I have said it once and I will say it again, banner ads work on magazine/newspaper web sites. Why? Magazine and newspaper sites have a specific purpose. Users come to the site for a reason. So, if you can match ads to the users in even the most basic way, you will have a winning situation. So, if you have limited web traffic, what can you do to increase the number of ad units you can sell.
Idea #1: Turn old ad sizes into new sizes. For example, one of the oldest sizes is the 160 pixel wide X 600 pixel tall skyscraper ad. This ad is very Web 1.0 and needs to go away. Replace it with two 300x250 box ads or two 300x300 box ads. This will take one ad unit and turn it into two.
Idea #2: Add a duplicate ad to the bottom of your web site. Many publishers do not have an ad unit at the bottom of their web site as they feel no one will pay for it. Perhaps, not, but add it anyway and double your ad impressions for that unit size. Tell advertisers up front that they are not paying for it and it is just a bonus. What they do not know is that time and time again, online research has proven that users do indeed click on bottom ads.
Idea #3: Add a three block ad unit of 200x200 ads or an additional 728x90 to the middle of long pages. If you do this in a section… you will have the lead story for the section and then a set of three ads next to each other in a table. Or, insert the 728x90 half way down the page. Be careful to not junk up the page. Web users have become use to this approach and it is much less invasive than you might think.
Idea #4: Use top level peel away ads. These are ad units the peel away from the top left or top right of the web page to expose an ad unit. These are fancy ads and are well received by both advertisers and users.
Overall… you just need to be creative. The web is a new frontier and the biggest challenge to your team will be stopping. Meaning, you need to know when enough is enough. When the page starts to look like a wacky blinking Christmas tree, back up three steps and consider the obvious.
About this blogger: Ryan Dohrn is President and founder of Brain Swell Media, an internet consulting firm that helps business owners and publishers make money online. http://www.BrainSwellMedia.com
Ryan R. Dohrn
President/Founder
Brain Swell Media LLC
http://www.BrainSwellMedia.com
803-867-3769
Follow me on Twitter.com/ryandohrn for daily tips and advice.
Brain Swell Media, LLC is an interactive media consulting firm. We focus on five key business areas; online strategy consulting, website development, search engine optimization (SEO), video production and online sales training. We provide business owners and publishing companies with the tools and resources they need to optimize their presence on the Web and boost revenue.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
10 TIPS from Ryan's new book How To Be A Manager Without Being A Jerk:
Just released... 365 tips for being a great manager every day. Looking for a great management book? 50 pages jam packed with 365 management tips! A great gift for that jerk of a boss or a great gift for a new manager that needs a jump start. Used for management training seminars nation-wide!
1. Great managers have their office doors open more often than closed. A Fortune 500 CEO once removed all his senior managers doors for one month to prove this point. Ask yourself, why am I closing my door?
2. Listen in an effort to better understand. All too often managers have some great advice and “tune out” the employee as they wait to pounce with advice. Begin better practices of listening to employees. But, when you engage in the great practice of listening, you need to do so in an effort to better understand. Do not listen to just listen. Listening without seeking to better understand is like listening to a beautiful song and not hearing the melody.
3. Communicate, communicate, communicate. Rarely are managers scolded because they communicate too often to their team.
4. Reward loyalty with as much as you can give. There is nothing, NOTHING more important than being loyal to your team and teaching them to be loyal as well.
5. Take the time to say good morning to each person who works under you, and mean it. As you move up the “ladder” the number of people becomes larger, but this task is more important than ever.
6. Quarterly reviews are an excellent way to let your team know what is going on with your company. Do this in person with the staff. Be honest and point out great wins, but not people in particular. If you do want to single someone out, be prepared to continue this practice with others and be sure you do or others will feel left out.
7. Be careful to not brainstorm in the midst of conversation with your team. Often, this brainstorming from you is heard as orders or directives to be accomplished. In addition, be careful with words like, “we are going to” and “we will create.”
8. Many managers suffer from SPIT (Smartest Person Is Talking) Syndrome. More often than not, the manager does all the talking. This is seen by others in many ways. Most often, it is interpreted that the manager thinks he is the smartest person in the room. Everyone hates the smartest person in the room. Work hard to guide conversations and not do all the talking.
9. Involve your team in the hiring process. Often, the manager will be the only person involved in the hiring of a new employee. The resentment will begin from day one toward the new employee as the rest of the team feels that this new person has been forced upon them or chosen by you. Establish a hiring system that involves the rest of the team and see a dramatic change in how the new hire is accepted into the group.
10. Giving compliments that are only intended to gain favor are quickly discovered and will come back to haunt you later.
Order and read more online at www.greatmanagementbook.com
What others have said about this book...
WHAT READERS THINK OF THE BOOK!!
"One of the best management books I have ever read. Simple, straight forward and fun." -Bob Burns, Davenport, IA.
"I give this book to each new manager on my team. Great for management training." - Jason Brittle, Culver City, CA
"Since reading this book I have seen a dramatic change in the way my teams responds to me. I was a real jerk and did not even know it." - Robert Young, New Orleans, LA
."I was given this book as a gift. I was blown away by how I missed the smallest things My employees were right. I was a jerk and real b*&%h too. This book changed me" Betty Graven, Jersey City, NJ"
This book really made a big difference in my team" Jan Culler, Nashville, TN
"Wow, I was a real jerk. I admit it. But, I did not know how to change. This book helped me in the simplest ways. Thanks Ryan." Trevor Bradley, Aniston, AL
"Jerk, b*^&h, you name it, they thought it. My team hated me. I was a real mess. I truly felt like I was on a downhill run to failure. This book helped me to re-focus and re-think about how I treated others." Robin Johansson, Madison, WI
"This book is what we use as our new mangers training guide. It is simple and effective." Terry Glenn, Traverse City, MI
Order and read more online at www.greatmanagementbook.com
1. Great managers have their office doors open more often than closed. A Fortune 500 CEO once removed all his senior managers doors for one month to prove this point. Ask yourself, why am I closing my door?
2. Listen in an effort to better understand. All too often managers have some great advice and “tune out” the employee as they wait to pounce with advice. Begin better practices of listening to employees. But, when you engage in the great practice of listening, you need to do so in an effort to better understand. Do not listen to just listen. Listening without seeking to better understand is like listening to a beautiful song and not hearing the melody.
3. Communicate, communicate, communicate. Rarely are managers scolded because they communicate too often to their team.
4. Reward loyalty with as much as you can give. There is nothing, NOTHING more important than being loyal to your team and teaching them to be loyal as well.
5. Take the time to say good morning to each person who works under you, and mean it. As you move up the “ladder” the number of people becomes larger, but this task is more important than ever.
6. Quarterly reviews are an excellent way to let your team know what is going on with your company. Do this in person with the staff. Be honest and point out great wins, but not people in particular. If you do want to single someone out, be prepared to continue this practice with others and be sure you do or others will feel left out.
7. Be careful to not brainstorm in the midst of conversation with your team. Often, this brainstorming from you is heard as orders or directives to be accomplished. In addition, be careful with words like, “we are going to” and “we will create.”
8. Many managers suffer from SPIT (Smartest Person Is Talking) Syndrome. More often than not, the manager does all the talking. This is seen by others in many ways. Most often, it is interpreted that the manager thinks he is the smartest person in the room. Everyone hates the smartest person in the room. Work hard to guide conversations and not do all the talking.
9. Involve your team in the hiring process. Often, the manager will be the only person involved in the hiring of a new employee. The resentment will begin from day one toward the new employee as the rest of the team feels that this new person has been forced upon them or chosen by you. Establish a hiring system that involves the rest of the team and see a dramatic change in how the new hire is accepted into the group.
10. Giving compliments that are only intended to gain favor are quickly discovered and will come back to haunt you later.
Order and read more online at www.greatmanagementbook.com
What others have said about this book...
WHAT READERS THINK OF THE BOOK!!
"One of the best management books I have ever read. Simple, straight forward and fun." -Bob Burns, Davenport, IA.
"I give this book to each new manager on my team. Great for management training." - Jason Brittle, Culver City, CA
"Since reading this book I have seen a dramatic change in the way my teams responds to me. I was a real jerk and did not even know it." - Robert Young, New Orleans, LA
."I was given this book as a gift. I was blown away by how I missed the smallest things My employees were right. I was a jerk and real b*&%h too. This book changed me" Betty Graven, Jersey City, NJ"
This book really made a big difference in my team" Jan Culler, Nashville, TN
"Wow, I was a real jerk. I admit it. But, I did not know how to change. This book helped me in the simplest ways. Thanks Ryan." Trevor Bradley, Aniston, AL
"Jerk, b*^&h, you name it, they thought it. My team hated me. I was a real mess. I truly felt like I was on a downhill run to failure. This book helped me to re-focus and re-think about how I treated others." Robin Johansson, Madison, WI
"This book is what we use as our new mangers training guide. It is simple and effective." Terry Glenn, Traverse City, MI
Order and read more online at www.greatmanagementbook.com
Saturday, September 26, 2009
What To Do When Your SEO Fails?
This past week 140 niche magazine publishers converged in Minneapolis to learn about the digital side of their business. Many of these publishers are struggling to stay afloat and most felt that the Niche Digital Conference could not have come at a better time. There were several sessions and many questions about Search Engine Optimization (SEO). A very common question at the conference was.. “What do I do when my SEO fails to generate any traffic..”?
I think this is a very valid question and one that you need to look at very carefully.There are ten to 30 components to solid SEO according to industry experts. One of the most important, and the most often overlooked is the focus of your SEO efforts.
What is your focus in terms of SEO? What key words or phrases are you trying to gain a Google™ ranking for? All to often I find that most business owners are trying to cast far to wide of a net when they conceive their SEO plan. Being something to everyone only works in the world of Sam Walton. I advise my SEO clients to find 10 key terms or phrases that are meaningful to their business or brand. Then, be sure that those terms share a common focus.
For example, CustomSuites.com is the provider of furnished apartments in the Los Angeles area. To this end, their key terms are: furnished apartments Los Angeles, furnished apartments in Los Angeles, Los Angeles corporate housing, Los Angeles corporate suites, Los Angeles corporate apartments, Los Angeles temporary housing, extended stay hotels Los Angeles, corporate housing Los Angeles and short term rental Los Angeles. You see how this business has chosen a focus, yet they have key words and key phrases that are broad while maintaining that focus. Then, they have created pages on their site about each of these key terms or phrases. Follow the links of these key terms to see what I mean.
When it comes to SEO, my experience has shown me that Google™ rewards you for being focused, specific and relevant.
Once you find your focus, you need be sure that the key words and key terms are “really” being searched for online. Meaning, you can optimize your web site for a certain term, but if no-one is “truly” searching for that term online… why bother? Right? Use the tools available online to find out what users have searched for in the last 30 days. Then, check to be sure your focused list is on track to match those searches.
SEO is a multi-part mission and the adventure can have many twists and turns. Most SEO experts say SEO is simple, but not easy.
Focus, focus, focus for SEO success.
The SEO team at Brain Swell Media is here to help. Contact us for a free SEO evaluation.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Helping Advertisers Measure Success With Your Magazine and Web Site.
In today’s economic climate, advertisers are looking for proof that their return on investment (ROI) with your magazine or web site generated business. Here is the problem I observe time and time again…. publishers simply do not give the advertiser enough data back fast to help justify their ROI. In addition, publishers do not use the power of the net to help drive data to the advertiser fast and with a high enough frequency.
Bob Liodice, President and Chief Executive Officer, Association of National Advertisers, said, “In our marketing accountability survey, only about 33% of marketers were satisfied with their marketing accountability and measurement programs. We don’t have enough standardization or enough useful marketing media mix intelligence and understanding. Studies and research offer guidance, but marketers complain that by the time they get the answers back, the media world has shifted and the mix or model is no longer relevant.”
Bob’s quote above proves that advertisers will not or can not do this type of ROI research themselves. Thus, we as publishers and sales manager need to step up to the plate and swing hard.
We all know that it is easier to sell to a current client than sell to a new client. So, use this basic sales premise to your advantage. Provide the advertiser great data and give them a reason to stay with you.
Here are three of my top 30 tips and tricks I use with my clients to keep advertisers coming back for more each month.
1. All sales people should have a monthly eNewsletter letter that goes out to their current clients asking if they need any assistance and thanking them for their ad dollars.
2. Each month a proof of performance report should go out via e-mail to the advertiser explaining to them exactly how many magazines were sent out and exactly how many potential people saw their ad. Because you assigned the advertiser a unique phone number and web address, include this data in the report as well.
3. Each month an Interactive proof of performance report should be sent to the advertiser detailing exactly how many ads were served, what the click through rate was and what changes need to implemented to improve performance the next month.
But wait, who has time to do all of this? I would suggest that the question really is… Who DOES NOT have time to all of this?
If you wait for your advertisers to do this work, you will be waiting a long time.
Deliver back to your advertisers solid reports and follow up those reports with solid customer service and you will see happy advertisers return month after month.
Source: http://www.emarketer.com/brandmeasurement/index.php/single-biggest-problem-online-brand-measurement-today
Bob Liodice, President and Chief Executive Officer, Association of National Advertisers, said, “In our marketing accountability survey, only about 33% of marketers were satisfied with their marketing accountability and measurement programs. We don’t have enough standardization or enough useful marketing media mix intelligence and understanding. Studies and research offer guidance, but marketers complain that by the time they get the answers back, the media world has shifted and the mix or model is no longer relevant.”
Bob’s quote above proves that advertisers will not or can not do this type of ROI research themselves. Thus, we as publishers and sales manager need to step up to the plate and swing hard.
We all know that it is easier to sell to a current client than sell to a new client. So, use this basic sales premise to your advantage. Provide the advertiser great data and give them a reason to stay with you.
Here are three of my top 30 tips and tricks I use with my clients to keep advertisers coming back for more each month.
1. All sales people should have a monthly eNewsletter letter that goes out to their current clients asking if they need any assistance and thanking them for their ad dollars.
2. Each month a proof of performance report should go out via e-mail to the advertiser explaining to them exactly how many magazines were sent out and exactly how many potential people saw their ad. Because you assigned the advertiser a unique phone number and web address, include this data in the report as well.
3. Each month an Interactive proof of performance report should be sent to the advertiser detailing exactly how many ads were served, what the click through rate was and what changes need to implemented to improve performance the next month.
But wait, who has time to do all of this? I would suggest that the question really is… Who DOES NOT have time to all of this?
If you wait for your advertisers to do this work, you will be waiting a long time.
Deliver back to your advertisers solid reports and follow up those reports with solid customer service and you will see happy advertisers return month after month.
Source: http://www.emarketer.com/brandmeasurement/index.php/single-biggest-problem-online-brand-measurement-today
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Magazine Digital Revenue Strategies
With conferences closing left and right and some taking a “virtual” approach to their existence, many publishers are thrilled to see that one group is continuing their face to face approach to collaboration and idea generation. Niche magazine publishers will unite this fall in Minneapolis to learn, share and collaborate around one single theme, making money from their web site and digital assets at the Niche Digital Conference.
When asked by publishing guru Carl Landau to join his executive team to assemble this all digital conference for niche magazine publishers, I jumped at the chance knowing that this was one area of the niche magazine market that needed serious help. As conference director of the Niche Digital Conference I can assure you that there is no more important time than right now to unite magazine publishers around a single issue; growing magazine revenue using your web site and your digital assets. Carl Landau, as many of you know, is the founder of the Niche Magazine Conference that drew nearly 200 smaller niche magazine publishers to Denver this year. When other conferences where closing their doors, Carl’s conference was showing signs of growth and prosperity. I truly believe the single greatest component is the tactical and practical approach Carl demands of each speaker. As a speaker myself, Carl is very particular to tell us to not bring lofty ideas that are out of reach of the smaller publishers. He requests that all speakers present ideas that the publishers can implement when they get home on Monday. This is one of my main areas of focus as the Niche Digital Conference team prepares for this years all digital conference… keep it tactical and practical for the smaller niche magazine publisher looking to make money form their web site and their other digital assets like digital editions and archives.Learn more about this conference by clicking here… or read more below.
3 TRACKS FOR YOUR REVENUE GENERATING TEAM:
* CEO / Publisher
* Advertising Director / Sales
* Content & Audience Development
CEO/Publisher Track
1. Lights...Camera...Digital Strategy Action Plan!: You know you need an action plan to tackle your digital strategy effectively. But where do you begin? Eric Shanfelt will walk you through the essential steps to building and growing your online business. From evaluation of your current revenue mix to development of a distinct web strategy, a viable revenue model, and technology plan, to getting our staff on board, Eric will take you step-by-step through the process.
2. Turning Clicks to Cash: Every digital publishing model is different. Stewart Day, Hervey Evans, and Rebecca Sterner will walk you through 5 digital publishing models.
3. Staff Up!: New skills, new eMedia staff or reeducation? Rebecca Sterner will help you get your staffing strategy together. Example #1: The online editor - he's not copy editing any longer, he's driving traffic. The 5 key online employees you will need.
4. So, You Need a New Website...: Like buying a car, the options are nearly endless. Where do you begin? Open source vs. custom applications? Big company vs. geek in a garage? Get your tech nerd on!
5. Social Media Shuffle: Twitter this, Digg that...The social media dance does not have to be painful and can be a real fox trot toward traffic and revenue success. Get some tips from Joe Pulizzi, our social media pro.
6. Digital Edition Landscape: It's a big digital world out there! We'll explore how "digital editions" can bring the magazine experience to your subscribers, offer new revenue opportunities, and fit into your overall business strategy. And Alan Zeichick will show there's more to digital publishing than Web sites and browsers! Learn how mobile devices, such as the iPhone and Kindle, can expand your business into new areas.
Learn more about this conference by clicking here… or read more below.
Advertising Director/Sales Track
1. Selling the Wild Wild Web: The new generation of media sales is upon us and you need to prepare to leave orbit. Digital sales is not the unknown vast frontier! Get your digital mojo pumping as Mitch Rouda gets you ready to sell like a digital warrior! From teaching old sales dogs new tricks to creating media packages that sell, Mitch has walked the walk and will help you talk the talk. Sales people unite as you embark on the new digital sales journey.
2. How the Heck do you Sell Digital?: This is the question everyone is asking. How do you price online eMedia and walk the fine line between pricing that sells and that's profitable? And what about the web stats dance, working with our advertisers' desire for quantifiable results? There's no magic buttet, but there are key principles you - and your sales staff - need to know. Kevin Dunn will tell all.
3. Bundle This!: This is what your clients want! Our panel of experts will dispel the mystery surrounding integrated sales. You'll get easy to follow proposal examples of how to combine your traditional print and online eMedia programs into one sweet package.
4. Using Video to Grow Revenue: Video can be a huge revenue boost to publishers' online revenues. Tricia Clark-Stone and mike Bannan will give real world examples of how video can raise your bottom line and make your editorial scream online.
5. Names, Names, Names - Lead Generation for Dummies: If you don't have a lead generation program, you're leaving money on the table! Alan Zeichick will teach you how to do lead generation right...The right lists, the right technology, the right promotion and sales approach.
6. Evolution of Your Sales Team: Train and motivate your team to sell like digital rock stars. Steve Schiffman and Stacey Marmolejo will teach you how to recruit, train, compensate, motivate, and evaluate your ad sales staff. 4 Case studies of compensation plans.
Learn more about this conference by clicking here… or read more below.
Content & Audience Development Track
1. Content that Connects With the New Generation: Creating a digital connection with your magazine readers is mission critical. From blogs to digital editions, great content comes in many shapes and sizes. Is there a secret sauce for online success? What can you do to keep them coming back for more? How do you turn an online reader into an offline subscriber? Todd Smart will dissect the digital machine and show you what's under the hood.
2. Audience Development Mania!: To build and retain audience in today's environment, you need to be working across multiple media to develop and engage your audience. From site usage and development, marketing and promotional messaging, to operations and back-end technologies Toni Nevitt will explore the best strategies and tactics to expand and develop a demographic-rich audience user base to help drive revenue.
3. Community Gone Wild: We have all heard of "building community", but what does that "really" mean, and what does it take to do it right? Is user-generated content all it's cracked up to be? Learn from our community gurus, Esther Schindler and Hervey Evans.
4. Dinosaur to Digital: The role of your editorial team is evolving and editors are no longer just a cost-center. Are you prepared to be a content provider of tomorrow? Bryan Welch will tell you what you need to know to survive the digi-age
5. Get Your SEO Groove On: Mike Bannan will share simple editorial strategies to get your web site noticed. More results on Google means more eyeballs to your online content. More eyeballs equals more sales.
6. Great Email - Not an Oxymoron: Email is golden to reach your readers and drive results! Todd Smart, regularly referred to at conferences as the "email newsletter guy", will share the latest results from his clients that will have you raring to get home and begin making changes to your email marketing.
And much, much more...
Learn more about this conference by clicking here… or read more below.
Concerned that you are not doing enough to get your site noticed online? Ask for help from the internet experts at Brain Swell Media. Need some help with your online strategy? Want to make money from your Web site? Contact Ryan and the Brain Swell Media team today. ryan@brainswellmedia.com or 803-634-3886.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Keping Web Video Special
I remember the dark basement and the lack of light. The flicker of the machine behind me that would make us jump day or night. The noise of things dropping, the subtle excitement of what was about to come as my grandfather prepared to show us yet another piece of magic from his home movie kingdom. The good old fashioned home movie. No sound, no zooming, no fancy fades. Just an image of my mom running and playing as a child.
Today why do we still like to watch these old movies? They were simple, straight forward and contained something special. These three simple thoughts should be a part of all we do in web video web today as well. My kids are home for the summer. Yeah for them. I have bought them a small video camera and we are creating some magic together on my days off from work. As I have preached for years, you do not have to be a Hollywood director to create compelling online video. Think about what your user wants to see and then deliver. If you do not know... ask. I would add one thing to the three points of simple, straight forward and special.... keep it steady. Tripods are a cheap way to add a higher level of expertise to your video clips. From digital side bars to capturing video at a trade show, make your site something special by adding video today. If my seven year old can do it, so can you. Looking to see some examples, go to http://www.holistichorse.com and see how they are taking video to the next level.Thursday, May 21, 2009
What Are You Doing With Mobile?
Many of you might say… my web site is trash, why do I need to think about mobile? I would suggest you pay attention to mobile now so that two years from now you are not saying… my mobile plan is trash why do I need to worry about (insert new technology here)?
Planning for mobile is not really very hard. Start small and give it a try. What is the one thing that makes your business or magazine unique? Perhaps it is restaurant reviews or listings of summer camps. Start with that one idea. There are two main things to look into. First, how can I get that information into a data-base. BAM! Did your brain just swell? Thus, the name of my company; Brain Swell Media. Start with a simple Excel spread sheet. Second, look to make that data available through an iPhone app to start. There are many app building companies, including mine, that can help you for less than $1,000. Google: iPhone app providers.
The key is this, start playing today so that you have some practice for tomorrow.
Ryan
---------------
Concerned that you are not doing enough to get your site noticed online? Ask for help from the internet experts at Brain Swell Media. Need some help with your online strategy? Want to make money from your Web site? Contact Ryan and the Brain Swell Media team today. ryan@brainswellmedia.com or 803-634-3886.
Planning for mobile is not really very hard. Start small and give it a try. What is the one thing that makes your business or magazine unique? Perhaps it is restaurant reviews or listings of summer camps. Start with that one idea. There are two main things to look into. First, how can I get that information into a data-base. BAM! Did your brain just swell? Thus, the name of my company; Brain Swell Media. Start with a simple Excel spread sheet. Second, look to make that data available through an iPhone app to start. There are many app building companies, including mine, that can help you for less than $1,000. Google: iPhone app providers.
The key is this, start playing today so that you have some practice for tomorrow.
Ryan
---------------
Concerned that you are not doing enough to get your site noticed online? Ask for help from the internet experts at Brain Swell Media. Need some help with your online strategy? Want to make money from your Web site? Contact Ryan and the Brain Swell Media team today. ryan@brainswellmedia.com or 803-634-3886.
Twitter This...
In honor of the web site Twitter, I am going to save myself some time and make my blog shorter. Also, based on the what I read from Ad Ages Abbey Klaassen, I have reason to express my concern over the recent trend by publishers to "hop on board" the "Twitter express".
Ms Klaasseen wrote, "Over the past few weeks we've seen countless stories about the "Oprah effect" on Twitter -- TechCrunch suggested more than one million people signed up and many a blog linked to Hitwise data that suggested the talk-show doyenne's endorsement of the service led to a 43% spike in Twitter traffic. While those numbers are important, the breathless reports have not accounted for what people do after they sign up for a Twitter account. Creating a Twitter account doesn't equal becoming an uber-user, or even a casual user, of the micro-blogging site. Nielsen Online data released today suggest more than 60% of people who sign up for Twitter abandon the service." I would suggest that this research is right and that unless you have a purpose to "tweet", you may want to use the extra "tweeting" time to give your wife a kiss, donate to charity or do your job. There is a real reason to use Twitter as a magazine editor or to assign a writer to "tweet" on a regular basis. The service is an excellent way to keep your followers informed on a topic close to your magazine. For example, you are a writer that covers rock and roll. There is a national band in town. You announce the upcoming concert, share your experiences at the show and then report on the show. This is a great way to use the service. But, please spare us the details of your latest disaster at Subway or that you fell down a flight of stairs due to the rain. We'll, on second thought, the fall down the stairs might be good for a laugh.
Ryan
---------------
Concerned that you are not doing enough to get your site noticed online? Ask for help from the internet experts at Brain Swell Media. Need some help with your online strategy? Want to make money from your Web site? Contact Ryan and the Brain Swell Media team today. ryan@brainswellmedia.com or 803-634-3886.
Ms Klaasseen wrote, "Over the past few weeks we've seen countless stories about the "Oprah effect" on Twitter -- TechCrunch suggested more than one million people signed up and many a blog linked to Hitwise data that suggested the talk-show doyenne's endorsement of the service led to a 43% spike in Twitter traffic. While those numbers are important, the breathless reports have not accounted for what people do after they sign up for a Twitter account. Creating a Twitter account doesn't equal becoming an uber-user, or even a casual user, of the micro-blogging site. Nielsen Online data released today suggest more than 60% of people who sign up for Twitter abandon the service." I would suggest that this research is right and that unless you have a purpose to "tweet", you may want to use the extra "tweeting" time to give your wife a kiss, donate to charity or do your job. There is a real reason to use Twitter as a magazine editor or to assign a writer to "tweet" on a regular basis. The service is an excellent way to keep your followers informed on a topic close to your magazine. For example, you are a writer that covers rock and roll. There is a national band in town. You announce the upcoming concert, share your experiences at the show and then report on the show. This is a great way to use the service. But, please spare us the details of your latest disaster at Subway or that you fell down a flight of stairs due to the rain. We'll, on second thought, the fall down the stairs might be good for a laugh.
Ryan
---------------
Concerned that you are not doing enough to get your site noticed online? Ask for help from the internet experts at Brain Swell Media. Need some help with your online strategy? Want to make money from your Web site? Contact Ryan and the Brain Swell Media team today. ryan@brainswellmedia.com or 803-634-3886.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Search Engine Food, Feed the Beasts!
My youngest son can eat! I mean eat! If you put food in front of him, watch out. Only a few minutes past a meal he wants more. Just like my child you need to be sure that you are feeding the search engines at every corner. Each and every page of your Web site is important to search engines and each page must contain food in the form of key word and key phrase data. Each page of your site is important. All to often people place so much effort on their main page that they forget about the others. With that same point in mind, simply repeating the information from your main page to the remaining pages of your site is no smart either. Each word of text is food for the search engine spiders. (Spiders are automated robots that scan your site and bring back data to the search engine database,) This is why you will often search for a seemingly simple word and get back pages from some very odd Web sites. Just like my mom, they see all and no all!
Here are some things to consider when optimizing your pages for search engine spiders.
1. Focus on 10 key words or less that describe the content of your Web site or 10 key words of phrases that people will search for when trying to find your site.
2. Make sure that these key words or key phrases are in your meta data on your site.
3. Make sure that the top 5 key words or phrases from your list are in the title tag of your web page.
4. Make sure that these 10 words are also in the text of your main page. Also, it is better to have these key words in the top 20 lines of your Web page.
5. Create unique pages within your Web site that contain your key words. For example, if one of your 10 key words is “baby dolls”. Write an article that mentions baby dolls in 7-10% of the text. Place this page within your site and be sure that there is a physical link from the main page to that page on your site.
6. Remember, most search engines spiders can not get to pages that are linked from drop down menu’s in your site navigation. To solve this problem you need a site map or an XML map.
The old thought that if 10 key words are good then 20 must be better does not work! You need to focus and not try to be something to everybody. Pick your 10 and push them hard through out your Web site.
Concerned that you are not doing enough to get your site noticed online? Ask for help from the internet experts at Brain Swell Media. Need some help with your online strategy? Want to make money from your Web site? Contact Ryan and the Brain Swell Media team today. ryan@brainswellmedia.com or 803-634-3886.
Here are some things to consider when optimizing your pages for search engine spiders.
1. Focus on 10 key words or less that describe the content of your Web site or 10 key words of phrases that people will search for when trying to find your site.
2. Make sure that these key words or key phrases are in your meta data on your site.
3. Make sure that the top 5 key words or phrases from your list are in the title tag of your web page.
4. Make sure that these 10 words are also in the text of your main page. Also, it is better to have these key words in the top 20 lines of your Web page.
5. Create unique pages within your Web site that contain your key words. For example, if one of your 10 key words is “baby dolls”. Write an article that mentions baby dolls in 7-10% of the text. Place this page within your site and be sure that there is a physical link from the main page to that page on your site.
6. Remember, most search engines spiders can not get to pages that are linked from drop down menu’s in your site navigation. To solve this problem you need a site map or an XML map.
The old thought that if 10 key words are good then 20 must be better does not work! You need to focus and not try to be something to everybody. Pick your 10 and push them hard through out your Web site.
Concerned that you are not doing enough to get your site noticed online? Ask for help from the internet experts at Brain Swell Media. Need some help with your online strategy? Want to make money from your Web site? Contact Ryan and the Brain Swell Media team today. ryan@brainswellmedia.com or 803-634-3886.
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