Had a few guest speakers to start off the festivities today with F&W Media's Director of E-Business Development, Tim Langlitz kicking things off by discussing a variety of ways to maximize your website and generate successful e-mail marketing campaigns.
Some of the suggestions discussed during his presentation were how websites need to be ever-changing and constantly updated. Unlike books, magazines and other physical titles, websites need to be updated as much as possible and should never be left stagnant or viwers will find alternative sites and traffic will be minimal. Other suggestions included not being afraid to try new ideas and options on your sites and never be afraid to fail because much of what you do on the web is trial and error but the key is to learn from your mistakes.
SportsCardForum president Mike Silvia was next up and offered tips on how to build the traffic on your website and information on how to make your site relavant on search engines such as Google and other similar sites. He pointed out why its so important to get involved in online sports card communties. He added how its also important to blend the physical world (eg. store sales, magazine advertising) with the digital world (eg. websites, online communities, forums, blogs etc.).
Silvia emphasized why its so important to utilize online communities with examples being: little or no fees atatched to using the service; thousands of customers at your disposal; not being restricted to local customers; you can interact and negotiate with your customers; you can conduct polls and research information and target your marketing efforts and you you get to today's youth who are web savvy.
Silvia, who's site receives more than 11,000 unique visitors each day, also provided a top-10 list of how to be successful online which is as follows:
1. Be active in online communties, grapevine with other online sports card forums, sites etc. and make sure you promote your events online
2. Build up your affiliates/partners, use reciprocal links and partner with other sites.
3. Traffic conversions for affiliate/advertising programs
4. Produce original high-quality content
5. Optimize your site (Google)
6. Use social bookmarking sites and social networking sites such as Digg.com, stumbleupon.com, Buzz.yahoo.com and Facebook and Twitter, etc..
7. Research other sites and mimmick their success
8. Offer more and be different from other sites
9. Create a user-friendly site with corresponding newsletter system
10. Don't fear the Internet, embrace it.
Later today I will have updates from the card companies (Topps, UD and Panini) that will detail their product release schedules for teh coming year including new products and the return of some of your favorite classic sets. Stay Tuned.