Why Hire an Internet Consultant in 2012

On every street corner there are 10 social media experts. Toss a dart into any local bar crowd and you are likely to find a 23 year old IT consultant. They all talk a great game of techno babble. But, how do you sort through this mirage of hooey? Start by asking yourself why you need an internet consultant.

Here are 10 reasons why you need to hire an internet consultant.

1.Web trends and topics change every day. There is no way you can keep up and run your own business. So, set up a monthly tech call with your internet consultant to keep up with the tools and trends.

2.A Facebook page is not a social media strategy. Perhaps your kid is a Facebook genius. Great for you. But, true social media strategies that bring in new customers are most often 5-10 tiered systems for success. Most business owners need help. An internet consultant can help.

3.A good internet consultant is like an apple tree. Pick and eat what you want. Let the rest fall to ground. You do not have to act on every idea. If that ticks them off, find a new internet consultant.

4.What plan do you have in place to retain your current customers using your website? If the answer is none, you need an internet consultant to help you devise a plan for success.

5.Tablet use is taking over the world. It is expected that every white collar household will have at least one tablet device by 2015. An internet consultant will help you plan and take advantage of this trend.

6.Your old website needs help. There are more than 25 things an internet consultant should be able to help you identify on your website that are wrong. If you think you site is great...Think again.

7.Each month you should be reviewing your SEO ranking. Great, so your SEO company is doing this for you? Watch out. Your SEO company will always paint you a pretty picture. Hire a third party internet consultant to give you a second opinion.  

8.What plan do you have in place to draw in new customers using your website? If the answer is none, you need an internet consultant to help you devise a plan for success.

9.What did you do today on your Twitter account to draw recognition to your company or point people to your website? Did it work? If not, an internet consultant can help you better use hash tags and user grouping to draw in a bigger and better crowd.  

10.Return on Investment. What measure do you place on the ROI of your total internet strategy? An internet consultant will help you monitor your success online each month.

Make a list of four things from above where you feel you are weak. Don’t just focus on social media. Then, set out to find a quality internet consultant with a deep client base. Choosing an internet consultant is actually very easy. Ask them for 10 examples of happy clients. Ask for permission to email those clients. Then, ask them to prove to you how long they have been an internet consultant. Proof. Recent college grads are not qualified to be an internet consultant. Don’t be fooled.

Ryan Dohrn has been an internet consultant since 1996. He has worked for three major media companies in marketing and online promotions and now runs one of the premier internet consulting firms in the USA. His work as an internet consultant has expanded to Australia, Spain and Holland as well. He can be reached at ryan@ryandohrn.com or www.ryandohrn.com

Google’s Chrome Browser, Catching Publishers Off Guard?

Many publishers are just now realizing that Google’s web browser, Chrome, has nearly taken over the marketplace. Many are just now discovering this because their readers are switching to Chrome and portions of the their websites are not working in Chrome. With Chrome usage at an all time high, your web readers might be missing out on features of your website or they might not be seeing portions of your site at all.

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Google Chrome is a web browser developed by Google and was first released as a beta version for Microsoft Windows in late  2008. The name is derived from the graphical user interface frame, or "chrome", of web browsers. According to StatCounter, as of November 2011, Chrome is the second most widely used browser with 25.69% worldwide usage share of web browsers.

In nearly all tested cases, websites work just fine with Chrome, but there are some exceptions. If you utilize a custom template system or a custom built content management system, you need to check each page of your website in Chrome. If you run Joomla or Drupal you need to check all your third party plug-ins for compatibility. In addition, you need to triple-check how your meta data and other widgets operate from your website in the Chrome browser.

All in all, usability studies need to be an important part of your Internet strategy for 2012. Online reader retention must be placed at a much higher priority as we all begin to shift the focus of our business offerings. It is always interesting to hear publishers say that that they have an Internet strategy in place and then they proceed to talk about their Facebook page. 2005 is calling and they want you back.

Publishers that are raking in profits form the web have a five-tier web plan for success. Not sure what five points are the most critical? Reach out to this author for more information.

Ryan Dohrn has been consulting on Internet issues since 1996. As an internet consultant he has a passion and focus on niche magazines. Ryan is also a business speaker that services clients around the globe. Your first call with Ryan is always free. Call 803-867-3769 or email Ryan@RyanDohrn.com.

Press Release: Media Expert Ryan Dohrn to Speak at International Conference

Print and digital media expert Ryan Dohrn is making the long flight to Australia to share his expertise with an esteemed international audience. Sydney, Australia is a considerable jump from Ryan’s home in South Carolina, but he’s anxious to share his knowledge. “My sons want me to bring back a kangaroo, but they’ll have to settle for whatever will fit in my suitcase,” smiles Ryan. Magazine publishing professionals from around the world are gathering at an international conference during “Magazine Week Conference” in November. The tag line for the event is “Celebrating the best in print and digital.”

True to the “best” part of their slogan, this illustrious event has invited Ryan Dohrn of Brain Swell Media to be a keynote speaker. Noted for his expertise and dynamic practices, Ryan is indeed the best in the industry. He has been on the cutting edge of print and digital media for over 15 years, consulting with a myriad of publications as well as overseeing more than 3,000 website builds. Quite an accomplishment from someone whose background includes winning an Emmy in television production!

“I’m really honored to present at this highly acclaimed conference — plus I get to go to Australia! They’ve asked for two topics, so I’ve chosen subjects that directly impact each attendee and their business. As an industry, we need to focus on what will propel us forward in a successful and money-making fashion.”

Ryan’s first topic is Reinvigorating the Sales Process. “Revenue growth in today’s economy is mission-critical,” Ryan reports. “It’s the biggest challenge for any publisher, large or small.” In his presentation, Ryan will identify the missing elements in current sales practices, new ideas on targeting media revenue opportunities, and how to restructure and reinvigorate sales strategies and processes.

Ryan’s second presentation targets marketing: Developing An Effective Marketing Strategy. “Publishers have an array of marketing channels available to them, which makes choosing the right marketing strategies for the right audience difficult,” reflects Ryan. “Channels such as e-newsletters are an accepted communication method, but there is always room for improvement to deliver better return on investment.” This session covers techniques to build a solid subscription base, and how to engender loyalty among readers and advertisers.

Australia is a long hop away, but no worries, mate! The timing is perfect for contacting Ryan — he’s just launched his virtual sales training academy where magazine sales reps can learn about cutting edge media sales techniques. You can glean valuable information and advice from Ryan by calling him directly at 803.867.3769 extension 5. His informative website is www.BrainSwellMedia.com. Ryan will be gone from November 7 to return on November 15, but he’ll be answering emails and will be in constant contact with his office during that time.

3 e-Newsletter Revenue Ideas

There is big money to be made in the eNewsletter space yet so many publishers focus on one simple eNewsletter that is editorial driven. While that is fine and should be sold, there are so many more ideas to drive revenue from eNewsletters.  

Product Specific eNewsletters. Create a monthly product sector specific eNewsletter that reaches your niche. This is not driven or even created by your editorial team. For example an eNewsletter all about saddles or boats. Get specific. Then, create 6-8 slots for advertisers to fit into these slots. In the B2b space focus on industry specific topics like legal, technology or professional services.

Create a monthly topics eNewsletter. Each month a B2b pub I work with has a legal update and technology update. Each update contains a nice tight paragraph of information specific to their readers and prepared by an advertiser/expert. See very often your advertisers are some of your best experts. They get a mention and an ad at the bottom. Sell this out fast. Line up your experts. Set a template and make the abide by that template. They MUST follow your rules or they loose the privilege.

Video eNewsletters. Are you tired of text? Many users are too. So, record three videos and include links and descriptions in your eNewsletters.

Keep these simple and often interview an advertiser. Two reasons why:
(1) Have them share how happy they are with your publication, and
(2) Have the expert answer a question sent into the publication. This serves 2 purposes.

So, with all of these ideas brewing the next question I always get is…price? The answer to this is pretty simple… know your niche. e-Lists of lawyers rent for $200 per thousand. Wine enthusiasts pay $50-$80 per thousand. Horse enthusiasts pay $40-$50 per thousand. Weigh your niche and try the price out. If no one is buying, then adjust.

Ryan Dohrn is CEO of Brain Swell Media and works each month with over 50 publishers large and small and help them make money from the internet space! Ryan offers all new members a free 30 minute consultation on any internet topic. Email clientcare@brainswellmedia.com to set it up and start making money.

Q&A Video: Should Print Be a Part of My Marketing Strategy?

QUESTION: "I am putting together my marketing plan for next year, I'm just curious of your thoughts and opinions on how important is print advertising to my overall campaign?" - Steve, Thousand Oaks, CA

ANSWER: Well, you know what's very interesting is that you may think that as the internet consultant that I might tell you that print is dead. But, I'm here to tell you that, I believe it is NOT. As a matter of fact, there was a Dynamic Logic study done just last year that actually tells us that if you run in more medias than one, you can actually increase your ROI from your advertising campaigns by as much as 35%.
So, what does that mean? If you're putting together a strategic marketing plan for next year, you'll want to include social media, internet advertising, and if you're in a local market, you might want to include TV and radio advertising. But you definitely want to heavily consider print advertising.

Why is that? Well the Magazine Publishers of America (MPA) has a handbook they put out each year and actually has some great statistics in it. Did you know that magazine readers are actually the largest contributor to social networks. Magazine readers and magazine ads outperform primetime television almost 6-1 in some cases. Magazines are a vital part of most large scale marketing plans.

So don't ever think to yourself, "Wow, I'm going to stick all my eggs in just the Internet basket." The Internet is great. But if you really want to see some great return on your investment, you need to stick with some traditional advertising media like the television and magazines.

I hope this was a good answer to your question. I know it's not what you expected from the Internet guy. I am Internet consultant, Ryan Dohrn, happy to answer your questions or be involved in the strategic marketing or Internet strategy planning for your company.

Thanks so much for taking a listen to this question. Maybe you have questions you'd like to send in, I'll be happy to answer them for you. You may send your questions to: ryan@brainswellmedia.com. Remember, I'd love to be your Internet consultant and help your company. Our first 30 minutes together is absolutely my gift to you, FREE OF CHARGE.