by Tom Barrett

Internet Marketing is Just Plain Confusing!

On June 12, 2013, I had fun presenting “Internet Marketing & Social Media for Irrigation Contractors” at webinar hosted by the Ohio Irrigation Association.  Here are my thoughts and comments.

Why a Website?
Why Not a Camel?
I’d Walk a Mile for a Camel”

– Groucho Marx

Most irrigation contractors are as confused about website, internet marketing, and social media as Groucho was about Camels. There is an overload of  information available about the which social media channel to use and how to use it.

And a lot of doesn’t work for irrigation contractors.

In this presentation Tom Barrett cleared up a lot of the myths about internet marketing, websites, social media, and email.

Comments

This is excellent information. Just what I am looking for to help my customers.”

– John McKay, Rain Bird

This really cleared up a lot of my confusion. I like seeing the great results we received from our (Ohio Irrigation Association) test of Facebook Advertising.”

– J.C. Wheaton, Centerville Landscaping and Irrigation

Key Points on Internet Marketing

• Why you, as an irrigation contractor, need a website.

• You can not judge the effectiveness of a website by its appearance.

• What you pay for a website varies dramatically and is not always a reflection of its effectiveness in bringing in new business.

• The audience for your website is both the consumer and the search engines. Here a small change in wording can have a huge impact on being found by an internet search.

• How social media, and Facebook in particular, can amplify your marketing.

• Internet marketing is less expensive but more time consuming than conventional marketing.

• Email converts consumers from looking to buying your product and services.

Here is a copy of the presentation. Feel free to share it with others…

By Tom Barrett

In the year 2000 the United Nations embarked on an aggressive project to improve the living standards for humankind. This project, The United Nations Millennium Goals, were tasked with substantially reducing and sustainably improving the human condition in the following areas:

• Poverty
  
• Hunger
  
• Disease
  
• Illiteracy
  
• Environmental Degradation
  
• Discrimination Against Women
  

At the Millennium Summit in 2000 The Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) were refined into eight development goals to be achieved by the year 2015:

 

1. Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger
   
2. Achieving universal primary education
   
3. Promoting gender equality and empowering women
   
4. Reducing child mortality rates
   
5. Improving maternal health
   
6. Combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases,
   
7. Ensuring environmental sustainability
   
8. Developing a global partnership for development
   

The deadline for implementation is 2015 and the United Nations has made substantial progress in achieving many of these goals.

Bridge the Gap Villages in Vorovoro, Fiji has goals that tie in perfectly with many of the United Nations Millennium Goals. As an ecotourism and sustainable development tourist destination, not only can guests explore and relax in the natural beauty of an untouched Fijian island, they can experience Fijian culture in a way not available anywhere else on earth.

Ecologically Responsibility

As a guest on Vorovoro, Fiji you will experience an island that is ecologically responsible. Rainwater harvesting is the only water source. There is zero waste stream. Compost toilets recycle all biodegradable waste. Permaculture methods are used to help feed island guests. All power on the island is renewable. All building materials are locally sourced and most are from renewable natural resources.

Supporting the Local Economy

The goal of Bridge the Gap Villages, Vorovoro, Fiji is to return over ninety percent of revenues to the local Fijian economy. Local staff is employed at a living wage. Most services are sourced from local service companies.  Most importantly Bridge the Gap Villages Vorovoro, Fiji has a goal of achieving ninety percent Fijian ownership by the local tribe, the Matingali, within ten years. Not only are the local tribes benefitting from the tourist dollars spent on the island, they are becoming business owners while learning how to start their own companies. 

Unique Business-Mentoring Program

The most unique element of the Bridge the Gap Villages Vorovoro, Fiji project is a business-mentoring program. The intention of this unique program is to find promising Fijians who are capable of running their own business. These Fijians will develop a business plan, be assigned a mentor, and be assisted closely for the first three to five years of their business start-up.

Culturally Sensitive

Guests on Vorovoro, Fiji will be shown respect for the Fijian culture they are visiting. Fiji’s culture is a rich mixture of indigenous Fijian, Indo-Fijian, Asian and European traditions. The indigenous community culture is preserved, as island guests will live in native Fijian bures, bamboo and grass huts. The island cuisine of root crops, vegetables, fruit and fish are prepared in a traditional wood fired oven. Fiji’s modern culture is rich with formalities and intricacies that show respect for communal groups. Island visitors will have an opportunity to participate in a nightly Kava ceremony.

Experiential Richness

Island guest become a part of the daily island activities as well as the local community. Guests are invited to create activities that will educate them and subsequent visitors about the island, the environment, the community, the traditions and the culture. Everyone is asked to help enrich the community with their unique talents thus helping the community thrive long after the visitors leave.

Fitting into the United Nation’s Millennium Goals

The United Nations Millennium Goals is one of the most successful projects in the history of the United Nations. The goal of reducing poverty by half has been reached five years ahead of the 2015 deadline.  Primary school enrollment of girls equaled boys. Progress in reducing child and maternal mortality is accelerating. The target of halving the proportion of people without access to improved sources of water has been reached.

Despite these successes, there is still much to be done. The 2012 United Nations Millennium Development Goals Report states, “Inequality is detracting from these gains, and slowing advances in other key areas. In the years ahead, we have the opportunity to achieve more and to shape the agenda for our future.” A new agenda is taking shape.

Economic, Environmental and Social Development

Bridge the Gap Villages, with Vorovoro, Fiji, is a part of this agenda. Fiji has an abundance of natural resources and is one of the most developed economies in the Pacific Island region. The main sources of foreign exchange are tourism and sugar exports. Fiji is a developing nation with an exceptionally high literacy rate and education for boys and girls are at parity. However, according to the World Bank, the average Fijian lives on $12 USD per day. Fiji has a low level of employment, and is very dependent on foreign aid. Improvements are needed in child mortality and maternal health.

Ecotourism

Bridge the Gap Villages in Fiji will address the many of these issues in Labasa on the northern island of Vanua Levu, formerly known as Sandalwood Island. Labasa is primarily an agricultural area dependent upon sugar cane. Sugar cane farming and production has been decreasing due to the loss of overseas markets and political changes. Labasa is off the traditional tourist track but has enough local amenities to support the start-up of an ecotourism center. Tourism is becoming a major industry on Vanau Levu.

Empowering Women

Bridge the Gap Villages will be working to improve the economic stability in the region through ecotourism. Additionally, Bridge the Gap Villages will improve the economic outlook for women through the unique mentoring program. By empowering women, Bridge the Gap Villages will reduce the child mortality rate and improve maternal health. 

Creating Global Partnerships

Finally, Bridge the Gap Villages will be part of the process of creating global partnerships for economic development in other counties. Fiji is one of the United Nations Small Island Developing States. The importance of Small Island Developing States is the recognition that Fiji, along with fifty-one other small islands states, shares unique vulnerabilities in economic, environmental and social development. The lessons learned by Bridge the Gap Villages in the development of ecotourism on Vorovoro, Fiji will be applied in the development of additional ecotourism sites throughout the world.

Travelers and guests of Bridge the Gap Villages can be certain that their visit to Vorovoro, Fiji will contribute to the preservation and development of the native environment, the local people, and be a participant in one of the most exciting social movements in the world.

About the Author: Tom Barrett

Tom Barrett is an Advisory Board Member for Bridge The Gap Villages. Tom Barrett is owner of Green Water Infrastructure. He is a noted author, speaker, business coach, and entrepreneur. Over the years, Tom has served as an advisor to hundreds of small businesses. Over the last ten years, Tom has delivered numerous presentations on sustainability at the Chicago Center for Green Technology. He has over thirty years of successful industry experience and is known as an accomplished corporate growth and change agent.

New Tools for Sustainable Site Development

Rain Water Harvesting and Condensate Recovery

Presentation by Tom Barrett

WHEN:

Thursday, March 1, 2012 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

WHERE:

The Chicago Center for Green Technology

445 N. Sacramento Blvd
(between Chicago Ave. and Lake St.)

Chicago, Illinois

COST: FREE

AIS Continuing Eduction Units: 2

“Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.” wrote Samuel Taylor Coleridge in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. In its Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, the American Society of Civil Engineers rated our nation’s wastewater, stormwater, and drinking water systems a “D” minus. This is the lowest grade in any infrastructure category. The most alarming conclusion is the next lowest grade is “F” – FAILURE. Over the last fifty years America has not invested in new practices and technologies which can enhance our infrastructure and our environment. Rainwater harvesting and condensate recovery are transformative approaches to sustainable site development.

“The over-borrowing, over-consuming, and under-innovation (is) now in the US. . .,” Antonio van Aqtmael said in an October 2007 issue of Newsweek. As engineering solutions to water management that protects, restores, and mimics the natural water cycle. Rainwater harvesting and condensate recovery incorporates both the natural environment and engineered systems to provide clean water, conserve ecosystems, and provide a wide variety of benefits for people and wildlife. Additionally, all this can be accomplished at a significantly lower cost than conventional concrete and mortar infrastructure.

Join Tom Barrett as he explains how the use of locally produced water helps develop a “natural approach” to efficient use of water and relieves stormwater management issues.

WHAT OTHER SAID ABOUT THIS PRESENTATION

“. . . best class at CCGT so far, rainwater data, new ideas, charts and stats, all the different ways I can use the rainwater for my home.”
” . . . great speaker, the positive outlook, no blame game, examples (drip system), knowledgeable, class got to participate.

Speaker’s Biography – Tom Barrett

Tom Barrett is an accomplished corporate growth and change agent with over thirty years of industry experience. Tom’s leadership experience, holding executive level positions, drives corporate revenue growth through change and innovation for business start-ups, corporate expansions, and divisional turnarounds.

Tom Barrett has been delivering energetic, dynamic presentations and training for over twenty years. These presentations empower people to become masters of change rather than victims of circumstance by developing tools for transformational thinking.

“Tom’s been a leader with smart water technologies, green roofs, rainwater harvesting and other emerging technologies well before they became buzzwords at water conferences. It’s impressive to work with Tom because he knows his stuff from the ground up.”

– Jeff Carowitz, Strategic Force Marketing

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Chan•nel: |ˈ ch anl|*

noun:

– a length of water wider than a strait, joining two larger areas of water, especially two seas.

– a medium for communication or the passage of information.

– a navigable passage in a stretch of water otherwise unsafe for vessels.

verb:

– direct towards a particular end.

– cause to pass along or through a specified route or medium.

*excerpted from the Oxford University Press Dictionary

Global Water Infrastructure’s Tom Barrett is featured in the current issue of BizVoice (the Indiana Chamber of Commerce magazine), one of several dynamic business leaders serving as a vital “channel.”

Just like the enduring importance of water infrastructure, businesses are beginning to recognize the enduring importance of knowledge held by veteran workers and looking for ways to pay …or, channel…. that knowledge forward.

And, whether channeling their knowledge by way of mentoring, consulting or entrepreneurial initiatives, seasoned workers are helping businesses transition into the future.

You can read more about Tom and this forward looking process at:http://www.bizvoicemagazine.com/archives/11mayjun/WorkforceWise.pdf

Plainfield, Indiana

February 16, 2011

Tom Barrett has recently announced upcoming speaking engagements for January 9-10, 2011. Please see the video below for more information.

For more information or to register, please go to www.nationalgreencenter.org.

Sustainable Environments from Accent On Business on Vimeo.

Rainwater Infrastructure from Accent On Business on Vimeo.

Recently, Green Water Infrastructure owner Tom Barret was featured in an editorial focused on stormwater management.

Experts from around the country were interviewed to educate readers on the benefits of stormwater retention. Tom spoke about the economic benefits of this practice.

Below is a brief passage from the article:

Tom Barrett, owner of Green Water Infrastructure, an Indiana-based environmental consulting firm that focuses on sustainable development practices, echoes Feissner’s claims about the financial feasibility of green management strategies. “That’s the shocker of the whole thing, that maintaining stormwater on-site is less expensive than conventional means,” Barrett explains.

Barrett has worked on projects for Disney and Nike, Wrigley Field, the city of Chicago and other well-known clients, prioritizes the utilization of 100 percent of a site’s water resources right there on site. “We need to make people aware of the issues stormwater creates, so instead of treating it as a disposal issue we start treating it as a resource issue,” Barrett asserts.