Small Business Marketing News Update - Jacksonville's WOKV Ranks #1 In Nation For Talk Radio

wokv.comAccording to the latest Arbitron Research, WOKV radio, a Cox station in Jacksonville, Florida, is the top rated news talk radio station in the nation.

The top 10 rankings are
#1 Jacksonville
#2 Cincinnati
#3 Atlanta
#4 Milwaukee
#5 Salt Lake City
#6 Columbus, Ohio
#7 Austin
#8 Seattle
#9 Cleveland
#10 Sacramento

Depending on the demographics an advertiser wants to reach, WOKV could be one of the best targeted radio buys in 2012 in Jacksonville this year. Northeast Florida is a politically conservative, business town that follows local and national political news. With the presidential election, the Florida Senate race, and local legislative races (after redrawn districts), WOKV will command very strong numbers.

That being said, it doesn’t mean advertisers have to be selling products or services related to politics. It means that WOKV can deliver an audience with demographics that include a $100,000 + income; professional/management; college graduates; and strong with men 25-45.

wokv.com

Small Business Marketing News Update - 121 Financial Credit Union's Aggressive Expansion Worth Watching

121 Financial Credit Union officially opens its newest location, the Arlington branch, at 9730 Hutchinson Park Drive, near the corner of Monument Road and Tredinick Parkway near Kendall Town Center, in Jacksonville on January 18.

121 Financial’s CEO William Braddock reports that this will be their eighth branch in the Northeast Florida market, in addition to their on-site branch at Swisher International.

Currently the credit union has $421.6 million in assets and has more than 36,000 members. The credit union has been on an aggressive growth path since it changed is charter from only serving the telecommunications industry to opening itself to the general public who reside in Northeast Florida.

There are plans on the books for additional future branch locations and additional banking services for individuals and business accounts.

121 Financial Credit Union is growing and worth watching.

121fcu.org

Small Business Marketing Update - Jacksonville's Goodrich Corp., Engineered Polymer Products, Wins State Manufacturer Of The Year

Congratulations to the Goodrich Corporation, Engineered Polymer Products, Jacksonville plant for winning this year’s Manufacturer of the Year award for a manufacturer employing between 61 to 125 employees by the Manufacturers Association of Florida.

The award was made during the annual Manufacturers’ Summit and Global Marketplace in Orlando.

Judging was based on leadership; strategic planning; customer and market focus; measurement; analysis and knowledge management; workforce focus; and process management.

The Goodrich Jacksonville facility designs, tests and manufactures composite structures that are installed in ships, submarines and aircraft.

Other area First Coast Manufacturers Association members who were nominated for the state awards include Anheuser-Busch, InBev, Inc.; BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards, Inc.; Florida Machine Works; and Georgia-Pacific Corporation.

www.goodrich.com

Small Business Marketing News Update - New Web Addresses, Effective Jan. 12, Could Be Boon Or Bomb For Northeast Florida Businesses

Effective January 12 of this year, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the contracted agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce that oversees the Internet’s addressing system, will change the extensions of Internet addresses (.com, .org, .net).

This would mean that individuals or companies would be able to apply for any word or phrase (including brand names) to use as an extension (which are also known as generic top-level domains or gTLDs). For example, Winn Dixie could purchase .winndixie or the Florida Times Union could buy .jacksonville.

But if you are interested in running out to buy your own .smith or .jones, you better have a big checkbook because the application fee alone is $185,000.00.

Assuming that the nation’s top registry company, Network Solutions, which is now owned by Jacksonville’s Web.com, sells and maintains these new extensions, their income could benefit. But at this cost level, most likely the only local companies who afford the addresses are CSX, Fidelity National or the Stein Marts of the local business world.

There are risks and rewards concerning the introduction of the new addresses that are outlined in a recent Internet Retailer magazine article by Phil Lodico, managing partner and co-founder of FairWinds Partners, a brands consultancy company.

Lodico says the benefits would be that companies like retailers could control branded space online and bolster their digital presence. But on the flip side, this program could provide cyber squatters an opportunity to buy brand names before the brands do. Online customers could be misled into thinking they are buying from brands they want but are actually buying from someone who only owns the brand name as an extension. It could also open the door for cyber criminals for phishing or other malicious activities.

According to John Obrecht, editor of BtoB magazine, the American Advertising Federation, the American Association of Advertising Agencies, the Association of National Advertisers, the Direct Marketing Association, the Interactive Advertising Bureau, the National Retail Federation and the World Federation of Advertisers oppose the new gTLDs.

He reports that these groups believe that the benefits are minimal and the costs and risks to security are too high. They believe that cost will go beyond the $185,000 fee because it doesn’t include the cost of monitoring and defending the gTLDs.

These associations are actively lobbying the Commerce Department to withdraw this program. But time is running out. Stay tuned.