Neil Lemons’ Blog

At the National Venture Capital Association’s annual meeting Wednesday, Efrusy sat on a panel with executives from advertising firm Omnicom Group Inc. (OMC), entertainment content company Viacom Inc. (VIA), and Internet giant Yahoo Inc. ( YHOO), to discuss the power of online advertising.

Among the topics was the hot-button issue of whether Facebook and other advertising-based social networking sites deserve lofty valuations at this point. “Would we love to own MySpace for $700 million? Absolutely,” said Wade Davis, senior vice president at Viacom, which was interested in Facebook in the past. Would Viacom buy Facebook for $15 billion? “Absolutely not. Nor did we want to pay $1 billion. There is a lot of hype, a lot of activity, but a lot of dollars aren’t being made.” Read the whole story at CNNMoney.

The Dallas Business Journal just released its annual Book of Lists for 2008. Below is one list from the book, the Top 25 Dallas Web Design Companies list is based on revenue brought in from 2006.

Some might argue this is not completely accurate since these firms count monies their clients spend on media toward their revenue calculation, when they are actually just brokering (or passing through) the media buys. Either way, The Dallas Business Journal definitely lends credibility to companies searching for these world class web firms. Looks like there is a three way tie for the 11th and a two way tie for 18th place on this list of most revenue producing website design company in Dallas.

1. Click Here Inc. – www.clickhere
2. Zunch Worldwide Inc. – www.zunch.com
3. Imaginuity Interactive Inc. - www.imaginuity.com
4. Apollo Interactive Inc. – www.apollointeractive.com
5. MarketNet Inc. – www.marketnet.com
6. Enlightened Technology Group Inc. – www.etgroup.net
7. InSite Interactive – www.insite.net
8. The MasterLink Group Inc. - www.masterlink.com
9. NetSuccess Inc. – www.netsuccess.com
10. QuickSilver Interactive Group – www.qsigroup.com
11. Elevel – www.elevel.com
11. The Wilkins Group Inc. – www.wilkins.com
11. Aztec Systems Inc. – www.aztecsystems.com
14. ISHIR Inc.— www.ishir.com
15. Ariamedia Corp. —www.ariamedia.com
16. CI Host – www.cihost.com
17. Ellipse Group Inc.— www.ellipseinc.com
18. Design Wonders Networking - www.designwonders.com
18. Ariesnet Inc. – www.ariesnet.com
20. Bloomfield Knoble – www.bloomweb.com
21. RGB Interactive LLC— www.rbginteractive.com
22. Sentient Inc.— www.sentient-inc.com
23. OneFastBuffalo - www.onefastbuffalo.com
24. Vizion Interactive Inc.— www.vizioninteractive.com
25. Boxcar Creative LLC – www.boxcarcreative.com

Last night, at the Dallas Junior Chamber of Commerce monthly meeting, Cali Lewis presented how to “Be Your Own Media” through podcasting. Dallas-based video and audiocast evangelist Cali Lewis is the cute host of GeekBrief.TV, which features three to five minute video podcasts covering new technologies, consumer electronics, and Web 2.0 projects. Check out my video and commentary inside.
Read the rest of this entry »

I became familiar with Elance.com in 2005 while researching different ways to find clients and contractors when I used to do sales and recruiting for a 3D animation studio (I didn’t design it). Ironically outsourcing became the slow kiss of death for that company in the end.

Here is how Elance describes itself:

“Elance is an online workplace where businesses find and hire people ‘on demand’ to get work done quickly and cost effectively.”

-Elance.com’s About Page

I describe Elance as: Read the rest of this entry »

DFW Search Engine Marketing Association, an organization aimed at furthering the awareness of Internet and search marketing in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, gathered in the Richardson Renaissance Hotel last night to listen to Microsoft adIntelligence representative Jorie Waterman and Rob Scott speak on the latest keyword research tools and recent IP laws affecting website owners.

Although I have been involved in search marketing since 2005, this was the first DFW SEM gathering I have ever attended. I thought I would report from a non-member, outsider’s perspective, on my initial impression of what the group offered.
Read the rest of this entry »

I’m working on some landmark posts, but for now follow me on Twitter.

These five organizations for business networking work well for small-and-medium sized business (SMB) owners in Dallas. I discovered them by weeding through several other groups over the last three years of living here. I have personally attended functions hosted by each one listed. In my opinion, they pass the test. So you have a well-rounded perspective I give at least one positive and negative about each group.

Some are niche groups related to marketing and advertising, while the others work for any profession. There are many more groups as well as charity-focused societies in Dallas including other popular ones I have heard of (Dallas Margarita Society, Sterling Society), but I can not vouch for them yet. Coincidentally I may be joining the invite-only Dallas Margarita Society soon, and will then will be able to report. There are also many socially focused groups. I plan on posting a list of my favorite ones in the future.

Sometimes business networking groups can get a bad name. At groups strictly devoted to gaining business referrals you’ll find a lot of hard selling start ups, MLM recruiters, and “life couches.” Some meet once or twice a week in the middle of the day, when if their businesses were booming they would not have time to do.

I refer to these groups below as “organizations for networking” not networking groups because these groups are not strictly devoted to gaining referrals, but exist for many other reasons: charity work, good will, corporate citizenship, industry learning, and personal development. Business development and networking are the tertiary benefits. Whether you are looking for a job, seeking clients/vendors, or just want to build your business connections for a rainy day I recommend checking these out.

Five Fantastic Dallas Organizations for Networking

1. Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce

I found this group after researching several other Dallas Chambers and was sold after a representative came out and spoke with me.

Positive: The largest chamber of the half a dozen other Dallas chambers. Lots of established businesses with money and top level people/decision makers attending.
Negative: It’s expensive to join. The lowest level was $700 three years ago when I paid for it for the company I was working for at the time. You could ride the low cost “prospective member events” without paying for the membership for years if so inclined, but to receive their “member benefits” you have to join. It is what you make of it.
Attended: One new members introduction meeting & obtained five business leads, before learning about a division of the Greater Chamber second on the list.


2. Young Professionals of Greater Dallas

I found this group soon after joining the Greater Chamber, but never officially joined.

Benefit: Lots of young people in varying professional jobs. They may be young, but they are serious about connecting and making things happen, they do not just engage in the social aspect in which many orgs labeled with “young” do.
It was relatively inexpensive to join ($125 at the time), with at least 12 events a year.

Negative: It’s not a large group and business value could dry up fast if you have a niche business, but the social aspect will not.
Attended: Three after hours networking functions 2005 - 2006

3. Netparty

Positive: Some of the most friendly people from a wide variety of companies who are not the “usual networking type, ” but decided to come because of the free food and Netparty’s smart at opt-in email list marketing. Typically 300-400 show throughout the night. Someone very ambitious could make a lot of local connections in a short period of time by just attending once.
Negative: Only occurs once a quarter.
Attended: Three after hours networking functions (all they have had) 2007 - 2008, have received over a dozen new contacts and three to four potential business clients.

4. DFW Interactive Marketing Association

This is an amazing group niche focused toward Interactive Marketers and professionals working in businesses and non-profit orgs with interactive divisions.

Positive:Great for learning and making connections within the industry. They have monthly high content, no sales pitch, seminars in Las Colinas with big name leaders in the industry.
Negative:In general, everyone is in the same industry, so it has less new client potential.
Attended: Three after hours “prospective member” networking functions 2007 - 2008, with coworkers have received a few leads an job candidates.

5. Dallas Junior Chamber of Commerce

Similar to the Greater Chamber, but is in no way affiliated, this non-profit group caters to young professionals in the 21 - 39 age range.

Positive: Lots of leadership opportunities such as being on the board, sub committees, and event planning groups. They have at least three events a month, if not more.

Negative: In general, even harder to find potential clients because of the social focus. There seems to be almost too many meetings, for meetings sake.

Attended: Dozens of after hours networking functions 2005 - 2008 with many friends and acquaintances made.

Sr. VP of Network Solutions Stephanie Leffler goes over three beginner tips for SEO.Here are her tips.
1. Write relevant, authoritative, content
2. Build relevant backlinks
3. Unique Keyword Title tags & Meta Tags

This is a very simpled version, but good beginner tips for marketing your website on the search engines.

How do you make someone want something? Whether in dating or a business service or product here are six keys or principles to influencing, building value & driving people to action. Think of what you want someone else to want. Picture it clearly in your mind with all the details you can muster. Picture someone using your service or product. How can you implement these principles in your marketing to reach that outcome?

1. Demonstrate Rarity (there are relatively few to go around).
2. Prove other people want it (social proof).
3. Tell him/her they can’t have it (rebellion).
4. Exhibit uniqueness ( similar to rarity only one-of-a-kind)
5. Show exclusiveness (only a select group can have it)
6. Make it available for only a short period of time.

I am sure there are many more ways to build value, but if you use these six you can go far with whatever your goal.

Hypnosis has been practiced since the late 1800s, although many of the most effective techniques were discovered in the 1970s. Lately, learning about hypnosis has been a fascinating subject to me. I’m not talking about cheesy stage shows where people bark like dogs or lip sync to pop songs for the audience’s enjoyment, but the kind that actually helps people achieve personal goals and break bad habits in which the conscience mind is standing in the way of — smoking cessation, weight loss, gaining confidence, phobia extinction, business success.

By doing some research I found the only accredited hypnotherapy college in the US. It may not be the only accredited one, but it’s the only .edu that has a verifiable curriculum and government-funded financial aid (like any other private or public university). They have been running the program for 40 years (1968).

I am considering their distance learning course, which is free. Some may say, “You get what you pay for,” but they have addressed why they use this freemium business model, and it will be worth it to at least get the basics without having to invest too much yet. Of course one can not learn to build a house by watching a video or reading about it, just as you can not learn to hypnotize solely by listening to online lectures.

If I do take the course, I would plan on finding a mentor here in Dallas, in which I would plan to trade services with while under his/her part time tutelage. By the time I get certified I will have already owned the domain HypnotistServices.com for a few years and with a little marketing can have an automatic part time practice. Secondly after a couple years in practice, I could use some of my future expertise to diversify my info marketing exit plan.

I studied psychology in college for my first two years before changing majors. I am still fascinated by it. My love for the theories became overshadowed by thoughts of having to listen to people’s problems for hours on end. I have recently felt the need to want help more people and I feel like hypnosis may achieve faster results and more people can be served.