Tag: Google

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Tips to Promote Your Website

In continuing with the last several blog posts on tips and tidbits, here are few of my top tips on how you can promote your website.

1. Promote your website with Google AdWords. If you need visibility and leads fast, Google AdWords is the best place to start. I recommend using AdWords for a boost right after you launch your website until you have enough impetus to garner organic placement and start generating activity on your own.

2. Make sure you are blogging. If you want to wean yourself off Google AdWords at some point, it is important to be actively involved in building unique informational content which over time will help you with organic placement and cause the natural building of inbound links.

3. Make sure you are building content on your website in addition to blogging. You’ll need more than blogging to garner placement. Consider doing articles smartly to get inbound links to your website. I don’t mean spin articles, but rather write thoughtful pieces that provide value.  Use social media to promote your articles, archive them on your website and place the articles on just a few article sites.

4. Use social media to promote your website, add value by not just talking about your own services, but make sure to work to create authority in all you do. Link to your site, your article pieces, and blogs as well as try to engage readers.

5.  Move into the wider world. Get active in your market sector on forums to tape into new ideas, thoughts, and share your expertise as well as learn from others. Share your website and yourself to get your name out there.

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Social Networking Meltdown – Which Are Important to Use

One clients just left me this comment on the phone about my recommendation of Pinterest, and I think it is indicative of how many small business owners feel. “All I could think of is  yet another social networking site I have to add to my work load.  I am about ready to throw my hands up, I don’t think I can add one more thing in the social media area as I can barely keep up with what I am doing now.” These sentiments have been voiced by many as the online world is bombarded with new programs and platforms.

What social networks deserve your real attention as a small to medium sized business owner at this point?

  1. Get on Google+ and integrate your website and blog with the +1 button. This one is just too big to not have an early participation in. Why? Because it’s a Google property and Google is tightly integrating +1 votes and Google+ activity with its search engine.
  2. Make sure you are using Twitter. The viral nature and the ability to interact with a wide market is important to selling outside your local sphere. I’m watching sponsored Tweets very closely for small business and feel that in the long run activity on Twitter will be a key marketing strategy even for local selling businesses. Link sharing and interaction with others in your industry as well as prospects in a casual environment make this one of my top social networking picks.
  3. Make sure you have a Facebook Business page set up. Although right now I feel that businesses may want to have a minimal presence there due to poor fan growth, due to the changes Facebook made to how brands use Facebook in the fourth quarter of 2011, things could change, and change quickly. In fact, Facebook is announcing what changes they will be making for brands on Wednesday February 29th. This announcement may change my recommendations, but for now based on my research paper, I recommend a wait and see approach.
  4. If you are selling business to business or business to government, LinkedIn is the place for you to connect. Establish a full profile and then update your wall on LinkedIn at least twice a day. Get active in groups and ask questions. Not all businesses will thrive using LinkedIn, but many who cater to businesses and want to reach business executives should consider LinkedIn a top priority. I have not had success with LinkedIn advertising so steer clear of that for now.
  5. Pinterest is a hot new property, but unless you are selling retail fashion merchandise, I recommend you don’t take on this social network. Although you may check it out in the future, if you are strapped for time steer clear of this one for now unless you are selling retail jewelry or clothing.

I hope this helps you to decide which networks you should focus on, the bottom-line is get going on something and start building your network now. Social media will simply not get less important over time.

If you are overwhelmed by social media we can be your solution, with competent American college educated writers, we take on updating your profiles and pages; building your network for your future.

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Google is Paying to Watch Your Web Surfing

Google is immersing themselves into market research with a new program they announced on February 10th called Screenwise. You can read the announcement here. Additionally it was reported on the web that Google has just recently bought some new domain names reflecting their strong interest in expanding Screenwise.

“Google said, “Through the new Screenwise initiative, US users aged thirteen and over will be paid up to $25 in Amazon gift cards to have their web site behavior monitored. Additionally, those panelists aged over 18 will be automatically entered into a monthly sweepstake, with a chance to win prizes such as a ‘luxury’ vacation to the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, or Cancun; a variety of electronic goods; tickets to events; or downloads.”

“Google says it will use feedback from panelists to learn how people use the Internet, in order to offer them better products and services.”

Interesting so now if you are willing to allow Google to watch your every move on the Internet, they’ll pay you a token amount. The information that Google will be gleaning from observing user activity will surely impact results and new service offerings. Much of the intelligence will be used to fine-tune social programs and AdWords advertising.

I’ll look forward to seeing what new products Google will roll out this next year as the feedback comes in.

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Google: McCord Web Design is McCord Web Services LLC Since 2008!

McCord Web Design based in Waldorf, Maryland has changed their business name to McCord Web Services LLC after experiencing a 49% increase in sales in 2007. Positioned for more growth in 2008, McCord Web Services LLC is adding new Web related services in their aggressive growth plan for 2008. Read the full press release at PRWeb.com.

In light of Google using our old business name as the title for our website in their index as of an algorithm change this past week, I wanted to clarify for the Web who we really are.

Here’s the text of our 2008 press release:

Waldorf, Maryland (PRWEB) April 1, 2008

McCord Web Design based in Waldorf, Maryland and serving clients globally for over seven years, has become McCord Web Services LLC after increasing sales 49% in 2007. Positioned for more growth in 2008 McCord Web Services LLC has an aggressive plan to add new Web related services for 2008.

McCord Web Services started out as a web design only service provider and has expanded its service offerings over the years based on client demand. Initially serving only local clients, and working from word of mouth referrals, McCord Web Services has grown into a national provider of webmaster outsourcing services. Core businesses for the firm now include website updates and maintenance, web design, search engine marketing, and ghost blogging. New services that are projected for introduction in the next several months include news release writing and distribution services, feature article writing and listings, and simple podcasting services for business owners.

Part of the reason for the strong growth McCord Web Services LLC experienced in 2007 is due to its introduction of ghost blogging services. With five levels of service offering quality blog writing with a frequency of three to five days a week, McCord Web Services has become an in-demand ghost blogger for many business-related blogs. Employing six writers, spread across the country, the team for McCord Web Services now writes on a wide variety of blogs from political commentary, GPS tracking, ergonomics relating to material handling equipment, bed bugs, stamp collecting, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and other diverse topics.

An additional growth area for the firm has been in the search engine marketing arena. “Google AdWords has become so complicated that clients do not want to get a ‘degree in AdWords’ and so seek us out to set up and manage their Google search engine marketing accounts.” said Nancy McCord, President of the firm. Operating as a professional account manager for Google AdWords, Yahoo Search Marketing, and Microsoft adCenter, Nancy McCord does all the keyword research, account set up, and account management for the firm’s growing business in search engine marketing. Highly skilled in account management, Nancy McCord is a Yahoo Search Marketing Ambassador and Microsoft adExcellence member as well as a Google AdWords Qualified Advertising Professional and has been managing search engine marketing accounts professionally for over three years.

After experiencing strong growth in 2007, McCord Web Services is positioning themselves for another year of strong growth with the addition of several new services projected for release this year. Their news release writing service is scheduled for rollout in April and their feature article writing service is scheduled for May. Podcasting services will be introduced in August or September.

For additional information on McCord Web Services LLC or to review their service listings please contact Nancy McCord or visit http://www.McCordWeb.com.

About McCord Web Services LLC: McCord Web Services LLC and has been providing webmaster services, web design, search engine marketing services, and blog writing services globally since 2001. The firm founded by Nancy McCord, employs seven people and has embraced a philosophy of excellence with this corporate tag line: “Our Focus is on Your Success!”

Contact: Nancy McCord, President McCord Web Services LLC (301) 705-7303

http://www.McCordWeb.com/

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