WordPress Website | Official Website

While an out-of-the-box, uncustomized WordPress installation can be the most search engine-friendly CMS that you can find, it’s also one of the most rarely seen. Moreover, it may not end up optimized for the search engines once you’ve installed a host of customizations and plug-ins. Slobodan Manic shares tips on how you can make your WordPress website more SEO friendly on Search Engine Journal.

You can also take advantage of social media friendly plug-ins like the Fanciest Author Box. This snippet displays your bio and social profiles, and makes your blog setup for Google authorship.

On another important note, Slobodan Manic is now Alpha Brand Media’s new CTO. He is responsible for all things technical across the ABM network, which includes infrastructure solutions and custom development.

The post Making Self-hosted WordPress Websites SEO-Friendly appeared first on Alpha Brand Media.

Tracking Parameters on StumbleUpon Campaign URL by Brent Csutoras | Search Engine Journal

As it turns out, StumbleUpon does not allow users to create ads with tracking parameters that have ‘#’ in them. Because this is one character that the social network is having a hard time to process, users must bypass this step.

To do that, users can simply take advantage of URL shortening services like Bitly. That way, they can now include tracking parameters on their campaign URL.

For more additional StumbleUpon Ads tricks, check out Csutoras’ slide presentation from SMX West 2013.

The post Using Tracking Parameters in StumbleUpon Campaign URL Ads appeared first on Alpha Brand Media.

Loren Baker, back in the day at Pubcon 2008

ABM partner and Search Engine Journal founder Loren Baker has a break neck schedule of appearances and speaking gigs around the country. See the list of events below:

Interactivity Digital

Earlier last week, it was announced that Loren Baker will be in a session with Greg Boser at Interactivity Digital 2013. They will talk about the nuances of building relations and accounts, as well as the importance of quality deliverables.

SES New York 2013

Together with Seth Besmertnik of Conductor, Loren Baker will give a joint presentation at SES New York 2013 next week. SEO in the Boardroom forum will cover how to communicate SEO goals, metrics and expectations to executive leadership, as well as the C-suite of existing and prospect clients.

Pubcon South: New Orleans

Later next month, Loren will head down to New Orleans to speak at this year’s Pubcon South. On April 23 he will be presenting on Low Risk Link Portfolio Expansion Strategies with Kris Jones and Kenny Hyder. On April 25, he will be doing a Site Review with SEJ Advisor Alan Bleiweiss.

SFIMA Pubcon

On May 14, Loren Baker will be attending SFIMA Pubcon in Davie, Florida. It will be a one day summit about the The Intersection of Search and Social. He will be speaking in the All Roads Lead to Home session, discussing the importance of authority citations from blogs, coverage, social networks and other online conversation model.

If you find yourself at any of these events, please stop by and holler at Loren, who is re-connecting with old friends and reaching out to new ones.

The post Alpha Brand Media’s Loren Baker to Appear at a Conference Near You appeared first on Alpha Brand Media.

He’ll also be a regular presence on SearchEngineJournal.com, authoring a weekly column that will focus on the art of blogging and online audience engagement. He’ll also play host to a regular SEJ video interview series featuring internet marketing and publishing folks you’ll definitely recognize.

After grad school in 2009, Srinivas started his own blog The Skool of Life, which eventually resulted in the formation of BlogcastFM, a podcast which he is the host and co-founder. He’s since interviewed over 300 bloggers, authors and entrepreneurs including Ramit Sethi, Chris Guillebeau, Robert Greene, Seth Godin, Chris Brogan Tim Ferriss, Danielle Laporte, Mike Stelzner, Cameron Herold.

Srinivas has also been a regular contributor to several AdAge 150 blogs, was recognized on Problogger as one of 40 bloggers watch in 2011 and been a speaker at conferences such as Blogworld and Eye For Travel. He is the author of the self-published books The Small Army Strategy, Blog to Book Deal How They Did It, and Relationship Marketing For Bloggers.

When he’s not in front of the computer or behind the mic, he calls the ocean his second home. It’s possible he was a fish in a previous life since he’s an avid surfer.

He completed an undergraduate degree at UC-Berkeley, and an MBA at Pepperdine and considers himself an eternal student of the school of life. While he currently resides in Southern California, he’s lived in Australia, Canada, Texas, Brazil and Costa Rica.

The post Introducing Srinivas Rao, Director of Audience Development appeared first on Alpha Brand Media.

Search Marketing Expo West is just around the corner, and Brent Csutoras of Alpha Brand Media was invited to speak on no less than three sessions. See info below:

Social Media Automation: The Good and Bad (Tuesday, March 12 @ 5:00 PM)

Together with Nicole Munoz, Start Ranking Now Inc., Internet Media Labs, and Amy Vernon will be joining Brent in a panel talking about Pinterest Automation. They will discuss the photo-sharing site’s various elements that can be automated to help users leverage their presence and become successful.

Social Media Clinic (Wednesday, March 13 @ 10:45 AM)

Just like many clinics, the social media clinic will allow for an open forum to ask specific questions about social media marketing and how it can be applied to businesses or projects. Brent will be joined by Greg Finn.

Brent Csutoras, Social Media Speaker at SMX West 2013

Social Media Ads (Wednesday, March 13 @ 1:00 PM)

Brent together with Merry Morud and aimClear, will share the what they’ve learned using StumbleUpon and Reddit’s advertising platforms.

SMX West 2013 will take place in San Jose, California on March 11-13, 2013. And as always, Brent is open to “answering any questions, grabbing a drink, or just chatting anytime.”

The post Brent Csutoras at SMX West next week appeared first on Alpha Brand Media.

R.I.P. – Top 10 Failed Social Media Sites

It doesn’t seem that long ago when names like MySpace, Friendster, and even Digg were all the rage. These monster social media sites had their “time in the spotlight” but now they are either long forgotten, slowly dying or simply drifting along with little to no growth.

How to Clean Up Bad Links and Establish Trust with Link Vendors

Cleaning your website of low-quality back links can be cumbersome. But don’t fret as Alan Bleiweiss shares his expertise on this issue.

Philips Electronics Bids Farewell to Consumer Electronics Business

After being in the consumer market for 80 years, Philips Electronics announced last Tuesday that it has sold off what remained of its consumer-oriented business.

Insomniac Games Frustrated with ‘Ratchet & Clank Full Frontal Assault’ Delays

After it was released in 2012, Ratchet and Clank Full Frontal Assault’s PlayStation Vita version encountered delays, which was supposed to last until January 2013. But with the month coming to an end, Sony remains mum about it and has not commented on the port’s release.

15 Things You Need to Know About Super Bowl XLVII

Super Bowl XLVII, aka the Harbaugh Bowl, HarBowl, SuperBaugh, or the Brother Bowl, is already historic, since it’s the first time that opposing head coaches are brothers. But, you already knew that.

Prabal Guring for Target Collection

Target unveils its collaboration with designer Prabal Gurung. The collection is a showcase of floral prints and vibrant colors. A celebration of femininity without being cutesy.

Lea Michele and Freida Pinto “Shock” in Electric Pink Dresses

No, we’re not merely looking at the red carpet events with rose-colored glasses. Many ladies, including IT girls of the moment Amanda Seyfried and Jennifer Lawrence, chose to go to the 2013 Screen Actors Guild Awards in subdued and somber colors. But Lea Michele and Freida Pinto opted for happy hues in this January weather.

Taylor Swift’s Pretty Keds Ad

Enough of the glamorous gowns and revenge dressing, Taylor Swift goes for cute in this leaked ad for Keds. Cosmopolitan Philippines first published the photo, firing up a buzz about the singer and the brand releasing another sneaker line.

Kicks to Look Out For: Nike LeBron X “Cork”

2012 has got to be a historic season for LeBron James. With an MVP trophy, an NBA championship, and an Olympic gold medal to cap off the year, there is no doubt that he is one of the best NBA players of his generation. To celebrate James’ stellar achievements, Nike Sportswear—Nike’s lifestyle division—has created a special lifestyle edition of his signature shoe: The Nike LeBron X “Cork.”

Fashion Timeline: The Evolving Style of Male Rappers

Just like the music itself, the fashion of male rappers has changed since the early days of Hip Hop. This evolving style is more than just making a statement, it’s become a cultural event that’s big business.

The post In Brief: The Alpha Brand Media Network News appeared first on Alpha Brand Media.

New Year is long over, but that doesn’t mean that it’s too late to write down your resolution. In fact, you can still outline your plans for 2013 just like what Search Engine Journals tells in one of its latest articles. Here are the Alpha Brand Media network news of the week that you might’ve missed.

5 Inbound Lead Generation Lessons in Building Trust with Your Website

Providing a good offer and service through your website is not enough. You should also find ways on how you can gain your consumers’ trust.

Maximizing Your Meta Tags for SEO and CTR

While it’s true that you no longer need to optimize your meta description and meta keyword tags in order to rank your individual pages, that doesn’t mean that you should ignore these fields entirely

How to Make Yourself More Photogenic

In a world where 23,019,003 pictures are taken each every smiling second and just over 600,000 pictures are uploaded on Facebook every two seconds, it’s just common sense to arm oneself with a few pointers on how to emphasize your most photogenic traits.

Video: Guide to Buying a Watch Form vs. Function

IWC Schaffhausen, manufacturer of some of the finest Swiss timepieces, has produced a short online series of videos in conjunction with HOdinkee titled, “The Man’s Guide to Buying a Watch”.

Bobbi Brown Launches its New Face: Katie Holmes

After being talks, Katie Holmes is officially the new face of Bobbo Brown! Holmes wouldn’t only appear in print ads, she would also be collaborating with Bobbi Brown Cosmetics in creating a color capsule collection for the fall/winter 2013 season.

Introducing New ShoeDazzle Chief Stylist: Rachel Zoe

Celebrity stylist and fashion designer, Rachel Zoe is ShoeDazzle’s newest chief stylist. Company co-founder Brian Lee tapped Zoe to help take ShoeDazzle to the next step.

Rick Ross Announces Title of 6th Studio Album

Rick Ross is gearing up to drop his sixth studio album titled Mastermind. Announcing the name of his forthcoming LP via Twitter, the Maybach Music Group boss decided to unveil the title of his new project in the form a video trailer.

Air Yeezy II Signed and Worn by Kanye West Gets Auctioned for a Good Cause!

If you weren’t able to get your hands on a pair of limited-edition Air Yeezy II, then this might be your chance! RE/CREATE New York is arranging an auction to benefit relief efforts for Hurricane Sandy.

5 Ways to Fulfill Your Traffic Goals in 2013 Using Data from Google Analytics

Most businesses start the year by creating goals and objectives. What many businesses don’t know is that Google Analytics can greatly assist them in achieving those goals.

Cover Your Backside in Social Media

Social media is a tremendous platform to market your business; however, to use it correctly, you need to cover your backside.

The post In Brief: The Alpha Brand Media Network News appeared first on Alpha Brand Media.

Organizing Your Link Building Campaign

Anything that has to do with online marketing requires consistency. So if you’re having a problem with your link building campaign, Daily SEO Tips shares with you simple steps on how to organize your campaign.

Hard Graft “#OldFashioned” Leather Accessories Collection

It appears that Hand Graft continues with their #OldFashioned collection. If you’re looking for a carrier for your Apple devices that is minimalist and classic, the new leather bag member of their family might be the one you need.

Rihanna’s “Unapologetic” Debuts at #1 on Billboard

Finally! Rihanna has cracked the top spot on Billboard charts with her “Unapologetic.” Selling 240K albums, her new release gives Rihanna her biggest first week ever.

50 Cent Drops “My Life” Video, Announces New Release Date for “Street King Immortal”

After a long delay, 50 Cent has finally announced that his “Street King Immortal” album will hit record stores on February 26, 2013. Fans now have a reason to mark their 2013 calendar.

Vans Vault x Harris Tweed Fall/Winter 2012 Capsule Collection

Vans scouted for unique patterns and rendered the Harris Tweed fabric on their sneakers. The result? Vans Vault x Harris Tweed Fall/Winter 2012 Capsule Collection.

7 Content Marketing Tips from the Best in Social Business

Although social media marketing may sound new, its practices have changed leaps and bounds because of the transformation given by Web 2.0. Thus, Search Engine Journal gives you a rundown content marketing “best practices” that you can adapt for your business.

First Look on Apple’s iTunes 11

After iTunes 11 was released last Thursday, AMOG took a peek of what inside Apple’s latest media store iteration. The verdict: It looks clean and less cumbersome.

Stussy Fall/Winter 2012 Outwear Collection

November is soon to be over, and the holiday season is coming. But before you head out for some Christmas shopping, you have to make sure that you are well-geared up with Strussy’s Fall/Winter 2012 Outwear Collection.

Wiz Khalifa Talks Marriage Plans to Amber Rose and More on ‘O.N.I.F.C.’

It appears that Wiz Khalifa will have a busy holiday and 2013 ahead of him. He has a new album coming, a marriage to plan, and a baby on the way.

Dr. Dre Tops Forbes’ List of Highest-Paid Musician of 2012

After calculating revenues from May 2011 to May 2012, it was announced that music producer and rap mogul Dr. Dre is Forbes’ highest-paid musician of the year.

The post In Brief: Alpha Brand Media Network News appeared first on Alpha Brand Media.

The Breakup: Hip-Hop Duos and Groups We Wish Were Still Together

A lot of hip-hop artists are coming in and out of the scene. But if you’re a huge hip-hop fan, you might probably miss these iconic duos or groups that called it quits.

Trailer Out for Spike Lee’s Michael Jackson Documentary

Spike Lee will be directing a 90-minute documentary that celebrates the 25^th anniversary of Michael Jackson’s BAD. Check out the trailer by clicking the link.

Can We Just Be Friends? Well, Maybe

The answer is “not quite”, as the “perceived opportunity” for romance is just lurking around the corner. AMOG talks about the opposite sex being “just friends” and what the scientists tell about it.

Mykita for Carl Zeiss 100^th Anniversary Edition Sunglasses

Check this out! The Classical Panto transforms into Mykita’s ultralight stainless steel concept with Zeiss’ nylon sunlenses.

How to Throw an Awesome Poker Party

A Poker party is not just any party. It’s about making sure that strong Poker playing options are available. How are you going to make it awesome? Custom Poker Tables will share you a secret.

Tips for Moving from the Dorms to an Apartment

As a college student, you might prefer to live in a dorm. However, moving to an apartment eventually is an option. Moving Quotes tells you the things you need to know when moving from a dorm to an apartment.

How to Fit Blog Writing Around Your Daily Routine

Want to update your personal blog but too busy to do it? Daily SEO Tips shares some simple ways on how you can do it.

Friday Humor: Trick or Treat and US Elections

Halloween may be over, but not when it’s plagued with political cartoons that are both hilarious and saying something.

Not? Miley Cyrus to Have Three Wedding Ceremonies

Is Miley Cyrus so in love with Liam Hemsworth? Yes. Is she so in love that she’s willing to have three wedding ceremonies? The Gossip Site doesn’t think so.

Travel In Style

Vacations are wonderful and so do your passion for traveling. But does it have to compromise your fashion sense? FabCrush tells you the essential bags that you can carry to travel in style.

The post In Brief: The Alpha Brand Media Network News appeared first on Alpha Brand Media.

WordPress Theme Directory | WordPress Official Website

With online marketing becoming a boom nowadays, many businesses are clamoring to build a website that will help promote their business further. And when it comes to choosing a platform, WordPress tops the list.

However, choosing a suitable WordPress theme can be cumbersome and confusing. Fortunately, Alpha Brand Media’s WordPress Developer Slobodan Manic comes to the rescue with an article on Search Engine Journal. Slobodan said that you have to figure out four things in advance, in order to make your search for the right WordPress theme simple. These includes knowing that you’re looking for, where to look for the theme that you want, knowing the things to avoid, as well as searching for relevant user reviews.

First, it is important to know which features you’re looking for a WordPress theme, so that you can narrow down your searches. Second, you have to know where you can look for an affordable theme.  Third, you have to make sure that your WordPress theme will let your plug-ins work efficiently and standalone. Lastly, you have to do research on how the WordPress theme performs. That way, you’ll know whether the theme of your choice is worth every penny or not.

You can learn more about choosing the right WordPress theme in detail by visiting Manic’s post on Search Engine Journal.

The post Choosing the Right WordPress Theme for Your Next Website appeared first on Alpha Brand Media.