Sep28
It amazes me but it shouldn’t. The internet continues to grow by leaps and bounds and I don’t mean just by shear numbers. 73% of all American adults are on the internet now. (http://www.pewinternet.org). Many of these online adults are expressing how important it is for them to be connected. How the “internet has greatly improved their ability to shop.”
This is an important distinction to remember when building your website. Is your website allowing these savvy shoppers find what they need quickly? Your navigation should be clear and concise with no more than 2 clicks to get to the product or service of their choice.
35% of these adults are also saying that the internet is helping them do their jobs better. If you sell your product or service business to business, are you making it easier for them to contact you? Does your website give them the right resources like some frequently asked questions, product reviews, knowledge-base, job announcements?
But let’s not forget the group of people that don’t use the internet as much. According to the Pew Internet data, there a those , 17% who only use the internet several times a week, say that the internet has helped them do their jobs. Again, make sure that your website reflects a clear navigation and common sense content to ensure your target market knows what to do next when they come to your website.
Internet penetration has reached high levels. Many businesses refuse to acknowledge the need for a website at all. This may be the case for the rare few business segments, but not for the business owner wanting to reach the widest target audience.
September 28, 2009
Tags: advertising, ecommerce, seo, web design
Sep21
Some rules to get your website listed. Note: these are not steps to get listed the top 10 search results.
- Your website should be complete with no broken links, unique content, and keyword optimized.
- Include a sitemap formatted with an XML extension and add to your webserver.
- Add your site using the Google Sitemaps tools.
- If you can, add a link to a site with PR (PageRank) of 5. I have been able to help my clients get indexed quickly by google by simply adding a link to their new site from my homepage which has a PR of 5.
Other notable ideas:
- resubmit your sitemap each time you make a dramatic change to your website.
- continue to add unique content to your website.
- Make sure that you utilize your specific keywords on each of your pages. Your title tag, description tag, and content should each reflect your keywords and phrases.
September 21, 2009
Tags: advertising, google, SEM, seo, web design
Jan05
There are conflicting predictions on how SEM spending will grow. According to JP Morgan, they predict that growth in US paid search ad revenue (currently the largest segment of US online ad spending) would fall to 31.9% in 2008, down from 36.8% in 2007. Unlike JP Morgan, eMarketer expects growth in US online ad spending growth to rise slightly in 2008.
“David Hallerman, senior analyst at eMarketer, predicts that online ad spending will grow by 28.5% in 2008, compared with 26.8% in 2007. eMarketer also projects that US spending on paid search advertising will increase by 27.5% in 2008, compared with 26.8% in 2007.”
eMarketer predicts a growth in online ad spending, specifically pay-per-click. They see it reach its peak growth in 2008 with 27.5% increase. It then dips in 2009 to 17.6% until in 2011 to 11.3%. Other online spending areas included video, referrals, classifieds, display ads, sponsorships, and email. All peak this year and suddenly drop next year and continue.
I believe this shows the SEM industry is leveling and normalizing.
But, hold on there, ZenithOptimedia predicts a much sunnier horizon. They are predicting record growth. They are saying…
- Online ad spend will overtake radio by 2008;
- online ads will make up a double-digit share of all advertising by ‘09
- it will surpass magazine advertising by 2010.
I don’t agree with the first and last predictions, as Google has added their new advertising segment within adWords, advertising on the radio and print. I do agree with item #2 but still believe that the spending will normalize over the next couple of years as interest in quick-results advertising and conversely frustration over managing it grows.
January 05, 2008
Tags: advertising, SEM, seo
Dec21
December 21, 2007
Tags: advertising, computer, video
May24
I recently joined the local Houston Memorial Chapter of BNI, Business Networking International. There are about 23 members right now. It is a great group of dedicated business people focused on customer service and referrals for each other. It is a great way of increasing your sphere of business without taking on employees or going outside a your expertise.
We meet once per week in the morning, which for me is a great way to get the day started. We meet and discuss our businesses then move on to the referrals. As each industry is only represented once time per chapter, you are not competing with others in your industry. For example, I am the only web designer in my chapter. There is only one realtor and one mortgage broker and one accountant. The screening is rigorous as the chapter reviews your application, contacts your referrals, and makes sure you are serious business person who runs it ethically and properly.
We all want to be able to refer the best to our customers. So if any of my customers has need I might be able to refer them someone in my group that I know will give them the best service.
So if you are in the Houston area, checkout the group for any work you might need. I highly recommend each of them.
http://www.bnihouston.com/cgi-bin/viewmember.cgi?chapter_id=25
May 24, 2007
Tags: advertising, BNI, Business, customer, houston, Networking, office
