Former MLB Hopeful Goes Major League Marketer - DigitalBrandMarketing.com

In his youth, former MLB hopeful, Jeff Roach, had no other goal than to play baseball. With little interest outside of becoming the best player around, it began to show. As his success on the field grew, his accomplishments in the classroom diminished. However, just as with many young athletes, any possible permanent end to the game was just a scary notion, and not a reality based fear or concern.

Jeff was soon to be thrust out of the protective shell that some major league athletes are privy to when it comes to academic success versus classroom achievements.

When you were young and people asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" What was your answer? Why? 

My answer was always "Major League Ballplayer", each and every time. I grew up around the game and I really did not know much else. A lot of it had to do with playing the game, but to be perfectly honest a lot of it had to do with the glamour of being a professional athlete. I happened to excel against the competition I played against, so those dreams of 'hitting it big' playing a game always felt within reach. 

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eLink Media, Inc. & SMI Network Announce a Full Suite of Digital Marketing Solutions

eLink Media CEO, Mr. Stephen Berg announces the launch of a full suite of proprietary digital marketing solutions via both the email marketing and social media marketing channels.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Jan. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- eLink Media Inc., a leader in the digital marketing space is announcing that through its internal R&D work, as well as its relationship with SMI Network, a full service proprietary digital media solution set is available for their clientele.
With the firm's core business being email marketing, the expansion of new ISP relationships, enhanced deliverability, and consistent results in an inconsistent market has given them an advantage over affiliate and ad network traffic. In regards to social media, the goal was to create a fully functional cross-portal social media publishing platform that would not only be able to be reactive to an advertiser's relevant consumer chatter, but also be proactive in engaging consumers in a 1:1 dialogue that every advertiser is looking to take advantage of. The proprietary technology is already in production and has yielded some impressive results.

"We know the technology has been on a lot of marketers' wish lists, and our goal was to make it a reality," says eLink Media, Inc. CEO Stephen Berg. "Savvy advertisers want as many relevant touch-points onto their consumers as possible. Our product solution suite via email and social media now gives them that capability. We're excited to see what the future will bring."
About eLink Media, Inc.

eLink Media is an industry leader in digital and email marketing services. Through its operation, eLink provides a comprehensive range of advertising and marketing services including advertising; media investment management; consumer acquisition; branding and identity; direct, digital, promotion and relationship marketing. For more information

SMI Network LLC, West Palm Beach, Florida, Announces Technology Roadmap for Mobile Platform

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Jan. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its technology roadmap, SMI Network is planning to release a mobile version allowing corporate users to access its enterprise software service platform, SMInetwork™, toward the middle of 2011. Initial plan includes support for iPhone, Android, and Blackberry smartphones and devices.

SMI Network, LLC is a full service technology firm providing enterprise solution for corporate brands to manage their marketing efforts in Social Media. Its flagship software platform, SMInetwork™, enables brands to monitor highly targeted social media traffic, to measure their presence in social media, and most importantly, to engage with targeted participants either individually or as a group. SMInetwork™ provides a fully "actionable" solution that not only aggregates social media traffic from all major channels such as Facebook and Twitter, but gives clients full analysis, reporting, geo targeting, and live engagement.

With the current industry reports projecting an explosion in Social Media Marketing in 2011, SMI Network is fast at work implementing and improving upon their technology. Stephen Berg, CEO, expects 1000% growth in 2011 "...due to our proprietary state of the art technology and strategically aligned partnerships."

Mobile is not only a logical next step for SMInetwork™, but a necessary one, according to COO/CTO Lawrence Zhang, "...mobile phone marketing will continue to change in 2011, expect a mini social-mobile revolution. As part of our technology roadmap, SMInetwork™ is planning to release a mobile version allowing corporate users to access our enterprise software service platform, SMInetwork™ towards the middle of 2011. The initial plan includes support for iPhone, Android, and Blackberry smartphones and devices."

SMI Network was founded by Stephen Berg and Lawrence Zhang in 2010 and is located in West Palm Beach, FL.

eLink Media, Inc. Announces Internal Promotion

eLink Media CEO, Mr. Stephen Berg announces the promotion of Jonathan Dunn from Director of Business Development to Vice President, Business Development of eLink Media, Inc.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Dec. 22, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- eLink Media, Inc., a leader in the digital and email marketing space is excited to announce this promotion which will solidify its management team and increase the overall capacity to drive new business acquisitions. Mr. Dunn, who has also held Business Development and Sales roles in the digital media space, both in the U.S. and abroad, is assuming the position as of January 1, 2011.

eLink Media, Inc. CEO Stephen Berg described Dunn as an intelligent worker, who excels as both a gifted networker and industry expert. "Jonathan has been here for nearly two years, and shown all the traits necessary for this role as we move forward into 2011," said Mr. Berg.
Mr. Dunn sees this new role as an incredible opportunity to showcase his skill set. "eLink Media has given me an extraordinary opportunity to grow my knowledge and build an outstanding client roster. I am truly excited about what is to come in 2011 and beyond," says Dunn.
About eLink Media, Inc.

eLink Media is an industry leader in digital and email marketing services. Through its operation, eLink provides a comprehensive range of advertising and marketing services including advertising; media investment management; consumer acquisition; branding and identity; direct, digital, promotion and relationship marketing. For more information.

eLink Media and SMI Network Launch Strategic Partnership to Help Companies Scale Social Media Marketing

eLink Media CEO, Stephen Berg & SMI Network Founder/Creator Lawrence Zhang announce strategic alliance at TwtrCon 2010

West Palm Beach, FL - November, 20th, 2010 - eLink Media Inc., a leader in the digital and email marketing space, and SMI (Social Media Integration) Network, a business proven social media management system that is currently riding the wave of industry leader recommendations, today announced a strategic partnership to help the world’s largest brands more effectively scale their marketing efforts on multiple social media portals.

eLink Media is entering into an exclusive licensing agreement under the terms of the partnership. The goal of the partnership is to simplify and improve the process by which current eLink Media clients and potential clients that want to engage with audiences on the social media channel can do so via the SMI Network platform.


Key elements of the partnership include:

--Integration of the SMI Network Platform with eLink’s suite of digital marketing services so that brands can tie social media marketing efforts into their overall marketing programs.
--Dedicated access to the SMI Network Platform, which allows brands and marketers to optimize their presence on social media for a global audience, while achieving significant cost savings by reducing the need for one-off custom development projects and redundant manpower content management.

--Training of client staff/administrator on the SMI Platform within the first year of the relationship, including comprehensive education on how to utilize the SMI Network platform to launch, maintain, scale, and monitor their social media presence globally.
--Co-development of new products and social applications exclusively for eLink Media clients.


About eLink Media, Inc.

eLink Media is an industry leader in digital and email marketing services.  Through its operation, eLink provides a comprehensive range of advertising and marketing services including advertising; media investment management; consumer acquisition; branding and identity; direct, digital, promotion and relationship marketing.  For more information, visit www.elinkmedia.com


About SMI Network, Inc.

SMI Network is a proven technology platform provider for advertisers in the social media space.  Through its founder and creator, Lawrence Zhang, a distinguished Master's degree holder of the University of Chicago in Business Administration, has burst on the social media management market scene.  Mr. Zhang, prior to creating and launching SMI, has built technology solutions in the Financial Services and Trading environment for over 10 years.  For more information, visit www.sminetwork.com

Online Feature.
Are opt-in lists worth the extra money?
Jon VanZile

When it comes to “opt-in” e-mail lists, things can get confusing pretty quick.

A true opt-in list is one created by your company with subjects who specifically invited e-mails from your company. But b-to-b list vendors frequently advertise “opt-in” lists that are targeted at your market category or product mix and are designed to yield better results. In some cases, these lists may contain records that were obtained by your competitors—or records that your competitors may have already targeted if they have access to the same list database.

This less-than-ideal scenario raises a good question: Do these more expensive opt-in lists really yield any benefit in the sometimes small world of b-to-b e-mail marketing or are third-party opt-in lists little more than a marketing distinction used by list vendors?

“Opt-in lists are definitely more valuable than general lists,” said Christine Crandell, senior VP-marketing for Accept Software Corp. in Fremont, Calif. “Having said that, just because the list is opt-in doesn’t necessarily mean the list members will be interested in the product being offered.”

That sentiment was echoed by Peter Burke, CEO of Mavington Group in Wayne, Pa.

“I understand the premise of opt-in lists, but I don’t really see how they apply in executive contacts,” Burke said, adding that he rarely uses opt-in lists in his company’s marketing efforts.

So beyond their greater perceived value, if the feeling is that opt-in lists may not increase leads, what’s the point of using them?

This is where price comes in, said Jeffrey Roach, advertising operations director at eLink Media in West Palm Beach, Fla.

“I find there to be a mixed opinion from my clients on whether site- and product-specific lists are more effective than general opt-in lists,” Roach said. “Price is a huge factor, in that opinion.”

In Roach’s view, the ultimate value of a list isn’t whether it’s opt-in or not, but the return on investment the list yields during a campaign. Naturally, because opt-in lists are more expensive, they have to yield better business results.

“This game is about ROI, and if you’re priced out of your metrics, does it really matter where the list came from?” Roach said.

They key to extracting value from opt-in lists (or any lists), Crandell said, is to do your homework: Make sure the list matches the campaign, including its price.

“Marketing needs to carefully match list profiles, demographic and psychographic, with the desired target audience,” Crandell said. “A good match and a credible opt-in list are an essential foundation for productive marketing campaigns. As we implement our marketing plans, we may secure additional opt-in lists for campaigns that are targeted to a different audience, industry or geography than what is addressed by our marketing database.”

Opt-in lists have one additional benefit: E-mails generated from an opt-in list are less likely to trigger spam filters and result in your e-mail being blocked.

Green Jobs In South Florida. Roy Foster, founder of Faith Love Hope, located at 3175 South Congress Avenue, Palm Springs, FL 33461, along with supporters and constituents of the great cause to aid, house, train, and create jobs for Veterans, has entered into a joint venture with GoSunSolutions, a West Palm Beach based solar consulting firm founded by Steve Berg, and OBI Financial LLC, founded by Richard L. Kanter. “The group”, has created an alliance with Brilliant Harvest LLC, founded by William Johnson, to create “green jobs” via training, certification, and placement for over one thousand war Veterans expected to return home to Palm Beach County by December 2010. Details of the project include, but are not limited to, housing solutions, food, shelter, licensing, insurance, counseling, and permanent job placement for soldiers as they return from defending our freedom. In addition, while providing alternative energy solutions, lowering carbon emissions as well as dependency on foreign oil, and becoming a “greener” energy independent Nation, the project hopes to expand throughout the state of Florida by 2012. The group believes this is precisely the strategy needed to conquer the goal set forth by Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice requiring 20 percent of the state’s energy production to be in the form of renewable resources by 2022.

Fish Farm goes GREENER: Sarasota, FL: On a 200 acre farm, Siberian sturgeon, amongst other species, are being cultured in an eco-friendly format while recycling 90% of the total water consumption. Currently, Moat Marine has entered into discussions with GoSunSolutions, GSS, to install a 140 KW PV solar electric system. The system will be grid-tied and if proven successful could be one of as many as four to follow. Stephen Berg, President of GSS, believes that this industry breakthrough will pave the path of many to follow. A representative from Moat has emphasized the importance of the project and hopes the State’s recent Net Metering policy further encourages the public to seek solar electric solutions to offset dependence of traditionally produced electricity.

West Palm Beach, FL: Elink Media, Inc., a leader in online advertising, has announced that it is elated to have played a strategic role in the major acquisition of one its many clients, Liberty Medical, Wakefield, Mass.-based, Polymedica Corp

PolyMedica Corp. (PLMD) will be purchased by Franklin Lakes, NJ-based, MedcoHealth Solutions Inc. (MHS) for $1.5B

We are proud to have participated in the success, and public awareness of such a worthy cause," said Stephen Berg, President of Elink Media, Inc.

Elink Media, Inc. played a major role in the development of Liberty Medical's campaign for diabetes test kits through various online strategies while expanding their database beyond 1 million users this year. Elink Media prides itself on its ability to provide the online marketing solutions that will bring companies to the next level.

To view more information regarding the purchase of Polymedica, click here:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/08/28/idUSWNAS296220070828

GoSunSolutions has recent developments with the Pine Jog project and FAU. Glenn Thomas and Kelli Carter have expressed an interest in PV panels for the environmental signature model. Since FAU has seen success in covered solar parking and the system withstood BOTH hurricanes, together, we are pursuing similar designs for multiple locations.

1) Covered PV paneled walkways throughout college campuses will provide shade while simultaneously creating renewable energy with efficient, cost effective technology.

2) Covered PV paneled parking lots throughout commercial properties, schools, condos parking lots and various parcels of land will provide shade for cars and equipment while generating renewable energy.

3) Gazebos, overhangs, lanais, and existing covered structures will be 'updated' with the installation of PV panels to accomplish all of the above.

GoSunSolutions believes that these strategies will provide renewable energy, lessen our dependence on fossil fuel, slow global warning, create public awareness, lessen UV exposure that causes skin cancer, keep our cars and equipment protected and cooler, and demonstrate social responsibility for our future.

GoSunSolutions is currently in contact with Florida Atlantic University, the City of West Palm Beach, several commercial builders, and various private entities. We are looking for motivated individuals for career opportunities.

For more information, visit: www.gosunsolutions.com

Elink Media, through its’ wholly owned subsidiary GoSunSolutions, has entered into strategic agreement with a major solar panel manufactures to provide PV (photovoltaic) solar solutions to municipalities, corporations and, residential customers. GoSunSolutions is aggressively bidding on 375 – 500 KW of Photovoltaic renewable energy in the City of West Palm Beach, and Palm Beach County, FL. Experts have stated that twenty square miles of PV panels will be needed to replace the recently rejected coal-powered plant of FPL. Stephen Berg, president of GoSunSolutions, stated "It is our commitment to offer the solutions necessary in order to reach this goal.