On Monday, November 3, 2008 I had the honor of speaking at the WR 03 Performance Group conference in Chicago, IL. This group is made up of successful women who run auto dealerships around the country. The meeting is organized by ADP, and focuses on growing business for these auto dealerships.

My talk was focused on “How Digital Marketing Impacts Your Dealership”

Learn to use digital media to grow your auto dealership business. Derek Mehraban, CEO of Ingenex Digital Marketing will discuss search engine optimization, internet marketing, social media marketing and other essential techniques to drive traffic to your web site and build community among your customers. Mehraban has over 15 years of advertising and marketing experience and has worked with brands such as Chevy, Pontiac, Cadillac, ACDelco and more. After this session you will have a greater understanding of how you can impact your business through digital media.

The dealerships who attended gained valueable insights into how to grow their business online, and improve their search engine rankings. The following dealerships were in attendance:

Marty’s GMC in Kingston Massachusettes

Vandermeer Chevy & Buick in Wisonsin

Don Ledford Automotive in Tennessee

John Miskimins Motors

John Bowman Chevy in Clarkston, Michigan

Bennett Motors in Montana

And special thanks to Debbie Crispin of Bill Crispin Chevrolet in Saline, Michigan who invited me to speak at this event. Thanks Debbie!

LA2M - Lunch Ann Arbor Marketing has weekly marketing programs on a variety of topics. The programs are led by marketing professionals from Ann Arbor. Please join us on Facebook as well.

LA2M, Lunch Ann Arbor Marketing announces an extended speaker schedule for October, November and December 2008.

The success of LA2M’s new format has prompted organizers to run a second series of marketing lunchtime topics. LA2M is a weekly meeting of marketing professionals from both digital and traditional backgrounds. Founded in January 2008, LA2M meets every Wednesday from 11:45 – 1:00 PM.

Each week an LA2M expert speaks on a topic for 10-15 minutes, followed by discussion and sometimes, healthy, debate. Speakers cover topics ranging from traditional marketing to new and emerging marketing concepts and technologies. Handouts are available to attendees and the popularity of the event is growing.

Venue: LA2M is held at Pizza Pino, 221 W. Liberty.

Speaker List:
Oct 15 – Web Design, Declan O’Neill, 352 Media

Oct 22 – Market Research 1-2-3, Dee Davey, Creative Ideas Marketing

Oct 29 – Flash, Andy Ross, Web and Print Design Services

Nov 5 – Naming Your Brand, Scott Hauman, Q LTD

Nov 12 – Ethnic Marketing, Jinny Bromberg, Bromberg & Associates

Nov 19 – Corporate Marketing Tips, Dave Kamm, Marketing Professional

Nov 26 – OFF

Dec 3 – Web Site Design and Your Company, Ross Johnson, 3.7 Designs

Dec 10 – Digital Marketing Experience, Ingenex Eco-Friendly Intern Team

Dec 17 - Making Your Messages Sticky, Beth Stoner, Delta Possibilities

Dec 24 – OFF

Dec 31 - OFF

Please note: The group will be taking a break during Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Derek Mehraban, CEO of Ann Arbor, Michigan based Ingenex Digital Marketing is scheduled to speak at Promotions Commons. This endowed seminar series at Michigan State University was started by John Aldinger. Promotions Commons provides students in Advertising, Public Relations and Retailing, a unique opportunity to hear from leaders in a variety of communications-related disciplines.

Derek will speak to over one hundred MSU students about “5 Ways Digital Marketing Can Build Your Personal Brand” on Wednesday, October 8 at 4:30pm, in the Communication Arts and Sciences building at Michigan State University.

Derek will lend insight gained through several years in the marketing and advertising industry. Mehraban and Ingenex use a variety of Digital techniques to help companies and individuals grow their business. One new way that has everyone excited is Social Harbor, a turnkey solution for companies and individuals to use Social Media to grow their business. They build credible professional profiles for those looking to promote a presence on the web.

This specific Promotions Commons seminar at MSU is a perfect compliment to an internship that Derek started this past summer. The Eco-Friendly Digital Marketing Internship is a terrific way for students interested in marketing to learn the digital route in which everything is headed. Mehraban has a lot to share, and the more places he can get his message across, the better for all of the marketing world.

With gas prices soaring, it’s no wonder that many are seeking ways to cut commuting costs. Luckily for students and recent graduates interested in digital marketing, Ingenex Digital Marketing, located in Ann Arbor, MI, has tailored an internship to fit their specific needs.
Ingenex eco-friendly interns are learning digital marketing while working to expand the internship for 2009. “Our goal is to make the Eco-Friendly Internship accessible to more students and more universities via new technology.” Says Ingenex CEO Derek Mehraban. “We are looking for university partners right now, and we are starting with the Michigan State University Advertising program.”

Ingenex specializes in all aspects of online marketing including search engine optimization and web site design.

Meet the Fall 2008 Eco-Friendly Team:

Jennifer Harrison is currently a fourth year advertising student at Michigan State University, with a specialization in Public Relations and an additional major in Mandarin Chinese.

Katie Hyzy recently received a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Denison University in Ohio. Over the summer, she completed a Marketing and P.R. Internship at Chicago-based start up company Green Market Fundraising.

Amanda Marandola is an advertising sophomore at Michigan State University. She is extremely interested in the fields of advertising and marketing, and she would like to specialize in Public Relations.

Pedro Martin is a recent MBA International Business graduate of EMU. With a background in Marketing and Management, he hopes to achieve a position that will allow him to employ his marketing skills in an international business setting.

Nick Meador finished the masters of journalism program at MSU this summer, while participating in an editorial internship at Traverse Magazine. He’s seeking a career combining writing/editing, web design/development, and digital marketing.

The Ingenex eco-friendly digital marketing internship is the first of its kind.  The growing demand for digital skills in corporate America is undeniable. Ingenex interns are preparing to be leaders in the digital economy and the eco-friendly future of our country. Learn more about the Eco-Friendly Digital Marketing Internship or find out about Michigan Marketing.

The cutting-edge marketing firm down on Main Street, Ingenex Digital Marketing, continues to grow with the announcement today of a new full-time employee.

Grant Heitkamp has been hired on as the newest team member focused on growing Michigan based companies through digital marketing on the web.

Heitkamp was brought on board to head Ingenex’s newest product, SocialHarbor.com. Social Harbor is a Professional Online Profile Management solution for companies. They create, manage, promote, and monitor the online presence for businesses and their employees, a growing need in today’s digital economy.

From the looks of it, Ingenex is poised for more rapid growth in the coming months. With CEO Derek Mehraban’s expertise and Grant’s drive, look for Social Harbor to sail to the top, taking all of their clients with them.

Most companies hiring interns expect them to drive to the office every day.  Ingenex Digital Marketing, located in Ann Arbor, MI, has taken a new approach this summer.  Instead of asking cash-strapped students to spend their summer driving to work, Ingenex has set up a new and eco-friendly internship that allows interns to work from home four days a week.

Ingenex Digital Marketing is a full-service interactive marketing company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is run by CEO, Derek Mehraban, a Michigan State advertising graduate. The company provides services in Interactive and web, search engine marketing, social media and much more. Its clients include West System, Campusfaves.com, and Inforum Michigan.

Meet the Inaugural Eco-Friendly Team:
Lia Homeister completed her sophomore year at Michigan State University. Homeister, an advertising major, is learning digital skills that will help her become a better media planner.

Grant Heitkamp, a recent graduate of Michigan State University’s advertising program, is becoming an expert in all aspects of Digital Marketing with plans to implement these skills for future employers.

Kevin Conlon, also a recent graduate of MSU with a degree in Advertising, hopes his digital marketing expertise will be valuable in an account management role with future employers.

Ingenex eco-friendly interns are currently focusing on social media marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click Google Adwords (ppc), digital marketing strategy, and online public relations.

“Startup Weekend has been huge in cities like San Francisco, Portland and Boston. Now it’s Ann Arbor’s turn. We have a large pool of smart people doing interesting things. I can’t wait to see what types of companies this group will launch, as well as the community they’ll create. It’s very exciting to see this happening at a grassroots level.” Laura Fisher, owner Mitten Artworks and organizer of Startup Weekend Ann Arbor.

Ann Arbor Startup Weekend, June 20 – 22 in Ann Arbor will gather 50 – 75 bright, talented people from the region to develop and launch 5 – 7 NEW companies in a single marathon weekend.

Ann Arbor Startup Weekend is a practical, hands-on learning experience on how to start a business.  It recruits a highly motivated group of developers, business managers, startup enthusiasts, marketing gurus, graphic artists and more to build not just a company, but enable participants to learn new skills and create new relationships within the local Ann Arbor community.

Startup Weekend will be held at the Liberty Square office space, lower level (510 E. Washington in downtown Ann Arbor.)  Startup Weekend takes place the weekend of June 20 -22. Friday 6p-11p, Saturday 9a-11p, Sunday 9a-9p