How To Expose Your Business With Social Media

With the growing array of social media websites out there, including Facebook and YouTube, there is now a seemingly infinite source of leads for any business. Hundreds of millions of people browse social media websites on a daily basis, and this new fact of life should be taken advantage of by any business person or companies that wants awareness or exposure for their product/service.

While there are many other strategies to gain exposure, social media marketing strategies tend to be a very attractive one, because of the simple fact that it is completely free, and the results can be seen very quickly. So, how do you expose your business via social media? Here are the best ways to compound business with social media effectively!


Game Plan

When planning to market your business online, it is imperative that you know the three different forms of social media websites out there. Each of these three have their own pros and cons. Hence, a thorough investigation must be done before proceeding. The first type is called Profile and Friend-based websites. This is your typical Facebook or MySpace. Such mediums are ideal for traditional marketing, since members of the community share tons of data with their peers. They provide the opportunity to target certain demographics that best fit your product or service.

The second type is known as Chat, Game, or Interaction websites, which are ideal for marketing other websites, games, applications, or direct download files like wallpapers or ringtone. Last but not least is content sharing websites like that of YouTube and Pirate Bay. These sites are well suited for artists who want to market their art, music, film, etc.


Start Small

Look for a small pond and be the big fish. Don't attempt to conquer the vast expanse known as cyberspace. It is an impossible journey to achieve, even more so to maintain. Always revolve your marketing around a small, yet highly targeted group. Having a tighter group of social media patrons will provide you with the best chance of growing and nurturing lifelong partnerships with clients. Become the "go-to" guy in a smaller community of highly-targeted leads to give you a better leading edge for social media success.


Create Time Limits

You could literally spend all day everyday on this project, and still have work to do. Although it is a great idea to learn slowly but surely, most businesses do not have enough time, labour, or interest in allotting so much of their resources into one particular aspect of business. Some businesses may want to focus more on the technical areas of their business, such as improving their products or services. Devise a time plan that limits your social media marketing to a daily or weekly total without impeding you from doing other important tasks - especially because social media is not everything. It has a lot of hype, but the real world still exists!


Interact With Visitors

Communication is key to social media marketing success. Merely placing a blog post or setting up a Facebook fan page won't do much for you if your visitors sense the flow of communication is only one way. Not interacting with your visitors is generally the most common mistakes that halts the growth of a virtual community.

Exposure is vital for any business or company dreaming of success and profit. But to get exposure, one must earn it. Using social media strategies, both entrepreneurs and marketers can build exposure for their brand, products, or services in a faster, more efficient and highly specifically way.


About The Author: Melissa Rodgers writes about social media, business and more.

Did you find this article helpful? Please let me know by leaving me your valued comments below.

Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM).

Related articles:
Social Media Marketing: Are You Effective Or Obnoxious?
Engaging Consumers Through Social Media
Social Media Day Meet-ups: How Can They Work For You
5 Do's And 5 Don'ts In Social Media
Building Your Business With Social Media
The 10 Basic Rules Of Social Media Marketing
Top 14 Benefits Of Social Media Marketing
How To Use Facebook For Your Small Business
9 Tips For More Effective Facebook Marketing


If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to +1 or share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar below or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
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Until my next post on Wednesday, here's wishing you all a Happy New Year. Enjoy tonight's celebrations! :)

© 2012. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited.

Understanding Google AuthorRank And How You Can Use It

If you are beginning to focus your online marketing efforts on content marketing, then you will have probably been thinking about AuthorRank.


History of AuthorRank

In 2005, Google decided that the next stage in creating the highest quality search results was the ability to rate and rank the people actually producing the results. A patent was filed for "Agent Rank", in which Google described their intention to use a number of decision factors to determine an "agent's" position within their subject area. These factors included how popular the agent is, and how trusted the agent is in delivering content in his subject area. For years, Google has used constant factors like domain authority and link popularity for ranking sites in searches, this would mark a significant move to use these factors to rate individuals.

However, it is only through the advent of Google's own social network, Google+ that they have had enough qualitative social interaction data to put this idea into practice. Finally, they have a way to supplement the computer led statistics with human factors to allow the activation of "AgentRank" now known as AuthorRank.


What Google Say

"We know that great content comes from great authors, and we're looking closely at ways this markup could help us highlight authors and rank search results." Othar Hansson, Google Software Engineer.

Judging the merit of a page from links alone doesn't make sense in today's world of social sharing and networks. The problem comes when an author moves to another website. The idea is that the authority the author has created with quality content should go with them. At the moment, if a highly rated author leaves a website, the quality ranking will remain with the website even if the people that take over produce work of a substantially lower quality. The previously highly rated author has to start from scratch building credibility and trust.

With AuthorRank, Google will "remember" the authority and credibility an author has built up. As a respected author, people will be able to start contributing and lift the level and traffic of an entire website. Obviously they will still have to produce great content and attract positive signals, but the starting point is much easier.


What you can do?

Google hasn't released any official statement yet about how AuthorRank is being used at the moment and its future direction. Although it is a possibility that it is not being used at all currently, considering that Google usually test algorithm updates in a "light version" before they implement the full update, we are most likely experiencing a small part of the impact. Plus there are a whole host of hints that suggest AuthorRank will play a big role in the future of search results: Authorship (the pictures that can be seen at the side of search results), Knowledge Graph. All these implemented additions exhibit Googles commitment to understanding the people and relationships that make up the web, and the importance of these for search rankings.

Uptake for Google and Authorship is increasing and it is likely that full influence of AuthorRank will be felt soon. Although it won't replace page rank when it does it will impact upon SEO significantly. The question is, are you ready?

You need to start building your AuthorRank and become an authority in your niche now.

1. Claim authorship of your content. The first step to accumulating AuthorRank, you need to tie all your content to a verified Google+ profile. Your profile must link to all the pages that host your content, including guest posts. This authorship mark up not only ties your content to you but also allows for a picture to come up next to your content in the results. A feature that significantly increases click through rate.
   
   
2. Create great content. Content that get social media shares and likes are signals to Google that your content is of high quality. Also remember that Google ranks authors per subject, so aim to become a true authority in your niche.
   
   
3. Embrace social. Create relationships, engage with customers and everyone in your network. Build a consistent voice that people trust. Share content your network will find funny and interesting. Have Google hangouts.
   
   
4. Create insightful content as guests posts for other websites. Now there are new benefits to guest blogging than a new audience and links. Getting your authorised content on good quality websites will send a clear signal to Google that you are respected in your field. Also beneficial is that shares and likes on these sites will then rub off on your authorship. If you consider that the website is likely to promote your post via their own platforms, there is great potential for influencers that may not have been in contact with your work before to give a signal that they like it.

If you link these considerations with your content marketing strategy, you will be well placed for when AuthorRank really starts to take affect in 2013.


About The Author: Helen is an online marketing assistant at Quayside Clothing. They sell wholesale clothing through two e-commerce websites: www.qtag.com and www.polo-shirts.co.uk

Did you find this article helpful? Please let Helen and myself know by leaving us your valued comments below.

Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM).


If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to +1 or share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar below or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
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I hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas and until my next and final post on Monday before the New Year, have an enjoyable and relaxing weekend!

© 2012. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited.

What Steps Should You Take To Make Sure Your Site Is SEO Friendly?

SEO success starts at the web development stage.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) requires more tech than the repetition of a few key words. Search engines rely on "spiders" to crawl through "links" to create individualized databases, like file cabinets, of topics. Spiders cannot crawl where there are no links. The key to SEO success starts with your Webmaster interlinking the entire page using appropriate links, key words and title tags, including succinct meta descriptions.

The best way to ensure good linking is to format important content, as well as links, in HTML. Java and Flash are ignored by spiders and are therefore not serving to optimize your SEO. Links should always lead back to the home page and therefore connect the entire site; if a person can't easily navigate a web page, a spider won't be able to either.

Conversely, keep the links to a minimum; spiders cannot traverse every link available. Also, search forms to link to information within the site only serve to help the human reader who has already found your web page, not the spider who will serve to up your site's frequency.

Key words are important for the spiders to find your article, but also for the reader to choose your piece to reference. Do not choose ten key words and expect a high ranking; SEO is not shooting fish in a barrel. Instead use one key word and focus on developing its importance, starting with the title. The key word should always be featured in the title tag, preferably as close to the first word as possible. Using the key word frequently throughout the article will up its frequency and therefore the likelihood that a spider will recognize and retrieve it. Also, urge your Webmaster to feature the key word in your URL. Abusing key words will ultimately bog down your article's message as well as make it irrelevant to many readers.

A title tag, as mentioned before, is vital to search engine marketing. The title tag appears in three key places: the browser, the search engine page and other websites. Besides the content, an appropriate title tag is the most important thing your Webmaster can create for SEO. Your title tag, which should always include your key words, should be less than 70 characters and give relevant information regarding the featured content.

The title tag's support system is the meta description. This synopsis should also contain your key words, which Google will "bold" in your key word search. A compelling description will draw more click-through traffic to your page. Search engines usually only display the first 160 characters, so keep it succinct.

By educating yourself on the importance of excellence in linking, key words and title tags, you can make sure your web site's success starts in the development stage.


About The Author: David Wolfskehl is an author, speaker, and consultant for professional service providers, attorneys, and CPAs. He is the creator and author of "The Micro-Niche Method" and often speaks to businesses of all sizes on the topics of niche business development.

Did you find this article helpful? Please let David and myself know by leaving us your valued comments below.

Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM).


If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to +1 or share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar below or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
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Until the next post on Friday, have a fabulous Christmas!

© 2012. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited.

Google's Disavow Tool: Use With Caution

Google launched its new Disavow Link tool on October 16, 2012. The new tool allows webmasters to ask Google not to consider specific in-bound links when ranking a site. Disavowing links can help sites recover from Penguin penalties. Overuse of the tool could also cut a wide swath through your search engine optimization results.


Penguin and Link-Building

Google's Penguin algorithm targets artificial and aggressive link-building tactics. Sites with large amounts of low-quality, spammy or artificial-looking in-bound links took serious hits to their search engine ranking and traffic because of Penguin. Such links suggest paid links or attempts to manipulate page rankings through links.

Websites hit by Penguin receive a bad-link warning and ranking penalty. Webmasters can appeal Google's decision by removing poor-quality links and then asking for reconsideration. This usually involves contacting other websites and asking them to remove the link.


Stubborn Links

Unfortunately, not all websites remove links on request. If the site doesn't receive regular attention, your request may not reach the webmaster. If the site benefits from the link in some way, it may avoid complying with your request.

Low-quality links you never requested may be a sign of negative SEO, where a competitor uses spammy links to damage your Google standing. Such attacks are very rare but do occasionally occur.


Disavowing Links

If low-quality links continue to plague your SEO, you can use the Disavow Link tool to request Google ignore the link when the search engine evaluates the site. Google notes that the tool is not a cure-all; you should still work to have unwanted in-bound links removed.

The Disavow Link tool does not ensure Google will ignore the link. You're asking Google to ignore the link, not demanding. Google will consider such requests but will use its own judgment when reviewing disavowed links.


Not so Fast!

Think of the Disavow Link tool as a band saw. The tool is powerful, useful and if used incorrectly you're going to wind up missing a limb.

Most websites won't need to use Disavow Link at all. Only consider disavowing links if you've been hit hard by Penguin, received a bad-link warning, or been penalized by Google for poor link quality.

Why be cautious? Even low-quality links can improve your SEO. Unless you're working closely with an SEO company, you could disavow links that actually help your page ranking. Overuse of the Disavow Link tool could damage your SEO as much as low-quality links, so pick the links you disavow carefully.

One last warning. Whatever you do, don't disavow internal links. Doing so will really confuse Google, as you're saying your own pages provide low-quality links and should be avoided. Like trimming fingernails with a band saw, that's not going to end well.


About The Author: Carl Glasmyre is an aspiring writer. He's passionate about a variety of subjects including technology, marketing, and anything Internet-related. He's constantly striving to strengthen his writing skills and is continuously grateful that the Internet allows him to share his thoughts with the world.

Did you find this article helpful? Have you used Google's Disavow Link tool? Please let Carl and myself know by leaving us your valued comments below.

Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM).

Related Articles:
5 Helpful Tips To Recover From Recent Penguin Update
Cowboy Internet Marketers: Beware Of The Mighty Penguin!


If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to +1 or share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar below or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
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Until my next and final post on Monday before the festive holiday, have a fabulous and if you can, stress-free weekend! :)

© 2012. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited.

Social Media Marketing: Are You Effective Or Obnoxious?

Most small businesses are using social media to market their products or services, and nearly half of those businesses aren't paying a penny for it. Considering the opportunities offered by social media venues, it seems that any small business would be remiss not to take advantage of them.

The problem is that you can't blindly use social media marketing to help grow your business. You must use it in a way that's effective for your particular business without overusing it. Finding the proper balance and usage techniques can be a challenge; these tips will help you learn how to use social media marketing effectively to leverage more business, instead of obnoxiously turning potential customers away.

1. Observe Social Media Etiquette. Each social media venue, such as Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest, comes with its own etiquette. The overlaps in etiquette involve avoiding spam, responding to followers who comment and returning the favour when other users post about or promote you. Take a few moments to become familiar with the etiquette guidelines of each social media venue you use so you don't unknowingly turn people off.
   
   
2. Post Consistently and with Value. Drive-by posting and spam-filled posts will cause you to lose the interest of potential followers faster than you can write your next tweet. Use social media marketing at least three days per week to make your efforts consistent. Know your intended audience and post information, images and/or tutorials that would be of interest to them. If you're not sure what your followers want to hear more about, ask them.
   
   
3. Interact with and Respond to Followers. Social media is about connecting and interacting with others. Take time to respond to followers' comments and questions. Get the conversation started by asking questions yourself. Engaging in conversation allows you to build relationships with consumers, which can help you build your business.
   
   
4. Make it Professional. Even if your intended audience is teens that comment and post in text slang, keep your social media language professional as you gear your content to them. It's important to reach your audience where they're at, but you also want to be taken seriously by them.
   
   
5. Know Your Followers. If you don't have a professional researching your demographics for you, you've got to invest some time in knowing who your customers and followers are. This will allow you to post social media updates that speak to their needs and interests so you can captivate their attention.

Small business owners use social media marketing because it's inexpensive, easy to use, requires little time and paves the way toward increased communication with customers. To make it work for you, you must approach your social media marketing efforts as conversations and ensure that what you're talking about is of interest to those whom want to listen. Follow these tips to streamline your online marketing efforts so you can gain more followers, convert them to customers and draw them to your website or brick and mortar. Above all, be consistent, professional and interactive to avoid coming across as yet another obnoxious small business.


About The Author: Lucy Harper works for Touchpoint Digital, a full service internet marketing company. Visit us to help facilitate your digital marketing and communications goals.

Did you find this article helpful? Please let Lucy and myself know by leaving us your valued comments below.

Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM).

Related articles:
Engaging Consumers Through Social Media
Social Media Day Meet-ups: How Can They Work For You
5 Do's And 5 Don'ts In Social Media
Building Your Business With Social Media
The 10 Basic Rules Of Social Media Marketing
Top 14 Benefits Of Social Media Marketing
How To Use Facebook For Your Small Business
9 Tips For More Effective Facebook Marketing


If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to +1 or share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar below or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
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You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at:
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https://plus.google.com/104849975941505117776

Until my next post tomorrow, enjoy the rest of your day!

© 2012. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited.

5 Helpful Tips To Recover From Recent Penguin Update

It cannot be denied that millions of websites were severely affected by recent Penguin update. Google's Penguin move is viewed as evil by thousands of web owners and bloggers all over cyberspace. On the contrary, it is also a positive although stringent approach to clean sites that have been filled with spammy articles and have used keyword stuffing deliberately to achieve page rankings. It's time to go back to the drawing board and start a new using these 5 helpful tips to recover from recent penguin update.


1. Create unique and viral content

This is your first step to rehabilitation which involves producing quality content that can go viral. Linkbaiting using catchy phrases can help generate organic traffic for your site. In order to be viral, you must know trends and latest updates on the niche you promote. Google will certainly appreciate the natural growth of your web pages. Remember, Google doesn't rank websites, it ranks pages so ensure quality content for each page.


2. Clean your site by removing bad links

It is impossible to remove all bad links but you can minimize them. Links that connect you to bad sources diminished your site's reputation; hence, this also tells you to be more cautious with link building next time. You can also use tools that help you trace outbound and inbound links. Even spammy comments and posts by bloggers on your site must be removed.


3. Promote guest blogging

Search for sites similar to yours which have high reputation. Try to invite these bloggers to guest blog on your site. It would also be wonderful to do the same for them to establish authority and attract new leads. Plus, you can build new relationships that can give your site more leverage. Make sure that your content offers something new or fresh to the audience.


4. Create variety for your anchor text

Get more creative and do your homework on keywords. Research on high value keywords with low or medium competition. Make sure that these keywords are highly relevant to each page on your site. Redundant use of phrases will definitely put you on a bad light. Yesterday's practice was over optimization of sites that involved high keyword density. Today, Google's Penguin says "less is more".


5. Look for high-quality directories for link building

There are tons of reputable directories for article submission like Ezine that can promote your site well. Niche directories and blog directories should also be your target. Keep an eye on incoming links to your site because the sources matter. You can also try government or educational institutions for quality link building although it's a long shot goal.

Aside from the given tips, there are still many pitfalls to avoid. But as a general rule, you can play safe by creating your site for people not for algorithm purposes. When readers love your content, products, or services, you can generate massive amount of traffic. You can also explore social media networking for establishing business relationships and positive online presence. Recovering from Penguin update is not really that difficult as long as you're willing to make some changes.


About The Author: Jason Smith is an online consultant. Jason likes blogging about online strategies that are related to SEO, Content, PPC and Lead generation. In his free time he likes to study about web designing and practice Jiu Jitsu.

Did you like this article? Has your site been affected by the recent Penguin update? Please let Jason and myself know by leaving us your valued comments below.

Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM).

Related Articles:
Cowboy Internet Marketers: Beware Of The Mighty Penguin!


If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to +1 or share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar below or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
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You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at:
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Until my next post, enjoy the rest of the week!

© 2012. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited.

Normal Blogging Resumes Next Week

Yes, I'm still here and not relaxing on some exotic beach somewhere after winning the lottery! :)

It has been a crazy (and I do mean "crazy!") few weeks here which again, has prevented me from doing my normal blogging routine. Not only has my blogging suffered from this busy period, but everything else. I won't go into detail (as it would take far too long) but it will literally take weeks to get back to normality, especially with Christmas just around the corner.

Thankfully, this busy period is now well and truly over and I'm pleased to announce that normal blogging will resume next week. I hope, if all goes to plan, to get a few posts published on the blog just before the Christmas break. If you have been inquiring about guest posting or advertising on the blog over the past couple of weeks, expect to receive a reply to your emails over the weekend.

As always during these unexpected busy times, I want to thank you for your patience and understanding, not to mention your support over the past few weeks and I'll see you back here next week with a shiny, brand new post. Until then, have an enjoyable and relaxing weekend! If you're out Christmas shopping, don't forget to get me a present..!! :)

P.S. If you are interested in guest posting, submitting articles or advertising your products and/or services on the blog, please don't hesitate to contact me using the Contact tab above.

P.P.S. The Bloggers Network community has just been launched on Google+. In addition to the Bloggers Network Facebook group, you can now share your latest blog posts and network with other bloggers on Google+. You can access the new community at https://plus.google.com/communities/104330857061483680840


If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to +1 or share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar below or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog

You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at:
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Thank you once again for your patience and understanding.

Cowboy Internet Marketers: Beware Of The Mighty Penguin!

Here is this week's third and final article on SEO: Internet marketing is much like any profession in the world today, in that you have people that do their job, enjoy their job and do the job well. On the other hand there are what can only be described as "cowboys", who fill customers with false hope and rinse them for substantial amounts of money, whilst delivering what amounts to nothing.

As an SEO myself, I know just how damaging this is to the industry. Meeting potential clients who have had bad past experiences with SEO companies, makes it incredibly hard to swing their opinion and restore their faith in the services that the good SEOs can offer. When done properly, SEO can provide results of astronomic proportions.

Many SEOs are Google-fearing, losing sleep over the next algorithm update, anticipating rankings drops and other penalties from the big G. But, if you're playing by the book and listening to discussions within the search community and Matt Cutts himself, there's almost always a way of avoiding being stung. If you play by the book and steer well away from dated black hat tactics, you should sleep relatively easily. Google's after the cowboys, so you should count this as a blessing.

But this raises the question of why so many businesses still divulge in outdated, spammy, nasty SEO techniques? I've seen examples of supposedly reputable agencies still buying links from farms, taking part in reciprocal link programs and all sorts of ridiculously outdated methods, even after the Penguin update. In extreme examples, I've seen people buying links from sites that were actually de-indexed in the Penguin update. The mind boggles!

Do the cowboys think that they need to show the fruits of their labours by presenting hundreds of links to the client each month, regardless of how irrelevant, spammy and cheap they are? Does this make the report look good? No, because their sites are suffering as a result of this activity.

So, I can only see Penguin as a benefit to the industry, as with each update these cheap, horrible SEO agencies will either vanish off the face of the planet, or actually start playing ball and providing a real service. SEO is no longer a quick win service, and it's about time that people begin to realise that it takes time and skill to achieve the desired results.

On the other hand, there are the agencies out there that prey upon businesses that have very little, if any, knowledge about SEO. They promise the earth - number one rankings in a month etc. and when they don't deliver, the client no longer uses their services and the agency moves on to the next victim. This again is so damaging to the industry, but happens oh so frequently.

For us, the good guys, we can keep ahead of the game by striving to build up long-term relationships with our clients by delivering real, tangible results, and allow word of mouth to do the marketing for us and let the cowboys dig themselves a deeper hole.


About The Author: This post was written by Guy Farnworth, an online marketing executive for a boardroom and reception office furniture company in the UK.

Did you like this article? Please let Guy and myself know by leaving us your valued comments below.

Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM).

Other SEO articles published this week:
How To Hire A Good SEO Company
Negative SEO: What Startups Should Know About It


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Until my next post, have a wonderful weekend!

Negative SEO: What Startups Should Know About It

As promised, here is this week's second of the three articles on SEO: Negative SEO is a strategy used by a competitor to decrease the search engine ranking of a rival site. Some examples are security breaches that cause your site to appear spammy, directing bad links at you in an effort to make it look like you're purchasing links, and making spammy comments on other websites with links back to you. These are just some of the black hat SEO practices that are frowned upon, yet are still being done.

The following are some important things that you should know about negative SEO in order to combat it.


Know the Signs

Your competitors might be trying to wreak havoc on your site by targeting you with negative SEO. This can be easily done in a matter of weeks, after which you may find you have a de-indexed site if they were successful. Tools such as Google Webmaster Tools enable you to monitor if you have negative SEO activities by checking your inbound links to see if you have an increase of spammy looking sites pointing at you. Receiving a huge volume of traffic from low quality sites over a short period of time is a sign of negative SEO activity.

If your organic search traffic decreases, your website might have been de-indexed. If the total amount of traffic going to your website drops, it can also mean negative SEO activity. Checking when the links were generated should give an idea as to whether or not there has been any negative SEO activity. If these are unusual and recently dated, then you might be the victim of an attack. Negative SEO attacks also normally have a noticeable pattern to them.


Protecting Your Site from Negative SEO

It is best to have preventive measures implemented to counter any negative SEO attacks. Make sure that your link profile has a professional look to it. Since Google checks your traffic pattern and history, you will have no problem if your site originally has high-quality links. It will not be easy to damage your site with a short-term attack plan. New sites are more prone to being attacked because most of them initially have low-quality links. Although negative SEO is still possible, implementing good SEO can deter these attacks.

Think of it like this: If you are starting up a marketing business, you need to create a website. Since it's new though, no one knows about it, and one great way of getting people to know about your site is getting other websites to link to you in order to not only get in front of their audiences, but to also bump up your search rankings. If one of your competitors sees that you're new and they want to sabotage you, they can undertake a negative SEO campaign to potentially ground you before you even take off because your site does not have a high quality track record for search engines to look back on and determine that it is not in fact you building the low quality links.


Google's Position on Negative SEO

Until the recent algorithm updates, it was supposedly not possible to actually harm another website with negative SEO. Unfortunately, Google decided that they will now penalize sites that appear to be building low quality links. This is a change from the past, when they simply discounted the value of the links. What this means is that, in the past, building low quality links was simply a waste of time and money, and now, it's more than that. It's a tactic that hurts your website if you decide to build low quality links pointing at you, and it's a tactic that hurts your competitors if you decide to point low quality links at them.

Given this change, what do you think people in highly competitor industries might be doing already?


About The Author: Eric Pratum manages Inbound and Agile - a marketing, leadership, and growth website that specializes in inbound marketing, and exponential acquisition.

Did you find this article helpful? Have you been the victim of negative SEO? Please let Eric and myself know by leaving us your valued comments below.

Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM).

Other SEO articles published this week:
How To Hire A Good SEO Company


If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to +1 or share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar below or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
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Until the third and final article on SEO on Friday, enjoy the rest of the week!

How To Hire A Good SEO Company

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. This week, I will be publishing three articles on Search Engine Optimisation.

Today's article by our guest author, Carl Glasmyre will provide information on how to hire a good SEO company. On Wednesday, there will be an article by Eric Pratum explaining what negative SEO is and how to protect your site from it and finally on Friday, there will be an article by Guy Farnworth explaining why bad SEO companies should be fearful of the Penguin update.

I hope you enjoy reading these three articles and as with all my blog posts, don't forget to share and leave me and our guest authors your valued comments within the comments section. Remember, your feedback is very important which not only shows that you found these posts helpful, but also helps to determine future blog posts on Derek's Home and Business Blog.

Thank you and without further delay, here's the first of the three articles on SEO...


How To Hire A Good SEO Company

There are many SEO companies out there. Some are good. And some...are very bad. With the wrong company, not only can you waste thousands of dollars, but you also can do some serious harm to your domain name. How bad? How about getting banished from Google? Yes, THAT bad. With that in mind, here are some great tips to make sure your SEO hire is a good one.


#1: Check out the Company's Google Ranking

Would you hire a plumber if you saw his faucets leaking and the toilet upstairs pouring water through the ceiling? I'm thinking probably not. On the same note, are you going to hire an SEO company whose homepage does not show up in the first two pages of a major search engine? If the company cannot get its own site high in the rankings, why is it going to be effective for your website?

You always should go to the rankings to see what the real story is. An SEO company can talk all day long. But in the end, where it ranks really tells the tale.


#2: Collect a Lot of SEO Proposals

You should meet with at least three SEO firms and tell them what you want them to do. Get a proposal in writing from all of these companies. Look at everything closely on paper so you can compare them. You can see what exactly you are being charged for and what features each company offers for the price.

This means you are going to have to spend some time, and do some homework. But trust me: It's worth it.


#3: Review the Proposals for White Hat SEO

You want to be sure that your SEO company is doing things that are 100 percent legit in the eyes of Google. You should keep an eye out for good things such as keyword phrase generation, development and optimization of content, and the evaluation of the server and domain, incoming links, headlines and text links. If you cannot see what the company is going to be doing in detail, ask why. If you do not get straight answers, I advise that you continue shopping.


#4: Look at the Timeline

Effective SEO usually takes several months to really take effect. If you are talking to an SEO company that states "we'll have you ranked in a week," tell the salesperson to take a hike. Legitimate companies don't make those sort of promises, because these timelines cannot be met doing things on the up-and-up as Google demands. You do not want your domain or your SEO firm to ever cross Google. They make the rules.


#5: Watch out for Bold Promises

Again, legitimate SEO companies do not make outlandish promises. They are not going to tell you your site can rank in a few days. They are not going to seriously undercharge or overcharge you. A good SEO company is not going to make promises to you without really digging into your website. Basically, if the company is making promises as soon as the salesperson walks in the door, it's not for real.

You do not want to risk your site's rank on Google by dealing with any SEO company that has any chance of being shady. So, you want to find an SEO company that has a realistic game plan and timeline that fits your budget.

In summary, you really need to take care when you are hiring contractors to do any work for you in the technical world. There are a lot of bad players out there that you will need to weed out of the mix. Good luck!


About The Author: Carl Glasmyre is an aspiring writer. He loves blogging about anything and everything that crosses his mind. He's constantly striving to strengthen his writing skills and is continuously grateful that the Internet allows him to share his thoughts with the world.

Did you find this article helpful? Please let Carl and myself know by leaving us your valued comments below.

Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM).


If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to +1 or share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar below or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
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Until the next article on Wednesday, have a fabulous week!

How You Can Get Started With Accepting Guest Posts On Your Website

Increasing traffic to a site is an activity that many site owners are spending a great deal of time in learning. One of the main reasons why increasing the traffic on the site is so important today is because it is tied to popularity and money. Fortunately, there are many different sites online that can provide the business owner with the information that is needed. From information on search engine optimization techniques to social networks, there is a huge amount of information that a site owner can search through to find out what will work and what will not.

For those who are operating their own blogs, there are many ways to increase the views on the site. People who are well versed in posting good information on their own site are normally very skilled in keeping people engaged because they know and understand what their audience is looking for. However, in addition to the audience reading the information that the blogger has acquired over time, the blogger can also solicit the expertise of others. By soliciting the expertise of other bloggers, the site owner can also increase the traffic to their site. Soliciting blogs from others involves guests blogging.


Benefits of Soliciting Guest Bloggers

Even if the individual operates a small blog that has only a few hundred monthly visitors, they can benefit from offering space on their site for a guest blogger. Some of the benefits to having a guest blogger include:

Acquiring unique and quality content. Some bloggers will interview the guest blogger before their post their information. In fact, some of the blog site owners may choose to approve the titles that they will write about. If the titles that the guest blogger provides are acceptable, the information can be posted on their site. Most site owners will be looking for unique and quality content, which is always needed if the blogger is going to keep the readers' engaged.

Reduces the time-spent writing. Keeping a site filled with good quality content is not always easy because it does take both time and effort. If the site is going to be successful, it is important for the owner of the site to plan out what they are going to write about. This involves keeping a listening ear out for the things that most readers like. Also, based on the site, the blogger can provide useful information about several related topics (i.e. how to fix a credit report). Therefore, by soliciting multiple guest bloggers, the site owner can also reduce the time that is normally spent in writing articles. If the site owner makes the right plans, guests bloggers can help to fill in the gaps on certain days of the week or month.


Getting Started and Useful Tips

Getting started does not have to be a difficult task, if the site owner has the right information. Listed below are some tips that can be used.


1. Post a Guest Blogger Page.

Posting a guests blogger page is a win-win situation for both the blog site owner and guest blogger. By posting a guest blogger page, the site owner can explain what they are looking for and what guests blogging will mean to them. For example, potential bloggers will know that they will be receiving free publicity from the site. In addition to free publicity, the bloggers will also have a link added that will lead the readers back to their site. The guests blogger page should also indicate the timeframes for these guests appearance (i.e. dates when the articles will be published).


2. Post a Get Interviewed page.

To make it easy for the guest bloggers to respond to the Guest Blogger Page, the site owner should create a list of standard questions. Even though this can be changed out on a regular basis (weekly, monthly or yearly), these questions will give the guests blogger a head start and they will know what the site owner is looking for. This means they will not have to spend a lot of time researching nor contacting the site owners about their preferences or requirements.


3. Utilize social networking forums to get the word out.

Twitter, Facebook and other social network are great tools when reaching a specific target audience. Therefore, the site owner can reach a large target audience with one message. Prior to making any type of announcements regarding this need, the site owner should check the rules of the forums before they do any type of solicit.

Another great option for soliciting guests bloggers is to contact them via private requests. These can be bloggers where there are previous relationships formed (community associations) or new bloggers that the audience may be specifically impressed by.


About The Author: Gurwinder Singh Bhinder is a Blogger and writes for Pro Technology Blog - a blog based on Technology and Blogger Tips. He enjoys writing about Technology, Blogging tips, SEO and WordPress.

Did you find this article helpful? Please let Gurwinder and myself know by leaving us your valued comments below.

Coming next week on Derek's Home and Business Blog: Three articles on Search Engine Optimisation. On Monday, there will be an article by Carl Glasmyre which will provide information on how to hire a good SEO company. On Wednesday, there will be an article by Eric Pratum explaining what negative SEO is and how to protect your site from it and finally on Friday, there will be an article by Guy Farnworth explaining why bad SEO companies should be fearful of the Penguin update.

Related articles:
A Guide To Guest Blogging For SEO In 2012


If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to +1 or share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar below or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
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Until my next post on Monday when the first of the three articles on SEO is published, have a fabulous weekend!

Clever Ways For Small Business Owners To Save Money

Starting a small business, no matter how minuscule or inflated your budget, is a frightening prospect. As the nation continues to struggle, it's more important than ever for home-grown entrepreneurs to press on, and create a new definition of the "American Dream."

If you're considering starting your own small business, or are the current proprietor of little coffee shop or bookstore, it's more important than ever to find a few clever ways to save a little money. Here are a few ideas to help you climb back into the black:


Watch the Marketing Material Budget

Many new business owners fall into the trap of spending a small fortune, and a large chunk of their time, determining their business logo, purchasing embossed letterhead or printing up thousands of flashy business cards. Although this is one of the more enjoyable aspects of starting this exciting new journey, it can also be a massive waste of your time and precious resources, especially if the materials become obsolete as your business expands and evolves. Instead, work with a tech-savvy friend or family member to create a simple logo and print up business cards with your home computer to save money.


Use Creative Advertising Techniques

It's simple to outsource your advertising needs to a reputable PR firm, but this is probably an extraneous expense your limited budget cannot afford. Instead of going the traditional route, find some clever, and cheap, ways to advertise your business. For instance, nothing creates a positive buzz than word-of-mouth, so ask your friends and family members to encourage potential clients to patronize your establishment. Purchase inexpensive domain names, such as those abandoned by another company, and save money by designing the web page yourself.


Ditch the Paper

Several small business owners waste thousands each year on the storage and printing costs associated with simply using paper to retain documents. Instead, consider performing all necessary transactions, and storing any integral documents, electronically. Not only does this minimize your carbon footprint, it can potentially save you a large chunk of money that can either be put away or reinvested into your company.


Go Shopping for a New Bank

Recent regulatory changes have many banks scrambling to make up for lost revenue by tacking on unnecessary, and many times hidden, fees onto even the most basic services. If this is your dilemma, don't hesitate to shop around for a new bank. Ask candidates upfront if they offer discounted services for small business owners and when in doubt, look to online-only direct bank, as these institutions generally have lower operating costs and pass the savings onto their clients.


Watch Employee Spending

As your business expands, you'll inevitably need more employees. If there is travelling or other employer-purchased needs, you might even provide your employees with company credit cards or spending accounts. The days pass, and as you become more entrenched in the day-to-day operations of the business, you neglect to watch your employees' spending habits closely; that is- until you get the bill. Avoid unnecessary overages by keeping a watchful eye on your employee's spending habits. Ask for a receipt after each purchase or transaction, and make it clear that an unnecessary spending will come directly from his or her paycheck.


Become a DIY Expert

It's unavoidable that you'll encounter bumps in the road or come up against issue that you or your employees cannot tackle. Instead of calling your trusted outside IT professional or even hiring a plumber to fix a leaky sink in your restaurant's kitchen; don't hesitate to tackle these issues yourself. Not only will you save money, you'll also learn a valuable new skill along the way. Just make sure the task isn't too far beyond your area of expertise or you could wind up doing more harm than good.

Finally, not only is it critical to hire a merchant services company to accept transaction payment, it's also in many cases an important decision that some small business owners either gloss over or don't perform their due diligence by seeking the best rates and establishment possible.


About The Author: Larissa Sampson is both an IT specialist and small business entrepreneur. She advises reading the WorldPay blog for more information on small business frugality.

Did you find this article helpful? Please let Larissa and myself know by leaving us your valued comments below.


If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to +1 or share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar below or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
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Until my next post on Friday, enjoy the rest of the week!

Facebook To Offer Web Search Functionality

Most people had anticipated this move, but Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, has made it official, his company is going to move into the search market at some point, although he would not be drawn on precisely when this leap would be made.

Zuckerberg was interviewed by TechCrunch when he made a number of statements relating to the search intentions of Facebook, pointing out that the site is already handling around a billion queries every 24 hours, as its users search for friends, groups and other services linked into the site.

Of course at the moment you cannot search the entire internet with Facebook, although it certainly has the resources to make this a possibility at some point in the future. If this ever does happen, SEO experts will have a whole new set of rules to learn.

Zuckerberg spoke about search as concerning the process of answering questions posed by the user, which he believes is something that Facebook has a unique window into, given its privileged position as a gate keeper of huge amounts of personal user information.

There had been rumours of Facebook's search engine intentions, with its current engineering director stating, two months ago, that he is developing something exciting and specific for his employer. Because of his background at Google, many speculated that it might be search related, although no confirmation was given.

At the moment, Facebook and Google may not be competing over search, but they are already locked in battle in the social sphere as a result of Google+. The search giant is insistent that its own social service is Google+ not aimed at competing with Facebook, but whether or not it likes it, this certainly seems to be the current state of affairs.

It is worth pointing out that at the moment, it is possible to search the web from within Facebook, but that in this case, the results that are generated come from Microsoft's Bing, rather than any proprietary service, or indeed from market leader, Google.

Whether or not Facebook's relationship with Bing will extend to a deeper integration of search or not remains to be seen, although the ambition of Zuckerberg and his team, coupled with the spending power of his company, means that going at it alone is not completely out of the question.

Part of the problem for Google is that if Facebook makes web searches more closely integrated with its business, then it could easily end up losing market share to Zuckerberg's service. This is linked to the fact that people now access the internet from their mobile phones more than ever before, with many people using social networking sites and apps, to find links and perform searches, rather than harnessing a dedicated search engine site like Google.

Whether or not this will result in the gradual decline of Google, or the emergence of some meta-social system, in which people funnel all of their queries through Facebook, remains to be seen. But those involved in optimisation will be watching carefully to see where the industry heads.


About The Author: Abbas Hussain is a blogger who talks about SEO and Social Media for Integrity SEO Experts.

Did you like this article? Please let me know by leaving your valued comments below.


If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to +1 or share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar below or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
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Until my next post, have an enjoyable weekend!

3 Tips For Increasing Blog Traffic

Part of being a blogger is getting relevant traffic to your blog. This is probably your biggest task and your biggest wish. This is also where most bloggers have trouble. Here are a few ways you can get traffic to your blog.


Social Media

I am sure that I do not need to tell you that you can get a lot of traffic from social media. Most bloggers dream of the day when something they write goes viral. But most people also have no idea that they can do something to increase the amount of traffic they can receive from these social media sites. The best way to increase your social media presence is with the use of SMM tools. Some of the best social media monitoring tools are capable of growing your audience by quite a bit by making you a lot more efficient. You will not only have a lot more data to work with but will also be able to save time so that you can work on other blog related things.


Blog Comments

I am sure that you know that you can get traffic via blog comments but most bloggers do not know how to do this right. If you are trying to get people to click through from your blog comment and find out more about you, you should generally follow a few rules of thumb.

• Sooner the better: Comment as soon as the post has been published, if possible be the first one to comment. The father down your comment is, the fewer clicks you will get. Most people tend to not read after the first few comments.
  
  
• Be of appropriate length: It is generally a good idea to make the comment more than the length of a tweet, but be sure not to make to longer than 300 words, because by then you go from leaving a comment to leaving an essay. Besides, no one is even going to read it if it is an essay so don't put that much effort into it.
  
  
• Contribute to the conversation: Pretty much what it says. Contribute something. Even if you write a paragraph, if it is just rewording what someone else has already said, people can tell. So say something original that is of some value.

Forums and communities

This works a lot like blog comments. The only difference is that you have to be consistent. If you are just answering once in a while, you will not be able to send any traffic to your site. Most forums and communities generally have some sort of ranking system that shows everyone else how much you participate. Generally speaking, the higher this is, the more reliable you come off as to most people. By participating often, you can increase this number and when you do answer someone's question people tend to think of you as an authority in that niche and will be tempted to check out your website.


Did you find this article helpful? Please let me know by leaving your valued comments below.

Related articles:
What's In Store For Bloggers This 2012
12 Ways To Generate More Blog Traffic
Top Blog and RSS Directories


If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to +1 or share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar below or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog

You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at:
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Until my next post, have a fabulous week!

Social Media Management: Why Engagement Should Be A Part Of Your Strategy

With social media becoming such a staple of daily life over the last few years, it is no wonder that businesses all over the world have begun to integrate social media into their marketing strategies. However, social media accounts for a very small portion of overall sales for many businesses. Why then, should companies devote time and effort to social media, if it does not engage sales in the way that traditional marketing tactics do?

When thinking about a social media strategy for your business, it is important to think about what the purpose of social media truly is. To do this, begin thinking about what you use your social media account for (if you have one). Chances are, you utilize social media in order to stay connected to the things and people in your life that you care about. You engage in conversations, share interesting content from around the web, and seek to nurture relationships between yourself and those you care about. Interestingly enough, that is exactly how your customers utilize social media as well. Therefore, it is not really a place where people go to buy products or services, and as such, many people are turned off my companies that constantly try to drive sales through social media.

Instead of constantly marketing products and services, companies should instead use social media as a way to foster connections with and engage customers. Tactics to engage customers can include posting open-ended posts asking customers for their opinions and encouraging open discussion in comments. Also, regularly sharing interesting articles or other content that pertain to your business or industry gives customers a reason to seek out your company's profile on a social media network, rather than simply coming across a post every so often on the customer's home page. It will also increase social sharing such as retweets on Twitter, likes and shares on Facebook and +1's on Google+ that can help to boost your site's SEO. By boosting your SEO, your sales will be boosted through search engines, which at the end of the day account for much more sales than social media.

Finally, and perhaps most important of all, having a social media presence that seeks to engage customers rather than sell to them helps build trust in your brand, which is the ultimate sales motivator. When a customer trusts your company, they become a customer for life, and may ultimately subscribe to an e-mail list, rewards program, etc. They will also be more likely to recommend your business to others, both of which can help your company exponentially in the long run.

At the end of the day, social media marketing accounts for just a small part of your overall marketing plan. However, your business would be at a huge disadvantage if you did not take the opportunity of creating a social media presence. This is because so many people are committed to social media, and access it every single day. Although you may not be able to drive sales with social media, you can build relationships with your customers, as well as reach new customers. When you engage with these people, you build trust in your business, which will increase sales in the future.


About The Author: Hannah Marr is the Content Director for BizBrag, a small business marketing platform. BizBrag helps small businesses, enterprises, and franchises to push their content to a larger customer base through social media and search engines. Hannah develops content for these businesses and would love to help your small business, enterprise, or franchise to reach a wider audience through BizBrag technology.

Did you find this article helpful? Please let Hannah and myself know by leaving us your valued comments below.

Related articles:
Engaging Consumers Through Social Media
Social Media Day Meet-ups: How Can They Work For You
5 Do's And 5 Don'ts In Social Media
Building Your Business With Social Media
The 10 Basic Rules Of Social Media Marketing
Top 14 Benefits Of Social Media Marketing
How To Use Facebook For Your Small Business
9 Tips For More Effective Facebook Marketing


If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to +1 or share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar below or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog

You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/djones1509
https://plus.google.com/104849975941505117776

Until my next post on Monday, have a fabulous weekend!