This year Qiigo Account Executive Zach Dickens has been named a finalist for this prestigious industry award. The Tech Marketing Awards honor Georgia’s “best of the best” in the fusion of marketing and technology.  The 2011 Tech Marketing Awards honor individual excellence and achievements in eight categories ranging from Search Engine and Social Media Marketer to Analytics and Up and Coming Marketer.

Zach was nominated for his ability to provide creative marketing solutions, deliver proven results, and influence the success of our client’s campaign on a daily basis. Zach works with a diverse client base whose online marketing campaigns focus on a variety of goals ranging from local area marketing to national Pay Per Click campaigns.

Qiigo CEO Rick Batchelor took home the Search Engine Marketer of the Year Award in 2010.

The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) is the leading technology industry association in the state, serving more than 13,000 members and hosting over 170 events each year.  TAG’s mission is to educate, promote, and unite Georgia’s technology community to foster an innovative and connected marketplace that stimulates and enhances a tech-based economy.

Jeff Nugent, owner of the ANY LAB TEST NOW^® location in Dallas, has long been known as a leading franchisee. In March, Jeff transitioned to using Qiigo’s landing pages for his entire Pay Per Click campaign. The results exceeded even Jeff’s own expectations. The Dallas team answered 1,198 calls in March, a rise of 27% in call volume versus January*. That 27% rise in call volume translated to a 23% rise in sales, for total sales of $44,715 in the month of March!

This rise in call volume and sales was no accident. By working with the Qiigo team, and utilizing their tested and proven techniques for Pay Per Click success, Jeff is able to take advantage of the many benefits they offer. Qiigo’s Pay Per Click Analysts have developed heavily polished campaigns that are actively managed on a daily basis. This attention to detail ensures that each franchisee partnering with Qiigo has a campaign designed to achieve success.

The product specific landing pages that Qiigo has designed and tested are another key feature that franchisees benefit from. With each landing page localized to the specific store, no one location has a benefit over another. Each product specific landing page encompasses the crucial landing page design elements that are required to convert Pay Per Click traffic into qualified leads.

Jeff raves about the Qiigo landing pages saying, “The Qiigo landing pages are dynamite! From the look and feel to being fully transparent, they are superior from top to bottom.”

As an actively involved and driven owner focused on sales engagement, Jeff was focused on making sure that he got the most of the 1,100+ calls he received in March. With an average of just 2.3 rings per call, Jeff and his team are clearly answering the phone often and quickly. Answering the phone quickly and converting callers into customers is one of the keys to Jeff’s success.

Additional, Jeff’s view of Pay Per Click as an investment, not a cost, contributes to his success. His philosophy is that you should spend as much as your market can support because you will get the return on your investment many times over. By investing in his business, he has benefited greatly by enjoying increased sales.

You can share in this success by calling Qiigo today to set up your own Pay Per Click campaign. To get your location’s phone ringing, call Zach Dickens at 678.999.3941.

* Calculations were compared to January because the Dallas location was closed in February for four days due to extreme weather conditions.

• Don’t be afraid to ask.  If you have been working with a client who is giving you positive verbal feedback, don’t be afraid to ask them to put it in writing.  Tell them how you intend to use the testimonial (online, brochures, email blasts, etc).  Ask them to include mentions of specific products or services you would like to draw attention to.  Some clients may not be comfortable writing their own testimonial.  If you run into this situation offer to write it for them, based on their previous comments, and have them approve it for use.
• Use it here, Use it there, Use it EVERYWHERE!  From Ezines to websites, there are many places that can benefit from a well placed testimonial.  If you have an Ezine, include testimonials at the end of your featured article.  On your website, you can have a page dedicated to testimonials, but don’t overlook the impact that they can have when placed throughout your site.  Traditional marketing materials from direct mail to newspaper ads to brochures are a great place for testimonial usage.  A call out box is a great way to draw attention to the positive words your clients are sharing.
• Variety is the spice of life.  Rotate your testimonials for maximum impact.  Don’t use the same words on every marketing piece all the time.  Use different quotes in different places at different times.  Try to marry the testimonial to the product or service you are highlighting.  A general endorsement of your company can be used in nearly any application.  Just remember to keep it fresh and new.
• Put a name with a face.  If possible, try to get a photo of your client or a logo to use with their testimonial.  If you are using a testimonial from a client who is also a business owner, offer to use their quote with a link to their website. Everyone wins in this scenario.  For real impact, have your client’s record or video tape their endorsement.  Posting the video to your website, YouTube, Facebook or MySpace is a great visual for your business.

Testimonials are valuable marketing tools.  Use them in as many situations as you can.  They are a no cost way to draw attention and add credibility to your business.  Don’t let your business’ testimonials go to waste.