Archive for June, 2009
June 26th, 2009
SEO or Search Engine Optimization is all about optimizing (making the best use of a resource). It is about rearranging or rewriting data to improve efficiency and/or retrieval. SEO is BIG business as it improves your site to show up higher in search results, meaning more traffic and more business. (See Wikipedia’s definition.)
An SEO expert will analyze what search engines look at when they rank websites, then placing keywords in the right places, allowing the search engines to do their work at the most efficient level. Results? Higher rankings, increased traffic, better search results.
The majority of your web traffic is driven by major commercial search engines, like Google, Yahoo!, MSN & AskJeeves…so if your site cannot be found by these search engines, or your content isn’t able to be inputted in their databases, you are missing out on the incredible opportunities available via search on the internet. Search engines are the primary method of navigation for the vast majority of Internet users. Targeted visitors to a website can and will provide exposure, publicity, revenue, increasing traffic helping your business succeed. SEO is a valuable investment, whether it’s through time or finances, that can have an exceptional rate of return for your business.
Search Engines technology is a continually evolving project looking to improve methods, along with crawling the web deeper to increase relevant results to internet users. Additionally, SEO can help boost rankings where relevant content can be found so searchers will readily see it. This being very important as the online environment has become increasingly competitive, with companies who do perform SEO having an advantage in visitors and customers.
Can I do this myself? or do I need to hire someone?
There are some simple basics to put in place as it’s really not “rocket science”, it’s figuring out some keywords for your site, then putting those keywords in the right places. Those places include – title bar(text that shows up at the top of your browser), headers, headlines and/or bold text on a page and meta data (helpful information in a page’s code that’s not visible in a browser). This task can seem daunting to a lot of people so using a firm with good SEO experience would be advisable for those.
For those of you who DIY…Some great SEO tools to use: SEOTOOLS. Also visit this SEOGuide.
How does your page rank?
June 18th, 2009
What is LinkedIn and why should I connect with people on there?
Most people are not understanding the value of creating and up-keeping their profile on LinkedIn. Here’s a few reason’s and pointers to do so.
- First and foremost…you increase your visibility. By setting up your profile, searching for people you know, joining groups your interested in, starting discussions…your increasing your online visibility and creating connections.
- Boost your business…So you have a small business, you want to expand your customer base-generating more business. LinkedIn can help you connect with others that are looking for your product or service. Cost? Free.
- Get Advice…By joining groups, you can not only network with like minded people, you can join discussion, start discussions, ask advice about a product or give advice about a product. Again the cost is free.
- Look for a job…tired of job boards? CraigsList? trade publications? networking with just a few people? LinkedIn has over thirty-five million members. Just think how creating a LinkedIn profile can network you with even 10% of that number!
- Solidify your online Brand Identity…LinkedIn can help you improve your visibility with Google Page Ranking, enhance your search engine results, check and compare other brands rankings and help you create a niche market. All this can be done FREE!
June 16th, 2009
Do you need to put a full length seminar or conference online? The answer is USTREAM. Ustream.TV is a live interactive video broadcast platform that can enable you to quickly and easily setup and start broadcasting NOW. This is an amazing tool to help empower businesses, schools, corporations, musicians, houses of worship, to creating engaging content thus furthering their brand. Ustream has the ability to create your own channel and start broadcasting within a few minutes.
Things to broadcast? Endless are the possibilities…
Conference sessions
Training seminars
School Events
Sporting Events
Talk shows
Debates/Political events
Music performances
These are just a few ideas…Want to broadcast now? 
June 10th, 2009
To dive into this further, go ahead and Google Social Media….Reading up on Social Media has been and will be an endless task due to the fact that Social Media continues to evolve even as we speak. While traditionally the Internet/Web catalogs what we have learned and carries an enormous amount of information; Blogs, Twitter, Facebook track “what’s on our minds”. Why does this matter? I’m a large corporation, what does this have to do with me?
As a business, think of getting an up-to-the-minute read on what the world is thinking. How can that help you? Studios have already started using blogs helping give insight of which movies are creating a buzz. Advertisers have also learned that they can track responses to their advertising campaigns. “I’m amazed people don’t get it yet,” says Jeff Weiner, Yahoo’s senior vice-president who heads up search. “Never in the history of market research has there been a tool like this.”
Top 100 Social Media Tools.
Social Media has also been creating new jobs in various marketplaces…visit Mashable’s site for more details.
June 8th, 2009
“Having already served up over 1.73 billion video views and 45 terabytes of video footage to the world, YouTube is everyone’s first port of call when they want to search for online video.” (Excerpt from Robin Good’s MasterNewMedia Blog) Shows the power of video footage. That’s ONLY YouTube, thats not including Ustream, Hulu or any other video viewing sites out there. Thousands literally flock to YouTube to watch the newest and greatest videos...network tv stations are wondering if they’re gonna become obsolete. So this avenue has become an amazing marketing potential.
For Businesses creating online presence…
1. When working with video…think short. Short sweet and to the point. 30 sec. to just over a min should be plenty of time to generate interest and show samples.
2. Be somewhat random. Use humor, be lighthearted, keep your tone light. Remember not to take yourself too seriously and stay on topic!
3. Equipment? One $300 digital video camera, one YouTube account. A good microphone wouldn’t hurt either.
4. Bring people back… by offering some they will look forward too. Maybe a weekly giveaway..or sign up for a prize.
5. Use tags, LOTS of tags. When you use lots of tags, people can find you easier, also helps you get more views.
June 7th, 2009
Today’s world of business revolves around engaging customers & clients with a virtual internet world.
What is a virtual business world? Wikipedia’s definition is: A virtual business (or Internet business), is a business which operates without a corresponding physical identity and transacts entirely via the Internet. Amazon.com is a great example of this…So is Ebay. An internet place connecting buyers and sellers with a product.
But I have a real building..how will this help me? Lately, professional services such as administration, design, and marketing services have risen in popularity with online delivery. Some examples of that include offerings to include services where the person providing the service works out of his or her own office providing services via the Internet or other technology solutions such as a Virtual Assistant.
PRlog explains it this way…
“An online business is quickly becoming one of the most successful ways to reach customers worldwide and rise above the current economic situation – but it works for some, and it doesn’t work for others. If you want to be in the “works for” category, approach your online business with a good vision and careful planning. Then get the help you need to handle the things that you’re not comfortable doing yourself.”
Why is it so important to engage in Social Media and online marketing? Due to search engines optimization and expanding your borders, both are critical in today’s business economy. You can find out what your customer is interested in or needing before they even walk out of their front door using: Facebook so they can become a part of your group and hear what newest product you have, have your own blog site so customers/clients can comment about likes and dislikes on your site. Tweet about what your doing, or adding as a product/service, Post your brand on LinkedIn so anyone can view what you are about, bonus with LinkedIn is that you can also join groups with other like minded professionals and have discussions/support that would benefit you and your business creating virtual support and counsel. 
There are some simple basics to put in place as it’s really not “rocket science”, it’s figuring out some keywords for your site, then putting those keywords in the right places. Those places include – title bar(text that shows up at the top of your browser), headers, headlines and/or bold text on a page and meta data (helpful information in a page’s code that’s not visible in a browser). This task can seem daunting to a lot of people so using a firm with good SEO experience would be advisable for those.
