In the world where work dominates life, it seems it's getting harder and harder for people to find any time to create any relationships with people within their own industry or even friends. In this new world of Internet, social networking websites seem to have replaced this need for many, by providing a social networking platform that can be used anywhere from a phone on the go or a laptop at home.
The fact the accessing the internet has become so easy and that you can get it on almost any device has taken the trouble out of communicating with others during our busy work filled days. Using a short break to reply to updates statuses or even just taking a moment to look at pictures from your friend's vacation, Face book has become a way of life for most. Sites like Face book and twitter are some of the heaviest trafficked websites throughout the globe. It only makes sense that businesses should find some way to market themselves within this online world.
Social networking has created a way for marketers to gain unexpected business leads. By gaining followers, creating online contests and giveaways marketers have found that having a direct link with the customer can be incredibly valuable to their success.
Some companies such as Fishbat will handle business relations using social media. Through search engine optimization, link building, and site promotion, companies such as Fishbat Marketing draw traffic from social media sites to businesses that are looking to grow.
Businesses do not grow without relationships, so making the right friends from a related business group can give better results. Good examples for social networking through Internet are websites like Face book and Twitter. These social media websites help businesses and individuals alike build relationships with any person. Expanding your relationships with social media sites will amplify your chances of making profitable business contacts.
Showing posts with label marketing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label marketing. Show all posts
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
The Possible Impact That Google+ Has On Search Engine Optimization(SEO)
The Possible Impact That Google+ Has On Search Engine Optimization(SEO)
by Takara Alexis
Although you can only join by invitation at this point, you've probably heard of Google+, Google's latest attempt to join Facebook and Twitter as a must have social networking tool. In the months before Google+ was launched, Google also began implementing the +1 button as a usable option for users to signify that they enjoy a specific site or page in an attempt to collect as much raw data as possible about the popularity and social value of sites and content before Google+ was rolled out for the masses. Preceding the Google+ and +1 button was the introduction of real time search, which was able to incorporate search results from Twitter, blogs and Facebook. Google, it would appear, is realizing the immense value of social media and the impact of social media on web search.
Search will continue to have a social element infused into it as the addition of the +1 button will change search results, as will live feeds from Google+ pages, much like Facebook "likes" and Twitter "tweets" are currently affecting search results by influencing user decisions due to their value as endorsements of certain sites and content.
Google definitely wants websites to implement the +1 button in their pages so that they could track and measure changes in click through rates. The +1 button will also be included on all SERPs as well as all Google+ feeds. What this means is business owners and marketers must ensure that a positive customer experience is, perhaps more than ever before, their primary focus in the hope that as many users as possible will +1 their site, and in doing so, endorse their business.
But perhaps the most interesting concept presented by Google+, and one that could potentially have a significant impact on SEO, is the "Google Circles" feature.
The "Circles" feature is interesting because it grants users the ability to share whatever they choose with specific groups, or Circles, of individuals. As Google+ users build their Circles, they will subsequently be able to see the sites that users in their circles have +1d in Google's SERPs. This has enormous potential - users will be far more likely to make a choice or purchase based on the recommendation of people they have invited to their Circles - people who they know and whose opinions they trust. Most users are going to be a lot more likely to trust the recommendation of someone they know rather than the recommendation or review from a stranger. Over time, Circles will become a lot more defined as more available user data is integrated into them - using that data to effectively market could be a powerful SEO strategy.
Basically, Google has taken the ideas behind many of their social media competitors more influential and successful features in an attempt to make search more about real people. Google+ and the +1 button are allowing users to influence online activity, and, as such, they'll have an effect on search results. How this will fully impact SEO remains to be seen, but the enormous potential of these features and their long term impact is fairly clear - site ranking methods are changing thanks to the +1 button and this will likely end up creating an altogether new method of SEO in the future.
by Takara Alexis
Although you can only join by invitation at this point, you've probably heard of Google+, Google's latest attempt to join Facebook and Twitter as a must have social networking tool. In the months before Google+ was launched, Google also began implementing the +1 button as a usable option for users to signify that they enjoy a specific site or page in an attempt to collect as much raw data as possible about the popularity and social value of sites and content before Google+ was rolled out for the masses. Preceding the Google+ and +1 button was the introduction of real time search, which was able to incorporate search results from Twitter, blogs and Facebook. Google, it would appear, is realizing the immense value of social media and the impact of social media on web search.
Search will continue to have a social element infused into it as the addition of the +1 button will change search results, as will live feeds from Google+ pages, much like Facebook "likes" and Twitter "tweets" are currently affecting search results by influencing user decisions due to their value as endorsements of certain sites and content.
Google definitely wants websites to implement the +1 button in their pages so that they could track and measure changes in click through rates. The +1 button will also be included on all SERPs as well as all Google+ feeds. What this means is business owners and marketers must ensure that a positive customer experience is, perhaps more than ever before, their primary focus in the hope that as many users as possible will +1 their site, and in doing so, endorse their business.
But perhaps the most interesting concept presented by Google+, and one that could potentially have a significant impact on SEO, is the "Google Circles" feature.
The "Circles" feature is interesting because it grants users the ability to share whatever they choose with specific groups, or Circles, of individuals. As Google+ users build their Circles, they will subsequently be able to see the sites that users in their circles have +1d in Google's SERPs. This has enormous potential - users will be far more likely to make a choice or purchase based on the recommendation of people they have invited to their Circles - people who they know and whose opinions they trust. Most users are going to be a lot more likely to trust the recommendation of someone they know rather than the recommendation or review from a stranger. Over time, Circles will become a lot more defined as more available user data is integrated into them - using that data to effectively market could be a powerful SEO strategy.
Basically, Google has taken the ideas behind many of their social media competitors more influential and successful features in an attempt to make search more about real people. Google+ and the +1 button are allowing users to influence online activity, and, as such, they'll have an effect on search results. How this will fully impact SEO remains to be seen, but the enormous potential of these features and their long term impact is fairly clear - site ranking methods are changing thanks to the +1 button and this will likely end up creating an altogether new method of SEO in the future.
Social Media And Music
Social Media And Music
by Takara Alexis
The internet has negatively affected the music industry through the growth in piracy using programs such as BitTorrent. While this has lead to a drop in album sales the rise of social media on the internet has had a positive impact on the music industry.
Social media lets users to communicate about their favorite bands and have more access to bands than they ever had in the past. Social media had lead to the rise of several bands in recent years which is a sure sign that social media has an effect of how bands are being discovered. The Arctic Monkeys, a UK band, rose to fame because of the popularity of their MySpace page. As more and more people went to the band's website their songs became more and more popular and word of the band spread. This type of success story is not a lone case. Social media and music work together in a special way.
Last.fm is a popular music site that encourages users to find new music. You can type in the name of your favorite band and find other bands with a similar style of music. Last.fm also keeps track of what you have been listening to and makes recommendations based on that information. The groups feature on Last.fm allows users to get together and talk about a certain band or musical style that interests them. This fosters a sense of community and people with similar musical tastes are able to communicate with each other and make recommendations to each other.
A recent music-focused social media program that is becoming more and more popular is Spotify. Spotify permits users to stream music and create playlists that can then be shared with other users. The service is free and in between every few songs there is a short commercial. The playlist share feature allows users to discover new music as well as share their favorite "hidden gems" with the rest of the world. Spotify recently integrated itself with Facebook and users can now share their favorite playlists on their Facebook profiles. Included on Spotify is a "buy" link so if you happen to like a certain track on a playlist you can be the proud owner of it within seconds. Spotify is gaining steam and will become more and more prominent as time goes on.
Social media and music are becoming more and more intertwined. People are typically very passionate about their favorite bands or artists and love the chance to express their feelings about a certain song or album with others. Social media is the perfect outlet for music fans and will keep evolving and helping the music industry create new stars.
by Takara Alexis
The internet has negatively affected the music industry through the growth in piracy using programs such as BitTorrent. While this has lead to a drop in album sales the rise of social media on the internet has had a positive impact on the music industry.
Social media lets users to communicate about their favorite bands and have more access to bands than they ever had in the past. Social media had lead to the rise of several bands in recent years which is a sure sign that social media has an effect of how bands are being discovered. The Arctic Monkeys, a UK band, rose to fame because of the popularity of their MySpace page. As more and more people went to the band's website their songs became more and more popular and word of the band spread. This type of success story is not a lone case. Social media and music work together in a special way.
Last.fm is a popular music site that encourages users to find new music. You can type in the name of your favorite band and find other bands with a similar style of music. Last.fm also keeps track of what you have been listening to and makes recommendations based on that information. The groups feature on Last.fm allows users to get together and talk about a certain band or musical style that interests them. This fosters a sense of community and people with similar musical tastes are able to communicate with each other and make recommendations to each other.
A recent music-focused social media program that is becoming more and more popular is Spotify. Spotify permits users to stream music and create playlists that can then be shared with other users. The service is free and in between every few songs there is a short commercial. The playlist share feature allows users to discover new music as well as share their favorite "hidden gems" with the rest of the world. Spotify recently integrated itself with Facebook and users can now share their favorite playlists on their Facebook profiles. Included on Spotify is a "buy" link so if you happen to like a certain track on a playlist you can be the proud owner of it within seconds. Spotify is gaining steam and will become more and more prominent as time goes on.
Social media and music are becoming more and more intertwined. People are typically very passionate about their favorite bands or artists and love the chance to express their feelings about a certain song or album with others. Social media is the perfect outlet for music fans and will keep evolving and helping the music industry create new stars.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
When Good Markets Go Bad
When Good Markets Go Bad
by Takara Alexis
The markets have nearly rebounded to the historic highs reached in 2000, but investors have not forgotten the emotional confusion of the tech bubble burst and its aftermath. History tells us the markets will cycle down once more eventually; we just don't know exactly when. When that downturn comes, a financial plan, an investment strategy (how you get to the big picture) and a trusted financial professional can make the difference between staying the course and bailing out too soon.
Not surprisingly, researchers have found that the human brain wants to be happy and will in fact bend our perceptions of reality to that end. Faced with evidence that we have made a mistake in judgment, our brain denies, rationalizes, blames and defends, because admitting mistakes ruins our self esteem and makes us unhappy.
Faced with investment decisions, our brain seeks for ways to support its chase for happiness. We stuff ourselves with information - from the media, from the stock ticker, from cocktail party conversations - and take on a sense of achievement that we have superior knowledge. We do not. We have a surplus of information.
That false sense of knowledge causes us to make an investment based on performance from the past - despite prospectus disclaimers warning us that past performance doesn't promise future gain. We buy what's popular - because our brain tells us that many people can't be wrong. We resist selling investments when performance indicates we should - because we do not want to admit we were wrong. And we invest in stocks just because we know the name or, worse yet, because we work for the company.
If you've fallen pray to these financial defects in the past, now is the time to examine your financial strategy. That starts with a financial professional you can trust to be the voice of reason when you start to freak out about your portfolio. That trusted advisor should be assisting you develop a financial plan that starts with determining your life goals, not just a target amount for your investments. Be upfront when it comes to your assets, your liabilities, your hopes and your fears so your advisor gets a comprehensive picture of what you wish to accomplish.
To put your plan into action, you need an investment plan that fits your time frame, money needs and risk tolerance. With your financial expert, decide which investment vehicles are most acceptable for your profile. That includes understanding what criteria or scenario should prompt you to sell an investment, hold it or purchase more.
When the inevitable happens, and the markets retreat, don't lean on the media, your friends or even the major indexes for your next move. Look to the financial plan and investment strategy you and your financial professional developed and decide if those should change in the current climate. Good markets will always, eventually, go bad. With preparation, planning and professional financial counsel, that does not have to be true of your portfolio.
by Takara Alexis
The markets have nearly rebounded to the historic highs reached in 2000, but investors have not forgotten the emotional confusion of the tech bubble burst and its aftermath. History tells us the markets will cycle down once more eventually; we just don't know exactly when. When that downturn comes, a financial plan, an investment strategy (how you get to the big picture) and a trusted financial professional can make the difference between staying the course and bailing out too soon.
Not surprisingly, researchers have found that the human brain wants to be happy and will in fact bend our perceptions of reality to that end. Faced with evidence that we have made a mistake in judgment, our brain denies, rationalizes, blames and defends, because admitting mistakes ruins our self esteem and makes us unhappy.
Faced with investment decisions, our brain seeks for ways to support its chase for happiness. We stuff ourselves with information - from the media, from the stock ticker, from cocktail party conversations - and take on a sense of achievement that we have superior knowledge. We do not. We have a surplus of information.
That false sense of knowledge causes us to make an investment based on performance from the past - despite prospectus disclaimers warning us that past performance doesn't promise future gain. We buy what's popular - because our brain tells us that many people can't be wrong. We resist selling investments when performance indicates we should - because we do not want to admit we were wrong. And we invest in stocks just because we know the name or, worse yet, because we work for the company.
If you've fallen pray to these financial defects in the past, now is the time to examine your financial strategy. That starts with a financial professional you can trust to be the voice of reason when you start to freak out about your portfolio. That trusted advisor should be assisting you develop a financial plan that starts with determining your life goals, not just a target amount for your investments. Be upfront when it comes to your assets, your liabilities, your hopes and your fears so your advisor gets a comprehensive picture of what you wish to accomplish.
To put your plan into action, you need an investment plan that fits your time frame, money needs and risk tolerance. With your financial expert, decide which investment vehicles are most acceptable for your profile. That includes understanding what criteria or scenario should prompt you to sell an investment, hold it or purchase more.
When the inevitable happens, and the markets retreat, don't lean on the media, your friends or even the major indexes for your next move. Look to the financial plan and investment strategy you and your financial professional developed and decide if those should change in the current climate. Good markets will always, eventually, go bad. With preparation, planning and professional financial counsel, that does not have to be true of your portfolio.
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