Written on May 24, 2012 by admin
This is a guest post by Matt Powers of Blue Soda Promo.
In the world of search engine optimization there are becoming fewer and fewer ways to truly promote your site in an honest way. One of the best and most popular ways is guest posting and there are a few reasons for this.
- It follows Google’s guidelines. Google is trying hard to make the Internet a better place and good, intelligent content is always looked at positively in the eyes of Google.
- It’s a win-win situation for both parties. Authors who guest post are looking for links back to their site. These links help sites rank higher in the search engines, while blog owners are looking for fresh content to post on their site. This keeps readers coming back and hopefully draws new ones.
- It builds relationships. If site owners like the content that you write about, a one-time gig can turn into a regular contributor. Also, if you continue to put out original high quality work, people tend to take notice and guest posting opportunities become easier and easier. There are networks of site owners and blog writers that keep a tight circle and once you’re in, exposure, traffic and conversions soon follow.
The second hardest part of guest posting though is getting your foot in the door (I say second because if you can’t write well, well…no one is going to read it, let alone accept it. So that has to be number one). Pitching potential sites can be difficult. Now, I have been doing this for a few months now with success and these are three simple I have found to get over half of your pitches picked up.
#1 – Know the Site
Site owners put a lot of time and effort into creating a blog that people want to read. For most of them, that’s all they do. It’s the way they make their living. If you are to stumble upon a site that offers guest posting please, please know their content.
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Posted in Branding, Marketing 2.0 | Comment Now!
Written on May 22, 2012 by admin
I know a lot of entrepreneurs who can’t walk away from their companies for a day, let alone a week or two for vacation (my husband being one of them). But let me tell you: sometimes stepping away from daily operation is the best thing you can do for the continued success of your brand.
It took me a while to master this art. At first, I just knew that if I left, something would go wrong. Clients would have a problem and I wouldn’t be there to fix it (that’s the issue when you’re a solopreneur like me. There’s no one who can sub for me!). But then I took a vacation. And no one even blinked. Huh. And the funny thing is: after not thinking about my business for a few days or weeks, I was ready to jump back in with fresh eyes and ideas.
I just got back from a two week vacation in Ireland. My company didn’t collapse in my absence. Once I got through the 300 emails waiting for me, I got back into my routine with renewed vigor. I’ve got ideas from my trip that I’ll use in upcoming posts.
My vacation, in a sense, makes me a better business owner. Who wouldn’t want that?
Photo: keithpr on Flickr
Posted in Entrepreneurship | Comment Now!
Written on May 8, 2012 by admin
If you’re like me, it’s hard for you to shut down shop to go on vacation. You sneak a peek at your email now and then, or work from your hotel room. But not this time. This very moment, I’m exploring the green grasses of Ireland with my mother. But you wouldn’t know it.
First, let me make the case for completely unplugging from work. I run a very small company, so pretty much nothing happens if I’m not working, though I do have a writer who continues to work while I’m gallivanting across the UK. But when I’m too much “in my business,” I’m not really helping it. I need to step back and have some space to continue to be a good President (it’s the same for parenting, but that’s another post).
So completely forgetting about my business for a week or two actually helps it grow.
Now, on to explaining how to look like I’m working. I scheduled several blog posts to go live while I was sampling the finer beers of Ireland so that cobwebs wouldn’t gather on my blog in my absence. I completed all my projects for the period I’d be gone ahead of time. I let my clients know I’d be gone, so that they’d have a chance to get any last-minute projects completed.
That’s it. That’s my secret. And what I find when I unplug like this is that the world doesn’t collapse with my time away. No marketing emergencies happen in my absence. I come back refreshed, and jump right back into the flow.
Now, will you promise to do the same on your next vacation?
Photo: epsos.de on Flickr
Posted in Entrepreneurship | Comment Now!
Written on May 1, 2012 by admin
This is a guest post from Vidify.
With the advent of the Internet, the corporate playing field is becoming more level, as small businesses now have access to advertising methods that were previously reserved for larger companies. Many small to medium-size enterprises (SMEs) have begun utilizing custom video production and distribution services to extend their business outreach to targeted audiences around the world. Even though quality video advertising services are becoming more obtainable to SMEs, there are still many hurdles that a small business owner has to overcome when undertaking a video production and distribution project. The following three tips should help any small business maximize the benefits of video production and advertising solutions:
1) Be Concise and Clear during Consultations – What is the message that you’re trying to convey to the target audience? Do you want to highlight specific products or services? When participating in a consultation with a video production company it is imperative to provide answers to the aforementioned questions as clearly as possible. While you may not be in charge of the technical aspect of producing your video advertisements, your goals and preferences will ultimately shape the finished product, so it is important to understand what you’re trying to accomplish before proceeding.
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Posted in Marketing, Video Blogs | Comment Now!
Written on May 1, 2012 by admin
You may already know that keyword-rich web copy helps search engines (and people) find you easily. But consider this: your web copy also helps tell the story of who your business is.
Do you want to come off as professional? Off-the-wall? Appealing to teens? Mothers? Retirees? You can do all of that with your copy. Even if you’re not aware that you’re telling a story, the copy you have, whether you thought it through or not, gives an impression to visitors. It’s important to make sure that impression is the one you want to emit.
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Posted in Marketing 2.0 | Comment Now!
Written on April 26, 2012 by admin
If you’re constantly looking for small business experts and advice like I am, you’ll be happy to know that there’s a great new resource that is completely free. As many of you know, I blog for Small Business Trends and assist with marketing for some of Small Biz Trends’ other properties. I am also the Chief Moderator for the new Small Business Trends Forum.
I encourage you to check out the conversations happening there. We’ve got experts on marketing, SEO, franchising, legal, finance and more sharing their expertise, as well as other entrepreneurs looking to connect. You can ask your questions, weigh in on topics, find guest blogging opportunities or just browse through our threads.
Please stop by the forum and say hello. Be sure to tell everyone where you heard about it!
Posted in Announcements, Entrepreneurship | Comment Now!
Written on April 24, 2012 by admin
This is a guest post by Adam Snape of PR Fire.
There are numerous ways in which you can get your business’s brand noticed and boost sales; search engine optimization techniques, viral videos, content writing and social media marketing. Online PR is a great method to attract journalists to write about your company, your products and its services. But as beneficial as press releases are for marketing, they can also backfire if you do not deliver them appropriately.
A successful piece of content will be engaging, relevant and interactive. Commercial content is deemed negative in the eyes of journalism but newsworthy releases will achieve results and by publishing them to vast audiences via press release distribution sites, you extend the coverage considerably.
When PR Stunts Go Wrong
However, there are some memorable online PR stunts that have backfired and rather than causing a buzz around the brand, it has caused controversy and uproar. One of the biggest stunts was when Microsoft published Amy Winehouse’s album for sale right after she died and they advertised it all over social media sites like Twitter. The backlash was immense and industry experts accused the company of trying to cash in on the singer’s unfortunate death.
In October last year there was a story published about a monster slipper that had accidently been made but it turned out to be a PR stunt. It comprised of a man receiving an oversized slipper in the post from Hong Kong in which he said he ordered a size 14.5 slipper and instead obtained a 1,450 size shoe. The story was picked up by a plethora of websites and media outlets and it later turned out to be a trick.
The budget airline Ryanair has also tried its hand at PR stunts including cheap standing tickets and a £1 toilet charge. And Thorpe Park has also tried to conjure attention around its services when their new £20 million rollercoaster somehow left its test dummies with various limbs snapped off. Pictures circulated across the UK of the new thrill seeking ride that caused damage to its riders, but it was later found out that it was an attention-grabbing event.
And more recently was the case when the Russian politician Vladimir Putin was given some water from Lake Vostok, a huge body of water from the Antarctic-an event hailed in the country as a great scientific breakthrough. But the head of Russian scientific expedition has admitted since that the water did not come from the lake. This is not the first time he has tried to polish his image with a stunt- last year he said he discovered two Greek urns on the Black Sea floor on a diving trip, but this was a setup too.
If you are going to take advantage of online PR, make sure that you do it properly!
This post was written by PR Fire, the leading UK press release distribution site.
Posted in PR, Press Releases | Comment Now!
Written on April 19, 2012 by admin
This is a guest post by Matt Puettmann of Veterans United Home Loans.
The women-centered social media phenomenon known as Pinterest is becoming a growing force for marketers, but not every company or campaign can successfully tap this network. Knowing what it takes to succeed can be the difference between an amazing following and an idle group on the growing, picture-driven platform.
1. Conduct a contest. Moreso than other social media sites, Pinterest is image-driven. Utilizing this aspect of the site and inviting fans to help you create innovative and stylish content for your products or brand image not only helps them feel as if their opinions are heard but also gives you plenty of ideas for the cost of one or more prizes.
2. Create site-specific content. The site has very specific types of content, including popular Internet memes, recipes, crafts, fashion, design and photography. So try making a step-by-step guide for a service or product you specialize in, or customize a popular meme to fit your brand.
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Posted in Social Media, Marketing & Networking | Comment Now!
