I am not the technical one in our business. When I say things like, “even I can use the update tools”, I’m not joking around. I’ve just never had a natural affinity to the computer. I have other skills (or so I tell myself) that are just as valuable. Fortunately for me, Mark, my partner is a computer genius, so we balance each other out quite well. Yet, there’s no getting around learning a thing or two when you’re in this business, especially sitting next to a technical wiz who says things like, “why don’t you embed the video on the site?”.
So, I’m here to share some of the lessons I’m learning.
My lesson for the week: How to embed a YouTube video on your website or blog.
On YouTube, just under the video clip, there’s a “share” button. Click on “share”, then find the “embed” button. Click on this and it will pop up a few lines of gibberish (HTML code). Verify your width capacity or type in a desired width (for our blog we used a width of 350 px). Then, select and copy the HTML.
Now back on your own site or blog-- Using the editing tools, click on “source”. Find the end of the paragraph where you want to insert the video, hit return a couple times to give you some space, then paste the HTML you copied from above. Hit “save”, and viola! You’ve embedded video on your site!
This is the video that I embedded this week for one of our clients (a european auto shop). Embedding video, Star Wars... sheesh, I’m becoming a regular computer geek!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Web Marketing Basics, part 4
Welcome back to the final part in our series on Web Marketing Basics.
The hottest ingredient in web marketing these days is search engine optimization. SEO is what you do to rank the highest on a Google search. SEO is a big and complicated beast and many business owners are, understandably, completely overwhelmed by it. Whether you wrangle the beast yourself, or you hire someone to do it for you, its important to
4. Come up with an SEO strategy.
There are 3 areas that we focus on.
The first is technology.
A site that is built using clean, modern HTML is essential and Google will rank sites that have this higher. Also, galleries and slide-shows should be SEO friendly. Google does not recognize flash, so if your site uses this you’d want to look into replacing it. Lastly, your site’s performance, or the speed in which it loads, is a factor. If you have enough time to refill your coffee while your site is loading, its too slow.
The second is content.
Google will look at text and keywords, and how they’re integrated throughout your site. Spend some time researching your keywords and use them in your content, preferably toward the top of your pages. Meta tags and page titles should include your keywords. Also, sites that are frequently updated rank higher.
The third is link ecosystem.
Your network of incoming links and reviews is both the hardest and the most important aspect of your SEO efforts, and requires ongoing attention. Asking your clients to review you (only good reviews will really benefit you) on sites like Yelp, or asking your colleagues in related businesses to link to your site (either from their own site or from their blog) can be very helpful in terms of your ranking. Google weighs incoming links that are true and seemingly related to your business heavily.
No one can truly guarantee that they can get your business to the top of search engines. However, many SEO experts will make this claim and cost the business owner many thousands of dollars to do this. Keep in mind that honest, legitimate SEO takes time to see results and its an ongoing process.
The hottest ingredient in web marketing these days is search engine optimization. SEO is what you do to rank the highest on a Google search. SEO is a big and complicated beast and many business owners are, understandably, completely overwhelmed by it. Whether you wrangle the beast yourself, or you hire someone to do it for you, its important to
4. Come up with an SEO strategy.
There are 3 areas that we focus on.
The first is technology.
A site that is built using clean, modern HTML is essential and Google will rank sites that have this higher. Also, galleries and slide-shows should be SEO friendly. Google does not recognize flash, so if your site uses this you’d want to look into replacing it. Lastly, your site’s performance, or the speed in which it loads, is a factor. If you have enough time to refill your coffee while your site is loading, its too slow.
The second is content.
Google will look at text and keywords, and how they’re integrated throughout your site. Spend some time researching your keywords and use them in your content, preferably toward the top of your pages. Meta tags and page titles should include your keywords. Also, sites that are frequently updated rank higher.
The third is link ecosystem.
Your network of incoming links and reviews is both the hardest and the most important aspect of your SEO efforts, and requires ongoing attention. Asking your clients to review you (only good reviews will really benefit you) on sites like Yelp, or asking your colleagues in related businesses to link to your site (either from their own site or from their blog) can be very helpful in terms of your ranking. Google weighs incoming links that are true and seemingly related to your business heavily.
No one can truly guarantee that they can get your business to the top of search engines. However, many SEO experts will make this claim and cost the business owner many thousands of dollars to do this. Keep in mind that honest, legitimate SEO takes time to see results and its an ongoing process.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Web Marketing Basics, part 3
Welcome back to Web Marketing Basics, part 3. Now that you’ve announced your website (part 1), and established a social media platform (part 2), the next step is to
3.Create content.
Content is what you write to promote your business. This could take the form as copy on your website, blog postings or article submissions.
If you thought your days of writing were over after graduating from college (your English professors are going to love this), think again. If you’re in business and you have anything to do with your own marketing, you’re inevitably writing.
To write about topics that are relevant to your industry will generate interest in your site and therefore in your business. If what you write is REALLY interesting, you could have a following of people who come back to your site for information. These visitors are more likely to think of you as an authority on the topic and will want to do their business with you.
Updating the content on your site frequently, especially if it is relevant to your business and includes keywords, can also help your ranking on Google (I’ll discuss this in greater depth in part 4).
And writing for the web has some special considerations which I’ve discussed in my previous blog “Rules to writing copy for the web”.
Creating content, like your social media strategy, will take time. But you will be writing from your own experience and it will give you a platform to show off your expertise. With time, it can help to generate interest in your business, maybe even leads. If you’re having trouble coming up with topics to write about, start with questions or concerns that your clients frequently ask you, such as “why aren’t I getting more leads from my website?”. Chances are, there are others with the same questions who would benefit from your words of wisdom.
Tune in soon for our final segment on web marketing basics; SEO strategy!
3.Create content.
Content is what you write to promote your business. This could take the form as copy on your website, blog postings or article submissions.
If you thought your days of writing were over after graduating from college (your English professors are going to love this), think again. If you’re in business and you have anything to do with your own marketing, you’re inevitably writing.
To write about topics that are relevant to your industry will generate interest in your site and therefore in your business. If what you write is REALLY interesting, you could have a following of people who come back to your site for information. These visitors are more likely to think of you as an authority on the topic and will want to do their business with you.
Updating the content on your site frequently, especially if it is relevant to your business and includes keywords, can also help your ranking on Google (I’ll discuss this in greater depth in part 4).
And writing for the web has some special considerations which I’ve discussed in my previous blog “Rules to writing copy for the web”.
Creating content, like your social media strategy, will take time. But you will be writing from your own experience and it will give you a platform to show off your expertise. With time, it can help to generate interest in your business, maybe even leads. If you’re having trouble coming up with topics to write about, start with questions or concerns that your clients frequently ask you, such as “why aren’t I getting more leads from my website?”. Chances are, there are others with the same questions who would benefit from your words of wisdom.
Tune in soon for our final segment on web marketing basics; SEO strategy!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Web Marketing Basics, part 2
This week is the continuation of Web Marketing Basics, part 2. Now that you have your new website launched, you’ve announced it to all the world (see part 1), the next consideration is to:
2. Enter the world of social media.
Social media is what you do online to connect to your target audience. Specific examples of “what is social media” are: Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, and Foursquare. Other examples would also include blogging, posting articles online to sites like Ezine or the Examiner, joining online networking groups such as Biznik or Meetup.
The benefits of social media are many:
-It is accessible to everyone (as long as you have a computer and an internet connection).
-It allows you to directly communicate, market to, and have a dialogue with your audience.
-Its far cheaper than traditional marketing strategies such as print and TV.
-It is an effective way to stay engaged with your clients, and customers who stay engaged stay loyal.
-It can potentially improve your SEO ranking (more on this to come).
The downsides to social media are:
-It can take up a lot of your time.
-It opens you up to receiving negative comments or reviews, which you would need to tactfully manage.
Despite its downsides, social media is where marketing is going. Even if you’re reticent to take the plunge, just getting your business a Facebook page, or to start blogging is a good way to start.
Please feel welcome to share any of your experience, ideas, woes, or successes with social media. We can all learn from each other!
Tune in soon for the next installment of web marketing basics!
2. Enter the world of social media.
Social media is what you do online to connect to your target audience. Specific examples of “what is social media” are: Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, and Foursquare. Other examples would also include blogging, posting articles online to sites like Ezine or the Examiner, joining online networking groups such as Biznik or Meetup.
The benefits of social media are many:
-It is accessible to everyone (as long as you have a computer and an internet connection).
-It allows you to directly communicate, market to, and have a dialogue with your audience.
-Its far cheaper than traditional marketing strategies such as print and TV.
-It is an effective way to stay engaged with your clients, and customers who stay engaged stay loyal.
-It can potentially improve your SEO ranking (more on this to come).
The downsides to social media are:
-It can take up a lot of your time.
-It opens you up to receiving negative comments or reviews, which you would need to tactfully manage.
Despite its downsides, social media is where marketing is going. Even if you’re reticent to take the plunge, just getting your business a Facebook page, or to start blogging is a good way to start.
Please feel welcome to share any of your experience, ideas, woes, or successes with social media. We can all learn from each other!
Tune in soon for the next installment of web marketing basics!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Web Marketing Basics
This week I was reminded that some of our clients are new to web marketing. Even those clients that have been at it for a while, still come to us with basic questions about what they should do to promote their business online. A question we frequently get is, why aren’t I getting more leads from my website?
Our response is usually, “what are you doing to market your website”? If you are having difficulty answering that question, you’re not alone.
Your site is an essential marketing tool. But, merely launching your website (without marketing it) isn't going to trigger leads. It would be great if it did, but things are never that easy. Now that you have your website, what’s next?
Here is the first of our 4 part strategy in marketing your website:
1. Announce your new website.
This may seem like an obvious one, but its frequently overlooked. You can announce your site in a number of ways including asking local bloggers to blog about your business (perhaps announce a special that you’re promoting or open registration), announce your site on Facebook, through email, newsletters, networking and business events, word of mouth, etc. Be sure to include a link to your new website so that people can find you easily. Also, include your url on any promotional materials, print work, and business cards.
Having a new or improved website is a great opportunity to contact your clients/potential clients-- remind them who you are and that you appreciate their business, demonstrate to your buyers that you’re serious about your business and you’re here to take care of them. To show off your new website is to take pride in your business, not just a marketing ploy (in case you were feeling sheepish about touting that new site). Its up to you to tell people to check out your new site, then its up to the site to draw them in and lead them to your contact page.
Subscribe to our RSS feed and stay tuned for the next installment of Web Marketing Basics part 2!
Our response is usually, “what are you doing to market your website”? If you are having difficulty answering that question, you’re not alone.
Your site is an essential marketing tool. But, merely launching your website (without marketing it) isn't going to trigger leads. It would be great if it did, but things are never that easy. Now that you have your website, what’s next?
Here is the first of our 4 part strategy in marketing your website:
1. Announce your new website.
This may seem like an obvious one, but its frequently overlooked. You can announce your site in a number of ways including asking local bloggers to blog about your business (perhaps announce a special that you’re promoting or open registration), announce your site on Facebook, through email, newsletters, networking and business events, word of mouth, etc. Be sure to include a link to your new website so that people can find you easily. Also, include your url on any promotional materials, print work, and business cards.
Having a new or improved website is a great opportunity to contact your clients/potential clients-- remind them who you are and that you appreciate their business, demonstrate to your buyers that you’re serious about your business and you’re here to take care of them. To show off your new website is to take pride in your business, not just a marketing ploy (in case you were feeling sheepish about touting that new site). Its up to you to tell people to check out your new site, then its up to the site to draw them in and lead them to your contact page.
Subscribe to our RSS feed and stay tuned for the next installment of Web Marketing Basics part 2!
Friday, July 2, 2010
Balance
The last few weeks we've been busy with several projects--some large, some small, but all important. Our bi-weekly meetings keep us on track (more or less) so that we've got everyone worked into our schedule.
But this past week, we've also been working on a project that we've managed to squeeze in to our already busy schedule, a project we took on knowing we wouldn't get much financially from, but important to us personally. We've signed on to do the website and communications for our neighborhood elementary school and this week we sent out the first of our email newsletters.
This week has been a lesson in finding the balance in getting paid for what we do, and contributing our talents toward improving our community.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Potential
Recently, a recurrent question I ask myself is: Am I capable of more? Am I living to my potential?
There’s so much opportunity for anonymity, mediocrity, to coast through this life, to be passive. But, what a disappointment to just sit back and let life go bye.
Its risky, being involved, to lose your anonymity, to take on more. It takes a certain amount of confidence to put yourself out there. You might actually attract attention! But also open yourself up to criticism, public failure, embarrassing situations, being spread too thin, or losing your mind.
For me, the choice to become more involved started a couple of years ago. Maybe it was having kids, or being in my mid 30’s, or having our own business... or the feeling that I have a stake in the future that is beyond myself. Don’t get me wrong--in my younger adulthood I had a more theoretical understanding and desire to promote the sustainability of the human race and our world. But now, I definitely have a deeper, more emotional relationship to the future than I felt when I was younger. It makes everything important. This is my chance to do something good in this world, to make my community better, to ensure that my kids will have only the best of everything.
I have a belief that we (myself included) are all capable of more than we do on a day-to-day basis. What if we all lived to our potential? How awesome would that be? I realize we can’t be ON 100% of the time. But even if we had bursts of energy that would take us 1 step closer to our potential a day, that would be somethin’.
There’s so much opportunity for anonymity, mediocrity, to coast through this life, to be passive. But, what a disappointment to just sit back and let life go bye.
Its risky, being involved, to lose your anonymity, to take on more. It takes a certain amount of confidence to put yourself out there. You might actually attract attention! But also open yourself up to criticism, public failure, embarrassing situations, being spread too thin, or losing your mind.
For me, the choice to become more involved started a couple of years ago. Maybe it was having kids, or being in my mid 30’s, or having our own business... or the feeling that I have a stake in the future that is beyond myself. Don’t get me wrong--in my younger adulthood I had a more theoretical understanding and desire to promote the sustainability of the human race and our world. But now, I definitely have a deeper, more emotional relationship to the future than I felt when I was younger. It makes everything important. This is my chance to do something good in this world, to make my community better, to ensure that my kids will have only the best of everything.
I have a belief that we (myself included) are all capable of more than we do on a day-to-day basis. What if we all lived to our potential? How awesome would that be? I realize we can’t be ON 100% of the time. But even if we had bursts of energy that would take us 1 step closer to our potential a day, that would be somethin’.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Married to the web guy
Being married to the web guy has its pluses.
First, if I have a question about anything webby or technical, I know the guy to call. And he’s really good. I don’t think I’ve ever had a technical problem that he couldn’t fix. Granted, my technical problems probably aren’t that complicated, but still. Knowing I have someone literally in-house to call is a great comfort. If Mark weren’t here, my computer would have been thrown through the window a long time ago.
I’m inspired by his creativity. I love watching him create amazing designs. At some point during our clients’ projects I get to see the work in progress. I get first glance at the mood boards, design concepts, logo designs, etc. I’m no web designer, but after seeing a lot of web design, I know that Mark’s work is pretty amazing. Frankly, I don’t know how he does it. Every client gets a unique design, some clients depending on the size of the project, might be presented with 2 or 3 design concepts. How he comes up with so many ideas, I’ll never know.
I’m totally proud of the business that he’s created. Mark is a modest guy. He will read this and be embarrassed. But, under the laid-back-Seattle-web-guy exterior, he’s a sharp businessman. He’s planning Bizango’s future even when the week is booked with working on client projects. Every week, we set aside time to develop new and improved features to the update tools, or to develop future Bizango endeavors. Sometimes carving out the time for these long-term goals hurts. That time has got to come from somewhere, and every week we look at the schedule and make sure that its on our to-do list. He doesn’t compromise on this. His eye is on the future of our business and the security of our family. He’s my hero.
Friday, May 14, 2010
What Disneyland does right
Our family just got back from a 3 day vacation to Disneyland. Our kids, ages 5 & 3, are finally at an age where they could appreciate the fun, magic, and craziness that IS Disneyland.
Disneyland is over-the-top in every way. To go there and really appreciate it, you have to let your inner kid lead. For those who stick up their noses at Disneyland---there’s seriously something wrong with you. To enjoy Disneyland you have to let go of your inhibitions. Don’t worry--no one in southern California knows who you are or even cares (if you’re not a movie star, that is). You can be a kid again. You don’t need any mind altering drugs, you just need to be one with Disney.
The creativity put into Disneyland is amazing. Where else is as extravagant, larger than life, and fantastical? Part of what makes each “land” feel so real is that there’s no holding back. Disney has seen to even the smallest detail to make your experience feel REAL. It creates desire in the weirdest ways-- I could totally see myself living out the rest of my days in Tarzan’s treehouse (Tarzan could stay, of course). Seattle? Work? House? Bahh!! I’ll take life in the treehouse any day.
Even if it is Disneyland, there’s a lot to appreciate about being in a place where creativity is valued. While we were waiting in line (part of the DL experience, no doubt), we saw a group of executives getting a tour of Pixie Hollow. It was funny to see a group of men in suits walking though Tinkerbell’s forest, taking everything in all so seriously. They’re no fools, they know this is a goldmine.
From a business perspective, there’s a lot to learn from Disney. Disneyland is expensive. But still the people come and pay. Disneyland has spared no expense at creating an experience. Disney wants everyone to feel special. Everyday is a celebration. The parades, fireworks, and musical numbers are spectacular. Our kids got to meet Tigger, for goodness sake. Can you put a price tag on that? Apparently you can. Yes, this vacation set us back some, but it was worth it. We’ll totally go again.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Coffee to the rescue
This week we’ve been struck by the crud...again. WIth 2 kids in preschool, we’re bound to catch any virus that’s out there. And we do. I can take the coughing in my face and the wiping of runny noses, but my patience is truly tested by our little ones’ extreme crankiness and sleepless nights. Sometimes I just have to laugh at the insanity when I’m up at 2 am trying to get one of them back to sleep, while I can hear the other start up again. What a tag team they make. Its like they’re conspiring against us.
Despite the sleep deprivation and the fact that I am now also sick (thanks to the coughing in my face), I still have to get up and go about my day; work, meetings, childcare.
The thing that pulls me through is coffee.
Honestly, I don’t love the taste of coffee. I didn’t really drink it until I moved to Seattle. Well, it was hard to avoid in a city that has a coffee shop every 50 feet. I do love the smell which is probably what drew me to it. But mostly, I love the routine of making a pot of coffee, and fixing my cup just the way I like it.
There’s something about having a cup of coffee in front of me that helps me focus. Even before that first sip, just the ritual of sitting down with a coffee in front of me, helps me plan my day, prioritize what I have to get done, and set to work. However tired I am, however much I have on my plate for that day, I know I can get through it because at least I’ve got my coffee.
And its not just me. I can’t even have a conversation with Mark in the morning until I see that he’s got his coffee in hand. It took me at least 10 years of being married to him before I figured that one out.
So, we take our coffee ritual seriously here.
Before kids, Mark and I took a trip to Italy. (Little did we know that would be our last hurrah just the two of us.) One of our stops was a 3 day stay at an agriturismo. We slept in the carriage house of a thousand year old castle in the middle of Tuscany. Yes, you’re right-- it can’t get any better than that. We happened to be stranded there at that castle, seeing we hadn’t thought to rent a car (we arrived at the castle mostly by luck and a very expensive cab ride). So, we spent our days lazily wandering through vineyards and olive groves, playing with the family dog who we named “Paulo”, communing with the cattle that we would later eat that night sitting at the family’s dinner table. We also learned about espresso.
Our room was equipped with cornflakes, homemade biscotti, a hot plate and an espresso maker--the beautiful silver retro kind you put on the burner. We had our first lesson how to make espresso from the young Italian woman who let us in. In our feeble attempts at conversing in half Italian/half Spanish/half English, we learned how to craft a brew of true Italian espresso.
If the ritual of making coffee is good, making espresso is even better. It seems the more elaborate the ritual, the more meditative and focused the act becomes. Coffee is our routine, espresso is Special.
So, when the kids are driving us crazy, work is busy, creativity needs to be evoked, or we need that special focus in our cluttered mind---its coffee to the rescue.
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