Talk about your significant expansion: online advertising—targeting anything and everything involving social media—is expected to grow 14% next year to $51.9 billion. Email advertising will increase by 9% to $16 billion, advertising in video streams will increase by 60% to $5.6 billion, and online promotions will increase by 10% to $24 billion.

“Going green”: a concept that is spreading like wildfire (in the best sense of the phrase, of course). As people are becoming increasingly aware of the state of our environment, many are eager to pitch in and do what they can.

Thanks to our project manager and our creative director, that now includes our office here at Interactivity Marketing. No, we’re not all driving hybrid cars or using solar power, but we are making one tiny—yet important—change: recycling. Water and soda bottles, plastic cups (including fast food products), plastic silverware, paper, and boxes/cardboard are all placed into a separate container and sent over to a local recycling center. It might not seem like much to some, but hey—it all contributes to the big picture.

Here are some other ways that you can “go green”:

• Cut down your energy costs: set that thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer. Save yourself a few bucks by bundling up with a blanket in January and using those ceiling fans in August.
• The same concept applies to your clothes: use cold water whenever possible (as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water) and use a drying rack instead of your dryer.
• There are three major reasons to walk or bike instead of drive: exercise (which everyone could use more of!), gas costs (use that $30 per week toward groceries or bills), and less air pollution. If you have to drive, carpool. If you have the time to walk, do.
• Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs and dairy whenever you get the chance. In addition to the health benefits, purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy. Your body and your wallet will thank you.
• Avoid bottled water. I repeat: avoid bottled water! Purchase a re-usable water bottle (preferably aluminum rather than plastic) and fill it up with tap water whenever you need it. Your teeth will get the fluoride they need and you’ll avoid contributing to the large amounts of container waste from bottle water.
• Instead of tossing your old cell phone or computer, recycle it. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics, and is a growing environmental problem.
• Make your own non-toxic cleaning products; it’s simple to do! Baking soda, vinegar, lemon and soap will do the trick and you will save yourself money.

It should come as no surprise that companies are using blogs. A lot. In fact, blogs fill a specific niche that other forms of social media do not. It is estimated that this year just over one in three companies have a public-facing blog used for marketing (which is expected to rise to 43% by 2012). Studies have come to show that marketers perceive blogs to have the highest value in driving site traffic, brand awareness, lead generation and sales.

Interactivity Marketing is an award-winning interactive marketing agency with more than a decade of experience in engaging consumers in the digital world. We embody a group of problem solvers that that use ideas, design and marketing as tools to create meaningful messages and experiences.  We take the time to understand your problem, your market and your competitors’ offerings which allow us to create custom solutions tailored to our clients needs.

Of course, results remain at the center of what we do, so we establish clear goals early on in our relationship enabling us to monitor results and work together towards solving your marketing challenges.

We are actively seeking a local candidate with local market experience to fill the role of Director of New Business.

It is the job of the New Business Director to generate a large quantity of new business leads and prospects for the agency according to a pre-defined set of client criteria.  The new  business director generates research on prospects and assembles reports to use in attracting and inciting prospects’ interest in the agency.  Also, the new business director maintains the prospect database, makes and keeps appointments, cold calls leads and prospects, maintains and follows up on regular new business director mailings to prospects, looks for new leads, creates prospect profiles, and stays up to date on correspondence relating to all prospect contacts.

Responsibilities:

• Practices effective sales efforts resulting in a steady increase of new business.
• Wins profitable new accounts that are professional, courteous and long-term.
• Coordinates projects/jobs for smooth efficient operation of new business effort.
• Communicates effectively between the agency, clients and vendors.
• Treats vendors and prospects with respect and instills a confidence in our abilities and service.
• Actively listens and seeks to understand clients’ needs and then convinces them the agency can meet those needs
• Uses client contact software to maintain detailed digital files documenting all contacts with each prospect including mailings, calls, appointments and correspondence; records all research, reports, sales information or other materials used or created for use in selling the agency to each prospect.
• Keeps timely contact with prospects through regular emails, mailings, phone calls and appointments.
• Coordinates to schedule prospecting emails/newsletters, ads and other tactics.
• Keeps thorough records on all prospects so others can handle new business development responsibilities during the developer’s absence.
• Maintains a new business prospect database including primary, secondary and general target prospects; records product/market information about each prospect; and regularly updates all contact information.
• Follows up on all prospect meetings with letters/agency literature.
• In preparation for future growth, creates, refines and documents the entire sales system in a manner that will easily allow training of another new business developer. Includes each minute process including scripting of sales calls/meetings, proper attire, software requirements, presentation strategies, etc.
• Looks for new business leads by building contacts with selected industry trade publications and organizations, business and civic groups; maintains Prospect Profiles for agency prin

Apple Inc.’s (Nasdaq: AAPL - News) new iPhone might perform a simple task much better than its predecessors: hold a call.

Among the most dramatic design changes in the latest iteration of Apple’s smartphone, the iPhone 4, is a stainless-steel antenna that wraps around its sides. The new antenna design constitutes a radical departure from previous iPhone models, which buried the antenna under the phone’s shell.

The new phone, which goes on sale June 24, puts out more radio-frequency radiation than its predecessor, according to Federal Communications Commission documents. That, along with the new antenna, is expected to give the iPhone 4 greater signal strength and reliability.

Apple hopes the new design will counter one of the most common complaints consumers have with the iPhone: dropped calls.  Read More

If you’ve ever wondered what all the buzz over the new iPhone was about, head over to apple.com to check out the features. With new features like FaceTime, it’s no wonder why so many are talking about it. The iPhone 4 lets you make video conferencing calls on a mobile phone, something that was only an idea a few years ago. But then again, the idea of accessing the internet through a mobile phone was once only an idea as well.

Don’t want to lug your camera, camcorder, and phone all over the place when you’re on vacation? No worries. The new iPhone includes a 5mp camera and is able to record and edit movies in 720p high definition. All in a package that is 9.3mm thin, right there in your pocket.

If you’re worried about your phone breaking if you drop it, worry no longer. The new phone comes with strengthened glass that is more scratch resistant, and a stainless steel band to secure the phone’s parts which also serves as the phone’s antenna.

Problems with multitasking or running multiple apps with your old iPhone? Problem solved. Apple has answered this with the Apple A4 mobile processor. The new processor is designed to answer many of the previous iPhone’s problems, all while claiming not to reduce battery life. The new operating system lets you run, say, a GPS app while listening to music or running other apps, all without reducing the phone’s performance. A more powerful phone with a more power efficient processor is what iPhone patrons asked for, and it’s exactly what they got.

Need some information? Need some help managing your money, or anything else during your day? There’s an app for that. Literally. With over 200,000 at Apple’s app store, you shouldn’t have trouble finding what you need. Some of which are even free. The phone also includes a program called Genius, which suggests apps to you based on the ones that you already have.

Those aren’t the only features that made the phone a hit. With the web and unparalleled video & audio connectivity and your fingertips, Apple’s improvement to a proven product is sure to be a hit with consumers.

What does this mean for marketing your products and services? With more and more people accessing the web by mobile phone, the greater the shift of the venue where people will get their information. The Web is a growing opportunity and vast information source. How will your business be found on the Web? Contact Interactivity Marketing and let us help you create your opportunity today.

Not ready to redesign your website just yet?  Well that isn’t a reason not to hire an agency, it’s actually just the opposite.  When you’re not looking for an immediate redesign you can work with the agency to build a long term relationship that will help both you both understand each other’s needs better.

To read the entire article click here.

For years perfume companies have used scent samples in magazines and newspapers to entice consumers.  Bloom, a grocery store chain part of the North Carolina based Food Lion group, hopes to use scent to lure consumers to their stores.  The company has placed a billboard on NC Hwy 150 in Mooresville that emits the scent of black pepper and charcoal to promote the company’s new line of beef.

To read more about Bloom’s sign and scented marketing click here to see the entire article.

It is hard to turn on the news or look at any news websites right now and not be met with some mention of BP and the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  Currently the after effects from the spill are being felt all along the Gulf Coast with fishing, a major source of income for many Gulf residents, at a standstill.  The fall-out from the spill has hit social media networks.  The Twitter account @BPGolbalPR was created about a week ago and already has over 71,000 followers jumping over 10,000 followers from yesterday and more joining every day.  This account is not the official account of BP.  It is an account created anonymously that has been adding some dark, satirical commentary to the terrible situation in the Gulf of Mexico.

In contrast to the fake Twitter account, BP’s official Twitter account @BP­_America has only about 7,500 followers.   The creator of the @BPGlobalBR account responds to media inquiries as “Terry.”  In a recent interview with Mashable.com “Terry” claimed to work for BP Global while BP Global has told CNN they are not behind the account.  During the interview he never broke character and has refused to talk to on the phone.

Recent posts by @BPGlobalPR include:

• “If Top Kill doesn’t work, we’re just gonna toss a giant “Get Well Soon” card into the gulf and hope for the best.”
• “The LA Times is reporting that Top Kill is working to plug the leak! Looks like our job here is done. See ya later gulf!”
• “We are dedicated to helping the wildlife in the gulf. Any birds that need cleaning must report to 287 Quartemain St, Baton Rouge, LA 70801.”

While most people have found the tweets to be entertaining, some followers have been unable to see the humor in the tweets and have fired back at the account.  The fake account has the BP logo in black with something spilling off the logo.  So far there has been no move by BP to have satirical account removed.