Here at Web Gnomes, we stay on top of the ever-changing world of Internet Marketing so you don’t have to. We enjoy learning new tricks of the trade and putting them to practice in the work that we do for our esteemed clients. Here is some of the most helpful Internet marketing info we came across this week:
SEO is Both Science and Art
In this article from Search Engine Watch, Mark Jackson discusses the fact that search engine optimization (SEO) is both science and art. This is something that is quite obvious to anybody who has performed SEO work, but good for everybody to hear. There are definitely pieces of SEO that are scientific, with hard-core research behind it. However, applying what we know to each unique situation is where the art comes in.
Our industry needs more of these highly-skilled “freaks of nature” who blend both the scienctific skills and artistic creativity of SEO. ~Mark Jackson
8 Small Business Social Media Tips From the Pros
From the Social Media Examiner comes this excellent post by Cindy King, which features eight social media pros sharing their best social media tip. They are as follows:
- Show Them the “Real You” – If you are on Facebook, don’t be all business all the time. Your customers want to get to know you. It’s OK to post a favorite recipe or that your son is graduating from college. This will make you stick out (in a good way)!
- Pick One Thing and Do It Really Well – Small business owners don’t have a lot of time for social media. Find out where your audience hangs out and do a really good job with the one platform.
- Turn Your Facebook Into a Lead-Generating Machine – With a custom “Facebook Reveal Tab,” you can present new followers with a freebie in return for their email address. (This is not something we have done yet, but it is definitely on the list!)
- Invest in a Great Twitter Design – If you’re going to be on Twitter, do it well. Any graphic designer can create a custom Twitter page to make your page stand out and resonate with your audience. (Or check out the article HOW TO: Create Custom Backgrounds for Twitter…)
- Bring Your Company Onto Video – This is something we have taken to heart. We believe that video is the way of the future and also know that it’s a great way to communicate. Our Gnome Tips series is a great example of using video to increase credibility.
- Learn How to Master Video Marketing – It’s not enough to have videos; they also need to be optimized for the search engines. Filling in all the meta data on YouTube is key!
- Monitor Your Clients and Prospects – John Jantsch suggests setting up alerts for your major clients, subscribing to their blogs and using other tools to monitor their social media activity. This is a great way to understand their wants and needs and to get a pulse on the industry.
- Give Away the Secret Sauce – Think about what will solve your clients’ problems. Write blog posts, free eBooks, or tutorials and share the information freely. People will like it and they will link to you.
…I really do believe that less is more. I get more engagement by updating five times per week than five times per day. ~Ed Gandia
Small Business and Social Media Infographic
Take a look at these fascinating numbers! The key thing to remember is that social media is what you make of it. Per #2 above, don’t jump into too much too soon. Start small, figure out what works well and do more of that. Use your time wisely online.
