“Small local businesses have not had the pain to change their marketing techniques in thepast. However, with the recession effecting more people, small businesses are now realizing that few people actually search for local businesses in print anymore. Consumer behavior has simply changed, partially because of technology and partially because of new economic situations. Said Tony Darrick Baker, Vice President of Marketing, BizNdex LLC. “Today’s consumers are looking for coupons, peer reviews, and instant and accurate information about locally available products and services through mobile and broadband internet. BizNdex helps businesses get found where consumers are now looking. This includes Google, Yahoo, Bing, and all major local search and mobile media services.” said Baker.

Baker is now touring throughout the southwest to meet up with leadership teams and candidates. This cities include Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, St. George UT, Denver Colorado, and Salina and Wichita Kansas.

To find out the schedule, watch a quick video and RSVP, please visit:

http://bizndexblog.com/tour/

Baker says “We’re not only teaching about the importance of Google, Yahoo and Bing, but we’re also teaching businesses and BizNdex marketing consultants how to create inbound marketing campaigns through Facebook, Twitter, and a variety of new social media marketing tools.” Baker continues. “If BizNdex certified marketing consultants can network through traditional avenues and combine that with the power and functionality of social media tools, then they can create an endless stream of local businesses who are looking to transform their marketing to interactive and internet marketing through local search, mobile media, and social media marketing.” said Baker.

While many businesses are laying off, BizNdex is excited about their ability to expand across the United States. “I don’t know how it can get much better than this.” said James Ashford, CEO of BizNdex LLC. “We’re providing locally owned and operated businesses with the opportunity to reach local buyers at a fraction of the cost of traditional advertising. By simply evaluating their existing ad budgets and making slight modifications, we can show in a matter of days that BizNdex delivers a significant return on investment. Likewise, there is a great deal of talent available to us of people who may not be technically savvy, but who have the ability to create relationships with local businesses owners and build a book of business as BizNdex certified marketing consultants. These consultants will continue to get paid for the lifetime of the business relationships they bring to BizNdex, and that’s very exciting during tough economic times.” said Ashford.

BizNdex has also just released their new LocalNdex iPhone Application. LocalNdex.com is an informative destination hub with over 18 million business listings and profiles nationwide. With the new LocalNdex iPhone application (free), users can rate and review local businesses, attach a photo with their review, and share the contact information through SMS, Facebook and Twitter.

When Robert Bokros, a successful IT entrepreneur, bought a controlling interest in a company holding patents on a 21st century version of scaffolding in 2002 it had a turnover of just £30k and faced financial ruin.

The groundbreaking order is supplying 340 sets of Lobo to Walmart – Asda, the major American-British supermarket group. One system will be based at each of their UK stores, providing safe overhead access for servicing chiller cabinets.

Today Lobo Systems supplies £1 million worth of systems to organisations around the globe as diverse as NASA, for maintenance work, and the Museum of Fine Art in New York to reach and restore priceless works of art.

“We can now add Walmart Asda supermarkets to that customer list,” says a delighted Bokros. “The huge benefit it offers in retail is speed of erection and versatility. It is the modern solution to the challenge of working safely at height.”

The Lobo platform system provides access to virtually any piece of ground-based equipment. Because of its patented clamping system, it is erected by non-specialists without the use of any tools. It is made up of trestle legs varying in size, all fitted with adjustable bracing clamps. It is insurance company approved for safe working up to heights of 10 metres.

“Traditional scaffolding is massively expensive; once in position it cannot be moved around and can only be erected and dismantled by skilled personnel,” said Derby based Bokros. “Lobo overcomes all of these problems. It can be built anywhere and literally threaded between pipe work to provide safe access to equipment. It can be erected by anyone in the maintenance department and we provide all the necessary training on-site.

“The most recent enquiry we have received is from the USA where it will be used in all the 57 courts in a major city so that the maintenance department can wheel it in to change light bulbs and generally clean the high ceilings. It is fabulously flexible.”

Major worldwide customers include Boeing, Ford, Nasa, Miller Brewing, General Motors, Airbus and Sikorsky Aircraft.
It is used by the US Navy to service its T48 training jets based at the ‘top-gun’ school in Kingsville, Texas. The British Prime Minister’s office bought Lobo to help with security at the G8 summit in Scotland.

“All of our customers report one thing in common – Lobo saves them masses of money. Traditional scaffolding takes a long time to erect and you start paying from the moment that process is finished until they come back and take it down.

“With working at height regulations now in force in all major markets and scaffolding having to be provided where it is deemed necessary for safety.    The actual job may be very quick and simple, like changing a light fitting, but the scaffolding costs weigh it down like a brick. This is why our system is proving so popular around the world,” added Robert Bokros.

Attendees will enjoy tremendous networking opportunities, a delicious lunch and an opportunity to learn cutting edge web sitepromotion and marketing strategies that work for all types of businesses. Speaker, author and expert in search engine optimization, Jay Berkowitz will discuss keeping your competitive edge in today’s uncertain environment. Jay Berkowitz has been recognized as one of the top business and keynote speakers gaining a reputation as a leading Internet marketing strategy consultant in South Florida and around the globe. As a business leader, he has managed marketing departments for Fortune 500 brands: McDonald’s Restaurants and Coca-Cola, and has managed and developed internet marketing strategies for online businesses as well as offline programs for AT&T, Sprint, and leading health and fitness website eDiets.com. Most recently, Jay received the Gold Coast PR Council’s PR Star Award and has developed the InternetMarketingClub.Org.

More information or to register online for the AMA South Florida Chapter’s lunch and learn online marketing forum can be found at AMASouthFlorida.org. To register for the forum via phone or to learn about sponsorship opportunities call 561-620-9121.

About the AMA South Florida:
The American Marketing Association South Florida Chapter is the leading advertising and marketing professional organization serving marketers from West Palm Beach to South Miami. The AMA South Florida Chapter is committed to providing the best resources for professional and career development, business opportunities and personal and professional networking. The American Marketing Association advances the thought, application, “best practices” and the ethical practice of marketing. For more information please visit www.amasouthflorida.org.

About Ten Golden Rules:
Ten Golden Rules is an interactive marketing agency founded by Jay Berkowitz based in Boca Raton, Florida. The company helps develop internet marketing strategies for online businesses through web site promotion and marketing strategies that work. The 10 Golden Rules Internet Marketing Podcast is available at Podcast.TenGoldenRules.com and on iTunes. For more information please visit TenGoldenRules.com.

About Jay Berkowitz:
Jay Berkowitz has been recognized as one of the top keynote speakers and an expert in search engine optimization. He has managed marketing departments for Fortune 500 brands: McDonald’s Restaurants and Coca-Cola, and has managed online and offline programs for AT&T, Sprint, and leading health and fitness website eDiets.com. Most recently, Jay received the Gold Coast PR Council’s PR Star Award and has developed the InternetMarketingClub.Org.

The opportunities are enormous for brands that understand where women are going. Bridget Brennan’s session at this year’s M2W® conference will cover the most important macro trends driving female consumers. Given the fact that women account for 80% of all purchasing, it’s kind of a mystery why more execs don’t get marketing to women

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) March 23, 2010 — “If the consumer economy had a sex, it would be female. If the business world had a sex, it would be male. And therein lies the pickle.” So begins Bridget Brennan’s new book, Why She Buys:The New Strategy For Reaching The World’s Most Powerful Consumers, called “essential reading” by the Wall Street Journal and “required reading for anyone burdened with a Y chromosome” by Fortune Small Business.” Brennan’s book is the basis of her presentation at the 6th Annual M2W® – The Marketing to Women Conference, April 21 & 22 in Chicago’s Cultural Center.

“The opportunities are enormous for brands that understand where women are going,” according to Brennan. “My session will cover the most important macro trends driving female consumers, which are key to determining their wants and needs. From more women in the labor force to delayed marriages, high divorce rates, more time spent as “singletons” and an aging population. Given the fact that women account for 80% of all purchasing, it’s kind of a mystery why more execs don’t get marketing to women.”

Brands as diverse as GM, iVillage, Brown-Forman, Kodak, Mary Kay, MasterCard, Whirlpool, LifeScript, Aetna, ConAgra, Estee Lauder, Genworth Financial and Ubisoft will attend M2W®. “Smart brands attend,” according to Nan McCann, producer of M2W® “to catch up on the latest marketing to women case studies, research and techniques and to connect with other senior marketers who face the same challenges they do. ”

“M2W® also includes a full roster of special events designed to facilitate peer-to-peer learning between the brand marketing executives in attendance, and between the speakers and sponsors.” McCann added,” At this conference people make connections that are immediately valuable to their work, sometimes they make friendships that could last a lifetime.”

M2W® is presented by Associate Sponsors: Harbinger, Barkley, JSH&A, Booz & Co., Ketchum, imc2, House Party, Memorex and SheSpeaks; Workshop Sponsors: Jane Out Of the Box, Affina, Girl Approved and Shutterfly; Showcase Sponsors: Carolina Pad, Bee Leaf Bags, The 85% Niche, Refreshing Ideas-H2O, Just Ask A Woman and Win/Win Radio; Video Journalism Resource: Snippies; Affiliate Sponsor: Chicago AMA.

The brainchild of a frequent attendee of charitable fundraisers who was tired of constantly returning to the silent auction area to check on his bids, BidPal eliminates this “pain point” by providing intelligent handheld bidding devices to partygoers. Pre-loaded with every auction item, including description, value, bid increments, photo, and donor information, the iPod Touch devices allow guests to bid from anywhere at any time during the event.

The 2010 Muscle Team auction was a success, in large part due to BidPal. Not only did it help our totals, but it allowed for an easy, smooth check-out process for our guests and created an exciting buzz during the event and for weeks afterwards,” said Emily Newberry, director of business development, Muscular Dystrophy Association NYC.

The BidPal device continually updates guests with the highest current bids, generating competitive bidding and increasing funds raised. Charitable organizations that use BidPal report, on average, three times more bids per item compared to previous years.

BidPal also opens up additional revenue streams. A “Fund a Need” button on the handheld device allows event attendees to make a cash donation on the spot, while advertising space on the devices and on the BidPal Leaderboard creates sponsorship opportunities for the organization.

“Our guests had fun using BidPal and loved being able to continue bidding while enjoying dinner with their friends,” said Dana Curish, executive director of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Indianapolis. “We raised more money than ever before with our silent auction and for the first time offered a ‘Fund a Need’ option at the end of the program that was very successful!”

BidPal eliminates paper bid sheets, costly item catalogs, and the check-out scramble. Gone are the days of furiously picking up bid sheets at the close of the auction. BidPal automatically notifies winners of what they’ve won and how to check out, while an instant check-out report categorizes each bidder’s items for event organizers. Detailed post-event reports summarize the event to help staff and volunteers plan their next silent auction. Reports include full item and bidder analysis, Fund a Need and VIP donors, proceeds by category, and items with no bids.

“We were thrilled to be the first in the D.C. area to use BidPal, and it performed beautifully! We particularly loved the Leaderboard, which kept us apprised of how much was being raised. Our crowd loved it, and the system drove almost three times more bids than our previous events,” said Allison Coles, state director of Best Buddies Virginia.

BidPal is currently available in the Indianapolis, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Cleveland, Minneapolis, Atlanta, and Florida markets. The Indianapolis-based company plans to expand into all U.S. markets by 2011.