http://marketingsource.com/articles/ Articles at marketingsource.com Articles Library en-us http://marketingsource.com/articles/blogs/blog-mistakes.html http://marketingsource.com/articles/blogs/blog-mistakes.html Fri, 15 Apr 2011 12:28:26 -0500
by Sharon Housley

Blogging has quickly become very common place, and while blogs may be plentiful, many bloggers still make a number of mistakes when it comes to managing their blogs. Presented here are the most common blog mistakes, in hopes that you can avoid making them yourself...

Mistake #1 - Failure To Provide Search Functionality

Blogs should be searchable. Include a search function on the blog so that website visitors can easily search your blog content for the things they are interested in or looking for.

Mistake #2 - Failure To Offer Syndication

Failure to provide an RSS feed for blog content is a common mistake. RSS feeds will significantly increase the number of blog followers. Many blogging platforms will automatically create an RSS feed for the content -- if your current content management system does not have that ability, you can manually create the RSS feeds yourself, or use software like FeedForAll ( http://www.feedforall.com ) to create the feeds. RSS feeds will increase your blogs exposure and readership.

Mistake #3 - Failure To Personalize

Blogs are meant to be personal. Blogs that consist mostly of impersonal, factual news clips will not attract as much interest as a blog with a distinct personality. Add character and personality to your blog by personalizing your blog posts. Readers tend to enjoy blogs that contain personality and character.

Mistake #4 - Failure To Subscribe To Your Own Blog

Be sure to subscribe to your own blog and RSS feed, so that you can see exactly what your readers are seeing. Click through the blog posts to ensure that your linking schemes are functioning properly. Sometimes you might be surprised by how your blog content is being displayed to your readers, so be sure to subscribe to your own blog in order to quickly correct any errors.

Mistake #5 - Poor Navigation To Archives

It is important that you provide clear navigation to older blog posts. You can often categorize blog posts or list related blog posts beneath your main blog posts, which gives the reader access to additional related material if they found your blog post interesting.

Mistake #6 - Lack Of Consistency

Blog postings should be consistent, both in frequency and in tone. Blog readers will expect consistency in blog posts, and straying too far from the established and expected frequency or tone could sour some readers.

Mistake #7 - Lack Of Theme

Blog posts should be united by a common theme, simply because subscribers will follow blogs that contain an ongoing topic they are interested in. If the blog is simply a collection of random and unrelated posts, your subscribers may lose interest and wander away.

Mistake # 8 - Failure To Use Stable Hosting

Hosting should be reliable and stable. Nothing is more frustrating to a reader than being unable to click through on a blog post they are interested in. Use a stable web host and platform, even if it means you have to spend a little more money.

Mistake #9 - Changing Half-Way

Many people will try blogging initially, using a 3rd-party for hosting, and once they realize it is successful they decide to host and manage their blog locally. This means that any followers they've managed to obtain prior to that point must then resubscribe to the RSS feed or go to a different URL for the most recent blog posts. If you are going to blog, don't do it half-way and then change things in mid-stream. As they say: go big or go home -- meaning that you should do it the right way from the beginning, or not bother.

Mistake #10 - Lack Of Monitoring Metrics

View your blog logs on a regular basis, so you know which articles your viewers enjoy the most. Then you'll know how to give your readers more of what has already been of interest to them. Analytics are critical in determining what people like and dislike, so don't rely on assumptions... rely on numbers.

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]]> http://marketingsource.com/articles/search-engine-optimization/on-page-search-engine-optimization-tips.html http://marketingsource.com/articles/search-engine-optimization/on-page-search-engine-optimization-tips.html Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:20:16 -0600
By Sharon Housley

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has become a fine science. Tweaking, changing, and measuring is all part of the ongoing optimization process. SEO truly is a process that requires constant monitoring and attention. In order for a website to perform well, its managers and webmasters must adapt their SEO techniques as the search engine algorithms change.


Use the following "on-page" optimization techniques to improve your website's search engine ranking...

1. Keywords In Domain Names

Include important keywords in webpage domain names and sub-domain names, which can improve the page ranking for those specific keywords or phrases.

2. Keywords In Meta Tags

Including keywords in the Title and Description Meta Tags for the webpage will also help search engine ranking for that specific keyword or phrase.

3. Keywords In Headers On Page

Including keywords in the H1 and H2 Header tags, and using "bold" to emphasize words deemed important, will also assist search optimization.

4. Quality Of Content

Generating quality content that uses keywords "naturally" in the text will help search engines contextualize your website.

5. Quantity Of Content

The content on a webpage must be a reasonable length. It is recommended that articles contain 400-600 words, and standard text on a webpage should contain a minimum of 250 words.

6. Page Displayed Using HTML

The webpage should use HTML to display the website's content. This will insure that the webpages are easily spidered by the search engines. Avoid using complex scripting or frames, as those features will inhibit the search engine spider's ability to follow links and will limit your SEO benefit.

7. Themed

The content of a website, and the pages within the website, should all be related.

8. No Broken Links

Broken links tell search engines that a website is not current or well-maintained, so be sure to keep your links up-to-date and valid. Remove any links that no longer function properly.

9. Outgoing Links To Good Neighborhoods

Be sure that any outgoing links to external sources are linking only to reputable websites.

10. Domain Extension

When registering a domain name, try to stick with the standard conventions. For example, .com, .edu, .org, and .net are the most desirable. If you are targeting a specific region, regional domains can also be helpful in local searches.

11. Age Of Domain

The domain age can influence its "trustworthiness", and older domains typically gain more favor with search engines.

12. Navigation

The website's navigation can also impact search ranking. Create sub-directories or folders that contain related groupings of pages. This is common with directory structures, and is an architecture that search engines are familiar with and tend to favor.

13. Image ALT Tags

Use keywords in the ALT tag attribute to describe the purpose of any image or graphic located on a webpage.

All "On-Page" optimization factors are under the control of the webmaster. "Off-Page" optimization, on the other hand, is not nearly as easy to control. Read "Optimizing Optimization, Part 2: Off-Page Optimization" for additional details regarding off-page SEO techniques.

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]]> http://marketingsource.com/articles/social-media/twitter-for-business.html http://marketingsource.com/articles/social-media/twitter-for-business.html Tue, 25 Jan 2011 08:36:13 -0600 by Sharon Housley

Businesses can use Twitter as a marketing tool in a variety of ways. Many business owners struggle with social media as a marketing medium. At the heart of the most effective social media marketing campaigns is personal communication. Many businesses that try to manage social media may attempt to shout their message, rather than simply engaging with potential customers. Potential customers who are active in social networks will not be receptive to marketing in this fashion. The trick with social media like Twitter is to interact and engage, rather than shouting your message.

Use Twitter for the following...

Branding
Twitter can be used to secure a brand. Establishing brand identity is important to most businesses, and Twitter gives a business control over their message.

For example, the avatar used in a Twitter profile can reinforce a company's brand. Use the image normally associated with your company's brand as the avatar for your account. The Twitter profile webpage can also be customized to reinforce the company's brand identity and message.

Marketers can also monitor what is being said on Twitter about their company and brand. Simply search http://search.twitter.com using the company name or brand name. When a query about the company or service is tweeted, reply to the tweet with an offer of assistance. To make it easier to follow such mentions, you can subscribe to a Twitter keyword search RSS feed, which will then notify you each time the company or product brand is mentioned on Twitter.

Marketing
Twitter can be used to let customers and potential customers know about new products, services, and promotions. Marketers can also conduct searches for questions where the company's product is a possible solution. Marketers can then reply to the queries, offering assistance where it is appropriate.

Viral
Twitter, by nature, is a viral tool. New, innovative, and interesting items are quickly broadcast and re-tweeted, helping to spread the word. Consider what elements of the company or product are interesting or unique. The more out-of-the-box they are, the more likely they will appeal to Twitter's viral audience.

Even The Playing Field
Twitter can be used to even the playing field between large companies and smaller ones attempting to compete. Small companies can personalize their customer interaction much more easily. Twitter also makes it easier to gain the attention of others. The Twitter community helps to even the playing field.

Press
Twitter can be used to attract the attention of the press or news media. Many bloggers and media personalities participate on Twitter. As a result, the posting of your new announcements may grab their attention, and result in unexpected press coverage. Public relations professionals should tweet when they issue press releases.

Instant Feedback
Twitter can be used to get instant feedback on just about anything. If a company's development team wants to know what customers think about a potential new feature, Twitter is a great way to receive instant feedback.

Get Ideas
Twitter can be used to develop ideas for new projects or needs that people have. Monitor the Twitter stream for the types of products or services people are routinely asking about.

Connect
Twitter can be used to connect to others in your industry. Follow professionals in the same niche or market, in order to stay in the communication loop.

Respond to Criticism
Twitter can be used to respond to criticism in a constructive and professional manner. Watch for mentions that contain criticisms of your product or service, and then reply in a helpful and professional manner. How you respond often says more than the actual criticism itself.

Communicate
Twitter can be used to communicate and promote your participation in industry events, conferences, and trade shows.

Customer Service
Twitter can be used to provide customer service and assistance.

Personalize
Twitter can be used to personalize customer interaction.

Promotion
Twitter can be used to market things like special offers or time-limited discounts.

Twitter is surely a trend, but probably not one that businesses can afford to ignore.

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]]> http://marketingsource.com/articles/search-engine-optimization/google-is-more-than-just-a-search-engine.html http://marketingsource.com/articles/search-engine-optimization/google-is-more-than-just-a-search-engine.html Tue, 11 Jan 2011 09:19:58 -0600

By Sharon Housley

The architects of the most powerful search engine in the world have included some really handy algorithms in their service, which allow searchers to quickly locate particular and specific types of information...

1. Definitions
In order to quickly find the definition of a word, simply type "define: word" in the search box. Google will then provide the definition of the word.

2. Area Codes
Enter a US telephone area code in the URL box to see a map of the area covered by that telephone area code.

3. Calculator
Type a math problem into the Google search box, and Google will calculate the answer. Google acts as a calculator when mathematical calculation is presented. Google recognizes the following mathematical symbols: addition (+), subtraction (-), multiplication (*), division (/), to the power of (^), and square root of a number (sqrt).

4. Movies
In order to locate reviews and show times for movies playing near you, type "movies" or the name of a current film into the Google search box. If you have already saved your location on a previous search, or if you are logged into a Google account, the top search result will display show times for nearby theaters for the movie you entered.

5. Weather
To see the weather for many US and worldwide cities, type "weather" followed by the city and state, US zipcode, or city and country. Google will provide a current weather forecast.

6. Current Time
To see the current time in any city around the world, type "time" and the name of the city. Google will display the current time for that city.

7. Patent Search
To search for US patents, enter the word "patent" into the Google search box, followed by the patent number. Google will display the details of that particular patent.

8. Track Shipments
Shipments can easily be tracked using Google simply by entering the tracking number for your UPS, FedEx, or USPS package directly into the Google search box. Google will return the tracking results and status of the shipment.

9. Stock Quotes
Google can help investors keep an eye on the changing stock market. To see current market data for a given company or fund, simply type the ticker symbol into the Google search box. The resulting webpage displays financial data from the Google Finance service.

10. Maps
Looking for a map? Type in the name or US zipcode for a location, along with the word "map" and Google will display a map of that location.

11. Convert Currency
Google also has a built-in currency converter. Simply enter the conversion you would like to see performed in the Google search box, and Google will provide the currency conversion.

12. Flight Status
To view the flight status for arriving and departing US airline flights, enter the name of the airline and the flight number into the Google search box. Airport delays and details can be found by typing in the name of the city or three-letter airport code, followed by the word "airport".

13. Synonyms
If you want to locate search results for a word, along with any synonyms for the word, just enter the tilde sign (~) before the search term. Google will display results for that word and will include any related synonyms.

14. Population
To see trends for population and unemployment rates of US states and counties, type "population" or "unemployment rate" followed by a state or county. You can click through to a page that lets you compare different locations.

15. Spell Check
Google even has a built-in spell-checker. Google automatically checks whether your query uses the most common spelling of a given word. If Google thinks there may be an alternate or better spelling, it will be listed as: "Did you mean: (alternate spelling)"

16. Conversion Calculator
You can use Google to convert units of measurement. Google will convert height, weight, and volume measurements. Simply enter the desired conversion into the search box and Google will calculate the conversion.

17. Earthquake Activity
Google even tracks earthquake activity. Enter "earthquake" followed by the city and state or US zipcode into the Google search box to see the seismic activity in a specific region.

18. Related Websites
Google will display webpages that contain similar content. Include "related:" followed by a website address in the Google search box for a listing of related websites.

19. Linked Websites
When "link:" is used in the Google search box, and followed by a URL, the search results will include a listing of all webpages indexed by the search engine which contain links to the specified URL (i.e. to see how many websites are linking back to your site, or to a competitor's site).

20. Indexed Pages
When "site:" is entered in the Google search box, followed by a domain name, the search engine locates all documents within a specific domain, including all of its sub-domains. This is an easy way to get a rough idea of the number of pages indexed for a given domain.

True to Google's mission of making sense of information, Google has made specific and unique information very easy to find.

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This article may be used freely in opt-in publications and websites, provided that the resource box is included and the links are active. A courtesy copy of the issue or a link to any online posting would be greatly appreciated send an email to sharon@notepage.net .

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]]> http://marketingsource.com/articles/search-engine-optimization/video-optimization-part-ii.html http://marketingsource.com/articles/search-engine-optimization/video-optimization-part-ii.html Wed, 08 Dec 2010 14:55:11 -0600 By Sharon Housley


Optimizing your video for search engines will increase the exposure that the video receives, and optimization will also help spread the video's message. Follow these steps to enhance your videos and improve their rankings...

1. Shorter Videos Rank Better

No big surprise here -- the file size of short videos is much smaller than that of longer videos. On the video networks like YouTube, short videos are viewed far more often than longer ones. A length of less than 3 minutes per video seems to be ideal, and absolutely make every effort to keep your video under 10 minutes! If you have a long video segment, consider breaking it into multiple videos. The more popular videos on the video networks are given more exposure, which will also help increase the number of views received.

2. Titles Capture Interest

Just like newspaper headlines, it is important that the title of the video be one that will attract attention. If possible, include important keywords in the video title. This will help the video perform well in video searches for that keyword or phrase. Word order may also make a difference in the video ranking, so try to use the more important keywords at or near the beginning of the video title.


3. Tag The Video

Tag the video with important keywords and phrases that are relevant to the video's contents. This is particularly important on YouTube. For anyone searching for topical videos, this will help them find yours.


4. Encourage Commenting

Encourage customers or other viewers to comment on your videos. Most video networks increase a video's exposure if it receives a lot of comments or views. Once a large collection of comments has been posted, you can turn commenting off. To further increase exposure, link to the video from social sites and social media profiles such as facebook, myspace, twitter, linkedin, etc.


5. User Name

Use your company name as the username for your account on video networks like YouTube. The company name will further reinforce your brand.


6. Embed YouTube Video

Embed the YouTube video in your website. YouTube is the largest video network with the biggest following -- by embedding the YouTube video on your website, you will further increase the number of views the video receives.


7. Video Anchor Text


When you link to the video, use keyword-rich anchor text in the link to the video file.


8. Add iTunes Tags

Increase the exposure of your video by adding the iTunes tags and submitting the video podcast to iTunes.

9. Video SiteMap

On your website, use a sitemap that shows where the videos are located on your website. This will help both visitors and search engines in locating the videos.

10. Transcripts

Create a text transcript of the video. The text can then be spidered by search engines, giving the content an additional channel.

11. Allow Video Syndication

Allow others to syndicate your videos. This will increase the exposure and the number of views that your video receives.

12. Ratings

Ratings are a plus. Make sure that you allow other viewers the ability to rate your video on the video networks.

13. Compress File

File compression will reduce the file size of the video, and make it faster to download and view. The downside is that more compression results in lower quality. Compress the video file to the smallest possible size, but without compromising the video or sound quality.

14. Include Watermarking

Watermark your video file so that there is no doubt to its origin. Also, add a splash screen at the beginning, and embed your website URL in the video using video editing software. These things will increase your website's exposure if the video file is syndicated.

The growth of video on the web has exploded in recent years. Competitors will leave you in the dust if you fail to adapt and provide the medium your customers are exploring. Keep in mind that simply having a video is not enough! To make the most of your video content, you should take steps to optimize the video and increase your exposure.

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This article may be used freely in opt-in publications and websites, provided that the resource box is included and the links are active. A courtesy copy of the issue or a link to any online posting would be greatly appreciated send an email to sharon@notepage.net .

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]]> http://marketingsource.com/articles/search-engine-optimization/search-engine-optimization-myths.html http://marketingsource.com/articles/search-engine-optimization/search-engine-optimization-myths.html Tue, 23 Nov 2010 13:48:52 -0600 By Sharon Housley

A "myth" is a traditional story, idea, or explanation which is widely accepted, but actually untrue or unproven. Misconceptions can also be described as modern-day myths. When it comes to Search Engine Optimization (SEO), the myths and misconceptions are abundant. We will try to dispel some of the more common Search Engine Optimization myths here...

Myth #1 - SEO Is A One-Time Deal
Search engine optimization is an ongoing process that requires attention and effort over an extended period of time. To do it properly, it is an ongoing process, and definitely not a one-time action.

Myth #2 - Quantity Is More Important Than Quality
When it comes to backlinks, quantity is simply not as important as quality. Attracting a huge number of backlinks is simply not as important as obtaining relevant links from related and trusted sources.

Myth #3 - Meta Tags Are No Longer Relevant
While meta tags are not the be-all and end-all of search marketing, they still matter. Including a unique and keyword-rich title and description on each page of a website will help the site rank better in organic search results for those terms. Meta tags may not be as important as they once were, but they do still matter in the world of search optimization.

Myth #4 - PPC Will Help Search Ranking
There is no association between PPC (Pay Per Click) advertising campaigns and how well a website ranks in organic search results. There is simply no evidence to suggest that advertising via AdWords will help improve an organic search ranking.

Myth #5 - Submit Your Website Early And Often
Submitting your website to search engines is no longer a necessity. Search engines use spiders to follow links on a website.

Myth #6 - SEO Is A Scam
Search engine optimization, when done properly, is quite effective. In fact, a website may have a difficult time ranking well at all if it is not optimized adequately.

Myth #7 - SEO Is A Guarantee
As the old saying goes, the only things guaranteed in life are death and taxes. When properly implemented, SEO can very likely improve your organic search rankings. But be leery of any search marketing company that makes guarantees. There are simply too many factors and variables for SEO success to be guaranteed.

Myth #8 - Build It And They Will Come
Once upon a time, before the Internet became so cluttered, you could build something new and interesting and it would attract attention without any effort. But now, with the noise ratio so high on the Internet, you must work to draw attention to your innovation. Do not assume that people will find it simply because it is cool!

Myth #9 - NoFollow Links Are A Waste Of Time
Acquiring links that are tagged as "NoFollow" are not a waste of time. A mix of both DoFollow and NoFollow links looks far more natural to the search engine algorithms than a website that has all DoFollow or all NoFollow links. Additionally, some search marketing studies suggest that not all search engines pay attention to the NoFollow attribute, and they do in fact value a NoFollow link the same way that they would value a DoFollow link.

Myth #10 - Google Is The Only Search Engine
While it is true that Google is by far the largest search engine, a decent volume of web traffic can still be generated by achieving a high ranking in other search engines for competitive search terms.

Base your search optimization on facts, and not on myths or misconceptions! And always remember that nothing about SEO is ever an absolute.


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]]> http://marketingsource.com/articles/business-basics/managing-your-reputation.html http://marketingsource.com/articles/business-basics/managing-your-reputation.html Tue, 02 Nov 2010 16:04:22 -0500 By Sharon Housley

A company's reputation is often critical to that company's success. The anonymity and vastness of the Internet makes managing a reputation much more difficult than it once was. Businesses must be proactive about protecting their brands and reputations.

Brand Hijacking
Brand Hijacking refers to the act of someone other than authorized company personnel using the company brand as if they represent that brand. Unfortunately, brand hijacking is becoming increasingly more common in social media and on social networks. One of the best ways to minimize brand hijacking, while not foolproof, is to register the company brand and product names in all the social media channels, before anyone else has the opportunity to do so.

In order to check the availability of brands in the various social channels, you can use the following tools:

NameChk - http://www.namechk.com/
CheckUserNames - http://www.checkusernames.com/
UserNamez - http://www.usernamez.com/

Unfortunately, some nefarious people are getting around this by simply adding an underscore to a brand name (i.e. "_brandname"). Registering a brand this way gives the appearance that they represent the brand. If this occurs, most social websites will disable the offending account when they are notified of the issue. Many social networks are adding verification by requiring valid email addresses to help slow down brand hijacking. You can then create accounts on the social networks that secure your brand.

Consumer Complaints
The Internet has made it easier than ever to publicize complaints and short-comings of a company or a product. Now, any sort of "dirty laundry" can easily be aired publicly with just a few clicks, whether it be factual or not. Websites have been established specifically for the purpose of consumer complaints. Consumers are able to post complaints about products they feel are inferior, or services they feel are lacking.

Examples of such websites include:
RipOffReport - http://www.ripoffreport.com/
Complaints Board - http://www.complaintsboard.com/

It is critical that companies control the search results for their company name and brand. The last thing you want is for a complaint about your company or product to appear higher than your company's website listing in the search results. Use standard search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to ensure that your website dominates the top search results for brand names.

Monitor Your Brand
Use custom ego feeds to monitor the online discussions. The feeds will update whenever your product or brands are mentioned online. Ego feeds allow companies to monitor blogs and online news sources for specific keywords. Knowing what is being said about your company and products, and when it is being said, will allow you to respond to such things in a timely and professional manner. For more information about ego feeds, see:

Ego Feeds - http://www.feedforall.com/ego-searches.htm

When you encounter a mention of your products or services that casts a negative implication, try not to let anger or emotion dictate how you respond. Always behave professionally when providing responses, and always try to offer solutions and assistance. This can often be instrumental in changing the public perception about your company brand when problems arise. Your reputation is important, so be proactive!

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This article may be used freely in opt-in publications and websites, provided that the resource box is included and the links are active. A courtesy copy of the issue or a link to any online posting would be greatly appreciated send an email to sharon@notepage.net .

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]]> http://marketingsource.com/articles/business-basics/increase-productivity.html http://marketingsource.com/articles/business-basics/increase-productivity.html Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:09:45 -0500 By Sharon Housley

Small business owners frequently juggle a variety of roles within their companies. Creating a balance and effectively managing available time is extremely important to most small businesses. In order to economize and make the most of the available time, you should implement a time management plan.

Get Real
Set realistic goals that are not unreasonable or unattainable. It can be very demotivating to consistently feel as if you have not accomplished anything, simply because you regularly fail to meet unreasonable goals that you've set for yourself. By setting more realistic and attainable goals, you will feel a sense of accomplishment, and often be motivated to work harder.

Know Yourself
When are you most productive? Use the hours of the day when you are most productive to tackle the more difficult tasks. Manage your schedule so that you use your time most effectively.

Start
Sometimes the thought of starting a new project is overwhelming. In fact, the start itself can often be the most difficult part of a new project. Prepare, plan, and then take action! Dive in feet-first and start the project. Do not let the size of a project intimidate you. If necessary, large projects should be broken down into multiple smaller ones, making it easier to get started.

Benchmarks
Set benchmarks to monitor your ongoing progress. Benchmarks are particularly important for large projects or complex tasks. Use these benchmarks to assess the feasibility of your planned time, and make adjustments when necessary.

Plan For The Unexpected
Unfortunately, things often come up that will disrupt your carefully laid plans. Try to think of disruptions as challenges rather than roadblocks. Do not panic when the inevitable unexpected delays occur, and do not be reluctant to adapt and revise your planned schedule when such disruptions force you off your timetable.

Evaluate
Evaluate your progress on a regular basis. If you find that a specific task consistently wastes an inordinate amount of time, devote some brainstorming time to find different and possibly quicker ways to accomplish the same task.

Rewards
Build rewards into your schedule. Plan to "treat" yourself after you tackle and complete an unpleasant or particularly daunting task. If you enjoy certain projects more than others, use those enjoyable projects or tasks as rewards for completing the less-enjoyable ones.

Keep A List
It may sound silly to keep a list. Of course you know what you need to do... but maintaining a list will help you stay focused. Additionally, the act of crossing a completed task off the list can provide you with a morale-boosting sense of accomplishment!

Self Discipline
When you hear the "fun things" in life calling, remain disciplined. Adhere to your schedule, and resist the urge to become distracted during scheduled work hours. If you've done your time management planning correctly, there will still be time to enjoy those fun things.

Take Breaks
Do not forget to take regular breaks. Go for walks and get fresh air when necessary. Sometimes a short walk will refresh you, and you may find yourself even more productive as a result.

Realize that some days are simply going to be more productive than others. Managing time effectively can be very difficult, but it does become easier the more you do it.

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This article may be used freely in opt-in publications and websites, provided that the resource box is included and the links are active. A courtesy copy of the issue or a link to any online posting would be greatly appreciated send an email to sharon@notepage.net .

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]]> http://marketingsource.com/articles/marketing/marketing-on-line/tips-to-optimize-video-podcasts.html http://marketingsource.com/articles/marketing/marketing-on-line/tips-to-optimize-video-podcasts.html Wed, 06 Oct 2010 13:18:13 -0500 By Sharon Housley

It does not matter what you call them: vodcasts, vidcasts, videocasting, or video podcasting... there are a few behind-the-scenes actions you can take to help attract more attention to your video productions. Just like websites, it does not matter how amazing the content is if interested people are unable to find it.

Use the following suggestions to help increase the exposure your videos receive...

1. Use Keywords

In Video File Name Insert keywords in the name of the video file. When determining what keywords to use, do not simply rely on intuition; do research, just as you would for a website, to see what relevant terms people are searching on.

2. Create Video Feed

Create an RSS feed of all videos in a collection. Each feed item should contain a different video in the enclosure field. Optimize the feed using related keywords. For additional help, there is a Videocasting Feed Creation Tutorial available at:

http://www.feedforall.com/videocasting-tutorial.htm .

3. Increase Exposure

Host your videos on YouTube, and embed the video into your website, which will increase the video count on YouTube. The more popular a video seems to be, the more exposure it will receive.

4. Video Name And Description

In the video name and description fields, use keywords that relate to the content of the video. Create a compelling yet relevant title and description that will encourage people to click-through.

5. Google Video Sitemap

Create a video sitemap for the search engines. For details on what to include in such sitemaps, Google has provided specifications in their Google Webmaster Central Blog at:

http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2007/12/introducing-video-sitemaps.html .

6. Meta Data

Include meta data in the video file. The newer video search engines will often rely on meta data to produce relevant results. Many video editing products will allow you to edit and customize the meta data associated with the video file, and you should use this the same way you would use the meta data for a webpage.

7. Optimize Landing Page

Optimize the landing page on the website, embed the video in a webpage on your website, and then use standard SEO techniques to optimize that webpage for the search engines. Use keywords that relate to the video on the page that contains the video.

8. Transcripts

Provide a text transcript of the video, both on the landing page and in the RSS feed for the video.

9. Embed URL In Video

Brand the video with your logo in the initial video splash screen, and include your website address on the bottom of the video to increase your brand exposure.

10. Leave Them Wanting More

The video should be a teaser and leave the audience wanting more. Engage the audience, but try to encourage the viewer to visit the website or view other videos to learn more.

11. Submit YouTube Feed

YouTube creates an RSS feed for every user account that is created. In addition to manually creating an RSS feed, you can also use the YouTube feed to promote your videos. The formatting details for the YouTube video feeds can be found at http://gdata.youtube.com/feeds/api/username/uploads (replace "username" in the url with your own YouTube account username).

12. Anchor Text

When linking to the video, use anchor text that contains keywords which relate to the video.

13.Video Submission

Submit the video to all the video websites and video podcast websites. Here are a couple of resource sites to get you started...

Podcast & Video Submissions - http://www.podcasting-tools.com/submit-podcasts.htm
140 Places to Submit Your Video List - http://www.stephanmiller.com/my-link-lists/140-place-to-submit-your-video-list/

14. Tag Video

Tag the video on the video networks with relevant keywords, making it is easier for people to find when they search on those keywords.

15. Track Views

Track and review the number of views that a video receives. If you find that a substantial number of viewers are abandoning the video before completion, the chances are good that the video is too long and could benefit from trimming.

16. Social Bookmarking

Use social bookmarking to draw additional attention to videos. This will also help with the number of incoming links, which in turn will help improve search engine ranking.

Videos are the latest marketing channel. In order to make the most of it, optimize the video and increase the exposure it receives.

Permissions:
Permissions and notification of use not required.

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This article may be used freely in opt-in publications and websites, provided that the resource box is included and the links are active. A courtesy copy of the issue or a link to any online posting would be greatly appreciated send an email to sharon@notepage.net .

Additional articles available for publication available at http://www.small-business-software.net/free-website-content.htm

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]]> http://marketingsource.com/articles/business-basics/brand-awareness.html http://marketingsource.com/articles/business-basics/brand-awareness.html Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:59:03 -0500 by Sharon Housley


Brand awareness is the recognition of a specific brand name or logo, along with the traits associated with that brand. It is difficult to benefit from having a brand unless consumers are aware of the brand and the traits associated with it.

What Is A Brand?
A Brand helps position a product in the marketplace. Brands are often linked to things that are key motivators when a consumer is considering a purchase. In other words, a brand may be what makes a consumer purchase one product rather than another. A strong brand will convey the values you want associated with your product or service.

Brand Preference
Brand preference is when preference is given to one brand over competing brands, or to a recognized brand over unfamiliar brands. Brand reputation often influences consumer choice. Buyers often prefer one brand over another because they admire the traits associated with the preferred brand.

Brand Equity
Brand equity is the value associated with the brand. It is often difficult to assess the value of brand, because much of a brand's equity is the goodwill established with or perceived by consumers.

Brand Recall
Brand recall simply refers to the ability to recall specific details associated with a particular brand. Part of building a successful brand is being able to have consumers recall the traits associated with your brand. The easiest way to have a brand recognized and recalled is from repetition. This is why advertisers will so often repeat certain phrases associated with a specific brand over and over.

Quality Guarantee
A successful and well-known brand will often reassure the buyer with an implied quality level. A perceived level of quality is typically associated with a brand. Take the company LL Bean for example -- LL Bean is known for their impeccable customer service and a great returns program. There is a perception that if someone purchases something from LL Bean, not only will it be of high quality, but any issues or problems that arise after the purchase will be dealt with quickly and without problem.

Dynamic Branding
Branding is dynamic and constantly changing. Every interaction that a customer has with a brand can impact their opinion of that brand. As a result, it is important that such interactions be consistently positive, as this will help build a long-term customer relationship.

Brand Extension
Brand extension is the act of taking an existing and established brand and lending it to a new product. Brand extension is beneficial, but can also be dangerous. Extending a strong brand to new product lends that new product an automatic level of credibility... but if the new product is inferior or not up to the customer's expectations, the brand's reputation can be damaged.

Branding helps differentiate products. Learn how to use branding to establish your product in a niche.

Permissions:
Permissions and notification of use not required.

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This article may be used freely in opt-in publications and websites, provided that the resource box is included and the links are active. A courtesy copy of the issue or a link to any online posting would be greatly appreciated send an email to sharon@notepage.net .

Additional articles available for publication available at http://www.small-business-software.net/free-website-content.htm

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