It’s important to do your research and have a plan before jumping head-first into a new marketing strategy (regardless of its trendiness).

Recent studies have shown that StumbleUpon drives more web traffic than any other social media site. On top of the increase in traffic, the average life cycle on StumbleUpon is quite a bit longer than the other major social sites.

We came across a great infographic, created by Column Five Media, that illustrates these points and more. View it after the jump.

What has been your experience with StumbleUpon (if any)? Have you seen it work for your business?

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During the holiday season, plenty of us go shopping to find stocking stuffers or other small items as holiday gift-giving filler. Often we do so just because it’s the thing to do without really considering the gift’s value or usefulness to the recipient. It’s sad to say, but many of these trinkets turn up as “white elephant” gifts at parties the following year. While it is easy to find an abundance of these cheap, on-sale items, there is probably no worse gift than a “great deal” that is impractical.

This is even true in regards to web design and marketing solutions. Some web marketing companies have unleashed their “web stuffers” aimed at businesses: quick-fix concepts for your web needs. We have all seen the promises of the everything-you-need, highly-effective websites, with do-it-yourself simplicity all for just a few dollars. Do these options really satisfy or do they only serve as temporary solutions that only pacify your need to do something? In our experience, companies are much more effective when they do their web marketing right.

In regards to websites and gift giving, just doing something for the sake of it rarely leads to long lasting, memorable experience. We all want to make a quality impression on our close friends and clients alike.

Now’s the time to make a great impression. It’s time to get a customized web solution that you’ll be proud of and really helps you grow your business. And this holiday season, take time to give a thoughtful, quality gift. You just might make someone’s day.

People like stories. They always have.

A good story can impact and spur to action. Instead of using corporate speak and technical jargon when talking with your clients why don’t you try telling a story instead? After the jump, check out a great infographic that illustrates the difference between corporate jargon and storytelling.

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Graphic artist RichardTheRough has designed a simple infographic that illustrates how people think about graphic design and how they tend to under-value it.

“[Here is] One of the infographic illustrations done in my thesis book about how graphic design in Italy is under-rated.” – RichardTheRough

View the full image after the jump!

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View more of Nuno F. Miranda on his website.

Email marketing is dead for most of us. Well, maybe not dead, but definitely on life-support.

Think about it.

We all have a few companies that we allow into our inbox but we’ve opted out of most email campaigns. The few that remain are hand-picked. But some of those still get lost in our inbox without even being opened. The impersonal, repetitive and often unprofessional nature of most eblasts just turn people off.

Blitzkrieg marketing doesn’t work like it used to.

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Groupon recently made waves in the business world by turning down a reported $6 billion buyout offer from Google. After the jump, check out a great infographic that illustrates the story of how they made it happen, and why it could all come crashing down just as fast.

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Whether you like it of not, your website is a big part of what people think about your company. It is an important extension of your brand. The problem is that most sites don’t work like they should. The main function of a website is to transform visitors into customers by providing useful content to create meaningful interaction.

We’ve compiled a short list of four elements that a website should have to jump start those interactions.

#1 Curb Appeal
When you watch all those house-flipping and home-remodeling shows, there is one phrase that you hear over and over: curb appeal. It’s important to have a welcoming, attractive street view so that people will want to find out more about the property. The same is true about a website. Your home page must look great and be easy to navigate in order to draw people in. This may be your only chance to make a good impression and to guide the user along the path to the desired action.

See elements 2-4 after the jump!

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