Save the Date! 2012 IMA Conference & Awards September 20-22, 2012 Aria Resort & Casino CityCenter, Las Vegas The 2011 IMA Awards held this past September at CityCenter in Las Vegas was a landmark for the Internet marketing industry. This year, we're raising the bar to make the event even more memorable and valuable! The 2012 IMA Conference & Awards will be a three-day event, again in the breathtaking environment of CityCenter, featuring distinguished keynote speakers on vital Internet marketing topics, a series of breakout sessions presented by the industry's leading experts, and the IMA Awards dinner. The Internet Marketing Association (IMA) is one of the fastest growing professional organizations in the world. Its mission is to provide a unique knowledge-sharing platform where proven Internet marketing strategies are demonstrated and shared in to increase each member's value to their industry and their organization. Don't miss this extraordinary event focused on innovation, education and recognition. Sincerely, Sinan Kanatsiz Chairman / CEO KCOMM

Kanatsiz Interviewed on Leveraging Facebook for Businesses Source: The Business Journals The Facebook phenomenon, started by a group of Harvard University students in a dorm room in 2004, has evolved into a social media juggernaut. Facebook Inc. now has more than 800 million users, 3,000 employees and anticipated 2011 revenue of $4.3 billion. The company is expected to go public in early 2012, earning as much as $10 billion from stock sales - putting the company's value at $100 billion - in what promises to be the biggest Internet offering in more than 10 years. "Facebook has become the largest marketing medium in the history of the existence of the universe," said Sinan Kanatsiz, chairman and founder of the Internet Marketing Association in San Clemente, Calif. "Any business that doesn't have a social media strategy including Facebook doesn't want to market themselves to 850 million people. And when you can do it for free, how can you not want to do it?" Businesses from small mom-and-pops to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT), the world's largest retailer, use Facebook as a branding and marketing tool. It's a major way to direct customers to a product or service. "With Facebook, you're listening to your customers' wants and needs… What's great is businesses of all sizes can use it," said Elizabeth Diana, communications manager at Facebook Inc. of Menlo Park, Calif. "It's their essential branding station." Click here to continue reading this article.

Technology and Business Development Technological advances have always driven business practice innovation. But as the pace of change continues to gallop forward, it can sometimes seem that businesses are either constantly playing catch-up or hamstrung by the "analysis paralysis" that sets in when comparing current technology with the "better" stuff that experience has proven will become available exactly four-and-a-half days after taking delivery on new but instantly outdated equipment. Certain business sectors like programming, graphics and other technology-driven enterprises must stay on the cutting edge. But other businesses usually walk the tightrope of want or need, spend or save, now or later. Obviously, all businesses must stay relatively current. It's hard to imagine a business competing successfully in 2012 while still using cell phones the size of scented candles, fax machines that use thermal paper, beepers and VCRs. On the other hand, getting too far ahead of the tech capabilities typical for a business sector can be problematic, too. Program differences with vendors and clients, constant employee re-training, spending scarce capital funds on something that seems great but doesn't quite work (remember the Newton and the analog satellite phone?) can all cause more problems than they could possibly solve. Also, unlike in the past, there is the "cool" factor. Keeping up with Joneses isn't just about the car and the lawn anymore; it's about the phone and the tablet. This emotional element can cause mistakes, specifically overspending on options and items that are not really needed ("Honey, the 60-inch TV isn't enough. We need the 78-inch one for the true experience!" Sound familiar?) Taking a long-term strategic approach to technology is the most effective way for a business to manage this process. While every business is different, there are certain concepts and ideas that should apply to any number of enterprises, such as: It's not necessary to buy the absolutely latest gadget; a product or program's second generation is usually cheaper, easier to use and far less "buggy." Consult with other companies in your field to find out what works and what doesn't. Before making a major change, make sure that both your clients and vendors will be compatible. One area in which you cannot afford to skimp or be behind the curve is security; make sure to have the latest virus protection, anti-spam products, GRC suites, etc., installed and update them frequently. Create a long-term budget and tailor your tech strategy to your business so you don't overspend and end up with hardware and software you will never use. Keep your website fresh, up to date and capable of handling new innovations; that being said, understand that your company will probably need to build a new site every few years anyway. We hope this overview has been helpful in navigating the jungle of technology choices.

Facebook Timeline for Brands Coming Later This Month Source: Mashable Facebook is planning to make its new Timeline format available for brands later this month, according to a report. Citing "executives briefed on Facebook's plans," Ad Age is reporting that Facebook will use its Feb. 29 conference for marketers in New York to announce the initiative. Facebook will start in beta with a "handful of brands," says Ad Age. Facebook announced Timeline, its photo-heavy new format for profile pages, in September. Since that time, the company has been vague about if and when Timeline would be rolled out for brands. In December, when the social network rolled out Timeline for all users, a rep told Mashable that brands were not part of that announcement. Meanwhile, since Facebook announced Timeline, Twitter and Google+ have both rolled out brand pages. Opening up Timeline gives brands some new options for self-expression on Facebook. In addition to outlining their corporate history (something Lexus already tried via a Facebook app), they can also take advantage of Gestures that go beyond Liking. The design also employs a large image at the top of the Page, which could make the individual Pages more distinctive that the old template. Back in September, we asked some top digital firms to imagine how branded Timeline Pages would look. Click here to see designs.

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