By Shawna Strickland, Account Coordinator

Conversion-driven marketing agency 90octane hosted a four-week competition of raucous mustache growth to raise money for the winner’s charity of choice.

As a passion for fun and philanthropy drive the company culture at marketing agency 90octane, it was only a matter of course that the 2011 Mustache Challenge would be the most memorable to date. For the fifth annual facial hair competition, the mustache growers’ campaign efforts were exceptionally creative. Agency clients, partners and 90octane team members alike donned their ‘staches in an effort to win the coveted Challenge prize: $500 to the charity of the best mustache wearer’s choice.

Contestants in this year’s Challenge used a range of online and offline marketing tactics to campaign, from catchy fliers and emails to custom-made websites and side-splitting campaign videos. It was a cutthroat race, but in the end there could only be one.

Sean “Don Austere” Voorhies, this year’s winner, is no stranger to Mustache Challenge fame; he has won twice before with the aid of hirsute characters “Dusty McCoy” and “Alberto.” Voorhies’ winnings have been bestowed up his chosen charity, the Elias Fund, for the third time. Read the Fund’s response to Voorhies’ triumph here.

Though he prevailed, “Don Austere” was given a run for his money by all challengers, most notably those who received honorable mentions:

• the Globus family of brands took home “Most Creative Campaign” on behalf of Dan “Dandy Dan” English and “Coldest Upper Lip” for Jeff Russell’s valiant effort;
• “Classiest Mustache” went to 90octane interactive team member Josh Van Engen; and
• both 90octane partners were recognized — Sam “The Face” Eidson for “Creepiest Mustache” and
  Jim “J Geezy” Grinney for “Funniest Alter Ego.”

90octane extends its sincerest thanks to all competitors and campaign teams of the 2011 Mustache Challenge for their whole-hearted dedication to and support of the agency’s philanthropic efforts. Please stay tuned for next year’s mustache adventure.

Marketing agency 90octane employed a strategic paid search advertising program to boost donations during the nonprofit organization’s critical holiday season.

Digital marketing agency 90octane and nonprofit Heifer International earned a 2011 Silver Award from FundRaising Success magazine in the ‘On-the-Edge’ category for a 2010 holiday fundraising paid search program. 90octane and Heifer International join World Vision U.S., Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Democratic National Committee, New York Public Library and the Nature Conservancy among other prominent organizations featured on this year’s list of Fundraising Excellence award winners.

90octane and Heifer International increased brand visibility and drove online donations to support the nonprofit’s goal of lifting families out of poverty while caring for the earth. Heifer International aimed to increase donations by 10% during each month of the holiday season, October, November and December, compared to the same time periods the previous year.

90octane used strategic, optimized paid search advertising campaigns to improve donations totals by 30 percent in October, 23 percent in November and 4 percent in December for an average of 19% per month. The conversion rate was also an impressive 19 percent.

90octane continues to grow. Revenue was up 13 percent from 2009 to 2010.

For the sixth straight year, Denver conversion-driven marketing agency 90octane is included in ColoradoBiz Magazine’s annual Top 250 Private Companies list. The agency’s gross revenue grew by 13 percent from 2009 to 2010.

90octane focuses on measurement and optimization of its strategic demand generation programs, driving quality leads for B2B companies, sales for B2C companies and donations for nonprofit organizations.

Read more at http://www.cobizmag.com/articles/top-250-private-companies-2011/.

By Lauren Plewacki, Account Coordinator

So, you don’t have time to read Google’s ebook Winning the Zero Moment of Truth. Not to worry. We’ve summed up key points here.

Did you know…
· 70% of all transactions include some sort of pre-shopping?
· Americans now spend as much time online as they do watching T.V.?
· 70% of Americans say they look at product reviews before making a purchase?
· 79% of consumers use a smart phone to help with shopping?

All of these data points relate directly to the “Zero Moment of Truth” (ZMOT) concept, outlined in an ebook by Google’s Managing Director of U.S. Sales, Jim Lecinski. Winning the Zero Moment of Truth is a must-read for marketers interested in engaging customers in new and innovative ways.

What is ZMOT?

Here it is, the ZMOT as defined by Google: “Today we’re all digital explorers, seeking out online ratings, social media-based peer reviews, videos, and in-depth product details as we move down the path to purchase. Marketing has evolved and modern marketing strategies have to evolve with the changing shape of shopping. At Google, we call this online decision-making moment the Zero Moment of Truth — or simply ZMOT.”

In his ebook, Lecinski outlines the five components of the Zero Moment of Truth:

1. It happens online.
2. It happens in real time, at any time of the day.
3. The consumer is in charge.
4. It’s emotional.
5. The conversation is multi-way.

90octane Account Supervisor Shannon Anderson will share her paid search knowledge as part of an advanced, black-diamond session at SMX East, held September 13-15 in New York City.

On Wednesday,  September 14th, Anderson joins fellow SMX East panelists Siddharth Shah, PhD, Director of Business Analytics at Efficient Frontier, and Chris Goward, Co-Founder & CEO of WiderFunnel, in a discussion around the process of designing, implementing and measuring the results of paid search tests. The panel will be moderated by Matt Van Wagner, President of Find Me Faster.

Key topics will include what can and cannot be tested, how to design robust tests and identifying all the biases and underlying problems of testing PPC campaigns. Panelists will talk about process; they’ll also illustrate with case studies how to design a test for most effective bid levels, messaging, landing pages and other higher-level business questions that must be addressed to successfully implement paid search.

Check out the full SMX East agenda.

The conversion-driven marketing agency ranks no. 2,934 with three-year sales growth of 72%.

Inc. magazine ranked Denver conversion-driven marketing agency 90octane no. 2,934 on its fifth annual Inc. 500|5000 list, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies reporting at least $2 million in 2010 revenue.

The agency also ranked #62 for the Denver, CO metro area. The list represents the most comprehensive look at America’s independent-minded entrepreneurs. Online retailer ideeli tops this year’s list. 90octane joins Spirit Airlines, television maker Vizio, Honest Tea, Dunkin Donuts and Metrokane, makers of the Rabbit corkscrew, among other prominent brands featured on this year’s list.

View 90octane’s Inc. 5000 Company Profile.