Think about it… do you go anywhere without your mobile phone? Probably not, especially for the younger generations. Mobile phones are a great way to reach your audience. They are so powerful because you have the ability to send different types of messages, and images and videos allow you to have achieve a more dynamic message.

Almost any business can utilize MMS marketing. It’s a great way to send promotions or sales to customers. You can set up “exclusive lists” of customers who receive MMS sales. It is a direct link to your customers.

Today is the day of my book launch!! Marketing in the Moment: The Practical Guide to using Web 3.0 Marketing to Reach Your Customers First serves as a complete, practical, no-fluff desk reference to next generation online and mobile marketing. Check out my book launch site.

Companies of all sizes can learn to successfully utilize the web, mobile marketing, and social media. I wrote this book to help marketers, entrepreneurs and managers move beyond hype and high-level strategy to proven tactics and successful ground-level execution. Each chapter lists an explanation of the topic, the opportunities, specific methods to implement, a case-study, to-do list, as well as tips for success.

Do you know Web 3.0? Are you ready for the next wave of online marketing? You need to read Marketing in the Moment and take advantage of Special Launch Day Bonuses! If you purchase today, you will receive:

• Videos on: The Top 10 Guerrilla Marketing Tactics by Legendary Marketer Jay Conrad Levinson
• Videos on: 31 Continuity/Membership Model Ideas from Ryan Lee
• E-course on: The 15 Strategies To Get You Inspired and In Action NOW by Matthew Ferry
• Whitepaper on my top strategy for creating massive content fast

There are even more amazing bonuses available if you purchase multiple copies. To learn more about the book, features, and bonuses, check out my book launch site.

With the onset of the new iPhone4, I figured I would post about some of the most popular iPhone apps to keep you up to date! Here are the Top 3 Most Popular Apps according to Apple.com.

1. Soda Red. This app acts as a social data mining website that brings all your social network/media together in one place so that you don’t have to be logging in and out of each one.
2. Bubbly Tune. An action puzzle game.
3. Blood Alcohol Content Calculator. Speaks for itself! Might come in handy sometimes…

Clearly, the “fun” apps are the most popular, but we can’t forget about the business side of apps. There are tons of different business app options, there are ones that offer business intelligence, collaboration, documents, organization and there is even one for salesforce.com (my favorite!). Check out http://www.apple.com/iphone/business/apps/ to check out specific business apps.

Over the past two years, the development of different apps has been growing at an extraordinary rate. Even more significant is the use of the apps, which is primarily for many of the Web 3.0 sites and marketing tactics we have discussed.

Rather than only talking about the traditional apps in your marketing, there are three totally different ways of looking at apps. First, think of the apps for general business use. These apps will make your job easier, create more revenue, and make communication with your prospects and clients easier. Second, think of using apps in your Web 3.0 marketing. These are the apps that can be used for mobile marketing, in targeted forums, in microblogging, and the like. Third, think of apps as a possible lead generator or profit house. Entire businesses are being made solely for developing, selling, or giving away apps.

Selling apps is one way to generate revenue. But giving away apps is an even more powerful way. As we’ve discussed before, one of the best marketing tactics for generating leads is to offer free stuff, whether it’s a whitepaper, a CD/DVD, or an app. Give first, and it will all work out in the end!

I personally use apps to make my businesses run more smoothly, to keep me productive, and to have some fun along the way.

When I refer to mobile marketing, I’m referring to marketing on a mobile device, such as  receiving a text message from a vendor with a promotional code, buying products right from your blackberry or picture messages that depict a product you may be interested in.

There is also a second, more traditional definition of mobile marketing which describes marketing in a moving fashion. An example of this would be moving billboards. Travel to any major city and you will see many examples of both types of mobile marketing. Just note that, in going forward, we’re solely talking about mobile devices. Ok, good. We have that cleared up.
There are a variety of different marketing methods with mobile phones, the most popular being SMS, or short messaging service (text messages). Other forms of mobile marketing include MMS, in-game marketing and mobile Web marketing.

Without further awe due,  our strategic recap of the year and predictions for 2010:

Notable Trends from 2009:

• Decline in consumer confidence
• Decline in purchasing power
• It became much harder to sell anything above $100
• Customer service requests skyrocketed
• A crazy real estate market (and for the people that sell products/services into this market)
• Webinar sales dropped (anything over $497)
• High end coaching sales dropped (anything over $497/month)
• Membership site sales/continuity sales flourished
• Attendance at physical seminars dropped
• Attendance at virtual seminars climbed

Everything continued to move to the web -– we are becoming more and more mobile and virtual

One of my favorite quotes is as follows:

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. ~ Albert Einstein

The way I see it, it’s a miracle that we all survived in 2009 with our businesses still in-tact.  The key I want to point out however is the last point on the 2009 trends —  everything continued to move to the web.   My grandpa is on facebook and twitter (which I think is amazing), Pizza companies are letting people order their food online (small mom and pop shops, not just the big ones), customer service is going virtual, events are moving from in person to over the web.   This is a trend that cannot be ignored and one that is showing no signs of stopping.   Many companies are now making it mandatory for their employees to take a class on social media and beyond!  The good thing is:  you’ve got us on your side. We stay on top of the trends so you don’t have to keep up with the ever changing movements.

Lets move onto some of my strategic predictions for 2010:

• Blogging is coming back baby!  Yes, that’s right.  Consumers and businesses are flocking to blogs for great content.   Google also continues to index sites much higher that have blogs.  Ill give you an example:  Google  blackberry marketing strategy.   Our blog is #4 in the search engines out of almost a million sites, from a single blog post.  Yes we worked our magic a bit as well, but this started with a blog post
• Continuity is the name of the game — we’re encouraging ALL of our clients to have at least one stream of passive revenue from the web.   We want to make sure you have consistency from month to month, rather then one amazing month and one thats just at par. We like to keep our price point below $100 a month and above $30.
• We’ll need to go more virtual for customer service.  Consumers are still going to be demanding.  So, lets meet that demand with virtual support, and FAQ areas, and various how to videos to alleviate phone calls.
• Brand Transparency and Authenticity is critical.  Since our clients are among the elite of the elite, this is normally never an issue. However, now more than ever its crucial to have a clean brand across the boards and to be authentic in your communication
• Social Media will change a bit. There is going to be a facebook revolt — and we’re ready for it.  There are just too many people on facebook with too much personal information.  For the clients that most of you are after, more private social sites like Affluence.com will serve us better
• Virtual event sales will rise drastically — these are the live video events and events on virtual worlds like SecondLife.com
• Mobile marketing will start to become mainstream.  This is the hottest marketing trend out there right now.
• Physical book sales will decline — virtual sales will flourish.  Having your book available on the Kindle for example is necessary
• It will be an up-and down economy — so fasten your seat belt for a fun ride!

Wishing you a healthy and prosperous 2010,

Michael Tasner, and the Taz Solutions, Inc. Team

While I do love my blackberry for email and speed, I continue to wish I had an Iphone as well.  But not yet as I have Verizon Wirless

Here are three reasons I want an Iphone:

• I’m more of a high-tech person
• Tens of thousands of applications to run my business with (and personal life)
• They are setting the bar for mobile marketing

If you’re an avid reader of this blog you know that I’m a huge fan of mobile marketing.

I urge you to start learning more about Iphones and the different applications they offer and how they could impact your business.

Some businesses would benefit from having an application, some would benefit from using the different applications.

Long story short — mobile is here to stay and growing each and everyday

While listening to this presentation, I could hear some “typing” going
on. The assumption was made that people were taking notes on Mr. Chamber’s presentation.
When I looked around it was quite the opposite. Audience members were glued
to their cell phones — to my left was a CFO of a small paper company, to my
right was another online marketing expert, both of which were on their mobile
phones.

After leaving the presentation, I decided to do some “people watching”
for the next hour in the lobby. What I noticed was fascinating. 8 out of every
10 people had a mobile device that was connected to the internet. They would
be checking emails, surfing the web, even purchasing products!

Why not use a laptop I proposed to several of the participants in my underground
study? “A blackberry is smaller to carry, has a longer battery life and
is easier to use.” How could I argue with that? I was sporting my brand
new Sony Vaio with a 16 inch monitor. I had already run out of batteries twice
while at the conference rendering it useless until I could find an outlet.

The two most popular mobile phones with an easy connection to the web are blackberrys
and Iphones. Both of which continue to put out different “apps” that
help make your life more efficient (and fun) in the little down you may get.

The notion that busy executives are the only ones carrying blackberrys no longer
exists. People from all walks of life are carrying these devices from teens
to senior citizens, the trend quite frankly is addicting. While the blackberry
is more noted for the older crowd, Apple and its recent release of the Iphone
have targeted the younger generation. The Iphone is three devices in one; a
phone, an ipod and an internet device. Sales have been strong and continue to
rise.

So what does this mean to you and your business?

Embrace the revolution that consumers and prospects will be finding your web
site on their mobile phone, browsing your site and hopefully purchasing products!

It’s noted that more than 89% of the web sites on the internet today are not
mobile compliant and will look “funky” when attempted to be viewed
from a mobile device.

Grab a blackberry, or an Iphone and visit your web site to get a first glance
at how your site appears. Does your site contain flash that will not come up?
Is it too wide, do the fonts not show up correctly? Those are just a few of
the elements you want to look for.

The key to making your web site compliant is to have your site coded in plain
HTML site with clear semantic web site code and navigation structure.

Most businesses have grown accustomed to the notion that “flashier is better”,
in this case, the plain janes web site on the internet will rule the day!

While listening to this presentation, I could hear some “typing” going
on. The assumption was made that people were taking notes on Mr. Chamber’s presentation.
When I looked around it was quite the opposite. Audience members were glued
to their cell phones — to my left was a CFO of a small paper company, to my
right was another online marketing expert, both of which were on their mobile
phones.

After leaving the presentation, I decided to do some “people watching”
for the next hour in the lobby. What I noticed was fascinating. 8 out of every
10 people had a mobile device that was connected to the internet. They would
be checking emails, surfing the web, even purchasing products!

Why not use a laptop I proposed to several of the participants in my underground
study? “A blackberry is smaller to carry, has a longer battery life and
is easier to use.” How could I argue with that? I was sporting my brand
new Sony Vaio with a 16 inch monitor. I had already run out of batteries twice
while at the conference rendering it useless until I could find an outlet.

The two most popular mobile phones with an easy connection to the web are blackberrys
and Iphones. Both of which continue to put out different “apps” that
help make your life more efficient (and fun) in the little down you may get.

The notion that busy executives are the only ones carrying blackberrys no longer
exists. People from all walks of life are carrying these devices from teens
to senior citizens, the trend quite frankly is addicting. While the blackberry
is more noted for the older crowd, Apple and its recent release of the Iphone
have targeted the younger generation. The Iphone is three devices in one; a
phone, an ipod and an internet device. Sales have been strong and continue to
rise.

So what does this mean to you and your business?

Embrace the revolution that consumers and prospects will be finding your web
site on their mobile phone, browsing your site and hopefully purchasing products!

It’s noted that more than 89% of the web sites on the internet today are not
mobile compliant and will look “funky” when attempted to be viewed
from a mobile device.

Grab a blackberry, or an Iphone and visit your web site to get a first glance
at how your site appears. Does your site contain flash that will not come up?
Is it too wide, do the fonts not show up correctly? Those are just a few of
the elements you want to look for.

The key to making your web site compliant is to have your site coded in plain
HTML site with clear semantic web site code and navigation structure.

Most businesses have grown accustomed to the notion that “flashier is better”,
in this case, the plain janes web site on the internet will rule the day!