Online Marketing News: Google Analytics Goes Social, Relationship Marketing, 7 Networking Secrets, Facebook Gets Green
Posted on 23. Mar, 2012 by Ashley Zeckman in Blog, facebook, Google Analytics, News, Search Industry News, Small Business Internet Marketing, Small Business Marketing
Social Media Marketing: The long term and short term value with Avinash Kaushik
This interview from #SESNY features Google evangelist Avinash Kaushik on monitoring social media value. Kaushik stresses that social media should be about quantifying your efforts. Companies must determine what they did that ended in specific results, and the economic value that was created due to these efforts. You can see another interview with Avinash Kaushik here on the power of storytelling and web analytics.
Tips & Tactics for Improving Your Business
“Why Relationship Marketing is Important for Businesses” This video interview with author and social media guru Mari Smith(@marismith) sheds some light on the notion of “people-to-people” marketing. In this video you’re learn why businesses must have listening skills and what businesses are doing well in relationship marketing. Via Social Media Examiner.
“5 Tips to Recruit a Star Candidate” Sometimes finding the right candidate for an open position isn’t easy, and doesn’t happen quickly. This article shares 5 very effective tips for “hunting” down candidates that will be the best fit for your organization. Via Inc.
“7 Networking Secrets from Silicon Valley’s Greatest Connector” Pejaman Nozad went from a 23 year old with $700 in his pocket to one of Silcon Valley’s best dealmakers. A lot of hard work and genius networking has catapulted him to success. In this article Nozad shares 7 secrets for networking like a pro. Via Forbes.
“5 Emails You Should Never Send” Have you ever hit send on an email and immediately regretted doing so? According to Penelope Trunk emails are obviously an effective way for communicating but there are some best practices when drafting your content. Via Ragan.
Online Marketing Team News
Brian Larson- How A Google Change May Mistakenly Turn Search Traffic Into Referral Traffic
Google is poised to make some changes to ways it tracks visitor information from users leveraging their web browser, Chrome. Some are speculating that this is change is Google extending its user privacy, while others have a slightly more aggressive take. Regardless of your interpretation of the intent, everyone should be familiar with this latest update and what it means to your analytics. Via Search Engine Land.
Alexis Hall- Search Marketing and Social Media in Regulated Industries
This post is a great resource for marketers working within regulated industries like pharmaceuticals and healthcare. While some companies within this industry are using a wait and see approach when it comes to social media, this post suggests ways to use search and social media now while remaining compliant. Via Search Engine Watch.
Shawna Kenyon- How Facebook Got its Green Back
Today Facebook released an animated infographic explaining its journey to sustainability. Prior to 2010 the focus was too focused on scaling to make going green a priority, but now Facebook has sustainable data centers, efficient photo storage and even a solar powered campus. Facebook hopes to boost its public image and bolster recruiting efforts with eco-aware talent. Via TechCrunch.
Time to Weigh In: What is your opinion on Google’s take on social analytics? Do you believe that your company is measuring the metrics that have the largest impact on your bottom line?
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Online Marketing News: Google Analytics Goes Social, Relationship Marketing, 7 Networking Secrets, Facebook Gets Green | http://www.toprankblog.com
A to Z Internet Marketing News: Happy Birthday TopRankBlog!, 2012 Marketing Predictions, Social Disasters, Cashing in on XMAS
Posted on 30. Dec, 2011 by Ashley Zeckman in Blog, facebook, News, Search Engines, Search Industry News, Small Business Internet Marketing, Small Business Marketing, Social Media, YouTube
21 Social Media Marketing Trends for 2012
Curious to find out what 2012 could have in store for online marketers? This presentation from DreamGrow shares 21 predictions on what 2012 could look like.
Highlights include:
- Social CRM making inroads
- Social media influencing more sales
- Social commerce on mobile devices
Facebook IPO and Most Popular Social Sites:
“Nielsen: Top Web Destinations, Social Networks and Video Sites in 2011” As 2011 comes to an end, Nielsen released a review of the top online destinations, social media sites, and smartphone devices. It is no surprise that Google was the most visited U.S. Web Brand and Facebook was still the leader among social networks and blogs. Via Nielsen.
“Facebook $100 Billion IPO in 2012: What the Future Holds for the Social Media Powerhouse” 2012 is positioned to be one of the most important years in Facebook’s short history. While going public and planning a $100 billion IPO for 2012 are on the horizon, additional surprises are in store for Facebook users in the coming year. Via Mashable.
Social Media: Disasters
“Ocean Marketing vs. Penny Arcade: Paul Christoforo PR Disaster Goes Viral” Documented via email and enacted on numerous YouTube videos, this might be one of the most reprehensible exchanges in the history of customer service. A PR/Marketing contractor representing N-Control, a maker of modified game controllers for hardcore gamers and disabled people has been accused of insulting a customer, plagiarism, extorting a past client and shady SEO practices. Could it get any worse? Yeah. Domestic abuse. Via International Business Times.
“Social media, rumors might have fed melee at MOA” On Sunday December 25th it was rumored that rappers Lil Wayne and Drake were going to be making an appearance at Mall of America in Bloomington, MN. In the afternoon mayhem broke out involving more than 200 young people, one of the most serious disturbances at the mall in over 15 years with 10 people arrested. Via StarTribune.
“Top 5 Most Common Networking Mistakes” Good networking is an art and a science. While some people may not have an innate networking skill this article points out basic mistakes and how to avoid them. Via Inc.
Network Growth: Exceeding Expectations
“Pinterest: Crazy Growth Lands it as Top 10 Social Site” Pintrest has grown 4,000% over the past 6 months marking it as the number 10 social media site. While most traffic comes from California and Texas, Pinterest also receives unusually high traffic from states like Utah, Alabama, and Tennessee. Via cNet.
“Instagram Becomes the Largest Mobile Social Network” In the past two months Instagram has added over 2 million new users. While currently only available on iPhone, Instagram is poised to outpace Foursquare, the largest mobile focused social network available today. Via Social Fresh.
“Google+ may reach 400 million users by end of 2012” Google+ is on average adding 625,000 new users per day. While the numbers are reflecting total users not active users, there is no denying that Google+ is growing. Via LA Times Blog.
Cashing in on Christmas:
“Final Christmas Push Propels U.S. Online Holiday Spending to $35.3 Billion, Up 15 Percent Versus Last Year” Spending reflected in this report takes into account the first 56 days of the November – December holiday season. It is said with certainty that Cyber Monday 2011 ranked as the heaviest spending day of the season for the second year in a row. Via ComScore.
Battles In the Court & On the Screen
“A Dispute Over Who Owns a Twitter Account Goes to Court” How much is a Twitter follower worth? In a world where social media influence can mean the difference between a new customer and a fruitless cold call, one company thinks it’s worth a lot. The question remains, can a company claim ownership of an employee’s social media account, and what does that mean for employee’s posting during work hours? Via NY Times.
“YouTube Slam Begins Video Clip Battles for Users’ Votes” Each week YouTube will put user submitted videos head-to-head to battle it out on screen. Users will be asked to submit a vote for their favorite video. This contest is designed to keep visitors on YouTube for longer periods of time and deepen their connection to the site. Via BBC.
Online Marketing News You Can Use = TopRank Team Edition
Ken Horst – “Google Will Change Web Marketing in 2012”
Google has designed a new method for websites to structure data so that its crawler can pull better information. These plans revolve around metadata that will allow Google to access more rich data about a topic. This may be a wakeup call for marketers and web masters to start looking at the new data and plan for the deployment of the new code in order to improve or maintain rankings. Via Harvard Business Review.
Emily Conley – “The 22 Best Infographics We Found in 2011”
This is a compilation of some of the best infographics released in the past year. I thought this was a pretty cool trend feature to reflect on the past year and gear up for 2012! Via Co.Design.
Alexis Hall – “77 of Top 100 Brands Now Have Google+ Pages”
This article from Marketing Land discusses the fast adoption of Google+ by businesses, since its launch on November 7th. According to BrightEdge’s December SocialShare report, 77 of the top 100 brands now have Google+ pages. This adoption rate will likely continue to increase in 2012 as big and small businesses begin to leverage Google+. Via Marketing Land.
Ken Horst – “Will Clever Sense Help Google Become The Perfect Search Engine?”
Google is beefing up its voice search capabilities with the recent purchase of Clever Sense. Similar to Siri for Apple, Google’s new voice search app will remember things it learns about the user so that future search results are even more targeted. As more people use voice search on their mobile devices, online marketers will need to learn what it takes, other than location, to acquire a high ranking in the SERP. Via Search Insider.
Happy Birthday TopRank Online Marketing Blog!
We’ve celebrated our 8th year of blogging this week. Thank you to everyone who has subscribed, shared, linked, commented and reached out over the years. It’s an honor to be a part of such an amazing community and in this world of information overload, we appreciate your attention a great deal. Thank you!
Have A Safe Holiday Weekend!
From the entire team at TopRank Online Marketing
Gain a competitive advantage by subscribing to the
TopRank® Online Marketing Newsletter.
© Online Marketing Blog, 2011. |
A to Z Internet Marketing News: Happy Birthday TopRankBlog!, 2012 Marketing Predictions, Social Disasters, Cashing in on XMAS | http://www.toprankblog.com
A to Z Internet Marketing News: Happy Birthday TopRankBlog!, 2012 Marketing Predictions, Social Disasters, Cashing in on XMAS
Posted on 30. Dec, 2011 by Ashley Zeckman in Blog, facebook, News, Search Engines, Search Industry News, Small Business Internet Marketing, Small Business Marketing, Social Media, YouTube
21 Social Media Marketing Trends for 2012
Curious to find out what 2012 could have in store for online marketers? This presentation from DreamGrow shares 21 predictions on what 2012 could look like.
Highlights include:
- Social CRM making inroads
- Social media influencing more sales
- Social commerce on mobile devices
Facebook IPO and Most Popular Social Sites:
“Nielsen: Top Web Destinations, Social Networks and Video Sites in 2011” As 2011 comes to an end, Nielsen released a review of the top online destinations, social media sites, and smartphone devices. It is no surprise that Google was the most visited U.S. Web Brand and Facebook was still the leader among social networks and blogs. Via Nielsen.
“Facebook $100 Billion IPO in 2012: What the Future Holds for the Social Media Powerhouse” 2012 is positioned to be one of the most important years in Facebook’s short history. While going public and planning a $100 billion IPO for 2012 are on the horizon, additional surprises are in store for Facebook users in the coming year. Via Mashable.
Social Media: Disasters
“Ocean Marketing vs. Penny Arcade: Paul Christoforo PR Disaster Goes Viral” Documented via email and enacted on numerous YouTube videos, this might be one of the most reprehensible exchanges in the history of customer service. A PR/Marketing contractor representing N-Control, a maker of modified game controllers for hardcore gamers and disabled people has been accused of insulting a customer, plagiarism, extorting a past client and shady SEO practices. Could it get any worse? Yeah. Domestic abuse. Via International Business Times.
“Social media, rumors might have fed melee at MOA” On Sunday December 25th it was rumored that rappers Lil Wayne and Drake were going to be making an appearance at Mall of America in Bloomington, MN. In the afternoon mayhem broke out involving more than 200 young people, one of the most serious disturbances at the mall in over 15 years with 10 people arrested. Via StarTribune.
“Top 5 Most Common Networking Mistakes” Good networking is an art and a science. While some people may not have an innate networking skill this article points out basic mistakes and how to avoid them. Via Inc.
Network Growth: Exceeding Expectations
“Pinterest: Crazy Growth Lands it as Top 10 Social Site” Pintrest has grown 4,000% over the past 6 months marking it as the number 10 social media site. While most traffic comes from California and Texas, Pinterest also receives unusually high traffic from states like Utah, Alabama, and Tennessee. Via cNet.
“Instagram Becomes the Largest Mobile Social Network” In the past two months Instagram has added over 2 million new users. While currently only available on iPhone, Instagram is poised to outpace Foursquare, the largest mobile focused social network available today. Via Social Fresh.
“Google+ may reach 400 million users by end of 2012” Google+ is on average adding 625,000 new users per day. While the numbers are reflecting total users not active users, there is no denying that Google+ is growing. Via LA Times Blog.
Cashing in on Christmas:
“Final Christmas Push Propels U.S. Online Holiday Spending to $35.3 Billion, Up 15 Percent Versus Last Year” Spending reflected in this report takes into account the first 56 days of the November – December holiday season. It is said with certainty that Cyber Monday 2011 ranked as the heaviest spending day of the season for the second year in a row. Via ComScore.
Battles In the Court & On the Screen
“A Dispute Over Who Owns a Twitter Account Goes to Court” How much is a Twitter follower worth? In a world where social media influence can mean the difference between a new customer and a fruitless cold call, one company thinks it’s worth a lot. The question remains, can a company claim ownership of an employee’s social media account, and what does that mean for employee’s posting during work hours? Via NY Times.
“YouTube Slam Begins Video Clip Battles for Users’ Votes” Each week YouTube will put user submitted videos head-to-head to battle it out on screen. Users will be asked to submit a vote for their favorite video. This contest is designed to keep visitors on YouTube for longer periods of time and deepen their connection to the site. Via BBC.
Online Marketing News You Can Use = TopRank Team Edition
Ken Horst – “Google Will Change Web Marketing in 2012”
Google has designed a new method for websites to structure data so that its crawler can pull better information. These plans revolve around metadata that will allow Google to access more rich data about a topic. This may be a wakeup call for marketers and web masters to start looking at the new data and plan for the deployment of the new code in order to improve or maintain rankings. Via Harvard Business Review.
Emily Conley – “The 22 Best Infographics We Found in 2011”
This is a compilation of some of the best infographics released in the past year. I thought this was a pretty cool trend feature to reflect on the past year and gear up for 2012! Via Co.Design.
Alexis Hall – “77 of Top 100 Brands Now Have Google+ Pages”
This article from Marketing Land discusses the fast adoption of Google+ by businesses, since its launch on November 7th. According to BrightEdge’s December SocialShare report, 77 of the top 100 brands now have Google+ pages. This adoption rate will likely continue to increase in 2012 as big and small businesses begin to leverage Google+. Via Marketing Land.
Ken Horst – “Will Clever Sense Help Google Become The Perfect Search Engine?”
Google is beefing up its voice search capabilities with the recent purchase of Clever Sense. Similar to Siri for Apple, Google’s new voice search app will remember things it learns about the user so that future search results are even more targeted. As more people use voice search on their mobile devices, online marketers will need to learn what it takes, other than location, to acquire a high ranking in the SERP. Via Search Insider.
Happy Birthday TopRank Online Marketing Blog!
We’ve celebrated our 8th year of blogging this week. Thank you to everyone who has subscribed, shared, linked, commented and reached out over the years. It’s an honor to be a part of such an amazing community and in this world of information overload, we appreciate your attention a great deal. Thank you!
Have A Safe Holiday Weekend!
From the entire team at TopRank Online Marketing
Gain a competitive advantage by subscribing to the
TopRank® Online Marketing Newsletter.
© Online Marketing Blog, 2011. |
A to Z Internet Marketing News: Happy Birthday TopRankBlog!, 2012 Marketing Predictions, Social Disasters, Cashing in on XMAS | http://www.toprankblog.com
A-to-Z Internet Marketing News: Reflections & Outlooks, Facebook Addiction, Go Google+, Stats You Can Use, Social Fails
Posted on 23. Dec, 2011 by Ashley Zeckman in Blog, facebook, News, Search Industry News, Small Business Internet Marketing, Small Business Marketing, Social Media
Social Commerce Psychology [INFOGRAPHIC]
This is indeed an infographic of a different color. Tab Juice has created a very interesting graphic which focuses on 6 mental rules of thumb that affect social commerce buying decisions. In an online world flooded with infographics this one definitely stands out!
Did You Know?
- 81% of consumers receive advice from friends and family through a social networking platform.
- 50% of people have made purchases based on recommendations received through their social network.
- Over 25,000,000,000 pieces of content are shared on Facebook each month.
#Trending: Reflections of 2011 & Predictions for 2012
“150+ Content Marketing & Social Media Predictions for 2012” This very extensive list of 2012 predictions includes some of the creme de la creme for online marketers including: even more from Google+, the year for video and mobile, and long-form content poised to make a comeback. Via Content Marketing Institute.
Were 2011’s Predictions a Home Run or a Swing & a Miss?
“Six Social Media Trends for 2012” It appears that many of David Armanos 2011 social media predictions were spot on. One miss was that Facebook would get their location based services together (sadly they did not). His outlook for 2012 appears to require companies and brands make it as easy as possible for consumers to interact, share, and engage. Which trends do you think have the most legs? Via Harvard Business Review.
Back to the Whiteboard: Top Social Media Lessons of 2011
“The Top Ten Social Media Lessons of 2011” Part 1 of a two part post by Christopher Barger focuses on the lessons that we’ve learned about social media in the past year. 2011 was flush with an over abundance of new social media platforms, privacy concerns, and marketers still trying to figure out social media measurement. Via Forbes.
Facebook: You Know You’re Addicted to Facebook If…
Customer Service Getting MORE Social on Facebook
“Facebook introduces private messages between business pages and fans” Before you get too excited there is something you should know. Facebook’s new messaging feature enables users to initiate private messages with brands, not the other way around. Oh yeah, and it’s not available in the United States. Skeptics warn that this new feature could actually do more harm than good. What do you think? Via The Next Web.
Time Travel for All on the Facebook Timeline
“Facebook Rolls Out Timeline WorldWide” Facebook Timeline’s are finally available to all users after months of beta testing. Word to the warning, if you’d like to forget some of the posts you’ve made now would be a good time to determine which stories to hide, share with certain contacts, or delete from your page and maybe your memory. Via Facebook.
Hey Facebook, There’s an Ad in My Feed
“Facebook to Start Placing Ads in User News Feeds in January” Facebook ads are now getting increased visibility to lead users to their products. Sponsored stories currently appear only on the right hand column of Facebook pages but will now be the same size as other news feed items in your feed. Posts will be identified with a link that says “Sponsored” below the message. Do you think this approach will boost sales or irritate users? Via AdAge.
IKEA Drawing in Visitors with More Than Swedish Meatballs
“IKEA tempts people in-store using Facebook” IKEA wants you to bring your friends to their stores! Participants receive detailed information about group events after interacting with the company’s Facebook page. Attendees are provided special discounts and prizes just for showing up. What a clever way to get people in the store, and for you to invite your strongest friends to help carry those dreaded boxes full of furniture parts. Via Econsultancy.
Google+: Reservations for Google Plus 150 Million
Strategize, Operationalize, & Maximize Your Google+ Strategy
“How to Build an Effective Google+ Brand Strategy” Since it’s release in June Google+ has grown to over 40 million users. Now is the time to explore Google+ and determine what impact it can have on your brand and the way you communicate with customers. Via Mashable.
Google Christmas Comes Early This Year
“Google+: A few big improvements before the New Year” This week Google announced the release of some new Google+ features and functionality for users to test over the holidays. From the sound of it there should be some functional improvements and a few extra surprises. While you’re relaxing with family this weekend try to steal a few minutes away to check out Google’s new features. I know I will! Via Google.
Multiple Google+ Page Managers? Don’t Mind If I Do
“How To Manage A Google+ Page As A Team” Many marketers will be excited to learn that Google has not enabled up to 50 people at a time to manage Google+ brand pages. I predict that we will see a lot more interaction on Google+ Pages now that it allows for multiple contributors.Via Read Write Web.
Santa Google
“Ho Ho! Google Launches Santa Cartoons, Phone Calls For All” Have a child anxious to hear from Santa? Or still a believer yourself? Google launched a new service that allows users to send personalized cartoon messages from Santa, complete with the name of the child (or adult), location, favorite food, or desired presents. You can also reach Santa at his personal Ho Ho Hotline on Google Voice. Be sure to keep in mind the time difference! Via Technorati.
Research: Insights into Social Media Marketing and its Future
Social Media is Hot!
“Heatmaps of How Consumers View Different Social Media Websites” Startup company EyeTrackShop runs eye-tracking studies for advertisers. Recently an experiment was run with Mashable to apply the technology to help determine how users are viewing social profiles.Via Mashable.
comScore: It’s A Social World
“It’s a Social World: Top 10 Need-to-Knows About Social Networking and Where It’s Headed” Social networking has become the most popular online activity worldwide. This report by ComScore provides key insights into the influence that social networking has had on the digital landscape and what this means for online marketers. Via ComScore.
Keep Your Facebook Friends Close & Your Frenemies Closer
“Friends & Frenemies: Why We Add and Remove Facebook Friends” Research suggests that our real world interactions drive our online friendships. While friends trying to sell us something or being too depressing entice us to remove them from our network. Curious to know what other reasons Facebook users add or remove friends? Via NM Incite.
Mobile & Social Working Together
“Marketers Look to Integrate Email, Social, Mobile” Now that mobile and social media marketing have been tested it’s time for organizations to make the move. As marketers continue to understand how to leverage both strategies they are also looking to create a better integration between the two, and working to tie them to other more established forms of digital marketing such as email. Via eMarketer.
Social Fails: You Really Shouldn’t Have Done That
Smile You’ve Been Caught On Security Camera
“FedEx Guy Throwing My Computer Monitor” Ever wondered why your holiday cookies show up in a million pieces? This might be why. Via YouTube.
Learning From the Mistakes of Others
“What Ten Social Media Disasters Taught Us in 2011” This year saw a lot of flounders, flubs, and downright fails in social media. The ten examples provided in this article can be added to our list of things not to do when approaching our social media strategy for 2012. Via Social Media Today.
Online Marketing News Nuggets = TopRank Team Edition
We have an amazing team working at TopRank Online Marketing and here are a few headlines they considered worth a read this week:
Alexis Hall - “Biggest Search Events of 2011 & Predictions for 2012”
This article rounds up the biggest search events in 2012, including the Google Panda Update, SSL encrypted search, and the impact of social signals on search. The 2012 prediction which I found to have the most potential impact is that the Google SSL search updates will continue and the amount of queries impacted will continue to rise. This could have a huge effect on how SEO’s use analytics and measure performance moving forward. Via Search Engine Watch.
Emily Conley - “Can An iPad App Really Make You More Productive and Inspired?”
Unstuck is a new free tool to help you move past a mental roadblock. The idea behind this app is that you can follow a couple steps and the app will give you advice to make headway on a project you’ve been stuck on. The irony is it really seems to be yet another distraction for procrastinators, but the idea behind it – an app with human-like intelligence – is intriguing! Via Co.Design.
Brian Larson - “Hitwise: Facebook Was 4 of Top 10 Search Queries in 2011”
I thought this was incredibly interesting. Facebook keyword phrases were 4 of the top 10 searched keywords on the web. For those wonder about the future of Facebook, it’s clear consumers are still hungry to connect with this social network (BTW, how hard is it to just type facebook.com in the URL bar?). Via Search Engine Land.
As you can see, Lee and I are experimenting with different formats for our weekly Internet Marketing News Roundup, We’d love to get your feedback on what you like or don’t like.
Happy Holidays!
from the entire team at TopRank Online Marketing.
Gain a competitive advantage by subscribing to the
TopRank® Online Marketing Newsletter.
© Online Marketing Blog, 2011. |
A-to-Z Internet Marketing News: Reflections & Outlooks, Facebook Addiction, Go Google+, Stats You Can Use, Social Fails | http://www.toprankblog.com
A-to-Z Internet Marketing News: Bloggers Beware, Google Trust, Mobile SEO, New Twitter, SMBs Heart SEO
Posted on 09. Dec, 2011 by Ashley Zeckman in B2B, b2b marketing, Blog, content marketing, mobile seo, News, report, Search Industry News, Small Business Internet Marketing, Small Business Marketing
New Report on B2B Content Marketing for 2012:
This week started off right with the new report (pdf) from Content Marketing Institute and MarketingProfs: ”B2B Content Marketing: 2012 Benchmarks, Budgets & Trends”. The report offers a great mix of insight into most and least effective content marketing tactics, social media tools, measurement, budgets and compelling data points like:
- 9 in 10 organizations market with content
- Content marketers use 8 different content marketing tactics (on average) in their mix
- The most popular content marketing tactics included social media, blogs, newsletters, case studies and events
- The least effective content marketing tactics: podcasts, mobile content, digital magazines
While SEO is mentioned in the context of measurement, “SEO Ranking”, there is no other mention of the role of search engine optimization in relation to content marketing in the entire report. Either questions were not asked that allowed SEO to be indicated as a response or this is further evidence of the disconnect between content marketers and the role of search optimization as a key traffic driver for content. Either way, it reinforces our evangelism at TopRank for companies to invest in content creation as well as optimization and promotion. #optimize
Bloggers Beware:
“Crystal Cox, Oregon Blogger, Isn’t a Journalist, Concludes U.S. Court –Imposes $2.5 Million Judgement on Her” Cox’s interview with Seattle Weekly sheds some light on a sticky situation. One of Crystal Cox blogs contained highly critical information about a particular financial company and it’s co-founder. The prosecution was able to convince the court that because Cox is not affiliated with a specific newspaper, magazine, news service, or network she is not covered under Oregon’s media shield law and therefore can be fined. Via Seattle Weekly.
Brands New Twitter:
“The New Twitter: Everything You Need to Know” Twitter has revealed a slew of new features and design including Brand pages (like Google+ and Facebook). New features and labeling include: Home (news feed), Connect (Your @replies), Discover (Personalized news stream), Me (Your profile). Along with these revisions are brand pages which are customizable and the ability to embed individual tweets in web pages. Verdict? Did we ask for these changes Twitter? Via Mashable and Twitter.
In Google We Trust: But Does Google Trust You?
“Are You Trusted by Google?” Determining how Google calculates reputation scores has long been a mystery. This article provides resources that give some teasers into how Google might use these scores but there is still no information provided on how exactly reputation scores are calculated. Google’s new Agent Rank provides some clarification when it comes to +1 scores and as predicted, they are not all created equal. Via SEO by the Sea.
Mobile is Your Daddy:
“How the Mobile Web Changes the SEO Landscape” Mobile Internet usage is said to surpass desktop usage by 2014. Something worth noting is that the way that users search using their mobile devices is also very different. This presents a threat as well as an excellent opportunity for marketers to optimize for mobile. This article provides some interesting insights into some of the ways that Internet usage is about to change. Via Forbes.
Dodging Social Media Risk:
“Too Many Wrong Messages on Social Media? Try Leadership, Not Control” Many organizations have found that the type of information their employees are sharing on social media reflects poorly on their brand and may have severe consequences. The question many companies face is should they control the way that their employees share? This article shares some great tips for educating employees on the do’s and don’ts of social media. Via Social Business News.
SEO is the Bomb for SMBs:
“Survey Says SEO the Single Most Important Marketing Channel for SMBs” A recent study by MerchantCircle/Reply.com surveyed 2,500 small business owners with some surprising results. Search Engine Optimization is the marketing channel 32.9% of marketers would use if they had to choose just one making it the front runner by a landslide. Facebook also ranked high as the most common marketing tool being used to promote their business online. Via Search Engine Land.
Nominate TopRank’s Online Marketing Blog
“Nominate Your Favorite Social Media Blog: 3rd Annual Top 10 Social Media Blog Contest” Social Media Examiner is taking nominations for your favorite blogs that cover social media topics. Online Marketing Blog ranked #2 in this list of prestigious blogs along with Brian Solis, Jay Baer, Mitch Joel, Jason Falls, Olivier Blanchard, Gini Dietrich and many others. Please take a moment to nominate TopRankBlog.com for the 2012 list 
Via Social Media Examiner.
Was there any news this week that you think would be of interest to our readers? As always we welcome any feedback that you have regarding our blog and what you would like to see more of. Have a great weekend and we hope to see you again next week.
Gain a competitive advantage by subscribing to the
TopRank® Online Marketing Newsletter.
© Online Marketing Blog, 2011. |
A-to-Z Internet Marketing News: Bloggers Beware, Google Trust, Mobile SEO, New Twitter, SMBs Heart SEO | http://www.toprankblog.com
Live Every Day As if It Were Your Last
Posted on 04. Sep, 2011 by Michel Fortin in Blog, health, love, News, Small Business Internet Marketing, Small Business Marketing
If you’ve been wondering why I haven’t blogged lately, there’s a reason. It’s a reason I wish I would never have to use. But it’s also an honor and a privilege.
It started when my mother decided to take some time off.
She’s 67 and retired now, but she still works for the school board as a secretary. Sometimes, she takes on part-time jobs and side projects during the evenings and weekends. And this, while helping my diabetic sister and raising two grandchildren.
Since my wife Sylvie owns Workaholics4Hire, some say I married my mother. 
My mother is a fiercely loyal woman. Stubborn, strong, and selfless.
If any organization would ask her for help, she’d accept the job at the drop of a hat. My mother is one of the most caring and compassionate people I have ever met. Even to her own detriment, as you will soon learn why.
Nevertheless, my mother planned on staying with us for a week during her time off.
Back in 2008 when she went through breast cancer, she stayed with us while Sylvie, having gone through breast cancer herself, provided a powerful support mechanism. Plus, we spoiled her back then, so it’s no wonder our place was her idea of a vacation.
When I went to pick her up back in early July, I noticed how gaunt she looked. She confided in me that she hasn’t been feeling well lately. But she decided to chalk it up to exhaustion and stress.
I was worried. But I know my mom. And I know that making a fuss may prove to be counterproductive. She’s obstinate and proud. So fighting with her would only cause her to stop complaining for fear she would upset or bother those around her.
(This couldn’t be more evident than when she later confessed she had tolerated these pains and bouts of exhaustion since February!)
The next day or so, she was sleeping a lot. I know my mom, and I know she never sleeps that much. When my daughter Megan came to our office to tell us that “Nanny Louise” was vomitting several times in the bathroom, alarm bells went off.
We tried desperately to convince her to let us take her to a hospital. But all my mom wanted was to go back to sleep. That’s when Sylvie contacted a public service called Telehealth Ontario, which offers an on-call registered nurse.
The nurse told us we needed to get her to the hospital. It was serious. Dehydration, particularly during a major heatwave, is not something one takes lightly. But my mom stubbornly refused, pleading to simply let her go back to sleep.
That’s when Sylvie had the brilliant idea to hand her the phone to speak with the nurse, who tried to convince her to desperately seek medical attention.
Eventually, Sylvie’s constant prodding got her to reluctantly agree.
So we drove to the nearest hospital and, once they saw her, even though the waiting room was full, they took her in immediately to rehydrate her intravenously. It was that serious. We almost lost her then.
Little did we know that’s when a roller-coaster ride was about to begin.
After three days in the emergency ward, a series of scans and tests showed a growth in her gallbladder. “Gall stones,” she lamented, which she said she had before. Surgically removing the gallbladder was the only solution at this point.
So they moved her to a room in the surgical wing. We were told surgery would be in another week or so. So we visited mom every day to keep her company.
But something wasn’t right.
Mom has good days and bad days. But lately, they were more bad than good. Her deteriorating health worried the doctors as it indicated something else was going on.
More tests revealed she also had a ruptured instestine caused by the gallbladder being so inflamed. Thus, surgery would also require fixing or bypassing the ruptured intestine so she can eat and digest food again.
That’s when the doctor informed us she needed a hepatobiliary specialist (i.e., a gallbladder and liver surgeon), and they needed to transfer her to a different hospital to see him. Otherwise, the waiting time would have been several months.
(The administrative nightmare by being from another province — my mother is from Quebec and we’re in Ontario — is a whole other ball of wax from which I will spare you the sordid, brain-numbing details.)
Surgery kept getting delayed to allow for more tests. From ultrasounds to x-rays, CT-scans to MRIs, an endoscopic biopsy to a surgically invasive one.
Obviously, seeing my mom deteriorate in front of our eyes (she lost 30 pounds while being hospitalized), with no progress in sight, we were getting a little frustrated by how much time it was taking for surgery to happen.
But looking back, I now realize why.
After this battery of tests, our worst fear became reality.
My mother has advanced gallbladder cancer.
Not only that, they predict she only has a few years left.
I was in shock. I still am. Let me tell you, when the news came it felt like a truck hit me. We had just returned from the hospital when the doctor called us. I decided to rush back because I knew my mom wouldn’t want to be alone.
In fact, that night will be one night I will remember for the rest of my life. When we returned to the hospital, I saw my mother, sitting on a chair in the corner of the hospital room looking out the window, weeping.
This person who was the symbol of strength, staunchness, and humility, and who often kept her emotions to herself for fear of upsetting others, was crying. I will never forget that moment for as long as I shall live.
It hurts me just typing this.
Emotions aside, we still had this “surgery” we were anticipating for over a month, now. Finally, that day came. They told us to get ready, as she would be whisked into surgery within 24 hours. It was the longest 24 hours we’d ever had to endure.
The surgeon told us he would try to remove the tumor, but the main goal was to bypass the ruptured intestine blocked by the tumor, which would allow mom to eat again and regain some strength.
After the surgery, bad news turned to worse.
It looks like the cancer is more advanced than originally thought, and it seems to have metastasized to her liver and invaded other major organs. It was inoperable.
That’s when the doctor told us that she has months, not years.
We are still going to meet with an oncologist who will be the one giving us all the options. For example, chemotherapy, while seemingly redundant at this point as a curative measure, may be administered for palliative reasons to help reduce the pain.
There’s still hope. In fact, the doctor himself admitted she may have more time, since cancer is not his area of expertise. Only the oncologist will know.
So for the next few months, we will be taking care of mom.
She will be staying with us for the remainder of her life, and we have setup a special room for her so that she can be as comfortable as possible. Palliative care nurses will be visiting regularly to make sure she’s comfortable, too.
Trying to bring levity to such a sullen situation, Sylvie told mom who originally came to our house for a vacation: “Boy, do we sure know how to show you a good time, eh?”
Mom always laughs at that one. Which is actually Sylvie’s goal from this point on: “I plan to make her laugh every single day for the rest of her life.”
This reminds me of a speech by Jimmy Valvano, given just weeks before he passed away from cancer. The part I’m specifically referring to is at the 1:40 mark, where he says we should always strive to do three things each day: laugh, think, and cry.
And I can attest that, since mid-July, that has certainly been the case with our family.
I’ll keep you posted. As Sylvie always says, “there’s no expiry date stamped on your foot.” So we plan on living every single day as if it were her last. We all should. More importantly, it’s truly an honor to be there for her during this time.
Until you hear back from me, and before you start telling me all about your cures, recommendations, and alternatives to chemo and surgery, which I do appreciate, please keep this post from Sylvie in mind.
Make sure to hug your family and your friends. Tell them you love them. Because you never know, every chance you get might just be your last.
I love you, Sylvie.
And I love you, mom.
Live Every Day As if It Were Your Last originally appeared on The Michel Fortin Blog. Please visit to subscribe to it, or Tweet This.
Content Marketing News that Works for You
Posted on 06. Jul, 2011 by Joe Pulizzi in Blog, content curation, content marketing, curata, Junta 42, Junta42 Events, News, Small Business Internet Marketing, Small Business Marketing
Okay, so you are a marketing professional interested in the practice of content marketing. How do you keep up on the latest content marketing news?
You could follow hashtags on Twitter?
You could set up a Google Reader feed?
You could subscribe to every marketing newsletter and pick out the best content-marketing related content?
You could follow a few content marketing pundits and wait for them to share the news?
Yes, these things will all work, and do work…but they are time intensive.
That’s exactly the reason why the Content Marketing Institute created a dedicated Content Marketing News channel, in partnership with PR Newswire using the Curata platform.
If this sounds like the right solution for you and your company, here’s how to get involved:
- Subscribe to Daily Email News Alerts here.
- Follow @thecontentnews on Twitter.
- See the latest news on the Content Marketing News channel itself.
Let me know what you think and how we can improve the site.
For more detail on how and why this was developed, here is the original content marketing news story on CMI.
Want to Maximize Your WordPress Website Fortin-Style?
Posted on 21. Jun, 2011 by Michel Fortin in Blog, cms, consulting, critique, feedback, interest, introduction, marketer, News, price, product, Small Business Internet Marketing, Small Business Marketing, Success Chef, theme, Traffic, training, WordPress
Many people have asked me for this, and now I’m seriously thinking about doing it. (Yes, I hear you, Mike Sigers.) I’m thinking of offering a WordPress training course.
No, not a basics course and not something too advanced. And not any old training course teaching stuff you would expect to find for free online.
But a “Fortinized” WordPress training. A “how-did-he-do-that” course that shows you how, exactly, I tweak, optimize, modify, and monetize my WordPress websites.
Let’s just call it FortinPress.com for now.
It’s been on my mind for the last two years now. I was supposed to put one together with another marketer, but it never materialize for a number of reasons — being extremely busy being one of them.
I want to gauge your level of interest on this. I want to see if you would be interested. So here’s what I envision, what will be included, and the price point…
The course itself will be delivered over 4-5 weeks through a series of webinars.
I prefer live webinars because you get to see me do it, in front of you, live. I share my desktop with you, and you get to see what I do, how I do it, as I do it. You also get to see the innerworkings of my websites, warts and all, and any snags that appear, which is a perfect learning environment.
Here’s the tentative course synopsis:
1. Introduction and Examples
In this session, I will go over WordPress, how I specifically use it, how I turn it into a content management system (CMS), how I use it on my clients’ sites, and more. I will also give you a sneak peek at the admin areas and the tools I use.
2. Themes and Styles
I will go over theme tweaking, styles, and graphics — from making basic layout changes to more advanced modifications. When people ask, “Michel, how did you do this or that on this theme?” This session will answer that question.
3. Plugins and Functions
This session will focus on plugins — the plugins I use or recommend, and how to set them up. Not all plugins are usable out of the box. Some need tweaking. I will show how I set them up and offer a downloadable Excel spreadsheet of all my plugins and where to get them.
4. Tools and Shortcuts
In this session, I will go through some of my tricks and external (non-WP) tools I use to speed it all up. I will show you how I use Firebug, SEO tools, page speed tools, cheatsheets, social media integration, cross-browser tweaking, etc.
5. Money and Traffic
I’m thinking this may be something a lot people will love to know, and that’s how I monetize, market, and drive targeted traffic to my WordPress website. Without PPC or advertising. I will talk about list-building, content strategy, and social media integration.
6. Open Q&A Session
The final session will be an open question-and-answer session. This is where I will answer any and all of your questions related to the course content. If it takes an hour, I’ll take an hour. If it takes three, three it is. I want to take all the time needed to answer all your questions.
Bonuses
Not sure about this one, but I think a free trial to a one-month Success Chef University might be a good bonus. This is not going to be some forced continuity thing. If you like the free trial, you will need to re-subscribe to keep it going. Just sayin’.
Success Chef also includes the weekly Wednesday night classes and the derivative products, like List Whisperer, Marketing ESP, the Copy Doctor, etc.
Upsell
I do plan on offering an upsell. The reason I’m doing it is not entirely because I want to maximize sales, although that is obviously one of the reasons. But more important, I feel like this is one upsell people will actually ask for and buy.
What is it? It’s a private, one-on-one session with me.
This is an opportunity where the student can book a time with me, and I go through their website, theme, and plugins, and perhaps even web copy and strategy.
In it, I will review their setup, answer individual questions, and provide actionable recommendations. Perhaps even fix a thing or two while on the call, and implement a few tweaks right on the spot (within reason, of course).
Again, this is a tentative list. It might change, especially based on your feedback. All these sessions will be recorded and available online in a password-protected area.
The price point will increase once the sessions have been delivered and uploaded. I want to offer a lower price point before and while I deliver the course as a special introductory price.
My thinking is $297 is more than a fair price. I looked at other courses of this type, and $297 is actually on par or less than most.
The upsell will be $997 (total) for both the course and the full, one-on-one session. Considering that I charge $1,000 for critique consulting, and a minimum of $3,000 for any copy project, I think this price point is more than fair.
Now, you don’t have to choose the upsell.
You can buy just the main course for $297.
I only want to make the one-on-one session available to those who need more hand-holding and individualized attention.
But if you have a website right now, and you’re wondering how to tweak it but don’t know how, and if you prefer to save the hassle and expense — Mike Sigers said he was charged $2,500 to modify just one page! — this will certainly be a bargain.
So let me know your thoughts.
To answer a few of your questions in advance, let’s say I’m looking at next week as the launch, and the course will be delivered throughout July. Probably in the afternoons.
(However, if you choose the upsell, the one-on-one session can be booked at any time based on any openings on my schedule.)
All the sessions will be recorded and you will have access to the recordings. You can share your private session (if you choose the upsell) with a freelancer, partner, staff member, or designer, if you wish them to implement some of the things I recommend.
(Keep in mind, I will do a few tweaks for you, and do it live. This is only if the changes you need fall beyond the scope of our time together.)
Standing by and listening…
Want to Maximize Your WordPress Website Fortin-Style? originally appeared on The Michel Fortin Blog. Please visit to subscribe to it, or Tweet This.
New Blog Design Now With Comments
Posted on 15. Jun, 2011 by Michel Fortin in Blog, brian clark, chris brogan, clutter, comment, Darren Rowse, feedback, News, Small Business Internet Marketing, Small Business Marketing
After a much needed change, I decided to completely revamp my blog. The old one was good, but it was cluttered, too busy, and distracting.
I wanted to simplify.
I wanted to get rid of the clutter and look crisper, cleaner, and more focused. The previous one had too many ads, messages, social icons, etc.
I loved the overall design and some of the main design elements from Chris Brogan, Brian Clark, and Darren Rowse. So I decided to emulate them.
I realized that they use Genesis as their framework, but I’m in love with WooThemes. In fact, I wanted a WooTheme theme because all my other blogs have WooThemes, and I love their framework, their sidebar manager, their built-in shortcodes, etc.
I wanted those features on my own blog!
Lastly, I wanted to re-introduce commenting, but with a twist. I once used Disqus, which I liked a lot. But I wanted more social media integration. Recently, LiveFyre came along with full social networking integration and some good reviews.
So this is it! But I need your feedback on a couple of things…
What do you think? I’m still tweaking it, and I not 100% sure I want to keep it like this, including the comments. Let me know in the comments.
What else do you think I should add or remove? If you look at the bottom footer section, there’s nothing (compared to last time where I had the most popular posts, etc).
Brian Clark and Chris Brogran have nothing, too. But Darren’s blog has a neat footer section. Ideas? Suggestions? Let me know in comments below.
New Blog Design Now With Comments originally appeared on The Michel Fortin Blog. Please visit to subscribe to it, or Tweet This.
How to Sell in Tough Times Webinar Replay
Posted on 13. May, 2011 by Michel Fortin in Blog, Copywriting, download, Ken Calhoun, News, seminar, Small Business Internet Marketing, Small Business Marketing, success, system, video, webinar
Last week, I conducted an hour-long webinar with my friend Ken Calhoun on “How to Sell in Tough Times.”
This webinar was a fireside chat, so to speak, where we touched base for the first time since hosting the now famous Copywriting Success System seminar in 2007 and since released on an eight (8) full-length DVD set.
As I promised, the webinar has been encoded and replay is available right now. I apologize for the tardiness as a client’s looming deadline demanded my full attention.
In fact, because I’m so late in bringing this to you, I’ll extend the offer made we made at the end of the webinar until May 31st, 2011.
Click here to watch this video (new window).
Check out the Copywriting Success System.
How to Sell in Tough Times Webinar Replay originally appeared on The Michel Fortin Blog. Please visit to subscribe to it, or Tweet This.
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