We thought this was interesting. The national survey conducted by Cision and Don Bates of The George Washington University’s Master’s Degree Program in Strategic Public Relations found that 89% of journalists are using blogs, 65% are using Social Networking Sites, and 52% are using Microblogging Sites to find newsworthy content. Reliability, however, is one of the biggest concerns with these online sources. Read the full report.

Significant changes in the way consumers prefer to receive information, coupled with an unpredictable economy, have many franchises reexamining their traditional marketing communication plans to gauge effectiveness. Both retaining Clients and attracting new Clients requires applying the latest digital tools to maximize leads received and covert them to sales. To address these goals, Sport Clips, the nation’s leading men’s and boys’ hair care franchise, has partnered with ElementsLocal™ to maximize their online solutions specifically designed for franchises. Using the latest technology, ElementsLocal™ is providing Sport Clips unparalleled abilities to market online and communicate with their existing clients through email and text messages.

Sport Clips searched the existing product offerings for a solution that would support and encourage loyalty among existing Clients and offer innovative ways to communicate with and attract new Clients. After this search, Sport Clips signed on with ElementsLocal™ to significantly improve its online presence and develop lasting relationships with Clients through local web sites and creative email and SMS campaign strategies.

With 90% of online users conducting local online searches

Don’t forget about the Webinar coming up this Friday, November 20 @ 10 am (PDT). Learn from your Franchise Online Marketing experts how to increase local leads, improve local search engine rankings, and ensure brand consistency. Register now: http://elementslocal.com/register

This article was published in Franchising World Magazine in August 2009. http://www.franchise.org/Franchise-Industry-News-Detail.aspx?id=47280

In a world where technology has infiltrated the very fabric of our social culture, consumers have evolved to be human spam filters, adept at tuning out the constant messaging coming in from TV and banner ads, billboards, email newsletters and the like. With marketers now realizing that the age-old premise, “if you display it, they will see it,” may no longer be viable, the current buzz throughout board rooms, marketing forums and coffee houses is whether or not Mobile Internet Marketing is the next effective and practical progression in the marketing mix.

As companies question the effectiveness of traditional “outbound” marketing initiatives like broadcast and billboard advertisements, which push a message out far and wide, hoping that it resonates with a few individuals, they’re putting more emphasis on “inbound” marketing strategies that organically attract potential and already interested customers through search engines, blogs and social media. This has spurred franchises to take a closer look at making their messaging more local. Franchisors have moved from national level marketing, to regional, and local, by way of localizing online presence for every franchisee, and are now faced with Mobile Internet Marketing and wondering where it fits and what benefits it offers.

ELEMENTS Launches The Continental Group on ElementsConnect™ for website management.

San Luis Obispo, CA – August, 21 2008. Elements, an interactive agency, today announced that they have launched The Continental Group website on ElementsConnect. ElementsConnect is an online marketing and website management platform .

“The primary objective of the new website was enhancement of brand messaging, interactivity and design.  ELEMENTS provides real value through a combination of beautiful designs, great customer service and innovative technology solutions,” said Chip Sollins, Executive Vice President Marketing and Business Development at The Continental Group.  “We use their ElementsConnect software system to manage our website and have been very pleased with the ease of use and the functionality offered by the system.”

“The Continental Group is recognized as the leader in Community Association Management, we are excited to partner with Continental in providing online marketing and website management services,” said Michael Boyer, Vice President and CMO of ELEMENTS.

About ELEMENTS – www.elementsinc.net

ELEMENTS is an interactive marketing agency, we design and develop online business products and corporate web sites.  Our online business products provide industry-specific platforms, which enable our clients to harness the power of the internet to streamline their business. Our world-class interactive services provide marketing solutions for mid-market companies. From conception and strategy to design and implementation, we combine world-class creative services and proven technological expertise with forward-thinking business strategies. We deliver successful and elegant solutions for deployment of enterprise web initiatives.

About The Continental Group – www.thecontinentalgroupinc.com

Founded in 1990, The Continental Group’s corporate headquarters is located in Hollywood, Fla.  It also has regional offices in Kendall, West Palm Beach and Orlando.  The company is the largest manager of multifamily rental communities and condominium and homeowner associations in the state, and one of South Florida’s leading private sector employers.  Guided by its Florida focus, the company has grown to approximately $300 million in annual business with 6,200 full-time employees.  Today, The Continental Group manages and maintains more than 1,300 condominium and homeowner associations in Florida, representing over 310,000 residential units.

Editorial Contact
Michael Boyer
(805) 547-1160 x208
mboyer@elementsinc.net