I wandered around, selected a few items and headed for a fitting room.  As I was the only customer at the time, outside the door, there were four sales people anxious to find something else for me, convinced that I was in the right store, I just had not found the right outfit yet!

This was a ‘bricks and mortar’ store, but similar scenes play out on the internet.  When a citizen of the web types a query to a search engine, they are asking a question. Something along the lines of,  “I am looking for information, can somebody help me?”

The search engine presents  answers from which the searcher may choose.

A well optimized site will appear high in the search results for the terms that bring targeted traffic to the site.  A well written description will entice searchers to click on the link.  Then it is up to the site to keep the visitor around for a while.  Well written, easily scanned copy that provides valuable information will keep that visitor engaged until they have found what they need.

Once you have provided a good experience for a visitor, they will return to your site the next time they need what you offer.  You can become a trusted resource for that visitor by adding value to their searching experience.  When they are ready to engage the service you offer, you will be in a good position to make the sale.

Sorry to say, I did not find anything that day.  But I will return to see what new items are for sale in the near future.

Enjoy the summer,
Regina

Rick is on the road again. On July 15, he will present “How Effective is Your Online Marketing Strategy” at Chamber University.  The presentation will be at the Mainline Chamber of Commerce in the Conference Center, 175 Strafford Avenue, Suite 130 in Wayne, PA from 3:30PM until 6PM.

Most people know that Internet Marketing is more that putting up a website. Many have not considered Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn as part of their Internet Marketing Strategy.  With 8 of 10 Americans now online, Social Media is crucial to your success.

Rick wants to help you “get it”. He will pace the presentation to meet the knowledge and skills of the attendees. You will walk out of this presentation with a much clearer idea of how to integrate important social media platforms into your Internet Marketing Strategy. And you already know that Rick presents will energy and passion, so what are you waiting for? The presentation is open to anyone with an interest in improving their Internet Marketing Strategy, so check it out!

Regina

And one thought that struck me was the fact that these students, from various countries and various parts of this country, have a distinct advantage over those of us who graduated “way back when”.  Most of these graduates, if they purchased a yearbook, did not get their friends to inscribe their phone numbers on the pages for future reference.  And they don’t have to.  All of the various social media sites will serve to keep them as well connected as they choose to be!

They can go online and find people they know by school and graduation year, or other things they may have had in common during the school years.  Catching up is less dependent on where you live than on the networks you frequent.  So that friend from Argentina who graduated with you is as accessible as the buddy who moved into the next town.

And lest you think that I haven’t figured it out,  I can also find old classmates and friends from my graduation as well, and indeed have been surprised to find out that some live a stone’s throw from my home.  We’ve even done lunch.

One friend who is working on her dissertation for a future graduation, is researching the ways that FaceBook in particular has changed the way people communicate.  I can’t wait to read her paper, and will be sure to share it with you all.

So for now, congratulations to all the various classes of 2009,  go forth and conquer, and let’s keep in touch!

Regina

June 23-2009

Here is an update to keeping in touch.  This morning when I logged in to Twitter, I found a link that will notify me when someone from my high school or college graduating class joins AlumTweet!  Imagine that!

Have you ever searched for a local product or service online? If you were located in Springfield, PA and were trying to find a moving company this is what you might see:

You may notice that 10 listings appear at the top of the search engine results page for the search “springfield, pa mover” – above the listings that everyone works very hard to achieve!

Of course formatting your local business listing may be a bit more involved than simply signing up for an account, but a properly completed business profile can not only offer a valuable SEO benefit, but also drive prospects to your door.

What has your experience been with local business directories? Please share your experiences with us here.

Thanks,

Bill

During the workshop, Rick will discuss what every business needs to know about social media to ensure future success, what changes need to be made by businesses looking to leverage social media marketing, and what costs and returns can be expected from involvement in social media.

Now there is no excuse to sit on the sidelines and not participate in the social media platform where your customers may be talking about you.  Let Rick tell you all about it, and how you can leverage it to improve your relationship with your customers!

Yours,
Regina

This first one is a little more cryptic, seemingly intended to scare us into thinking that the reason for the all the world’s problems is that we don’t have a decent search engine.

So it’s a decision engine rather than a search engine. OK I suppose I get it (although I do prefer to make decisions myself) though at this point I’m not sure how it’s going to help with this “Search Overload” that we’re talking about. Let’s move to the next one.

So now we have more of a visual on the whole “search overload” concept. Still no answers as to how we will be cured of this problem other than taking their word for it. Even if I go to Bing.com and test it out, it looks a lot like most other search engines just with pretty background pictures ala Ask.com (though they ask you before implementing).
The next one I came across seemed a little more like the previous one.

Still no real answers. Maybe they will come.  At the very least I guess they are reasonably humorous. I have been noticing considerable visibility on Google’s sponsored links so there’s another good chunk of the budget but I’m anticipating quite a few more TV ads cropping up.

Unless you have just climbed out from under a rock, you know that Chrysler has declared bankruptcy.  So what happens to the poor folks who happened to purchase a Chrysler before the big announcements, found themselves with a defective vehicle, and filed lemon law claims?  For a while that was up in the air.  Chrysler stopped payment on checks for lemon law and breach of contract claims.  They stopped all litigation that involved such claims.  And then they said that “New Chrylser” would not be responsible for any claims on purchases prior to June 15, 2009! Just great.

But never fear, Chrysler owners, Robert M. Silverman and Amy L. Bennecoff from the Lemon Law  Firm of Kimmell and Silverman worked with attorneys from Chrysler and Fiat to make sure that your rights are protected.  Current and future Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep owners or lessees are guaranteed full consumer warranty rights.  Silverman and Bennecoff were the only lemon law lawyers involved in the process.  Without them the revision may not have become reality.
You can read all the details about how Kimmel and Silverman, the oldest lemon law firm in the northeast, championed consumer rights in the Chrysler bankruptcy and sale and then head out to your nearby Chrysler dealer to shop the bargains.

Yours,
Regina

I am a relative neophyte when it comes to SEO. Everyday, I am learning just a little bit more, as I work with people who have been in this business for a while and know the ropes. With every new thing that I learn, I also learn how much more there is that I don’t know yet.

However, I have a great job, with great co-workers. One of the best parts of my job is talking to clients. With our great clients, there are lots of reasons to enjoy talking with them, but two reasons jump to the fore.

First, I get to explain things to people who are truly interested in the answer. Some days I get easy questions like, “Why do we want to distribute an optimized press release,” and “Why is it a good idea to write and distribute an article relating to my business?” When this happens, I can answer with confidence and move the client closer to understanding more about the partnership that is their SEO campaign.

There are also the hard questions, and that is the second reason for me to love what I do. I get to say, “Let me get back to you on that” and go find the answer for them. The hard questions come in many forms, such as “Why am I only number 2 this month for search” or “What is the difference between incoming links and site reach?” Now I can research a little, pick the brains of my co-workers, and come back with the answer my client needs, creating a safe space where they know I won’t make something up if I don’t know the answer.

I believe that my clients appreciate this transparency, letting them know that I am not yet an expert, but willing and able to partner with them to meet their SEO goals. In the course of my day, I get to learn and share, and for me, that makes it worth jumping out of bed every morning! How about you?

Yours in learning,

Regina

OK I think we’ve been through this before and quite a few other variations, many by the same company. We’ve seen Microsoft complain about Google, seemingly pissy that they didn’t do it themselves and have poured a great deal of resources into the battle which includes the great failure of rebranding themselves to “Live” without much impact (which included a bit of a browser monopoly so that means it really stunk).

It also reminds me of Ask.com. If you recall all those TV ads, extensive online advertising campaigns, publicity ad infinitum, interface reinvention (which I still find quite nice) but again, with little impact. Only lately, have we started to see a little climb in popularity, I just wish they would improve their results and we’d have something.

And what do we recall of Google’s inception? Big budget advertising campaign? Probably not. They relied on a solid product. So I’m pretty sure that Bing is going to have to be amazing if we are to see people switching search engine preference and am fairly certain that the $100 million spend will not see much of a return.

To me, this is looking like more of the same but I’m ready to be dazzled. Bing it on.

Cheers - Paul

Who are these people, you might ask. And how can I tell who is responsible for any given post?

We are each part of Dinkum Interactive, and beginning with this post, we promise to add our name to the bottom of each post that we write. That way, if you need to know who to compliment, you may do that by name. If you need to know who to call to task, you can also do that by name.

And let me introduce myself. I am the project coordinator for Dinkum and have worked with the team for about a year. I get to speak with most of our clients and get to know them and their SEO needs. We chat over reports and blog posts, web design and copy changes, what ever is on the schedule for them at the time. I have the privilege of being the voice of Dinkum on a regular basis for many of our clients. What a great job!

After some gentle urging, I will also be a regular blogger here. I look forward to sharing what I am learning as I go along. So tell me what you want to know, and I will see what I can do!

Yours in transparency,

Regina