  How does one go about utilizing such a powerful tool for business growth?

Top Twitter Tips from Twitter Power:

• Twitter is not a stand-alone solution. It is most powerful when it’s integrated into your full marketing mix and interacting with your other online platforms.

• Don’t go public right away. This is your brand we’re talking about here!  Take the time to setup a functional, great-looking page, have some strong Tweets already in the queue upon launch, be strategic about building up your following.

• Speaking of building up a following, you have two options. The right choice depends on your target audience.  A quantity approach (more followers) is great for a mass appeal product, while a quality approach (better followers) is ideal for a targeted, more niche audience.

• Find users within your industry. A great way to build a strong following is to identify key Twitter users in your target industry, start following them, and start throwing some @ replies their way.  Don’t just nod your head in virtual agreement, make it really valuable, interesting information that they don’t already know.  By interacting with these industry thought leaders, you are indirectly creating some street cred for your own brand.  If you’re lucky enough to have one of these superstars retweet your material or reply to you, your following will surge!

• What is your goal? The best way to use Twitter differs by what your business objectives are.  Some companies will use it as a communications tool, others as a customer service and tech support platform, others as a sales engine to run contests and promotions.

One of the top Twitter mistakes we think many companies and brands are making:

• An  inconsistent voice. What is the tone of your company or brand? Are you BP trying to regain the loyalty of your consumers and alleviate chafing critics? A joking or facetious tone may not be your best bet. Are you Lord Voldemort (@Lord_Voldemort7) trying to promote the newest installment of the Harry Potter series? Fear-inspiring, yet humorously quirky will do the trick. Are you a renowned Ann Arbor based digital marketing company like Ingenex? Light, relevant and informative works quite well. Pick one and try to stay within that tone appropriately.

Creating an effective Twitter campaign can be challenging because all of the above elements must come together cohesively to connect to the right people with the right message. That same challenge translates itself across all social media networks, like Facebook, LinkedIn and Social Harbor.

Finding the right marketing strategy involves a quality following, trackable goals, and consistent voice. How can you implement these ideas into your marketing mix?  For more information, visit: Social Media Marketing

Tags:   #socialmedia · ingenex · Twitter1 Comment

Interested in networking with the brightest New Media Driver’s License past and current students? Join us for the New Media Tweetup.

What is a Tweetup?
A Tweetup is an organized gathering of individuals with a common interest and in this case, the emerging field of New Media.

Why should I go?
The New Media Drivers License course at Michigan State University trains students in New Media and digital  marketing. Experience in new media is crucial for a successful career in marketing and advertising. Savvy companies are taking on digital and look for candidates who can take them to the next digital frontier. Here, you can network with professionals in the business and New Media marketing rising stars.

Who else is going?
Alumni and current students of New Medis Driver’s License will be taking on Dublin Square along with top marketing professionals and Michigan State University Communication Arts folk. Make connections and bring friends for this fun landmark event!

When and Where?
Thursday, August 5th
5:30p-7:30p
Dublin Square
327 Abbot Rd.
East Lansing, MI 48823

For more information:

Tags:   Advertising · Business Social Networking · digital marketing · Marketing · Marketing Events · Michigan · Michigan State University · New Media Drivers License · tweetup · Twitter3 Comments

Listen up marketers! Have you ever wanted to know what the state of social media is at this very moment in 2010? Ingenex Digital Marketing uses a wide variety of social media marketing tools to enhance businesses’ visibility on the web and we are providing insight into the most effective, and least effective, tools out there right now in our Social Media Report.

• What are the benefits of social media marketing?

• What tools are most effective?

• And what is coming in the future?

The top benefit of social media marketing is being seen. Companies want to know they hold captive the all-important eye and sites like Twitter and Facebook allow people to easily engage with companies while allowing companies to monitor their popularity and interactions. Social media also provides a rise in search engine rankings which ultimately leads to increased subscribers, traffic, and generated leads. At Ingenex, we know our social media marketing works by tracking, monitoring and analyzing keywords, mentions, likes, check-ins, clicks, comments, buzzes, alerts, and RSS subscribers across an extensive landscape of media.

Michael A Steltzner recently released a report on trends in social media marketing. 88% polled use Twitter as their main social media tool. Following Twitter (no pun intended) is Facebook with 87%. These two powerhouses don’t show signs of slowing and are vital tools to create and maintain an online presence. On the flip side, reaffirming the gradual death of MySpace, 80% of marketers said they had no plans to use the site or that they plan on reducing directed efforts. The goal is not to do everything online, but to pick a select few (starting with Facebook, Twitter, and throw Foursquare in there, too) and do them well so they get results.

So, where does the future of social media marketing lie? The answer is simple: Twitter and social bookmarking. While Twitter is clearly on top, companies are still curious about the possibilities of how to optimally use the site. New features, such as geolocation, are being added and since Twitter displays no ads or paid content yet, there is room for growth and opportunity while tapped-out resources, like Myspace, are quickly becoming the past. Social bookmaking sites, such as Del.icio.us are another growing trend and people want to know more about social bookmarking sites. Are you one of those curious people? Common Craft offers a bookmarking “Plain English” tutorial on the topic. At Ingenex, we use the bookmarking site to share links and stay informed on the newest and most effective ways to help businesses grow and capture that all-important eye.

There you have it; the state of social media marketing in 2010. Where will it go in 2011? You will be the one to decide based upon your social media use. Where are you planning on using this year in your marketing strategy?

Social Media Marketing Industry Report 2010 by Michael A. Steltzner

Tags:   digital marketing · social bookmarking · Social Media Marketing · Social Networks · StatsComments Off

What an exciting day it’s been at day one of Lightfair International 2010 for Ingenex Digital Marketing and our client OSRAM Opto Semiconductors!  A record-breaking crowd of more than 20,000 lighting experts are on-hand for the three-day trade show and conference, and our social media marketing team is chronicling the events at the Lightfair virtual trade show page we’ve created for OSRAM Opto Semiconductors.

The day began bright and early as the Internet marketing team followed OSRAM experts on an exclusive overview of the booth for lighting industry trade media.  On display today are demos of OSRAM Opto Semiconductors’ fine white binning, Golden DRAGON LEDs, OSLON SSLs and ORBEOS organic LED display.

The OSRAM SYLVANIA booth buzzed with activity all day as visitors filed in to learn more about the company’s LED and SSL lighting innovations, and many people have remarked that the crowded booth space signals one of the busiest Lightfair trade shows in the conference’s history.  In addition to capturing photos from the booth, the Ingenex team landed LED lighting video interviews with several industry experts including LD+A Magazine Editor/Associate Publisher Paul Tarricone and Electronics Design Strategy News Technical Editor Margery Conner.

Stay tuned to the OSRAM Opto Semiconductors Lightfair virtual trade show for more videos, photos and updates throughout the week, or follow Ingenex on Twitter with the #lightfair hashtag.

Tags:   Lightfair virtual trade show · OSRAM Opto Semiconductors · Social Media MarketingComments Off

Ingenex Digital Marketing trades in the Digital Bus for a digital stretch limo this week as we travel to Las Vegas, Nevada to provide social media marketing support for our client OSRAM Opto Semiconductors at this year’s Lightfair International trade show and conference.

Ingenex’ Lightfair social media excursion is the culmination of several months of web site design and social media marketing planning for OSRAM Opto Semiconductors.  The project began with the creation of an optimized virtual trade show landing page and continued with a comprehensive digital marketing strategy including digital PR and social media outreach.

The Ingenex team will be on-site at Lightfair to help provide social media marketing support for OSRAM Opto Semiconductors including blog and Facebook updates, interviews with lighting industry experts, Flickr photos and online video from the event.  The Lightfair virtual trade show page will serve as a repository for archived content and a source for constant industry news and updates from the Lightfair floor.

More than 19,000 design, lighting, architectural and engineering professionals and 500 exhibitors are expected to attend Lightfair.  Visit OSRAM Opto Semiconductors in Booth 315 within the Sylvania display or keep an eye on the Lightfair 2010 virtual trade show page at http://ledlight.osram-os.com/lightfair2010.

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The next crop of freshly-minted digital marketing experts has earned the MSU New Media Drivers License taught by Ingenex CEO Derek Mehraban and Google’s Michal Lorenc.  The final new media training class of the semester concluded today with instructor presentations and digital marketing case studies from the top students in the class.

The instructors began the day by congratulating all the students on their hard work throughout the semester and continued by introducing some of the newest digital marketing trends ranging from mobile marketing to the use of Google Analytics to help measure campaigns and drive results.

The day continued with student presentations, with case studies highlighting impressive social media marketing campaigns for companies including Belle Tire, Cannondale, the Detroit Institute of Arts and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Recurring themes across all of the ambitious and relevant student presentations include integration of all social marketing outlets with traditional marketing tactics, using social media to tap into new unmet market segments, Google Analytics measurement to keep track of results and the combination of beautiful visual presentation with solid digital marketing strategy.

Congratulations to the latest MSU New Media Drivers License graduates!  If you are interested in taking the MSU New Media Drivers License this summer or fall, learn more at http://newmediadl.com.

Tags:   Michigan State University · New Media Drivers LicenseComments Off