'Net Features : marketing software

Reuse QR Codes by Updating Old Content

Michael Garrity — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 20:20:00 GMT

People are still using QR codes, right? Either way, Trumpia wants to usher in a QR comeback with the release of new QR code enhancements that will give users more flexibility to incorporate them into their marketing campaigns.

The Web-based solution provider for multi-channel marketing is now giving its customers the ability to change or update any of the Web content that is linked to their QR codes at any time, which will help them significantly save on printing costs (especially if they use a lot of QR codes) because they’ll be able to reuse the same code to redirect customers to new or updated content.

But that’s not all! Trumpia is also including the automatic generation of a new QR code for every mobile keyword that a marketer creates so that potential subscribers can opt-in by either scanning the QR code with their mobile devices or texting in the mobile keyword to a designated short code recipient. Since it will allow marketers to promote multiple avenues for consumer opt-ins, Trumpia expects this enhancement to noticeably increase its customers’ contact databases.

These fresh new QR code features may end up breathing some life into the once-popular marketing technique. At least, that’s Trumpia’s goal, according to CEO Ken Rhie, who says, “QR codes are underutilized by mobile marketers because the opportunities haven’t been fully explored.”

He adds, “When utilized creatively and effectively, QR code marketing opens up the door for businesses to develop innovative, never-before-seen marketing campaigns to increase brand awareness and ROI.”

The new Trumpia QR code enhancements are available immediately as part of the company’s multi-channel marketing software.

Cloud-Based Marketing Suite Comes into Vocus

Michael Garrity — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 23:00:00 GMT

Cloud-based marketing and PR software provider Vocus dropped Vocus Marketing today, a software suite for both businesses and marketers that was built to allow users to expand their businesses by combining various elements of public relations, social media and online marketing.

Among the new features of the software are a recommendation engine that provides easy-to-follow suggestions that make it possible for anyone to attract customers via search engines, generate buzz and visibility through media, engage with customers on Twitter or build a customized Facebook page, all within minutes.

Vocus Marketing will work to monitor Twitter, Facebook and other destinations on the social Web to help users attract customers through social media. The company promises that it will help "users stand out on Facebook, increase their fans, generate interest with offers and products, and turn fans into customers." It also helps by monitoring results and lets users check their success and track their increases in fans, followers and webpage visitors.

In addition, the software will alert users when a writer needs a source similar to them for a news story, so that they can create publicity and buzz and allow users to create easy news releases for the Web to put in front of customers and potential customers on search engines.

"The Internet now offers incredible opportunities for businesses to reach and influence buyers through social networks, online and through the media," says Vocus CEO Rick Rudman. "Our new software suite breaks down the final barriers to achieving business growth using online marketing -- lack of time and lack of expertise."

Rudman continued, "Our recommendation engine makes the full potential of online marketing available to millions of business owners and time-pressed marketers, all of whom can achieve huge results in just a few minutes a day."

Optify Launches Basic Edition for Small Businesses

Linc Wonham — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 13:35:00 GMT

Online marketing software provider Optify has upgraded its Professional Edition and announced a new Basic Edition focused on the needs of small and medium-sized businesses. New to both editions are an onboarding wizard and keyword auto-suggest feature.

The $99-per-month Basic Edition for smaller businesses supports a single user, provides 250 tracked keywords and includes one global search engine. It also offers page optimization, link tracking, lead scoring and tracking, social media monitoring and Twitter for Business.

For larger enterprises, Optify continues to strengthen its $499-per-month Professional Edition and includes all the features of the Basic Edition plus support for 10 users, multiple Web domains, custom reporting, multiple lead scores, phone and email support and bundled QuickStart and Success Services.

“We’re building a world-class suite of software and services for online marketing success,” says Brian Goffman, CEO and co-founder of Optify. “With these new editions, we are bringing an even higher level of capabilities to companies of all sizes – whether you’re a large in-house marketing department or a solo, SMB marketer just getting started.”

Optify Releases Real-Time B2B Marketing Software

Linc Wonham — Fri, 14 May 2010 14:40:00 GMT

Seattle software company Optify has released its Real Time Marketing suite that generates customized reports for business-to-business marketers so they can spend less time gathering data and more time closing deals. Key features of the new release include the following:

• Salesforce.com AppExchange — can score visitors, leads and opportunities by website activity and company profile including size, revenue, number of employees and other criteria.
• ExactTarget Enablement —can target specific campaigns and communications channels based on the activity and visit history of prospects.
• Enterprise Edition —can edit and create new reports, navigate data with built-in filters and quickly share results.

Optify tracks more than 25 million monthly page views with a 10-percent month-over-month growth rate, and scores thousands of leads in real time for customers including AdReady, LexisNexis, Microsoft, Marchex, SchemaLogic, Sonosite and Ubermind. The company offers multiple editions of its new software, including a free version that can be found at http://www.optify.net/sign-up/.

Comparison of Affiliate Software

Pete Prestipino — Wed, 27 May 2009 20:49:00 GMT

:: DirectTrack vs iDevAffiliate vs. PostAffiliatePro vs HasOffer ::

Affiliate programs are the most cost effective way for merchants to generate more sales and traffic. But the investment in various solutions can be cost prohibitive, which is why looking at the various vendors in the market, their features and cost at the outset is so valuable. Let's do that by comparing some popular affiliate software solutions now. Read more...

There are clearly many other affiliate software solutions on the market. You are encouraged to let us know about any others you are familiar with and your impressions of their offerings.

DirectTrack
One of the top-tier of affiliate program software vendors, DirectTrack offers the most comprehensive solution on the market. The most popular features are the private label interface (fully customizable), powerful ad serving (day parting, geo-targeting, and access to the Speedera CDN for image hosting), a wide range of creative possibilities (including email), helpful management tools like automated notifications, custom payout structures), perhaps the best accounting tools (plus a check-cutting service through an escrow account), affiliate tracking and reporting that rivals the best independent networks (real-time tracking, blended tracking, cookie or API tracking) and other important campaign management tools like threshold notifications, suppression lists. You'll need to pay extra for the power of all those additional features, but for many the benefits far outweigh the cost.

Post Affiliate Pro
Affiliate system written in PHP which contains well thought out functionality. Based on PHP-Affiliate, the system accommodates unlimited affiliates and various commission structures (CPM, CPL and CPM), offers recurring commissions, supports multiple merchants and currencies and even one of those fancy Page Peel banners. Cost ranges from $219 for a leased license to $299 for an owned license.

iDevAffiliate
One of the most popular for start-up merchants interested in starting an affiliate program, iDevAffiliate is a robust solution. Appealing to many, it works with nearly all merchants accounts (also includes a cart integration wizard), shopping carts and billing systems. Additional features include several payout options (CPA - flat rate of percentage - CPC and CPL), and well designed reporting and statistics. Pricing ranges from $99 for the standard edition to $299 for the premium edition, which includes the ability for users to create custom file names and export data to Quickbooks.

hasoffers
The newbie among affiliate software vendors, hasoffers has one thing going for it in that it is completely free for networks with a click volume of less than one million per month. A white label affiliate offering, hasoffers users can choose among a variety of layouts and customize them through CSS, leverage their own URL and the solution's 3rd-party masking capabilities, access some decent network management and affiliate management tools, and employ good accounting tools (including advertiser invoicing, Quickbooks file export, and PayPal payments).