Search engine marketing is big business. According to the survey organized by the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO) , marketers in Canada and the U.S. spent $5.75 billion on all forms of SEM last year. This includes paid search ads and search engine optimization (SEO) of Web pages for better “organic” search results rankings; paid inclusion—advertisers who paid a fee to have their pages indexed by search engines, without ranking guarantees—and the money spent on search-related technology and outsourced services. Other findings of the survey are: Of the $5.75 billion, about 83% or $4.7 billion went for sponsored search

Postcards can be valuable marketing tools for any business. Here are a few ideas that will help you get the most from your own postcard marketing campaign. The magic of these eye-catchers is that they deliver short, concise messages in the minimum amount of time – perfect for the “time-poor” society we live in today. They get the important information across rapidly, with a quick and easy flip of the wrist. Read full article

We have published an excerpt (with permission from the publisher) of this interesting new book that discusses the various money types of people. Read chapter 1 of the book “Master Your Money Type: Using Your Financial Personality to Create a Life of Wealth and Freedom” by Jordan E. Goodman. Read Chapter 1 – The Money Type Promise

The online dating industry is said to be slowing down. According to Jupiter Research, the industry grew by 73% in 2002 and 77% in 2003. But in 2004, as the number of users actually started to decline, the market grew by only 19%. In 2005, the industry will grow by just 9%, to $516 million. To capture the still-large numbers of new users that are flowing into the industry every year, some entrepreneurs are focusing on niche areas in the online dating industry. There’s MeetSingleRunners.com for morning joggers and marathoners. FarmersOnly.com focuses on farmers, ranchers and country folks. Even pets

Cynthia R. Cohen, President of Miami-based consultancy Strategic Mindshare and an authority on consumer trends and strategic marketing, listed 13 profit opportunities for retailers and consumer product companies. Calling them as “trendfluences,” these are major trends with significant influence on consumer spending and buying behavior 1. Brand dominance2. Convergence of retail, entertainment and publishing3. Content is king4. Individualism is embraced5. Mega Growth of Microsports and Hobbies6. Dedication to Health, Age Minimizing, and Life Enhancing Practices7. Home Living Spaces are Reallocated8. Consumers Become Wireless and Stores Become Wired9. Turbo-Scheduling is Adopted10. Cravings for Community and One to One Interaction11. Retail Becomes