Orange County Advertising explores the impact of the internet with Talkshoe. Your business takes on the starring role as Talkshoe enables users to record, join or access live interactive discussions, podcasts and audioblogs over the web, complete with technical support, conferencing, bandwidth and storage, all for free. Here’s how it works: The host chooses a topic and starts a community call. People join via phone or computer and talk, listen or chat. The call is automatically recorded as a podcast and listed for you. TalkShoe currently has almost 100,000 users and millions more listen to recorded Community Calls via iTunes and other podcast directories.

Here are some of the benefits to your business as taken from the Talkshoe website:

Position Your Company as the Thought Leader – You know your business and industry better than anyone else, and people like to buy from experts. So when you’re the expert, you’ve got a leg up on the competition.

Lower Sales and Marketing Costs – By simultaneously reaching a broad geographically dispersed audience, you can lower travel cost, and make more efficient use of corporate and sales resources.

Want more exposure for your business? Discover how Welcome Express can put you in direct contact with the ever growing newcomer population in your area. Call (949) 481-0600 for more information or click HERE.

Combat Orange County Dining Trends in a Down Market

An IBM commissioned study based on phone interviews with 4000 consumers yielded the following trends:

Out of total respondents, 73% say they have made “significant spending cuts” due to economy.

Hardest hit are those earning less than or equal to $45,000, but 59% of those earning less than or equal to $100,000 say they have also cut back.

Changes consumers are making: 49% shop at a greater number of stores to get best deal, 35% are switching grocery stores.

Responses indicate the changes in habits will outlast the slump. Major reason why: Only 15% of respondents think it is “very likely” their household income will rise by 20% in the next 5 yrs. Meanwhile, 45% said their income is “not at all” likely to rise by 20% in next 5 yrs.

50% say they’re buying less food, 45% have cut back on food not cooked at home, whether from grocery store, restaurant, or take out.

People are also more open to online coupons sent to their mobile devices to save money.

Significance for the hospitality industry: People are cutting back on their “dining out”

Noteworthy: In the current economy, NEW residents “defy the trend.”

Why? Their unique situation (just moved) means they are prepared to spend more than they normally would on a large variety of goods and services. They also have excellent credit as well as money in the bank–otherwise they would not have qualified for that home loan!Everyone has their favorite group of restaurants, i.e. some combination of fine dining, fast casual, ethnic, pizza place, carry-out, etc. You want to get your restaurant on their favorites list!

Why not replace those customers you lose through normal attrition with newcomers who are actively looking to develop “new favorites!?” A welcome service can “make that introduction” before they (newcomers) visit the competition!!

California Chamber of Commerce

Orange County business owners: You may know the value of being a member of your local Chamber of Commerce, but did you know that there is a California Chamber of Commerce? They are here to help you! Take a look at this short description of who they are and how they can help.

Mission: To serve as an advocate and resource for California employers and to engage in other activities, domestically and internationally, that enhances the California economy and make the state a better place to live, work and do business.

To learn more about CalChamber visit: http://www.calchamber.com

If you have not yet tapped into the resource of your local chamber of commerce, here are just a sampling of the reasons why you should delay no further.
• You tap into an extensive volunteer base that acts as an arm of your business by providing marketing and promotional assistance and educational opportunities, and by working to improve the quality of life in your community — all in the name of member businesses!
• Your investment is returned to the community through better legislation, greater productivity, quality education, a quality workforce, and area advancement.
• You support the community that supports your business.

Learn more about your local Chamber of Commerce by clicking HERE

Advertising companies in Orange County need to pay attention to current trends in mobile marketing in order to stay competitive.

The Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) council has produced a list of the top 10 things it believes markets absolutely have to know about mobile advertising at the moment.

It follows research from the IAB and PriceWaterhouseCoopersthat mobile advertising is set to become part of the mainstream marketing mix over the next two years.

1. It’s an always on medium: Consumers love their mobile phones so much that researchers found when they took peoples phones away for a day they claimed to feel a phantom ‘tingle’ in their pocket that normally proceeds the excitement of a text/call. Stephen Upstone, managing director of European business development, AdInfuse.

2. Social media is driving growth: IAB research in 2009 found that updating social network sites via mobile handsets is increasing with 25% of all social networkers logging on to check or update their pages. 16 to 24 year olds are the biggest mobile social network fans with 44% saying they have updated via mobile, compared to 17% of over 55s. Amy Kean, senior PR and marketing manager, IAB.

3. It provides immediate interaction: Mobile phones allow the consumers to interact immediately with advertising. Upon seeing an advert the consumer can text, call or download content instantly. It can help maximise the effectiveness of other media, a short code is a great example of this. Rachel Wright, business development director, Phonevalley.

4. It’s got a lot to offer: Mobile Marketing is much more than banner adverts within internet content; a wide range of formats can be delivered as campaign components from text links in SMS messages through to full screen static or video display adverts within applications or mobile internet sites. Jeremy Copp, CEO, Rapid Mobile Media.

5. Application crazy: iPhone users have downloaded over 1 billion applications worldwide to their handset since launch. Applications are not restricted to iPhone however; advertisers can create useful applications for consumers for the majority of handsets. David Fieldhouse, mobile manager, MediaCom.

6. It’s popular: The number of mobile media users in the UK has reached the tipping point with over 30% of all UK adults accessing mobile media every month and a large proportion of those going online everyday according to ComScore. Stephen Upstone, managing director of European business development. AdInfuse

7. Smartening up: Over the last 18 months the number of UK Smartphone users (iPhone, Nokia N96, T-Mobile G1 etc) has grown from 3.6m subscribers to 6.3m, a 73% increase, and these users are over three times more likely to browse for News and Information on their phones than non Smartphone users (Comscore/MMetrics). Tim Hussain, head of mobile advertising, Sky.

8. It’s out of your hands: If you’re not sure if your brand should be on mobile, consumers have already made the choice for you. 0ver 4 million consumers are already using their mobiles to search for information on products and services and search volumes are growing 4 times faster than online. Jon Mew, head of mobile, IAB.

9. It can reach you: Target through to point of purchase – no other medium allows such precise targeting, from location based services like local search through to in-store Bluetooth marketing you can reach consumers wherever they are and provide relevant and engaging advertising. Paul Lyonette, head of mobile advertising, Microsoft.

10. Consumers like Mobile! The Orange Exposure study shows 70% of mobile media users find innovative ad formats appealing. In an ad funded games trial 89% said they liked or were neutral to advertisements appearing on the Orange World portal and 88% said they were happy to be exposed to advertising in exchange for free or discounted content. Alex Kozloff, media research manager, Orange.

WE (Welcome Express) can help you implement several of the basics of Social Media Business Marketing Packages and take advantage of the mobile marketing trend!