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NJBIZ Top 250
Category: Uncategorized
Interview with Alex Melen – NamesCon
Q&A
Describe your company and how long you have been there.
I’m a Co-founder at SmartSites, having been here since we started the company in 2011. SmartSites is a full service digital agency offering website design and development, SEO, and PPC. Our diverse team of designers, developers, and strategists is 50-people strong and spans across the globe. Since our inception in 2011, we have completed over 600 projects, and have received only 5-star reviews across Google+, Yelp, and Facebook. We are young, motivated, and continually growing.
What can attendees look forward to during your session?
This should be an exciting session full of tips and tricks of how to develop your domains. We’ll be covering everything from selecting the correct CMS, to the proper SEO strategies.
What can attendees do in order to prepare for your session? Are there any questions or scenarios they should consider in advance?
I’m planning on leaving 15 minutes at the end for Q&A. Definitely feel free to write down some questions—anything related to digital, marketing, SEO, PPC, website development, or anything else that comes to mind. I’ll do my best to answer all the questions.
What would you like attendees to learn or take away from your session?
From doing this session in the past, attendees can at least a basic sense of the different ways to develop and monetize their domains. I would love for everyone to come away knowing at least a little bit about every single part of the development, online marketing and monetization process.
Can you tell us about how your service or product helps deliver value to your customers?
Our agency provides world-class website development and marketing services. We’ve helped take businesses from the idea phase to generating seven figures in revenue or even going public.
What are your thoughts on the new TLDs?
Although I’m personally still a huge fan of .com’s, the use-cases for various new TLDs are starting to become stronger. In many cases, even if a client has a .com, we recommend they get the matching versions on some of the other TLDs to protect their brand identity.
What kinds of changes do you foresee within the industry in the next year five years?
As always, short memorable .com’s will remain king. However, I see the value of domains being influenced more and more by the development, content and ranking of the domain. For example, owning bestshirts.com is cool. But owning bestshirts.com with an amazing t-shirt store that ranks first on Google for the top keywords and brings in seven figures of revenue is a whole different ball game and increases the value of the domain exponentially.
What are you most looking forward to at the upcoming NamesCon?
This is my first NamesCon—I’ve heard great things and am really looking forward to connecting with everyone (including people I’ve met at some of the previous domain and web conferences).
How did you get your start in the industry?
I started my first web company in 1997—at the age of 13! I’ve been in the industry since the beginning. Like many, I’ve unfortunately let go of some amazing domains way too soon!
What advice can you offer those who are just getting their start in the domain or related industry?
I would stress the importance of developing the domain. A domain has a lot more value once there is something on it (especially if it’s bringing in revenue). Think of it like staging a house. Even if the owner doesn’t want that content (i.e. house furniture), it helps them see the full value of the domain.
How does your career compare to what you envisioned in your youth?
Building and growing successful businesses—my career is exactly what I’ve always pictured and wanted. If you set your mind to it, anything is possible.
How would you describe what you do in a single sentence to a stranger?
I help businesses succeed online.
What’s the latest and greatest accomplishment in your career so far?
Latest: For SmartSites—Getting into the INC5000 (top 5000 companies in America) and NJBIZ250 (top 250 companies in New Jersey).
Describe a recent challenge at work or in your personal life that you overcame.
Growing our digital agency, without sacrificing quality or service, has been one of the most challenging experiences in my life. However, it has taught me a lot and I look forward to continuing our exponential growth.
Original Source:
SmartSites was rated for top internet marketing
WASHINGTON
Today, B2B research, ratings, and reviews company Clutch unveiled 204 companies that provide the best creative, design, and development services in New York. Clutch analysts evaluated and ranked each company based on market presence, work quality, services offered, and client feedback.
The leading creative and design agencies in New York are as follows:
Web Designers:
Avex Designs, BOWEN, Big Drop, Constructive, Dotlogics, HTML Pro, HUEMOR, IdeaWork Studios, Lounge Lizard, Your Majesty, Blue Fountain Media, Hard Candy Shell, SEO Brand, MAXBURST, Onit Digital, Inc.
Logo Designers:
GreyBox Creative, OrangeYouGlad, LLC, Transfuture, Infinia Group, The O Group, SmartNet Solutions, Studio Simpatico, Studio Sanderson, L+R, The Forest Studio, Forest Studio, Bionic Egg, nextbracket, Digital Web Consulting, Anthony Savino
Graphic Designers:
Infinia Group, Agency Squid, Eventige Media Group, Socialfly, Spark451, OrangeYouGlad, LLC, RXM Creative, The Miller Group
Digital Designers:
Momentum Design Lab, DMI (Digital Management, Inc.), Big Drop, Hard Candy Shell, Y Media Labs, Slide UX, Avex Designs, Lounge Lizard, Bop Design, Blue Fountain Media, BOWEN, Dotlogics, HUEMOR, Constructive, Fueled
UX Designers:
Momentum Design, DMI (Digital Management, Inc.), Humanist, Hard Candy Shell, Gramercy Tech, Key Lime Interactive, Five, Dom & Tom, ArcTouch, Fueled, Worry Free Labs, Blue Label Labs, Mindgrub, Majestyk, Fuzz
Full Service Digital Agencies:
SEO Brand, Momentum Design Lab, AMP Agency, R2integrated, York & Chapel, Mediaforce Digital Marketing, Greater Than One, Socialfly, OrangeYouGlad, LLC, Socialfix Media, Wpromote, SmartSites, Reklam5 Digital Agency, Eventige Media Group, Beyond
Creative Agencies:
The Miller Group, Constructive, Your Majesty, The O Group, Gigante, Vaz Partners, Tronvig Group, Piro, 3Q Digital, Definition 6, Jungle Communications, Inc., Greater Than One, Eventige Media Group, The Byne Group
Video Production Companies:
Indigo Productions, Dream Machine Creative, MultiVision Digital Productions, Luminoustudios Inc., Piro, Column Five, The Miller Group, Your Majesty, S&G Content Marketing, Socialfix Media, Gigante Vaz Partners, Definition 6, Content Boost, Mission Disrupt, Jungle Communications, Inc.
The leading developers in New York are as follows:
App Developers:
Dom & Tom, ArcTouch, Fueled, Five, DMI (Digital Management, Inc.), Blue Label Labs, Majestyk, App Partner, Utility, Fuzz, Small Planet Digital, MOBIKASA, Prolific Interactive, Posse, Worry Free Labs
iPhone App Developers:
Dom & Tom, Fueled, DMI (Digital Management, Inc.), Blue Label Labs, Utility, Five, MOBIKASA, Majestyk, ArcTouch, Fuzz, Saffron Tech, App Partner, Small Planet Digital, Worry Free Labs, Posse
Android App Developers:
DMI (Digital Management, Inc.), Dom & Tom, ArcTouch, Saffron Tech, Five, iTechArt, Fueled, Fuzz, Majestyk, App Partner, Posse, Postlight, Worry Free Labs, Prolific Interactive, Blue Label Labs
Software Developers:
iTechArt, Icreon, PSL Corp., Ciklum, PromptWorks, DOOR3, Tivix, BrightStarr, Gramercy Tech, Stride, Appster, App Partner, Onit Digital, Inc., Invonto, Small Planet Digital
Web Developers:
Nolte, Big Drop, Dom & Tom, MOBIKASA, iTechArt, Onit Digital, Inc., Saffron Tech, End Point, Tivix, Blue Fountain Media, Ruckus, Five, IdeaWork Studios, Drupal Connect, Postlight
E-Commerce Developers:
iTechArt, End Point, Hudson Integrated, Ciklum, Redstage, Parkfield Commerce, Command C, Blue Fountain Media, App Partner, Dotlogics, DotcomWeavers, HUEMOR, Pixafy, ustwo studio, Avex Designs
Magento Developers:
Pixafy, End Point, Redstage, Blue Fountain Media, Command C, Dotlogics, Avex Designs, iTechArt, Ciklum, DotcomWeavers, MAGINX INC, digital marauders, Parkfield Commerce, HUEMOR, HyQuality
PHP Developers:
Ruckus, Saffron Tech, DotcomWeavers, Onit Digital, Inc., Statenweb, Icreon, MOBIKASA, iTechArt, Nolte, MAXBURST, Cantilever, Lform Design, HUEMOR, Blue Water
Ruby on Rails Developers:
Appster, End Point, Dom & Tom, thoughtbot, Five, Def Method, iTechArt, JetRockets, Gramercy Tech, Stride, PromptWorks, MOBIKASA, Venture Aviator, Woopa, Blenderbox
.NET Developers:
PSL Corp., Appster, Icreon, Saffron Tech, Hudson Integrated, Bitbean.com, iTechArt, BrightStarr, DOOR3, Five, wildcard, Venture Aviator, Blenderbox, Ciklum, App Partner
Shopify Developers:
HUEMOR, Command C, Avex Designs, Pixafy, iTechArt, Dotlogics, HyQuality, Redstage, digital marauders, Def Method, DotcomWeavers, Rival Group, JetRockets, nextbracket
WordPress Developers:
Big Drop, Saffron Tech, Dom & Tom, Ruckus, Nolte, Postlight, Alley Interactive, Transfuture, Hard Candy Shell, DotcomWeavers, Blue Fountain Media, Cantilever, MAXBURST, Liqui-Site, TeliApp Corporation
Drupal Developers:
Blue Fountain Media, Drupal Connect, Big Drop, R2integrated, HAAS/crea, Blue Water, Alley Interactive, DrupalJedi, MAXBURST, Cloudsoft Mobile Inc., DOOR3, HUEMOR, Beyond, SmartNet Solutions, KOUNTERATTACK
AR/VR Developers:
Gramercy Tech, thoughtbot, Neon Roots, HackNCraft, XcelTec
IoT Developers:
SoluLab, PromptWorks, Intrepid, Somo, Stride
“The creative and development spaces are fast-moving fields,” said Clutch Business Analyst Alaina Stevenson. “The ability to develop and design digital products and please clients is impressive. Congratulations to the 204 companies that have stayed on the cutting-edge of technology and continue to deliver outstanding services to their clients.”
It’s free to get listed on Clutch. However, only the leading companies in each industry are recognized as leaders.
Clutch’s research is ongoing. For a chance to be featured as a 2019 New York Leader, apply now. Getting listed is a simple, two-step process that takes less than 20 minutes.
These results are a snapshot of Clutch’s Leaders Matrices on March 19, 2018. These rankings may change daily and currently may not reflect Clutch’s website.
Original Source:
SmartSites was rated for top social media
The leading marketing and advertising agencies in New York are as follows:
Advertising Agencies:
Interplanetary, RXM Creative, Gigante Vaz Partners, AMP Agency, BrandTuitive, Fearless Media, milk*, The O Group, Greater Than One, Tronvig Group, OpGen Media, The Byne Group, Eventige Media Group, The Miller Group, Your Majesty
Digital Marketing Agencies:
Taktical, Thrive Internet Marketing Agency, Mediaforce Digital Marketing Agency, Wpromote, Magnero, WebiMax, WebpageFX, PBJ Marketing, Boucher + Co., SmartAcre, fishbat Media, ACRONYM, SmartSites, HUNTER, R2integrated
PR Firms:
Bateman Group, Martin Levy Public Relations, Bob Gold & Associates, Marketing Maven, Column Five, Right Angle PR, Amore Incorporated, WebiMax, The Byne Group, S&G Content Marketing, milk*, Appular, Gvate
Branding Agencies:
Tenet Partners, DMI (Digital Management, Inc), WANT Branding, GreyBox Creative, Infinia Group, Motto, Salt Branding, The O Group, BrandTuitive, IdeaWork Studios, Constructive, C42D, Interplanetary, Tronvig Group, Ruckus
SEO Firms:
WebpageFX, SEO Brand, Thrive Internet Marketing Agency, SEO Services New York, Path Interactive, Mindgrub, SEO Image, Where Is My Brand, WebiMax, ACRONYM, Elite SEM, CommonMind, Gvate, R2integrated, Liqui-Site
PPC Agencies:
AdVenture Media Group, Path Interactive, Wpromote, ACRONYM, WebpageFX, Thrive Internet Marketing Agency, CommonMind, WebiMax, Taktical, PBJ Marketing, AMP Agency, adCookie, Main Street ROI, R2integrated, Mediaforce Digital Marketing
Social Media Marketing Agencies:
Socialfly, Thrive Internet Marketing Agency, Social Diva Media, Elite SEM, QNY Creative, WebiMax, Taktical, fishbat Media, TDT, Mediaforce Digital Marketing, App Promo, Boucher + Co., SmartSites, Fearless Media, adlicious
Content Marketing Agencies:
S&G Content Marketing, Column Five, Content Boost, Movable Media, Tenet Partners, RXM Creative, Lform Design, AMP Agency, fishbat Media, Saypr, York & Chapel, Blue Water, Bob Gold & Associates, Wpromote, Piro
Inbound Marketing Agencies:
AMP Agency, Elite SEM, PBJ Marketing, Greater Than One, Boucher + Co., R2integrated, Column Five, HUNTER, fishbat Media, Mediaforce Digital Marketing, SmartAcre, SEMGeeks, Tenet Partners, TDT, Momentum Design Lab
App Marketing Agencies:
Moburst, Appular, App Promo, Blue Label Labs, LoyaltyPlant, Prolific Interactive, Social Diva Media, Messapps.
Email Marketing Agencies: Socialfly, Active Web Group, York & Chapel, OpGen Media, Liqui-Site, Main Street ROI, Fearless Media, Boucher + Co., Solutions for Growth, eStore Seller, Callahan & Toolen Digital Services, Digital Web Consulting, SmartAcre, EIC Agency
Digital Strategy Agencies:
Drummond St. Strategy, Y Media Labs, Modus, Last Call Media, Beyond, CitrusBits, Slidesigma, Ruckus, Blue Fountain Media, Small Planet Digital, Tenet Partners, The Mechanism, QNY Creative, Momentum Design Lab, PBJ Marketing
Naming Agencies:
Catchword, Tanj, River + Wolf, WANT Branding, Namebase Brand Naming, Tenet Partners, IdeaWork Studios, Motto, GreyBox Creative, Salt Branding, The O Group, Constructive, Interplanetary, BrandTuitive, Column Five
Direct Marketing Agencies:
Interplanetary, Spark451, OpGen Media, Boucher + Co., Anthony Savino
Media Buying Agencies:
Elite SEM, adlicious, Gigante Vaz Partners, 3Q Digital, Fearless Media, The Miller Group, Blue Polo Interactive, AJ Ross Creative Media, Appular, OpGen Media, Jungle Communications, Inc., TDT
The leading IT and business services companies in New York are as follows:
IT Services:
Bluewolf, eMazzanti Technologies, CRA | Computer Resources of America, TEKConn, Ciklum, NGenious Solutions Inc., Exigent Technologies, Leveldesk, Inc., Sensiple, VirtusaPolaris, BrightStarr, Gramercy Tech, Longi Engineering, True Interaction, Maestro Technologies
Managed IT Services:
eMazzanti Technologies, Bluewolf, CRA | Computer Resources of America, TEKConn, Exigent Technologies, Sensiple, BrightStarr, Leveldesk, Inc., NGenious Solutions Inc., Longi Engineering, VirtusaPolaris
Data Analytics:
LatentView Analytics, DM STAT-1 Consulting, Maestro Technologies, 3Q Digital, Wpromote, Sensiple, True Interaction, NGenious Solutions Inc., VirtusaPolaris
Cloud Consulting:
Bluewolf, CRA | Computer Resources of America, eMazzanti Technologies, nextbracket, Sensiple, Diaspark, NGenious Solutions Inc., Mylaensys, TEKConn, Leveldesk, Inc.
Staff Augmentation IT Services:
Ciklum, Def Method, Perpetual, JetRockets, Exigent Technologies, Sensiple
Business Process Outsourcing (BPO):
EXL Service, Worldwide101, DialAmerica, ARDEM Incorporated, VirtusaPolaris, Quislex, BGS
Original Source:
Babson Magazine
2006
Alex Melen, co-founder of digital marketing agency SmartSites, was one of the featured speakers at NameSummit, a digital branding conference held in New York in August. Alex spoke about creating brand equity through digital marketing and developing a holistic approach to marketing strategy. At Babson, Alex was a winner of the College’s Student Business of the Year Award (which has since merged with the BETA Challenge).
