Archive for February, 2009

Video as SEO influencer

February 24th, 2009 by Andy Groller

SearchInsider’s David Berkowitz wrote in a recent blog post – at http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=100419 - about how much video is influencing ranking.  “VIDEOS ARE MORE LIKELY THAN text to get on the first page of Google’s search results, according to Forrester Research’s Nate Elliott.”

This seems to me to be one of those odd tricks of statistical analysis.  After all, if I search on a highly competitive key phrase like “web design”, there are NO entries with video in the top 10 results. (or at least not yesterday).

 NOT to take away from the importance of video. Its critical that organizations create the largest footprint feasible on the web, using all media. And you don’t want to be play catch-up 6 months or a year from now when some aspect of media is in the spotlight. 

Thanks to Betsy Kent at Be Visible Associates for the article forward.

Google Grants: Grants Available for Non Profit Organizations

February 24th, 2009 by Andy Groller

Non-Profits Rejoice, You Can Get 10K for Your Cause!

Non-profit organizations are always looking for available funds to get their message out to the public arena, either through donations, fundraising, or other fund generating activities. Well now non-profits have another option with Google Grants.

The Google Grants program is designed specifically for non-profit organizations with the 501(c)(3) IRS status to receive $10,000 per month in AdWords funds. Through a relatively short application process that can take up to 4 months, but is typically less, these non-profits can attain these grants that are then used to broadcast their important messages throughout the world’s largest and most used Internet search engine. 

Just a few important stipulations, among others, on receiving and keeping the non-profit Google Grants though:

  • The non-profit website can have no revenue generating ads (i.e. Google AdSense or affiliate advertising links)
  • Max cost per click bids cannot go above $1.00
  • Ads only run on Google.com. NO partner sites and NO content network.

The organizations never actually see the 10K but instead have their click costs deducted from the monthly total.  Perhaps the best part of this entire program is the fact that there is never a need to reapply for a Google Grant. Simply put, unless Google deems your organization unfit for the non-profit grant, it’s yours until you don’t want it anymore!

So this is all great for non-profits, but as a PPC management company what does it mean for you?

It means you have just expanded your potential client list by a few thousand all because of these Google Grants made available to non-profit organizations.

 Think about it. The main objective of a non-profit organization is to help people, animals, etc in bettering their situations. Do they really have time to continually manage an effective PPC account? In some cases they do have the abilities to manage successful PPC campaigns, but in most cases these organizations do not have the resources or manpower to dedicate time and effort to these advertising ventures.

In steps the knowledgeable and resourceful PPC Company to help with these non-profit grants!

 

For a relatively small management fee, in comparison to the generous Google Grant money, a non-profit not only can focus on fulfilling its purpose of helping others but it receives the devotion and dedication that is necessary to creating and managing the most successful PPC campaigns as possible. Think of the possibilities that can be created with a 10K monthly budget ($333/day)?! Granted your options do receive some limitation by the $1.00 max CPC bid, but there are plenty of keywords that can be utilized for less than that.

Ultimately everyone wins. Non-profits receive 10K in AdWords money to get their important messages to the public while paying a relatively small management fee in comparison and PPC management companies receive a new client, a management fee, and the fun of trying to develop a strategy of spending $333 PER DAY!

How is Facebook Stimulating Our Economy?

February 19th, 2009 by Claudia D'Arcy

My Letter to the MSNBC Morning Joe folks regarding their comment about Facebook this AM:

Good day!

While my husband and I wake up to you guys every morning, sometimes you do manage to make my day begin, not with a cup of coffee, but boiling blood. Sometimes, for some very intelligent folks, you say some real ignorant things!

This morning, you were discussing Facebook use making the cover of Fortune and one comment, made by Joe, really stuck out to me. You were saying that you did not have time for Facebook and that you had trouble understanding where people who do spend hours a day on Facebook get that time. Ok, I can understand that. It’s not your thing and you are a busy guy, but then you went on to ask, “How is Facebook stimulating our economy? This does not help us.”

Well, Joe, you could not be more wrong.

Facebook, Facebook users and the immense growth of Facebook to the 175 million users reported today definitely simulate the economy.

I am a SMM/SMO and blog consultant. I am employed by a search engine marketing firm and part of my job is to be on Facebook all day long. Other companies pay for us to create, monitor and promote their corporate pages on Facebook as well as MySpace, Twitter, YouTube and other various social media sites.

Because of all those Americans, who, unlike you, do not have anything better to do all day but interact with long lost friends and comment of their cousins new baby pictures, are all flocking to Facebook in record numbers; there are a great number of businesses that realize that Facebook has great untapped marketing and branding potential.  The “buzz” has informed them that they need to get on the trend bandwagon, but luckily for me, they either don’t have the time or the geek knowledge to implement, manage or maintain their presence online. If anything the specific need for my social media expertise has grown as the economy has decreased. We are insanely busy, actually hiring new staff, and getting new clients every day. My firm is actually a great advertising investment for many small and large businesses as we can, for a minor budget, produce real measureable results and a great ROI!

Furthermore, since you are an admitted Facebook virgin, Facebook is the phenomenon it is because it is NOT all kids and teens. The reason it has very recently exploded and increasing at a rate of 5 million new users a week is due to the fact that it’s all real folks who you actually know and want to communicate with. There is something really nice about finding childhood friends and suddenly realizing that the last 20 years of separation didn’t mean so much in terms of knowing that person. In fact, the single largest group of users growing most quickly right now is women over 55.

And lastly, you actually ARE on Facebook.  Someone created you a fan page Though, I feel compelled to say, professionally, it could use some help in both design and promotion. Loehmann’s has more fans than you.

Don’t assume you know everything, Joe. Clearly, when it comes to social media, you are out of your comfort zone. Now go beat up on the politicians. I’ll see you in the morning.

Sincerely,

Claudia Corrigan D’Arcy

SMM/SMO Blog Consultant

DragonSearch Marketing

Tradeshow Marketing Plans Consultants: What can DragonSearch Marketing Do for Trade Shows and Conferences?

February 10th, 2009 by Claudia D'Arcy

A successful trade show or conference is the culmination of well planned effort on behalf of the organizers.

Tradeshow marketing plan consultants can involve social media and SEO techniques early on in the planning process can greatly improved the final outcome of success.

Aside from well run, organized logistics, which usually are in the hands of the event venue; success of the trade show or conference depends on the participants, vendors or speakers and the number of paying attendees. Both of these areas can be substantially improved and numbers increased with the assistance of DragonSearch Marketing.

Any web site supporting and promoting the event will benefit from our standard search engine optimization set up and implementation as a means of increased visibility and the ease of which the website may be found. Increased rankings on the search engines will greatly increase the organic spread of the event. Keyword research allows all to see inside the minds of the end users and go where they already are.

For a more timed campaign, PPC efforts will provide targeted pay per click advertisement with measurable results.

Our internet research department can coordinate and outreach and email campaign to reach both vendors and participants that would be interested in participating and attending your event. Using our expertise in digging deeply into both general and industrial specific sites, we research and find businesses, trade organizations and online communities that will share similar interests. This research will often point to unique and interesting keynote speakers and upcoming issues that are show and conference organizers are not even aware of as they have not hit the general zeitgeist yet.

Adding well branded social media profiles and employing various aspects online social communications will continue to promote the event and allow for a natural viral expanse. We can organize a guerilla attack on both generally populated sites and industry/trade specific sites to spread the word and generate excitement for the upcoming event. By researching the specific industry our promotional team ensures that any site online that might have a relevant interest has the event covered in some capacity depending on the nature of the site whether it be a related blog, or industry forum, or general bookmarking. We build detailed and branded profiles that naturally attract people of similar interests

The standard SEO practice of link building takes a whole other feel when applied to upcoming events. Using our vast repertoire of event listings sites, again, both generally populated and industry specific, we promote the upcoming event in all ways possible. The larger event listing sites will often get picked up by local traditional media, locally oriented online sites, and industry news sites, while the more relevant and specific industry related sites will directly reach in the final interested third party.

In these economically trying times, it might be harder to reach the attendees and parties interested and able to attend your trade show or conference. Guarantee the results of your trade show or industry conference planning efforts by aligning up early with the Dragons of the Internet.



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