You registered the perfect domain name. You paid a website designer to build an eye popping website, yet, you don’t have many visitors and even fewer customers. What is the problem, you ask yourself? The problem is one as old as the Internet…Search Engine Optimization, SEO, or lack thereof.

What is SEO?

SEO is simply the process of getting your content ranked high by the major search engines, mainly Google. When you browse the Internet, you are likely to only look at the first page or two of your search results. Very few people go beyond the first few pages of search results. Therefore, it is vital for website owners to achieve search results that get their content listed near the top of search results.

Search Engine Optimization is so vital, it has spawned an entire business sector. There are numerous companies that guarantee top search results if you employ their services. Many have developed suspect practices that can get your website banned from search engine placement if you are caught using these tactics. Fortunately, there are many quality SEO companies that provide a top notch service and achieve results through, old fashioned, hard work. We, at Sherman Media, employ the later for our SEO clients.

If you are the “do it yourself” kind of person, you can’t beat Scribe Makes SEO Simple. Scribe is a product that, when used according to the instructions, will make an SEO expert out of anyone. Scribe presents a cost savings versus hiring an SEO company since you are performing the work yourself. If you follow the instructions and take the time to employ SEO to all your content, Scribe will achieve comparable results to hiring a professional SEO firm, though.

Which ever way you choose to employ SEO to your website, hiring an SEO firm or using Scribe, the important thing is to do it! Effective Search Engine Optimization, SEO, is vital to a successful online business.

The following 10 of our favorite HTML5 video players. The video element is probably one of the most talked about and useful features in HTML5. Using HTML5 you can easily embed videos into web pages without any plugins, using the video element (which is now included in latest versions of Firefox, Safari & Chrome & Opera).

HTML5 Video Player List

1. SublimeVideo maximizes the use of HTML5 in the latest browsers, while providing full support for legacy browsers with automatic Flash fallback. Wide mobile device support allows your videos to play seamlessly on iPhones, iPads, Android devices and almost any other mobile platforms.



2. Moovie is a MooTools custom controls library for the HTML5 video element. Moovie is loaded with useful features but currently has bugs in Google Chrome browser.



3. FlareVideo features include: HTML5 video with Flash fallback, Easy CSS/HTML/JS customization and theming, Full screen support, Completely open source and free for commercial use.



4. VideoJS is an HTML5 Video Player with 3 core parts: An embed code (Video for Everybody), a Javascript library (video.js), and a pure HTML/CSS skin (video-js.css).



5. JW Video Player comes to us from a developer of many fine video players. JW Player enables Flash and HTML5 to work together as part of a single player. Skins, JavaScript, and soon a library of plugins are supported regardless of which rendering mode you choose.



6. Open Standard Media (OSM) Player is an all-in-one media player for the web. It is an industry changing, open source (GPLv3) media player that is written in jQuery to dynamically deliver any type of web media, including HTML5, YouTube, Vimeo, and Flash.



7. Open Video Player for HTML5 developer toolkit to simplify the task of creating flexible HTML5 based video player applications for delivery of HTTP content. This comprehensive toolkit provides developers with a code library supporting industry standards such as CSS, JavaScript, HTML/HTML5 and Yahoo! Media RSS 2.0.



8. HTML5 Video Player – Version 1.2 is a core functionality update instead of an addition of features as originally planned. Everything from version 1 remains intact with the javascript controls optimized for smoother operation. Player control code in version 1.2 has been corrected to allow video playback in Firefox and with the recent release of an Opera update (version 10.53) the video player now works with Opera as well.



9. Kaltura HTML5 Media Library is continuously tested upon each commit to the svn repository.
   Testing is performed on Internet Explorer 7 through 9, Firefox 3.6 and the latest Firefox, the latest Google Chrome, Android 2.x, 3.x, and 4.x, the latest Safari, latest iPhone, and the latest iPad running on a private virtualization cluster. You can be confident the player works in all major browsers and is currently in use on Wikipedia.



10. JME is an HTML5 audio / video development kit with Flash Fallback, which focuses on flexibility, intuitive DOM-API and semantic code.

The latest version of HTML, HTML5, is the most revolutionary change in website development yet. HTML5 is a response to the realization HTMl and XHTML, in use today, are a combination of various specifications that cause multiple syntax errors in web documents. HTML5 is an attempt to to define a single markup language that can be written in either HTML or XHTML syntax. The markup language is also meant to provide a platform for the latest smaller devises such as SmartPhones and Tablets.

As of December 2011, HTML5 was still under development. HTML5 is not yet an official standard, and no browsers have full HTML5 support. All major browsers (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Internet Explorer) continue to add new HTML5 features to their latest versions, though.

Add HTML5 Capability to Thesis Theme for WordPress

If you are smart and running the Thesis Theme for WordPress, like myself, you can add HTML5 capability to your website by simply adding this code to your custom_functions.php file:

/** Add support for HTML5 **/
/* Output an HTML5 document type */
function html5_doctype($content) {
	return '';
}
add_filter('thesis_doctype', 'html5_doctype');

/* Remove PROFILE attribute from HEAD tag */
function html5_profile_removal($content) {
	return '';
}
add_filter('thesis_head_profile', 'html5_profile_removal');

Now start adding some cool HTML5 function to your website

You can reference HTML5 syntax at the W3Schools Website. They list the current browser support for various HTML5 elements along with tutorials on adding HTML5 functions.

One of the most publicized elements of HTML5 was when Steve Jobs declared Flash dead, Apple would no longer support Flash, and HTML5 would win. Indeed, video is one of the best current applications for HTML5.

Click here for a list and descriptions for 10 of the best HTML5 video players.

I have seen this issue of not being able to save a text widget in WordPress time and again. Bloggers having this problem have been very frustrated. Suggestions to fix this issue have ranged from deactivating all plugins to resetting the plugins folder by FTP or phpMyAdmin.

Temporary fix for WordPress text widgets not saving

Go to Appearance>Widgets. Toward the top right of the page you will see Screen Options.

Click Screen Options Link

Click on Screen Options and you will see an Enable accessibility mode link.

Click Enable Accessability Mode Link

Click on the link and add the text widget. Click save and you should be good to go.

Fix the underlying issue

From my experience, this is a theme issue. Not all WordPress themes are created equal. I have come across this issue with the default WordPress themes, among others. I have yet to see this issue of not being able to save WordPress text widgets caused by any plugin.

The best fix is to use a WordPress theme with solid core code. The theme I use on all my website is the Thesis Theme for WordPress. Never pick a theme based on how it looks. You can make the Thesis Theme look any way you want with a few basic changes. There is also a support forum for the Thesis Theme where you can get any question or styling issue resolved within hours.

Hopefully, that helps you bloggers that are having trouble saving a text widget in WordPress.

A few months ago I filmed several videos for Health Central on a variety of pulmonary related diseases. In addition to my media business, I am a licensed respiratory therapist.

I was given several topics to write scripts for with select keywords and phrases to be incorporated. I delivered the scripts for approval. After a couple of drafts the final scripts were approved and the film session scheduled. Health Central is obviously making money on these videos and I was paid very well for my participation.

Taking a close look at the blueprint they have for these short videos can give you ideas on how you can make money with Internet video. My participation should give you additional ideas on how you can turn your expertise into some cash as well.

There continues to be the highest percentage of Americans out of work since the “Great Depression”. A quick look around yourself should open your eyes to the opportunities available in the ever growing media market, though. There are television shows covering an astounding variety of topics. Internet video is growing at a rapid rate and is expected to continue in the fast lane for the foreseeable future.

Take a look at the videos. Forget my complete lack of talent. Look at the attention to keywords and phrases. Pay attention to the websites where these videos are posted. Think about niches you have expertise in and companies that would benefit by using you in some videos. Make some proposals to these companies explaining the benefits of them hiring you to film some videos on their behalf.

I hope this will get you brainstorming on how you can create a handsome income using web video. Come back and tell me about your successful ventures into the new media world of Internet video.

Traveling with Oxygen

Signs and Symptoms of Emphysema

Acute-Bronchitis-Vs-Chronic-Bronchitis

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COPD and Disability

Sherman Media is proud to be a co-producer of the upcoming documentary on the Bitterroot Elk Study being conducted by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Sherman Media is working in association with Bitterroot Beagle Productions.

Video is expected to be an increasing part of Internet marketing. YouTube is now the second largest search engine topped only by Google. I am excited to be involved in this project. The experience will be invaluable to myself and my clients going forward. I have been working hard at expanding my video skills for the past year to meet the demand of 21st century marketing. This documentary should accelerate my learning curve in a short time.

If your company needs video services contact me to discuss the possibilities.

In my previous article about Social Media Marketing, I covered the reasons a business needs to implement social media into their business promotion. In this article, I want to compare and contrast social media to email marketing. Both mediums are the future of successful, cost effective business promotion.

• Almost 70% of small businesses are employing some sort of social media tactics.
• Small businesses find email marketing’s ROI more measurable, more quickly realized and greater than social media’s ROI.
• Over 71% of small businesses plan to increase their focus on behavioral targeting in the coming year.

AWeber Communications, a leading provider of web-based email marketing software for small businesses, announced results from a survey of more than 2,500 small businesses regarding email marketing and social media marketing efforts. Email marketing continues to bring significant value to businesses with more than 82 percent of respondents planning to increase their email marketing efforts over the next year.

AWeber Communications is an online email marketing software company where you can build opt-in email collection efforts through distributing newsletters, free reports and other products designed to entice readers to give you their email address. Opt-in email campaigns are vastly different than spam email. The target market has asked to receive the emails. These email campaigns have proven successful and new, innovative strategies for building lists and campaigns continues to evolve.

Despite the survey conducted by AWeber Communications, we at Sherman Media believe that companies should be including social media marketing along with email campaigns. Both are cost effective means of reaching your promotional objectives. Each is superior to traditional print campaigns in terms of customer delivery and ROI.

Both social media and email afford you the ability to deliver your message directly to prospects who have shown an interest in your products/services. Each presents it’s own challenges to implement successfully. Building a far reaching, responsive social media network is far different from building an equally impressive email list. Once a solid plan of action is put in motion the results will have been well worth the effort. If your company has yet to dive into the social media and email marketing arena or if you are not satisfied with the results you are currently achieving, Sherman Media can help you reach your goals.

Sherman Media has a vast list of opt-in email subscribers. We also have the ability to develop a specific opt-in email program for your company.

Contact us to discuss the possibilities that await your company in the new world of social media/email marketing.

In case you haven’t noticed, there is a Social Media Revolution unfolding in business promotion. And if you aren’t leading the charge, you are missing a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to leave your competition in your wake, scratching their collective heads in amazement.

Print Advertising is DEAD

Who reads newspapers anymore? The American newspaper industry is in a well documented free fall. The “Yellow Pages” are headed the way of the dinosaur. Both mediums have always represented expensive advertising that were a necessary evil for business owners. Both required money, money, more money and time to build your brand. A positive return on investment was reserved and hoped for in the far future. No longer, my friend.

Today a person can get all the news they need online. Likewise, it is easier to look up a business on your Smartphone than it is to thumb through the Yellow Pages. Unless your target market is exclusive to people over 60, it is time to get with the program and start seriously promoting your business with online advertising and through Social Media outlets.

Facebook and Twitter aren’t Kids Toys

One of the fastest growing job markets in corporate America is for Social Media Managers. Companies have discovered the enormous power of the Social Media Revolution. And people with knowledge of the Social Media landscape are in extreme demand. The best feature of Social Media business promotion is that it is FREE. All that is required is some effort and know-how.

The effort and know-how is where Sherman Media can help. We can design a Social Media business promotion program specifically tailored to your company. We will help you open your company to the world while bringing you a positive return on investment. Yes, you heard me right, a positive return on investment. It no longer has to cost a small fortune and a lifetime to build your brand.

We will design and implement a comprehensive Social Media campaign that carries zero cost after the initial investment. A business promotion campaign that once implemented requires some simple maintenance to keep the customers coming to you.

Contact Sherman Media today for a no obligation consultation on how your company can benefit from the Social Media Revolution.

Sherman Media has donated a website design to help with a fundraiser for Camp Mak-A-Dream. One of our clients, Jack the Bitterroot Beagle, decided to raise some money for this wonderful organization after a trip to the camp last summer.

If you have been considering a website, this is your chance to get a premium site while supporting a great cause. Everything is included except the domain name registration and website hosting. If you have any questions prior to bidding, contact us and we will gladly answer your questions.

The fundraiser is a silent auction format that will end on June 30. There are also items available for sale at set prices. To bid on the website or the many other wonderful items go to the Camp Mak-A-Dream Fundraiser on Jack’s Website.

Good Luck bidding!