March, 2011

  • 4 No-Cost Link Building Techniques That Get Results Fast

    Posted Mar 29th, 2011 By in Link Building, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) With | 22 Comments

    Are you trying to build backlinks on a budget?  Just because you don’t have tons of cash to throw around on fancy SEO services, your website does not have to get stuck on page 5 of the search engines.

    Here are four of the top no-cost link building techniques that get results fast:

    Blog Commenting

    Blog commenting is a fairly fast and painless link building technique, but most people do it incorrectly because they spam blogs.  Whether you do it yourself or pay someone else, blog spamming doesn’t make sense and won’t get the results you want.  The problem with useless spammy comments is that they don’t get approved.  This leaves you with zero backlinks.

    Here’s the right way to do it:

    Post a thought provoking, informative comment that might pique the interest of readers.

    The benefit, you ask?

    For starters, your comment is much more likely to get approved if you actually provide value.  This will increase the number of readers who click-through to your site.  You want people to see your comments and think, “Hey, that’s a great point.  I wonder what else he/she has to say…” *Click*.

    If you can establish yourself as an authority in your comment, the people that click-through to your site are already mentally prepped to have more trust and respect for your opinions.  This means they’ll stick around longer, subscribe, maybe even make a purchase, or share your site on Facebook, Twitter, etc.

    The only other part to the blog commenting equation is finding blogs to comment on.  There are two ways that I consider the best options for finding blogs to comment on.

    The first is to use Drop My Link.  You can search for specific types of blogs such as KeywordLuv blogs and add your keyword in the search.  This will help you find a lot of relevant blogs to comment on.  I suggest searching for KeywordLuv blogs first since they allow anchor text, they are “do follow”, and they add a link to your most recent post if you have a blog.  It’s definitely a big win situation.

    For the other blog-finding tactic, I suggest using the SEOQuake plugin for Firefox to sort each page of results by PageRank (PR).  A page doesn’t have to have a high PR to be worthwhile to comment on, but it definitely helps.

    In summary, using the above techniques will help you quickly find blogs that are relevant, allow anchor text,  are “do follow”, possibly have high PR, and  allow backlinks that attract visitors plus you get an extra link to your blog…and oh yeah… it’s all at no cost. (more…)

  • 20 Great SmartBrief Social Media Polls and Analyses

    Posted Mar 14th, 2011 By in Polls, Social Media With | 3 Comments

    As many of you a while back I won a seat on the SmartBrief on Social Media Board was awarded the role of poll analyst. Let me tell you, time really flies when you are having fun because I have already written 20 analyses.  Where are the weeks going?

    Below, I gathered the synopsis of all 20 analyses for my readers (Please click on the title to be taken to the full analysis). I would love to hear which analysis was the most helpful to you.  Please share in the comments below.

    Do consumers want to be treated as individuals?

    This was the analysis that helped me win the SmartBrief contest.  Do consumers want to be treated as individuals? Treating consumers as individuals by engaging them through social media and outstanding customer service, combined with amazing products or services and revenue-generating initiatives, can help make the relationship between a company and its customers a more powerful experience and a win-win for both.

    Is social media better executed in-house?

    Is social media better executed in-house? There isn’t one right way to organize your company’s social media marketing management, but which way is right for you?

    5 reasons why market research comes before social media

    Do you need to do market research? Two-thirds of our readers say they didn’t do any market research before launching their social-media initiatives. I argue that companies that do their research are more likely to find a social media strategy that works for them.

    Does social recruiting make sense for your company?

    The recruitment process has unsurprisingly shifted to the online world, and social media seems to be the right fit for recruiting qualified job seekers.  There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for every company, but there are many obvious benefits to be had.

    Social media and tablets: A perfect duo?

    Tablet devices can put the Web at your fingertips, along with a broader range of features than a smartphone. These devices are poised to make social networks an even bigger part of users’ day-to-day lives.

    What are the benefits of opening the door to social networking in the workplace?

    About 57% of SmartBrief on Social Media readers say companies should place restrictions on social media access for some or all of their employees — but I am not so sure that’s such a great idea. Social media has many benefits to offer a business, many of which rely on everyone having access.

    Is Facebook Insights a powerful tool for tracking engagement?

    About 37% of SmartBrief on Social Media readers say Facebook Insights has helped them understand and analyze trends and improve engagement. I agree that while Facebook Insights does have its flaws, it’s the most sophisticated data I have seen on a social network.

    What makes social-media followers flee?

    While about 44% of SmartBrief on Social Media readers say they’ll unfollow someone for posting too often to a social network, I argue that having too little to say can be every bit as bad.

    Will 2011 be the year we achieve social-media integration? (more…)

  • Impact of the Apple iPhone on Business

    Posted Mar 10th, 2011 By in Mobile With | 2 Comments

    The Apple iPhone is an incredible expansion of the individual’s ability to communicate. While some may dismiss it as an electronic leisure item merely designed to appeal to the nation’s lust for high tech toys, the fact is that any communicative device, especially one as ingenious and versatile as the iPhone, can be a great asset in business, including Internet marketing.

    With a device like the iPhone, which combines separate and once bulky capabilities into a single compact package, your improvement in efficiency can be nothing less than dramatic. Any business needs to move quickly in order to maximize its profits. Anything that might contribute to lag time or a slowing down of its ability to conduct business will keep it from devoting its resources to generating maximum income.

    Whether you’re managing your time, projects or clients, the iPhone makes the perfect business partner. FaceTime makes video calling a reality, so you can see who you’re talking to. The Retina Display offers the highest resolution screen ever on the phone, and multitasking allows you to give everything your undivided attention. Plus, HD video recording gives you a great opportunity to share what you’re seeing with others on the spot.

    The vast array of business apps available for the iPhone make it an indispensable tool.  The LinkedIn app gives you instant access to your professional network. You can add new contacts on the spot and appraise others of your work with your own status updates.

    Want more? The OnlyWire app allows you to update your status and post bookmarks on over 40 social bookmarking sites with one click.

    Apple’s own database program, Bento, helps you manage everything from to do lists to event planning and business contacts, while Salesforce Mobile (a subscription-based service) gives you instant access to business and client data wherever you may be. You can log sales, access charts and graphs, and respond to new leads right from your phone.

    FedEx Mobile for iPhone lets you track all of your shipments. Simply enter your tracking number to check up on the status of a delivery, or auto track them all with a handy watch list.

    Cisco WebEx Meeting Center allows you to participate in meetings and interact in real time over either WiFi or 3G.

    If you work with clients, iTimeSheet can help you track your time by client as well as your activity reports and create invoices. Plus, you can export the data to Microsoft Excel, so you’ll never forget what you did for whom.

    As for keeping track of all these passwords, you’re all set here as well. 1Password remembers them, along with credit card numbers and other sensitive information so you don’t have to do so, and it uses multilayer security and powerful encryption to keep your data safe.

    Consider how tremendous has been the impact of the advent of communications devices. In the 1860s, people had to wait to learn of the Lincoln Douglas debates until word of it reached the newspapers. Now people use their cell phones to tweet about historic events as they happen.

    Business has been similarly revolutionized, and with the iPhone, you can carry your office with you in an enclosure that’s a mere 9.3 millimeters thin.

    You might get the impression that the Mac is the forgotten stepchild of the Internet marketing industry. But did you know that some of the top names in Internet Marketing use Macs? Get a FREE 75-page ebook that covers everything you need to know about running your Internet business using a Mac, iPhone and iPad here.

    Guest Author: Timothy Arends

  • Vallarta Escapes Takes on Social Media with the Tweet to be Heard Conference in Mexico

    Posted Mar 2nd, 2011 By in Social Media With | No Comments

    In October 2010, I was invited to speak in Mexico at Tweet to be Heard, the international social media marketing conference.  It was my first time in Puerto Vallarta, and what an experience it was.  Rightly, this is now my favorite spot in Mexico, and I still haven’t stopped raving about since my return.

    Last year’s conference was an absolute blast and extremely worthwhile for all attendees who voiced that they wanted another conference.  I also walked away with some truly wonderful life-long friendships.

    Well, the excitement continues! I am enormously flattered to be invited back for Tweet to be Heard 2 on May 12 – May 15, 2011 in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Again, I will be sharing the stage with some exceptional speakers:  Guillermo Perezbolde, Trey Pennington, Victor Garcia, Marco Ayuso, Richard Snyder, Jay Handler, and William Michael.

    Like last year, I am treating it as another well-needed vacation.  If it’s time for you to take a break the routine and want to learn about social media, then this is “the” conference to attend.  I hope you consider joining us for a remarkable learning experience, fun in the sun, and some great adventure. And if you do decide to attend, please reach out to me for a VIP discount code that I can offer to special guests.

    I interviewed conference originators and founders of Vallarta Escapes, Robert Dry and William Michael, to get the scoop on their thoughts of social media after gaining more knowledge from the first conference.   I also wanted to learn more about their plans for the upcoming conference.  Check out what they had to say below:

    Despite Mexico being the 2nd largest Internet country in Latin American after Brazil, its Internet penetration at 27.2% is lower than many other countries, but growing at a faster pace due to many early adopters.  What do you think the future of social media will be like in Mexico?

    Social media is the largest adjunct to traditional marketing in wide use today.  Mexico, which lagged behind in the past regarding mail and telephone marketing has embraced Internet marketing and is soaring!  Not having the prejudices of older marketing ways allows Mexico to speed ahead of other countries still bound to archaic methods.  Social media will be the cutting-edge marketing tool for Mexico’s strength in the world economy.

    Do you see many businesses in Mexico embracing social media?

    Businesses in Mexico embrace youth and the young at heart; therefore, they are positioned to embrace social media.  Mexico is a hidden force that is ready to compete with the world on the Internet, regarding marketing and business.

    Although you don’t work in the social media industry, you were one of the early adopters to launch a social media conference in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in October 2010.  What prompted your decision to hold an educational conference?

    No, we do not work in the social media industry.  Vallarta Escapes as one of the leading agencies in Puerto Vallarta for vacation rentals and real estate sales.  After embracing social media and online marketing for our business and found success in them, we realized the lack of social media education in Mexico.  It made sense for us to bring qualified speakers to learn and share the knowledge with our friends in paradise.

    What made you decide to launch Tweet To Be Heard 2 coming up in May 2011 and will only the residents of Mexico benefit from this conference?

    At the end of the first conference, we asked the attendees if they would return the next year.  Not only did they say yes, but strongly encouraged us to do it in six months and have it as a continuous bi-annual conference.

    We also conducted a survey after the conference that reinforced that we were doing the right thing.  Additionally, we learned how to improve the Tweet To Be Heard conference to make the upcoming event even more exciting, enlightening and well worth everyone’s time.

    Since social media is on the World Wide Web, we naturally invite people from around the globe to join us in our tropical destination while learning from incredible international speakers.  This conference is structured to benefit everyone who uses a computer for business.

    The first day, the speakers cover Facebook and Twitter for beginners; the second and third days are for attendees who know the basics of social media and want to graduate to a more advanced level, so they can truly leverage the power of social media in their business; the final day is designed for business and marketers that wish to walk away with a sustainable plan, which will help maximize business results.

    What changes have you made with your online presence or social media efforts after the first conference, and what were the most important takeaways of the conference?

    After the first conference, we created our long-term plan and applied search engine optimization with social networking tactics to increase our rankings in Google.  Our detailed marketing plan included integrating social media into the entire marketing mix.

    The most important takeaway of the conference was the social media marketing plan as well as the incredible life-long friendships we garnered.  We are looking forward to seeing last year’s attendees again as well as meeting many new ones.

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