• Marketers need to think outside the box — the inbox that is — when it comes to their emarketing tactics. By definition, email marketing is electronic messaging. With many younger demographics moving away from the true inbox, marketers need to think of emarketing as electronic messaging in all forms including text.
• Many more subscribers are reading your emails on the go. Make sure your messages are readable on mobile devices. This also means you may need to condense your copy or format in a much more mobile-friendly manner.
• Avoid being marked as SPAM or placed on blacklists. There are many things you can do to avoid this, but a few small tips include being consistent in the way you format your emails, avoid lots of different colors, images and font styles; check for words that trigger SPAM filters (do a Google search for “spam word list”; always include an unsubscribe option and contact information.
• Integrate email marketing and social media. Use email marketing and text campaigns to grow your followers within social circles and use social channels to grow your subscriber lists.
• Give subscribers more control in what they want to receive. Allow interested customers to choose what information they want to receive. Personalize their messaging to help build stronger relationships.
• The top email marketing initiatives for 2012 are increasing subscriber engagement, improving segmentation and targeting and growing opt-in email lists.

Explore award-winning email campaigns from Travelocity, JetBlue, Citrix and more to get great ideas for effective email marketing campaigns.

And, please take a little 2 minute survey to answer a few questions. For your time, you’ll be entered to win an iPad accessory package from Targus including a Stylus, an iPad stand and an external iPad battery. Thanks in advance!

2001
Rhythm Interactive was called Rhythm Net Design Group. Our offices were located in Tustin (we had just moved from San Dimas) in a quaint, Spanish-style home, that was in an area rezoned for commercial office use on Yorba Street. We had two employees along with Craig and I, which equated to a total staff of four. The services that we offered at that time were mainly focused on static websites, print design, CD replication services and hosting services.

2002
With the relocation to Orange County, Rhythm Net Design Group had to work hard to establish a business network in the OC. We attended Chamber of Commerce meetings, LeTip meetings and were involved with various associations such as the American Marketing Association. Overall, the move to OC was positive as we began to win client account work from local businesses. We were still providing the same basic services, but had also introduced limited email services.

2003
This year brought with it challenges as both of our employees decided to return to school, leaving just Craig and I to man the ship and keep her afloat. Luckily, we made what would prove to be one of our most valuable hires as we added a very talented designer named Hannes to the team. It was also in this year that Craig and I began to develop a higher level of thinking around strategy, design and technology as the three primary components of client solutions. We also hired a consultant to help us work through rebranding exercises which would carry us into the next evolution of our company.

2004
This was a very busy year for Rhythm as a metamorphous of sorts was to take place. In the beginning of the year we hired Daniela, who initially answered phones and provided much needed filing and bookkeeping services. She also proved to be a key hire as she helped to organize the office and keep it that way. By the end of the year we had relocated to Aliso Viejo and incorporated, changing the company name to Rhythm Interactive, Inc. We developed a new website which featured our three pillar approach to developing interactive solutions. We hired three other staff members which included an application developer and our total staff count was at seven. The services that we offered now included: dynamically generated websites supported by content management systems, Search Engine Optimization, Rich Internet Applications, Email marketing and hosting services.

2005 - 2007
We were very busy continuing to evolve into a full-service interactive marketing agency.  Our revenues were increasing each year and so was our staff. It was also during this time we hired a dedicated Director of Strategy and a talented Account Director.

2008
Despite the economy faltering, we had our best year to date as we doubled in size reaching an employee count of 14 staff members.

2009
We purchased our own building. What a feat this was! The credit crunch was in full force and banks were difficult to deal with. Despite these challenges, we persevered and finally were able to obtain financing. We purchased a Bacchus building on Irvine Center Drive, hired an architect and a builder, and created a new home for Rhythm Interactive. This was a high point for Craig and I as this was a major achievement. However, 2009 also brought a major low point as the economy finally caught up with us. Several of our clients had lost money, laid off staff and in turn had cancelled service contracts with Rhythm. We went from having our best year (2008) to experiencing our most financially challenging year. We struggled to pay bills and our new monthly mortgage, but we made it through the dark times without having to layoff a single employee. What made it even more meaningful, was that all our employees stayed with us. No one panicked and jumped ship.

2010
Like the phoenix rising from the flames, Rhythm rebounded. We scored several new major accounts and formed a key referral relationship with a well established branding agency. The results were impressive as we reached the same gross revenues that we billed in 2008 - Rhythm was right back on track!

2011
What a year - Our best year yet! In 2011 we nearly doubled again, growing from 14 employees to 22. Our ability to provide high-level account services, systems integration, mobile optimization, app development and social media strategy and management had enabled Rhythm to attract larger companies that looked to Rhythm to help them achieve their desired business goals.

All in all, it has been a wild ride. One of many ups and downs, but nevertheless exciting and even more so, rewarding. Here’s to continuing to enjoy the ride.

Please take a little 2 minute survey to answer a few questions. For your time, you’ll be entered to win an iPad accessory package from Targus including a Stylus, an iPad stand and an external iPad battery. Thanks in advance!

•    The Internet will blow up, causing a global cataclysm of epic proportions.
•    People’s lack of Internet access will cause them to mutate into zombies that raid strip malls and consume everything in sight.
•    Aliens will appear in the nick-of-time, hooking our planet into the galactic Internet.
•    Upon appearing as our saviors (the aliens) with the galactic net, once everyone is jacked into their matrix, they will turn on us and we will become slaves inside a digital universe.

Sorry, I couldn’t resist the 2012 end-of-the-world play. On a more serious note, here are some actual predictions for the digital marketing landscape in 2012.

•    Social Media Consolidation. People will start to get a little burned out on so many social media tools and options. Facebook will continue to dominate on the consumer side and look at LinkedIn to completely dominate the B2B social landscape. The biggest players will start to gobble up the little guys (it’s already happening). Specific players will rise to the top and will start to be recognized as best-in-class.

•    Apple will crush it. Despite the passing of Steve Jobs, Apple will continue to gain market share and completely dominate the tablet market. Apple devices (desktop, laptop, phone and tablet) account for approximately 25% of email clients in use today. This is a big indicator on how Apple is winning the hearts and minds of consumers and professionals alike.

•    Marketers will continue to allocate larger percentages of their budget towards digital marketing. This has been an ongoing trend but in 2012, digital will finally get a fair share within the marketing mix.

•    Marketers will start to demand competencies in an integrated approach. The pain of managing so many different vendors will become overly burdensome, especially with the explosion of social media vendors.

•    Marketing automation will be in great demand as marketers develop customer lifecycle communication programs. Email and social media will be major components in these programs.

•    As shopping centers struggle to compete in the physical world, e-commerce will continue to experience double-digit growth.

•    Daily deal sites will continue to flourish, but towards the latter half of the year, burnout will set in and more consolidation will occur. However, the precarious economy may stimulate ongoing growth in this sector if things do not improve by mid-year.

Those are my predictions for 2012. Oh, one more is that the interactive/Internet industry will become the backbone of the economy since everything else seems to be falling apart. Just kidding…well, kind of. Let’s hope things improve, but on a serious note, the digital economy will be a major driver of growth in jobs and commerce. Let’s all gear up for 2012, it’s going to be one incredibly interesting ride.

Please take a little 2 minute survey to answer a few questions. For your time, you’ll be entered to win an iPad accessory package from Targus including a Stylus, an iPad stand and an external iPad battery. Thanks in advance!

Social Media
In the last few years, the social landscape has exploded. New platforms and opportunities present themselves almost monthly. Companies are beginning to become much more sophisticated in their social marketing efforts. Social media is extending throughout organizations, from the marketing department, to sales, to customer service and beyond. Companies increased budgets allocated to social marketing and management with many also dabbling in social advertising. Much more emphasis was placed on social analytics to help brands evaluate which platforms were working, where opportunities lied and how to report ROI.

Content Marketing/Community Building
More and more companies/brands started their own thought-leadership blogs. New, interactive sites were created and dedicated to host relevant content and insight to retain and engage customers and fans. These sites incorporated technologies to allow for forums and chat so that customers can engage with one another, create dialogue and make for more of a community setting. Slideshare and many other content sharing sites have grown in popularity, allowing brands to provide valuable content to customers/fans.

Mobile
Fueled by ever-growing smartphone consumption and tablet takeover, more companies and brands adapted their marketing efforts to include more mobile emarketing campaigns, a focused search strategy, mobile advertising and social activities to meet the needs and wants of their customers. QR codes and location-based marketing campaigns took off. Businesses are asking customers to check-in and are providing some sweet incentives to do so.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
More and more brands strengthened their efforts when it came to CRM solutions. CRM solutions allow brands to gain a 360-degree view of their customers in order to improve quality, satisfaction and explore new opportunities. Brands have an edge over their competition when it comes to consumer data insight.

Multichannel Integration
Online and offline doesn’t exist anymore. We are seeing many more brands running real multichannel campaigns to target more people and provide them with the experience they want.

Viral Video Campaigns
More than 48 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute, resulting in 8 years of content uploaded every day. Tens of millions of branded channels have been created. YouTube is the 2nd most popular search engine behind Google. Many brands picked up on this growth explosion and its SEM opportunities and started to create, post and promote many more grassroots-style videos to capture the potential to go viral.

2011 Marketing & Technology Headlines
•    Google launches its own social platform, Google+, to compete with Facebook.
•    The passing of Apple Co-Founder, design guru and technology titan, Steve Jobs.
•    Twitter reaches 1 billion tweets per week.
•    Apple’s iPhone 4S topped 4 million units sold worldwide over its launch weekend.
•    Adobe puts end to its efforts with Flash Player for mobile devices.
•    Skype sold to Microsoft.
•    Twitter launches brand pages.
•    Facebook launches new timeline layout and incorporates Skype.
•    Apple iPad 2 sales broke quarterly sales records at 11.2 million units sold in early Q4 2011, but the Amazon Kindle Fire begins to affect sales with lower price point.

Please take a little 2 minute survey to answer a few questions. For your time, you’ll be entered to win an iPad accessory package from Targus including a Stylus, an iPad stand and an external iPad battery. Thanks in advance!

• Email marketing (60%) and social media (55%) were cited as the top two areas for increased spend for 2012 marketing budgets. (Strongmail marketing survey 2012)
• Media analyst Gordon Borrell projected that by 2015, up to two-thirds of local advertising will be served up on a mobile device.
  

Targus Group International, Inc. pioneered the notebook carrying case category, partnering with corporations, retailers, and OEMs to provide the best possible protection for notebook PCs. Targus continues to define and shape the market for mobile computing cases and accessories. As the leading global supplier of portable solutions, Targus has offices on every continent and distributes in over 145 countries.

Targus has recently contracted Rhythm to produce product demonstration videos to incorporate into their primary catalog website as well as syndicate across the Internet. We are handling filming, post-production and providing the facility for filming. We have conducted similar projects in the past with Targus but we are excited for the opportunity to provide this service on an ongoing basis.

We would like to thank Targus for their business and also for the products they have gifted to our staff and to our monthly newsletter giveaways (take a little survey to be entered to win a complete iPad accessory package from Targus). We love Targus products and enjoy working with their talented team. At Rhythm, we are looking forward to a prosperous 2012 with Targus being a valued client throughout the year.