We are happy to announce that Kim Trimboli, a past intern from Saint Bonaventure University, has been hired as a marketing assistant.

Kim fulfilled a portion of her graduation requirements by interning with us during her sophomore year. Throughout her tenure as an undergraduate student, Kim majored in Journalism & Mass Communication and studied at Oxford University. She participated in the American Advertising Federation’s national collegiate competition, and was on the national dean’s list, as well as St. Bonaventure’s dean’s list for six consecutive semesters.

Upon graduating, we hired Kim to assist the marketing department with research, writing, and other routine communication functions. In addition to this role, she is also working at the Cattaraugus County SPCA, where she has been active in gaining national attention in the Zoo Too competition to win a $1,000,000 shelter makeover. Next semester, Kim will enter Saint Bonaventure University’s master’s degree program in integrated marketing communications. Being the same program completed by the marketing principles, Heidi Ofinowicz and Kate Wolcott, it is an ideal fit for the company

We are excited to have Kim on board once again, and look forward to having yet another St. Bonaventure alumna on staff!

Top Ten Reasons:

• To clarify your goals and objectives: Think of your plan as your roadmap; you know where you want to go, but you need a route to get there. The plan is your route.

• To clarify the relationships between audiences, messages, channels, activities and materials: Going through the communications planning process will help you identify who you need to reach, tell them what you want them to know, and how you will reach them. You will find that each of your audiences has unique characteristics, needs, and motivations. Through planning, you will discover the most effective ways to communicate with them.

• To identify and implement a variety of communications activities: There are many different ways to spread your message. This will help you to settle on which activities you will engage in so that you aren’t continuously pulled in different directions.

• To clarify staff members’, stakeholders’ and others’ roles in the process: People need to know what they will be contributing to the organization and what they are responsible for. A plan will help manage people and their responsibilities.

• To develop creativity and camaraderie among your team: Involving many people in the planning process will bring in different perspectives and diversity of thought. Bring in staff, stakeholders, constituents, interns, and junior staff members.

• To help your staff members and stakeholders get on the “same page.”: A well articulated plan will help people get on the same page and articulate a consistent message.

• To include stakeholder input in the communications process: These people are important to your organization, and this will show them how much you do value their input.

• To ensure that you’re reaching out to your stakeholders and constituencies effectively: This is an extension of the previous point: when you go through the process and identify strategies to reach stakeholders from the start, you will communicate with them more effectively. This will also create a scenario in which they’re willing to give you honest feedback so that you can adjust your strategy accordingly.

• To allow everyone on your team to have a stake in your success: Getting involved in the process and integrating participants’ opinions brings a sense of ownership.

• To gauge your plan’s success and areas in need of strengthening: Organizations will often do a mid-course review to determine strengths, weaknesses, and obstacles and then create and implement new approaches. You can develop a unique, tailored evaluation strategy that will gather the information you need to improve your plan.

Source: W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Ever wonder why your site isn’t showing up in Google? Lacking practices in search engine optimization (SEO) could be the answer. Many people are unaware of the power of SEO as a marketing tool. A Web site is one of your most valuable marketing tools, but if people can’t find it when the search the Internet, it’s value is limited.

Mellon & Co. offers intuitive and strategic consulting and implementation of SEO practices for the major search engines. We found a great article from Marketing Today explaining the importance of SEO for your business. It may be viewed here, and we’ve pulled out some of the main points below.

Search engines play a dominant role in B2B purchases.

When asked if they would use a search engine at some point in this task, 95.5 percent of participants indicated that they would.

When asked if they would use a search engine at some point in this task, 95.5 percent of participants indicated that they would.

Search engines are used in the early or mid research phase in the buying cycle.

Google is favored over other search engines.

Search engine research takes place at least one to two months before the buying decision.

Good balance between organic and paid search is necessary. Organic SEO gets over 70 percent of the clicks.

Position is a factor.

Most users decide which listing to click on in seconds upon scanning the page.

Source: Paul J. Breumer. Marketing Today, The Importance of SEO/Search Engine Marketing for B2B Marketers

March 7, 2008 – Ann McCauley, an emerging women’s literature author from Pennsylvania, will be speaking at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 11 at the Olean Public Library in celebration of the release of her new novel, Runaway Grandma, and Women’s History Month.
McCauley, a retired psychiatric nurse with a certificate in gerontology, will be reading excerpts from her book and speaking about the issues it addresses.

Runaway Grandma is the story of seventy-year-old Olivia Hampton, a widowed retired school teacher who meticulously plans a fake suicide. She believes her son is plotting to have her declared incompetent to gain control of her finances. She moves to a distant state with a new identity but life has a way of refusing to let her be.

McCauley believes that financial elder abuse is a definite problem in America today, explaining that it is not uncommon for adult children to want their inheritances while they are still young enough to enjoy it.

McCauley will also be sharing details of the writing contest “Runaway Giveaway” she is holding. Prizes for winning submissions include a $50 savings bond for children and signed copies of the book for adults.

The event will also include a large-screen debut of her new website, developed by Mellon & Co., and refreshments will be served. To learn more about McCauley, her books and the contest, visit her website at www.annmccauley.com.