Mike Duncan, Sage Island’s CEO, will be presenting a seminar on digital customer service during the upcoming Surf Expo trade show.

Surf Expo, Orlando, FL
Sunday, September 12 @ 2:30

Shaping the Digital Customer Service Experience

The face of retail is changing and so is customer service— for the better. As featured on CNNMoney.com, Mike Duncan speaks to the digital age of customer service in specialty retail. By integrating social media, product recommendations, consumer reviews,  Live Chat, and more,  learn how to enhance your customer’s shopping experience and supersede any storefront customer service.

ASR Marketplace
August 13-15, 2010
San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA

Buyers looking for the latest products for the upcoming season know exactly where to find them — at ASR. Twice a year the Surf/Skate Lifestyle and Fashion industries invade San Diego to conduct business and preview lines for the upcoming seasons. ASR tradeshow provides an authentic and efficient forum for buyers, sellers, media, and the investment community to conduct business and move the action sports industry forward. It’s the platform that unites brands of all sizes with an unmatched national and international buying audience.

Mike Duncan, Sage Island’s CEO, will be presenting three different seminars during the show.

The Board Retailers Association (BRA) hosts Survival of the Fittest – BRA Retail Certification Programs August 12th, 2010. Retailers are encouraged to take advantage of the trip to the trade shows by attending a full-day of certified retail education focused on current market issues facing specialty retailers.

Strengthening Your Website’s Presence through an Integrated Marketing Plan
Presented by: Mike Duncan, Sage Island Marketing Agency
10:00 am on August 12th

Your website is a critical component of your business. At a time when online competition has never been so fierce, it’s crucial to have a marketing plan for your website that drives results. This seminar, presented my Mike Duncan, CEO of Sage Island addresses the necessity of a well designed, innovative site, and how to properly market it through a hands on  approach of planning, analysis, and optimization. Mike speaks to the art of  SEO and PPC tactics and how to  expand your brand on the web to drive results.

Ten Ways for Retailers to Improve Website Presence
Presented by: Mike Duncan, Sage Island Marketing Agency
Saturday, August 14th at 11:00 am

In the ever changing world of retail, competition has never been more fierce. Your website is a critical component of your business. This seminar teaches a fully integrated marketing approach leading you through the basics of a well designed, innovative site, and how to properly utilize e-commerce solutions. Learn how to build and expand your presence on the web to drive sales and maximize your bottom line.

Leveraging the Power of Social Media
Presented by: Mike Duncan, Sage Island Marketing Agency and Danny Keith, Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop
Saturday, August 14th at 2:00 pm

Over the last few years, social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter have gone from college networking sites to marketing powerhouses. Businesses today tap into Facebook to reach their audience in more targeted, local, and efficient ways than ever before.  This seminar, presented by Danny Keith, owner of the Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop, and Mike Duncan CEO of Sage Island, teaches the latest tactics and applications that elevate social media from self promotion sites to professional lead generating tools.

We’re looking for a motivated, creative and analytic thinker with excellent communication and leadership skills to join the Traffic and Search Strategy team in our Wilmington, North Carolina office.

As a Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Specialist, your responsibilities will be to design, develop and implement PPC campaigns on major search engines including Google, Yahoo!, Bing, etc.

The SEM Specialist will also work with Account Executives, Graphic Designers, Programmers, and other team members to drive paid search engine traffic success and will be charged with establishing best practices on optimization of a variety of different PPC campaigns for a variety of unique customers. Additionally, you will be responsible for developing and implementing keyword strategies, including working with business owners to understand their specific PPC needs and developing strategies, plans, and campaigns accordingly.

The SEM Specialist will also work with developers to evolve in-house SEM tracking and reporting tools and keep current on SEM developments within the industry.

Responsibilities
* Create, manage and optimize PPC campaigns in support of business goals for Sage Island customers.
* Continuously review and optimize PPC campaigns, including thorough analysis of profitability of campaigns, keyword lists, landing page quality, downstream feedback of lead and traffic quality, etc.
* Serve as internal search expert to ensure best practices are shared and leveraged by all groups.
* Continuously improve tracking, reporting and profitability of the SEM efforts.
* Analyze and translate quantitative and qualitative data from web analytics tool into actionable SEM plans
* Research and develop best practices to identify new market opportunities and maximize program profits with improved paid campaign performance and organic rankings

Skills
* Knowledge and experience with the creation, management, and optimization of PPC campaigns
* Experience with PPC campaign management and optimization tools
* A quantitative approach to traffic measurement and experience with collecting and interpreting site visitor statistics
* Experience using Microsoft Office programs (Excel, Word, etc.)
* Must be detail-oriented with excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
* Strong written and verbal communication skills a must
* Ability to work individually on a project or in a team environment
* Self-starter approach to work, with an eagerness to consistently meet and exceed objectives and take on more responsibility.

Qualifications/Requirements
* 1 – 3 years experience in marketing
* Bachelors degree, preferred Marketing, Journalism, English, Communications

Full-time with benefits package. Send us a cover letter and resume. Specify Marketing Specialist in subject line to jobs@sageisland.com.

We are currently seeking a talented Graphic Designer with advertising and/or branding experience to join our Advertising team!

This Graphic Designer will develop compelling print and website designs that effectively convey unique brand experiences and maximize online marketing.​ We are looking for a design “rockstar” to develop and execute award-winning creative from concept through design approval.​ This role will require an ability to translate business needs into actionable creative solutions that make use of web design and print best practices to drive consumer behavior.​ Exceptional creative conception and web/print ​graphic design skills are required.​ ​ Experience designing for content management systems is ideal.

Responsibilities

• Develops creative concepts and designs innovative website structures and graphical assets that convey unique brand experiences in a way that meets business objectives and drives online business.
• Delivers top-notch creative solutions that can be implemented within a content management system, and pushes the boundaries of what a CMS is capable of from a design perspective.
• Ensures all work incorporates defined requirements and employs best practices in creative execution and user experience design.
• Presents creative concepts internally to the creative director and other key stakeholders, as well as externally to clients.
• Collaborates with implementation managers, copywriters and production designers to ensure creative alignment and a smooth transfer of work between teams.
• Ensures all timelines and deadlines are met.​ Keeps implementation managers and creative managers informed of project status, and proactively brings issues/​problems to their attention.
• Adheres to defined creative workflow and contributes to the evolution of our overall creative process.
• Provides quality assurance on all creative deliverables.​ Ensures all files (and associated content) are accurate and accessible on the creative server.
• Participates in kick-off meetings, design reviews, department meetings and training sessions as requested.
• Keeps up to date on design and technology trends to ensure work remains fresh and relevant.

Skills

• Advanced knowledge of digital design tools, including Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash and Dreamweaver
• Ability to quickly familiarize with brand goals and integrate brand experience into designs
• Ability to self-manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast paced environment
• Ability to generate, articulate and present creative ideas and strategies
• Strong interpersonal skills that encourage team cooperation,collaboration, promote enthusiasm, and motivate strategic thinking
• Experience with HTML, CSS and content management systems
• Working knowledge of video editing software and mobile platform design is a plus

Qualifications/​Requirements

• 3-5 years experience as a Graphic Designer (agency experience is a plus)
• Bachelor’s degree in graphic design/​electronic media preferred

Full-time with benefits package. Send us a cover letter, resume and an online portfolio. Specify Graphic Designer in subject line to jobs@sageisland.com.

Recently there has been a backlash in the SEO industry against what is deemed to be a non-scientific approach when it comes to SEO testing or collecting statistical data. Some people argue that you have to treat SEO as part of computer science and be very strict about it. Following this logic you are basically forbidden to do any SEO testing yourself unless you have some actual scientists doing the research.

While I am not sure why some people attempt to push in this direction I can only say it won’t work. SEO is a craft not a science. First off there are far too many variables to determine in SEO to be able to treat it scientifically. Also, if anything, SEO would have to be a social science as most things in SEO depend on human behavior. People writing algorithms, people linking, people creating content.

Read more at http://seo2.0.onreact.com/seo-is-a-craft-not-a-science

In the past year, social networking websites like Twitter and Facebook have shifted from kid stuff to major marketing tools. With about 5,000 new accounts created each day, Twitter is the fastest growing social network on the Web and the third largest.

Twitter is a great way to reach out to your target audience for conversation, marketing, and customer service. But social media outlets require a big time investment, and with ROI still not certain, many businesses choose to invest their time elsewhere.

Here are some of the key points for business owners who want to use Twitter to their advantage but are short on time:

Determine a strategy.

Twitter allows users to follow information in real time. That means instant access to your customers to listen to what they’re saying about your brand, share information with them, and offer instant customer service. Decide which of these objectives you want to accomplish, and develop a strategy to achieve it.

Choose your audience.

Build a network of customers, competitors, strategic partners, experts, colleagues, and other people within your industry circle. Start following them to get their attention, and maintain constant conversation.

Choose your tone.

While traditional marketing is formal, Twitter allows you to converse with your network casually and personally. Don’t just focus on marketing and PR, and don’t automate your conversation. Automated direct messages and tweets make followers think you’re a robot. Social media works best when it involves people connecting with people. Talk to your customers, listen closely to what they’re saying, and keep it casual.

Decide who will represent your brand online.

Twitter and all social media is an online representation of your brand. Be careful when choosing who will represent your business and how. Whether it’s the CEO, an employee, or an in-house community manager, be sure they’re putting the right face on your company.

Start talking.

Initiate conversation about your brand, listen to what people are saying, and be proactive in responding to @ replies and direct messages. Offer information that customers and other people in your network will find interesting — not just marketing and PR messages. Don’t toot your own horn too much, and don’t bombard users with links or repetitive marketing messages. Just like any conversation, these common mistakes will make you boring or annoying to followers.

Twitter tools

Build your network:

Twitter Search (search.twitter.com) – Search for your brand name and key phrases associated with your industry to find users who are interested in you and your products.

We Follow (wefollow.com) – User powered Twitter directory helps you find users that may fit in your network.

Just Tweet It (justtweetit.com) – Another Twitter directory where you can find followers.

Mr. Tweet (mrtweet.net) – A Twitter networking client that helps you discover new people in your industry, find relevant followers, and track usage stats.

Use Twitter:

Tinyurl.com, bit.ly, is.gd and countless other URL shortening services shrink long URLs to Twitter-friendly sizes.

Monitor your conversation & brand:

TweetDeck (tweetdeck.com) – The Twitter client of choice for many busy users, this free program allows you to track your feed, specific searches, and replies in one window.

TweetScan (tweetscan.com) – Alerts you when users mention your brand and related keywords.

TweetBeep (tweetbeep.com) – Google alerts for Twitter. Set it up to tell you when people are talking about your brand or industry.

Twollow (twollow.com) – Auto-follow users who mention your brand or products to build your network.

Qwitter (useqwitter.com) – Notifies you of the last tweet you sent before losing followers. Great tool to find out what you could be doing to turn off followers.

Twitterless (twitterless.com) – Graphs your followers and tells you who stops following you.

Engage your users:

TwtQpon (twtqpon.com) – Create coupons for Twitter to give users incentive to follow you.

StrawPoll (strawpollnow.com) – Poll your followers to find out what they think about your brand and pertinent questions related to your industry.

TwitPic (twitpic.com) – Share photos of new products, office antics, and other cool stuff they may find interesting.

Facebook Best Practices

Profiles & Pages

Facebook terms of service prevent companies from creating personal profiles. Businesses must use pages and groups, which are similar to profiles except for a few key differences:

• Pages cannot connect directly with people. People may “Like” of your page, but you cannot write on walls or invite users as a page.
• Pages must be connected to the personal profile of someone within your organization. This user will receive administrative access to the page for editing, posting, and sending messages to fans. Multiple users may become administrators of pages, but only the creator will have control over adding and removing administrators.

Creating Your Page

To create a Facebook page for your business, you must first create a personal profile. Once you have created your profile, click on the “Ad and Pages” application in the lower right corner of the Facebook home page. Then click on the “Pages” tab in the top, and “Create Page.” Choose your business or organization type, enter your company name, and click on “Create Page.”

Once you enter your business information and upload your logo as the photo, click “Publish Page.” Your page is now active.

Finding Fans

You cannot invite users to become a fan directly through your page. Here are some ways to find fans:

Share your page with your friends through your personal profile. Click on the “Share” button in the lower left hand corner of your page, and send it to any of your friends who are associated with or interested in your organization. Encourage other people in your organization who are on Facebook to do the same.

Add a link to your Web site and email signature. Facebook offers a badge that you can add to your Web site (click on “Get Your Badge” under the admin section on your dashboard), or you can create a text link. Just copy and paste the URL from your page.

Promote your page on other social networks. If you already have a following on MySpace, Twitter, or your blog, promote your new Facebook page on these networks.

Promote your page in related groups. Find groups that are related to your business, and post wall comments inviting people to become a fan of your group. Be careful not to overdo it, though, as excessive invitations can be considered SPAM by Facebook.

Advertise on the Facebook network. Facebook offers pay-per-click advertising to promote pages. This can be expensive, but creating targeted ads is an easy way to find fans outside of your network.

For additional considerations, view Facebook’s promotional guidelines.

Posting

Fresh content is important if you want your Facebook page to be successful. Facebook allows you to send bulletins to your fans with information, upload an RSS feed from your blog so your fans will be notified every time you post a new blog post, share events, photos, videos, and links.

You must control all posting through the dashboard on your page to ensure it is posted to the page instead of your personal profile. You can reach the page dashboard by clicking on “Edit Page” from your page (below the photo) or by clicking on the “Ads and Pages” application in the bottom left of your screen when you’re logged in. Choose what you want to post, and click on the “edit” pencil next to that application to post to your page.

Notes & Bulletins

Notes are like blog posts within your Facebook profile. If you want to share information that will be published on the NewsFeed, publish it with a note. You can also send updates or bulletins to your fans by clicking “Send an Update to Fans” from your page. Updates are like notes, except they do not appear in the NewsFeed. Users are notified of bulletins from pages when they log in, but they are not featured as prominently as notes.

Importing a Blog

If you want new blog posts to automatically post on your Facebook account as notes, you must link your Facebook page to your RSS feed. To do this, click on the “Edit” pencil next to “Notes” from your Page dashboard. From this page you can write a new note. To the right, you’ll see a box that says, “Notes Settings” with a link to “Import a blog.” Click on that link and enter your blog or RSS feed address to begin importing blog posts.

Photos & Videos

Click on the “Edit” pencil next to the Photos application to create albums and upload pictures. For videos, use the Videos application.

Events

To notify your fans of an event, click on the “Events” tab and invite fans that may be interested in attending. They will receive a notification of the invitation, and if fans accept the invitation the event will show up in their NewsFeed, notifying their networks.

For additional tips and information, visit Facebook Help or Facebook Business Solutions – Pages.