» SEO

SEO in Savannah is not an impossible dream.

admin — Tue, 04 May 2010 15:11:56 +0000

Search engine optimization is not an exact science. Sure there are terms bandied about such as Google Algorithm or Contextual Link Inventory, that sound somewhat scientific, but SEO, by and large, requires constant attention, development, learning and relearning in many cases.

logs can add a friendly personal touch to a website and leave readers feeling warm and fuzzy and that’s always a good thing, right?

About 120,000 blogs are coming online daily and it requires patience to build up your audience with that kind of competition. Blogging takes serious time and commitment especially if your goal is to create compelling, useful, and worthwhile content. Make sure you have the time and resources available to make your blog a success.

That said, the interaction with your readers will make it a worthwhile venture and keep them coming back.

It’s time to make it all happen. Bear this in mind: “We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails.”

When adhering to the basics of SEO or search engine optimization via the incorporation of affordable or expensive strategies like blogging it is important to keep in mind the primary aim that should remain at all times the core business profitability via Local Internet Marketing. The concept of developing an internet related marketing approach is to enhance business via the least expensive processes in place. It is vital for any online business established to earn maximum revenue from the generated clicks on the company web site when and as clients and suppliers access the business web site. Local Internet Marketing or the marketing of the business with the help of a local internet service involves the use of the available connectivity to achieve business goals. It is of prime importance to establish a good and most importantly, strong, web presence when conducting business online. The online arena spells profitability only via the use of good business related online content and a design that appeals to clientele and web site users across the globe.

What makes a huge difference to the business is the strategy in place and the number of clicks you are able to convert into timely sales. You can now easily reach out to dedicated clients with the help of Local Internet Marketing or the marketing of the business with the help of a local internet service.

If you are Marketing your business with out a strong internet presence than you are committing marketing suicide. If that describes you. than we need to discuss SEO.

admin — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:16:07 +0000

I have lived in Savannah since 1989 and I have heard the phrase “In Savannah it’s all who you know” To a certain extent this is true but in a town with an Army base as well as two large higher education institutions. If you are Marketing your business with out a strong internet presence than you are committing marketing suicide. If that describes you. than we need to discuss SEO.

With today’s technology driven society, having a website for your business is a necessity. Customers demand that they can find a business to solve their requirements when searching the Internet, but simply just owning a website is not sufficient. You need to expose it to your potential customers so they can find you when searching. SEO, or search engine optimization, is the best way to accomplish this.

A well-designed SEO site provides you with the possibility to rank on page one of the search engines, expose your business to prospective clients, guide targeted web traffic to your site, escalate your home business leads and ultimately build a quality home business lead list. The higher your site ranks, the more likely customers will click on it. Consequently, your intentions should be to rank as high as possible.

Now you can say you know someone in the SEO business.Feel free to email me to setup a free consultation on how I can help your business on the web.

It’s no secret that we live in rapidly changing times. The marketing industry and those serving it (ad agencies, market researchers, media outlets etc) are running just to keep still, constantly seeking guidance or reassurance about what’s looming and how to manage it.

admin — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:42:53 +0000

It’s no secret that we live in rapidly changing times. The marketing industry and those serving it (ad agencies, market researchers, media outlets etc) are running just to keep still, constantly seeking guidance or reassurance about what’s looming and how to manage it.

In some ways, the very explosion in information and connectivity we are seeing is a help as much as a challenge – marketers tracking the rapid changes occurring within their industry have an unprecedented quantity of information and opinion to draw on. The advice and guidance that exists from industry commentators is phenomenal.

Unfortunately the very nature of most such commentators creates a serious problem in itself, in that most of them understandably comment on their own area of expertise such as social media, search marketing and direct marketing.

In a classic case of “not seeing the wood for the trees”, it’s easy enough for marketers to believe they are keeping abreast with matters while failing to note the monumental changes we are living within.

Those missing the bigger issues at stake are the commentators and practitioners using phrases such as “sell to”, “communicate to”, or “market to” – all terms that convey an “us and them” mentality of the traditional marketer, a salesperson who deals with a mass audience via one-way communications. Without an eye on the big picture, people like this will suffer.

For what we are witnessing is the biggest shift in culture since the Gutenberg press. This is not an overstatement of the importance of social media, for one must bear in mind the term “media” encompasses all communications between people, and as such, changes in media invoke changes in broader culture and society (not for good reason is media control often the first act of dictators).

Until the advent of social media, media developments have only differed by technology. From cave paintings to Web 1.0, all that truly changed was cost, scale, timeliness and cosmetic enhancements. Most media essentially involved the thoughts of a few being distributed to the many.

The internet may have opened up an unparalleled amount of information to the world, but until social media evolved, a web browser was simply a combination library, shop and entertainment zone. Most chat rooms were restricted to clunky linear conversation threads open to the public – like Speakers Corner in Hyde Park: social, yes; sociable, no.

In contrast to the media landscape of the past, and the (falling) barriers of cost and physical access aside, almost everything that makes us human is now free of the traditional restrictions of time, space, editorial and political control. Traditionally separate media formats such as radio, television and newspapers exist as they do only for historical and / or technical reasons, and these reasons are increasingly difficult to justify (content from the Herald itself can now be accessed in eight formats).

Convergence will continue until everything in our lives not conducted face-to-face will occur through a single two-way transmitting device with assorted plug-ins for the physical needs of the user (eg, large-screen TV viewing, bath-friendly digital books). Everyone and everything is well down the track of being accessible to everyone and everything else.

The traditional delineation between content providers, advertisers, researchers, sellers and buyers will blur into a flat hierarchy of equally accessible interactions. What we are now developing isn’t so much Web 2.0 but Society 2.0. We’ve seen how democracy and free information flows can undermine dictatorships; the same applies to the traditional top-down marketing pyramid.

What does this means for marketers? In some ways much will remain unchanged – many people will still opt for advertising-funded passive media like TV and live, localised radio, and it’s unlikely that we’ll see products such as cat litter being heavily discussed within social media (although even the cat litter manufacturers will have to supplement their 0800 customer lines with social media interfaces).

But the big mindset change required is for marketers to stop thinking like one-to-many salespeople, transforming their brand-customer interactions into quality one-to-one experiences.

Consider the best salespeople and what sets them apart – they listen closely to their customers, engaging them in active, two-way discussions. As a result of this truly interactive conversation they determine how to present their wares in such a way that not only will their customers buy, but they will enjoy the process and feel no regret about their purchase.

In contrast, marketers communicating to a mass audience using traditional mass-market media (the loudhailer approach) have been unable to conduct such high-quality two-way communications, hence the enormous investments made in advertising pre-testing.

Marketers now have to understand that not only are their brands, services and products no longer just part of a marketplace but that they are actually part of a society. Brand managers are used to personifying their brands and imbuing them with personality, so now’s the time those personalities have to come alive, communicating with people as equals, not walking, talking wallets. Marketers used to operating large call centres will be used to the management practices required – the same now needs to be applied to the digital space. Perhaps the easiest way to illustrate this is to imagine the old model as hundreds of marketers on a stage, all trying to out-perform each other in presenting their sales pitch to the millions of consumers in the audience.

Today, marketers have to picture themselves off the stage, in the audience, accessible to all via equal, two-way interactions. In contrast, “doing a Facebook campaign” merely means taking the mass-market loudhailer to the social media space rather than joining the community.

For marketers struggling to change the “us and them” mindsets that they, their colleagues or agencies may cling to, try this approach – think of (and talk to) your customers as the real people that they are, not anonymous groups of consumers.

Music Industry Marketing Lessons

admin — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:10:59 +0000

As much as I love movies, when I am asked the question “if you were
stuck on a deserted island, what movies would you take?” I ask if I can
take music instead. The best relaxation I get is when I am listening to
great music on headphones. The funny thing is, I’ve been doing this for
as long as I can remember. My parents raised me with music. It was
always playing in our home. I got to know Bruce, Elton, a great band
from Boston named… well, Boston.
There is a great digital music timeline at

http://www.dilanchian.com.au/ip-tech-e-biz/digital-music-technology-and-…

which, as I read, brought back a lot of my own memories about how my
music has evolved right under my nose. My parents had vinyl, the old
standard, but I was a child of the Sony Walkman. I had the yellow
water-resistant, supposedly unbreakable (later found to be untrue)
version. The cassette was supposed to ruin music’s ability to make
money because you could copy it. Does this sound similar to the cries
that downloadable musics would kill the recording industry?
In 1986, I got my first cd player. I was told it was a miracle disk
that would never degrade and never skip. This was later proven to be
untrue. The disks skip and the lyrics are tiny. Records skipped too but
at least I could read the lyrics.
CDs stayed the standard in my life for about a decade until I got my
first computer. That’s when I discovered the Internet. The Internet
changed the way music was presented as well as distributed. Napster was
really the start of it and it is funny to think of how much bands like
Metallica and The Beatles fought the revolution of digital music
distribution. Ironically both of these bands have since embraced
internet marketing.

In 2001 the same year Napster’s website went black,
Apple introduced the Ipod and the I Tunes store and the response was
enough for Microsoft to follow suit two years later with the release of
the Zune. Apple not to be outdone followed the Ipod up with the I Phone
which does audio as well as video.
The lessons that groups in the music industry have learned (and are
still learning) are good examples for the rest of us. Every one of the
technological advances have benefited those who took advantage of them,
while the ones who were kicking and screaming got left behind. The same
is true for Online marketing for small businesses. The ones who embrace
the Internet will flourish, while the ones who discount it as “useless”
will get left in the dust. If you need help or don’t know where to
start, contact us today.

If your company strives for quality, this should be expressed as much by your website as it is with your company’s products and services.

admin — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:41:16 +0000

If your company strives for quality, this should be expressed as much by your website as it is with your company’s products and services. From now on, consider your website as an extension of those products and services; consider it as your company online presence. Ask yourself what is important to you and your customers when it comes to the services or products your company provides? Is it the advantages like quality, performance, presentation and reliability that are offered? Does your current web site reflect this? Revisit your company’s mission statement – is this also reflected in the website?

It’s amazing how many companies do not have a professional online presence for fear of expense (in which case, they often opt for a “do-it-yourself” product). A well-developed, well-designed website is not a cost; it’s an investment, and any related expenses will convert into new clients. At present, there are several reputable organizations that will help your company build an effective web site for a reasonable price.

It is proven that R.O.I is quickly met when the website properly addresses your requirements and /or target market. Keep in mind that your website is the least expensive 24/7 (worldwide) salesman that you will ever find.

It’s important to find a team of website design experts who will listen to you, understand your needs, and not only follow your guidelines, but also present you with new options and suggestions to increase your sales and customer acquisition. A good team will produce a professional online presence that is in tune with your company’s image, excels in usability and is search-engine friendly.

Online marketing for your website is also very important since your utmost goal is to attract users that search for the products or services you offer. A high-quality website that is lost among search engines is like placing an expensive ad in a magazine that nobody buys. If Web browsers cannot find your site, they are limited in how they can purchase your product or service. Treat your we site as a marketing tool, not only as a source for company information.

Summary: A professional online presence and a quality website are the most important investments you will make for your company; it will reflect your company’s image, and the products and services you offer. Seek a website design company that is willing to learn about your company, and its products and services. Get involved in the website development process and offer your opinion and suggestions – after all, you know your market and your company.

One of the biggest mistakes a business can make when creating an online presence, is designing a few static pages containing information previously printed on your brochures or flyers and updating it once or twice a year.

admin — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:05:24 +0000

Despite popular belief – a website is NOT an online brochure. One of the biggest mistakes a business can make when creating an online presence, is designing a few static pages containing information previously printed on your brochures or flyers and updating it once or twice a year. And most importantly, having a website does not constitute a marketing strategy or a guarantee that your business will be visible. Having a website requires dedication, patience and hard work – unless you have the time, you might even consider outsourcing the development and maintenance to professionals.

So if not a glorified online brochure – what then is a website? Simply put, a website is a dynamic medium, updated daily or weekly, that provides and educates your customers with up-to-date information on your business, products and services. Adding interactivity to you website which allows for your customers to provide feedback, reviews, ratings, votes etc. builds the credibility of your business. It is a very affective way to implement a fast and safe communication gateway between you and your customers, saving them the time and money of having to use the phone or mail.

Today, creating an online presence is highly affordable with low startup costs and distribution. It saves you on time, money and energy usually incurred by the printing of brochures, flyers and pamphlets. A website’s distribution is GLOBAL and potentially increases your business’s visibility.

If you do not have a website, the chances are that your competition does. Many bookings, reservations and purchases are now being done online – if you do not adjust to the current trends and technology, you will lose potential (even current) customers. A website provides you with the opportunity to equally compete with larger competitors.

You can now build and maintain customer relationships; generate potential leads from referrals and implementing a websms system; and provide helpful information such as directions, downloadable audio directions or information and GPS coordinates etc. A website is a great tool for the retention of your current customers, having them coming back regularly.

A website is also the most inexpensive marketing tool, with global marketing capabilities that works for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your marketing campaigns are completely trackable and can be monitored almost realtime, providing you with valuable information on Return on Investment. You are able to gather who-where-when-how information and even launch targeted marketing campaigns, all for less than a fraction of the costs involved for conventional advertising campaigns. Best of all, you have complete control over the amount you want to spend on online marketing campaigns.

If you are in the business of making money, having a website is no longer a luxury – it is a necessity.

Savannah should learn from the Music Industry Marketing Lessons

admin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:17:00 +0000

Music has evolved right under my nose. My parents had vinyl, the old

standard, but I was a child of the Sony Walkman. I had the yellow

water-resistant, supposedly unbreakable (later found to be untrue)

version. The cassette was supposed to ruin music’s ability to make
money because you could copy it. Does this sound similar to the cries
that downloadable musics would kill the recording industry?
In 1986, I got my first cd player. I was told it was a miracle disk
that would never degrade and never skip. This was later proven to be
untrue. The disks skip and the lyrics are tiny. Records skipped too but
at least I could read the lyrics.
CDs stayed the standard in my life for about a decade until I got my
first computer. That’s when I discovered the Internet. The Internet
changed the way music was presented as well as distributed. Napster was
really the start of it and it is funny to think of how much bands like
Metallica and The Beatles fought the revolution of digital music
distribution. Ironically both of these bands have since embraced
internet marketing. In 2001 the same year Napster’s website went black,
Apple introduced the Ipod and the I Tunes store and the response was
enough for Microsoft to follow suit two years later with the release of
the Zune. Apple not to be outdone followed the Ipod up with the I Phone
which does audio as well as video.
The lessons that groups in the music industry have learned (and are
still learning) are good examples for the rest of us. Every one of the
technological advances have benefited those who took advantage of them,
while the ones who were kicking and screaming got left behind. The same
is true for Online marketing for small businesses. The ones who embrace
the Internet will flourish, while the ones who discount it as “useless”
will get left in the dust. If you need help or don’t know where to
start, contact me today.

Why is blogging important to my business? Whether you know it or not, your customers, partners, competitors, and employees are already having online conversations.

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:11:32 +0000

I get asked a lot about blogs and how they work for business. This is a great article I recently ran across and thought it answered the question

Why is blogging important to my business?

By Pat Dodd

Whether you know it or not, your customers, partners, competitors, and employees are already having online conversations. They’re talking about the latest news/developments in your industry. They?Äôre talking about the new product release just announced by one of your competitors and if they haven’t mentioned it already they will definitely be talking about that customer service screw up you thought you could sweep under the rug. Markets on the internet are conversations, and blogging gets you noticed and referenced in your industry’s conversation.

In addition to helping you create new business relationships and nurture long time partnerships, effective blogging can also give you better exposure on the internet by improving your search engine ranking.

Keep in mind that blogging is not a miracle cure. That is to say that blogging in and of itself will not marginally benefit your business. However, when blogging is incorporated into your overall marketing and communications plan you will see an increase in visitors to your website as well as an increase in real conversations you have with potential customers.

Why is blogging important to my business?

Whether you know it or not, your customers, partners, competitors, and employees are already having online conversations. They’re talking about the latest news/developments in your industry. They are talking about the new product release just announced by one of your competitors and if they haven’t mentioned it already they will definitely be talking about that customer service screw up you thought you could sweep under the rug. Markets on the internet are conversations, and blogging gets you noticed and referenced in your industry’s conversation.

Other than selling something, supporting something or to give contact information, why would a business have a website?

admin — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:14:30 +0000

I’ve been thinking about websites lately. I know…I should get out more. But I really have been thinking about them. Business websites.

Other than selling something, supporting something or to give contact information, why would a business have a website? And assuming I’m correct, why aren’t business websites more oriented to sell and support whatever they offer?

Most business websites are about the business itself, not about the customers they serve. Oddly, that’s the site visitor most sought.

I think businesses would get more out of their web presence if they oriented everything on their site to either converting a prospect or supporting a customer. It’s obvious, but rarely done.

What do you think? Are business websites too focused on themselves and not enough on their customers? Could more emphasis be put on selling and supporting? Or should I get out more often and stop thinking about such nonsensical things?

I’ve been thinking about websites lately. I know…I should get out more. But I really have been thinking about them. Business websites.Other than selling something, supporting something or to give contact information, why would a business have a website? And assuming I’m correct, why aren’t business websites more oriented to sell and support whatever they offer?Most business websites are about the business itself, not about the customers they serve. Oddly, that’s the site visitor most sought.I think businesses would get more out of their web presence if they oriented everything on their site to either converting a prospect or supporting a customer. It’s obvious, but rarely done.What do you think? Are business websites too focused on themselves and not enough on their customers? Could more emphasis be put on selling and supporting? Or should I get out more often and stop thinking about such nonsensical things?

I’ve been thinking about websites lately. I know…I should get out more. But I really have been thinking about them. Business websites.

Most business websites are about the business itself, not about the customers they serve. Oddly, that’s the site visitor most sought.

I think businesses would get more out of their web presence if they oriented everything on their site to either converting a prospect or supporting a customer. It’s obvious, but rarely done.

Let me help you more effectively utilize the web for the marketing of your business.

sales@marketinge2.com

Savannah Web Design with SEO. With what?

Joel — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:03:52 +0000

I travel around Savannah and talk to business owners every day. One question I continually get is “What is SEO?” I wanted to share the best explanation I have seen yet. From Wikipedia here is what they say SEO is.

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the volume or quality of traffic to a web site from search engines via “natural” or un-paid (”organic” or “algorithmic”) search results as opposed to search engine marketing (SEM) which deals with paid inclusion. Typically, the earlier (or higher) a site appears in the search results list, the more visitors it will receive from the search engine. SEO may target different kinds of search, including image search, local search, video search and industry-specific vertical search engines. This gives a web site web presence.