We digress. Yet over the last year, Google search has become more social than ever. The beginning of 2012 brought Google Search plus Your World, with the introduction of new features that showcased personal results largely from Google’s own Google+ network. People, Pages, and Profiles were fully integrated into search results with the click of a personalization icon.

Fast forward to May 16^th, when Google unveiled what is called its “Knowledge Graph.” Likely in response to Bing’s “snapshot” panel, Google brings us an even savvier search, aimed at identifying the proper context for your query.

Amit Singhal, senior vice president of engineering for Google, wrote in a blog post on Wednesday, “We’ve always believed that the perfect search engine should understand exactly what you mean and give you back exactly what you want. And now we can sometimes help answer your next question before you’ve asked it, because the facts we show are informed by what other people have searched for.”

Google’s first goal? Try and identify the proper form of the object from its database of over 500 million objects. “Night Rider,” for example, could mean many things. Is it the 1939 novel? The 1962 movie? Or what about the song by Electric Light Orchestra? Which did you have in mind? From there, selecting one of those objects will produce a callout panel, highlighting some of the more notable facts. Search for “Vincent van Gogh,” for instance, and a panel will show his birth, death, family, and artistic periods, including select images of his most famous works.

“We’re in the early phases of moving from being an information engine to being a knowledge engine, and these enhancements are one step in that direction,” said Johanna Wright, product management director at Google. And to Johanna we say, “Thank you!” Thank you for helping us find answers to our most burning questions, and saving us from those sleepless nights. We eagerly await the arrival of Knowledge Graph in our own little worlds. Keep your eye out. Changes are expected to roll out within the next couple of weeks to U.S. English users.

• In 2012, there will be three Friday the 13^th’s: In January, April, and July. It’s the maximum number that can occur in any given year.
• The back story is actually pretty religious. The prevailing theory is linked to the Last Supper. Judas, the apostle who betrayed Jesus, was the 13^th person to arrive to dinner, making 13 an unlucky number. Jesus also died on a Friday, which makes the day twice as bad.
• The Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in North Carolina estimates that 17 to 21 million people in the United States have a diagnosable phobia of Friday the 13^th. It’s called friggatriskaidekaphobia.
• Most buildings leave out the 13^th floor, many airplanes lack a 13^th row, and some hotels even eliminate a Room 13. In Florence, the house between 12 and 14 is addressed as 12 and a half.
• Estimates suggest that our economy loses up to $900 million every time there’s a Friday the 13^th, as many people avoid business deals on the dreaded date.
• Australia’s biggest wildfire, Florida’s Hurricane Charley, and Kansas’s “Great Flood of 1951” all occurred on a Friday the 13^th.
• Bound and determined to defy superstitious nonsense, an elite group of New Yorker’s actually started a “Thirteen Club” in 1881. Thirteen people met every Friday the 13^th and dined in Room 13. Guests would walk under ladders and through piles of spilled salt.
• Henry Ford would not do business on a Friday the 13^th, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt avoided travel.

Whether you believe in the superstition or not, it’s fun to learn about the things that make some of us shake in our shoes and stay in bed. Here’s to another Friday the 13^th, and all of you out there with a case of friggatriskaidekaphobia!

The ground-breaking decision to go organic has become a larger focus within the hospitality industry and our nation. Transitioning into the all new Adoba Eco Brand, the restaurant’s home in one of Rapid City’s landmark hotels is bustling with progress on their journey to sustainability. New organic menu items have proven to be an exciting part of this evolution for the Enigma Restaurant, as well as the community that has been so receptive to the inventive dishes.

For example, the new lunch menu will offer a wide variety of soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and featured selections each prepared with finesse unique to the Enigma Restaurant. Especially exciting is the menu’s assortment of organic smoothies, perfect for a balmy summer afternoon spent enjoying downtown Rapid City. With names like “Health Nut” “Cold Buster” and “Season Dream,” the smoothies masterfully fuse organic fruits and vegetables for the ideal lunchtime treat.

Other intriguing items include a Black Hills Organic Bison Burger, showcasing regional flavors with the highest quality products from local vendors. Craving comfort food? Try the Organic Chicken Alfredo, or experience the exotic with Organic Vegetarian Pad Thai. An Organic K.C. Strip sandwich is available featuring mouthwatering Angus Beef, which pairs nicely with one of the organic salad selections.

Visionary hotel owner Karim Merali and staff have worked closely with Adoba Eco Brand to ensure that the new menu is both delicious and as organic as possible. For those who are unfamiliar with the term, it is primarily a label given to a wide variety of foods that have been produced through methods approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Organic is also one of the best measures you can take to ensure the quality of your meal, as proven in the organic dinner menu, and now the lunchtime selections.

Located in the Adoba Eco Hotel, the Enigma Restaurant launches its organic lunch menu during the week of April 2^nd. Featuring a wide assortment of creative lunch selections, visitors will enjoy both local and global flavors prepared with quality, organic products. Mark this invigorating time of the year with fresh new foods that are both healthy and delicious; enjoy!

What’s that, you say? Sounds great, but you’re going to wait a couple months to jump on the bandwagon? Think again. On March 30^th, 2012, all Facebook Business Pages are set to launch with the new Timeline format. Which means there’s a lot to think about to ensure your Page retains a professional, inviting appearance and user-friendly experience.

Let’s begin with appearance. All new Timeline Pages will have a cover image, providing plenty of ways to get creative. Inspire and connect with your fans as you take advantage of some awesome branding opportunities. Just make sure that you’re using the proper image dimensions, and that your cover image is not violating any Facebook guidelines.

And custom tabs? No more! Apps are the new tabs. You won’t be able to set a new default landing tab for visitors, but there are still plenty of ways you can leverage apps. Four apps are always on display under your cover image, and you can create a custom thumbnail for your app. They’ve also got a unique url that can be used to drive traffic to a specific app.

Other major changes? While conversations occurred on your public wall in the old format, Pages will now be able to receive direct messages from fans. (Businesses still cannot initiate the interaction; a fan must begin the process.) This means Facebook could easily become another “Help Desk” outlet for many organizations. You will be able to set Milestones for your business for current or past dates, which is a great way to highlight key events such as a grand opening, new product, partnership or award. Highlighted posts are also new, which means the post will take up both sides of the Page. You can also set a post to be “Pinned” to the top of the Page, where it will stay for up to 7 days. The ‘Like’ button will now show as “Liked” for those who are already fans, and new interest lists can be created and subscribed to.

Feeling overwhelmed? Totally normal, but don’t. New features will lend themselves to more opportunities to engage with fans and let your creativity shine. If you haven’t already, start playing around with Timeline before the switch occurs. You can always view your Page in “preview” mode, without publishing it. And as always, don’t be afraid to contact your friends at Midwest Marketing. Our social media experts have the knowledge and tools to help you navigate the transition, and even offer their full time assistance to maintain a Business Page that’s everything you’ve always dreamed of.

So how could such a Rapid City treasure get even better, you ask? The answer lies in a little word with big benefits: organic. Beginning on February 3^rd, the restaurant’s menu will serve up the course that’s becoming a larger focus in the nation’s dining interests. By implementing a new fully organic dinner menu, Enigma is taking an innovative, imperative step in achieving sustainability and socially responsible practices.

For those of us less versed in organic rhetoric, what exactly does the word mean? “Organic” is primarily a labeling term that is used on a wide variety of foods that have been produced through methods approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It’s also one of the best measures you can take to ensure the quality of your meal. Organic foods are healthier, environmentally friendly, and support our local vendors. Organic produce, for example, contains 50% more vitamins, minerals and enzymes than non-organic produce. 

We know that organic is much more than a term used by trendsetters over coffee. But what about the quality and taste of the cuisine? All it takes is a few bites, and your palate’s got the point. Enigma’s fusion of organic inspired, artfully presented plates offer the same great taste you’ve come to love, with a fresh new edge. Feature items include Buffalo Carpaccio, a dish featuring grass fed local buffalo, prickly pear oil, fig balsamic, and micro greens. Or try the Spiced Chicken Tagine, an inventive dish of organic chicken, veggies, cilantro, and couscous. The Enigma Burger delights with grass-fed local ground buffalo, cheese, tomatoes, caramelized onions, a gluten free bun and fries. And don’t forget the array of featured salads, pastas, and organic wine selections, such as a blend of Shiraz and Merlot known as Greener Planet.

This new change in the Enigma menu represents a significant, pioneering approach to the evolution of the hospitality industry. Enigma’s home in one of Rapid City’s landmark hotels is in the transitional phase of repurposing into the all new Adoba Eco Brand. The hotel will remain under the same ownership that has built it into the destination it is today.  Fulfilling a longtime aspiration, visionary owner Karim Merali has been the driving force behind the innovative changes that are coming to fruition within his hotel. With a consummate dedication to sustainability, Merali has partnered with Adoba Eco Brand to complete the legwork to ensure that Enigma’s menu is indeed fully organic. For instance, Greener Planet wine will be served from bottles made of sustainable glass, paper and ink. Products are researched through all phases, local vendors are relied upon, and waste is handled in an eco-friendly process. All of these reductions lend a hand in an organic, first class dining experience.

As Enigma embarks on their journey of repositioning with a purpose, it becomes clear that going organic is about more than delicious dishes and outstanding atmosphere. It’s about creating a greener, healthier future for generations to come. Now that’s something to toast to.

www.enigmarestaurant.com

Women are adopting mobile technology like smartphones quickly and driving trends like mobile video viewing and mobile payments. It makes sense. Consider purchasing power. It’s no secret that women control or have a say in 80% or more of all household purchases. Just how much does that amount to each year? Try a paltry $5 trillion, or half of the nation’s GDP. That’s an audience no marketer can afford to ignore.

Another common trait shared by women across the board? Engagement. Since the dawn of time, they’ve generally been stronger communicators; a trend felt no less in the tech world. They talk more and text more, 28% and 14% respectively, according to Nielson data. They also use more social features on their mobile devices, like SMS, MMS, and social networking. Women spend more time on fewer sites than men, and visit more social and community sites. This is especially significant when considering the popularity of immediate online and social discussion during real time events.

Media usage across the charts demonstrates that women are just as involved and influential in the technology sphere as their male counterparts. Mobile phones, laptops, tablets…women have integrated them into their daily lives, shaping the way we communicate, learn, and grow. For every tech savvy man, he’s got a female equivalent challenging him to keep up.

Which is why it looks like 2012’s focus will be on content, commerce, and advertising to consumers on whichever device they happen to be scanning. Interesting tidbit? Apple has finally lost its hold on the U.S. smartphone market, with Google’s Android software now running on nearly 50% of all smartphones in the country. And according to Advertising Age’s January 2, 2012 issue, “this year could also see regulators green-light Google’s $12.5 billion acquisition of handset-maker Motorola, which would take the online-ad giant even deeper into the phone market.” Also in the works? A deal between Microsoft and Nokia, which will create the third mobile platform to compete with the current industry titans.

But what about the trusty boob tube? There’s nothing quite like it, right? Not exactly. Networks and advertisers are onto the fact that we’re cheating on the TV set with our mobile devices, so they’ll of course find their places on the second screen to complement television shows and advertising. Another blur between mobile and TV? Verizon’s nearly $4 billion deal with cable companies such as Comcast, Time Warner and Cox. This will lead to comprehensive media bundles for consumers, who will likely start to see TV, phone and internet services all on one bill.

We’ve got the devices, so it only makes sense that the landscape of mobile technology will begin to shift in new and different directions. Watch for innovative advertising, big bundles, and a whole new playing field in the 2012 mobile realm!

*Information from Advertising Age, January 2nd, 2012

It makes sense. As visual creatures, watching a video is simple, entertaining, and often times more informative than boring your audience with dry text. But what kind of video do you produce? There are several options available; one that we have found immensely useful comes in the form of a handheld camera.

These videos are incredibly simple to shoot, edit, and upload. The handheld nature results in a raw, organic feel, while HD capability maintains the video’s quality. Plus, portability makes it easy to take along on a job site, trip, or in the office and ideal for capturing spur of the moment events. A quirky interview with staff members or an on-site project video would be well suited for a handheld camera. 

What’s that, you say? You’ve got a nephew who could just as well shoot video for your business? You may think your relative will make a great video editor, or have every intention of shooting videos yourself. The truth is, shooting, editing, and uploading videos takes more time and skill than most realize. At Midwest Marketing, we have a full service digital and production department who will shoot and edit your video to deliver your desired message in a professional manner. We are trained in deciding what types of video and content work best in various situations, and can take care of video uploads and management so you don’t have to spend hours each week doing so.  

By the year 2014, 77% of all Internet users will watch online videos. Oh, and then there’s that tiny tidbit about the 2 billion videos viewed each day on YouTube. Stay abreast of the technology curve, and make sure your business has an effective presence where it matters most with the help of Midwest Marketing.

Lights…Camera…Action!

In working with the Rush, there are a whole gamut of projects that must be completed to keep seats filled and fans eager to cheer them on. Our sales staff work diligently placing media buys for the season on various TV and radio stations, helping with special events and promotions. We have also created and continue to maintain their website, www.rapidcityrush.com, which means there are continuous updates and changes that must be made. Our graphic design department stays busy printing various materials and designing everything from season ticket books to website images to “lockers” on the Suite doors!

"Lockers" on the Suite doors!

Our Production Department is assigned with the task of creating fun and engaging advertisements for the Rush.  This includes television and radio commercials, which are produced on a weekly basis. Also produced are the opening videos played in the Ice Arena on game nights, player introduction videos, and a handful of spoofs that are shown during games.

Our relationship with the Rush allows us to exercise our creativity, overcome challenges that may arise, and work with one of the most exciting sports teams in the Midwest. Sales Consultant Megan Foster says “I enjoy working with the Rush because they trust me to spend their advertising dollars and take my marketing opinions and recommendations to heart.” Indeed, the Rush is not only a team of outstanding hockey players, but a client that brings a sense of accomplishment to our days.    

This 2011-2012 season, be sure to come out and support the Rapid City Rush Pro Hockey Team, proudly represented by their friends at Midwest Marketing!

For skeptics of the power of online review sites, here are a few stats:

• 84% of Americans say online customer evaluations have an influence on purchasing decisions.
• 67% of US consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
• Consumers are 20% more likely to do business with a company that has a 5-star rating over a 4-star rating.

Your online reputation matters and it’s become increasingly clear that it can have a weighty impact on business, both positive and negative. But don’t fear – you can, and should, play a part in any online dialogue pertaining to your business. Not sure where to begin? There are many ways that the professionals at Midwest Marketing can help!

Do you have a business profile set up on relevant review sites related to your industry? Does it contain the information that clients are searching for? Photos? Videos? Do you have a clear plan for obtaining positive reviews, and are you familiar with the laws that regulate this process? Are you compliant with review site regulations? Once reviews start pouring in, do you know how to handle the critical ones? These are all elements that the staff at Midwest Marketing can help you with.

As Benjamin Franklin once said, “It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.” Don’t let one negative conversation wreak havoc on the reputation of your business. Be proactive, know your options, and stay ahead of the curve with online reputation management!