Twitter Logo from http://www.twitter.com, Nov 2011
Twitter tools and tips

Twitter Tools and Tips

Managing a professional or company Twitter account is a lot different than managing a personal one, mainly because you are not as lax with your company page as you are with your personal account. A business Twitter page should be all about offering industry, consumer, and company information while an individual page is more often used for social communications with friends and family. It becomes much easier to manage the two if you avoid mixing your personal and professional Tweets.

When to follow someone on Twitter:

• If they keep you informed.
• If they entertain you.
• If they make things easier on you.
• If they are already an active member of your network.
• If they are someone you’d like to get to know.

When Not to Follow Someone on Twitter:

• If the user is not industry related or only use their account for personal tweets.
• If the user still has the default Easter egg avatar or if they use a provocative female as their avatar when it is clearly a man or corporation tweeting.
• If the user doesn’t list anything in their bio. (No website, no location)
• If the user only uses this medium to try to sell something and doesn’t offer actual content.
• If the user follows a lot

… Read the rest

from http://www.seomoz.org/blog/4-essential-seo-infographics, September 2011

Link value or link juice is a term often used in Search Engine Optimization and refers to the amount of value that the search engines like Google attribute to a website or link. Link juice is assigned to web pages and is dispersed throughout a website based on how well your website is optimized. The more links and most importantly the more high quality links a website has directly translates into the more link juice a website is likely to have.

When talking about Links it is important to understand some important fundamentals. Total links quantity indicates the total number of links that your website or webpage possesses. The merit of these links can vary which brings us to the linking source. The linking source describes who is linking to your content and how credible or trustworthy they are. The sites that have a higher rank will pass on more value than those with a lower web rank. Even though the websites with a higher rank may provide more value it is also important to have diversity among your links. It’s ok to have links from lower ranked pages as long as there is a balance between link values.

Another major factor with links is anchor text. The anchor text is the keywords and descriptions other websites use when linking to your content. Accurate anchor text is essential for good SEO. You want something that describes your content well and not something like “Click here”. The visible text for a link or the anchor text should include the source and a short description of the linked… Read the rest

Does SEO still matter? Social media sites have done a great job of connecting businesses with customers. However even with all the advantages that social media has to offer it shouldn’t replace SEO. Instead social media websites should be thought of as a complement to SEO rather than its substitute.

There are many benefits to using social media like attracting new clients, staying in contact with clients, and the ability to build a positive reputation. It’s clear that due to its popularity social media has begun to push other key SEO elements into the background but that doesn’t mean those elements are not still important. As important as Social media is it remains only one portion of the SEO puzzle. The following is a list of reasons why SEO still matters.

1. SEO Finds The People That Want to Find You!

Social networking will put you in front of other social media users but that doesn’t mean they are customers. With SEO you have a better chance of being found by buyers. Social media is often used to communicate with users that are already part of your circle whereas SEO can be used to draw in users to your circle.

2. SEO Provides More Relevance to Customers!

Social media can increase awareness of your company but with Search Engine Optimization you can specifically target customers seeking your product or service. SEO helps you rank for relevant searches which increases the chance of conversion. Additionally each keyword can be optimized to target a different group of consumers.

3. SEO Enhances The Conversion Process!

As mentioned, SEO focuses more on increasing the chances of conversion. SEO focuses on streamlining the conversion process. Every step from targeting, attracting, landing, and retaining a customer is planned out to achieve the best results. SEO optimizes not only keywords but the site’s architecture, calls to action,… Read the rest

 

from http://www.youtube.com/ July 2011

Increasing Search Success:

Similar to Search Engine Optimization, one of your objectives is to use terms that your customers are searching for. Using the same words or phrases that are being searched for will make your video much easier to locate. Although they are not specifically designed for YouTube, some of the same tools used for SEO keyword research can also help generate some popular video search terms. With any marketing the step of selecting the right trigger words is vital either with or without the help of a keyword tool.

When it comes to keyword research and competitive analysis users can also gather information in a number of other ways. For example when performing a search on YouTube you can begin your research by paying attention to the auto suggestions that appear when typing. The auto suggestions identify the terms that other users have recently searched for that relate to your video’s topic. Gathering search patterns surrounding your topic enables you to target your audience more appropriately and will guide more traffic to your content. In addition to the search suggestions, YouTube also provides a list of related terms. Along with the related videos and search suggestion a marketer can also take cues from their competition. Performing competitive analysis by viewing the most popular videos on your subject is a sure fire way to generate new ideas and guide you in the right direction.

Optimizing Context:

Optimizing the context of your video refers to establishing the… Read the rest

The foundation of Google’s social network feels similar to other social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. From the looks of it, Google + appears to incorporate the basics of social networking that we have grown comfortable with and even manages to offer a few unique and innovative features. Users can expect the following features to be included on the Google + Social Networking website following the trial testing period.

 

from http://www.google.com/intl/en/+/learnmore/, June 2011

+ Profile:

Creating a Google + Profile is similar to a Facebook profile. The profile enables users to fill in a bio, contact info, interests, upload photos, and link to other sites that they have created. This profile lets users remain in control by specifying who has access to their information and how much of their information is visible.  The post tab located on the profile page also contains a record of all the posts made by the users. It’s important to mention that changing a Google + profile name will also change the name associated with your Google account and other Google services.

+ Circles:

Sharing on social networking should be more selective. In most cases the things you tell people depend on the type of relationship. It’s unlikely that you would share the same information with your friends and family as you would with co-workers or associates. The way a person communicates with different individuals often contributes more meaning to their relationships and this aspect shouldn’t change while communicating online. With… Read the rest

Exactly one week ago on June 1, 2011 Google announced that they are now offering the +1 button to website developers to place on their own content. On the day of the announcement the +1 buttons started appearing on major websites like Bestbuy.com, TheHuffingtonPost.com, and Nordstrom.com. After only a week the button now appears on large and small websites all across the Internet. Websites can display the button and enable people to recommend their website, blog or even individual products. Already the Google +1 feature seems to have a solid foundation but it continues to work towards being as widely used as its Facebook counterpart. From what we can tell here at Internet Beacon, the Google +1 button is being used frequently on the search results page but doesn’t quite yet have the exposure necessary to properly compete with the Facebook and Twitter sharing buttons that are on individual websites. In time this could change drastically, after all the button is only a week old.

It makes sense that Google would eventually assign some sort of values to this feature where the more plus ones a website has would equal a rank better, however it is still unclear how this development will affect SEO and the Google website ranking algorithm. Google could determine that sites who utilize their social media metric are more trustworthy or valuable sources, or perhaps they will maintain the plus one feature strictly as a social device… Read the rest

 

From http://www.Facebook.com, May 2011

The following are the top 4 Facebook scams that continue to plague user experience. These examples show that although Facebook is proactively implementing security precautions, flaws in their security remain. Once problems are identified Facebook should place a greater effort on expressing their concerns and warnings to the users rather than letting their users discover the problem first hand. Even though many users may have heard of these scams it was probably not directly from Facebook but instead from other websites blogs or from other users. For those of you that are hearing about them for the first time due to Facebook’s inability to properly educate the following 4 are the most prominent scams on Facebook today.

Click Hijacking:

For some, these messages may immediately appear to be scams but sometimes the offer is too enticing to refuse. Clickjacking calls for a user to copy and paste text into their browser search bar which infects the computer with malicious code. After a user unintentionally infects their computer the Clickjacker can use that account to distribute spam. Instead of Facebook identifying these types of messages and sending out a notice to users they leave it to the user to find out about it first-hand.

One example of Clickjacking is when a user receives a post from their friend saying “OMG OMG OMG This Really Works- See who has been looking at your Facebook Profile”. When a user clicks on that message… Read the rest

Public relations firm Burson-Marstellar who has been representing corporate clients for 58 years was hired to encourage various media outlets to examine Google’s privacy practices. It was unbeknownst that Facebook was the one behind the secret smear campaign with many users initially thinking that it was Microsoft or Apple who was responsible. Once the secret campaign went public it was discovered that Facebook had been the one pulling the strings. This discovery was not only damaging to Facebook but to the integrity of the PR firm Burson-Marstellar as well.

Why did Facebook resort to this desperate attempt to smear Google’s name? It basically comes down to money and although Facebook would seem to be at the top of their game, Google is following closely. Before going awry, Facebook was trying to gain a larger lead against Google. The failed attempt has left both Facebook and BM frantic and eager to regain their ground. Some individuals may expect these kinds of dirty tactics as a regular part of business competition but for a company that emphasizes trusts and privacy like Facebook this backfire is greatly damaging to their reputation. Whisper campaigns like this take place all the time in business and political cases but most the time they do not end with the desperate company becoming the headline. This occurrence has left both Facebook and the PR firm Burson-Marstellar with diminished trust amongst their industries and customers.

Facebook maintains that it was not their intention to smear the competition but rather try to get users to closer examine Google’s privacy policies. Facebook made the following statements

“We engaged Burson-Marsteller to… Read the rest

The first of the three features that Facebook released was a New Suite of Safety Tools. The new security provides users with additional information for user and family safety. In addition to the existing safety content the new resources include articles and videos on Facebook security and privacy. Along with the new safety content users will now be able to use social reporting tools to express to the community what items they do not like or find offensive. Another part of the new security features is two factor authentications. Two factor authentications are used to further prevent unauthorized users from accessing other user accounts. This protection procedure requires a secondary code when logging in from an unrecognized device or location. The last announced security update for Facebook is the option for users to access Facebook using a secure connection over HTTPS. However, because some apps do not accommodate HTTPS Facebook will need to automatically switch between HTTP and HTTPS given the user’s authorization.

Following the implementation of their new security, Facebook also launched Deals on Facebook. Deals on Facebook is currently being tested and is only offered in certain areas like Atlanta, Dallas, Austin, San Diego, San Francisco (many more to follow shortly). This feature lets Facebook users locate deals from local businesses, share, and coordinate plans with other Facebook users. Deals on Facebook will work similar to Groupon and Living Social but are now built right into the social network, which is convenient for both customers and businesses who utilize Facebook.

The latest addition made to Facebook is the “Send” button. This new button is very similar to the “like” button which was introduced last year. The new send feature works in rhythm with the Share with a Group feature that lets users categorize… Read the rest

Google +1
from www.google.com/+1/button
April 2011

The Plus One (+1) feature is not an entirely new concept and is very similar to the “Like” button on Facebook. The major difference seems to be the service’s name and the primary platform which it is utilized on.  Similar to Facebook, users can use the +1 option to show that they recommend a website, both on Google as well as on the websites that provide the Plus One option through a widget.  In order to take advantage of this new feature a user will need to create a Google account.

Once a user establishes a Google account they can begin selecting the +1 option that appears below each of the search results.  After a user has placed their stamp of approval on a listing via the Plus One option, it will appear on a new tab in their Google profile.  This newly created tab is where a user is able to manage all of the elements that they have chosen to +1.  These options include the ability to remove a recommendation and to choose who has the authority to view the items that you have marked as Plus One.  The +1 feature enables you to choose whether the +1’s (recommendations) are private, public, or customized to grant permission to specific users.

If a user decides to keep their Plus One item private they will still be added to the number of people who recommend the site however their profile name will remain hidden.  For example below a search result it will display “54 people +1’d this” as opposed to their user name plus the number of other people who have chosen the Plus One option.  Users will be able to see which of their contacts have recommended the site and have a better idea if the search result is worth looking at.

Although… Read the rest

Renting movies from Facebook is a great concept from a consumer point of view.  This agreement makes it even easier for customers already using Facebook to rent movies and because Facebook already has an enormous following it also guarantees customers for Warner Bros. The way we rent movies has been progressing for years and although they are not the first company to offer online streaming video they too now see the financial opportunity that it provides.

Should businesses like Netflix and Redbox be concerned about competing with Facebook? Although this development may increase competition among the movie rental companies I think that it is safe to say that Facebook is still far from dominating this type of business.  Facebook may provide viewers with a new way to experience their favorite films but there are still some downsides to this option.  For example, other companies can offer viewers the option of multiple viewing platforms like televisions, gaming consoles, and computers whereas Facebook limits a customer’s option to view it from a computer only (though smart phones are computers).  Currently being limited to Warner Bros. films also ensures that Netflix and Redbox will more than likely remain on top of this industry.

Since this is only the beginning and a test run for Facebook’s video renting service it doesn’t pose an immediate threat to the other companies just yet. However due to Facebook’s massive presence in our culture things could quickly change and make it… Read the rest

Although the applications would not have access to your contact information unless you provide them with authorization, this concept has caused concern for users.  After announcing the news, Facebook Privacy Settings were faced with much criticism and the debacle eventually caused them to briefly abandon the idea.  However, recently Facebook has announced that they are continuing as planned with contact information based applications.  Facebook has stated that they only delayed this feature in an attempt to construct a better prompt screen that would inform the individuals accessing the application that their contact information is needed in order to continue.

Given the sensitive nature of personal contact information it is understandable that people are weary of this idea.  It is important to remember that Facebook will still maintain their promise regarding not giving out any of your personal information unless you allow them to.  If users do not want an application to access their phone number or address then they  have the option of not using these programs.

Facebook is currently home to more than 550,000 applications.  A number of applications have a legitimate reason for accessing your phone and address, but if you are unsure about sharing your information there are still plenty of other applications to enjoy where the contact information is not needed.  Due to the buzz around this issue people have began to automatically assume that Facebook is going to give out their information, but that’s not completely true.  If a user fully and accurately reads the permission request… Read the rest

Why should our Online Business Activity be any different?

If you own a business there are certain basic recommendations for daily online activity that could help generate more clients.  The Internet is a powerful resource for any business and neglecting to utilize all that it offers is silly.  Every business can be conducting some kind of daily activity online.  Not sure how to fully utilize the Internet for your business? The following are minimal suggestions for your company’s daily Internet practices.

1. Visit Some Social Networking Websites:

Submit some postings to multiple sites and gain a following in the online community.  Use this online activity to share some knowledge and build a reputation for your business.  By improving the brand of your business on Facebook, you’re able to market your company and have the opportunity to acquire profitable insights from others. It’s free, except for your time, so take advantage of the free advertising that websites like Facebook and Twitter offer.  In addition using these social networking sites gives you another medium to allow you to be more accessible to your customers and gain valuable feedback. See more information about how Twitter Can Benefit Your Business.

2. Write a Blog:

Establishing a blog for your business is a great way to branch out and grow your web presence.  A blog is another way to obtain customer interaction as well as communicating important messages to your clients.  Additionally, mention your blog articles on Social Media websites like Twitter and Facebook and have more potential clients visit your website. For more on how blogs can help a business check out Having a Blog Helps!

3. Check The Analytics Of Your Website:

It is important to understand how visitors use your website.  Before you can successfully solve any problems and market your site. You should have a good understanding of what’s going on, who is visiting it, how often, how they are getting there, as well as the tons of other website statistics

… Read the rest

What better way is there for a company to get simple, convenient, and immediate messages to their customers than micro blogging?  That’s exactly what Twitter does by offering an effective and useful tool for companies to employ with limitless possibilities.  The rise of Social networking has provided both individuals and businesses with a new and exciting outlet.

Each and everyday millions of users access these social media in order to generate, express and learn concepts from one another.  Why wouldn’t your business want to take full advantage of a great resource like Twitter? Still not sure what Twitter is and how to use it check here! Twitter Explained

Twitter will not only let your organization branch out but also show that you’re keeping up with the times.  Businesses that are not current with new technologies or are not using tools such as Twitter will always come in second to those embracing the change in technology and social media.  Twitter Helps! Express your thoughts, locate resources, build relationships, gain knowledge and generate interest.  Can your company afford not to utilize it or an instrument like it?

If you are still weary there is no better reason to advance to the next stage of communication than it simply helps you stay connected.  Staying connected to your customers and retaining their future business is a key element for any company, and Twitter offers that. The Twitter communications platform not only connects a business with their customers it also allows real time market research regarding customer feedback.  By offering quick insights to the customer’s likes and dislikes Twitter enables companies to see what they are doing right, what they are doing wrong or what they could potentially improve on.

Reliability is a major positive attribute to any company, people need reliability and companies utilizing Twitter communication can offer them an enhanced level of it.  Being grounded and available to your customers needs is a major advantage, greatly appreciated and eventually rewarded if not immediately.  Twitter is good for… Read the rest

hypothetical Google plus one logo

Hey everyone it Dustin again and thank you for visiting our Blog.

By now most of us are using or are familiar with Twitter and Facebook but have yet to hear about Google’s new social network venture. The question is can another social network establish itself amongst the ranks of Facebook, Twitter, others? These social network giants leave little to no room for any new entries but that isn’t stopping nor discouraging Google.  The talk is that Google has once again been working on its very own social networking site for some time now.  They had previously announced it as code named Emerald Sea however they seem to now be playing with the title Google Plus One or Google+1.

Google’s previous attempts to enter social networking include Google Me and Google Buzz.  These setbacks however have done little in the way to dishearten Google.  Scarce details are available. On top of that hose details out there is mainly in the blogosphere and aren’t exactly concrete.   But if anyone can find a home in the social network market it would be Google which is already a giant in its own right.  I’m actually kind of surprised Google hasn’t successfully created a social media network already.

Some details speculate that the Google plus one would be like Twitters Retweet Button or could be as simple as a toolbar. Social media and networking sites are huge undertakings which need to be managed constantly to take on a life of their own.  In my opinion a toolbar would be the wrong way to go.  If Google is going to compete against twitter and Facebook then it’s going to take more than a tool bar across Google’s existing applications.   It’s hard to get a clear picture so far but I’m sure users don’t need any more toolbars, plus a toolbar would do little to distinguish Google from the existing social networking sites.  I just don’t see a toolbar standing up against the full fledged competitors. What do you think? Would you be willing to give another network a try or are you sticking with twitter, Facebook or one of your other favorite social… Read the rest

Hello there! Welcome to the

<>Twitter is a powerful tool of social media interaction. It allows you to connect with people all over the world in tiny little blurbs. Many companies are utilizing its power to help spread their influence and awareness of their products and services. As an Internet Marketing company, this is part of our focus. Today, we’d like to go over one of Twitter’s many interesting facets, Groups.

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<>Similar to lists of friends in your address book or on Facebook, Groups on Twitter allow you to create lists of people online. This can be used for many reasons, from simple organization to ease the process of following others. The latter is why we’re discussing this.

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<>Groups on Twitter can be made public. This means that if all of your employees have Twitter accounts, they can be pooled together into “Company X’s Hardworking Employees” and posted online. Then if someone is a fan of your company or organization, they can simply follow the list, instead of adding each person individually. This also makes for greater recognition, when people notice their friends following your list.

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<>All in all, Twitter groups are a great addition to the service. The savvy user will take advantage of this free tool and use it to their advantage

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<>-Josh

<>InternetBeacon

Twitter is a very popular social media platform right now. For those who don’t know, Twitter is a micro-blogging service, freely available, that allows users to upload 140 character lines of text for the world to see. Now that the world can see it, does it mean people are actually reading them? Here are some tips for getting more Twitter followers.

Dive In

Find other popular Twitter users and follow them. Then, retweet (repost another user’s tweets while giving them credit) for others to see. Also, make sure to reply to other user’s tweets. This is similar to leaving a comment on blogs. You may see other people follow you as a result.

Be A Trendsetter

Trending topics are a way for users to have conversations with the world about specific ideas. Using a # sign, called a hashtag, followed by a word or phrase, marks your tweet with a topic. For example, if you want to talk about dog training tips, you might tweet “Getting my dog to jump through hoops is really hard. #dogtrainingtips” Then, people who use the dogtrainingtips hashtag will see your tweet.

Look Around You

Putting your location into Twitter will make it possible for other people in your area to find you. Also, with the advent of GPS in phones and Twitter on cell phones, you can search for Twitter users within a specific radius. This is great if you want to get involved in local affairs, but be careful; this will be a search with every local user. Specifying whom you want to track will be a bit more difficult.

That’s all for this week. We’ll see you back next week.

-Josh
Internet Beacon
SEO Baltimore