What small business owners can learn from Super Bowl ads
They insult our intelligence, tickle our funny bone, tug on our emotional heartstrings and sometimes, cause us to wonder who gets paid to create such outrageous garbage. While the debate may never cease over what came first – the chicken or the egg – when it comes to...
Why hackers hack
Perhaps you can understand why a hacker would want to hack a bank’s, the government’s or even a college’s computer system. But why would anyone want to hack your mom and pop shop or home computer? Before we answer that question, let’s start at the very beginning –...
Trojan Horses to Pop-ups – Protect your computer
From viruses to spies and Trojans to pop-ups, your computer is at risk from hackers and virus creators eager to steal your information or cause havoc with your computer. To protect your business’ information – everything from your finances to company goals to client...
Nine steps to secure your computer
From the time most of us are children, we are taught the importance of water safety. We know to always swim with a buddy, to never dive into the water without first knowing how deep the water is or if there are any hazards such as rocks and to be wary of swift...
Seven steps for a productive 2015
Before the New Year begins, as a business owner it’s important for you to take some time and evaluate what you like and dislike about your business. To assess your work load. And to outline your goals. To look ahead to the future. Before you say you don’t have time to...
Grandma and Julia Roberts would agree
By Kristine Thomas In the 1960s, my grandmother worked at an upscale department store. One day a woman walked into the women’s department and all the saleswomen fought about who would have to help her. No one wanted to assist the woman, my grandmother told me, because...
How to keep prying eyes from spying. Why you need SSL
Throughout your house, you have wood blinds on your windows. And when the blinds are closed, they prevent people from seeing inside your home. Or so you think. Recently, a nosy neighbor – Mrs. Belingjar – commented on your new flat screen television. And the town know...
Should a business display political signs?
As a small or medium business owner you have been probably been asked more times than you can count if a sign could be displayed in your window. Perhaps it’s a poster of the local football, volleyball or soccer team. Or a church announcement about an upcoming holiday...
How to respond to negative social media posts
Unfortunately, it will happen to your business. A customer will have a less than great experience. It could be anything from a customer having to wait too long for service, experiencing terrible service where one of your employees is flippant or rude or the product...
Time savers equal almost a personal assistant
As the leaves turn to vibrant yellows, radiant reds and soft browns and the morning air gets a little chillier, October is a reminder the busy months are just ahead. For most companies, November and December are the times when holiday sales ramp up and planning for...
Password Saver Saves Sanity
Needing to access your LinkedIn account, you type in your password - ABCD$$$, only to get the message – sorry wrong password. Try again. You frantically type in BCD$$$A. And again you get the same message- wrong password. Figuring it has to be CD$$AB, you give it try,...
A host for your website
Opening your mailbox, you discover a cream colored linen envelope with an embossed VR on the back. Tearing open the envelope, you learn you have been invited to a black-tie fundraiser to support your favorite charity. Problem is you don’t know anyone and are quite...
What’s in a domain name?
Ask your parents. Ask any expecting parents. Even ask your grandparents. There is at least one story they all have in common. The careful thought and consideration that went into selecting a name for their child. A name that would mean something. A name you would be...
How Do You Know If You Have A "Good" Website?
Is key contact info easy to find? Phone #, hours, address, etc... Is your company value proposition clear? Why buy from you? Does your site convey “trust?” Include “trust marks?” Does your website provide key information about your services/products on the site? How...
Tips When Hiring A Website Professional
At Oregon Marketing Group we understand that it can be hard to communicate some of your needs. Here are some pointers that should help you get the site you want. Who’s doing what? How will they charge you? What if you don’t like what they built? Will they be around...
Five reasons to create a training video
Why you should make a company training video for your organization. With all the talk about students heading back to school, there hasn’t been much discussion about what this will mean to your business. If you employee high school or college students, that means they...
Need A YouTube Specialist or Just An Expert?
What is a YouTube specialist? Content is key, and maybe you already have quality video content. But, although creating a channel on YouTube is easy, using it effectively is not. Your content needs an audience in order to achieve anything. YouTube's increased...
Start planning now for advertising, media opportunities
Where did summer disappear to? We know there are two weeks left of August but it seems in a blink of an eye that it went from the sun setting around 8:50 p.m. to now getting dark around 8:25 p.m. And the busier you are, the quicker time...
8 tips to improve to remember when business networking
For some people, it is as easy as breathing. They can walk into a room, start a conversation with a complete stranger and by the end of it, they have been invited to dinner, which lands a new business contract. Then the first person he met is introducing him to all...
How to direct more readers to your blog
You posted your latest blog to your business’ website and the phone rings. It’s your mother congratulating you on another stellar writing piece. She tells you she loves reading your blog because she learns a great deal. And it being your mother, you know...
Keeping awake reading billboards
Sunday mornings are for sleeping in – well, at least sleeping in until 7 a.m. On a recent Sunday morning, the cell phone starting that binging noise, one after another around 6 a.m. Wondering who would be sending multiple text messages to me at such an early hour, I...
Game plan for starting your social media campaign
As a business owner, you have heard probably a thousand times that you need to be promoting your business using social media because it’s an effective and inexpensive way to communicate with your current and potential customers. The question is: How? And how do you...
OMG2 – Five big mistakes not to make
For the record, OMG2 means Oh my goodness gracious. And that is exactly what we thought we when either read, heard or witnessed the five business mistakes you are about to read about. So here’s our countdown: Service with a smile? We understand everyone has a bad day....
Failure often comes before success
Is it a weed or a flower? It looks like a long blade of grass, with the exception the leaves are much thicker and wider. And when one was yanked from the ground, it appeared its roots were part of a small bulb. A weed or a flower? Several gardening “experts” have...
Making videos cutting edge
Oregon Marketing Group is poised to make something that appears to be old school, new school. We believe we know what is next in cutting edge in social media --- videos. What? Yes, videos. Here’s why. Think about how many times you have been asked to share your story...
Website Check-up – Let OMG show you how to increase traffic
Visit a coffee shop, the grocery store or just sit on a park bench and observe how much time people are on their cell phones. From looking up a number for a local pizza parlor to the time and location of a movie, people use their cell phones and their computers to...
How to work with the Media 101
Your business most likely has a story. And if it’s a story worth telling, it’s one that should be told. So how do you get your story into your local newspaper, magazines or on television? That’s where Oregon Marketing Group can help. Our writers will sit down with you...
