|
The Milwaukee Chapter of BMA and BizTimes Milwaukee are Working Together to Make Marketing Connections Happen in our Business Community
BMA Milwaukee is excited to announce our new media affiliation with BizTimes Milwaukee. Together, we are providing businesses throughout Southeastern Wisconsin with the marketing tips and tools they need to succeed with the BizTimes Marketing + PR e-newsletter.
This quarterly e-newsletter will contain valuable marketing strategies and trends from BMA members, along with additional marketing resources and opportunities for local businesses. The co-branded e-newsletter will be distributed to over 2,000 individuals throughout Southeastern Wisconsin. BizTimes Marketing + PR will be Milwaukee’s newest and most reliable marketing resource.
Our first e-newsletter was launched February 4, 2009. If you did not receive your copy in your inbox please go here to subscribe.
If you are a BMA member, submitting an article is a great way to promote yourself and your company as a leader in Milwaukee. Every member whose article is included in the the BizTimes Marketing + PR e-newsletter includes a full picture of the author and biography.
Those members who are interested in
submitting an article for future issues
email Jessica Vollrath with the topic
of
your article.
Book Review: Don’t Make Me Think – A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability by Steve Krug
Reviewed by: Joe Konop – BMA-Milwaukee President Elect
Creating a new company Web site is one of the most politically charged projects that exists in the office today. More crucial than the brand of coffee available in the break room, the Web site is seen as the most visible defining representation of your company–and everyone has their own idea of how it should be:
“We need a cool intro page.”
“It needs to look more like our competitor’s site. But better”
“Make the logo bigger.”
This clash of baseless opinions has potential to doom the project, and you along with it. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
In the business world, fact is stronger than opinion. Don’t Make Me Think – A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability by Steve Krug shows how you can arm yourself with plenty of relevant usability data by designing and testing your site using the resources already in your office.
Guiding Principles
The first five chapters covers overriding guidelines that are so simple they’re easily, and usually missed, including:
- Omitting needless words – Cut half of your copy, then cut half of what’s left.
- Billboard Design 101 – No one will spend as much time on your page as you would like them to. Get your point across fast.
- How we use the web – How to prioritize your text so it gets scanned, rather than read.
Krug is upfront with his overriding theme of how not to make your users think. He believes that site contents should be obvious and easy to pick out, without having to think about them.
Less clicks doesn’t make it easier to find
One outdated philosophy of Web design states that the fewer clicks to get to where you need to go, the better. To achieve this, many sites pack their home page with more links than you can shake a stick at, and the designer sits back and smiles because users can get anywhere in the site with just one click. The problem is that the home page, and the home page user, becomes overloaded with information and has little direction.
Instead of designing a site that has the fewest number of clicks to get us where we need to go, Krug suggests designing the site with a series of choices so obvious and easy to make that users are barely aware they’re making these choices. They find what they want quickly and easily, even if they have to make a few clicks to get there.
Chapter 9 – worth the price of admission
Aptly named “Usability testing on 10 cents a day,” this chapter gives “whats and hows” of testing the usability of your Web site without a budget. Developing some every day scenarios and observing how internal and external users and non-users navigate the site gives valuable, first-hand data on the usability of your site.
When your research is complete, you are armed with irrefutable information that backs up your Web design decisions. So when someone in the office tells you, “You know, nobody can find this over here,” you can state with confidence that the design elements tested successfully and you’ve observed with your own eyes how the site works.
It’s actually fun
I can’t believe I’m writing this, but this is a fun book to read. Though the subject matter could have potential for serving as a sleep aid, Steve Krug is irreverent and funny. Most importantly, he’s an effective communicator who can get his point across with everyday words and graphics. If you’re updating or creating a Web site, this book is a must read.
Upcoming Events
3rd Annual Lightning Round Speed Interviewing and
Resume Review
February 24, 2009
At The Eisner American Museum of Advertising and Design
www.eisnermuseum.org
208 N. Water Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
From: 5:30 to 7:30pm
Students can practice their interviewing skills and if they bring copies of their resumes, professionals will give them tips on making their resumes better. There will also be a chance for students to meet with members of BMA-YP (Young Professionals), so students can see this branch of BMA that they will connect with after graduation. Food and beverages will be provided, and the chance to network with Mar-Comm professionals. Please promote this event to any and all college students that would be interested in interviewing practice and resume reviews.
Cost for Students: $10
Click here for more details and to register.
Professional interviewers and resume reviewers are still needed. BMA Members email Angela Smith to volunteer!
BMA Monthly
Program
March 12, 2009
Success Seminar
The Latest Trends in B-to-B Search Engine Marketing
Speaker: Jim Grinney – Partner of 90ocatane
Evening Program
Bridging the Sales-Marketing Gap
Speaker: Jason Ferrara – Vice President, Corporate Marketing, CareerBuilder.com
The Success Seminar and Evening Program at:
Italian Conference Center
631 E. Chicago Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Schedule of Events:
Seminar: 4:30 PM
Reception: 5:30 PM
Dinner: 6:15 PM
Program: 7:00 PM
Event Sponsors: Innovative Signs & ThomasNet
Click here for more details and to register.
Back to Top
March Program — In Like a Lion
The program begins with a Success Seminar from expert Jim Grinney of the Denver-based firm 90octane — a pioneer in the fields of electronic lead generation and search engine marketing. Grinney will speak on “The Latest Trends in B-to-B Search Engine Marketing,” providing Milwaukee marketers with the latest search engine marketing strategies that focus on your prospects’ buying cycles to help your organization grow profitably. For more of Grinney’s insights, read his recently article for Manufacturing.net on “Using Keyword Strategy To Reach Influencers, Decision Makers & Buyers.”
The feature dinner presentation addresses one of the most important issues that marketers face, especially in B2B companies when the sales force is the primary contact with the customer. Jason Ferrara, Vice President, Corporate Marketing, CareerBuilder.com, will share his expertise on “Bridging the Sales-Marketing Gap.” Ferrara will explain how CareerBuilder developed its B2B marketing function into what it is today, which helped CareerBuilder becoming the largest online employment site in less than 5 years. He will discuss the importance of using your brand, the benefits of regular corporate e-mails, keeping the relationship with the Sales force relevant and much more.
Event Sponsors: Innovative Signs & ThomasNet
Click here for more details and to register.
Back to Top
Call for Entries Deadline Approaching!
BMA Bell Awards 2.0
You are the Evolution
This year, the BMA Bell Awards 2.0 promise to be unlike any other! This is your chance to shine, to be recognized, and to experience exciting technologies in marketing communications.
It All Starts Now.
Entries will be accepted now through midnight, February 24, 2009.
Your evolution will be recognized on Tuesday April 7, 2009 when we host this year’s event.
Click here for more details.
Annual BMA Golf Outing – June 22, 2009
Never mind the cold temperatures and white stuff outside, it’s time to begin planning another fantastic BMA golf outing.
This year’s outing will again take place at Mequon Country Club on June 22nd and it will be another beautiful day of golf and fun with your BMA colleagues.
Those interested should contact James Wolter at or 262-783-7830. We’re looking forward to another successful event but we need your help to pull
it off.
Back to Top
Join the BMA team for the Channel 10/36 Great TV Auction We are looking for BMA members who are interested in volunteering a few hours of their time for a worth-while community organization that touches all of us in South-Eastern Wisconsin. And, it's a lot of fun to boot. Most people who attend come back year after year.
Our tentative group time slot is from 3:00 to 7:30 PM on Tuesday, April
28th. BMA will be recognized on the air if we can deliver ten or more
volunteers.
Please contact Terry Hoffmann to sign on or for additional information. A roster is required by March 15.
Back to Top
Recruit a Member – Win PGA Tour Tickets!
Reminder: BMA International has launched a new membership campaign that offers a chance to win VIP tickets to a PGA Tour event in 2009.
From now until June 1st, BMA members who recruit new members will receive one entry into a drawing for the PGA package. There is no limit as to how many new members you recruit - recruit 10 members, get 10 chances to win! Get the details here!
Plus, BMA-Milwaukee is putting a local spin on the campaign. In November, January, March and May, we will draw one local winner from that same pool of members who’ve recruited members – and award him or her with a $25 gas card. Fortunately, the price of gas is dropping. But who can’t use an extra $25? So, if there’s someone that you know who can benefit or contribute to our organization, take a minute to talk to them!
OVER $1,000 RAISED AT ANNUAL BMA HOLIDAY PARTY FOR WISCONSIN HUMANE SOCIETY
The BMA Holiday party was held on Thursday December 11th, 2008 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Wauwatosa. There was a fantastic turnout with 130 people registered for this event. Everyone celebrated the holiday spirit with great appetizers, music, and raffles.
The Holiday party raised over $1,000 which will go to the Wisconsin Humane Society.
A big thank you to everyone who donated prizes for the raffle: BMA-Milwaukee, Incentive Gallery, Heritage Printing, Zizzo Group, Anita Fisher, Brew City Promotions, The Falk Group PR, Productive.com, Joette Rockow, Johnson Controls, Monarch Creative, Aala Reed, Dragonfly, Robert Grede, Rehorst Vodka, Sign-a-rama, Starship, Milwaukee Bucks, Milwaukee Wave, XXL Marketing, Wisconsin Lutheran College, Wisconsin Athletic Club, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Associated Bag, JH Williams Tool Group, C2 Graphics, Fairway Promotions.
Portraits were taken the night of the event by Chris Duzynski of Saturn Lounge.
We would like to welcome the following new members to the Milwaukee Chapter of the BMA:
Andy Siefkes – Great Lakes Media Technology
Barb Baker – The Geo Group
Bryan LeMonds – Caffeine Communications
Cory Savage – Savage Solutions
Dave Jentz – Exhibit Systems
Frank Datzer – Disc Cloners Plus
Gary Ebert – KW Advertising
Jackie Hribar – Caffeine Communications
Jeffrey Remsik – Bottom Line Marketing & Public Relations
Jennifer Donnelly Keller – Keller SEO Services
Jodi Paynter – Celtic, Inc
Josh Silldorff
Julie Marie Cosich – HUI
Kelley Koehler – Caffeine Communications
Kendra Hill – Alpha Source, Inc
LeAnn Wojnar – Sign-A-Rama
Luci Klebar – C2 Graphics Productivity Solutions
Mark Irving – iLevel Media
Michelle Fluegel – AF
Patrick Dixon – SPARK Advertising
Patrick Kopischkie – Caffeine Communications
Robert Brockel – Great Lakes Media Technology
Sam Gladis – Viter Manufacturing
Steve Meyer – Almon Inc
We also thank the following members of the Milwaukee Chapter of the BMA who renewed their memberships:
Amanda Williams – Branigan Communications
Andi Kneeland – Johnson Controls, Inc.
Daryn Seitz – McDill Design
David Busch – Quad/Photo
Denise Gadowski – Johnson Controls, Inc.
Holly Langdon – CKPR
James Wolter – AJ Media, Ltd.
Jessica Vollrath – Vollrath Associates, Inc.
Jim Michaletz – Michaletz Zwief, Ltd.
Jon Mueller – 800ceoread
Kevin Orfield – Noreen Fieber Communications
Mary Ann Berry – Johnson Controls, Inc
Mary Mocarski – Johnson Controls, Inc
Melissa Utschig – TEKLYNX International
Michael Sucharda – The Bellwether Group
Nan Jiang – Rockwell Automation
Natalie Bucher – QuadCreative
Noreen Fieber – Noreen Fieber Communications
Rebecca Archibald – Rockwell Automation
Rick Wagner – Digalog Systems Inc.
Sara Hayden – UWM School of Continuing Education
Scott Seroka – Seroka
Steve Condit – ThomasNet
Tammy Sawyer – ThomasNet
To contribute articles or story topics, contact Joellen Bradach at jbradach@imagesystems.biz.
