http://www.new07.org Niche Blog Reviews Covering Retirement, Business, Real Estate News, Finance, Credit and Press Releases Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:17:29 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.new07.org/social-media/do-negative-headlines%c2%a0work http://www.new07.org/social-media/do-negative-headlines%c2%a0work#comments Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:16:08 +0000 cgseo http://www.new07.org/business/do-negative-headlines%c2%a0work Continue reading →]]> If you’ve dipped a toe or two into copywriting, one of the first things you’ll learn about is the power of negativity.  Words like “Don’t” or “Stop” or “No” are powerful motivators when used correctly.  But at the same time, they can be overkill when a message that’s designed to provoke actually leaves your readers feeling cold. If you read a blog post with the headline: 5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Photography Skills It might tickle your interest.  But throw a dash of the negative in there and you’ve got something like: For Best Results: Don’t Ever Take Pictures from This Angle Which one would you be more likely to click on? When Negative Headlines Work

]]> http://www.new07.org/social-media/do-negative-headlines%c2%a0work/feed 0 http://www.new07.org/social-media/how-to-motivate-employees-to-contribute%c2%a0content http://www.new07.org/social-media/how-to-motivate-employees-to-contribute%c2%a0content#comments Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:10:22 +0000 cgseo http://www.new07.org/business/how-to-motivate-employees-to-contribute%c2%a0content Continue reading →]]> Sometimes it can be like pulling teeth to try and get others in your organization to contribute to your content development strategy. Of course the excuse is inevitable “I have no time” or “I am still working on it”, amongst probably hundreds of other reasons why employees can’t help. But its funny how when you add an incentive with it, everyone can somehow find time to contribute. Like magic, peoples schedules suddenly free up or that post they have been working on for 2-3 months, is finished the next day. Lets face it, many people are not motivated unless they are compensated for their time. Which is understandable. If someone is going to take time out of their day or work on something at night or on the weekend, they should see some reward or gain from it. Before we get into the different ways you can encourage employees to contribute content, it should be said that you should set standards to keep only high-quality content that is being produced. If you just say, we will give each employee $25 per post…you will be amazed at what will get put in the queue to be approved. Depending on your blog or type of content you are looking to create, try to make sure there are best practices being implemented. Internal Linking to Other Posts Write About Topics That Have Not Been Covered Yet Add Relevant Images and Videos Minimum Word Count (debatable depending on the post style) Ok, so now lets talk about the different ways you can go about motivating your employees to help contribute to your content development strategy. Performance-Based

]]> http://www.new07.org/social-media/how-to-motivate-employees-to-contribute%c2%a0content/feed 0 http://www.new07.org/social-media/5-types-of-link%c2%a0building http://www.new07.org/social-media/5-types-of-link%c2%a0building#comments Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:58:21 +0000 cgseo http://www.new07.org/business/5-types-of-link%c2%a0building Continue reading →]]> There are many reasons to build links to your website, and sometimes, it is hard to determine if one link is better than another, or if it is worth anything at all. For example, a dofollow link is better than a nofollow for some purposes, but not for others. And a redirected link may hold no value for SEO, but may still prove valuable. Here are the types of links that you can build to your website, and why you should take advantage of a mixture of each. Traffic Generating

]]> http://www.new07.org/social-media/5-types-of-link%c2%a0building/feed 0 http://www.new07.org/social-media/track-any-page-changes-in-google%c2%a0chrome http://www.new07.org/social-media/track-any-page-changes-in-google%c2%a0chrome#comments Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:26:57 +0000 cgseo http://www.new07.org/business/track-any-page-changes-in-google%c2%a0chrome Continue reading →]]> We are pretty good at tracking page changes at FireFox already. I did a detailed overview of all the addons that track any page for changes and notify you in various ways. I also mentioned that those tools are awesome for various purposes: You can track Google SERPs (especially the newest results that change daily) and thus easily see your brand name mentions; You can track social media sites like Digg or Sphinn to get timely notified about new hot stories on any category page (or new search results); You can use page trackers instead of an RSS reader to monitor new front page stories, You name it! So while we can do that in FireFox, some (many?) of us may have switched to Google Chrome. So the good news is that they can do the same thing there as well! Page Monitor is a fun Google Chrome extension that allows your browser to monitor changes to web pages. The great features of the extension include: The ability to monitor any number of pages for changes. One-click adding of pages. Smart comparison system that ignores ads and code changes. Highlighting of changes that happened to a page since the last check. The ability to set separate check interval for each page. Get it installed in seconds and notice a tiny icon in the toolbar (next to the page address). The icon is used to add new pages to monitor as well as to notify you of the number of updated pages: So when on any page you want to monitor, click that icon and easily start tracking the page changes: Now whenever this page changes, the monitor icon will display a notification on its badge. Of course, you can repeat this for any number of pages. If you want to see the actual changes on the page, click “View changes” (see the screenshot above) and you will be able to see what has been added (green color) and what has been removed (red color): The tool offers to customize some settings as well. To access options, right-click on the icon and select “Options”. From there you can: Stop monitoring any page or rename any page record; See how long ago the tool checked the page; Set the checking interval; Set tracking changes to particular elements on the page (e.g. a price tag on a shopping site) by specifying a CSS/jQuery selector or regular expression to match against the page’s source code (the result of applying this selector/expression is compared). Of course, this feature requires that you know how to use selectors or regular expressions . Set some general look and feel (highlight color, sound alerts, sorting, etc); Import and export the list of pages to monitor: Check out the SEO Tools guide at Search Engine Journal . Track Any Page Changes in Google

]]> http://www.new07.org/social-media/track-any-page-changes-in-google%c2%a0chrome/feed 0 http://www.new07.org/social-media/a-new-feature-rich-seo-firefox-addon-seo%c2%a0doctor http://www.new07.org/social-media/a-new-feature-rich-seo-firefox-addon-seo%c2%a0doctor#comments Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:40:11 +0000 cgseo http://www.new07.org/business/a-new-feature-rich-seo-firefox-addon-seo%c2%a0doctor Continue reading →]]> It looks like Vladimir Prelovac has become our SEJ featured developer. I have already shared his plugin for smart blog interlinking and mentioned another WordPress plugin by him called “Insights” . Today I am sharing his FireFox addon that has been developed for about a year. SEO Doctor is a newly launched FireFox addon that has tons of useful SEO features; I am looking at only a few of them below (to see the more detailed overview, check out Vladimir’s post). Status Bar

]]> http://www.new07.org/social-media/a-new-feature-rich-seo-firefox-addon-seo%c2%a0doctor/feed 0 http://www.new07.org/social-media/we%e2%80%99ve-added-a-facebook-like-button-to%c2%a0sej http://www.new07.org/social-media/we%e2%80%99ve-added-a-facebook-like-button-to%c2%a0sej#comments Fri, 23 Apr 2010 09:23:43 +0000 cgseo http://www.new07.org/business/we%e2%80%99ve-added-a-facebook-like-button-to%c2%a0sej Continue reading →]]> This week Facebook rolled out some new tools and cupdates to their Open Graph that lets publishers utilize the new Facebook Like option and other Facebook sharing tools on websites, articles and specific web documents. Selena put together a nice wrap up of the announcements here on SEJ. I’m happy to announce that we are now testing the Facebook Like button on SEJ posts, and if you look up, you should see it right above this post. If you click on the Like button, you will not only vote on this post, which may one day positively affect our content as an external social citation metric in the upcoming Facebook search algorithm or whichever engine uses the Facebook data … but you will also share your favorite SEJ posts with your Facebook friends. ESPN.com, IMDB and other major publishers have already launched this tool, and thanks to my good friend Dave Brown, we’re testing a WordPress Plugin that lets any WordPress powered blog add the Facebook Like button as well. Dave will have a write up about the Plugin here on SEJ next week, but in the meantime, I’d like to ask for reader feedback. How do you Like the Like button? Check out the SEO Tools guide at Search Engine Journal . We’ve Added a Facebook Like Button to

]]> http://www.new07.org/social-media/we%e2%80%99ve-added-a-facebook-like-button-to%c2%a0sej/feed 0 http://www.new07.org/social-media/search-by-voice-available-now-in-google-maps-4-1-for-winmo-and%c2%a0symbian http://www.new07.org/social-media/search-by-voice-available-now-in-google-maps-4-1-for-winmo-and%c2%a0symbian#comments Thu, 22 Apr 2010 16:26:53 +0000 cgseo http://www.new07.org/business/search-by-voice-available-now-in-google-maps-4-1-for-winmo-and%c2%a0symbian Continue reading →]]> Google just announced that its cool search by voice feature in Google Maps 4.1 is now available for Windows Mobile and Symbian S60 phones. This is the same voice activated search feature that BlackBerry and Android phone users have been enjoying for quite some time now. So, if you have any Symbian S60 or Windows Mobile phone, you can now search for anything by simply speaking your search terms instead of typing them. To use this feature, you simply need to open Google Maps on your phone, press the “call” button and speak your search term clearly.  This feature works with all kinds of search on Google Maps for mobile such as places, specific businesses, types of businesses and addresses. In addition, this feature also lets you choose your preferred language including accents. To enjoy this feature on your Windows Mobile or Symbian s60 phones, you must download and install the latest Google Maps for mobile 4.1 for Windows Mobile  and Symbian S60 phones. You can grab the app from m.google.com/maps using your phone’s browser. Check out the SEO Tools guide at Search Engine Journal . Search by Voice Available Now in Google Maps 4.1 for WinMo and

]]> http://www.new07.org/social-media/search-by-voice-available-now-in-google-maps-4-1-for-winmo-and%c2%a0symbian/feed 0 http://www.new07.org/social-media/local-business-marketing-%e2%80%93-the-known%c2%a0future http://www.new07.org/social-media/local-business-marketing-%e2%80%93-the-known%c2%a0future#comments Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:46:21 +0000 cgseo http://www.new07.org/business/local-business-marketing-%e2%80%93-the-known%c2%a0future Continue reading →]]> The Internet has turned into a great local business marketing tool in the past couple of years.  While local businesses have not yet adopted these tools into their marketing strategies, the technologies are moving forward with or without them.  The convergence of Search, Social Media and Mobile Marketing is bringing business information with products and services into the hands of the local consumers. Having had Internet business experience for the past 16 years, I can tell you that this is probably one of the few times where we can put all the local business marketing puzzle pieces together and see what marketing tools we have available over the next 2 – 3 years.  Let’s review each one so we can see how the come together. Local Business Listings In short these are the interactive yellow pages of the Internet. Interactive because as a business owner you can update and manage these listings at search engines, social communities, 411 web sites, GPS/Mapping websites and basic business directories.  They are also interactive because consumers can post their experience they had with your business, products or services.  In order to get started you need to claim, update, monitor and manage these listings at multiple local listing websites.  Don’t have the time resources?  Don’t worry, there are companies that provide local business listing management services. Local Business Listing Marketing vs. Data Services As a business you will want to seek out companies that provide the marketing services.  The companies that provide basic data services only push your information out, but they do not help you protect your listing from being hijacked or for that matter manage your listings for marketing purposes with various types of content like coupons, events, QR codes, consumer reviews, coupons and citations.  The marketing services have a higher cost to them than the data services, because the marketing services are more effective and do more for your business. Consumer Reviews This will be the first time that most local businesses dependent upon the local consumer for their revenue will need to manage their public relations.  Consumer Reviews are not just about other consumers seeing the information, but too many negative reviews will adversely impact your website ranking position in search results.  This is no longer about just consumers posting their frustrations to a website or blog, but directly into your local listing.  As a business you will need to closely monitor these reviews and also begin to engage customers that have positive experiences to post their information as well. Local Listing Coupons and Mobile Coupons The Local business listing gives the business the opportunity of posting their coupons, offers, and discounts.  They are then available for consumers to find through web searches and through their mobile devices.  While this is not available through all local listing websites or available for free, this is in no uncertain terms the demise of the traditional coupons. Events If you promote your business then you will want to use the Events promotion tool within Local Business Listings.  You can include Specials, Events, New Products, general News, pretty much any alert you which to make the local consumers aware of so they can find it through a web search or a mobile search. QR Codes These small square bar codes will allow you to program them for consumer to scan using their mobile devices.  The code will then do whatever is programmed to them.  For example, a coupon, discount, offer, event, website link.  You can also use them on business cards, websites, traditional ads, store window, and much more. Citations This tends to add a level of complication for most businesses.  If you’re familiar with the idea of inbound links, this is very similar only this time is not necessarily just about a link, but your company name, address, city, state, zip, phone and many other aspects that are related to what is known as HCards to include your longitude and latitude of your business address.  Because this is a combination of marketing and technical expertise you may wish to get someone to help you with this item. Hyperlocal Websites that are hyperlocal give a local business the opportunity of highlight targeted advertising and marketing to geography and demographic.  While these websites are not as prominent for this purpose yet, this will change and needs to be planned for in 2011 and beyond. Having had Internet business experience for the past 16 years, I can tell you that that geographic marketing is the direction of our immediate future.  Hopefully I was able to portray to you some of the known components of local business marketing and how this local business marketing tool can be used to reach the local consumers. Check out the SEO Tools guide at Search Engine Journal . Local Business Marketing – The Known

]]> http://www.new07.org/social-media/local-business-marketing-%e2%80%93-the-known%c2%a0future/feed 0 http://www.new07.org/social-media/top-local-business-listing-questions-answered-%e2%80%93-interview-with-will%c2%a0scott http://www.new07.org/social-media/top-local-business-listing-questions-answered-%e2%80%93-interview-with-will%c2%a0scott#comments Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:04:49 +0000 cgseo http://www.new07.org/business/top-local-business-listing-questions-answered-%e2%80%93-interview-with-will%c2%a0scott Continue reading →]]> I have had many opportunities to chat all things local with my good friend Will Scott, and just the other day we were at it again.  We were talking about some of the most common questions we are always asked by small business owners in regards to local marketing online.  I wanted to take the time and put them down on paper for everyone.  I felt this would be a good venue to get the answers out there.  Here goes my interview with Will Scott of Search Influence . 1. What are the best ways that new to Internet businesses can go about increasing the number (or gaining any at all) citations when it comes to local listings? My number 1 recommendation would be that they make their way over to http://getlisted.org . Get Listed is a really simple tool that checks the major local search engines and tells you if you’re there. If you’re not there you can go submit yourself right from the dashboard. Once you’ve done that, go submit yourself to the major data providers. There’s a shortcut here you can get into those providers data with just 3 sources: UniversalBusinessListing.org (submits to multiple data providers) Localeze.com (submits to multiple data providers and powers many online directories. InfoUSA.com/Landing/UpdateListing.aspx (the only major not represented by the 2 above) One caveat: it’s not immediate. You must submit early in the month and then it may take 45 90 days to see full distribution. In the meantime there’s nothing wrong with hand submitting to some of the biggies like MerchantCircle, Yellowpages.com, Superpages and InsiderPages. Just be advised, your phone will ring with follow-up telemarketing. Politely decline and stick with the free listing. 2. What would you say to those who worry about receiving negative reviews? Negative reviews are bound to happen. Lots of businesses think they can play Ostrich and solve all their problems. The issue is that even if the business owner isn’t active online their customers are. As with many things the best defense is a good offense. If a business owner is proactively working to get positive reviews it’s a great defense when they find themselves with the inevitable negative. And, I think everyone understands that we can’t please all customers. No matter how hard a business owner tries there will always be that one. Just like in real life, you can’t sweat them all and the most valuable tactic is to offer good customer service so you don’t have to worry about reputation management . 3. What would you say to those who are worried their competitiors are giving them bad reviews? Forget about it see above. Seriously though, you can’t defend against it. Just monitor your reviews and other online mentions and if one crops up which looks suspect, address it head on and report it to whichever service is hosting it. It does no good to share your agitation with the site where a review is posted. Keep it factual and professional and they’ll be much more likely to take it down. We have seen Yelp reviews pulled, but it’s not very common. In the case of Yelp, reviews which don’t pass the sniff-test often face the Yelp Review Filter . 4. What are some of the best places/resources someone who has ran a business for years offline, but never online use to get started? Wow, the list is endless but just for a few: GetListed.org already mentioned above. In addition to the service, there’s a blog and links to lots of great resources. OutspokenMedia.com/blog/ Lisa and her cohorts blog almost daily. They take a very user-friendly approach to online marketing. It’s entertaining for pros and approachable for those just getting started. SmallBusinessSEM.com Matt McGee’s blog. Occasionally insidebaseball but filled with great stuff written with the business owner in mind. DuctTapeMarketing.com John Jantsch’s site. Very nitty gritty marketing ideas and execution. SmallBizTrends.com Anita Campbell and a stable of writers tracking, reporting and advising on news and info of interest. SmallBusinessBrief.com Forum from the folks at SearchEngineGuide.com. Search Engine Guide is a little technical for newbies, but there are a lot of helpful people in the forum. In all seriousness I recommend our blog: http://www.searchinfluence.com/blog/ . It’s written by my team for and from the perspective of the small business clients with whom we work. And, though it’s often a little insidebaseball for newbies too, I think your blog  http://dreamsystemsmedia.com/blog/ has a lot to offer as well. Mat, thanks for asking for my opinions. This is an area where I’m pretty passionate. Check out the SEO Tools guide at Search Engine Journal . Top Local Business Listing Questions Answered – Interview with Will

]]> http://www.new07.org/social-media/top-local-business-listing-questions-answered-%e2%80%93-interview-with-will%c2%a0scott/feed 0 http://www.new07.org/social-media/mobile-seo-future%c2%a0planning http://www.new07.org/social-media/mobile-seo-future%c2%a0planning#comments Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:48:26 +0000 cgseo http://www.new07.org/business/mobile-seo-future%c2%a0planning Continue reading →]]> 2010 is the next year that has been talked about year after year as far as mobile online use truly taking off. The iPhone was indeed revolutionary and provided the true smartphone leap forward, that has been followed and in many ways being surpassed by Android , with more and more mainstream users browsing online via mobile devices. How does this impact & affect the SEO that you have already carefully crafted for your sites?  Not much…for now. Google CEO Eric Schmidt stated at the 2010 Mobile World Congress their new mantra & current strategy is “ Mobile First ” thus you can be first by getting ahead of your competition by planting these mobile seeds into your site: Create a mobile version of your site optimally in a mobile subdomain or  subdirectory rather than a separate domain or TLD such a .mobi Render this mobile version of your site via mobile user agent detection while also providing the user an opt out to the standard web version. The mobile version of your site should have the following DocType declared above the HEAD code:  The SEO coding elements will remain the same in the mobile version but to improve usability & reduce any possible duplicate content issues its best to strip extraneous content, JavaScript & graphics out – optimally via CSS. A mobile site should have at least half the load time in comparison to the standard site with a true target of under 2 seconds load time on an Edge or non-3G signal. A mobile sitemap XML should also be created which has as the main difference from the standard sitemap XML a declaration after each URL listing – Google Mobile Sitemap Instructions Affirm your mobile progress by using the tools at W3C & MobiReady to validate your code for mobile readiness as well check load time and actual mobile device rendering. Currently Google Mobile search is nearly identical to the standard search but there is a separate mobile index which will only grow in providing differentiated results. I will detail in next month’s mobile post at Search Engine Journal a key set of code that will give you this mobile search edge. Check out the SEO Tools guide at Search Engine Journal . Mobile SEO Future

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