“Mom, I’m headed out for a bit, I’ll be back later!” — the words the parent of every teenager would love to hear at least once. These days, it’s a Tweet or text to let you know where they’re headed.

A few years back, Tech-savvy parents learned about those programs that can track wayward teens with the GPS in their cell phones.

But now the same technology loathed by privacy advocates and conspiracy theorists everywhere has gone to the dogs.

The Tagg™ pet tracking system is a GPS tracker on your dog’s (or cat’s) collar.

We were alerted to this technology by an employee who spotted it on the Internet, not only for its tech-worthiness, but also because it shares a name with our office mascot, Tag.

The technology allows a dog owner to track the location of their pet on a digital map. You can view it on your computer or smartphone.

It also allows you to plot a geographic area on the map and (here’s the really cool part) if your dog (or cat) leaves that specified region, you get a text message. The company calls that a “geofence.”

Have you seen a cool gadget or gizmo? What has worked for you? Join the conversation on our IntelliSites Facebook page.

Filed under: Uncategorized
Tags: dogs, gps, pet tracking, tagg, technology, texting
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Some companies really get social media. If you’re one of these, you probably know who you are.

Some companies well… they don’t so much. Humorously, they often don’t know they’re clueless. Even more ridiculously, they think they ‘got it’ first.

Have you ever been to a playground where there’s that one parent who never smiles? You know. Their kids are running around laughing, screaming but that parent just sits on the bench with that “why did we decide to have one more” look. And they’re like that every time you see them?

Welcome to the playground that is social media.

Some companies are great at social media and others just try too hard.

Their Tweets are so dumbed down after layers upon layers of corporate red tape that their social media branding comes across as fake (understatement) and contrived.

It’s not even a battle of quality versus quantity. It’s more like that smile a husband gives his wife who puts on her wedding dress on their anniversary.

Or like mom when she tries to sing along to your favorite song.

Take a look at the photo above. Is it obvious to you which ones get it and which one doesn’t get it?

Note the word “social” in social media. Be real. Talk to your followers and fans like you would a friend. Not like a judge. Ask their opinions on things. Make yourself relatable. And actually respond if you ask a question (it’s called a Retweet, people). Don’t spam your followers with stupid sales and gimmicks. Funny photos are great – but not of your crotch.

Don’t just try to be social, actually be social. Otherwise, you become that guy who just stands over your desk at work until you acknowledge his arrival.

People (especially younger ones), current customers and potential clients are more electronically intuitive these days. They know when posts are lifeless.

Not sure where to start? If you’re talking about it in your office, talk about it online, too. The Internet is like one giant water cooler (our water cooler has a life of its own. Follow @intellicooler).

Are you taking in your surroundings every day and enjoying the ride? Do YOU get it?

Filed under: Experiencing the Web, Marketing Your Site, Social Media, Uncategorized, Web Tips and How-tos
Tags: Faceboook, fake, fans, followers, friends, interaction, people, photos, playground, social, Social Media, tweets, twitter
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Did you hear the one about the guy who thought Facebook was a magic bullet?

Social media is a powerful marketing tool. But it’s not magic. Sadly, you can’t just set up a Facebook page, shout KAZAAM!, and watch tons of leads start coming in overnight with 0% effort.

Cultivating Strong Client Relationships

Setting up accounts on social media sites is more like planting a (non-magical) garden. Joining Facebook and doing nothing with your page would be like planting some seeds in your yard and neglecting them for the rest of the season. You could do this and still maybe get a few sprouts, but you need to arrange for plenty of sunshine, water, and Miracle Grow if you want a bountiful harvest.

The sunshine and water of the social media world are your regular posts about upcoming events and promotions. At the bare minimum, you need to make posts like this to touch base with your clients and keep them informed of what’s new with your company.

And the Miracle Grow of the social media scene? Humor. Infusing your Facebook page with an occasional joke is a great way to keep people interested and help them get to know you. Many people start a business meeting with a little one-liner to break the ice, and doing the same on your Facebook page can add the sparkle you need to get people interested in being your fans. After all, joining Facebook gives your business a face. The idea is to use your social media accounts to make your business seem human.

And humans are funny. Or, at least, they give it a go.

So make sure you’re tweeting regularly about important company news. But while you’re at it, don’t be afraid to tell your social media audience that funny story about the lamppost you took out the other day with that failed attempt at a golf swing. Or show them the pictures of your staff dressed up as Ninja Turtles for Halloween. Your company is made of real people, and social media gives you an excellent opportunity to give your clients a taste of their personalities. And the more the clients know about you, the better rapport they’ll have with you, and the more sales you’ll be able to reap.

Filed under: Uncategorized
Tags: Facebook, garden, magic, Social Media, twitter
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The end is nigh for those hefty phone books cluttering up your home (or taking up space in the recycling bin.) According to a recent article from the Associated Press, Verizon is doing away with the white pages. There are plenty of statistics showing the decline in phone book usage that definitely justify Verizon’s decision to no longer produce the mostly useless, costly, and wasteful residential phone book. And it’s no surprise. When was the last time you didn’t call someone directly from the stored number in your cell phone? Yeah, I can’t remember either.

Beyond Verizon

This trend is national, and it doesn’t look good for the future of the phone book. Check out this article about how the Yellow Pages Association is suing Seattle, Washington over their city ordinance that charges fees for phone book distribution and penalties for unwanted delivery. There’s even an entire organization dedicated to banning the phone book. No surprise they’re sponsored by an online directory.

Even the Business Listings?

Business listings are holding out for now, but probably not for much longer. Typically the internet (which is accessible on most cell phones) is the first place someone looks for a business’s phone number or address. And since most businesses have a website, have posted their address and phone number on all the major search engines’ map features, and have submitted listings to all the major online directories, then there’s no trouble in finding them. You can totally bypass flipping through the phone book and getting your fingers all smudgy from the ink on those tissue thin pages. Sometimes a phone call isn’t even required since savvy businesses post their hours of operation, maps, directions, products, services, and coupons all on the internet anyway.

So if you’re a business owner and haven’t done all that already, then you better do it fast (we can help you with that by the way), because the internet, and Seattle, are killing phone books.

Filed under: Marketing Your Site, Uncategorized
Tags: business, phone book, websites
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