"Big sites like Google and Yahoo are getting local, and local sites are getting big. How can you optimize your website for a locally owned and operated website?"

Article chosen and published by Melissa Brewer, Creative Director
Capital Creative, Inc.

Marketing and Copywriting Services for New Media

Web Design Consideration of Local SEO
by Caitlina Fuller

If you are trying to optimize your website for a local area in Arizona you will first want to think about who your target audience is. It is really difficult to optimize anything, let alone a website if you don’t know inside and out who it is you are trying to get to come to your website. Web design is all about the client and what they want from the provider of the service, product, or informational source so really sit and think about whom will be coming to your website.

If you are providing an informational based service you will probably find that your Arizona web design should be very straightforward. You needn’t waste your time with a lot of pictures or bells and whistles if someone is coming to your website for information only. To optimize your website so that the right type of people will come, you simply need to have information that is keyword rich. What this means is that when you are writing the information for people to find on your website, you should incorporate some of the keywords that people will search for when looking for your informational services within Arizona. Keywords really go a long way with helping to get your website recognized by the search engine spiders. When you have quality information that also happens to be keyword rich you can’t go unnoticed by your target audience.

If you are considering Phoenix web design for a more visual product such as real estate you will want to focus on having a design that it is user friendly, but also appealing to the eye. You can do this by utilizing drop down menus, using keywords in any text, and using some simple graphics. Many of these sites are more intricate, so you will want to spend some time making the website really easy to use and navigate, as this is what this sort of client is looking for. Again, it all comes down to knowing who will be visiting your site and how you can optimize it for the search engines as well as the consumer

Whether you are considering Arizona in general or somewhere such as Scottsdale, web design needs to be straight forward and accommodating. Keyword rich text is important, layout is important, but you don’t want to forget about things as important as page titles and meta tags. This is what the search engine spiders will read first and this is the best way to optimize your website so that you can get your target audience there! If you use keywords in your page titles and meta tags, search engines can help direct the right traffic to your website, allowing you to get better search engine rankings and allowing to you to increase local traffic and business on your website.

About the Author: Caitlina Fuller is a freelance writer. If you are providing an informational based service you will probably find that your Arizona web design should be very straightforward. If you are considering Phoenix web design for a more visual product such as real estate you will want to focus on having a design that it is user friendly.

Melissa Brewer specializes in creating seo-friendly content that attracts people, too.

Big Bang of the internet world......SMO continues to expand its reign in accord with SE principles
by Rakhi

Social Media Optimization can be defined as a tool to optimize websites so that it can be more viable, easily approachable and simplified to other websites and communities online. It provides an online platform to publicly share your feelings and opinions, exchange views, to reciprocate experiences, perception with online websites and communities. All you need to do is to broaden your views, by developing and implementing it and then vanquish your obstacles and make a meaningful contribution for all the web users. SMO brings inbound links to your website and so are of great value in promoting your website.
SMO helps you to optimize the web content in different forms: Text, Image, Audio, Video

These web content needs to be distributed using following mediums to gain momentum:
• Social Networking
Blog, the most powerful tool for SMO helps to broaden our network bandwidth. Blogs are content published on web (online journals) in reverse chronological order at regular intervals. You can share your personal views related to any topic and also link back to other websites, post comments and feedbacks.
You can subscribe to these blogs using RSS feed. You can build your own blogs, formulate your ideas to express more and then publish your own profile and expand your horizon by linking to friends and communities. MySpace (a blogging platform), the Technorati (blogs search engine), Sneakerplay and Indymedia are well known players in this field.

• Web Feeds (RSS, Atom)
Mash-ups, it is a software or application that combines useful information and content from different sources into an integrated, more useful piece of information providing more mobility to web players by having access to additional information of real world entities. Enjoy the real world video/music on your YouTube (a video blogging platform). Web Feed is one way to promote mash-ups.
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) syndicates and organize web content in a new RSS format and distribute it as a feed on website as a new content and notify subscribed readers of any new related content that surge, without actually visiting the website.

• Bulletin/ Message Boards
Message boards are of great help in optimizing your website as they have helpdesk, discussion forums that are ready round the clock to resolve your problems with their simplest solutions.

• Podcasts
Podcasts are audio-video files on internet that can be made available by subscription to all its users. You can upload as well as download your music tunes, audio and video contents and also produce your own film either on computer or media player. You need to target the right audience so that your audio-video content is distributed globally on all sites supporting these features. blip.tv, is a video podcasting platform.

• Wikis
Wikis commonly known as ‘online encyclopedia’ is driving SMO with its rapidly expanding community. It is a store house of information satisfying all its visitors and members with its inevitable, indisputable, unique, accurate, rich, updated content and vocabulary. It is right platform to explore and add to your knowledge base as it gives you collective information starting from origin to future prospects. A member of wikis has the right to add and edit information on own.

• Social Book Marking
The bottom-line of social book marking is same as social networking, starting from subscription, having personal home page and then expanding your network through friends and contacts, difference lies that here we discuss and focus on particular content. Many book marking sites based on particular theme have placed themselves well on this global stage.
del.icio.us: Globally sharing bookmark platform
Digg: a news and content sharing platform
Flickr: a photosharing platform in UK
Webjay: a music playlist sharing platform
Reddit, Newsvine, StumbleUpon, Ma.gnolia, Yahoo! 360, LinkedIn, Squidoo, Wikihow, Frappr, Furl, Wetpaint, 43 Things, Shoutwire, Shadows, Jotspot, BlinkList, etc.

• MMOG (Massively Multiplayer Online Game)
Second Life, an online virtual gaming world is best example of MMOG. All brand corporate players are taking interest to play and win the market and accept SMO as their new market strategy.

Search Engines will continue to have their monopoly but there will be a gradual reduction in the numbers of visitors and traffic to the search engines with the penetration of SMO tools in the internet world.

With its deeper impact on this advertising world SMO will conquer and dwell upon the web.

Author Payal, a SEO Consultant. contact at webmaster@icreon.com

Click here for Search Engine Positioning Placement Services and Link Building Services India

Article Directory: Article Dashboard

Simple RSS Tricks
by John Jantsch

By now you've heard of the whole RSS thing and maybe you've even started using it in various ways to subscribe to blogs or offer your blog's content to others. Today I would like to take you on a little ride to show you how, without really knowing much of anything about RSS and how it works, you can do some very powerful and useful things to add, filter and republish content.

Tracking mentions of a certain product

Search technorati.com and other blog search engines for mentions

Tag each mention with del.icio.us book mark using a tag like DTMbook

Grab the feed that del.icio.us automatically produces.

Just for fun, take feed to Feedburner and burn the feed

Set-up and republish the feed using Feedburner's Buzz Boost Option

Take code to any web and display dynamic real-time update (some CSS styling can help here)

Sit back and look cool - see the feed displayed in the right sidebar here

You can also do this via email alerts by setting Google or Yahoo News alerts for specific search terms.

If you've ever wanted to easily publish a schedule of upcoming event, deadlines or even birthdays as a dynamic list rather than a calendar style page here's an RSS trick for you to use. (This can be done on a public or private page)

Create a free Google Calendar account and slug in all the dates on the calendar (Any shareable calendar will do)

Google automatically creates an RSS feed for your calendar - take this URL and create free Feedburner account

Optimize the feed using the Event Feed option from Feedburner

Publish the feed using Feedburner's BuzzBoost option - lots of options for display

Paste the code Feedburner produces for you on the page you would like your list to show

Using this formula produces a dynamically changing list of events that will run from first up to last, automatically drop events that have passed, and automatically bring in future events per your settings. Now, anyone with access to a web browser and your Google Calendar account can update and edit your events list.

I use this for my upcoming speaking events. Bonus - you can easily set this up so others can subscribe to this events list too.

Delivering Personalized Information via RSS

Just when you thought you were getting the hang of using RSS as a research tool, someone comes along and tells you that it's not enough.

Now it's become ultra easy to use RSS technology to create individual feeds of information and supply them to your best clients. You know they want to figure this RSS thing out but just can't seem to get around to it. So, do it for them.

Here's what I would suggest. Go to www.mysyndicaat.com and create personalized, search specific, RSS feeds, mash them together and deliver customized information to your clients on a daily basis. The current trendy name for this is a newsradar

Syndicaat allows you to easily mash multiple feeds together creating one very focused and personalized feed. (Yahoo Pipes does this as well, but my results with it have been spotty)

So, let's say you have a client that produces tents for active outdoor types. You can search very specific terms and phrases in Google News, Yahoo News, Bloglines, Technorati, Google Blogs, Outdoor Forums, and anything else that produces an RSS feed and mash all the content about your client, their competitors, the industry, specific keywords and phrases, you name in, into one digestible, personalized newsfeed that changes daily. (Don't tell your client how easy this is, just do it and bill them for it - they'll thank you.)

Talk about a great way to get a competitive edge. It's like creating personalized publications for each client or each marketing segment you serve. What if you did this for your prospects as a way to show them what you could do? You can make all this content public or create private password protected feeds. You can also republish the RSS feed and data on any web page on your site using simple javascript or even Feedburner's Buzz Boost and then put it in your client's private page on your website. So now they come to your website for their industry news everyday - you got to like the sound of that.

John Jantsch is a veteran marketing coach, award winning blogger and author of Duct Tape Marketing: The World's Most Practical Small Business Marketing Guide. You can find more information by visiting http://www.ducttapemarketing.com .

Article Directory: Article Dashboard

Online friendships hurts

Ok, for some of the people who just don't get "social media marketing", here's a brief (and unscientific) case study of the rapper, rehdogg.

Rehdogg has been posting his home-made music videos online for the past year. He gets tons of video responses. People buy his albums, apparently.

Rehdogg continues to make his (very bad but very entertaining) music videos with a large audience of fans and haters. (I am somewhere in between..)

This music video is about the value of online friendships. Most of his videos are along the same line - songs about his viewers and their sometimes cruel responses to his music, songs about his hurt feelings. nobody really knows if rehdogg is for real with his lyrics - but his videos have been watched from 300 - 44000 times each, in most cases.

This is viral video marketing at its best and yet most simple; no matter how strange .... How many people do you think have bought an album - even as a joke? I bet more than we think!

Oh, and the whole video is about 6 minutes long, but you'll get the idea after about 2 minutes.

Online branding secrets: Build a truly recognizable presence on the web by catering to learning styles

by Melissa Brewer

Millions of prospects mean nothing if your website doesn't deliver what hold the attention span of modern consumers. You'll have more back-clicks than you know what to do with. Setting up your own web site is too easy and commonplace - new online businesses, and old, need to focus on growth and innovation - not just shopping carts and payment solutions.

How can an ecommerce-centered business truly stand out? By appealing to one audience, in multiple mediums.

What sets businesses apart is their web branding. Branding is a combinations of ideas, beliefs, and loyalty that people share about a product or company. You can always elevate your brand by reaching your audience more effectively. Let's take a look at what a modern website can do to stand apart from the competition. Online branding can be simple if you look at it through a scientific perspective. The fact is that consumers learn (even about brands) through different styles. By appealing to your user's different learning styles, you can create a website that stimulates the senses, creates an emotional response, and startles them in the clarity of its message.

Building an online brand: Online branding through learning styles.

A website is not just about the text. It's an experience - albeit, sometimes a relatively short one. You simply cannot have a website that relies solely on catalog descriptions and small images. Here's how to get any kind of learning style to pay attention.


1. Visual learners - the TV Infomercial Watchers. (And other demographics.) Visual learners have trouble when a website is cluttered or has too many graphics jumping around, however, they have to "see to believe". A simple approach to this is limit the number of products on your pages - but if you want to embed a video highlight for a specific product you're trying to sell - that product will stand out. YouTube offers free hosting of your videos, or you could opt for a photo slide show like RockYou.com if you don't have any footage. If you are selling services, a slide show tutorial, with graphs and explanations, makes all the difference in the world to visual learners. It's how they connect with your product. Good copy, along with text, will also increase response a response to your online brand. (Product descriptions should include words like "see", "picture", and "imagine" It's how these learners interpret, and connect with the visuals.) *An example: "Imagine yourself on an exotic desert island, with only the finest bottle of Bordeaux wine available on the planet. Would life really be that bad?" Engage the senses of your visual learners, and they'll develop an emotional connection with your products - and help you build your online brand.

2. Auditory learners - the Talk Radio Fans. (And other demographics). Auditory learners need to hear to believe and understand. However, cluttered noises annoy and distract them - so adding sound effects all over your website will send them running. Auditory learners enjoy asking people about their own preferences, and prefer to observe other interact and ask questions, as well. To increase the response to your online brand, you'll want to speak to them. Instead of forcing sound on your visitors, create audio options on specific part of your website. (Testimonials, product descriptions, or weekly news.) You can use Podcasts and other sound files to build your brand, but it's also important to have a decent customer service department they can talk to, or a salesperson that doesn't mind answering a few questions every now and then. Because auditory learners are communicators in general, setting up a bulletin board (although visual) is still effective if you want a larger forum to share your answers with. as far as copywriting - these learners relate to words such as "hear", "think" and "tune". *An example: "When you're thinking comfort, think wool." or "When you hear the sound of bathwater running, think Silk Clear Body Wash. Our luxurious peach rinse engages all the sense." Tell your visitors the words and sounds associated with your online brand, and they'll want to hear more.

3. Kinesthetic learners - the Do It Yourselfers. Kinesthetic learners associate learning with their own experiences. They like to customize and play around to learn more about their world and environment. Kinesthetic learners need interactivity - so once you've added interactivity, reaching them is easy. You just have to ask them to play along. Boost interactive elements of your website - by holding question and answer sessions, hosting an online forum, or adding creative elements - such as tools to help them build their shopping list and suggestions for matching items. They tend to talk while engaging in an activity - so if they call you on the phone, be sure to direct them visually if they are on the computer. They prefer to jump in and try new things - so why not offer online simulations? When creating product descriptions, these learners prefer words such as "feel" "touch" and "hold". *An example: "When you feel the softness of our new sweater line, you'll want to hold it against your cheek forever. Remember when everything felt this soft and new?" Appeal to the tactile experience of your products, and the interactivity they've experienced, and they'll want to strengthen their relationship with your online brand, even if it's really subconsciously.

All websites should appeal to the three learning types - because each of your customers expect it. Rich media usage has exploded because consumers want more - more sight, more sound, and more feelings. When the average Internet user visits a website, they want a rich user experience. By combining your online branding efforts to increase a response among all of your visitors, your website will enjoy a large increase of return traffic. People will notice you and pass on your link through word-of-mouth marketing. If you engage more senses, you will teach more prospects about your products and brand. Correct online branding builds an experience that they will remember and associate with your products - every time they come back.

About the Author:Melissa Brewer is Creative Director at Capital Creative, Inc, an online marketing firm that specializes in building online brands through the use of rich media, seo copywriting, and marketing savvy. You can add her to your social or business network using yourfreelanceneeds @ gmail.com

Your Yahoo Marketing Plan - the complete business guide to getting the most out of Yahoo

by Melissa Brewer

Yahoo is the largest website in the world, and there is a reason for it. It's pretty much the first live web community combined with search engine technology. Millions of people use it for many purposes on a daily basis. When marketing to search engines, especially a monster like Yahoo, it's pretty much impossible to know where to start your promotions. You can always add your website to Yahoo results for a flat fee or bid on keywords using Overture. The truth is, there are many amazing free services that Yahoo offers which can add credibility, and linkability, to your business.

First things first: Make sure you have a Yahoo profile filled out with keywords and a professional description. Your Yahoo profile can talk about your business and link to your websites. Make sure you fill it out completely and use it to link to where you have a presence online - your website, blog, or social networking profiles. Explain what your business does, upload a few pictures, and keep it professional. Simple enough, right? You can get your profile at www.yahoo.com.

Here's a rundown of all the ways you can use to gain more visibility from this marketing giant.

Free Yahoo Marketing Tools:

These are all of the free tools Yahoo offers to help you grow your business.

1. Explore, submit and manage your website listings, free with Yahoo Site Explorer. Yes, that's right - it's free . Yahoo requires some authentication with this, but you can add your website and upload a small text file to your server to verify ownership. You can also track multiple websites (without confirmation) so you can keep an eye on the competition - including how many pages are indexed and who's linking to them. Yahoo also lets you submit your RSS, blog, and other feeds in this section - all free. Check the Yahoo Site Explorer Blog to find out how you can submit your entire site map to Yahoo, free.
2. Add your multimedia to Yahoo. It's free and easy - any RSS technology your business uses will be included in the Yahoo search engines.
   
3. Become a Widget Builder. Distribute an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) news widget if you have a blog or website that publishes articles or news. You'll be featured in the Widget Gallery and anyone who is interested in your topic can download your feed widget any time they want. That means you'll be on their desktop whenever you post. (If you don't know how to make one, here's an excellent article for technical guidance on RSS widget creation. Yahoo also has some information in their help section about Widget creation as well as forums for developers to help each other out.
4. Join Yahoo Answers and answer questions in the industry you're involved in. There are questions in pretty much any category - law, fashion, art, entertainment, movies... You get the idea. Every time you answer a question, your profile gets linked to. You can also establish yourself as an expert if you have some time on your hands to answer a ton of questions. Otherwise, it may be best to set your sights on answering one question a day. Don't want to use a photo in Yahoo Answers? You can create your own free avatar on Yahoo easily and add it to your profiles and your Yahoo Answers account.
5. Create a Yahoo Group or at least join a few on the topic of your business. There are thousands of fan and expertise groups that interact regularly by sending out a newsletter or answering questions from group members. Make sure you fill out all of the information on your group and add your links to the group directory, if allowed.(You'll also want to remember to use your signature and tag lines when you post.)
   
6. Create a basic free web page in Geocities. Link to all of your important places on the web. You'll be included in Geocities search results. Add your Geocities page link to your Yahoo profile while you're at it.
   
7. Use Yahoo Web Calendar to publicly post your calendar and events online. You can also set it up to repeat events on a specific day of the month. It's great for sales or meetings that take place once or twice a month.
   
8. Yahoo Classifieds are free for selling a specific item or service. They are a little spammy, though - make sure you don't contribute to the spam by being specific and honest in your ad.
   
9. Yahoo Message Boards are available on any topic. Post all you want on your topic (but don't violate the terms of service) - they are pretty much unmoderated.
10. My Web 2.0 is Yahoo's new social bookmarking service - use it. Add your business links, articles, and affiliate websites with appropriate keyword tags to increase link popularity. (And keep your bookmarks in place.)
    
11. Add photos at Yahoo Photos. This allows your business to share your photos with the world. It's perfect for event promotion and particularly good images of your products. (Or, your business in action...Such as giving a massage or building a house.)
    
12. Add a Podcast to Yahoo. Yahoo allows your business to create and distribute a podcast, and has a search feature based on keyword. Podcasting is pretty popular. Not sure what your podcast should be about? If you are a business catering to consumers, make it fun. (For example, if you sell high-end clothing, you can do a daily podcast on celebrities and the clothes they wear...) If you cater to businesses, do a podcast that sells your expertise (and interview others to get their expertise, too..) If you already have a podcast, submission is free and will be picked up when you send them the link on the podcast page. They also give away a nifty button for you to use to promote your feed.
    
13. Make some money by becoming a Yahoo Publisher. Similar to Google, Yahoo displays content-relevant ads on your website, and you get a check every month. They have strict guidelines so you should have unique, relevant content on your website.
    
14. Add your events to Yahoo's Upcoming, a location-specific site that people actually subscribe to when they want to keep up with local events. It's free and you can even track how many people plan on attending, so make sure to announce it to your newsletter subscribers and website visitors so they can RSVP. If you plan on going to a specific networking event that isn't listed, you can let the world know that you'll be there or join/create a group that meets in real life at events. (Such as the "Web Conference Junkies") Yahoo recently acquired Upcoming, so you will need to register with Upcoming as well.
    

Cheap Marketing Tools at Yahoo

1. Get listed in Yahoo Local. They've syndicated the results so you can be found in more places. Prices start at 25.00/month - and right now, at least, the first month is free. Each listing includes a free five-page web site, which you can customize with your own text, logo, and links using a simple online wizard. Set up your web site after you enter your listing details.
2. Submit your products to Yahoo. You pay based on performance and set a budget like you would with Google Adwords. Whenever somebody ends up in Yahoo shopping, they'll be able to find specific products.
3. Basic search submit to Yahoo is affordable and prices start at $49/year and gets new websites listed faster. You can submit up to 5 URL's. Use it to list your business, blog, and other sites where you do business. You'll still need SEO optimization and incoming links to garner attention and decent placement.
4. Yahoo Campaigner is available to businesses that need an email list. Pricing starts at $10 a month, with the first month free. You can also use their list-building services by buying from InfoUsa.
   

Other Business Tools at Yahoo

1. Yahoo Messenger is pretty much universal, and now it is web-based. Sign up for the new Yahoo web messenger and give it to your prospects and customers so they can get in touch with you more quickly
2. Add Y!Q to your website. It embeds related search results intuitively based on keywords and context. It's still in beta mode, but the search results are pretty straight-forward. It's more search-friendly than the Google boxes.
3. Create a Yahoo Briefcase and allow users to store files and documents online. If you sign up for premium service, it's about $3 a month and you can share your files publicly. Businesses can use it to store contracts and marketing material.
4. Protect your computer, personal life, and passwords with Yahoo Security. They offer a free online viruses scan by partnering with Symantec.

And finally, keep up with what Yahoo is doing by visiting and bookmarking Yahoo Next, the blog that announces features that are new, upcoming, or soon to be nixed. And bookmark this page in case we update it. :-)

This is the first in a series of marketing articles by Melissa Brewer, Creative Director at Capital Creative Marketing and Copywriting. Capital Creative specializes in Web 2.0 and Social Media Marketing and caters to business clients (economically!) on a global scale. Please feel free to add us to your network at Linked In or any other networking or business website using yourfreelanceneeds @ gmail.com.

Professional SEO Copywriting Services - What they are, and what they aren't

by Melissa Brewer


When you type the words "seo copywriting" into Google, thousands of articles and provider websites come up. But how many of them are truly useful? Is seo-friendly copywriting the standard ? Are all copywriters now seo-savvy? In truth, if you are looking for a professional seo copywriter, you're going to need to shop around. There are thousands of seo optimization firms that masquerade as copywriters - which can put them in the lead as far as search engine saturation and rankings. SEO optimization indisputably brings in the traffic to your website. Without it, you'd be lost in the never ending ocean of websites. It's tempting to hire an seo firm to simply set up your keyworded content, submit your website, and let it go. This is a sad mistake for online businesses to make - once the traffic is delivered, they lose sales. A healthy dose of marketing awareness is the true goldmine when it comes to seo-savvy copywriting services.

Look at the work of some of the top seo optimization firms. Do it now. Google 'seo optimization'.

SEO firms tend to be rather wordy - they're pressing the limits of search engine ratios. They know that as an seo firm, their goal is to get a website into the top of the search engine results. Once they've done that, they've completed their job. They aren't there to write sales copy or think of a catchy, brand-building slogan. They are there to help you feed machines - not brains. Unfortunately, an seo firm just doesn't have the marketing savvy to create website content that draws in the essential components of marketing: emotional draw, a compelling message, and an irresistible offer.

Would you ask an seo optimization firm to write your print brochure? Help you plan a script for your tv commercial? Would you ask them to compile a media kit for potential investors? Of course not - that's not what they specialize in. SEO optimization companies specialize in communicating with search engines - not people.

If you are looking for the "sell factor" - that's where good copywriting comes in. A techie that knows how to blanket a website in keywords doesn't specialize in creativity and ingenuity. That's bad for you because those are the things that make your products stand out, increase your response rate, and drive sales. SEO optimization firms rely on keyword saturation - an often complicated algorithm that checks to see how many of your keywords are being read by Google. Keyword saturation is a great tool to tinker with search engine results - but it's not necessarily the tool you want to exploit when you're trying to persuade consumers to truly connect with what you're offering. (And connect with them in such a way that they come back for more.)

So, what do true seo copywriting services do for my website?

SEO copywriters focus first on the message, then the translation to Google. They are expert translators that make a smooth transition from search engine language to customer-centric language. They write your copy with seo keywords in mind (a 2-7% keyword ratio, which is the standard) but they still add style and voice to what you're selling.

A good seo copywriter steers clear of cookie-cutter product descriptions but still manages to slip your keywords in there for Google and Yahoo to read. They know how to build your brand and your company image using professionally written, believable copy. They are the essential component of a true search engine marketing campaign - they give your company a voice that stands a cut above the rest.

Your website has a voice, and seo copywriting services should build a clear message

The voice of your company is the language on your website - all of the words, product descriptions, link hover text, and meta data that the search engines pick up and deliver - and humans end up reading. A seo copywriter will strike a balance between using keywords and promotional words effectively. They don't sacrifice quality for the sake of a higher saturation rate. They want copy that is exciting to read - and pulls sales. They want to keywords to simply be integrated into high-pulling content.

A good seo copywriter will know that headings and titles are just as important to the search engines as the people that visit. They know the importance of bold and bullets to make reading easier on the eyes for your computer-weary customers. They also know that Google finds it easier to read as well.

An seo copywriter is a hybrid of both creative ingenuity and tech-savvy - satisfying both search engines and the curiosity of your prospects. They want results that convert into high search engine results, as well as higher sales volume.

Evaluating seo copywriting services - is your copywriter an seo firm in disguise?

So, how do you know if you are truly working with an seo-savvy copywriting service? The easiest way to find out is to read their website. Many seo firms rely heavily on search engine statistics - even in their website copy - but don't let this alone scare you off. Statistics are how many seo firms see their end of the bargain - the results. Look at their portfolio. (If they don't have a portfolio or links to online work, run!) Read their website text to see if sounds like a person took time writing it - is there promotional language? A call to action? A clear list of benefits? Is the content persuasive? Are their articles useful and worth reading - or do they seem to grind out information in monotone?

What to look for when choosing a professional seo copywriter:

Here are a few things to look for when you choose an seo writer, and why.

• Does your seo copywriter have a portfolio or links to keyworded articles? Does it contain more than just seo-related work? (Most seo copywriters either started off in print media, or dabble with it from time to time. Experience in other advertising mediums shows that they understand how to market to people, not just machines. )
  
• Are their articles unique and compelling? Read a few of their seo-keyworded articles by printing them out on paper - does the copy flow smoothly? Is it exciting or informative? Do you notice the repetition of keywords enough that it kills the word flow? Oh, and while you're at it, Google their articles and see how they rank in the search engines, as well.
  
• Does your seo copywriter have a name? That's right - a name. (Will Smith. Cathy Bates. Melissa Brewer.) A lot of seo copywriting service providers farm out their work to India and other tech-saturated countries. This is great for pricing - but the quality can vary and is dependent on the English skills of each individual writer. The articles on their website should have a byline and information about their authors - experience, a portfolio, an "About Us" section - everything your own customers would want to know about you.
• Does your seo copywriter care about your marketing plan as a whole? Do they offer complementary services - both print and web, to allow your marketing collateral to intersect with your search engine efforts? Do they make referrals to trusted providers in the marketing industry?
  

A truly competent, creative seo copywriter is a diamond in the rough. When you find a person with a hybrid of marketing and tech skills, you have found a true partner in your online marketing efforts. Don't sacrifice your business website to search engine feeders. A good seo writer can help your website - and your brand - rise to the top of the search engines as well as the forefront of your customer's thoughts when they are in a shopping mood. SEO copywriters can also help you create online newsletters, e-books, articles, blogs, and any other copy where words are being used to sell products or services. The right combination of keywords and online promotion will increase sales, attract customers and grow your business exponentially - both on and offline.


About the author: Melissa Brewer is Creative Director of Capital Creative, Inc, a new media marketing company based in Washington DC. Capital Creative offers seo interactive marketing campaigns for small business budgets - that garner big results. We also provide social media marketing and consulting services - to help you maximize your ROI and build your brand.

Mafia Marketing Lessons: Five Things Businesses Can Learn From Tony Soprano



1. Trust is fragile. Whether you are dealing with a prospect, customer, or vendor, your relationships will always make or break you. Tony has always been careful to preserve the friendships he felt were valuable. (However, we all know that relationships change over time.) As a business, your reputation follows you. Your marketing, sales, and after market follow up are crucial to your brand's well being. Bad PR can be a nightmare for businesses - especially when it comes to word-of-mouth marketing. If you sell a shoddy product or treat a customer badly, people will find out. They will turn your back on you if you don't set it right. In many cases, they might move on to the competition. (And, help that competition kill you!)

2. Making amends is usually possible. A business can turn bad PR around if they admit their mistakes and seek to correct their errors. Giving money back, offering special discounts toward a next purchase, and making humor out of your foibles can help you if a customer has a bad experience. Offer something up if your company makes a mistake with a person that has given you money. A personal phone call, a free item, a truckload of wine or Armani suits - you get the idea, right? They'll remember how well you treated them.

3. If you want something done right, hire a professional. Tony rarely brokers his own deals - and when he does, he tends to get stressed by the details. Most businesses feel this way at one time or another. If you own a business, more often than not, you should not be the only one telling people what you do. Advertising and marketing are essential to business growth, but as a business owner, you want to focus on maintaining relationships with your customers. Have others that can market your business for you, professionally. Have others that deal with the business muscle.Outsourcing works, but aways make sure to keep the quality in check. Shoddy outsourcing can turn into a nightmare with no ROI at all - and, in Tony's case, serious legal and personal woes.

4. Networking is crucial to marketing. It's who you know - and who they know - that make a difference in your business. Try to network with potential customers in social settings. Local organizations often host networking events in major cities - check with your local Chamber of Commerce. Myspace, LinkedIn, and Youtube are great places for online businesses to hang out and make friends. Send greetings for holidays, learn about your prospects. Keep in touch on a regular basis. Remember birthdays. Know just enough about your customers that you feel like they may be part of the family - and that it's a good thing.

5. Loyalty begets loyalty, in most cases. (Some people, however, are cut throat sociopaths...) If you are loyal to your customers and offer them rewards, they'll feel more involved in your brand. In turn, they may recommend you to other prospects, friends, and family. You won't win brand loyalty with every person you come across, but when you find your niche, and your target audience, you should protect them at all costs. The majority rules when it comes to your online audience - and when you get multiple emails requesting something, such as more information on a product, take a moment to decide to fix it TODAY. When a member of your audience wants more information, give it to them. Then let them know about the favor.


It's true, Tony Soprano has had a bad run of business luck and family issues surrounding him for the past decade or so, but until next week, we won't know how it turns out. Considering that his line of work is a part of a dying breed, he may be unable to stick it out. However, nobody in the world can disagree that the Soprano's has had a great run of it - and we can all learn from Tony's mistakes as well as successes.

Are you looking to truly connect with your customers? Are you looking for a professional interactive marketing campaign to convert your prosepcts into customers? Capital Creative provides affordable, exciting marketing and copywriting services for businesses of all sizes. (But only if you are ready to grow...) You can add us to your social network by using the email address yourfreelanceneeds @ gmail.com

Interactive Campaign Marketing: Run a contest using social media, free



Interactive marketing is the key to return visitors to your website, no matter what you are selling or marketing. Businesses on a budget really don't always have the kind of resources they need to start out. That's why there are so many pricey marketing firms out there. Unfortunately, businesses without interactivity on the web are sure to flounder, especially with the trend towards social media sites such as Myspace and Youtube. Your customers and website visitors need to interact with your business - and trust it, to be successful.

What's one solution to building interactivity on a budget? Hosting a contest that gets your visitors involved with your comnpany and products. Video contests are ideal for this - they are free and easy to manage using YouTube.

Worried that an interactive contest campaign is too costly or time-consuming? Don't worry - we've got you covered - step by step. Altogether, it should take about a week to set up a campaign using free tools and a little promotion know-how. Your campaign will need a promotion until the contest ends - but the basics should be easy to cover and check on. And even once the contest has ended, you should see a good return in traffic based on the new prospects you've met during the promotion.

1. First things first - get your business on Myspace and YouTube. Plan to spend at least half an hour setting up your profile on each site. Sign up at http://www.youtube.com and http://www.myspace.com. Don't just sign up and leave - make sure you link to your website, upload photos of your products and services, and describe your business and products throughly. (Using your seo keywords.) If you're not sure how to fill out your profile, do a search for other businesses on these sites... (Tip: there are tons of boutiques and bookstores on Myspace, and they're easy to find using the Myspace search engine...) Myspace can assign you a unique URL (Look on the left side of your page under your profile pic.) Make sure you use your business name or keywords when you choose your URL. (Our company's Myspace URL is : http://www.myspace.com/capitalcreative ) Youtube assigns you a "channel" - there's a lot you can do with this as far as building a social network - but that will follow in another article. (Our company's channel is at : http://www.youtube.com/capitalcreative to see an example of how a channel at Youtube will look.)


2. Plan a contest - not a drawing, but a competition. That's right - this isn't going to cost you money, but it may cost you a free gift certificate, book, or other piece of your business inventory. It doesn't have to be expensive - but if you have enough inventory, giving away something free that's of high value will generate more buzz for your company. Plan on at least having a grand prize, if not first, second, and third prizes. For an effective campaign, you'll want to limit your contest to 30 to 45 days. (And when you see enough success, you can do another one, later!) Choose an item you're really wanting to push - in many cases, your customers may buy it if they don't win... Because during and after this campaign, you're going to keep in touch with them.

3. Decide what the contest is going to be about - and what you want your customers to think about your company. You can make it simple - "Why do you deserve a free Ipod"? or use it to help build your brand - "Why I am a home-made-vegan soap addict and I deserve a year's supply of soap." Many bigger companies even ask users to submit their own commercials for a specific product. The key to this contest is to build excitement for your products and company - so ask a question to your prospects that helps them think about your brand and how it relates to them.


4. Create a Youtube Group for your contest. (http://www.youtube.com/groups_create) This is where you'll be directing your entries. You get a free bulletin board in the group, so link to your contest guidelines and your business on Myspace. (On Myspace, you'll get a lot of friends this way. Let everyone know contest updates will be announced on Myspace and via your mailing list.)



5. Create a Contest Page on your website. List the rules and the theme of your contest. Although the video contest will be on Youtube, you'll want to collect their email addresses and the URL of their video either by form or email, depending on your preferences. Link to your Myspace profile and Youtube Group prominently. Let them know that you will update them via email or Myspace. Make sure you host a "Send this page to a friend" form. Not sure what the contest rules should entail? Do a Google search for "contest guidelines" and write up your own.


6. Announce your contest. Every place you announce your contest, you'll want to promote the URL of your Youtube Group, Contest URL, and Myspace profile. (if you already have a Myspace profile, then announce the contest to everyone once a week, using a bulletin...) Who else can you announce it to? Your mailing list. Online media and local newspapers using a press release. Print up fliers and pass them out around town. Oh, yeah - and those free contest websites - there are thousands of them with avid contest entrants. (http://www.contesthound.com/addcontest.php3, http://www.contestalley.com/submitcontest.shtml, to name a few) Try to get your contest listed in at least five directories a week, or even a day, and your link popularity will soar.


7. Promote until the day the contest closes. Continue listing your contest in forums and directories, with a link to your contest page - if you list your contest in just 5 places a day, you can achieve prominence quickly.


8. Choose your winners and give them some publicity. Let all of your entrants know where to see the winning videos - and make them an offer they can't refuse. Let your website visitors know where to see the results of the contest. Offer all the "losers' some sort of coupon or freebie - or another chance to enter a second contest. Post the winning video on your website and any other place you promote your business. Ask winners for their photographs and post them in your Myspace profile as " recent contest winners". Ask them to tell their friends about their videos. Send out press release announcing the winners - and the theme for your next contest.


Have fun with contests - when you run a contest, you build your company's image and brand awareness. A contest is a great way to generate enthusiasm with your website visitors, add people to your mailing list, and achieve brand recognition. Contests also tend to be very viral in nature - people share them with their friends and there are tons of contest fanatics on the web that republish information for their own website visitors. just remember to make it fun, link to where they can enter, and ask every one to tell a friend!


Capital Creative specializes in online marketing and copywriting services for businesses.

Monitoring RSS Feeds
by S. Housley

Measuring and tracking RSS while a fairly simple concept, is really anything but. Unlike websites, RSS have the added caveat of potential syndication, making accurate tracking a challenge to anyone but the extremely tech savvy.

It is not unrealistic for marketers to want to know how many subscribers they have, which items in their feeds attract the most interest, or how many click-throughs are generated as a result of an RSS feed.

There are a number of 3rd party providers who focus on tracking the consumption of RSS feeds. Some solutions are rudimentary but likely sufficient for a small business testing the waters with RSS. Other RSS tracking solutions are more complex and while they can come close to being accurate, with syndication there is no solution that tracks with 100% accuracy.

Techniques Used to track RSS Consumption
Small businesses can view web logs to provide information on how many times a specific file (RSS feed) is requested. The logs and information is rudimentary but will give a basic sense of a feeds success. Many 3rd party tracking options have additional tracking information available.

Hosting
The most common method to track the number of feed accesses or individuals accessing a feed is to use a 3rd party feed host. Companies like FeedBurner essentially track feeds based on accesses. The downside to using a 3rd party like Feedburner, is that the url is a FeedBurner url and any PageRank or popularity associated with the url will benefit the feed host rather than the feed creator. Additionally, no distinction is made between unique views or syndicate feeds.

FeedBurner provides a free no frills service to host RSS feeds and they have been proactive in circumventing user concerns. Recently implementing a service that eases users concerns about migrating from FeedBurner. There is a 3 step process for users interested in migrating from FeedBurner's free service, implementing a permanent redirect, and url forwarding.

Details can be found at: http://www.burningdoorc.om/feedburner/archives/001251.html

Some publishers, who were concerned about lock-in or wanted to retain control of the domain and feed urls often resist a hosting service. The new program FeedBurner Partner Pro is not free, but allows for users to point to their own domain, retaining complete control of their feeds without sacrificing statistical tracking.

The downside to using a service like FeedBurner is that some filtering applications used on corporate proxy servers block feeds residing on FeedBurner or other free hosts.

Redirects
Companies like SyndicateIQ have more complex tracking solutions that generate unique urls for each subscriber. The tracking benefits to such a customized solution is obvious. Individual user habits can be monitored and any users abusing their access and inappropriately syndicating a feeds content can have their feed turned off. The downside of course is that the success of RSS is in a large part due to the anonymity. Users don't want their personal habits tracked.

Considering the venture capital interest in these 3rd party hosting services. It is important to note that their value is in the data that they collect. As with any 3rd party service, it goes without saying that publishers should read the privacy policy carefully, be aware of who owns the rights to the collected information, and how that information might be used. It goes without saying that the value in many of the free services currently available lies in their aggregate data.

Uniquely Named Transparent Images
Uniquely named transparent 1x1 graphics can be added to the description field of an RSS feed. Users can use standard web logs to see the number of times the image is viewed and determine the number of times the feed was accessed.

Companies Specializing in Tracking and RSS Metrics

Pheedo - Pheedo creates tools that enable individuals, organizations and corporations to promote, analyze, and optimize their weblogs and content.
http://www.pheedo.com

SyndicateIQ - SyndicateIQ's position in the content distribution chain provides clients a set of analytics.
http://www.syndicateiq.com/

FeedBurner - FeedBurner offers a full range of services to help you build awareness, track circulation, and implement revenue-generating programs in your feed(s).
http://www.feedburner.com

Each individual using RSS needs to make a decision of the extent and importance of the analytics they require. Realizing that any system they employ is not going to be perfect.

About the Author: Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for FeedForDev http://www.feedfordev.com an RSS component for developers.

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The Top Three Reasons Your Retail Website is Losing Sales Every Day
by Melissa Brewer


As a marketer, nothing bothers me more than poor customer service (or CRM, as we call it.) Small retailers, especially those with ecommerce enabled, work very hard to garner sales with their marketing efforts. It's a damn shame when a conversion become a chargeback - you've lost a customer for life. However, in the online retail world, it happens all the time. And it's not necessarily because of fraud or customer error.

Today, I am in the process of canceling several orders with retailers - $390.00 worth, to be exact - not because I like to charge things back, but because I feel I have no choice in the matter. All of the retailers failed to deliver even decent customer service when contacted, and all of them faced problems with my orders, whether they knew it or not. I am an avid internet shopper and I came into some extra cash this month from a rental deposit. I intended to decorate my new place in one fell swoop. At this level of frustration, I am actually about to head to a regular retail store - which is something I usually reserve for grocery shopping and impulse buys. (When I shop online, I shop big.)

Why am I angry enough to call Visa and cause a chargeback? It's elementary - terrible, not just poor, communication. The saddest part of the situation is that these are small retail websites, with both an online and offline presence. I know canceling my order makes an impact on sales. I found all three through Google Product search and Yahoo Shopping, which led me to assume they had somebody who is marketing and tech-savvy on their team. When I decided to order, however, my opinion changed dramatically. It was as if these companies simply added their products to Google and Yahoo, set up a shopping cart, and then abandoned all they've ever learned about customer service. (As well as their common sense.) Here are the specific (and real) reasons why:

1. Incomplete contact information. Online retailers - please take note! When you only have one mode of communication, you're in trouble when something goes awry. I placed an order for a bistro table with a glass top and it shipped swiftly, however,the entire tabletop was shattered to bits. Although there is a return policy on the website, once I filled out the online form, I was given a host of 404s and php errors. And there was no direct email address, phone number, or alternative means of contact. Customers - and prospects - like to know there is a person or two out there that can answer questions and help make informed decisions. You get more sales that way - people like to communicate in different ways. And if the only form of communication is broken, you're pretty much screwed as far as customer relations. I won't be reordering from this company no matter what - and shame on me for ordering in the first place. I usually check out the credibility of a website before I place an order. (Ah, but I love shopping sprees!) Now I have to take my complaint to Google checkout. It should have been easier to get in touch with this retailer. (This cost this company 120.00 in sales...)


2. Incomplete product information. Sure, the photos and descriptions are great on your website. You took it straight from your catalog copy and it was all very professionally done by a freelance writer and photographer team. I really liked the chair set so much, I ordered it from a different retailer than the bistro table. I recieved an email two days later - "This item ships directly from the manufacturer in 2-5 weeks, we will notify you when it ships." That's a pretty large span of time and this was not mentioned in the item description. There were plenty of similar items on Google Product Search that I could have ordered without waiting so long. It's as if they purposefully kept the information concealed. Alas, this company DOES have a customer service phone number and email. Wyhen I asked for specifics (actually, a guestimate) I recieved a standard form email reply. "We are sorry for the inconvenience, we are unable to estimate shipping for your product at this time." (By the way, it's very annoying to say "for your product" rather than take the three seconds to type in "your chair set") If you don't have ANY idea when your vendors will ship a product, maybe you should switch vendors. Again, this was a small company,with real people somewhere, in a retail store across the country from me. I am sure they are more direct with their face-to-face customers. Your online customers deserve the same respect. (This cost this company 180.00 in sales, when I can get through to a live person - I haven't been able to, yet... Just a machine...) Which brings me to....

3. Terrible CRM and form replies. Customer relationship management is the key to repeat business. So when the sofa cover, towel set, curtains, and sheet set I ordered from yet another small retailer did not ship, I had to question why. Luckily, I recieved the following email, "Thank you for your recent order. We would like to take a moment to update your regarding the status of your order. Currently, we are experiencing stock issues with one or more items on your order. We are expecting to receive additional stock within a period of one to three weeks to complete your order. If you may need further assistance please contact customer service to discuss your order." Again, one to three weeks? I emailed them back asking which items were backordered, and if it was possible to just cancel one or two items so my order could ship. To which I recieved the following reply: "Thank you for your email. Please be advised that your order has not been shipped at this time. Once your order is shipped you will receive an email update that will include your ship date and Fed Ex tracking number. At this time we do not have a ship date for this order. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused you." My questions were completely ignored. They placed the "At this time we do not have a ship date for this order" in bold - as if to emphasize that further inquiries were useless. (If they don't know, they don't know, right? ) The language in the original email used the words, "Discuss your order." However, it seems that was a gross overstatement. Any employee sitting in front of the computer's email inbox could have answered a simple question. This company made a choice to ignore my question in its entirety and simply emphasize what they can't do. (They lost 120.00 in sales. I have already called to cancel and recieved no apologies - or questioning as to why I canceled.)


The moral of this story is: If your company isn't customer-savvy enough to handle online orders, don't do it. Don't get listed in Yahoo Shopping or Google Product search if you have little to no interest in communicating with your customers. Your online reputation can follow you for years with the rating systems that Google, Yahoo, and Epinions have in place. These kinds of faux-pas are inexcusable with the progress that ecommerce has made. There are simple ways to alternate email replies and customize them using inexpensive software, and every business has a telephone number that they answer when speaking with vendors and face-to-face customers. I can't imagine that these small retail websites have a huge influx of orders this time of year - but if they do, they should try to build on that. There's nothing worse than turning away business without an explanation or attempt to rectify the situation. They could even let the customers know the specific issues and apologize for the delays.

After all, communication is the key to building a lasting relationship. Anybody with a job, spouse, child, or friend knows that. Why don't the people who handle your customer service know?



Melissa Brewer is Creative Director at Capital Creative (http://www.capitalcreativeinc.com), a virtual copywriting and marketing agency based in Washington DC. If you are a member of LinkedIn, Xing, or any other networking website, you can invite Capital Creative to join your network with the email address yourfreelanceneeds at gmail.com.

Video Streaming: Webinars And Online Marketing
by Scott Lindsay -

Video streaming is a popular means of providing both audio and video for clients or affiliates. It is possible to set a specific time when the video presentation is available and use it as a training tool.

Essentially you would create a live presentation for customers or affiliates that could be downloaded at a certain time so there would be a larger number of individuals logged into the video stream at the same time. You could set this up as a member only video webinar or make it available by invitation only with password-protected acceptance to the conference.

A chat room can be set up to take questions from those watching the webinar. This can provide a connection that may not be practical if you had to rely on more sophisticated video conferencing. If you do choose to use this approach you may want to save the presentation as a podcast that could be used at a later date for either new clients or new affiliates.

The development of quality webinars can provide a significant draw to your website. Most individuals are looking at furthering their education in fields that hold personal or professional interest. If you can provide a fee-based or members-only webinar you are likely to see increased traffic to your site and an increased potential for list building opportunities.

There are so many tools available to netrepreneurs, yet is seems the advances in technology may be frightening to those who may understand business, but are intimidated by the technical aspect of moving their experience to the worldwide web.

Freelance video, audio and content professionals can aid you in the development and execution of quality video streaming for your website.

The use of video streaming can provide a sense of professionalism that may be lacking in other online presentations.

The addition of audio provides a great personal connection to your customers, but the addition of video streaming ads an element to the process that shouldn’t be minimized. Most people want to know whom they are dealing with and if they can see and hear you they may feel better capable of assigning a level of trust with you and your online business.

With the growth of computer hard drive space and processing speeds video is becoming a highly desired standard for online presentations. The costs associated with video streaming may be less than you imagine. Maybe it’s time to investigate the possibilities.

Scott Lindsay is a web developer and entrepreneur. He is the founder of HighPowerSites and many other web projects. Get your own website online in just 5 minutes with HighPowerSites at: http://www.highpowersites.com. Start your own ebook business with BooksWealth at: http://www.bookswealth.com

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"This (albiet rather short) article on list building through eBay helps to illustrate one of the most-hidden benefits of using Ebay. You can always use eBay build on your own business even if it isn't your primary source of customers. Ebay is a business venue - something that online retailers often ignore or forget about. "

Article chosen and published by Michael Audi, Vice President
Capital Creative, Inc.
Marketing and Copywriting Services for New Media

Why It Is Important To Build A List Using Ebay
by Fabian Tan

Are you making lots of sales on eBay but not making any huge profits? Would you like to increase your income and make repeat sales with your customers? Then building an email mailing list is the way to go.

It is a widely agreed that a mailing list is the most important asset in an Internet business. Customers who have bought from you before are likely to buy from you again, as long as you present them with good and relevant offers. On average, every customer will worth $1 a month to your business once he is on your list. Somewhere along the line, a good proportion of customers in your mailing list will buy something from you again.

You can send out broadcasts of different affiliate products you are promoting and make a commission. It does not take more than a few minutes to craft a good email! You can also build a relationship with your customers by sending helpful and timely information.

You could, for example, send them to pages with Adsense advertisements and make a side income. Instead of making just one sale per customer and having to find a new customer, you can sell to your customer all kinds of different products and services (that are related to your niche) to them. It costs more to acquire a new customer than it is to sell to one who has already bought something from you. Use this marketing rule, and it’s possible to double your profits easily!

Fabian Tan is the author of the free 51-Page Report: "Murder Your Job: How To Build Cash Sucking Autopilot Businesses In 30 Days Or Less!" Head over to http://www.MurderYourJob.com to get your free copy now before it's gone!

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What Marketers Are Saying About "RSS To Blogs"
by Yoshi Kundagawa -

I have been reading a lot about the RSS To Blog program. This is a program that automatically updates your blog to make sure your website has a stream of new posts and information even if you don't lift a finger. The reason this is so important and useful is that search engines are very smart now days. The most popular search engines don't just look for meta tags anymore, they look for keywords within a body of real text, not just random words. You cannot simply list keywords and hope for high rankings on a search engine. Your site needs real content and real articles that use the desired keywords in a realistic way. One thing I have also found is that search engines do not give good search results to inactive blogs and websites because other blogs keep growing and out muscle the ones that remain the same. If you want your blog to keep getting good search rankings, it needs to be updated as to rank higher and higher on searches. Many people, like you and I, don't have enough free time to keep updating their blog, and that is why many companies have released programs to out-smart today's very smart search engines.

RSS To Blog automatically posts to your blog to help you maintain fresh content and high search engine rankings. To do this the program has to be smart, because search engines have ways of looking for manufactured content. The cool thing about the program is that it posts to your blog from many sources including articles, news stories, RSS feeds, and you can decide which content is relevant and which content is not. Your blog will grow automatically, but the content on it will remain of a very high quality, so people will actually want to visit it often. This keeps the content varied and realistic. My favorite part about this program is that it helps keep search engines from figuring out that you are using a blogging program by making the post times random instead of the same exact time every day. This creates a flowing and natural appearance to your blog.

The reason I like RSS To Blog so much is because it makes me money without having to lift a finger. By maintaining good search engine results, my blog gets a lot of hits, and I can turn those hits into revenue by using programs such as Google Adsense. Adsense ads can be placed in your blog and you get money based on how many hits those ads get. There are a lot of websites and blogs out there competing for search engine results, hits, and ad revenue, and I don't think it is possible to have enough time to do all of the work and all of the writing myself. An automated blogging program not only makes me money through ad revenue, such as with Google Adsense, but also saves me time so I can put more hours into other jobs.

Yoshi Kundagawa is a freelance journalist. To learn more about Rss To Blogs visit http://rsstoblogs.lhmarketing.com

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Webmercial Marketing Using Slideshow Widgets: Quick, Easy and the Cheap

by Melissa Brewer

n the strange world of social media, a lot of free widgets (i.e. tools) are available to its inhabitants, with very little technical knowledge needed. Some widgets are good solely for their intended purposes - such as sharing a picture, sentiment, or another form of entertainment. Other widgets have a large amount of value for small businesses, if they know how to use them properly. (I call them off-label here since they can be used for unintended, not-yet-prohibited purposes...) Photo slideshow widgets are in this category - they add high value to a shoestring marketing budget when they're exploited a little for business purposes. If a marketer knows how to use them, they can create free webmercials, business presentations, and mini-clips that add rich media to any user experience.

So, what is a slideshow widget?

First of all, a web widget is simply any kind of web application that you can add to your own webpage, community profile, or any other website that allows html codes. If you've ever been to a social website like Myspace, you've probably seen a lot of cool gadgets and tools on people's profiles. Surveys, pictures, and videos that users like are usually embedded in the page. These widgets are free and easily used as a viral tool for the companies that create them - users pass on the videos or photo collections they like to other people they're connected to via a simple link or a few lines of html that they cut paste.

A slideshow widget is a collection of photographs that move frame-by-frame to the next image. Users can add captions, music, and in some cases, video and user-created sound clips.

Why are slideshow widgets good for marketers? Viral webmercials!

First of all, any widget that gives viewers or users the capability to pass their creation on is a good thing for marketers, period. Users pass on what they like - and they're used to it. Myspace addicts pass on all kinds of internet goodies on a daily basis. (Most likely, they do this when they are supposed to be working. Myspacers are notorious for using their space during work hours and typically consider social media incredibly addictive...) Every video on YouTube or Google has the option of emailing it to a friend. Internet users are becoming accustomed to viewing media - not just text - online. And when they like it, they share it.

Why make a slideshow webmercial?

A slideshow widget can be used to create an online commercial for use on your business website, social networking profile, or anywhere else that html can be embedded. If you haven't noticed, a lot of the big media companies are adding "webmercials" to their websites. This kind of marketing typically costs a lot of money - the kind that consists of hiring an ad agency with the technical expertise and the marketing-savvy to get it produced, direcibuted, and perfected. The traditional webmercial is a streaming media marketing video, similar to short clips that can be viewed on YouTube or at the beginning of the footage shown on news websites (like CNN). Slideshow webmercials are not as high-tech, but can still be an effective and professional medium for marketing to customers using rich media formats. (If you're having trouble with the concept of webmercials or slideshows, scroll down to my author box where I link to a few of our webmercials created on-the-fly...)

If you're looking to add some multimedia to your website, and you don't have the technical skills or resources to hire a flash designer or design a minisite, a slideshow can be crafted easily to showcase your products or services.

Creating a slideshow webmercial for your business

There are a few different sites on the web that offer strong capabilities when it comes to slideshows. Do a search for "photo widgets" on Google. My favorites are RockYou (http://www.rockyou.com) and Slideroll (http://www.slideroll.com). RockYou is the easiest option if you are not the most tech-savvy but have some good graphics and a general idea of what you want to say or showcase. Slideroll has software that allows you to download some software and add your own media as well as a premium upgrade, if you want more of a slick, professional feel and you have access to licensed music or your own video feeds.

Tips for a successful slideshow webmercial:

1. Decide what you are promoting. If you simply want to show off a few products from your online catalog, choose the best images you have. If you're promoting an event, you'll want to choose the best photos from the bunch. If you want to tell a story, you can use clip art or stock photos for a slick, professional edge. It takes a marketing eye to know what works, so you may want to consult with business associated or friends if you don't have your own marketing department.

2. Remember it's all about branding. The text and music you add should reflect your business or the commercial's theme. For example, if you own an online boutique that sells hot club clothing, you'll want to play hip club music rather soft classical music. If you are a virtual assistant, you'll probably want to keep the music slow and professional. A webmercial communicates to two primary senses - sight and sound. Make sure you don't annoy your prospects with music that isn't synced to the visuals.

3. Get to the point - quickly. You'll want to grab your viewer's attention with a strong opening image. Keep your message simple and stress your benefits. A webmercial allows you to the opportunity to "show" and "tell". But nobody wants a webmercial that shows your entire business plan.

4. Don't forget a call to action. At the end of your webmercial, close the sale. Ask for action. Post your website address or email address. Tell them about your Yahoo group. You don't have a lot of room, so send them to either your primary home on the web or whatever part of your web promotion you are trying to expand.

Getting eyeballs to your slideshow webmercials

You can embed your webmercial in any format that accepts basic html and/or JavaScript. You can post your webmercial on your own social networking profiles or your close (and I mean close) friends and business associates. Other users that create slideshows also have access to yours if you make sure that your "profile" options are not set to private.

A few tricks to getting people to view your webmercial:

1. Use a webmercial as an intro to your site (i.e. landing page...)
2. Cut and paste the code into Myspace, Bizpreneur, and any other social networking website profiles you may own.
2. Bookmark your slideshow using social book marking websites (such as Digg or Del.icio.us)
3. Link to your webmercial in your next newsletter. (Or, make a weekly webmercial for your newsletter!) 4. Link to your webmercial in your blog. (Or embed it.)
5. Send out a press release announcing your new webmercial (or its purpose - such as the event you are promoting or your new product line)
6. Link to your webmercial in your tag lines, articles, directory listings and anywhere else you can post a standard html link.
7. Share it with me! (Shameless plug, but I would love to see what you've created. Send me a message or join my network at LinkedIn (capitalcreativeinc) or Myspace (capitalcreative). (I am at other networks with the email address "yourfreelanceneeds at gmail.com")

Other uses for slideshows

If you're trying to sell a concept or an idea, or simply want to add some multimedia for your website, there are other uses for slideshows as well. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Short business presentations you can email to prospects, bosses, or clients.
2. Ecards featuring your products, websites, or URL. (If you are posting these on somebody's social profile, besides your own, you probably want to nix the music.)
3. Quick tutorials and how-to's.
4. Any other occasion that you want to communicate visually and quickly.

Webmercials are nothing new, but they're moving toward simplicity and accessibility for all small businesses that want to market "web 2.0 style". They're also a lot of fun to create and share. Take your time choosing the right visuals and copy for your webmercial, and you'll be able to share your message with a larger audience. And, with any luck, that audience will pass it on for new prospects to share.

About the Author

Melissa Brewer is Creative Director and Senior Copywriter at Capital Creative, a marketing and copywriting agency that specializes in new and social media. (What's that mean? View our Social Media Marketing intro here.

Gear Up Your Site For Social Media Marketing

by Deepak Dutta

The year 2006 saw the emergence of social media. If you are engaged in operating a website, you must realign your site to exploit the popular social media sites for increased traffic.

You should also introduce social media components to your site because web users are experiencing these new form of interactions in more and more sites and they may have an expectation of the same from your site also.

If you want to attract repeat visitors and want them to stay longer, your focus this year should be on the social aspects of your site.

Social media use technologies like RSS, blogging, podcasting, tagging, etc. and offer social networking (MySpace, Facebook), social video and picture sharing (YouTube, Flickr), and community-based content ranking (Digg, MiniClip) features.

The central theme of these sites is user generated contents used for sharing among the end-users. The social aspects of these sites are to allow users to setup social communities, invite friends and share common interests.

You don't have to change your site completely within a month or so to take advantages of these new technologies. Introduce small changes incrementally through out the year and you will be on your way to meet these new challenges.

The first step is to declare who you are to the online community. People should be able to relate to you. Unless they know more about you, you will be just an unknown identity and most people don't like to deal with unknowns. Create an About Us page and list your achievements and skills.

Create a MySpace page and link your bio in the About Us page to the MySpace page. Also provide a link back from the MySpace page to your website. Spend an hour every week to develop your online social network in MySpace. Invite a few of these new friends to write blog articles at your site about your products or services.

Install a free blog software and start publishing at least one article in your blog. Provide an easy bookmarking feature to social bookmarking sites like delicious. This is done by providing an action button for each article in your site. The action button takes users to the submission page of the bookmarking site.

Also, provide an action button for direct posting of blog articles to digg. Digg is a popular news ranking site. A well dugg article will bring thousands of visitors to your site.

Provide a forum at your site for users to discuss your products and services. Don't delete negative comments because they provide insights into the improvements needed to serve your visitors better. However, censor hate speeches and meaningless bantering. Register your forum at BoardTracker. BoardTracker is a forum search engine.

If you are offering products, allow users to review and rate your products. This will help you in inventory management because you may want to discontinue low rated products.

Provide RSS feeds for your new products, blogs, forum postings, etc. An RSS feed provides teasers of your contents. Users will use RSS readers to scan your teasers and visit your site for more information if the teasers draw their attentions.

Publish all your feeds at feedburner. Feedburner provides media distribution and audience engagement services for RSS feeds. They also provide an advertising network for your feeds. If you have quality contents, you will be able to monetize your contents using their services.

Create short how-to or new product videos and post these videos in social video sharing sites like YouTube, Google video. Provide a few start and end frames in these videos to introduce your site with your site url. Post these videos using catchy titles, teasing descriptions, and appropriate tags to make them discoverable.

Provide embedded links to your posted videos in your site. This will save your bandwidth and storage space because the videos reside in the video sharing sites.

Besides videos, use social photo sharing sites like Flickr to share pictures related to contents in your site. Use the same title, description and tag techniques discussed earlier for social video sites.

Provide a Send to Friend feature for all products and services you offer. This feature is a link that sends the article, product description, etc. to a recipient via e-mail.

For starter, Yahoo provides a service called Action Buttons (search for Yahoo Action Buttons) that add links to your website for users to share, save, and blog about your website. The Yahoo action buttons use delicious for social bookmarking, and Yahoo blog site for blogging. It also has a print feature.

The social media is not a fad. It is here to stay and bring in profound changes to web surfers' experiences. It is the right time for implementing features that will make your site social media friendly. Also, using marketing techniques that utilize popular social media sites, you will be able to bring traffic to your site.

About The Author

Dr. Deepak Dutta is the creator of http://www.semanticbay.com - an interactive social network website based on user shared text and picture contents on any topics. His other website http://www.classifiedsforfree.com - is one of the oldest online classifieds site where users can post ads in more than 600 US cities and 60 countries.

About this Article: This article is published publicly on Google Docs

How to Use MySpace For Business
By Jeffrey Solochek

If you visit MySpace and do some browsing then the question will almost answer itself. Basically, you need to create a profile and then invite others to be your friends. This can be a because after you have invited 40 you will be required to enter in a CAPTCHA to keep on going. There are several marketing guides out there that tell you of ways to accelerate this.

The reason you want to enlarge your network of friends is because then you will be able to post bulletins that all the people in your network will see. Besides bulletins you can send private messages or just put comments up on your main page. A good profile page is also very important because this is like the About me page on Ebay. You can tell a little bit about yourself and embed links to other sites or even post links to places where you are an affiliate of. MySpace with 300 million users can be a great place to focus your marketing to certain niche groups.

You can have videos on your MySpace page and also post these videos to places like YouTube, Google Video and Yahoo video. My son has a large network on one of his accounts and he is an affiliate for one program where he gets paid every time a person goes to the site from one of his pages. In a test he made $30 in only ten minutes time. Just think what you could make in an entire day with marketing like this.

There is a site called FriendStorm that helps you to increase your number of friends a lot faster than just using the MySpace tools plus there are several bots out there that are designed to speed up everything for you. A lot of these Bots now are getting much faster than they used to run with programs like BadderAdder. I tried one a few days ago which was like a turbo charged version of BadderAdder called Buddypromoter. Besides just a friend adder it had a lot of other useful features.

I know of a few marketers who use the site MySpace very well. They have large networks of friends and they say they are making good income from MySpace. Another unusual tool on MySpace is called a Whore Train. Back when I grew up a Whore was not a person you would bring home to meet your parents but on MySpace it is a good tool. It allows you to create a network of friends by having other users invite others to add you to their network.

I see a lot of banners for other companies all over the site MySpace. I use Hostgator for all my personal web hosting needs and I now see their banners all over the place now. MySpace also has forums and groups where you are able to more freely interact with other MySpacer's. Now you would think that on a site like this somebody could create a post on your account that you do not like you can just delete it. If a post is blatant SPAM they even allow you to alert the moderators to this..

My article is only meant to give you a brief on marketing on the site MySpace. I said earlier that there are many publications out there that will completely expand on what I have said here. One site that I know of is MySpaceJobKiller which has a site with the same name. This book will reveal a lot of shortcuts getting you to the point of making more money a lot faster than just doing everything by experimentation.

Basically what it all comes down to is MySpace has so many different groups so if your niche was lets say Rose Gardening you could find several groups pertaining to either roses or even just gardening. You could even market adult products on this site as I have seen several groups that are questionable. Groups like Bad Girls or Naughty Girls. And the same with the other Gender. I have had several escorts approaching me on MySpace including Strippers and a few other services which I will need to learn about first.

If all you want a MySpace profile for is marketing then I have found that the profiles of good looking young ladies with pictures have a lot of friends. If you can find a bot that will create profiles like this for you then you've got it made. I've heard that some bots even have whats called a profile grabber that will find some pretty good background images for your MySpace profile. MySpace is not just a site to network and make friends.

Jeffrey has over 2 decades experience in the business world. When he writes he blends his unique wit and humour into every article which if you rread his blog you can see all of his many works. http://www.nosugarcoating.info/facts