2009-01-15 Hi Everyone, Have you visited our small business forum lately? If it's been a while you'll be surprised how much it has grown. I bring this up as a reminder that each week Chris Logan, the world's greatest forum admin, compiles a list of the best discussions from the past week and we include them at the end of this newsletter. It's a quick and easy way to keep tabs on the hot discussions at the forum. And don't be shy about registering at our forum and asking questions. We are a very friendly bunch and would love to have you spend time with us there. Rachel Phillips
Is SEO no longer important?by Mike MoranShould you care about what kind of marketing is hot? I got a question recently from a small business owner on how important readable URLs are for a Web site. The reason he was asking is that his technical adviser told him that "SEO just isn't that important anymore." Is he right? Well, you probably wouldn't expect me to agree with that point of view, and I don't, but there is some truth in the idea that search engine optimization is not the be-all end-all of Internet success that it was a few years ago. Six Lessons from a Wooden Boy: Lesson Four: Listen to Trusted Adviceby Jennifer LaycockYou don't need to get very far into the story of Pinocchio to realize that little wooden boy didn't have much sense of judgement rattling around in that hollow head of his. Trouble not only followed him, he turned around and became its friend every chance he got. That's why the blue fairy appointed Jiminy Cricket to help Pinocchio make good choices. When it comes to your online marketing plan, you'd be wise to find a Jiminy Cricket of your own. Six Lessons from a Wooden Boy: Lesson Five: The Conversion is the Goalby Jennifer LaycockWhen you watch the story of Pinocchio, it's easy to get caught up in the drama of the moment. Whether he's skipping school and getting captured by a man who wants to put him in a sideshow, running off to Pleasure Island or getting swallowed by a whale...everything about Pinocchio screams "get me out of this jam right now." It's easy enough to get in the same cycle with your web site; facing down each individual area of marketing without seeing the bigger picture. Six Lessons from a Wooden Boy: Lesson Six: It's All in the Attitudeby Jennifer LaycockPerhaps this lesson comes more from Geppatto than it does from Pinocchio, but since the two are so closely related, I'm going to use it to wrap up the series. See, Geppetto makes a great analogy for small businesses who haven't quite reached their potential. He had skills and abilities, but he hadn't yet enjoyed the fruits of his labor. He worked hard, but he often fell short. What Jason Bourne Can Teach You About Social Mediaby Mack CollierIf Jason Bourne did Social Media, the first thing he would do was assess the landscape. He would find out where his targets are, and figure out what they are doing and how they are communicating. Now you might not be able to take out two armed men in 1.4 seconds with your bare hands, but you can still learn something from Jason Bourne when it comes to YOUR social media initiatives. Puppy's Picks - 01/12/09by Jennifer LaycockI scan hundreds of feeds and read dozens of articles each day so you don't have to. From insight into building trust online to local marketing to a roundup of Twitter posts, find out which articles I dubbed as must-read for the small business crowd today. How to Kill a Blog in Ten Days...by Jennifer LaycockOk, that may be a slight exaggeration, but anyone who has taken an extended break from their blog without scheduling a slew of guest writers to fill in knows just how quickly traffic and comments can drop off. How Do You Decide If Social Media is Right For Your Business?by Mack CollierYou've heard the hype about social media for years now. Everyone is talking about it, and companies of all sizes are launching blogs and Facebook pages, and joining Twitter. You've heard enough and are ready to take the plunge into the social media waters. But there's one question left to answer; How do you know that social media is right for YOUR business? Puppy's Picks - January 9th, 2009by Jennifer LaycockI scan hundreds of feeds and read dozens of articles each day so you don't have to. From Rachel's first true "Twitter rocks!" moment to the death of the blogroll to great tips on local blogging and paid search, find out which articles I dubbed as must-read for the small business crowd today. Your Site is Keyword Optimized, But is it Search Engine Friendly? You Might Be Surprised!by Stoney deGeyterThere is a big difference between optimizing your site for keywords and making it search engine friendly. While one of the first steps in the optimization process should be focused on ensuring the site is search engine friendly, sometimes we tend to want to jump right into the keyword optimization because that's how we "see results" in the search engines, leaving the site incompatible with the engines while we wonder when we'll get the results we wanted. Return to the Top of this Page
Return to the Top of this Page In response to... How Do You Decide If Social Media is Right For Your Business?I totally agree with you about monitoring, some of my clients (I do web design.. in addition to internet marketing) think that just because everyone else is participating in social media that they should too, regardless of if it's right for their business. I usually tell them to do a bit of research first, and don't encourage it unless it's well thought out.. great blog post! Lindsey In response to... Six Lessons from a Wooden Boy: Lesson Four: Listen to Trusted AdviceJennifer, Enjoyed this installment. It's tempting to try and go out alone as most business owners march to the beat of a different drum anyway. The reality is that we can get things done much more effectively when we utilize the skills of people who are passionate about their field of expertise. When we utilize someone's passion and purpose to fill in a gap in our businesses it allows the business owner to focus on what they do best. Thanks for the post, Brandon Brandon Allen Return to the Top of this Page Free SEO ToolsThinking of buying SEO software? Then try the best SEO tools free first! Skaffe.com Directory: Show off your website Express Submit today.Quality directories like Skaffe.com offer you strong search engine exposure. Sporge Directory from Skaffe.comUnder new management! All new with low submission prices. WoW DirectoryPowerful and affordable directory marketing services. Submit your website today! New! Team Skaffe Directory from the editors of Skaffe.comUp to 4 links for every submission. Free submission for non-commercial websites. Return to the Top of this Page COPYWRITING Articles vs Press ReleasesSALES AND MARKETING Looking For Time Tracking Tools Using LinkedIn To Establish Local Relationships Customer Service Live Chat And Sales Does Anyone Have Experience Marketing Using Door Hangers Server Installed Email SoftwareSELLING AD SPACE How To Improve Google Adsense EarningsSEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION How To Create SEO Friendly Links Google Webmaster Tool Random 404 Error Search Engines Index The ImagesPREVIOUS WEEK Small Business Forum Update For January 5, 2008 (If you like our search engine news, you'll love our small business news.) Return to the Top of this Page
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