California Miramar University

One of the new certification courses we’re offering through the California Miramar University Extension program is ‘Zero Cost Marketing Secrets’, and we couldn’t be more excited about it. Taught by renowned Internet and mobile marketing Dan Hollings, the courses and designation programs focus on mobile, Internet and social marketing, and are in a similar format as our online MBA programs.

Here’s the breakdown of the program:

• Students will learn how to completely overhaul their business’ marketing strategies and be able to use the ‘Zero Cost Marketing Secrets’ to cost-effectively push their business to new heights. (And yes, ‘Zero Cost’ really does mean ZERO cost!)
• Material will cover myriad essential marketing topics and strategies, including but not limited to: transforming, creating and reinventing, marketing strategies; cutting down on marketing costs; solving the daily problems every marketing professional faces everyday; new ideas and concepts presented by Dan Hollings himself; and the ins and outs of marketing in the mobile, Internet and social arenas.
• Students will work directly with a California Miramar University marketing coach either one-on-one or in small interactive groups (maximum 7 people) on the strategies and marketing formulas covered by Mr. Hollings, meeting twice each month. Marketing coaches will help students dissect the course material, interpret it and apply it towards businesses for a complete hands-on learning experience.

After completing the CalMU Extension – Zero Cost Marketing Secrets program, graduates will receive Certification in the subject and have the knowledge and tools to create an engaging and successful marketing campaign, both of which are very attractive to potential employers. Needless to say, we’re very excited to be offering this and know that it is going to pave the path for the marketing leaders of tomorrow.

To give you a little preview of who Dan Hollings is and what the format of the training program is, here is a video snippet from Dan Hollings on the importance of mobile marketing.

The ‘Zero Cost Marketing Secrets’ training program joins our other CalMU Extension certification programs, including Mobile Marketing, Real Estate, Film & Television, Spanish for English Speakers and English for Spanish Speakers, Internet Prophets and a Transcription Certification course.

Transcript of the Lesson

The very first thing, I’m gonna cover three success secrets, and I covered some of these – actually, let’s see, my slides are going nutty here. Okay, here we go. I covered some of these in some of my free presentations but not all of them and I just wanna run through them quick ‘cause they are so important.

You’ve got to make a commitment starting today that you’re not going to do campaigns anymore, you won’t do any strategies, you won’t take on consulting jobs without thinking about mobile as just a necessary part of it. It’s not optional; it’s not something that you might do here or there and maybe sometimes. You just do it on every one. It’s as important as any other part of a campaign that you, you know, might do, okay? You wouldn’t go design business cards and then leave out the part of taking it to the printer. It’s that important; you have to include it. So, everything that you do that’s associated with the campaign, try to make it mobile. And I’m going to show you all of those ways as we go forward here.

The second thing – and this is more important I think in mobile than it is in Internet marketing – that is you’ve got to think compelling all the time. And by compelling, it’s as if, though, if what you are offering to your customer isn’t compelling to them as they interact with your campaign in their mobile state – you know, wherever they’re at, you know, out and about – if it’s not compelling to them, in that situation, then it’s not going to work.

So really one part of your success in mobile is going to be figuring out how to make whatever it is you do, whatever it is you sell, make it compelling to a customer when he‘s on the go, when she’s on the go; that’s important. And so that’s going to require some thinking, you know, if you just take your product – I’ll give you some points in a moment – but you’ll take your product, you can say, ”Okay, if a person were mobile, what could I do, you know, related to my product to make them feel as if though I’m serving them something that needs to be on mobile, that they would want to get on mobile,” things of that nature. We’re going to go into detail on that later, but you’ve got to become compelling; that’s the trick to being successful in mobile.

On the Internet, you know, you can kind of throw anything out there and some things stick, some things don’t. On mobile, you’ve got to think it through and make sure you’re giving them what they want. When people walk into an ice cream store, what do they want? Ice cream! You can’t serve ‘em, you know, chili. That’s not what they’re in the mood for. When a person is on a mobile device, what do they want? Mobile content; mobile delivery of whatever they’ve bought; mobile stuff; stuff that will help them while they’re out and about, on the go.

The next thing has to do with value. You’ve got to give more value than you do in any other mode. You need to add so much value to whatever your target, you know, customer or audience wants that they literally will fall in love with you. And they’ll like you because you’re delivering to them what they want in the mobile environment that they love so much.

So you’re gonna have to think about things like really upswing your customer support, really thinking about, you know, how your product or your service can be of benefit to someone when they’re out there on the go; and if you do this, they will fall in love with you, they will love to receive your text messages. You’ll be sending less of them rather than more of them because you’ll just be effective with what you do, and they will share it with the other people.
Transcribed by GMR Transcription

This week we have chosen True Religion Apparel, Inc., for our CalMU Small Business Spotlight Award. I know most of you have heard of them, and many of you regularly wear their designer jeans and other apparel, and it’s for good reason.

They have taken jeans and all of the casual stereotypes sewn into them and have made them fashionable again. Instead of just throwing on a pair and going to school or heading to a friend’s house, they have become the ideal pants to wear out on a weekend night: not too casual, not too formal, and the perfect amount of comfort. So for students in our Hybrid MBA and online MBA programs, and for business people in general, here is a look at this week’s CalMU Small Business Spotlight.

True Religion was founded in December 2002 by Jeffrey Lubell and Kym Gold. They now have around 900 branded boutiques and specialty stores in 50 countries on 6 continents (say that 5 times fast). The flagship store is located in Manhattan Beach, California, and was their first retail store, opening in late 2005. In a span of decade True Religion Apparel have created a milestone in the denim and fashion industry and is showing no signs of slowing down. Let’s take a look at some of the numbers…

Jeffrey Lubell is truly a visionary who started a small business in fashion apparel, but geared it to a more high end market to really help bring casual wear back in style. Its annual sales have surpassed the $400 million mark, with sales for the fiscal year of 2011 totaling nearly $420 million.

However, according to Forbes, if we look at its sales from March 31, 2011, to March 31, 2012, True Religion’s sales are closer to $433 million, highlighting its current increase in consumer popularity. That’s because their reported 2012 First Quarter numbers are eye-opening, with sales skyrocketing nearly 14% to reach $106.8 million. There’s no wonder why the brand has become such hot activity on Wall Street in recent months.

I don’t know about you, but I know what I’m wearing this Friday night

In this week’s MBA Mondays video, we are showcasing our Mobile Marketing Extension Program, which is in a similar format to our online MBA programs. Led by Internet marketing expert Dan Hollings, you will be guided through the ins and outs SEO, zero cost marketing and mobile marketing through webinars and tutorials. Upon completion of the course, you will receive a certificate in Mobile Marketing and be able to show that off to future employers.

In this video on Location Based Social Media, Dan Hollings starts to discuss the growing popularity of the marketing strategy and why it’s important for businesses of all types and sizes to consider it in their business operations.

Transcript of the Lesson

Okay next we’re going to talk about Location Based Social Media, LBSM, and this too is one of those things that’s new, you know, it’s kind of like 2D barcodes. I can’t say that it’s any more penetration than 2D barcodes; you know both of these things are new, they’re exciting, people that learn about it get just feverishly viral about it and they talk about it and share it and everything else.

So what I’m gonna do is just kind of give you a beeline to what you need to do straight away to get going, and then you can play around on your own and figure out a lot of cool things. But I think it’s worth investing time and effort here, no matter what kind of business you have. I do not want you to discount this if you’ve got only a virtual or online business. I don’t want you to plant in your mind that, “Oh God, you know Location Based Social Media, I don’t really have a location, my location is on the web.” Alright?

The biggest mistake you can ever make in marketing is to cross something off the list because you make an assumption without really even digging into it, without even trying, alright? I do the exact opposite: if somebody tells me this will only work in water, I’ll try to make it work in oil, alright? Just to see that it is possible.

Video Transcription by GMR Transcription

Business professionals who earn an MBA are often amazed at the lucrative opportunities open to them. Both classroom and online MBA programs have gained significant popularity, and graduates gain noticeable credibility in the business world. One of the main advantages of this credential is its flexibility. Professionals with an MBA are able to tailor their skill sets to a variety of industries. Despite the lure of the highest-paying job offer, the most successful graduates are those who enter fields that interest them the most, realizing that passion is something money can’t buy.

Graduates of accredited online MBA programs usually complete their degrees while working full time in their fields of choice. This situation can be advantageous because they already bring in a foundation of experience. Some MBA students find that their true passions are in a different career area than they originally thought. Making a switch to this new field is potentially one of the best decisions because it leads to working with much more productivity and motivation.

People who are excited and passionate about their particular fields look forward to beginning their work each day. They feel they have an opportunity and not an obligation to perform their best and to keep learning. An employee with this much dedication is a valuable asset for any business owner. Traditional or online business degree recipients can also move quickly through the ranks of management and serve as a mentor for other employees down the road.

Enthusiasm and passion can also be very beneficial for MBA graduates who are aspiring entrepreneurs. Starting a company from the ground up normally involves hard work, long hours and at least a few setbacks. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, new businesses are a key factors in economic growth. Educated entrepreneurs who follow their hearts enjoy these challenges and view initial failures as learning opportunities rather than negative results.

Entering a career field for enjoyment rather than for purely the money is one of the most intelligent moves for MBA recipients. It is what we spend most of our lives doing after all. This vested interest in the industry of choice is a definite strength to be exploited. One of these advanced degree programs can teach MBA candidates the technicalities, but it is up to each individual to bring the passion and enthusiasm that will propel them to success in their careers.

In this week’s CalMU Business Spotlight, we have decided to feature none other than the San Diego Business Journal. We’re not playing favorites because they ranked us in the Top 10 MBA Schools in San Diego for our on-campus, Hybrid MBA and online MBA programs. Rather, the SDBJ is the premier source of business news and insight, connecting the San Diego business community together through its myriad events, engaging content and business awards. Here’s some more about them and why we have given them this week’s CalMU Business Spotlight.

The San Diego Business Journal highlights the community of business. From the corporate CEO to an MBA student, the Journal connects individuals and companies to current business events that make San Diego an exciting city for entrepreneurs and business professionals.

Readers learn of the latest high-tech companies and new innovations that are peeking over the horizon. People can read about the best CEOs and their business philosophy. Venture companies will learn about innovative new companies that need an angel investor to bring an exciting new product into the market.

Creative middle-managers are highlighted for their innovative style. That manager might be the right individual that a company seeking help needs to complete a critical management team.

Companies considering a move to San Diego can learn about this business community’s culture and discover the right person to close a great real estate deal or provide capital goods.

Meet the bankers at the SDBJ who can help a company grow. Meet the head of a licensed security company who can manage a portfolio. Meet the experienced business traveler who can brief a new business about Hong Kong and suggest how many big bulls to carry. Meet the chief chef of one of many fine San Diego restaurants where you and your family can enjoy a fabulous Sunday dinner.

MBA students appreciate the Journal’s varied content and featured businesses. By reading these pages carefully, a student can find a treasure trove of hints about the qualities a San Diego business owner seeks when hiring a new employee.

Learning about the San Diego business community will help an MBA student answer this critical question: If I hire you, what value will you bring to my company?

The SDBJ is opens up a world of unlimited possibilities, ideas and directions. Each issue offers a new revelation of what makes San Diego California’s best city for business. From glossy color layouts to no-nonsense analysis, the San Diego Business Journal gives the reader news, features, tips and opinions found in no other publication.

The San Diego Business Journal offers insight, vision and perspective to individuals and companies who need to understand San Diego business today.

This week’s MBA Mondays blog focuses on one of our new California Miramar University Extension Programs, which is offered in the same format as our online MBA programs. In this video, revered Internet marketing specialist Dan Hollings, whom we are thrilled to be working with, discusses the importance of text messaging in marketing, and what businesses should focus on in their overall campaigns.

Often forgot about and overshadowed by social media marketing, text message campaigns can be very effective because you can reach a larger audience seeing as you don’t need an Internet connection to receive a text message. Whether an MBA student or graduate or have a Masters in Leadership degree, this is important for the future of business operations because it really shines light on the broader landscape in marketing campaigns.

Transcript of the Lesson

We’re going to actually do a little Text Message Magic; I love this part. I’m going to reveal to you four SMS formulas. By the way, if you don’t know what SMS is, that stands for Simple Messaging System. Okay? That’s it; it’s just a Simple Messaging System.

Alright, text message… here’s the deal. You probably saw these slides earlier; I used some of them in my introductory webinar. But this is the reason you want to go for text messaging as the low hanging fruit. Beware of the pizzazz: the iPhone, the iPad, the Android, all these mobile applications. They’re sexy; they’re cool; people are talking about them, especially in the media; but they’re really a small percentage of the market. They’re a couple of fleas on the elephant. It’s not where the money is. In fact I just read an article saying that Google has now made over a billion dollars on mobile. Okay? They’ve joined the eBay club and the Amazon club, and I’m sure there’s a bunch of others, but I guess they felt they needed to do a press release to let everybody know they’ve done a billion on mobile as well.

But the interesting part was that, I think it was around ten to fifteen percent – I could be wrong, but it was a small percentage – was on mobile apps and stuff; the rest of it was on mobile ads, mobile ads. That’s really where the bulk of their money is coming from. Okay?

So, this application part is a small part when you look at the whole landscape. The lowest hanging fruit is text messaging because everybody can get a text message. They don’t have to have web access or be in a Wi-Fi area ,or have, you know, an AT&T plan or nothing for Internet.

Video Transcription by GMR Transcription