elcome to the DANIMA News! Every month DANIMA Technologies Inc. provides our readers with information on new company products, web site launches, client features, marketing articles, DANIMA promotions, and more.

Over the past several months The Ladies (Laura Quist and Teresa Schaubel) have been diligently working with the DANIMA staff to complete their very first web site. The site consists of information on all of their services, as well as a Content Management System to maintain client contacts and email clients. Phase II of the site will include the addition of features such as product guides and on-line ordering.

QS2 has the most unique and original concepts to promote your business or award your staff and clients. Their clients vary from casinos to hotels to major industry and everyone in between.

Stop by and visit The Ladies' brand new web site @ www.qs2.ca today...tell them DANIMA Dave sent you!

The DANIMA team created a new site that not only provides complete information on Marshall & Company's services, but it also offers visitors the opportunity to subscribe to the new Marshall & Company Opt-In Newsletter - Marshall Your Resources. In addition, the site offers a secure Client Area for current clients, publications and resources, and a Content Management System to allow Marshall staff to create the monthly newsletter and distribute it to their databased list of subscribers. Though Marshall & Company had a web presence in the past, the new web site is now consistent with all of Marshall & Company's marketing materials and now reflects the professionalism of Mary Ann's business.

To find out more about Marshall & Company and their services visit their new site @ www.marshallandcompany.com and don't forget to subscribe to their newsletter - Marshalling Your Resources.

DANIMA's Bruce Springsteen Canada & Yanks Old Niagara Bar & Grill in Niagara Falls teamed up to offer one lucky winner a pair of great tickets to the show and Dinner for 2 at Yanks Old Niagara. And the winner was.....

Trash Talk In The EFP Huddle

Now, DANIMA has added a new feature to the pool - The EFP Huddle. Talk about the upcoming games, last weeks picks, or just trash talk other pool participants on their picks! It's all just for fun! Register for the forum and then simply login from time to time to post or just to read what's going on!

The best part about it is that you don't have to be in one of the pools to be part of the forum. So, what are you waiting for, head over to www.easyfootballpool.com, click on "The Huddle" and let the games begin!

So, let's step back from this for a moment. Many businesses would laugh at that dollar amount. "Peanuts" they'd say. Other small businesses like DANIMA would choke when hearing the cost (in fact, I did). Having an Internet business and thinking in terms of a global economy on a daily basis, I was shocked to think that anyone would spend that much money on advertisements that are only seen by a relatively small group of people. In hindsight, it makes a lot of sense because this small group (a particular city, such as Welland) falls into his business' target market group. What really shocked me was when I asked Tony if he was listed in any on-line directories, local or industry specific, and he said "no"! With all of the money that he spends monthly on advertising you would think that he would have tapped into the numerous free listings on the Internet. Until now, he hadn't. In this case, he is missing out on the Internet consumer, the fastest growing target market group for all businesses!

I do realize that many people that require his services will go directly to the phone book...people always will. However, if I'm working on my computer (like I am right now) and the thought came to me that I needed this service, I'd go directly to Google and type in the appropriate keywords or I would go to an on-line directory such as Choose Niagara and search their extensive business listings. Other local directories such as Small Business Club Niagara's on-line listing of over 300 small businesses in the Niagara Region are also great sources of information for searchers on the Internet. Many of the listings in these on-line directories are free, or require you to be a member for a small fee, so why wouldn't you spend the time to ensure that you are listed in ALL of these directories?

Once again, it DOES take time to sit down on your computer and start searching the Internet for directories that relate to your business or local all-inclusive business directories. It takes time. Then again, so does developing an ad, sending it to the appropriate party, checking proofs, double checking proofs and finally signing off. The one thing with print advertising is that once it's printed, it's printed. If you place a banner ad (that's another article all-together) or a listing in an on-line directory and your phone number or address changes you can change the information in seconds (sometimes, like in Choose Niagara, you can make the change yourself). If you have your address in a phone book ad and you move, you can't make that change until next year! With on-line directories those changes are easier and, most times, immediate!

Take a rainy day, or a lazy day and plop yourself in front of your computer and surf. Look for industry-related directories and listings, local business directories, etc. DANIMA's golf directory www.ultimatecaddy.com and our local business directory www.chooseniagara.ca both offer businesses the opportunity to add their course/company information to the directory. Our system allows registered businesses/courses to login to a secure area to manage their own information! I am continually amazed, especially in the Spring, at how many golf courses across North America find our directory, check to see if they are in the directory, and register if they do not find their course listed. Hundreds register every Spring and a good number every week throughout the year!

In summary, as a business owner you need to broaden your marketing efforts to include the Internet. More and more people are accessing on-line directories for information on businesses. Studies show that people would rather use an on-line directory than a search engine, because the directory will provide information for all businesses in that particular region or industry, whether they have a web site or not. So, you need to be there. Whether you have a web site or whether you don't! These directories will not only drive more business to your business, but they will also drive more traffic to your site. It pays to take the time to get listed in these directories. I'll get you started. Go to www.chooseniagara.ca and get listed today!