Internet Marketing
Optimize Your YouTube Videos with These SEO Strategies
June 6, 2012 | 
Author I’ve mentioned this before in previous articles, but it bears repeating. YouTube is the number two search engine in the world. The social video sharing site is only outranked by its owner Google. The site streams over 1.2 billion videos per day, and users upload something like 24 hours worth of video every minute. To say the least, YouTube is a powerful community and if you’re not taking advantage of what the site has to offer then you are missing out on a potent marketing opportunity.
It’s easy to look at all of the content being uploaded to YouTube and think the site is oversaturated. The reality is much of content being posted on YouTube is poor quality (i.e. crap). On top of that, most people don’t take the time to properly optimize their video submissions. With just a few tweaks, your content can easily float to the top of the pond where eager viewers are just waiting to consume it.
Create Great Content
Before you even start thinking about how to get your videos to rank well on YouTube and drive traffic to your business, it is critical that you produce videos worth watching. You can optimize your videos and YouTube account all you want, but you aren’t going to win anyone over if the videos are low quality, highly commercialized, or otherwise unappealing. Take time to create content that people want to consume. It should be useful, entertaining, or both.
Some examples of content that does well on YouTube include entertaining videos that make people laugh, webinars about hot topics in an industry, educational videos that teach people a skill such as how to set up a WordPress blog, and videos that touch on current events in a fun way. Take an afternoon to brainstorm the type of content that your viewers would enjoy.
Tips for Optimizing Your Videos
YouTube’s search engine operates the same way as other search engines. The primary driver of the search results is keywords. When a user enters one or more keywords into the search bar, the site pulls up results that best match the entry. To make sure your profile and videos come up in the search results, it is important to add appropriate keywords.
Add the keywords in the title and description of the video. YouTube generates meta tags using these items. Not only does this information show up in the site’s search results, but Google and other search engines use that information when listing the videos in their own search result pages. This can help increase the reach of your video, especially if a lot of people like it and link to it. Also, use keywords in the video’s tags.
In addition to writing a keyword-rich description, be certain to include links. Try to place the links at the beginning of the description so they don’t get lost underneath the “more info” portion of the video information section. The links should be relevant to the video and encourage users to take action on what they just watched. You can also use the annotation feature to link to other videos on your account.
Search engines have no way of knowing what is on the video. It would be very helpful to include a transcript of the video, not only for search engines but for people that may want to quote passages from it. Since the video information section may be too small, it’s probably best to place this transcript on your website and link to it from the video’s description box.
Taking time to optimize your YouTube videos will give you an advantage over your competition. You’ll be rewarded with more views and great prospects.
Posted in Internet Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Video | 
Tags: youtube marketing, youtube videos | 
No Comments »
Does Your Business Need QR Codes?
In a previous article, How Real Estate Agents Can Benefit from Mobile Marketing, I touched on a cutting-edge marketing tool called QR codes. Short for Quick Response, QR codes are a type of matrix barcode that can be used to store large amounts of data. The technology was first developed for the automotive industry, but has found its way into mainstream society.
Much of the popularity of QR codes can be attributed to the rise of smartphones. With the right app, smartphone owners can read the data contained in a QR code. In the article I wrote, I suggested that real estate agents use these codes on their For Sale signs to provide potential homebuyers with additional details about the homes they are looking at. However, other industries can use the codes in a number of ways:
Business Uses of QR Codes
* Retailers can add the code to magazine advertisements that, once scanned, will take readers directly to a web page where they can buy the product.
* Cafes can provide a way for customers to check-in with Foursquare and other social networks whenever they visit the shop.
* Insurance agents can place a QR code on the back of their business card that will take the person to an insurance quote web page.
* Tech-forward businesses can allow customers to pay for their purchases by scanning a QR code.
* Funeral homes can use QR codes to create dynamic memorials for people who have passed on.
While QR codes can be used in an infinite number of ways, the real question is whether or not your company needs to start using them. The answer? Absolutely!
Seamless Integration is the Future with QR Codes
The Internet has become deeply integrated into the fabric of society. However, there is still a certain amount of disconnect between the two. A woman who sees a sweater in a magazine that she likes will have to stop what she is doing to find an access point to the Internet. Once on the Internet, she will have to search for the closest place that sells the sweater or find a website with the lowest price and go through the checkout process to buy it. That disconnect, though, is slowly dissolving thanks in part to QR codes and smartphones.
Using the right apps, a person can set up their smartphone with their banking information, location, and product search preferences. Now when that same woman finds a sweater she likes in a magazine, she can scan the accompanying QR code and have it shipped to her home with just a few clicks. If you think this type of integration is still far off into the future, consider this.
Tesco is quickly rising to become the #1 grocery store in Korea because of their smart use of QR codes. Realizing that Koreans are too busy working to go grocery shopping, the company set up a virtual grocery store in a subway. Using their smartphones, people can scan the products they want, pay for them online, and have the groceries waiting for them by the time they get home. While there are still a few kinks being worked out, the service has quickly become very popular in the country.
Getting Started with QR Codes
* Decide what you want the QR code to do – Think of how you can improve the customer service experience with QR codes. For example, you can place a code on electronic merchandise that will take customers to a tech support channel.
* Determine the best place to display the code – The QR code can be placed on any surface that can be scanned. However, where you place it should be tied to what you want the code to do. If you want it be a check-in point for customers, for example, then placing the code in a store window or at the check-out stand are good places.
* Market the code – Since these codes are still fairly new, you will need to draw attention to them. Be sure to provide an incentive to your customers to use them. Give a coupon, for instance, to people who check-in to Foursquare using the QR code.
* Track your results – Like any other marketing you do, track your results to see how well the campaign is working for you. If things aren’t going well, keep experimenting until you find a strategy that produces results.
QR codes are the future. Give your company an advantage over the competition by integrating this simple technology into your business.
Beware of Bad SEM Companies
Can You Do SEM On Your Own?
Search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM) are an essential part of doing business online. Social networking is great, but when people want answers to their questions, they still turn to the search engines. If you want your business to do well online, then you have to pay attention to how well your website is ranking for the keywords relevant to your business.
While you can do SEM on your own, it takes a lot of time, effort, and experimentation to really understand the ins and outs of search engine marketing. If you would rather spend your time working your business, then you can hire an SEM company to do your search marketing for you. But before you call the first company that comes up in the search engine results, be aware that there are plenty of bad SEM companies out there ready to take your money and run.
The inspiration for this blog article came from a post I read in a forum. In the post, the person stated that instead of deleting the spam that was posted on their site, they started contacting the companies whose websites were being advertised. Surprise of all surprises, these business owners had hired what they thought were legitimate SEM companies. But all they got for their money were angry emails, a ruined reputation, and banned websites.
SEM: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You
Bad search engine marketing companies entice their victims with promises of getting their websites advertised on thousands of websites cheaply, and helping the company rank high in the search engine results pages (SERPs) for their chosen keywords. What the business owners don’t realize is that these companies use black hat techniques that are bad for business.
These tactics include using questionably legal software to leave thousands of spam messages on blogs, forums, and other websites, filling the company website with content of dubious value, keyword stuffing, using fake doorway pages, and a whole assortment of bad search marketing tactics that search engines hate.
The worst thing about this scam is that it works…at first. The SEM company will happily take your money and show you reports detailing how well your website is doing in the SERPs. But then the hammer drops, and your site stops performing like it used to. Worse, you start getting angry messages from people demanding that you stop spamming them. The reputation of your business gets shredded, and the company you hired is suddenly nowhere to be found.
Tips for Hiring a Good SEO/ SEM Company
There are reputable SEM companies out there that can help you obtain good results using ethical methods. But how do you separate the good from the bad?
* Good SEM companies don’t promise the sun, moon, and stars – Bad SEM companies prey on our weakness for wanting big things done in a hurry. Rank #1 in one week! Get 1000 backlinks in 24 hours! Sounds enticing, doesn’t it? The reality is it takes time to get good results when you do SEM the right way. However, the results you get are long lasting and won’t ruin your reputation.
* Good SEM companies understand the holistic nature of search engine marketing – There is more to search engine optimization and marketing than just getting a lot of links to your website. There is onsite optimization, content creation, and pay-per-click marketing to name a few. If the SEM company is only focused on one thing, keep shopping around.
* Ask for a portfolio of their work – The sales person should be able to produce a list of websites the company has worked on. In addition to checking out their results, contact the site owners for feedback on what it was like to work with the company.
* Industry experience – The longer the company has been in business, the better. While new companies can certainly do a good job, a company that has been around for awhile will generally have more experience with the vagaries and quirks of search engines.
Good rankings in the search engine can bring a lot of traffic to your business’ front door. However, don’t sacrifice your company’s good reputation for a quick fix. Take time to find the best SEM company who will protect your brand and improve your bottom line by marketing your business the right way.
For software that can help you do well in the search engines, check out MyBrandingSystem. This comprehensive blogging system can help you kick off your search engine marketing campaign and get your business ranking for your preferred search terms. Check out the features they have available.
Posted in Internet Marketing | Tags: Search Engine Marketing, search engine optimization | No Comments »
How Real Estate Agents Can Benefit from Mobile Marketing
What is Mobile Marketing?
A very short time ago when someone talked about mobile marketing they were usually referring to the various marketing messages that were often found on the side of cars and trucks. Today, that concept has been reclassified as vehicular marketing and mobile marketing now refers to the use of mobile mediums (e.g. iPads and cell phones) for marketing communications.
Although still in its infancy, mobile marketing is quickly becoming “The Next Big Thing” to use for marketing products and services. This is due to the giant leap forward mobile technology has made in the last decade. Today, cell phones resemble miniature laptops and can perform a variety of amazing tasks including stream movies, play music, take pictures, and send email. All I can say is now is a great time to be a real estate agent.
To be sure, the economy is still struggling to overcome the Crash of ‘08 and potential buyers are busy Occupying Wall Street rather than touring neighborhoods with you. However, if you have been looking for a way to reach customers with your sales message even when they are busy chanting slogans in Bryant Park, then mobile marketing is your new best friend. Here are a few ways you can amp up your real estate marketing using various mobile marketing technologies.
How To Use Mobile Marketing With Your Real Estate Business
* Create an App – Apps, or applications, are the hot new thing. The smartphone market has exploded in recent years, and developers are creating applications that increase the functionality of these high-end phones. You could create a mobile app that lets users search for homes, find an agent, or calculate their monthly mortgage while strolling down the street they want to live on.
* SMS Marketing – Also called text messages, you could use SMS to alert potential homebuyers when a house that fits their needs becomes available. This is an unobtrusive way to notify buyers of developments in the market.
* Mobilize Your Website – Smartphone screens are much smaller than computer screens and sometimes the content on regular websites gets lost in translation. Create a mobile-friendly website with a direct call button in place that allows users to contact you with one touch.
* Enhance Listings with QR Codes – Quick Response (QR) codes are two-dimensional barcodes that have the capacity to store large amounts of information. Mobile users scan these codes to activate the information embedded in them. Use QR codes on your For Sale signs to instantly provide customers info about a home they may be standing in front of.
* Location-based Services – Some mobile companies offer a service that will allow you to send mobile users targeted sales messages when they enter a certain area.
Because mobile marketing is still young, there are only a few companies right now who offer one or all of these services. However, the benefits of using mobile technology to promote your real estate business is well worth the time and effort it will take to find a company that can help you get started.
Add Blogging to your Mobile Marketing Presence
Blogging is also an excellent way to reach potential homebuyers. My Branding System is a complete article and personal branding system that can help you get that first page on Google. To check out additional information on how real estate agents can effectively use a blog read my article, “Compelling Blog Topics for Realtors That Create Your Brand”.
Posted in Internet Marketing, Real Estate Branding, Social Media Marketing | Tags: Mobile Marketing, real estate marketing | 1 Comment »
Time to Escape the Article Directory Trap
Is Article Marketing Dead?
Submitting articles to content directories like Ezinearticles has long been an excellent way to promote your small business. However, Google – in its quest to combat spam – turned the Internet marketing world upside down when content directories suddenly found their website traffic cut in half when thousands of their articles were deindexed from the search engine results pages (SERPs).
Many webmasters began to panic because the flow of traffic from their articles in these directories had fizzled out. Soon blog and forum posts began popping up declaring that article marketing was dead, and that marketers should direct their attention to other venues. While the sentiment is understandable, their version of reality is not. Article marketing is not dead. People have just been using them wrong.
People who declare that article marketing is dead has most likely been chasing after the wrong result. Scanning the Internet marketing forums and make money online blogs, many of these individuals are submitting articles to the directory to:
1) Drive traffic to their website
2) Increase their search engine rank for certain keywords
Let’s explore why this is the wrong way to approach article marketing.
Read the rest of this entry »
Part Time Internet Business – The Secret of Making Money in Your Spare Time
This article is written by a friend of mine, Roberta Gerrick, who is a passionate work at home mom. She writes about balancing her family and her internet business with many tips and tools that she loves to share. So many people set up a Part Time business as their Plan B and have trouble managing their time. However, finding the right time saving tools can lead you to success – it is what all the successful online marketers are doing and you just don’t know about them! The Sales Funnel is a key element of the process. Enjoy!
Trouble Finding Time for Your Internet Business?
If you are like most people these days then you are probably looking for a way to make more money. Whether your full time job isn’t paying enough, your significant other was laid off work, or you have a few financial goals you want to achieve, it is possible to make more money with a part time internet business.
The challenge most people face when starting an internet business is finding the time to do the work. They come home from a full time job to full time family responsibilities and finding space in between to work a part time business opportunity seems impossible. However, if you make good use of the time you have and implement the following strategy you can generate a dependable source of income with a part time internet business.
It’s All About Creating a System for Your Part Time Internet Business
The secret to building a successful internet business in your spare time is to develop a system that finds prospects, convinces them to purchase your product or sign up for your opportunity, and processes their investment with as little input from you as possible. It’s about taking advantage of the many tools available for automating your business to attract people to and get them through your sales funnel.
photo credit: Yann Ropers
A sales funnel is a systematic approach to the sale of a product, service, or business opportunity. It separates the journey your prospect takes from when they first hear about your business to when they make a purchase into several steps. It is called a funnel because you will usually begin with a lot of people (say 100) showing interest in what you are selling but you only end up with a few who actually make the commitment (about 2-3%).
It looks something like this:
- 1. Identify Opportunity or Product (100 people)
- 2. Initial Communication (50 people)
- 3. Solution Evaluation (20 people)
- 4. Negotiation (10 people)
- 5. Sales Order (3 people)
Each internet business will have their own unique sales funnel but they all follow a similar pattern. If you want to maximize your time and build your part time business to profitable levels, it is a good idea to identify the steps your prospects need to take to get through your sales funnel and then find ways to automate as much of that as possible. Read the rest of this entry »
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Turning Vinegar into Wine: Handling Criticism Online
Criticism Multiplied Online
It was Leo F. Buscaglia who once said, “The person who risks nothing and does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing.” As a business owner, you will have hits and misses when it comes to dealing with customers. The hits help you build a profitable business. But it’s the misses that, unfortunately, will earn you your bitterest enemies.
In the past, customer complaints had limited reach. At best, an unhappy client could tell their story of woe to maybe 20 to 30 people. If you messed up bad enough then your mistake was the topic of the six o’clock news, until it was overshadowed by another scandal.
This is the age of transparency, however, and customers today are not afraid to air their grievances online. Some companies have the dubious honor of having entire blogs dedicated to showcasing their every misstep in Technicolor detail, and social media outlets allow the disgruntled to reach thousands of followers with just one tweet. If that’s not enough, all of your flub-ups can easily be uncovered with a quick search on Google.
Recent Criticism Online Yielded Results
Bank of America is an excellent example of a company that has its dirty laundry consistently aired in the public. The last time it happened, they were forced to change their banking policy in the face of public outcry over their proposed plan to start charging customers $5 per month to use their debit cards.
In reaction to losing the debit card fee war with retailers, banks were looking at ways to pad their profit margins since they were effectively blocked from raising the fees they charged retailers to process debit card transactions. Bank of America thought the answer was to charge customers for the “privilege” of paying by debit. The reasoning was obvious. The bank wanted customers to switch to using credit cards (or credit transactions) which earned it more money.
Pre-Internet days, the bank probably would have gotten away with it. Today, however, it was easy for people who were tired of being victims of corporate greed to raise the alarm over this issue and even simpler for Bank of America customers to stage a boycott of the company. The bank’s previous missteps were dragged into the conversation over and over again. Facing even greater profit losses, the bank abandoned its plans to charge for debit card usage. Unfortunately for the bank, the situation left enough of a bad taste in people’s mouths that many still moved their accounts to different financial institutions.
Just after I posted this article, Verizon shot themselves in the foot with their $2 service fee for online payments. Now I took personal offense to this ridiculous charge and was delighted to see that the Internet Criticism won again! They will not implement this charge due to the overwhelming negative response.
Getting the Scoop on Yourself
So how do you counteract negativity directed at your brand? For starters, you need to find out what people are saying about you behind your back. It can be tough to listen to criticisms of your brand, but ignoring negative chatter won’t make it go away. In some cases, it can make things worse.
Your first task, then, is to setup a funnel that directs all feedback about your business to you or someone you assign the task of monitoring the company’s reputation. Here are a few suggestions of things you can do:
* Set up Google and Yahoo alerts to be sent to your inbox whenever something regarding your company is picked up by search engines.
* Use Hootsuite or Tweetdeck to pick up mentions of your name on Twitter.
* Conduct regular searches on your company name and your name online. You should rank at the top of the search results for both.
Dealing with Public Online Criticism
If your monitoring uncovers criticisms about you, your company, or its representatives then you need to decide what kind of action you are going to take to counteract it.
1. Handle it – If the criticism is warranted, then you need to deal with the issue the person is complaining about. Despite the horror stories you hear about sociopathic customers who enjoy bringing misery unto everyone they come in contact with, most people are reasonable. If you reach out to the person with a sincere desire to make things right, you can usually turn the situation around into your favor.
2. Respond to it – Some complaints have nothing to do with your company’s product or customer service. Rather, it may be about your business processes or your company’s stance about a particular issue. In this case, it may be a good idea to write a blog post or send out a press release explaining your thoughts on the issue.
3. Delete it – If the criticism is posted on your Facebook page or company blog, then you have the option of deleting it without responding to it. This option should be reserved for posts that violate your brand’s standards or are simply valueless, personal attacks against you, your employees, or your company. Obey the golden rule of the Internet: Don’t feed the trolls.
4. Let your supports respond – If you’ve done things right, then you will have a built-in advocacy group called “Happy Customers”. Typically, these people will come to bat for you if they see negative criticisms levied at your company. Sometimes these people can be more effective at defending you than a PR company.
Consider criticisms of your company an opportunity to win new fans of your business. Maintain a friendly but professional demeanor at all times so that no matter how much mud gets slung your way, you’ll always come out smelling like roses. Blogging is also an excellent way to combat criticism about your company online. My Branding System is a complete article and personal branding system that can help you rank for your name on Google and show customers your best side.