Immerseme.com

Does Mobile Marketing Live Up To the Hype?

Jen Isaminger — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Much has been written and talked about regarding mobile marketing. For some, the jury is still out. They wonder just how much of what they say is too good to be true. Why market to smartphones when you can take advantage of all that traditional marketing has to offer? And what about email blasts? Isn't that good enough?

Not so, says a recent study from Mogreet, a mobile sharing site. Take a look at an Infographic they've just released:

While we don't negate that email blasts and the like can be beneficial, we do agree with the facts found from their study. Mobile is more widely viewed and read. Much like you get junk in your physical mailbox, you also now get junk in your email inbox. Think back to when you woke up this morning and checked your email. I don't know about you, but I immediately deleted about 15 emails.

According to this study, 98% of text messages are opened. Meanwhile, 88% of emails are unopened. See the problem there? You're sending out a blast to hundreds, sometimes thousands of people... but how many of them are actually opening it?

It's time to consider the advantages and proven results of Mobile Marketing. We can help. Immerseme Mobile is our solution for advancing your message to the most people in a way that they will actually READ it!

Should Your Church Tweet?

Jen — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT

There's not many places or industries that have not been touched by social media. Twitter has been an especially high-traffic place for people to get their message to the masses. Professors tweet homework assignments to their students. Health gurus give food, diet and exercise tips to their followers. Local bands tweet their next gig to their fans to make sure the everyone knows where they are playing next. Another major trend that is taking over Twitter is of the religious nature: Pastors and church leaders tweeting to their congregants.

While these pastors, speakers, and authors may not have as many followers as Lady Gaga or Justin Bieber, their followers and fans are much more responsive to the content that is tweeted. Take this example from a recent article from the New York Times on the subject:

"Consider this post in April from Bishop T. D. Jakes: “Your words will tell others what you think. Your actions will tell them what you believe.”

His message was forwarded 2,490 times — just shy of the 2,491 retweets that the pop singer Katy Perry generated the same month with this message to her fans: “Sometimes jet lag makes me feel like a cross eyed crack head #muststayawake.”

Both messages performed remarkably well. But there was a key difference: Bishop Jakes has 450,000 followers, while Ms. Perry has 20 million."

While Bishop Jakes has a larger following than the average church pastor, even small local churches are seeing positive feedback from their social media efforts. Churches are taking advantage of Facebook and Twitter in a major way. Both platforms reach their congregation in places where they are already hanging out. If most of your congregation is on Facebook at some point throughout the day, wouldn't you want to be there too?

Facebook is a fantastic way to communicate events and church happenings to your church members. If you're a pastor and have a great "food for thought" on a Wednesday that you'd like to share and would rather not wait till Sunday's sermon, there's no greater place than Twitter to send it out.

Church doesn't only take place on Sunday mornings. Your ministry lasts all week long. Communicate with your flock throughout the week in places where they already are.

If you're looking for help with all the twittering and the hashtags and the Facebook timeline and the Google+ and you're feeling overwhelmed by the world wide web of options, FEAR NOT! We have a team of people who are really, really good at helping you get to the basics of all that social media has to offer. Better yet, they'll just do it for you. Contact us. We love our churches!

Small Businesses Love Mobile Marketing

Jen — Thu, 31 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Let's just start off by saying this: 84% of Small Businesses that implement a Mobile Marketing effort have seen a significant increase in new business. That's quite the majority. The statistic comes from a study produced by Web.com.

Check out this short infographic from the Web.com team:

A few of the notable statistics from this business that blow our mind:

1/4 of smartphone users who search for a local business on their phone made a purchase in-store
49% of smartphone users looked up the location of the store/business on a map
OVER HALF called the business from their smartphone after searching for the local business

If you have a smartphone, these numbers are not too hard to believe. We've all been on the road and used our smartphone to search for the closest hotel, the closest gas station, or the phone number for the store that we got lost driving to.

Are you one of the 61% of small businesses who are not using mobile marketing strategies? If so, ask yourself why you're not taking advantage of this proven successful strategy. Not only do small businesses see great increase in new local customers, but the cost of this form of marketing is much less than their more traditional counterparts.

So how do you go about implementing mobile marketing strategies? Invest in your mobile presence! What are customers finding (or not finding) when they look for you using a smartphone? Can they clearly see what you offer? Is the website "too big" for their smartphone screen? Is there an easy way for them to find your physical location? Can they call you by clicking on a link? Can they actually make a purchase right there from their smartphone?

If your answer to any of these questions is "no", then you need to look into a mobile marketing strategy for your small business. Lucky for you, we know exactly how to do that. We'll take your website to the next level, whether your customers are on sitting in front of a PC or driving down I-10 looking at your site from their iPhone or Android. Contact us or check out ImmersemeMobile.

SEO: A Look At The Statistics

Jen — Wed, 02 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Our clients know how much we value the importance of an intentional and creative SEO strategy. As web designers and developers, we have no interest in building a beautiful website for you that no one will ever see. You have the whole world wide web available to you when it comes to your business, ministry, or organization. Why would you want to limit your potential business opportunities to those who only know what to type into the browser bar to get to your website?

People are searching for you. Yes, YOU. They are searching for YOUR business and what YOU offer. You'd be PERFECT for them.... if only they could find you online. With the overwhelming amount of content on the web, it's hard for them to find you (the needle) amongst all the noise (haystack).

That's where some awesome SEO comes into play. Search Engine Optimization. People type something into Google, et voila! There you are.

So, you've heard that SEO is a waste of time/money/energy. It can be, especially if you have the wrong people doing it for you, or those that don't know the best ways to make your website work FOR you. Our friends over at Search Engine Journal recently posted an article of stellar SEO statistics that paint a lovely picture of why you need to make SEO part of your marketing plan. Here are a few of those statistics:

75% of users never scroll past the first page of search results.

70-80% of users ignore the paid ads, focusing on the organic results.

Search and e-mail are the top two internet activities.

Companies that blog have 434% more indexed pages. And companies with more indexed pages get far more leads.

SEO leads have a 14.6% close rate, while outbound leads (such as direct mail or print advertising) have a 1.7% close rate.

93% of online experiences begin with a search engine.

MarketingCharts reports that over 39% of customers come from search.

Source: Search Engine Journal

SEO is only a waste of time if you're not doing it right. A brilliant SEO strategy requires focus and an intentionality that only a professional can provide. Our SEO solutions are hassle free and proven to bring more people to your website. More leads, more connections, more conversions. It's as simple as that.

Finding a Perfect SEO Balance

Jen — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Have you ever met someone that tries too hard? It seems like we all know a person who would be likable if only they would tone it down a bit. When optimizing a website for search engines, that can also be the case. You run the risk of overdoing it, which hurts you in the long run.

It's easier than you realize to do too much. However, it's also tempting to turn your head and not do enough. More and more of our clients come to us because their websites aren't working for them. We strive to achieve the perfect balance of doing just enough to help them have a stellar, world-class website that does what it is supposed to do without being the annoying over-achiever.

We really liked this infographic from SEOBook. It compares the many ways SEO can go, and how to get it "just right". They've called it "Goldilocks SEO".

We've discussed before the difference between White Hat and Black Hat SEO and how we are committed to a strictly White Hat operation here at Immerseme. Another promise we can make is that we will always strive to find that perfect balance for our clients as we optimize their websites. We won't be the annoying kid in class that tries too hard, but we also won't do the bare minimum. We use tools and analytics to make educated decisions and strategic choices for our clients. We see great results and will continue to learn more about the ever changing SEO landscape as we advance your message to your audience.

Friends Don't Let Friends Have Bad Websites

Jen — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

It's time for an intervention.

There are times when it is tactful to just keep your mouth shut, but there are times that it is appropriate to help out a friend.

Your friend has a business or a ministry or a church or an organization. And they have a website. You went to this website and it is, um.... well, it's just.... not conveying the message that you know they are trying to convey.

So, why keep it to yourself? Maybe your friend doesn't realize that it looks like a 7th grader made their website.

Maybe your friend doesn't know that half the links you click on do not work.

Perhaps they don't realize that if your whole website is an image and there are no words, no links to click on, Google doesn't really know that you exist.

It's quite possible that your friend doesn't realize that having a bad website can be more harmful than having no website at all.

When people are searching for a new church to go to, they will check out the church's website. BELIEVE US, they will not visit a church if the website gives them the vibe that this church has not made any progress since 1996. Especially if the church website still is talking about the Easter service from 2002.

Color matters. Content matters. Placement matters. Links matter. Wording matters.

Your website is supposed to communicate your message, not just facts and information. You're saying who you are, what you believe in, and how you operate. Your website is like your virtual window display. You don't want someone to drive up, see the front of your store, and then drive away because it doesn't look like the kind of place they want to visit.

Tell your friend. Do it. You're doing them a disservice by letting them think that all websites are created equal.

Web and Mobile Ads: Cost Less, Seen More

Jen — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

If you're a business owner, chances are you spend a lot of time thinking about or strategizing your marketing plan. Where do you advertise? How do you advertise? Who is your target audience? How much should you spend? Should you focus your energies on traditional media such as Television commercials, radio spots, magazine advertisements and billboards? Or should you shift towards New Media, where your content is viewed via web and mobile devices? Obviously, you're going to want the most bang for your buck. You want the most people to see your message, but with the lowest cost.

We stumbled upon some analytics that detail where consumers are spending their time and comparing that to the ad spending in those places.

The Mobile Ad spending gap is astounding.

Source: Flurry

According to this information, Web and Mobile are the only places where the amount of time the consumer spends per media is greater than the ad spending per media. Your money is more wisely spent on ads seen via New Media. Web content, mobile ads, social media... all of these are highly viewed by your audience, yet the price of advertising is lower.

Smartphones are becoming the primary internet access point for people across the globe. Wherever your people are, you need to be visible in those places. Fortunately for you, those places are well priced when it comes to advertising. Aside from our turnkey Message Management services, we have now launched ImmersemeMobile for all things related to pushing out your content to smartphone users.

Want more info? Contact us.

How to Use Google+ for Business

Mark Weible — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Here is an interesting infographic on why and how to use Google+ as a marketing tool. At Immerseme, we believe so strongly in Google+ that we include it in our SEO strategy at all levels. As we like to say, "If you are not doing Google+, you are not doing SEO."

"You Don't Run the Google?"

Jen — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Although this website is called "Parents Shouldn't Text", the truth of the matter is that it doesn't matter what age you are. Some people, young and old alike, are not fully aware of how everything works. There are women in their 70's that can run circles around a kid in his 20's when it comes to technology and the internet. So, please don't think we're mocking parents in general.... but this mom just made us laugh!

Ah, yes. The ever-changing Google logo. We wrote an article about it a few months ago about why it changes and who does it. Maybe some young artist in some elementary school wants to grow up to be a team member for the Google Doodles!

This was just too funny not to share!

Major Changes Coming to Google Search

Jen — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Google has a habit of changing the way they do things. They make minor changes to their algorithms sometimes several times a week. We're used to that and we stay on top of these changes for our clients who want to stay on top of the Google search rankings. However, Google is about to undergo one of the biggest changes we've ever seen.

The Wall Street Journal recently released an article saying that Google will be getting a makeover over the next few months that will change the way we see search results, as well as the kind of results we will be seeing. Unlike the usual changes to the keyword search functions, we are now going to see changes to the type of search results you will see. One of the top search executives at Google, Amit Singhal, explains that the changes could take up to a year to fully take affect.

What Google is trying to do is make their search engine more like a human, more comprehensive. They want to give you the result right there, without you having to click on links to find your answer. The article explains it this way:

"Under the shift, people who search for "Lake Tahoe" will see key "attributes" that the search engine knows about the lake, such as its location, altitude, average temperature or salt content. In contrast, those who search for "Lake Tahoe" today would get only links to the lake's visitor bureau website, its dedicated page on Wikipedia.com, and a link to a relevant map.

For a more complex question such as, "What are the 10 largest lakes in California?" Google might provide the answer instead of just links to other sites."

They are trying to launch a "new generation of search" while also keeping up with changes to how people seek out information. This is a great advancement in the industry and one that we are excited to see take off. This "semantic search" - associating certain words with each other -is absolutely going to change the way Google operates.

So what does this mean for the business owner?

It means that, once again, Google is changing its methodology.

It means that, once again, what worked today may not work tomorrow.

It means that, once again, you might have to learn what changes need to be made to your website to make it findable for Google.

Google wants their product to be the best. They are achieving that goal, largely in part to their ever-evolving way of doing things. Unfortunately for our customers, this means that they could have the best website in the world that is on the top of Google rankings in January, but somehow at the bottom of the pack by March. You have to stay on top of it, pay attention to these changes, no matter how minor or major they may be, and make the proper adjustments.

Our Message Management services take away that headache for our clients. Our team "speaks Google". We understand the changes, what they affect, and what changes you need to make to comply with the updates. Then, we update everything for you. We work as partners with you to take your message and push it out using new media in the most effective and innovative ways. This turnkey service is proactive and takes Search Engine Optimization to a new level. Feel free to contact us to learn more about how we could help your company.

Link Building Schemes

Mark Weible — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

"If it works, it must be ok." That is has been the philosophy of many search engine optimizers for years. However, not everything that works is good or will continue to work. Google, for example, makes over 500 changes to their ranking algorithm every year. Over 40 changes were made in February, 2012 alone. One of those changes from last month involved turning off a ranking signal related to links. Google has not provided details about this change. Some SEO's have speculated that it has to do with anchor text in backlinks.

Google used to rely heavily on backlinks as a signal of a website's importance or authority. Many SEO's figured out how to game the system by throwing a bunch of links at targeted websites. Often, this practice would result in noticeable increases in search engine rankings. Sometimes these links were purchased or exchanged from bloggers on private blog networks. Usually these bloggers would purchase text copy from low-quality writing services that cranked out content that looked like this:

"If you live in Denver and are looking to buy a used car, try the Denver used car specialists at Denver used cars. Buying a Denver used car can save you money if you buy from the right Denver used car lot in Denver. Everyone in Denver knows that a great looking used car can save you money and make you look good. Saving money in Denver is easy if you buy a used car from the best used car lot in Denver."

The underlined text above would point you a used car website for a local lot in Denver. SEO's used these techniques because they worked. But, they failed to realize that they make the business look spammy and non-credible. Thank goodness Google is plugging some holes and these techniques are not working any more. Now, if you are the Denver car lot owner, you are starting to see your rankings, web traffic and car sales drop. Unless the owner did the spammy SEO work himself, he or she may have no idea why sales are dropping and has no idea how to save the business.

At Immerseme, we don't do "whatever works." We partner with your business for long-term growth and profitability. We focus on increasing your website conversions, which may be measured as web-generated phone calls, online form submissions, appointments, downloads, etc. We measure our success by your bottom line. We don't use spammy or "black hat" SEO strategies that may hurt your business in the long run. You can trust us to be up-front and transparent in all that we do. Feel free to contact us to learn more about developing a digital media strategic partnership with Immerseme.

Connecting Your Social Media Profiles With Your Website

Jen — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Many businesses, both large and small, are grasping and understanding that social media profiles are incredibly important to your company. Having an active social media presence can establish a connection and a relationship with your target audience that would never have been accomplished without it. Social media profiles are accessible, easy to relate to, relevant, and are in a place that your customers and clients frequent.

Let's say you have a presence on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, or any other platform. Each of these are different from one another, serve different purposes, and are entirely separate from each other. So how do you connect them back to your website? How do you tie them all together with a pretty bow and bring them to one place for your clients to find?

Before we dig in to HOW we should connect them, let's make sure we understand the WHY. A writer over at Search Engine Land said it best:

"Every time I read about social media these days, I end up hearing about how social sharing metrics are becoming a bigger factor in everything from organic rankings to driving additional clicks from visitors already on your site. And it makes total sense.

If Google sees that a blog post has a ton of Likes, +1’s and Twitter mentions, Google is probably going to think that the blog post is relevant and authoritative as well as a valuable contribution to the respective topic discussed in the post.

Even if Google wasn’t using those metrics in their organic algorithm(s), having high numbers in those little buttons on a blog post can really have an impact on getting extra clicks from people who would have not necessarily clicked on the link to the story. It’s like a testimonial. I mean, if 875 people have Liked that post, I should probably check it out, too, right? It’s called ‘social proof’ – and social sharing buttons can help you build it for your brand."

These buttons have become integral to search rankings, and we are firm believers in making sure they have a presence on your website. When people come to your website, they will immediately have an avenue to keep up with you and what you're doing. All they have to do is click a button. This brings all of your social channels to one place.

Want them to follow you on LinkedIn? There's a button for that.

Want them to like you on Facebook? There's a button for that.

Want them to add you to their circles on Google+? You guessed it.... there's a button for that!

Here's a few examples of Social Media buttons on some big time websites:

However, placement of these social buttons is more important than you think. Are your buttons waaaay at the bottom where no one can find them? Some companies even go as far as to put their social buttons on every page of their website so no one can miss it. Are you placing them on the homepage? On the sidebar? There's a method to the madness.

Then again, maybe you've got bigger fish to fry on your website and you're needing help with more than just social media buttons. Either way, we're here to help you know what to put on your website, where to put it, and how to "Speak Google" so that it can find you and direct other people to you.

"What is the Internet, Anyway?"

Jen — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Wow. Just, wow.

Watch anchors of The Today Show in 1994 discuss whether the @ symbol means "at" or "about", and try to understand what the internet actually is.

If You're A Local Business Owner, It's Definitely Time to Go Mobile

Jen — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Small, locally owned businesses are what makes the world go round. We love small businesses. They're the heartbeat of America and proof that not everyone needs to "go big or go home". You don't have to become a multi-million dollar company to be successful. You just need to make sure that you're doing all you can with what you have. Maximize and take advantage of the opportunities that your community offers!

The problem is, your local customers are changing the ways they search for what they need. Rather than driving around or looking in the yellow pages, they're googling what they are looking for. And they're doing it from their smartphones. Our last blog explained how smartphones are going to be the primary internet access point in the year 2012. People are using search engines like crazy from inside their car or when they are on the go. So what does this mean for the local business owner?

It means a lot.

Search Engine Land reports that 61% of smartphone users conduct local searches on their phone. Chances are, you do it a lot to. Don't you think your customers are doing the same?

Let's think a few steps ahead here. Let's say they type "Day Spa, Katy, Texas" (or enter your neighborhood of choice here) and they find your local business. Google provides them with a link to your website. Then they click on it, from their smartphone. Hooray! They've found you! But.... what does it look like?

The way your website looks on a computer is VERY different form the way it looks on a phone. It may not even load properly. Maybe they can't see any pictures. Maybe the font is super tiny and they can't read anything. And maybe they will just back out and find somewhere else because they can't access you from their smartphone. It happens.

A 2011 study shows that 71% of mobile users EXPECT a mobile site to load just as quickly as a site seen on their desktop. Is your mobile site not user-friendly? 57% of mobile users wouldn't recommend your local business based on that fact alone.

This same study shows that 1 out of 5 local searches from a smartphone result in an immediate phone call to your business.

Source: Search Engine Land

Here's what you need to ask yourself:

1. If someone searches for your type of local business from their smartphone, what comes up?

2. If they do find you, what does your website look like from an iPhone? What about from an Android?

3. How can you make this better?

Our team is highly focused on Search Engine Optimization from desktop computers, iPads, smartphones, and any other entry point for internet usage. Mobile search is skyrocketing and it's incredibly important that local businesses are keeping up with the new methods that their customers are utilizing.

For more about what we offer to help local businesses, check out ImmersemeMobile.

Smartphones Will be Primary Internet Access Point in 2012

Jen — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

I was sitting on an airport shuttle today when I realized something. Every single person, including myself, was staring at their smartphone. Whether we're checking emails, reading articles, texting, or surfing the web, we are actively and constantly engaged in online activity with our handy dandy mobile devices. Is this becoming more of "the norm" than staring at a laptop?

Logically, it makes sense. It's so much easier to pull out our phone than it is to lug out the laptop. It's easy access and can be easily slipped back into your pocket when it is time to get off the shuttle. We've taken the "crackberry" to a whole new level and businesses are starting to notice.

Search Engine Land is reporting that in the year 2012, 1 Billion people will use their smartphone as their primary internet access point. According to Google's most recent study on mobile devices, we've also learned a few more fun facts about the smartphone user:

They notice mobile ads
They are crazy about apps
They watch a lot of online videos
They are frequent users of social networks
They seek local information
After they find the local info they are looking for, they take action

There is so much more that we have learned from these studies, and we can continue to dive into these areas in the future, but now more than ever we are picking up on the fact that businesses need to use new media to speak to their target audience and meet them where they are. And where they are is on their smartphones.

Immerseme has launched our ImmersemeMobile division for this very reason. We are here to help businesses use smartphones and tablets to advance their message to the smartphone users. Consumers are on the go and are accessing the internet while they are out and about. Are you reaching them where they are?

The Right Way to Google

Jen — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Google is about as simple as it can get. You go to google.com, there's a big white screen, a rainbow "Google" logo, and a long skinny box to type in. What are you wanting to search for? A great jambalaya recipe? The closest Dairy Queen? Directions to Muskogee, Oklahoma?

The thing is, as simple as Google's set-up is, there is actually a wrong way to Google. And by "wrong" we mean "you're less likely to get the result you're looking for". One of the cardinal rules of Googling is to never ask Google for information in the form of a question. ("What are the Mardi Gras parade routes in New Orleans today?") This ain't Siri on your iPhone, people!

The website HackCollege put together a super-informative infographic geared towards college students as they work on research papers across the country. It's lengthy, but full of handy tricks and tips:

Source: HackCollege

Seriously, send this to every college student or researcher that you know! No one wants to go through 8 pages of search results! You want what you're looking for to be at the very top. The WRONG WAY to use Google is to talk to it like it's a human. The RIGHT WAY to use Google is simply to manipulate it so it gives you exactly what you're looking for.

In Brand Design, Color Matters

Jen — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:00:00 GMT

You'd think color doesn't really matter when choosing a design for your company branding. The fact is that when it comes to design, everything matters. Just like we strongly advise you not to use clip art for your logo (don't even get us started on that!), we also strongly advise you to seek help from a professional when making branding decisions.

Not convinced? Check out this infographic we found that shows the color choices of the biggest companies out there:

Isn't it interesting how the vast majority of these brands fall into two main color families? We're not saying you have to go blue or red, but we are saying that there is a method behind the design madness.

Why did you choose the design you currently have for your business? How did you come up with the concept? Our graphic designers and branding experts are well-versed and qualified to help your company come up with a brand that appeals to your audience and advances your message. There is a process that we go through to pick the look, the color, the font, EVERYTHING that goes into the design. Don't let clip art happen to you!

Time to Vote!!

Jen — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 06:00:00 GMT

It’s time! It’s time! IT’S TIME TO VOTE!! The time has finally come to vote for our 2012 Website Giveaway winner. (Want to learn more about our finalists? Check out our blog post about the Top Two!) Voting opens today, January 9, and closes January 31.

There are 3 WAYS TO VOTE:

Facebook

On our Facebook page, you will find 2 photos. One says New Beginnings Church, one says My Life Youth & Family Services. You need to LIKE the photo of the organization that you’re voting for. HOWEVER, you MUST like our Facebook PAGE (www.facebook.com/immerseme) for your vote to count.

Twitter

Send us a Tweet (just mention @ImmersemeWebDev) and tell us who you want to vote for! Again, you have to FOLLOW us for your tweet vote to count! (You can vote on Twitter up to 3 times per day!) Find our Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/immersemewebdev.

Website

Yep, we have a one-button-click voting setup here on our website. Just click HERE to go to the form.

GOOD LUCK to our finalists and be sure to SPREAD THE WORD!!

2012 Website Giveaway: THE FINALISTS!

Jen — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:00:00 GMT

We decided waaaay back in 2011 that we wanted to give away a website to a deserving non-profit organization. Nominations flooded in and after a lot of review and consideration, we are thrilled to announce that we have chosen TWO finalists!

Drum Roll Please.......

Finalist #1: MyLife Youth & Family Services

MyLife Youth & Family Services is a non-profit counseling and psychological treatment center for substance abuse in Downey, California. They provide education, prevention, and intervention services to youth and at-risk families in their community. Their staff is made up of unpaid volunteers who provide group and in-home counseling at no cost. MyLife is currently without a website. With an official, informative and easy to navigate website, they feel they could reach more people in their community. Learn more about MyLife at www.facebook.com/mylifenonprofit

Finalist #2: New Beginnings Church

New Beginnings Church is a growing congregation located in Covington, Louisiana. It's a newer church with a big heart. The church is only about a year old, but they are vibrant and growing in their community. Their motto is "Reach and Teach". They want their church members to not only KNOW, but to GROW! While New Beginnings has a website up and running, they feel that their vision is not communicated as effectively as they would like for it to be. Learn more about New Beginnings at www.nbchurchnorth.com.

So... what now?

We've selected the finalists. The voting will open on Monday, January 9, and close Monday, January 31. Until then, be sure that you've LIKED us on Facebook and FOLLOWED us on Twitter! We'll be sharing more information about these finalists and how they have impacted their communities. We're honored to share their stories.

Happy Voting, and Good Luck to the Finalists!

Immerseme Acquires MinistryWebsites.biz

Jen — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Immerseme is proud to announce that we’ve welcomed some new members to our family.

When we started Immerseme back in 2000, much of our focus was on churches and ministries. As the world was transitioning to online platforms, many churches had no idea how to start, where to go, or what to do to create a dynamic website that would connect with their congregation and community. We’re now in 2012, and while we now create websites for so much more than churches, we still are passionate about church websites and how to advance their message.

Because of this, we are honored and beyond excited to acquire MinistryWebsites.biz. MinistryWebsites.biz has partnered with churches, ministries, missionaries and more for more than 3 years. This company shares so much of our vision. Their goal was to bring ministry online in a format that is effective, relevant, clear, and creative. The values of MinistryWebsites.biz and Immerseme closely aligned, making the acquisition a no-brainer.

MinistryWebsites.biz is a well-built company that fits perfectly into our goals. The founder, Tim Schmoyer, will help us transition as we learn about the great people that use the services of MinistryWebsites.biz. We’re honored to take on the new challenges presented by their clients as we adopt them into our Immerseme family. From the client perspective, not much is changing. We will continue to provide the clients of MinistryWebsites.Biz excellent service and creative solutions to make their website the best we possibly can.

We’re excited to begin work on these great websites and continue doing what we do best: We’re using our skills to help you be seen, heard, and connected with your audience. Reaching people using digital technology. Advancing your message through new media.

Welcome, MinistryWebsites.biz. Let’s get to work!

60 Seconds in Online Activity

Jen — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT

In the last 60 seconds, I have opened ImmerseEdit CMS, taken a sip of water, deleted an email, pressed play on iTunes, and began typing this blog. But that's just little ol' me... I'm just one person out of the millions using the internet. And in 60 seconds, everyone using the internet is doing a lot of things. We're a busy little bunch of people.

This week, Business Insider released some great images showing all the things that happen on the internet every 60 seconds. These easy to understand, colorful illustrations are quite fascinating!

And here's another one showing even MORE:

Source: Business Insider

695,000 status updates on Facebook. 950 purchases on eBay, with 180 of those purchases being made using a mobile device. 100 new LinkedIn accounts. 98,000 tweets. $219,000 payments thru PayPal, (with $10,000 paid via a Smartphone.)

New Media is here, traditional media has subsided. We are digital. With every minute that ticks by, we are becoming MORE digital. Our Smartphones are being used as computers and our computers are being used as phones.

Like I said, we're quite busy with our online activity!

We Love the Google Doodles!

Jen — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT

One of my favorite things about Google is their doodles. You know what I mean... the days when the Google logo isn't just the typical, colorful Google logo.

According to the Google Doodles page, the team at Google has been doodling since the birth of the company!

"In 1998, before the company was even incorporated, the concept of the doodle was born when Google founders Larry and Sergey played with the corporate logo to indicate their attendance at the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert. They placed a stick figure drawing behind the 2nd "o" in the word Google, and the revised logo was intended as a comical message to Google users that the founders were "out of office". While the first doodle was relatively simple, the idea of decorating the company logo to celebrate notable events was born.

Over time, the demand for doodles has risen in the US and internationally. Creating doodles is now the responsibility of a team of talented illustrators (we call them doodlers) and engineers. For them, creating doodles has become a group effort to enliven the Google homepage and bring smiles to the faces of Google users around the world." Source: Google Doodles

I thought we'd share some of our favorite doodles.

November 30, 2011: Mark Twain's 176th Birthday

October 8, 2010: John Lennon's 70th Birthday

July 29, 2008: 50th Anniversary of NASA

January 17, 2011: Dr. Martin Luther King Day

November 10, 2009: 40th Anniversary of Sesame Street

Those are just a few... the list goes all the way back through 1998. What a fun and creative way to celebrate so many things in our world. We've gotta admit... being a Google Doodler would be a pretty awesome job!

A Brief History of the Christmas Tree

Jen — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT

The internet is a fascinating place, full of fascinating facts and fascinating, useless trivia. In this day and age, if there's something you need to know, you'd be hard-pressed not to find the answer on the world wide web. Oh, the magical powers of search results. :)

We thought we'd share some of our recent findings with you here on our blog. Ladies and gentlemen, straight from the experts at Christmas Tree Market, we give you: The History of the Christmas Tree:

See? Don't you feel smarter?

How Social Search Affects Google Results

Mark Weible, Immerseme, Internet Marketing — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT

When a searcher is logged into their GMail or other Google account, they are likely to see search results that are affected by people in their social circles. Since recommendations from friends are trusted 90% of the time, and social search results tend to have much higher click-thru-rates - it is a good idea to get your happy customers talking about your business. Here is a short video that shows how social search works on Google:

Are Google Maps Going Inside?

Jen — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 06:00:00 GMT

Many of us don't know what we did before we had Google Maps. Who needs to get directions anywhere? We have Google maps! As usual, Google is taking it a step further. This time, Android users are going to get some detailed interior maps of some of the larger places they visit.

According to Search Engine Land, the Google Maps feature will now include interior maps of airports, major malls, and major retailers in the U.S. and Japan. See the photo below of the map of the Mall of America, both interior and exterior:

We predict that this will start to become "the norm" for major retailers. Have you checked out our Immerseme Mobile services?

The History of Search

Mark Weible, Immerseme, Internet Marketing — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 06:00:00 GMT

Here is a short 6 minute video that shows the evolution of search from Google's perspective. Be sure to check out the timeline posted below the video.

Click the image for a larger view.

The Future of Search 2012

Mark Weible, Immerseme, Internet Marketing — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 06:00:00 GMT

The following graphic from SEOMoz shows the factors that are likely to have the greatest impact on website ranking in search engines in the near future. This is according to a panel of 132 search engine optimization experts. The graphic lists ranking factors in order of influence. The ones listed near the top will have the greatest influence with diminishing influence as you go down the list.

To summarize, well-written, high value content that is freely shared across social media will have the greatest impact. Social signals will be relied upon more heavily to determine domain and page authority as linking factors decrease. Usage data, including bounce rate from the landing page back to the search engine, will be a big ranking factor. This indicates whether or not a searcher found what they were looking for. A high bounce rate may indicate that the landing page did not capture the interest of the searcher. Furthermore, a click to a competitor from that same SERP could be an indicator of greater relevancy to the original search query. And as always, good web design is important. Diminishing factors include link anchor text, paid links, and keywords in the domain name.

At Immerseme, we are constantly aware of how search engines are changing and the impact that has on your organization's website. We are practicing SEO in ways that impact search results today and tomorrow.

Google Places Replaced By Google+

Mark Weible, Immerseme, Internet Marketing — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 06:00:00 GMT

Not yet, but read on...

Over the past two weeks we began to notice that Google was experimenting with Google Places placement on Google's search result pages. We discussed this internally, but could not confirm our hypothesis that Google+ location pages would some day replace Google Places. (After all, Google seems to be getting rid of services that are not a good fit with Google+ while integrating just about all of their other web properties with Google+).

Today, Mike Blumenthal discovered that Google is starting to render search result pages with Google+ local pages integrated into Google Places universal search. See an example below for the search query "transmission servicing lexington ky".

What does this mean for you? Simply, that if you have a physical address for your business, you should consider adding Google+ to your digital marketing strategy. See my previous post for a list of Google+ best practices for businesses. It is complicated, but we've already been down that road and back. Talk to Immersme and let us help you get ahead of your competition.

Social Signals Verses Link Building

Mark Weible, Immerseme, Internet Marketing — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 06:00:00 GMT

Update: See Google+ Replacing Google Places

"Link building" is an SEO strategy that is as old as Google itself. Once webmasters realized that Google's PageRank viewed backlinks as votes in determining authority, many scrambled to get as many links in any fashion as they could. In it's simplest form, link building is as easy as asking webmasters to link to your website because you have a legitimate relationship with their company or organization. This includes chambers of commerce, trade associations, vendors, distributors, etc.

In a more complicated form, link building involves paying webmasters to link to your site. This is considered a "black hat" technique that got companies like J.C. Penny, Forbes and Overstock.com in hot water with Google earlier this year. Whether paid or not, massive link-building campaigns are considered unnatural and manipulative by Google.

According to Google's quality guidelines:

The best way to get other sites to create relevant links to yours is to create unique, relevant content that can quickly gain popularity in the Internet community. The more useful content you have, the greater the chances someone else will find that content valuable to their readers and link to it. Before making any single decision, you should ask yourself the question: Is this going to be beneficial for my page's visitors?

Google has always encouraged webmasters to engage in social media. Creating conversations via blogs and engaging other bloggers has always been considered a legitimate way to create content and to develop backlinks. These conversations need to be natural, non-spammy, and engaging authentic conversation.

Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking websites have quickly become excellent platforms for creating social conversations about brands. Late last year, Google confirmed that "social signals" from Twitter and Facebook have become a factor in their ranking algorithm. Google believes so strongly that social signals are a better way of determining website authority than PageRank, that they developed their own social network in 2011. With the launch of Google +, Google is adding the human element to their ranking algorithm. A central element of Google+ is the +1button .

This little gem allows individuals to cast a vote for website content that they consider to be meaningful or helpful. These votes can be seen by people in their social circles and can actually alter website positions as rendered on the Google search engine results pages. Google is now using social signals to develop authority clues for websites. With the recent launch of Google+ pages for business, brands now have a place to aggregate their social authority from +1 votes, paid ads, and the brand's website. Best practices for gaining social authority for brands now include:

Create a personal profile on Google+
Create multiple pages on Google+ pages for product lines, services, locations, etc.
Become eligible for Google+ Direct Connect by linking each Google+ page to the brand's website and placing a Google+ badge on your website for each Google+ page created.
Link your Google AdWords campaigns to your Google+ pages.

Following these practices will help to verify that your Google+ pages are legitimate and will help you to start earning social rank. But that is not enough, you must be willing to invest the time in creating social content, responding to comments, and creating conversations of your own.

Better than link-building is the practice of engaging in online conversation via social media with individuals who are considered to be authoritative, are widely followed and likely to have strong social rank. None of this is easy. It is very time consuming, but can be very rewarding. Immerseme.com is here to help you navigate the social media jungle. We want you to know that we are on top of the latest SEO strategies and we are always scanning the horizon to find the most effective and ethical ways to promote your business online. You need a digital guide to get you through this and we want to assure you that we are the most equipped company to accomplish you digital marketing goals.

Time is Running Out!

Jen — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 06:00:00 GMT

Tomorrow is the last day to submit your nominations for our 2011 Non-Profit Website Giveaway! Let's go over the basics here:

What are we giving away?

We're giving away a custom website and Internet Marketing valued at over $5,000 to a qualified non-profit organization. The donation includes a fully custom website design by Immerseme's world-class designers, plus, one year of free hosting on ImmerseEdit CMS, our easy-to-use content manageme software.

The end results will be world-class websites with content that the organizations can manage themselves with easy-to-use tools. Each site includes advanced features like blogs, podcasts, videos, forms, donations, payments, calendars and more.

Who is eligible?

Any registered, non-profit organization with operations based in the United States is eligible to receive the website donation.