A few of our favorite things!!!!!!

Great pieces of marketing are among our favorites. 

What is your favorite Website or Facebook page? Post it here! 
For a chance to win over a 1lb of yummy fudge!

We will select a random “Poster” to win some of our favorite fudge. We will draw after 74 entries have been posted using our Random Number Generator and
Post the winner here!

Tip: Feel free to post your own Website or Facebook page for free exposure.  It is welcOMed. :-) *Each URL counts as 1 entry, only 2 entries max per person.*

Prize = Fudge from Tom’s Fudge made with love in Longview, WA. Assorted Holiday Pack with well over 1 lbs of Fudge
Be sure to keep checking back and tell your friends!!!

Comment on our blog on or on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/omoriginals

Tis’ the season to eShare.

Howdy Neighbors,

Tis’ the season to eShare.  What better gift is there to give than fresh info about our community?
We encourage you to visit the websites our clients that offer event info, news, and good news about about Cowlitz County.

• Cowlitz Today
  Our communities online event calendar.  You simply can’t say, “There is nothing to do in Cowlitz County”.  Check it out.
  
  
• KLOG Radio
  Hometown News, Home Team Sports, and Classic Hit Songs.  Tune in to AM 1490 to listen.

• Valley Bugler Newspaper
  The Valley Bugler is a monthly good news publication.
  Featuring Community Events & Activities, Funnies, People, Animals and an Occasional Tall Tale.

We’ve integrated these web sites to make them social savvy.  Please take a look and share them on Facebook and Google.
Spread the (Local) News!

Beautiful Skin Website

We are proud to launch the Beautiful Skin Website for Oscar & Michelle of omOriginals Marketing!

This site was created to share Nerium AD, with its amazing age-defying ingredients derived from the oleander plant.  Clinical results have shown dramatic reduction in appearance of wrinkles.

Nerium International offers an exciting Home based small business opportunity.  To learn more please visit BeautifulSkinWebsite.com

tags: age-defying ingredients aging beauty contest biotechnology research clinical trials enlarged pores extract fine lines hyperpigmentation nae-8 nature-based nerium nerium oleander nibio-pl2 noncomedogenic nourish your skin oleander plant reduction in appearance of wrinkles safe for all skin skincare line sun-damaged skin sun-dried skin uneven skin texture wrinkes wrinkles

Another one bytes the dust.

“We are gathered here today to morn the passing of my beloved website. You represented me well but alas you now seem out dated and irrelevant.  So with regret, today I am pulling the plug.  It seems like just yesterday, that I watch with pride as you were launched and took your first steps into cyberspace.”

Check out this cyber tribute from our Friends @ DentistCEO.com

http://dentistceo.com/2011/08/to-my-beloved/

Thanks Dr. Larsen.
:-)

Facebook Workshops October 27th, 2011

Oscar will be presenting both Facebook Level 1 and Facebook Level 2 classes.

• Level 1 – (1:30-3pm)
  - If you or other business owners you know do not have a Business Facebook Page, or would like to expand on the page you currently have.
  (This is your class!)

• Level 2 – (3:30-5pm)
  Learn “14.5 powerful ways to grow your Facebook fan base”.
  - If you already have a Facebook Business Page that is set up and would like to increase your fan base and create more fan interaction.
  (This is your class!)

Payment guarantees your seat!
Visit Facebook Workshops page or call our office for more information and to pay by phone. 360.575.9839

Does Your Business Really Exist? Google it!

For years it was my job (or part of it) to convince people on the importance of using the Internet for business. I don’t really do this anymore.
It’s not that I don’t still believe that the Internet is a powerful tool for marketing business, the shift is that everyone else knows it now too. Instead of me convincing people on the value of a web site, I now get to jump right in and help them harness the power of the Internet.
I recently had the pleasure of visiting with Mr. Rick Winsman, President/CEO of our local Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce. Our subject of discussion was about all things “business and the internet”.  Imagine that! Mr. Winsman expressed to me that “every business needs to be online”. He went on to say, “If people can’t find a business online it is likely that they (the business) won’t be around much longer”.
Maybe that is what happened to the Dinosaurs. ~;-)
We all know that Big Foot (Sasquatch) exists. But, does your business really exist?
Let’s find out the existence of your business with two simple questions:
1) Can people find your business online?
To find your business, let’s do some searching. Go to Google.com and get started. I recommend you take some notes on the results (digital or old school pen and paper will work). We are going to do two types of search.
A search for your “business name” and a search for your “product or service”.  Type in your “business name” and hit return/enter. I typed in “omOriginals”, and I also tried “Valley Bugler”. I’m happy to say, “We exist!!”
Next click on “maps” to see if your business is on the map.
Our second search is for your keys words such as “Longview WA Marketing” or “Longview WA Newspapers”. You can do these searches without the state name, but sometimes the results show Longview, TX.
Record your results. Don’t be shocked or discouraged if you don’t show up on the first page or results for your keywords. Just be motivated to be on this page so people can find you.

[Quick Tip: To be found for your “keyword”, make sure your web site has Google content discussing your keyword. Relevant (and fresh) is the best way to receive better search rankings. For maps, you need to add a list, or edit].

I recommend you do the same searches on bing.com, yahoo.com and even facebook.com <<< wow 400 words in before mentioning facebook!
And if all of the above is over your head, then call me anyways because we can help it make sense for you.
Now to our second question.
2) What does your presence say about your organization?
Start with the basics, to make sure your information is correct and up-to-date. Then ask yourself if you’d be interested in your business (based solely on what you see online)?
Not too interesting? Then perhaps it’s time for an online marketing review. Here at the office, we are currently offering those for free. If you’re interested, please give Johnene, our awesome Administrative Assistant and Office Manager a call! She can get you on our calendar with a free review. (360)575-9839
Long Live your Business.
Make sure your business can be found AND is putting it’s best foot forward. Take advantage of today’s technology – not only to survive, but to flourish.
Oscar Myre IV is the owner and creative director at the flourishing company, omOriginals Marketing! in Longview, WA. They’re local geeks and ad designers for this paper, who have esteemed clients from all over Cowlitz County (and the nation), and would be happy to chat with you about your own online marketing goals and thoughts. They can be reached at (360)575-9839 or online @ omOriginals.com

<GeekSpeak> is also published monthly in the Valley Bugler Newspaper.

Google’s Answer to Facebook: Google +

When discussing G+ with Kelso Mayor David Futcher, another early adopter, he expressed some excitement, but we agreed that “the world doesn’t need another Facebook”. But, we see that it is bigger than social, it combines the world of social AND search. PLUS other Google offerings such as; eMail, Video, Calendar, Documents, Photos, Reader, Web & More.

Groupon watch out: Facebook has a Mobile Deal for you

Facebook has launched a new way to coupon. It is called Facebook Deals. This is how it works… when people check IN to your business on their Mobile phones they can receive “Deals.”  Note: They are only available for claimed “Places” on Facebook @ this time. The end of this article will tell you how to claim your “Place”.

What is Facebook Places? On your mobile phone, you can check IN (tell the world where you are at). This is cool and a bit spooky at the same time. Instead about worrying that Big Brother watching everything you are doing, you are telling him. There is great info here for advertisers and potentially bad people. So I can enthusiastically encourage businesses to use places, but more cautiously consider it for your personal use. As a page owner you can offer 1 (and only 1) of 4 deals at a given time. Here is an overview for each Facebook Deal:
1) Individual Deal
Reward individual customers when they check in at your business. Best for simple discounts or gifts with purchase. This is a simple coupon with nothing to print. People simply show their phone to get the deal. It (the coupon) is displayed on the phone after you check-in with your phone.
2) Friend Deal
Reward groups of customers when they check in together. Help spread the word about your business more rapidly. Similar to a individual deal, but you only get the “coupon” if you and multiple friends check-in. The page owner determines how many check-ins required to get the deal.
3) Loyalty Deal
Reward customers for visiting your business a certain number of times, similar to a traditional punch card.
4) Charity Deal
Pledge to donate to a charity of your choice when customers check in at your business. A win-win for everyone! We are currently running a Charity Deal @ our studio to support Project Joplin.
Watch the Video
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10100211990206733
So how much does it cost to offer a Facebook Deal?
It is currently free, I’m not sure if this is just until they are out of beta or if this is free forever.
Claim your Place:
As I said above you need to claim your place on Facebook to be able to offer a deal.
To claim your Place, search for your business name on Facebook via the normal Search bar. If your business’s Place already exists on Facebook, click on it to visit its page. At the bottom left side of your Place you may see a link that says “Is this your business?” Click on the link and you will be directed to a claiming flow.
Facebook will ask you to verify that you are the owner through a phone verification process, or you may be asked for document verification. If your claim is confirmed, you will be able to admin your Place on Facebook. This took about 3 days for FB gave me admin access to our “Place”.  I then requested that they combined my Page and my Place. This took 7-10 business days to combine.
If you do not see the “Is this your business?” link on a Place, then it is not available to claim at this time.
The Deals features are going to be HUGE. I recommend you take claim to them ASAP. If you’d like to learn more about how to use Facebook, please check out our website or give the office a call to learn about upcoming FB Classes and Facebook Consulting, available Monday through Friday 9am – 5pm.
We take care of your marketing – online and off – so YOU can take care of business!
omOriginals Marketing is owned and operated by Oscar Myre IV and Michelle Myre of Longview, WA. To see how he can put the “Master” influence into your marketing, call (360)575-9839 or online omOriginals.com

Websites vs. Facebook

The battle is on!
A few years ago it seemed like every business now had a web site. Fast forward to day.: More and more businesses are now getting Facebook Pages. So the question is this, “which is better – a great website or a great Facebook Page?” Let’s dare to compare!
WEBSITES
I built my first web site in 1997, and so much has changed since then. Today’s web sites should be built with two audiences in mind. People and Search engines.
1) People: Your business web site allows you to put your best foot forward in front of the world. Business and organizations of any size can (and should) have professional sites. I recently read that over 70% of consumers pre-qualify a new business online by visiting their web site before even visiting the business!
With almost 3/4 of people getting their first impression of an organization online, it is mission critical to have a website that educates about your company and the value that you offer. With a web site you are in control of your brand.
2) Search Engines: Today’s phonebooks aren’t books at all, they are sites likeGoogle, MSN & Yahoo! New technology, but old-school marketing prevails. In the olden days, if your business couldn’t be found in the book, it didn’t exist (in the all important consumers eyes).
Today that is true as well. If someone “Googles” your business name or for your products and services and they don’t find you, they will go to your competitor. If you don’t exist online, eventually you won’t exist at all.
FACEBOOK
I built my first Facebook Fan Page back in 2009, and so much has changed since then. Facebook has made the internet approachable, and even fun.
There are literally millions of people using Facebook each day that don’t consider themselves geeks or even computer people. This flood of new people is a tremendous opportunity.
These users are checking you out on Facebook AND on your web site. The power of Facebook is that way users create and/or share info about your organization. They shape your brand! It is your job to help share what you want them to share.
And the winner is?
As you might guess, the the winner is the businesses who use BOTH a professional web site and Facebook page. The trick is how to do them both together, without wasting a lot of precious time. I’ve seen many business start to put a ton of content together and placing it only on their Facebook page.
The result is an anemic web site and an annoying business Facebook page. You need to find balance and integrate the two. Your local web developer should be able to advise or consult for best strategies.
I invite you to meet with your favorite marketing geek and draft up a online marketing plan that uses complementary web, social and eMail marketing to drive your bottom line up and up. To learn more about online marketing visit omOriginals.com and check out some upcoming class schedules. Call (360)575-9839 or online @ omoriginals.com
Oscar Myre IV is the web guru and head geek at his web development and marketing company, omOriginals Marketing! in Longview, WA. omOriginals serves over 300 businesses, both locally and internationally based. When he is not being geeky for businesses, he enjoys playing in his backyard with his kiddos and running the lake.

Geek Speak – “TAG” happy – connecting print to web

Between the print world and the digital world there has been a great chasm. Imagine this, you are sitting down in your recliner, drinking a nice cup of coffee reading the Valley Bugler Newspaper. Life is good, reading positive stories and LOL over the hilarious jokes. You are enjoying a good balance of stories and ads. You see an offer that interests you from a local business. It invites you to go to their web site.
Now is the digital disconnect. No matter how many times you click (or tap or touch) the web address it’s still just a piece of paper…
So how do we cross the digital divide? (Go from print to digital?) You might circle or cut out the ad to look at it later. If you are geeky you might go to your computer or grab your laptop and type in the web address to take a look. If you are extra geeky you might type in the url into your smart phone. Unfortunately, the above ways are cumbersome. In our world of instant gratification, your interest may be redirected back to your coffee or to your favorite Newspaper.
Enter the Quick Response QR Codes.
These 3-D bar codes (see below) are the bridge that can drive people from print to digital! >I think of them as paper based hyperlinks.
What does that mean?
You scan (take a picture of) the code on your smart phone and it links you directly to a web site. And you aren’t limited to just web sites.
The code can contain a phone number, social media link, an SMS message, a google map, V-Card data or just plain alphanumeric text, and the scanning device will respond by opening up the correct application to handle the encoded data. The codes were originally created in Japan in 1994, they’ve been in Europe for years and now we are seeing them in the US.  QR Codes use the ISO-18004 standard. This means they are the same across the globe. They simply differ in the content the contain.
If you’ve read this months Bugler you’ve already seen a handful of these codes. To read the codes you need to first get a scanner app for your smart phone. I’ve created a mobile web site that you can use to find a free QR code reader for your phone. Note: Your phone needs to have a digital camera in order to scan codes. With your phone in hand, open up your web browser and go to http://m.omoriginals.com
You can select your phone Manufacturer (Brand) and get setup. Here are three codes for your scanning enjoyment.

Now you can scan the code, check out a web site and even call the business or buy something on their website without getting out of your chair or spilling your coffee. Now that’s geeky.
Word to the wise (for businesses): Keep in mind that these paper hyperlinks send people to websites on mobile devises. Your web site may not be ready for the mobile world. You will likely need to make some significant changes to your website to make it mobile friendly before sending people there.
This is just a glimpse into the future of these codes. If you want to be a digital bridge builder, I invite you to contact my office to request a QR Code consultation. Scan the code in this article to connect. ~:-)
Or for those of you who WANT this type of technology but don’t have a clue what the above article is all about, you can call our office @ (360)575-9839 or go online to:
omOriginals.com