De seneste posts fra danske RSS feeds og weblogs på Overskrift.dk om tag'et muse http://www.overskrift.dk Sun, 13 May 2012 05:01:15 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.overskrift.dk/images/overskrift.gif http://www.overskrift.dk Overskrift.dk http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 http://thefirstwordinthedictionary.tumblr.com/post/22928863699 ?that I was loved for who I am and missed the opportunity to be a better man. entrer, perdant - nous allons impala conduite Sun, 13 May 2012 00:13:47 +0100 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WebimaxSEOBlog/~3/5PsXneyTmkA/consumers-are-making-your-company-their-business TweetConsumers Are Making Your Company Their Business was originally posted on the WebiMax SEO Blog   Don’t be pennywise and dollar foolish, business owners.  Do you see the forest through the trees?  Do you see the three-dimensional image emerging from the ostensible abstract graphic?  The dynamic has always existed; yet, I believe brands of ago understood the value in providing “value.”  It was expected (as should be).  Then, an emergence of business began? In The Beginning I get a lot of my work ethic from older generations.  My grandfather, though working a white-collar job, had to work very hard.  All his peers did.  It was expected.  Why else would American people, coming out of the Great Depression, give their hard-earned money away?  They wouldn’t.  Quality and value was respected and expected. Things Got Better (But for Whom?) Things turned around for the economy; free enterprise emerged in a number of verticals.  Innovation was up as well as the spending of Americans.  The hunger of businesses also skyrocketed.  More businesses existed in a number of verticals.  The principle of ‘competition’ threatened revenue streams and existences of businesses. What do you do when you can’t compete with a better competitor?  Let’s not get into ethics; but, let’s face it.  There are those who will do ‘anything’ to make a buck and sustain their ‘business.’ The Web It took some years for us get comfy with the Web; but, today its popularity is undeniable.  The line to the Web looked like the one inspired by Sylvester McMonkey McBean in Seuss Sneetches tale.  Many licked their chops, salivating at the chance to make ‘mo money’ online. This was great for consumers too (in part); it was convenient and made for a more robust shopping experience.  However, the greed previously spawned before the dawn of the Web was fed by the new wave. Enter SEO “All these dollar signs (I mean consumers) are on the Web now.  How can I get them to buy my stuff?  Oh wait, this search engine optimization thingy can get me ranked first for my services and products?!  DAAAAAAAAAMN -  bingo!” Many in the industry rag on ethically-questionable SEOs.  They are undoubtedly a problem; but, they’re really just hired guns, inspired by their own greed; but, shoddy SEO revenue is fueled by the greed of questionable brands who want to make money (and, yeah, maybe create some value; but, “If we can get the money without worrying about the value, that’s better, right?”) So, business owners, at present, you have access to a range of SEOs who run the ethics gamut as you yourselves fall somewhere in the spectrum between scumbag and value creator. Is it frustrating for the business owners who want to provide value?  I’m very sure it is.  Is it frustrating for upstanding SEOs who want to help in aligning value with target markets?  I guarantee it. Transparency We are in an age of transparency.  I’m not trying to coin a new term; I know how some take to such notions; but, I digress.  With each passing day, I celebrate the present evolution of online marketing; I’m happy for ethical SEOs and for consumers; because, there’s increasingly less room for the unethical to hide.  The unethical SEOs are blaringly obvious to those in the industry; but, they’re not a threat to us in the industry; they just disrespect and smear our industry.  They are not so readily seen by clients; yet, some clients are just as scummy as those rogue SEOs. I have bad news for questionable practices and people.  You’re going to fail?eventually.  Like the time after the Great Depression, we are in the wake of the Great Recession.  People care about how they spend their money, insisting on getting value (as it should be). Those who need to hide will; yet, those who don’t won’t.  Why the heck would they?  They can be as transparent, footloose, and fancy-free as they want.  They CAN DO what all their online marketing and SEO insinuates?  Others can’t yet use SEO and online marketing as a means to a scumbag end. So the cycle will play over.  Those who can’t compete will try; but, it’s not going to be so easy anymore.  I’m sorry for you (for a number of reasons). Pro Quo Pro quo means “this for that” in Latin.  It’s not rocket surgery (it was intended for a laugh.)  People want something in exchange for their hard-earned money, something of value.  You’re not deserved of their money because you have a business.  You earn their money through respecting your brand, its operations, its employees, and yourself as a business owner.  Otherwise, you’re just not getting it (people’s business too ?that was a pun) and neither will your brand?in due time.  Savvy yet?  Don’t worry; I have more ink in my pen. Final Thought Consumers, peers, and service providers are a lot smarter than some questionable parties lead themselves to believe.  I know companies are in business to make money; but, why would you think you’re entitled to sidestep the genuine business road?  Make it your business (yeah, it’s a pun again) to create for the consumer.  There is an inescapable dynamic involving creating value and creating a successful business.  It takes hard work and dedication.  There’s no alternative.  Live it or leave business aspirations behind.  People understood the dynamic generations ago?  Are we degenerating?  Some are.  Others are finishing the ideals our forefathers/mothers started.     TweetRelated posts: Are You Listening to SEOs or Consumers? Executives and Consumers Trading Places? Yahoo Hopes Making New Pal Pays Off Anthony Pensabene WebiMax Internet Marketing Blog: SEO, PPC, SEM & SMO Thu, 10 May 2012 18:32:09 +0100 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WebimaxSEOBlog/~3/ClhKDFlobtg/place-a-coin-in-the-idea-machine TweetPlace a Coin in the Idea Machine was originally posted on the WebiMax SEO Blog   How much are your ideas worth?  It’s a tough question.  Can you really place value on ideas?  I guess if it materializes to a Google or Facebook then you’ll get some pats on the back for it.  However, what about all the other ideas that didn’t make it to epic, FB and Goog heights?  Ideas are flying around all day and night.  It’s only when we harness them, when we wrangle them in and make something out of them, that we get ‘full’ credit and appreciation for them. I’m an idea man; but, that means nothing to you unless I can express my muse exists.  Here are some copywriting ideas I can give to you.  Maybe you can make something more concrete out of them.  (Throws coin in idea machine.) Interviews Is someone interesting in your business community?  I bet there are tons of people to approach.  Interviews have such potential; I think the questions and not the personality really make the interview.  Have you entertained some good questions you would like to ask? Spend less time worrying about the candidate and spend more time focusing on what kinds of questions would intrigue readers.  You have social media accounts, don’t you?  You could ask followers for their take on some good questions regarding your industry. That way, you know your questions are already burning a hole in inquiring minds. A Day in the Life Consumers are more curious about brands of interest.  Have you considered making an infographic related to a day at your office?  It could be highly informative; it could be silly and humorous.  Both kinds of content intrigue readers.  What I do love about the idea is that it provides an opportunity for brand expression. Most people get lost in the design of an inforgraphic; I think it’s more about what readers can get out of them.  Ask yourself, “How do I want the reader to experience this?  What kinds of reactions do I want from them?”  Do you want to invoke a laugh?  Do you want more professional respect? Your Opinions I stopped reading faceless, corporate-like blog posts.  They offer very little personality; and, the intelligence is usually highly objective.  I can’t really gain much value from them.  However, I do get a lot of value from the opinions of others.  Sure, they are just that ? the opinions of others.  I can wrap my head around the experiences of others, consider the messages, and then extract value to use in my own subjective experiences. Choose five to ten in-industry business practices you celebrate and an equal number of those you disagree with.  Use personal experiences to elucidate a truth you came to realize.  Perhaps readers can relate, disagree, or want to add.  Sharing in-industry experiences is great bait for reads.  Think about popular comedians.  Jokes, which are more popular, are usually those that are relatable to a greater number of people. Write a Post on Ideas How postmodern of me to suggest; but, it makes sense.  I would want to hear from more idea people.  Where do you get your ideas?  What do you do with them?  I’ll share some personal feedback: -          I walk around with a small notebook; my ideas like to have fun with me, knocking on my mind’s door at the most inconvenient times.  But I found a way to keep them captive until later.  Don’t let those little buggers get away! -          Every person is different.  Do your ideas follow a cycle of seasons?  Mine usually do.  I am highly creative in the morning until around noon then experience a creative reprise in the evening into the wee hours.  I take advantage of my idea seasons when I can.  Why try to write a sunny post when I’m amidst the winter of my content? -          Two creative heads are better than one.  There are a few people whom I share rough ideas with.  I get more ideas from the feedback of others.  Even if they don’t like where a particular idea is going, the addition of their mind into the equation further rattles some more ideas out of my idea machine. TweetRelated posts: Rethinking Linking – Link Building to Last Raising Content from the Digital Dead Anthony Pensabene WebiMax Internet Marketing Blog: SEO, PPC, SEM & SMO Tue, 08 May 2012 21:14:08 +0100 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WebimaxSEOBlog/~3/yD2KjgXarMg/time-is-of-the-social-sense TweetTime is of the Social Sense was originally posted on the WebiMax SEO Blog   Is timing ‘everything’?  I’ve heard such suggestions before, feeling intimidated by the notion of minding yet another factor.  Should I go to the grocery store because I’m hungry; and, because it’s dinnertime?  Should I wait until the crowd subsides?  Should I turn the Flyers game off now while they’re still ahead as not to get disappointed later?  Should I approach the girl at the coffeehouse while she’s busy though waiting for the ‘perfect’ moment (which in my mind my never come) could be an error in logic? Marketers must mind time, especially when it comes to content sharing.  Not only do businesspeople have to consider where to share; they must ponder when the best time is to strike the social network chords.  Timing definitely warrants premeditation; just don’t think into paralysis like a grown man in a coffee shop. Consider the following suggestions related timing in marketing: The “Work” “Day” I’ll assume most brands share during the traditional workweek, within traditional ‘working’ hours.  This seems immediately apropos; but, think about your target market, you know, the people you want reading your stuff. For instance, WebiMax has a great writer, Ryan Buddenhagen, who writes on ISEO.  Ryan has ushered some international looks to the blog.  When are those readers ‘working,’ and roving social platforms?  They’re on a different time zone.  Would it be better for us to think about the best times to engage those international readers, perhaps ‘scheduling’ some ISEO tweets?  It could be a benefit. What about those who don’t use the ‘workday’ to read and engage in social media?  I read and write all day, yet the process is conducive to my position and industry.  That’s not the case with a lot of professionals.  For instance, are you sharing your parenting tips in the middle of the day when parents may be at work, not reading parenting materials?  Would such a brand be better off sharing content at night, when a larger pool of its market may be looking for it?  It could be a benefit. Week?Ends? Do you want to work this weekend?   Ha ha, you don’t have to answer.  A lot of brands leverage third-party marketing services.  That’s completely understood.  Depending on the present state and momentum of a brand, in-house marketing resources just may not be an immediate reality.  However, what if the brand offers services and products outside of the B2B sector?  Many consumer products/services are warranted during ‘off’ hours, such as on the weekend, you know, when a large portion of target markets ‘have time’ to think about needed goods and services. Is your brand making marketing motions on the weekend?  I know.  “But it’s the weekend!”  Yes, but it’s not necessarily the weekend regarding your target market’s desires.  Actually, the contrary is true in this instance.  Why use social media when it’s not being leveraged during one of the ‘hottest’ moments, when consumers’ attentions are piqued? Use Amigos Wisely I loved the 80s; I apologize for the references; but, I can’t help it.  Remember the comedy, The Three Amigos?  It’s a gem of a cinematic piece.  Three actors are asked to come to a small, Mexican town to defeat the wicked “El Guapo.”  The actors are under the impression they were asked to come to perform, only to realize the wicked nature of El Guapo and clan is quite real.  (Get to the point, Anthony.) In the end, the Amigos defeated the rogue group by dressing villagers like the Amigos, by visually coming at the gang ‘from all sides.’  I like that kind of tactic when it comes to timing and sharing. I see this dynamic a lot:  A writer just gets done a post and boom, hits the publish button.  The published post is noticed by internal people who immediately share it.  Awesome, the post is in the social pipelines?for that hour or so, then dramatically drops in shares (unless the post makes it to some sort of sharing site: inbound, reddit, and the like). Would it be more effective to elongate the publishing?  Could the post be shared some when first published, then shared again later in the day or week?  I’m not discussing content curation per se; I’m talking about the initial sharing of a piece of content.  Some brands share as if they are trying to lighten the load of the brand’s ship, as if saying, “All right, we’ve got this one done.; let’s dump it into the social media sea and hope something happens from it.” This has more to do with ‘who’ more than ‘when,’ but I want to include this; I think it’s something to consider.  Identifying personas is a useful marketing tool.  It makes sense; people vary; so, consumer behaviors will as well.  Are brand workers segmented, meaning is there a social, copy, database team, etc?  If so, maybe it’s important to think about ‘who’ is tweeting what content.  For instance, I often share content about branding.  I’ve built a following that expects that now.  It would make sense for me to share that content rather than someone on the database team, who may have followers interested in different material. TweetRelated posts: Brand-Customize Social Media Use Spreading Social Media Word Reflects Your Knowledge Does a Brand’s # of Followers Impress You? Anthony Pensabene WebiMax Internet Marketing Blog: SEO, PPC, SEM & SMO Wed, 02 May 2012 18:19:57 +0100 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WebimaxSEOBlog/~3/keEQFtsIQqw/computer-chair-quarterback-public-relations-frustrations TweetComputer-Chair Quarterback Public Relations Frustrations was originally posted on the WebiMax SEO Blog   I’m an ‘armchair PR quarterback.’  I have experience in the field, but currently reside in PR hibernation, focusing professional attention on writing and internal marketing.  However, my former professional sentiments can’t help but fuel my interest and inner passion.  I regularly trace the PR operations of brands, shouting at the computer screen like an aged, high school quarterback who lends his voice to the television screen while assuming the Lazy-Boy position.  “C’mon how could you make that PR play!” Today I offer a few sentiments I would like to see better implemented into your public relations strategy. Think Boutique Outsourcing is a choice for some and an absolute, immediate necessity for others.  However, I suggest considering going with a boutique supplier of PR services.   For one, there’s a learning curve associated with your respective vertical.   A PR person really needs to know the ‘lay of the land’ to ensure effective campaigns.  Don’t assume bigger brands, which address PR in several verticals, are going to assign you with a person well familiar with your vertical; it’s highly unlikely this ‘perfect match’ will fall into place. However, the learning curve drastically decreases when partnering with a boutique service provider, which specializes in your particular niche.  An immediate advantage is the list of apropos contacts and relations the boutique may have already established.  Let’s face it; you’re electing to outsource due to a lack of internal resources, you want the outsourced entity to act as an ‘internal teammate’ as much as possible.  You don’t have time to educate the person on your vertical; you expect momentum.  Siding with a boutique service can expedite the process. Products/Services Shouldn’t Need Attention, Consumers’ Needs Do I take notice of brands after the production phase.  It would likely be disappointing for some owners to hear my questions as to why some products/services made it past the production phase.  In short, there are a lot of products/services out there of poor quality.  PR won’t help as SEO can’t compensate for poor quality? That being said, a PR professional should not have to do any work for the products/services.  In short, products/services should ‘sell’ themselves; or, your company has many issues to address other than PR.  I see a lot of PR efforts mirroring the error in logic of a lot of ad copy.  Make the endeavor about the consumer and not about your services and products. I’m sure some are confused; isn’t PR about my business?  Yes, but PR is public relations, meaning the process involves relating (your brand and associations) to?the public.  The public part is important.  I don’t care what marketing processes are being leveraged; marketing is always about engaging the consumer.  So, even if you’re involved in a product launch, the approach necessitates people-centric engineering.  It’s not about how awesome the product is; it’s about what an awesome job the product does in addressing a consumer need and desire.  I hope you understand; because, this is a crucial insight to ‘get.’ Service Person Neglect As a copywriter, I sometimes felt neglected by clients.  It was my job to create something based on little to no initial information.  Many times, clients neglect to inform service providers, which is mind blowing.  If I wanted another entity to do ANYTHING in my business’ name, I would most definitely ensure my provider was on the ‘same page.‘  That would a huge part of my responsibility regarding the partnership.  Business owners, do you host the same concerns?  I really hope you do. Again the PR person is the translator, like a ghost-writer.  It’s absolutely essential the PR person is using your words and sentiments, truly understands your brand and direction, and sees eye to eye with the executives and brand represented.  PR is very important; whose mind are you letting make maneuvers for your company?  It’s essential the public relations rep understands key execs and the essence of the brand.  Otherwise, there’s no way an outside entity can properly represent your brand to your public.  If there’s a lack of understanding, it’s in the best interest of your brand to address it.  Any gaps or misunderstandings can be avoided through proper lines of communications.  Never neglect communications with an outsourced provider.  Each passing, neglectful moment negatively affects your brand. PR and Social Media Public relations probably needs a new definition or at least new consideration within the backdrop of online marketing evolutions.  Yesterday we had PR; today we have social media, which can achieve a lot of the initiatives PR always has.  PR is not extinct; but, such processes should include social media usage.  I’m sure many PR providers are presently not social media providers too, making things complicated for service seekers.  In my opinion, the two worlds need integration. If you’re outsourcing PR but doing social media in-house, you need integration.  If you’re doing PR and social media in-house, the processes need integration.  If you’re doing PR in-house and outsourcing social media?well, you get it. Formulate a strategy, leveraging the two processes, especially if different people are addressing them.  Strategy enables more reach and efficiency on both fronts.  You need the two marketing initiatives working together.  For instance, your PR professional landed your company in a major publication.  How are you going to perpetuate the exposure?  Social media is a good choice.  It’s not about choosing some processes over others; online marketing is about using available tools strategically, ensuring all brand endeavors are working in harmony.  It all warrants a bit of quarterbacking?zero quarterbacking begets frustrations.  I don’t want to be jeering your PR decisions from my computer screen;  I want to be cheering them.  The ball’s in your hands. TweetRelated posts: Use Social Media for Public Relations Is Your Public Relations Campaign Turning into a PR Noir? Increasing Visibility with a Public Relations Campaign Anthony Pensabene WebiMax Internet Marketing Blog: SEO, PPC, SEM & SMO Tue, 01 May 2012 19:50:19 +0100 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WebimaxSEOBlog/~3/F_Pv30yIqLg/over-optimization-s-e-oh-no TweetOver-optimization ? S.E.Oh No! was originally posted on the WebiMax SEO Blog   (Sigh) It seems so obvious to so few.  I read a humorous post today regarding the plight of black hats; the author facetiously recommends keeping a chin up and getting back to work (also advising white-hat methods as a future alternative).  I agree.  Stop your whining and start ‘getting it.’  I understand why some entertain unscrupulous methods?$…that’s why. Money Hunger Leads to Uber SEO I think some businesspeople are suited for SEO.  I think some are not.  The difference has to do with agenda.  Are you in business to make money or serve a place in humanity?  I ask for zero philosophical debate here; I know we all need money; but, it doesn’t have to be the primary focus or impetus of a brand’s agenda.  It’s pretty simple; it’s kind of like the difference between a ‘job’ and ‘career.’  If you’re on the Web strictly to make money, it’s likely you’ll tend to over optimize. Why?  It’s due to the assumption that higher rankings equal more exposure and more exposure will secure more money.  To the novice, it seems pretty intuitive.  Online marketers know exposure and rank do not necessarily promise one, red cent. A patient Web master, who has something to offer the public (and themselves- the intrinsic satisfaction of finding ‘a productive place’ in humanity), comes to understand that killer products/services enable one to make ‘a killing’ online rather than unscrupulous and intensive SEO practices.  If you have a great brand and offer quality, then the Web is your friend.  If you’re here only to make money you’re going to get frustrated?again and again. Remember Marketing Business owners, start using more common sense.  Don’t be so enchanted by the magical SEO acronym.  It’s marketing.  Marketing is purposed to gain the attention of?people.  Sure, playing with numbers makes sense.  If you have a quality product, finding a way to expose it to more people, it’s highly likely you’ll make more money.  However, don’t forget the keyword there is quality.  The quality secures the sale; the marketing only creates more opportunity for the former. Marketing is purposed to locate and make an impression on the target market.  You?re making an impression on people.  You’re not making an impression on robots.  Thinking of such gets you further from the conversion.  Focus your marketing on people, those who keep your business running.  Google and its algorithm changes are just means to an end.  If Google shut down its engine today, you’d still have people to market toward. There’s Has Never Been a Better Time to Market I know I work in a small microcosm of search engine optimization.  It’s my interest and passion; so, I am very understanding to business owners.  I ‘get’ they’re focusing their passion and interest on their ‘thing.’  But it’s highly alarming to see so many incidents of over optimization.  It makes me feel like many chased the ‘get rich quick’ sentiment?only to get burned in the end. Ironic to the penalties, is the notion that there has never been a better time to market products/service in just about any vertical imaginable.  Businesses have tons of online marketing opportunities.  Additionally, intelligent and helpful professionals write posts every day, providing insight on how to utilize tools, platforms, and segments of online marketing. The good news for good brands is that you have incredible opportunities to locate your desired market and make an impression on them.  It may not happen within your desired time frame; and, monthly numbers may not be what’s expected; but, there’s always room for improvement.  The more you market and understand the better you become at making your brand successful. What’s additionally encouraging is the number of services willing to offer you help!  In the very least, consider arranging for online marketing consulting.  The small investment helps business owners ‘see’ present and future potential. TweetRelated posts: Add Brand Personification to Online Optimization How Landing Page Optimization Can Help Your Sales Marketing with Affordable Search Engine Optimization Anthony Pensabene WebiMax Internet Marketing Blog: SEO, PPC, SEM & SMO Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:36:33 +0100 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WebimaxSEOBlog/~3/7RdBVLvD_d8/stop-stepford-branding TweetStop Stepford Branding was originally posted on the WebiMax SEO Blog   This post will be about branding.  Branding is good for online marketing.  It expresses passion?which is very unlike my first few lines here.  Did you find yourself doing ‘the robot’ as you were reading them?  I do that sometimes on and off the dance floor.  The latter occurs when reading generic posts.  Who’s the author?  Why can’t I get extract a single, personable sentiment from these things?  It’s a small wonder (80′s television reference) anyone but robots are reading these things. I read an awesomely refreshing post this morning on ‘why I don’t read your blog.’  It’s real and insightful.  One of the best points I gathered was not being a candidate for the crowned Mr. Roboto of blogging.  I’m not the only writer who agrees:  Brittany Klontz ? @Britt_Klontz @content_muse It is definitely important to let your personality shine through! Robotic blogging makes me want to cry tears of boredom. However, I’m not writing this post on blogging.  It’s about inserting the essence of communication (character) into your branding.  Why?  Same reason as above; businesspeople, partners, and all types of consumers enjoy personality.  It helps us makes better decisions, better aligning us with likeable and like-minded brands. Consider the following: Having Personality is Not Unprofessional I like hovering outside of the ‘uber professional’ box; maybe it’s a bit too stuffy in there for my personality.  I have one.  I’m okay with that; and, I believe other professionals are as well.  Having fun with your job, smiling, and expressing personality does not make you unprofessional; it makes you an individual.  If you need to keep your brand ‘in line,’ ‘hiding’ the personality of workers and collective beliefs, then something is off.  What is your brand’s collective personality?  If you can’t accurately identify that, then maybe your brand is a bit too stuffy.  If bankers above the age of sixty-five is your market then proceed with minimalistic expression of personality (I guess).  Otherwise, it’s okay to be your brand self. Where’s Your Team? It’s sad to come across a company site void of worker presence.  Who’s onboard your company?  I want to know.  It just might influence my decision to engage your brand.  If you’re not showing your main players, in these times of super social marketing, I just may grow suspicious, wondering, “Well, why not!?” Owners, are you sharing your workers and their work with the rest of us?  Why not?  You hired them; so, I assume you’re proud they’re working for you.  Why hide them and their contributions?  No really- I’m actually thinking that when I don’t see them. About Us Many online brands don’t have storefronts.  Many brands don’t attend workshops and events.  Many brands don’t have the chance of experiencing consumers three-dimensionally and vice versa.  That’s a disadvantage for those with personality and passion.  How do you compensate?  While so much energy is devoted toward ‘ranking’ services/products so many brands pay no resources toward exposing browsers to their ‘brand.’  A brief about us page is not enough.  When was that penned?  Five years ago when the brand started?  What’s happened since then?  Update the about us page.  Why not make it into a scrolling, blog-post-like page?  Many products and services vary very little when it comes down to it.  What’s your brand’s story?  I really want to know; I have choices (like the rest of your consumers).  Telling me more about the supplied source gives me more reasons to make a decision. This is BS Do you think this is BS? (If you’re thinking this is great business strategy, I agree; if you’re thinking of other terms, I hope you reconsider; I’m really trying to fertilize your success.)  I predict some owners may read this, giving my words the ‘pfft-into-an-eye-roll’ sentiment.  I understand; ‘Anthony’s just ranting about his favorite topic, branding; he’s passionate about wanting me to be passionate; but, I’ll just sit back and keep doing what I’m doing’?the bare minimum of branding.  Here’s the thing.  I notice.  Others notice too.  Just like the author of the ‘why I don’t read your blog’ post above is turned off by personality-less posts, people are turned off by personality-less brands, especially in verticals where face-to-face meetings are few to none.  You may disagree with me know; but, entertain me; put forth some extra branding effort.  I think you’ll thank me later.   TweetRelated posts: Gentleman Branding ?Is Your Company Worthy of a Tip o’ the Cap? Branding or Just Fun and Games? Get Consumers, Workers, and Executives on the Same Branding Page Anthony Pensabene WebiMax Internet Marketing Blog: SEO, PPC, SEM & SMO Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:14:48 +0100 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WebimaxSEOBlog/~3/oNcyntMkyq8/ideas-for-taking-off-online TweetIdeas for Taking Off Online was originally posted on the WebiMax SEO Blog   What do you think about when hearing of brands seeking online marketing help?  The Web has been ‘exploding’ for some time now.  Its popularity blindfolds me at times when conjuring images of clients.  I usually think about those with businesses well-footed in the online world.  But that’s not the case for many.  I read an article today about a company having issues stemming from bringing a traditional company online. It got me thinking about other situations.  Then I started thinking of some brick-and-mortar owners who may not see the need for online marketing at all because the online factor has never really been a topic of discussion for the owners.  We often don’t think about what is not immediately in front of us. IF storefront owners wanted to engage in some online marketing to connect with more consumers, they could consider: Mobile SEO I hear debates amongst many brands regarding the usefulness in creating or optimizing mobile sites.  What should you do?  It depends.  For instance, if a store front offers food and resides within a seasonal-vacation locale, optimizing for smart phone users could make a difference in seasonal revenue production. Ideally, creating more avenues to find your brand is great; but, not all owners have tons of money to invest, warranting an allocation of resources.  For storefront owners, the question to ask is, “Is my product or service something searched (particularly) via smart phones?”  People will search for places to eat and be entertained via smart phones.  Would they search for a third-party shipping company using their phone?  Perhaps, but it’s probably not as likely as the first scenario. Social Media I really like seeing brands use social media; there’s so much potential; however, doing a poor job with handles can introduce the opposite influence.  I’ve had brief discussions with a number of offline brands regarding social media.  A majority of them ‘have heard’ but don’t quite ‘get’ what social media can do for their business.  I understand.  I do online marketing; so, I know social media.  If I was a pizza shop owner, I would know food ingredients.  Offline brands thinking about social media should ask, “Do I have the discipline to address a social media account regularly, constantly striving to make solid connections with followers?”  If not, lay off the task for now.  Otherwise, consider seeking the service of someone who can address the need for you. Let’s use the pizza shop example.  Hmm?maybe you place an ad by the cash register.  “Follow, order, and keep in touch with us on Twitter! – Get a free pizza.”  Depending on the shop’s setup, you could have people tweeting orders rather than calling.  What’s the difference?  All of their followers see them ordering from you?might that appeal to the stomachs of others?  It just might. Vlogging Video blogging has been on my mind recently.  I think it has a lot of potential; it really bridges the personable gap a bit.  Sure, you can’t replicate the experience of engaging someone in person; yet, video blogs tell viewers a lot about the speakers.  Viewers can see body language, facial features, inflection and tone of voice, presenting more of a personality that you can’t always get via textual information. Many storefront owners are ‘people persons’ by nature or by business necessity.  A lot of SEOs will tell you to put content on a Web site to help with optimization.  That’s true.  Putting content online can also help with people optimization.  If you’re an owner thinking about starting a blog, ask yourself, “Do I feel passionate enough about what I do to share something with viewers (engaging my customers) on an ongoing basis?”  I say don’t worry so much about ‘keywords.’  Concern yourself with expressing your business and brand to the public.  And realize you don?t have to write.  We’re not all writers; yet, most business owners feel somewhat comfortable with speaking publicly.  Vlogging is not like getting up in front of a room of people; you can edit to your liking as much as possible before posting, just a thought? TweetRelated posts: Brand-Customize Social Media Use Tumblr Follows Facebook in Taking Inspiration from the Pinterest Design Good Social Media Usage Observations Anthony Pensabene WebiMax Internet Marketing Blog: SEO, PPC, SEM & SMO Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:50:23 +0100 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WebimaxSEOBlog/~3/SJO-bpkA67I/how-to-make-professional-friends TweetHow to Make Professional Friends was originally posted on the WebiMax SEO Blog   “Godfather, be my friend,” a man pleads as he kisses Don Vito’s hand.  The former was really asking of a favor.  The Godfather knew.  It’s VERY LIKELY those on your ‘let’s be pals’ radar know your immediate intentions too.  It’s okay; be aware of their awareness and proceed?naturally. I’ve been pretty successful in making friends throughout my life. I’m actually pretty cool; but, that’s for me to know and others to notice.  In social life, I can be a bit lax, allowing things to happen at a gradual pace.  I’m a tough sell.  I’m not going to ‘be down’ with just anyone.  In my professional life, things are a bit different, warranting a mixture of friendly and professional sentiments; but, I’m very similar to other professionals in that regard too.  I’m not going to be ‘cool’ with just anyone.  If I did want to begin a relationship, I would go about it in the following manner. The Elephant in the Room Have you ever engaged someone in conversation, knowing there is an ulterior motive for the union, yet it goes ‘unpublished’ in conversation.  It makes for an awkward guessing game of what the other person is thinking.  Be honest whenever approaching or PR pitching another professional.  Would you like their help?  Would you like them to read your blog?  Would you like to be considered as a source in an article?  All of these ‘selfish’ desires are acceptable; however, don’t ‘beat around the bush.’  Just be direct.  Being direct doesn’t guarantee a disarming welcome; but, it does let the other person know you’re a straight shooter, honest, and not wasting their time. Some time ago, I wanted to guest post on Mike King’s blog.  I hit him up in an email; and, though may have been a bit complimentary in the opening, I was succinct in my intentions.  I wanted a social media post on ipullrank’s blog; however, it was important to offer something to Mike’s readers too. Why else would he accept if I wasn’t creating some sort of value?  Mike posted on the wrong and right way to ask for a guest post. Creating Value My mom thinks I’m special; that goes along with the job.  I know.  Do others?  Perhaps, but it’s because I earned their respect.  I did; I inspired; I worked; I expressed; I did a number of things to openly demonstrate (out in the practical, wide-open world) I can offer some sort of value.  Think of other professionals as active musicians.  By adding your presence, does their professional world become more harmonious?  If not, they’re likely to want you to ‘sit this number out.’  Maybe you can try-out again when you have something of value to offer. Value is subjective; but, the need to offer ‘something’ is an objective reality.  What can you offer? -          Humor (maybe you make them laugh with your take on the industry) -          Research (maybe you’ve crunched a lot of data, elucidating a new trend or previously unseen ‘truth’) -          Exposure (maybe you have a high number of followers and can introduce a personality to a new pool of subscribers and vice versa) -          Guidance (perhaps you have experience in a particular area and can offer insight) Think about what you can add.  It’s a delicate dance of give and take.  If you’re not offering anything valuable, there’s no reason for professionals to jump at the chance to ‘make friends.’  Many will question why you thought a union with them was apropos in the first place.  Have you researched? Do Research I recently read a great explanation of why doing your homework in a respective vertical is important.  You see, it’s not about ‘just getting exposure.’  It’s about finding the right fit; it’s about making the right kind of relationships.  I’m a writer.  Is making a contact with NASA the right fit though NASA is an incredibly respected entity?  Unless NASA wants me to help them with content marketing, the relationship is ill fitting.  I’d be better off finding better niches, befitting to my networking wishes. Check out Chris Dyson’s post on chasing footprints for linkbuilding.  Knowing the right paths to venture is crucial.  Next, don’t forget to familiarize yourself with the personality of interest.  That’s how you would normally go about making relations and conversation, right?  Consider the alternative:    Heather Lloyd-Martin ? @heatherlloyd If you are going to pitch me, at least check out my freakin’ site first. Otherwise, I just hit the “delete” button. Sheesh! Relation Building You’ve heard of link building, the reason why many people approach others for immediate connections.  Awesome, you’ve made a connection and got a valuable link.  The link is good in and out itself; but, I liken the process as getting the opportunity to shake the Dali Lama’s hand but not engaging him in conversation. The reason it’s so important to research relations above, is because like online marketing, relations take time to build momentum and strength.  What’s better, getting one guest post link or cultivating a relationship, resulting in future guest spots, insight and guidance, introduction to other ‘doors’ of opportunity and personalities, etc?  Lightning storms are pretty and exciting; but, the excitement is short-lived.  I’d rather invest in my time in building lasting weather patterns. Pro tip:  PR (I think of it as peer relations) is not for everyone.  Are you stuck in a connection rut?  Do you wonder why you and yours are shunned by others?  Something is off; you’re doing something wrong. Do you see relationships merely as a means to an end?  If so, PR is not for you.  You don’t ‘get it.’  No matter how much work you put in, you’re likely missing an integral piece of the puzzle.  PR is a practice for the genuine and forthright.  You can roll your eyes all you want at these sentiments.  Go ahead and try to prove me wrong.  The following video is for those interested in building real relations with peers.  All others need not apply.    Which camp does your approach fall under?  I can tell (I’m just nice about openly id-ing the former group.)  Don’t be foolish.  Others, who are PR savvy, can ‘see’ your approach too.       TweetRelated posts: Make Getting Creative a Conscious Objective Brand-Unbearable ‘PR Panda’ Updates Show.Me.The?Classy Branding Anthony Pensabene WebiMax Internet Marketing Blog: SEO, PPC, SEM & SMO Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:04:27 +0100 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WebimaxSEOBlog/~3/BuBmf6qd1NU/rethinking-linking-link-building-to-last TweetRethinking Linking – Link Building to Last was originally posted on the WebiMax SEO Blog   Discussion has arisen in the world of link building of late, for good reason.  Google made modifications; the search engine came down on suspicious linking practices.  The purpose is to rid the Web of unrighteous rankers and unscrupulous link building practices. I’ve read a number of posts, urging clients and brands to rethink linking.  That’s great; I have experience in public relations, an aspect of link building many good practitioners encourage.  I’m no Seth Godin; but, the union of link building and PR has knocked at my intuition’s door for years.  Links are like votes.  How do you get votes without a little socialization, facilitating exposure and understanding? Why PR Wasn’t Always Needed I see you.  I understand how some brands got in trouble in the past; and, why some may be approached, to endure lost rankings or penalties in the future.  It’s anxiety.  Brands are anxious to compete in a competitive vertical. Brands thought, “Gee, we don’t rank for major keywords right now.  Natural progression takes time.  How can we be impatient and get rankings now rather than later?  Hmm?we can get links from anywhere, just for now?” Many sought unscrupulous ways to build links for desired keywords.  I’m not judging; however, many know the difference from a quality, natural link and one chased purely for rankings.  Usually money is the only necessity to get lower-valued links; when you’re not gunning for quality, PR is not a need. Regardless of your past or present philosophy on link building, understand that getting good-fit links is building to last.  Other endeavors may not necessarily lay any lasting foundation at all; on the contrary, as we’re seeing, a short-term ‘fix’ can drastically breakdown future pursuits of success. Why PR is a Need Now PR is an inextricable need in organic link building these days.  I hope it stays that way.  My intuition tells me it will.  In short, this is why PR matters when it comes to rethinking linking: -          Quality links come from quality sites.  For instance, many news sites are high authority sites.  Reporters and editors may randomly come across your URLs; but, don’t rely on chance.  Be proactive.  Find news sites covering your vertical.  The former may do so in a general or niche manner, either way, this is good.  What do you have of value to offer them?   -          Quality links come from quality personalities.  Many individuals write blogs or reference in-vertical material for readers.  Do you engage in your vertical?  If you don’t, bloggers (like the reporters and editors above) won’t just come across your material.  However, if you regularly read blogs, comment, and show a social presence in your vertical, you can build relations and links in the process.  What value can you offer bloggers and the community?   -          Quality links go to authority sites.  Rank is contingent on worth?to the browser, to the consumer.  Other sites, bloggers, and people will draw attention to your URLs if the pages are of quality. Engagement in your respective community and engagement with consumers warrants effective PR.  Effective PR doesn’t guarantee you have quality pages; but, it makes it likely you’ll be seen and gain ongoing attention.  I’ll say it again; PR is a means to an end of greater exposure, but doesn’t guarantee the end itself.  What value do you offer, warranting increased exposure? Maybe this is the best way I can phrase it.  Like rank, PR and link building gain a business more exposure.  Getting more exposure is like your brand’s elevator pitch to the public; it helps get them to look your way and hear what you have to say.  Are goods, services, and Web properties deserved of quality attention?  That’s the first question to ask.  Poor quality attracts the same brand of attention.  Excellence begets excellent links and attention.  Can you be excellent? Additional Resources Chris Dyson ? Optimize Your Link Building with Twitter John Doherty ? Link Branding: A Link Builder’s Marketing Mindset Jason Acidre ? 9 Tangible Linkable Asset Ideas and How to Build Links to Them Linkpreneurs- The New School of Link building TweetRelated posts: Use Link Building to Exit the Winter of Dissed Content There’s No Crying in Branding Brand-Unbearable ‘PR Panda’ Updates Anthony Pensabene WebiMax Internet Marketing Blog: SEO, PPC, SEM & SMO Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:48:12 +0100 http://marketingdebat.dk/adobe-unveils-cs6-and-subscription-based-creative-cloud-service-up-for-pre-order-now-video/ Adobe’s biggest day of 2012? Go ahead, don’t be afraid to call it what it (probably) is. Continue reading here: Adobe unveils CS6 and subscription-based Creative Cloud service, up for pre-order now (video) admin Marketingdebat Mon, 23 Apr 2012 07:16:00 +0100 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WebimaxSEOBlog/~3/UuOPV-3_9BM/when-was-the-last-date-you-were-up-on-customers TweetWhen Was the Last Date You Were Up on Customers? was originally posted on the WebiMax SEO Blog Google has been making many updates.  Have you heard?  Don’t worry; the search engine optimization world closely tracks the search giant’s moves.  We must.  There’s too much invested in the process.  Our consumers depend on us to do a good job for them.  Your consumers depend on you too. One of my jobs as an online marketer is suggesting best practices.  Obviously, I follow the evolution of Google closely; it’s both interesting and warranted to intelligently address cohorts and readers.  One of the best suggestions I can give (after being in marketing for a while) is minding your target?which is not Google rankings (rank is a means to an end).  Rank is only one piece of the puzzle.  As far as revenue, nothing’s happening unless consumers do something.  The Google rank is just an ad after all. It’s Sunday; hopefully you have some time to think of the forest through the trees before the busy workweek begins tomorrow.  I would like business owners to invest the time in thinking about the following. About Us Imagine you just met a potential business partner.  You would want to know more about them, wouldn’t you?  I would.  I do.  Can consumers get all desired information from your about us page?  I’ve seen a number of business sites with sad about us pages, offering no information about executives, brand missions, and employees.  That’s a big red flag for me.  Why is your brand hiding?  Do you have something to hide?  Competition is fierce.  Why should consumers partner with your brand when you don’t indicate ‘who’ your brand is? Take time with your about us page.  People like to know about executives, employees, and their thoughts on business practices.  Consumers want to know more about the brand.  More transparency by businesses facilitates feelings of comfort and familiarity for consumers. Examples of good about us pages: http://www.blueglass.com/about/ http://www.distilled.net/about/ Notice the About Us experience is multi-faceted.  There are pictures, personality exhibited, people smiling and described, etc.  You get a clear picture of the business and team members.  Get your about us page there. Page Bounce Rates It’s quite simple to throw up Web pages.  However, each page should have a definitive purpose.  I understand all businesses want to make money from the Web; yet, understand the purpose of Web sites.  A good Web site is a resource for interested parties.  It should be a place of information and ongoing interaction.  What are the bounce rates of your pages?  Check pages where people spend little time.  Why could this be?  What orchestration decisions were made that could be bettered, perpetuating a visit?  What site pages are most sticky?  Why?  Would it be wise to engineer pages like that more often? High bounce rates tell me that a Web property is highly optimized for engines but offer little value or embrace for consumers, as if browsers were captivated by rank or meta tags, heading toward a Web property only to find it ineffectively ‘walking the talk,’ not ‘living up to its preliminary advertisement.’ This bounce rate post offers a ton of resources on the topic. Please be mindful of best practices.  Aligning your search engine optimization campaign with best practices eliminates the worry of Google updates.  Do be concerned (always) with customer updates; constantly think about improving your Web site and digital communications for your customers.   Are you interested in starting a search engine optimization campaign?  It requires diligence and experience paves the way for efficient diligence.  Download our SEO white paper and start thinking about choosing the right SEO provider for your purposes right now. TweetRelated posts: Gentleman Branding ?Is Your Company Worthy of a Tip o’ the Cap? Show.Me.The?Classy Branding Get Consumers, Workers, and Executives on the Same Branding Page Anthony Pensabene WebiMax Internet Marketing Blog: SEO, PPC, SEM & SMO Sun, 22 Apr 2012 17:30:24 +0100 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MovieTalkies-LatestNews/~3/-Rnqb7217JE/sara-ali-khan-is-abu-jani-sandeep-khosla's-new-muse Though the young lass aspires to be a doctor, destiny it seems has some other plans for Saif Ali Khan-Amrita Singh's daughter, Sara Ali Khan. After receiving film offers from big filmmakers, Sara is now set to make a splash in the glamour world by modeling for famous designer duo Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla. The 'Couture Kings', who are celebrating ... MovieTalkies.com Movie Talkies - Latest News Sat, 21 Apr 2012 10:17:50 +0100 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MovieTalkies-LatestNews/~3/-Rnqb7217JE/sara-ali-khan-is-abu-jani-sandeep-khosla's-new-muse Though the young lass aspires to be a doctor, destiny it seems has some other plans for Saif Ali Khan-Amrita Singh's daughter, Sara Ali Khan. After receiving film offers from big filmmakers, Sara is now set to make a splash in the glamour world by modeling for famous designer duo Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla. The 'Couture Kings', who are celebrating ... MovieTalkies.com Movie Talkies - Latest News Sat, 21 Apr 2012 10:17:50 +0100 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MovieTalkies-LatestNews/~3/-Rnqb7217JE/sara-ali-khan-is-abu-jani-sandeep-khosla's-new-muse Though the young lass aspires to be a doctor, destiny it seems has some other plans for Saif Ali Khan-Amrita Singh's daughter, Sara Ali Khan. After receiving film offers from big filmmakers, Sara is now set to make a splash in the glamour world by modeling for famous designer duo Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla. The 'Couture Kings', who are celebrating ... MovieTalkies.com Movie Talkies - Latest News Sat, 21 Apr 2012 10:17:50 +0100 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MovieTalkies-LatestNews/~3/-Rnqb7217JE/sara-ali-khan-is-abu-jani-sandeep-khosla's-new-muse Though the young lass aspires to be a doctor, destiny it seems has some other plans for Saif Ali Khan-Amrita Singh's daughter, Sara Ali Khan. After receiving film offers from big filmmakers, Sara is now set to make a splash in the glamour world by modeling for famous designer duo Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla. The 'Couture Kings', who are celebrating ... MovieTalkies.com Movie Talkies - Latest News Sat, 21 Apr 2012 10:17:50 +0100 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MovieTalkies-LatestNews/~3/-Rnqb7217JE/sara-ali-khan-is-abu-jani-sandeep-khosla's-new-muse Though the young lass aspires to be a doctor, destiny it seems has some other plans for Saif Ali Khan-Amrita Singh's daughter, Sara Ali Khan. After receiving film offers from big filmmakers, Sara is now set to make a splash in the glamour world by modeling for famous designer duo Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla. The 'Couture Kings', who are celebrating ... MovieTalkies.com Movie Talkies - Latest News Sat, 21 Apr 2012 10:17:50 +0100 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MovieTalkies-LatestNews/~3/-Rnqb7217JE/sara-ali-khan-is-abu-jani-sandeep-khosla's-new-muse Though the young lass aspires to be a doctor, destiny it seems has some other plans for Saif Ali Khan-Amrita Singh's daughter, Sara Ali Khan. After receiving film offers from big filmmakers, Sara is now set to make a splash in the glamour world by modeling for famous designer duo Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla. The 'Couture Kings', who are celebrating ... MovieTalkies.com Movie Talkies - Latest News Sat, 21 Apr 2012 10:17:50 +0100 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MovieTalkies-LatestNews/~3/-Rnqb7217JE/sara-ali-khan-is-abu-jani-sandeep-khosla's-new-muse Though the young lass aspires to be a doctor, destiny it seems has some other plans for Saif Ali Khan-Amrita Singh's daughter, Sara Ali Khan. After receiving film offers from big filmmakers, Sara is now set to make a splash in the glamour world by modeling for famous designer duo Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla. The 'Couture Kings', who are celebrating ... MovieTalkies.com Movie Talkies - Latest News Sat, 21 Apr 2012 10:17:50 +0100 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MovieTalkies-LatestNews/~3/-Rnqb7217JE/sara-ali-khan-is-abu-jani-sandeep-khosla's-new-muse Though the young lass aspires to be a doctor, destiny it seems has some other plans for Saif Ali Khan-Amrita Singh's daughter, Sara Ali Khan. After receiving film offers from big filmmakers, Sara is now set to make a splash in the glamour world by modeling for famous designer duo Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla. The 'Couture Kings', who are celebrating ... MovieTalkies.com Movie Talkies - Latest News Sat, 21 Apr 2012 09:14:45 +0100 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MovieTalkies-LatestNews/~3/-Rnqb7217JE/sara-ali-khan-is-abu-jani-sandeep-khosla's-new-muse Though the young lass aspires to be a doctor, destiny it seems has some other plans for Saif Ali Khan-Amrita Singh's daughter, Sara Ali Khan. After receiving film offers from big filmmakers, Sara is now set to make a splash in the glamour world by modeling for famous designer duo Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla. The 'Couture Kings', who are celebrating ... MovieTalkies.com Movie Talkies - Latest News Sat, 21 Apr 2012 09:14:45 +0100 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MovieTalkies-LatestNews/~3/-Rnqb7217JE/sara-ali-khan-is-abu-jani-sandeep-khosla's-new-muse Though the young lass aspires to be a doctor, destiny it seems has some other plans for Saif Ali Khan-Amrita Singh's daughter, Sara Ali Khan. After receiving film offers from big filmmakers, Sara is now set to make a splash in the glamour world by modeling for famous designer duo Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla. The 'Couture Kings', who are celebrating ... MovieTalkies.com Movie Talkies - Latest News Sat, 21 Apr 2012 09:14:45 +0100 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WebimaxSEOBlog/~3/c368q8r3Ils/what-are-you-doing-with-all-my-tweets TweetWhat Are You Doing with ‘All My Tweets’? was originally posted on the WebiMax SEO Blog   Last week (Was it last week?  It all coagulates into one giant stream?) I saw a tweet by Chris Winfield:   All My Tweets -> View all your tweets on one page.http://bit.ly/HyIfhy I was like, whaaaaaaaat?!  Now I can scrutinize the tweets of others more conveniently rather than scrolling through the limited showcasing via the Twitter platform?  Yes!  Secondly, I tweet a lot myself, using the stream to formulate my weekly roundups.  In short, I’m really glad I came across Chris’ tweet and my newest marketing tool. Self Reflection “By three methods we may learn wisdom: first, by reflection?” – Confucius Sometimes it’s hard to see yourself from the outer perspective.  Are you satisfied with your Twitter usage?  Are you sure?  Why don’t you reflect on former use; that way you can see if your tweets ‘walk’ the ‘talk’ of your intentions.  Are you tweeting enough?  Too little?  Are you only tweeting internal content?  Are social worlds colliding, allowing you to mingle private and professional lives? Have a look under your Twitter hood, allowing you to see the tweeted mileage.  Perhaps you’re on the right road or maybe it’s time for a tweeting ‘tune up.’  Either way, the ‘All My Tweets’ site allows for self reflection. Getting to Know You? “You can see a lot just by observing.” – Yogi Berra I wrote up a blog post on peer relations recently.  I think ‘networking’ online is A LOT like engaging people offline.  Kelsey Libert of BlueGlass wrote a good piece on blogger outreach today.  It’s filled with tons of great info regarding building relations.  As Kelsey explains, good relations warrant doing some homework on the to-be approached personality. The more you know about someone, the better.  That way you can gain a better ‘feel,’ a better idea of whether the relationship is a good professional match.  A huge spoonful of reality is warranted for those seeking PR opportunities; it’s about finding the right fit; it’s not just about getting exposure.  Sorry. Only if the relation fits... Do you have your ‘eye’ on a particular personality or brand?  Throw their Twitter ID into ‘All My Tweets.’  Start analyzing tweets like number crunchers (eww numbers!) do data.  Number people elicit some newfound truth or pattern by analysis.  I do the same thing with personality and character.  Do I get to know someone like their diary?  No, but I can get a better ‘feel’ for their professional interests, personality, and Twitter behaviors through analysis.  You can too. Who Influences the Influencer? “Leadership and learning are indispensable to another.” – JFK  You know those popular personalities in your vertical of interest, those who have a lot of followers, those who tweet 140 characters or less while others treat it like gold?  They are called ‘influencers,’ the big fish.  How did they get to where they are now?  They must be doing something right.  I’m inspired by a number of people in my industry.  Can you relate?  Do you take interest in a number of ‘influencers?’  Let’s go further down the rabbit hole.  Who inspires them?  What are they reading?  Who do they re-tweet and speak with often?  Perhaps you can open new doors by taking more interest in what interests the influencers. Dylan influences my poetry writing; but, he was a huge fanboy of Woody Guthrie. Survey the tweet stream of a few parties of interest.  Find out who influences the influencers; then you’ll have more learning fuel for implementing the second suggestion above. What else could you do with ‘All My Tweets’?  There’s definitely more… TweetRelated posts: Researchers Identify Ways to Improve Credibility of Tweets Use Social Media for Public Relations To Tweet or Not to Tweet Anthony Pensabene WebiMax Internet Marketing Blog: SEO, PPC, SEM & SMO Wed, 18 Apr 2012 20:20:55 +0100 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WebimaxSEOBlog/~3/Q-YuEiqrTvc/blogging-shmogging-who-needs-a-company-blog-anyway TweetBlogging Shmogging ? Who Needs a Company Blog Anyway? was originally posted on the WebiMax SEO Blog   I’m not going to tell you to start a company blog because there are other ways to communicate brand messages and gain online traction.  However, if you do have a company blog, you should concentrate on making it better and providing more value to readers. It’s easy to say, “Start a blog.”  I know because I’ve suggested such things before; but, there are as many reasons not to blog as there are to blog.  You don’t have to be like anyone else is an immediate suggestion if you do blog.  Don’t chase the style of influencers or popular brands; chances are you won’t find the same ‘magic’ during your trials.  However, you could make the blogging process your own. Consider the following ‘normal blogging’ alternatives: Text is boring I love reading; but, not everyone agrees.  Actually, I bet a lot of people rather view a slide show or watch a video than read lines of text.  Think of your days as a student.  Not many people retain information from a textual once over anyway.  Your blog doesn’t have to be textual at all.  Some people enjoy speaking, opting to share information in that format.  Are you more of a talker than writer?  Begin podcasting your ideas. Outsource I’ve ghost written before for other individuals.  I love writing.  Like reading above, there are those who would disagree with my choice of passion.  It’s understood.  If in-house workers are not natural writers, then don’t try to mold them into it; they’re likely to resent the need.  I’d love to see someone attempt to make me into a ‘number cruncher.’  Alternatively, think about outsourcing your writing needs to?a writer, someone who enjoys doing it.  I would suggest limiting the number of them.  I think the more people involved, the less likely all parties can accurately channel the personality of your brand.  Perhaps your owner can closely work with one ghostwriter, who can accurately capture the owner’s insight. Don’t Do It I know.  I’m an online marketer telling you to dismiss an online marketing objective.  You don’t have to blog at all, especially if your brand is going to do a poor job of doing it.  This is something I wish more brands would realize: doing something poorly can grossly counteract online initiatives, creating poor impressions.  For instance, I can’t count how many handles do an awful job of social media participation.  Some brands would benefit from retiring their Twitter and Facebook accounts because the accounts are so poorly managed and curated.  I hope your blog isn’t poorly managed; but, it’s not an out-of-this-world notion. Optimization Doesn’t Equal Conversions If you rank well on major engines for words associated to your services and products, you’re business is in a good place.  But how many people ‘fit’ on the first page?  Not many.  I think an excellent ongoing branding campaign (for some brands) is just as good as great rankings.  Good rankings ensure more people notice your brand.  Branding does the same, yet ‘optimizes’ your brand toward its target market.  Isn’t that who you want to sell to?  I’m not saying dismiss all notions of SEO; I’m saying notice the widespread tools of online marketing.  You don’t have to be number-one on Google to be successful online; you have to be number-one with your customers to be successful. TweetRelated posts: Gentleman Branding ?Is Your Company Worthy of a Tip o’ the Cap? Business Blogging Mistakes and Reconsiderations Patience is an Online (Veruca-less) Virtue Anthony Pensabene WebiMax Internet Marketing Blog: SEO, PPC, SEM & SMO Tue, 17 Apr 2012 21:50:10 +0100 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WebimaxSEOBlog/~3/Cd7UEiyRsVM/get-consumers-workers-and-executives-on-the-same-branding-page TweetGet Consumers, Workers, and Executives on the Same Branding Page was originally posted on the WebiMax SEO Blog   Have you ever chatted with someone who presents a story to you that sounds familiar, except for some minor-to-major details, which have been shifted, embellished, and distorted?  It’s common in the world of gossip and akin to playing the game, whisper down the lane. I used to teach in high school, where cliques wax poetic about gossip just as much (or more) as tweed-jacketed English teachers speak Shakespeare.  The interests and cliques of teens can be capricious and fickle; yet teachers, those in authority, need to relay consistency.  One of the best pieces of advice received from older peers regarded consistency, being ‘who you say you are’ and doing ‘what you said you would.’ The dynamic between a student and teacher is a bit different from that of a consumer and brand; however, the need for consistency remains integral to facilitate good relations.  Mixed signals and contradiction, purveyed by a brand, is recognized by consumers.  It frustrates and alienates the latter party. Over the weekend, I read a post on forming a corporate identity manual.  A brand does not need to be huge to host a manual; a brand consisting of one employee may benefit from a manual.  Why?  It addresses a brand’s character; it provides the ‘blue prints’ for a brand’s personality.  Secondly, it serves as a graphic reminder (a ‘post-it’ note), mentally nudging all brand players about the importance of the brand’s identity and the consistency of expressing it. Example 1 Those practicing online marketing often get perplexed by Google; it must be very intimidating for those outside of the industry.  A brief time ago, Google introduced privacy setting changes, creating a mass of confusion, with many expressing their frustration with the brand.  Google’s engine is the most popular method of search; a communicative blunder (even of large proportions) is not likely to sink the brand; but, Google champions itself on creating the best user experience; being tongue-tied about mass-rolled-out changes is not consistent with its intended identity.  This is not good for consumers and definitely not good for Google. Example 2 I own a phone powered by a popular mobile brand.  I recently had a billing question, pointing out the disparity between written text on their Web site, what was explained to me while signing a contract, and what was relayed to me by a representative on the phone.  My real frustration with the brand culminated in the feeling of helplessness; I can’t find a theme of consistency with the brand’s processes.  I shouldn’t have to sleuth and elucidate contradictions.  Before the brand takes my money, accepting me as an ongoing consumer, it should definitively engineer its policies, ensuring a consistent identity. In the first example, Google did a poor job of ‘being who it says’ ? a provider of the best user experience.  In the second example, the brand did a poor job of ‘doing what it said it would’ in regard to the billing process. Does This Hit Home? The way I branded myself as a person of authority in the classroom was important.  I needed to ensure a level of consistency; because, if I didn’t, I would be ‘called’ on it. “Hey, Mr. P, can I have an extension on that project due on Friday?” “No, sorry, I can’t budge on that.” “Why did you tell Tommy in 4th period he could have one!?” See what would happen if I was inconsistent with my branding?  I would alienate some consumers. “Hey class, I know I said I would give all of you some free time to do your homework at the end of class; but, I changed my mind.” (Chaos and Mr. P voo-doo dolling ensues) Do you have children?  Did they ever ask a question at different times or to different parents, attempting to elicit a different response?  High school teens do the same with teachers; they can be crafty.  I did it when I was in school.  Does your brand respond consistently to its consumers? Solution Branding myself and my methods was important before I started teaching.  In the above article, the branding strategist maintains a graphic organizer with a signed ‘contract’ by the owner, the ‘contract’ enforcing the corporate identity. Before teaching, I presented a graphic contract, ‘Mr. P’s structural bookends,’ having each student and aligned parent sign it.  This way, all consumers and related associates had a clear understanding of my ‘brand,’ who I was, what I expected, and what they could expect regarding my instruction. The author of the corporate identity article endorses the formation and regular revisiting of a company-wide identity manual.  Have you considered such a process? Do all team members act uniformly toward consumers?  Is each piece of content, produced by your brand, released with your brand’s intended, consistent message?  Ensure all involved with your brand are on the same branding page. TweetRelated posts: Executives and Consumers Trading Places? Gentleman Branding ?Is Your Company Worthy of a Tip o’ the Cap? Show.Me.The?Classy Branding Anthony Pensabene WebiMax Internet Marketing Blog: SEO, PPC, SEM & SMO Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:51:48 +0100