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Blogging to Drive Business Must Read for Corporate Bloggers

by TheURLdr · Comments (0)
13 Nov

Blogging to Drive BusinessIf you work with anyone that has not yet come to terms with the realities of corporate blogging and what it means to your company’s online marketing strategy, do them a favor and buy them a copy of “Blogging to Drive Business.” At 173 pages it was an easy read, whether you’re a blogging beginner or novice.

This book covers all the blogging basics, details techniques and strategies for blogging success, and lists dozens of helpful resources. I especially liked the detail that was given for optimizing your blog and blog posts.

I was happy to see that the small business owner was covered with techniques on how to incorporate blogging into your online marketing plan, ideas for how to get started, and services to make your blogging easier. Read More→

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Categories : Blogging, Book Reviews
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Social Media gets a Voice on BlogTalkRadio.com

by TheURLdr · Comments (0)
20 Oct

Blog Talk RadioI recently learned of yet another way to use social media to market products, services, and messages online. One of my Facebook friends invited me to listen to an interview on BlogTalkRadio. I went to BlogTalkRadio.com to see what the buzz was all about.

I missed the live show but was able to listen to an archived recording on demand. I was impressed with what I heard and saw, so I did a little digging and found that Blog Talk Radio is a social radio network that allows users to create and broadcast a free, yes FREE, radio talk show that is made available as podcasts online. Read More→

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Categories : Social Media

Have you Looked at your Web Site Lately? Website Usability Tips

by TheURLdr · Comments (0)
03 Oct

In part 1 of Have you Looked at Your Website Lately? we discussed 10 best practices for search engine optimization (SEO). It would be great if we could stop at that, but SEO only addresses getting the traffic to your web site. Now we have to address how to convert that traffic into customers. The best SEO in the world and millions of visitors to your web site won’t mean a thing, if your web site isn’t usable.

I see sites that are flashy and move and have great images, but don’t seem to get the job done when it comes to making money. (And let’s remember that this is really all about making money.) A web site has to grab the visitor’s attention in a mere second or two. It needs to answer their questions. It needs to lead them in the direction of making a purchase. It needs to do all this and at the same time convey that you know what you’re doing and are a trusted leader in your industry. If it doesn’t, you’ll lose all that traffic that your new and improved SEO brought you. Read More→

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Categories : Website Design
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Have you Looked at your Website Lately? Basic SEO Tips and Tricks

by TheURLdr · Comments (0)
20 Sep

Search Engine OptimizationIn the past month, I’ve had the opportunity to look at several new client websites. I was instantly struck by the same basic mistakes that were made on each one. The shocking thing about the website designs was it didn’t seem to matter if a professional website designer had been used or the business owner tried to do the website in-house, the same mistakes were made by both.

What I don’t think business owners realize is the impact that a few simple oversights can have on their overall online effectiveness and profitability. First of all, not implementing search engine optimization (SEO) best practices can have a major impact with the amount of natural search engine traffic your site will receive. Second, if some basic best practices of not only web site design, but also web site usability, aren’t followed, you won’t convert the traffic that does arrive on your site. Tons of visitors on your website is great, but if they don’t become customers, what’s the point! Read More→

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Categories : Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Website Design
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Is Your Website Giving Customers the Right Answers?

by TheURLdr · Comments (2)
05 Sep

Did you ever step back and take a look at what your website was really communicating to first time visitors? Is your website saying, “I have a terrible design and I’m really confusing to navigate…so, maybe you should go somewhere else.” Or how about, “I don’t care what you want. This is what I’m going to show you and if you don’t like it tough!”

How exactly does a first time visitor see your website? With only seconds to grab a visitor’s attention, it is imperative that you are communicating the right message.   But before you can craft the message, you have to know whom you are speaking to and what kinds of questions they are asking of you. Read More→

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Categories : Small Business Tips, Website Design
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If You Can Blog About a Toilet, You Can Blog About Anything

by TheURLdr · Comments (1)
20 Aug

The Daily Tubber BlogOver the past few months, I’ve had several conversations with clients about their need for a blog. I’ve explained all the benefits of blogging, the how to’s of blogging, and how easy it is to blog. On more than one occasion, I’ve been met with resistance and comments that lean toward, “What in the world would I blog about? My product is not very interesting.”

My favorite story about how wide the blog world has become and how anyone can have a blog include comments made by Alan Dick of Vintage Tub and Bath. I attended a Search Engine Strategies show several years ago where Alan was a panel member at a retailer roundtable session. The subject of blogging came up and Alan shared that yes, his company blogs about toilets and bathtubs. Read More→

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Categories : Blogging, Social Media
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Keys to Writing a Web Site Strategy

by TheURLdr · Comments (1)
13 Aug

Writing Web Site StrategyIf you have a web site, then you know the incredible amount of time and effort it takes to develop, update, and manage it. Many web sites exist without a clear plan, without any real cohesive thought as to what they are trying to accomplish. As with anything in life, it’s hard to get somewhere when you have no idea of where you are going in the first place.

A web site strategy is very similar to a business plan in that it lays out the goals and key information that will guide online activities. A website strategy works hand in hand with a business plan by outlining how the web site will contribute to the overall business goals.

In “Web Design for ROI: Turning Browsers into Buyers & Prospects into Leads,” Lance Loveday and Sandra Niehaus detail the key principles for successfully managing a web site for optimal return on investment (ROI). They suggest starting with a web site strategy document. Read More→

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Categories : Small Business Tips, Website Management
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Web Analytics Wednesday, Columbus, OH

by TheURLdr · Comments (0)
16 Jul

While on a business trip this week, I accompanied a colleague in Columbus, OH, to the local Web Analytics Wednesday. WAW is the world’s largest social network for web analytics professionals. These Wednesday meetings are held around the globe, monthly or quarterly, and provide free food and drink along with a great speaker from the web analytics community.

Hey, free food and drink…it can’t be all bad. Hmm…a one time offer for free food and drink is how I ended up with my husband. Another story all together.

Anyway, the featured speaker was Laura Thieme of Bizresearch who gave a presentation on a recently introduced search marketing and web analytics tool that her company created, Bizwatch. Dinner was hosted at Barley’s Smokehouse and Brewpub and featured a pretty good plate of pulled pork BBQ.

I was interested to see that there were people of all backgrounds and not just web analytics folks in attendance. I met people from Bob Evans and Victoria’s Secret, as well as Columbus group organizer Tim Wilson and others.

I talked to Tim about a WAW group in DC , Baltimore, or Pittsburgh, which I did not see listed on the web site. I would be interested in participating in groups in those areas, so I’ll be doing a bit of research when I get home. To check on a WAW near you, visit Web Analytics Demystified .

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Categories : Events Conferences
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Web Design Concepts for Small Business using WordPress

by TheURLdr · Comments (0)
07 Jul

I recently attended WordCamp Raleigh and learned the fabulous concept of using the WordPress environment to host an entire website as opposed to just a blog. Now I’m sure that the rest of the world had embraced this idea eons ago and I just don’t get out enough, but the thought really intrigued me.  WordPress blogs are so easy to use that a child could do it. (If my 13 year old can do it, so can you.) So how easy would it be for a business owner, especially a small business owner on a limited budget, to design and have more control over their own website? Read More→

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Categories : Featured Posts, Small Business Tips, Website Design
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Business Blogging Best Practices

by TheURLdr · Comments (0)
08 Jun
Jeffrey Cohen OurHashtag

Jeffrey Cohen of OurHashtag

I really enjoyed hearing Jeffrey Cohen, the Social Media Manager of Howard, Merrell and Partners, contributing editor of SocialMediaB2B.com, and a partner in OurHashtag at WordCamp Raleigh 2010.

A blog is a way to talk to the people you want to do business with. Cohen told audience members to think like your customers. Think about what types of questions they are asking. Make a list of the top 20 questions your customers have asked and blog about these. Read More→

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Categories : Blogging, Events Conferences, Featured Posts
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