In this brief talk from TED 2009, Jonathan Drori encourages us to save biodiversity one seed at a time. Reminding us that plants support human life, he shares the vision of the Millennium Seed Bank, which has stored over 3 billion seeds to date from dwindling yet essential plant species.
 

The mid week update informs you about marketing and tech happenings which are just too urgent to be published in the weekender.

This week we find out that orange is the color of choice for 2009 - 2010 and, more importantly, Google now captures 64% or more of all online search esquires.

Google now has 64% share of all online search traffic - how should your business react?

We all know that Google has been the fastest growing search engine over the past decade, from the moment they powered up their LEGO web server, history was made. But it was not until recently that Yahoo was still a tad more relevant than Google. This week figures were released which clearly showed that Google is currently the undisputed king of search engines.

Why should this matter to your business?

If your business has a paid search campaign on all 3 search engines then the most obvious thing might be to scale a little back on yahoo and msn and focus your budget into your Google campaign, but this is a mistake.

1. Focus optimization through the use of geographic and demographic targeting.

With an increase in search there is an increase in key word competition.
Keywords are becoming harder and harder to obtain these days, this is especially with the high influx of new advertisers. So focus on where your clients are and you will get more hits for your dollars.

2. Use other search engines to better communicate with your target markets.

While Google may be the biggest search engine, yahoo is still the worlds largest directory. It is reasonable to assume that the different search engines target a slightly different demographic due to usage patterns, learn to take advantage of this.

3. Optimize optimize

More users on Google mean more advertisers and hence, more competition. You need to familiarize yourself with the online search landscape to fully maximize your businesses online potential.

The jump in Google usage can be seen with both positive and negative effects; how this will affect Google's stock? Visit our downtown office and take a relaxing stroll to wall street for the opening bell.

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Async minds is an interactive marketing agency which specializes in online development, growth strategies and online marketing.

We like the color orange and so should you.
 

A classic pound cake paired with seasonal fruit and a granita of fruit juices is an excellent way to end a great meal. If you really do not have time to make a cake, buy one from your local supermarket.

Pound cake In a mixer cream butter and sugar until the butter starts to lighten then slowly add cream and eggs, beating them slightly after each addition.

In a mixing bowl combine flour, vanilla, salt and baking powder and add to mixer alternately with milk. Pour into a greased and floured pan and bake at 175ºC for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until a toothpick inserted in the
center of the cake comes out clean. Turn out onto a cooling rack, once cooled slice into 3 cm square pieces.

Garden In a small bowl crush oreo cookies with the back of a large spoon to form oreo crumbs.

Granita In a large shallow plate combine apple juice and pomegranate juice, place in the freezer for 15 minutes or until the solidification process starts.

Before the mixture is frozen use a fork to shave off and crush up the the mixture forming a rough sorbet.

To assemble Place 2 pound cake squares onto each plate, arrange raspberries, blackberries and dried cranberries into 2 to 3 piles on the plates then draw a line of honey though the plate.

Remove the granita from the freezer and plate on a separate spoon. Garnish with a line of honey, microgreens and raspberry pink sugar.

Problem – A new medical office in New Jersey needed to gain market share quickly

The competitive landscape was changing; while medical marketing specialist understood the importance of B2B interaction between doctors, they were inexperienced with consumer dynamics.

Async Minds was hired to:

Develop an online web presence (Web design & development)
Identify how increase patient growth (Online marketing)
quantify the economics of such an approach (Tracking and analytics)
design a pragmatic implementation plan (Project management)

Approach – Comprehensive web penetration plan focused on search and social marketing

Async Mind’s analysis revealed that though a comprehensive online marketing plan and an extension of products and services offered (online and offline) the medical center can achieve strong customer growth in the New Jersey area.

Async Minds also focused on customer retention though email, direct mail and social marketing campaigns.

Results – Customer visits up 56% and revenue by 44%

Async Mind’s recommendation, the medical center instituted aggressive online marketing and customer retention campaigns. Financial improvement have been impressive with overall customer retention increasing by 56% and revenue increasing by 44%.

Download this case study here.
 

This new commercial for Hovis brand bread is, if nothing else, a very well-directed exercise in nostalgia celebrating 122 years of Hovis and, along with it, the history of Britain over the same period. Great stuff and lovely bread.

aKontakt makes email marketing and customer relationship building easy

aKontakt makes the management of your email newsletters easy! We have designed aKontakt around what our clients want and how our clients interact with their customers, so each feature is easy to use and has been designed to be 100% consumer orientated.
aKontakt advantages and highlights

• Best Pratice Emailing - Full text and image emails
• Rapid emailing - 1000 emails per hour
• Blog integration - Email blog posts and use them to create newsletters
• Advance contact management - Import, manage, group and highlight contacts
• WYSIWYG editing
• Safe Unsubscribing

Contact us for more information about how akontakt can help your business grow.

Async Minds is a boutique Internet development and marketing firm focused on driving business through online channels. Services include: online marketing, web development and marketing consulting among others.

http://www.asyncminds.com

Many years ago when ecommerce just started I have to admit that I was a little disappointed; there was no customization and little to no customer service. Later on when wish lists and recommended items became the norm, I started to regain some of that lost confidence in online shopping.

Yet despite advancements from the yesteryears of the wish lists, ecommerce really has not progressed much - where's the personal service - where's the integrity? If businesses want to consistently treat their customers like kings, as they do in the real world, then they must understand that communication trumps even royalty in the world of online commerce.

Communication is vital in treating customers with personalized services and gestures. Theses are a few ideas which might spark your imagination.

1. Leave a surprise before your client leaves

If a registered user falls off your checkout process don't think that he's a lost client, instead automate a discount code to be sent to his email (based on preset criteria), within minutes of him leaving your site.

2. Gather information and show you know it

Consumers provide feedback and always respond well if their ideas are being used. Track these ideas and reward them for their input on subsequent visits.

3. Practice smart emailing

Collect user data on your clients and send them weekly or bi-weekly email updates. Remember always use a good email system like aKontak which manages email blasts efficiently.

4. Consider virtual customer service

I personally think customer service tabs which open forcing you to chat with a ‘rep’ is tacky and it cheapens the overall website. However, if the service request is self-motivated this can be an excellent function.
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Building an online commerce platform is not just about maintaining an inventory online, it is also about designing an alluring online space in-which your customers shop in.

aKontak is a proprietary emailing system developed and used exclusively by clients of Async Minds.

Nicholas Lin is the marketing partner and a seasoned internet marketing professional at Async Minds.

Tuna negiri is a simple dish which is easy to eat and has a clean finish to it. It is excellent as an entrée or can be reduced in size and served as a side dish.

Tuna negiri In a mixing bowl combine minced tuna, sesame oil, soy sauce and black sesame seeds, stir gently until fully integrated.

Set aside in the refrigerator and allow to cool.

Sushi rice Over low heat mix rice vinegar, sugar and salt in a small pot until all the sugar dissolves.

Cook the Japanese sushi then transfer the cooked rice into a large bowl, slowly pour the rice vinegar mix over the rice while carefully folding the mixture into the rice using a wooden spatula.

To assemble Scoop 1 cup of sushi rice into a deep bowl, shape the sides so a perfect mound forms then sprinkle shredded dried seaweed on top of the rice.

Heap the tuna negiri onto a serving spoon, shape it to follow the curvature of the spoon then carefully push the negiri on top of the rice.

Garnish with panko and scallions and serve with soy sauce and wasabi.

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Nicholas Lin is a partner (Marketing) at Async Minds and is also a cookbook author.

Many small businesses are jumping on the search engine marketing bandwagon because it is affordable and results are almost instantaneous. But if search marketing really was so simple, why are so many businesses giving up after just a few weeks of starting a new campaign?

Based on our experience with search engine marketing over the years, we have determined 5 key reasons why most campaigns fail.

1. Not setting search marketing goals.

Setting goals not only drives your marketing personnel to achieve targets, they also set expectations and dictate budget for the campaigns.
We have seen too many search marketing campaigns run, out-of-control, over budget and under return. Set SMART goals before you start any campaign and stick with them.

2. Failure to optimize campaigns.

As the search keyword market fluctuations constantly, your marketing personnel needs to optimize bid-rates often so as to ensure optimal advertisement exposure and rankings.
Failing to do so, you might find yourself paying for impressions on the 3rd or 4th pages, which is highly undesirable.

3. Insufficient/Irrelevant keywords.

Many business owners often ask us what's the right number of keywords for their campaign; the answer is typically - upwards of a thousand keywords and as much as you need.
Because keyword generation and bidding is more of an art than an exact science, constant amendments to your keyword list is necessary to achieve optimal results.

4. Failure to track online traffic accurately.

Tracking your online traffic is one of the hallmarks for success online that many businesses overlook. Obtaining critical insight about your customer's movements allows you to not only optimize your online marketing campaigns but also provides you with direction as to how you can improve your website.
Your web host might already provide you with some basic tracking tools, but more sophisticated systems like Google AdWords, or Omniture provide deep insight.

5. Horrendous landing pages.

Last but not least if you have a poor website your visitors will not stay. So improve your site! Even simple navigational changes can make a big difference to the user experience.

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The next time you plan your search campaign be sure to plan it out carefully and set realistic expectations. And if you need some help you can always contact us, we we'd love to help.

Async Minds is a boutique Internet development and marketing firm focused on driving business through online channels. Services include: online marketing, web development and marketing consulting among others.

http://www.asyncminds.com

About 5 years ago everyone was talking about viral marketing online. With tools like facebook and you tube, viral marketing materials spread like wildfire as many large corporations seized this opportunity.

But what about the small-medium enterprises? Little, if not next to no moderate sized company has yet to achieve success with viral marketing online; why is that?

We think that there are 3 key reasons (none of which were budget related) which attributes to this phenomena; the lack of relationship maintenance, the lack of 'sticky' concepts, and the lack of knowledge of social dynamics.

1. You have to understand people, before you can start a campaign

Thorough understanding of social dynamics is of utmost importance. Feel your consumers, try to understand what they want and what they want to know. This way you can ensure your viral marketing concepts are interesting to the end user.

2. If you understand your consumer you become your consumer

If you can understand and feel your customer, then you will undoubtedly be able to create a mix of viral tactics for them. Ask yourself what you desire and how you would find information about these emotional cravings then use these information channels and create tactics to appeal them.

3. Virally marketed consumers are child-like customers

Understand that these consumers, unlike you atypical consumer, are like little children, it is much better to establish a relationship with them when their minds are still inquisitive and fresh.

What you have to realize is that though constant communication, email, networking or traditional means, your consumers to talk about your organization more and more often, enhancing the viral growth effect.

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The viral marketing landscape changes often, sometimes it is not enough to just understand fundamental concepts or overall strategy. Remember in viral marketing a small budget can go a long-long way, because like all forms of marketing it’s more of an art than an exact science.

Async Minds is a boutique internet marketing & development firm and an expert on online viral marketing for small to medium sized corporations.

www.asyncminds.com
 

A recipie right out of Nick's latest cookbook, the canned beets give an amazing color to salads, royal purple envelopes the entire salad as the colors mix with creamy cottage cheese and is accented by tart grapefruit segments.

Beet tartar

In a mixing bowl combine minced beats,grated horseradish and salt, mix until fully integrated then set aside in the refrigerator to cool, until ready to serve.

Frisee salad

Lightly toss the heads of frisée in lemon vinaigrette, add grapefruits, beets and salt and pepper then lightly fold to combine.

In a small mixing bowl combine cottage cheese with a pinch of salt and set aside in the refrigerator to cool, until ready to serve.

To assemble

Position the beet tartar at the bottom of 2 large bowls then add the cottage cheese and top with the tossed frisée salad.

Finish with additional grapefruit segments and a drizzle of olive oil.

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Nicholas Lin, Partner at async minds, is working on his first cookbook which will be published in Asia in September