I think search is a seriously exciting place to be right now. 2012 has seen some of the most aggressive Google algorithm updates of all time; a lot of SEOs were hit hard, and as each update was released some form of mini-riot followed. But while anger towards Matt Cutts (Google’s human shield) ensued, I couldn’t help but feel that SEO was returning to the open field that it once was. SEOs dropped out in favour of other things, they decided that Google was on a mission to destroy organic rankings and that Google owed them for all of those useless links and cookie cut content they had created; a quick look at any of the comments on SEroundtable shows that SEOs are just giving up.
But for me, SEO now more than ever is about hording knowledge, it’s about grabbing as much as you can and stuffing it into your brain so that you can develop – through management or being hands on – the perfect user/search focused website. So that is what I’m bringing to you today, knowledge bursting new school SEO best practices that will make you smarter than the next guy. read more
Copywriter – the mere word springs to mind an image of an unsociable creature left scribbling away in the corner, a field of office-snacks littering the desk and people hurrying past should the said beast awaken and attempt a ‘conversation’. While verbal communication and social interaction is not something typically associated with a writer, there is an air of genius (often mistook for insanity) surrounding a copywriter, for they can manipulate the power of the written word; but how does this help a business? read more
What really is Search Engine Optimization? (Photo credit: Go Local Search)
More and more people all over the globe are taking the plunge and diving into the world of self-employment. Even though the economy is not what it used to be, it is relatively easy to find your place in the modern market and open a business of your own. Furthermore, when starting a small business, you are faced with a large number of problems which should rather be seen as challenges. These challenges are often difficult to overcome, but some of them such as the challenge of creating a strong online presence, is extremely important to overcome. Here, we will talk about SEO challenges that small business are faced with. read more
Cloud computing is truly the tech du jour among business enterprises, but this tech buzz word is no passing fad, its gearing up to be that floating behemoth of data that’s here to stay. You’d be surprise to know that you’ve been using cloud-based services for quite some time now with Gmail, Google Docs and Dropbox. And with that realization, do you now understand the convenience of the Cloud?
As more company data and materials go on the cloud and away from any physical server at the office,
you can count on productivity and customer service to get a boost, as data can be accessed on demand
and traded among shared groups and even further improved on through customization. Well, you can think of Cloud computing in terms of the way a busy airport operates and with it comes its very own 4Cs- Capacity, Continuity, Checkpoints and Chokepoints. read more
Marketing professionals are realizing the immense power of using social media. It is a potent marketing tool when used correctly because it eliminates a lot of layers that separate the marketer from its target audience. The immediacy and intimacy of social media is a natural fit for the hotel industry because it is a service-oriented industry and benefits from the close relationships social media marketing establishes with its audience.
One great example of how social media is being used by a hotel is the Marriott. The prestigious hotel chain knows that it needs to incorporate social media marketing to its online efforts and has done this quite admirably by adding various social media options in its website when it was overhauled. It now provides links to various social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Youtube. The site has also established a blog and a handy link resource that point to various business and operational aspects of Marriott International. read more
Search engine optimisation (SEO) is one of the most important aspects of modern web design. In recent years, having a good grip on SEO has often made the difference between a successful website and one that fails to garner significant attention. Due to the nature of search engines, SEO must constantly adapt to ensure that websites remain high in the search rankings.
Many web designers have been noticing lately that Google, the most widely used search engine by far, has had its search algorithms modified in an attempt to reduce the amount of spam content in search results. With this in mind, it pays to remember that it is in the interests of both you and the search engine companies to produce content that doesn’t have the typical spam features, such as keyword stuffing. The aim of Google is to produce results that are pleasing to people searching out websites, so having a high quality site can act as a form of SEO in itself. In the long run it’ll pay off as more specifically optimised pages eventually become obsolete. read more
Google currently gets 30,000 searches per second. They aim to reduce webspam and constantly update their algorithms. SEO is getting harder, but they still continue to grow. One might predict that this trend will only grow and eventually that their following will increase, however is that really the case? How is the SEO industry going to face the future of Google?
The Future of Search Engines
Other search engines such as Bing and Yahoo are stepping their game up. They are improving the quality of their search engine algorithm, the algorithm that is used to rank websites that takes in factors such as the amount of quality links that link to the website. Competitors are taking their shot at Google, but can it really work?
Bing and Yahoo Merged, now showing the same results. This is an attempt to team up and maximize results to compete against Google. By combining their team working on the algorithm they now have more manpower and brains to implement a more complex efficient ranking system for websites and attempt to show better results than Google does. Is this enough though? Will users flock to other lesser known search engines just because it might provide for slightly better results? Only time will tell, and that is only if the competitors can manage to provide better results with a more user friendly interface. read more
Though the brutal social networking war has lost the interest of most news outlets, gruesome battles continue to take place behind the scenes as the arms race for users escalates. Facebook’s IPO has left the brand bloodied, and Google has seized on this moment of weakness to bolster their own offering, Google+, in the eyes of consumers. Meanwhile, MySpace seems to be taking a different strategy and reinventing itself as the music discovery service it was originally envisioned as. Shots continue to ring out across the digital ether, and with every blow levied, each social network has just one task ahead of them: Becoming distinct enough from other networks while pulling in more users. read more
If you are an online marketer and you are not using email, you’re missing out on one of the most powerful tools for reaching customers and increasing engagement. Email is a means to reach the people most interested in your products or services in a deeply personal way. It’s a way to stay in constant contact with your most loyal customers, fans and supporters. However, email marketing can be very tricky. If it’s done well, it can attract new people to your business and make current customers even better. If done poorly, it can turn away people who were, previously, excited about you and your brand.
So who can you turn to for help in mastering email marketing? Social networks are among the largest email senders in terms of volume and have spent an incredible amount of time and resources honing their email marketing. However, this is effort and energy you can tap as you can learn a great deal from these networks without having to duplicate their investment. You just have to be willing to step back and study what they are doing and why. read more
It’s not every day that a mobile app is acquired by a social media giant for a cool one billion dollars- which explains why Instagram’s acquisition by Facebook was one of the hottest topics a few weeks ago. Infographic Labs, which previously created an infographic on the Rise of Instagram, tracks Instagram’s journey to $1 billion with this infographic design: read more
Copywriter – the mere word springs to mind an image of an unsociable creature left scribbling away in the corner, a field of office-snacks littering the desk and people hurrying past should the said beast awaken and attempt a ‘conversation’. While verbal communication and social interaction is not something typically associated with a writer, there is an air of genius (often mistook for insanity) surrounding a copywriter, for they can manipulate the power of the written word; but how does this help a business? 
