Blog

6 Steps to Crack Your Email Addiction

Tue, 08 May 2012 19:12:05 +0100

What is it about email? Is it the instant gratification of knowing that someone is thinking about you? Or is it the obsessive need to be needed? Regardless of your reasons for being addicted to email, the fact is that if you let it, email can cause you more harm than good. I am no stranger to this issue. I spent much of the last two years as a project manager juggling dozens of projects at any given moment. Unfortunately, one of the clients I served had many ‘last minute’ and ‘urgent’ pr...

What do You MEAN My Website is GONE?!

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:48:04 +0100

This past week brought a very scary scenario to one of my clients. Over the past few weeks, our team have been working with a new client to create a fresh website. It was discovered a few days ago that their old site was gone before the new one was ready. That made me reflect long and hard about how well I back up my website and what security measures I have in place. Here are some things that came to mind that I think you need to address immediately if you haven’t already: 1) Back Up Your W...

Have A Niche Day

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:09:38 +0100

When planning a trip to a destination for the first time, the excitement of anticipation wells up as you list all the amazing things you can see and do. I’m planning my first trip to Italy with my mom and there are a few items on the list that are ‘must see’. As I’m reading and researching, I see that a week is barely enough to see our priority destinations. But work and family commitments (not to mention cost) impact the duration of the trip. We’ll just have to make the tough choic...

Facebook Facelift

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:31:25 +0100

The new Facebook Timeline has been burning up the blogosphere over the past few weeks as people get excited (or miffed) that they need to make changes to their Facebook pages in order to maximize the new format. With rules in place such as no call to action or linkable URL within the 800+ pixel wide banner, some businesses have become quite creative in developing a page that appeals to their followers. I haven’t been doing as well as I like with my Facebook business page and I took this ...

The Freelance Squeeze

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:12:08 +0100

If you are a freelancer or self-employed, you’ll understand the dance between marketing your business and actually doing the work. Marketing specialists insist that you should always be marketing, even when you are busy, to ensure that the work continues to flow without significant gaps. I agree with that philosophy (although my current calendar has its own ideas on that) and I have vastly improved my follow up methods to ensure no leads get dropped. But there are forces beyond our control wh...

Content Evolution: Articles to Apps

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:44:05 +0100

When I first started my writing business, the majority of projects I worked on were articles for print publication. At that time, there was a lot of need for print materials in marketing communication so I produced copy for several brochures and newsletters as well. In my spare time (ha ha, 3 little kids = not much spare time), I worked away on a novel hoping to one day be ‘discovered’ and revered for the magnificent stories I told. Over the past ten years I’ve learned that in order to a...

PPS session 1

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 23:01:19 +0100

Pps_session_1

Never Give Up, Never Surrender

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:15:14 +0100

I love that phrase from the parody SciFi flick ‘Galaxy Quest’. It makes me laugh because of the context in which I first heard it, but it’s a phrase I find myself using often. Why? Because there are so many situations at work or home where people around me (and myself) are on the brink of giving up. Does that happen to you? You have spent hours on a project, only to learn that the direction has changed and you’re forced to start over. You get excited about a new idea then it fades to ...

The Craft and Business of Writing - Podcast #4

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:40:20 +0100

Emerging writers often wonder what it takes to become successful or to get published. In today’s online environment it is not necessary to wait for a publisher to accept your submitted work. Creating and writing a blog has become an easy option for anyone. Developing writing skill through practice will help a writer find their unique voice and audience. In today’s program, Marnie speaks with Jeff Goins, a writer and successful blogger who’s first book is due out in the fall of 2012. Jeff...

8 Keyword Placement Rules

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:34:04 +0100

When developing copy for your website, the most important consideration is what keywords you will use. After you've gone through the process of figuring out what the keywords should be for each page you plan to optimize, then you have to decide where they will be placed within the text. Remember that your first priority is to your reader, not the search engines, so make sure what you're writing is interesting, compelling, and grammatically correct. Where Do You Place Keywords? 1) The URL of the...

4 Steps on How to Manage Leads

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:26:11 +0100

Once you've established your blog or newsletter, your readership will begin to grow. What do you do with the leads that have trusted you with their contact information? Manage Leads in 4 Easy Steps 1) Capture - Initially someone will have downloaded your free report or signed up for your newsletter in exchange for providing their name and email address. You will receive an email notification of this or your database will be automatically updated with the contact information. ...

Web Content vs. SEO copywriting

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:07:38 +0100

Web content and SEO copywriting may sound like two different things. To many, they seem like they are two ways of saying the same thing. It's helpful to understand their differences while keeping in mind that they do work together. What is Web Content? When talking about web content, we're referring to all of the assets that make up a web page such as text, images, video and audio or podcasts. A web content developer is someone who is responding to the needs of their target audience by prov...

More Traffic, Now What?

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:47:17 +0100

convince them to purchase from you or visit your store. Is it doing what you want it to do? My main focus is to help website owners increase traffic to their site, but what happens next? I make sure that the next steps they need to take are part of our conversation. Generally there are a few things I point out to people before I start working with them so there is more chance of success. Keep these things in mind before you hire an SEO: 1) Site layout – This should be your first consid...

Starting Something New

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:40:27 +0100

I was positively giddy on December 31st. Maybe it was because some special friends were coming over that evening and we were going to enjoy our traditional seafood feast and game-playing until it was time to toast and kiss at midnight. Maybe it was because my house was the cleanest it’s been in a while (I really should have company more often). Or perhaps it was the combined joy of saying goodbye to a year that held a few setbacks and sad moments and hello to a year filled with excitement a...

Marketing Strategies for Small Business - Podcast #3

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:40:21 +0100

Marketing is a critical component of running a successful business. There is always the challenge of developing and maintaining brand awareness and implementing marketing strategies that make your company prevalent in the mind of potential customers. Welcome to Communication Artistry's "Small Business Communications" podcast series. Today Marnie Hughes speaks with Grant Lee of AGL Marketing Ltd. to discuss marketing strategies for small business. commart03 To learn more about marketing, contac...

LinkedIn and Your Image

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:06:14 +0100

Yes, you can add all the content you like to your profile – skills, experience, education, associations, networks, interests – but please do not use any old party shot for your profile picture. They weren’t kidding when they said that a picture is worth a thousand words and it would take about two seconds for someone to glance at the off-center, ultra casual image of you and think ‘Hmm. Not sure if I’d do business with him.’ A professional studio portrait with a clean background puts...

Practice in Public

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:26:52 +0100

What a sage piece of advice from Jeff Goins (sharing the wisdom of Seth Godin). While discussing what it takes to become an accomplished writer, Jeff said ‘practice’ which one would expect as the answer. But not just jotting notes in a journal for your eyes only. He suggests practicing in public is the way to go. Why? ...

Haiti Village Health

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 19:58:09 +0100

As you may know, I'm passionate about Haiti and was fortunate enough to visit there in March 2011. I continue to work on the Healing Hands for Haiti website and love every minute of it. I've started working with another organization called Haiti Village Health and they are also a medical NGO based near Cap Haitien, Haiti's second largest city. Dr. Tiffany Keenan is a tireless proponent for the rural Haitian population and she, along with countless volunteers and some staff, tend to the medical n...

Making An Effective Website - Podcast #1

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 23:24:57 +0100

Are you happy with your website? Did you know that a visitor arriving on your website for the first time will judge you on what your homepage looks like and how it feels? A professional looking website has the power to change customer perceptions and engagement. Welcome to Communication Artistry's "Small Business Communications" podcast series. In today's program, Marnie Hughes sits down with Andrea Dubravsky of AD Webdesign to discuss some of the strategies that go into developing an effective ...

Establishing Your Small Business - Podcast #2

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 23:24:57 +0100

Are you considering starting a small business? Whether you have a marketable business idea or simply an entrepreneurial spirit, there are some things you need to understand about yourself and about the community you wish to serve before you get started. In today’s program, Marnie sits down with Yolanda Fitzpatrick of JUMP! Start Your Business to discuss what to consider when starting a small business. commart02 To learn more about starting your small business, contact Yolanda at www.jumpstar...

The Birth of a Podcast

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:12:39 +0100

If you’ve been following this blog, you may have noticed that I’m touching on a number of topics that essentially fall within three key categories: small business, writing, search engine optimization – and they all are in pursuit of quality marketing for your company. It’s the typical story of ‘tell what you know’. I’ve been in a wonderfully, euphoric experimental phase with my own marketing over the past few months and want to share what I’ve learned with you so that you migh...

8 Steps to Writing an eBook

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:20:39 +0100

Ebooks are publications in digital form that consist of text, images, or both and are created, published and read on an electronic device or computer. Ebooks have been popular for years (as the quantity of pdfs in my download folder illustrates) but their value seems to have magnified since the onset of the mobile technology craze. E-readers such as Kobo or Kindle are a wonderful way to read your digital documents on the go. Tablets have made ebooks even more accessible to the masses. I�...

The SEO Rapper

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:43:31 +0100

SEO can be boring. If you're in the business of selling a product or service, you may not want to know the details of how to get your website to rank better with the search engines. So you either hire someone to deal with that, or you try and figure out how to do it yourself. But some of this stuff can make your eyes glaze over. Enter the SEO Rapper. In a couple minutes, this clever guy gives you a lot of SEO tips to help you and he's done it in a fun way! Check out his videos to see what I ...

Why Use The Cloud?

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:07:31 +0100

First of all, what is ‘the cloud’? The cloud is essentially technologies that allow the delivery of computing services over the Internet in real time. The cloud is accessible from any location with an Internet connection, and increasingly, from our ever-smarter mobile devices. The convenience and flexibility of running your software through Internet-based applications rather than from your Mac or PC makes it an attractive option that more and more businesses are using. Why should you con...

Small Business Week

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:25:46 +0100

This is ‘Small Business Week’ where all across the country we are celebrating Canadian entrepreneurs. The theme for this year’s Small Business Week is ‘Power up your Business. Invest. Innovate. Grow’. I didn’t realize until today that Small Business Week has been going on for 32 years (and the term is actually trademarked!) and it was started in recognition of the contributions and achievements of Canada’s entrepreneurs. Events are being planned all over the country. Check out...

Experiments in Marketing

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 13:45:54 +0100

Small business owners are accustomed to wearing many hats, one of which is marketing. The art of marketing is essentially raising awareness of your brand and what products and services you offer while inviting and enticing people to call, inquire and purchase. So how does one go about marketing a small business? The tools and techniques are varied, but here are a few that have helped me. Some I’ve been doing for a while and some are currently under development for the very first time. ...

How Can I Help You?

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 01:42:58 +0100

The past several years for me have been focused on developing well-crafted copy for various marketing communications, with an emphasis on websites. Over the past five years, my research and study of search engine optimization has helped me to give advice and information to those small business owners who needed a website and weren't in a position to hire a huge agency to get it built. People seemed thirsty for this information and I am so happy to share what I've learned. It seems I've got ...

Collaboration for Small Business Success

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:38:32 +0100

Small business success depends on so many factors. First of all, I think we each have our own definition of what ‘success’ is. For some, it is the independence of being their own boss. For others it’s the flexibility of determining their own work hours and environment. For many, success is measured in dollars. Regardless of how you define it, finding success, and maintaining it, takes constant consideration. A successful entrepreneur looks at new and interesting ways to develop his busin...

Managing Multi-Lingual Websites

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:57:34 +0100

One of the challenges I face in working on the Healing Hands for Haiti website is ensuring that each time a new piece of copy is added to the site, the French version of that copy also gets quickly uploaded. The biggest challenge is in the delay between when the English copy is written, and when the French translation is provided. Here are the steps I usually take: 1) Write the copy or blog post. This is usually from information provided by someone on the ground in Haiti, or from my archive of n...

What Phone for my Small Business?

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 20:30:57 +0100

There are certain tools that every small business needs. A computer and mobile phone are two of the most critical for my writing business. Since I spend most of my time online either doing research, checking email, engaging in social media or just writing content for websites, articles or newsletters, I have both a laptop and a desktop so that should anything happen to one, I can continue working on the other. To connect with clients, associates and suppliers I need a phone. Since I want to be...

Networking Your Small Business

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:36:46 +0100

As a small business owner, one of the ongoing challenges you may face is getting your brand out there in the physical world. Sure, you’ve set up a pretty good website and you’re likely involved in two or three different social media platforms, but you spend a lot of time on your computer or on your phone to either do business or drum up new customers. How much time is spent face-to-face? Joining a local group targeted to your industry whose members are similar or complimentary in what they o...

Pictures Worth 1000 Words or 1 Keyword

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:02:40 +0100

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Perhaps that is true for many people, but it really isn’t applicable for the search engines. The picture here suggests a family on vacation, visiting a huge historic castle on a sunny day. It might cause you to wonder who the people are (my family), why they are there (summer vacation), and where the castle is located (Trim Castle in Co. Meath, Ireland). ...

Mind Mapping for Marketing

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 13:44:09 +0100

Brainstorming is a tried and true method that marketers have used for years to come up with new and innovative ways to reach potential customers. Rather than solely relying on the intuition or experience of a few select individuals, however, making use of a mind mapping tool with collaboration features might be a good addition to the mix. There are a few options online to help organize your ideas and collaborate with colleagues. I think Mindmeister looks like the one to try In addition to ...

SEO and Social Search

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:35:45 +0100

One of my faves, Nick Stamoulis from Brick Marketing, shares a great list of social factors that affect your SEO. Here is the list, but to read the whole post check it out at http://www.searchengineoptimizationjournal.com/2011/05/16/social-search-factors/ Thanks Nick! 1) Quality of followers – having real, human followers connected with your Twitter profile is worth more in the long run than many ghost profiles. 2) Number of reTweets – when a link is reTweeted several times, it suggests th...

Social Media Myths to Ignore

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:33:15 +0100

Thanks to the FreelanceFolder.com for the following list. I think with social media, we all hear the hype but we don’t realize the slow, methodical amount of work and commitment that’s involved in achieving our goals. For more details visit the full post at http://freelancefolder.com/7-popular-social-media-myths-freelancers-can-ignore/ 1) Social Media is a Waste of Time 2) You Can’t Reach Decision Makers 3) Social Media Leads to Instant Success 4) You Must Sign UP for Every New Platfo...

What is Google+?

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:29:57 +0100

Thanks to Adam Zhang from socialmediagroup.com for helping shed some light on Google+. Here are some thoughts he shares in his blog post: “Everyone is saying that the project is Google’s answer to Facebook. However, there are a couple of signs showing that it could be much, much more than that. Google+ could be the centerpiece to Google’s entire strategic map to link search, social, and mobile together in a seamless and intuitive package. Google+ is also a mobile app. By making use of And...

Virtual Assistant Virtues

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 12:43:39 +0100

Running a small business can be very rewarding. Someone recently told me I was 'living the dream'. Although it sounds impressive, the daily slogging to keep the business running, let alone growing, can be an awful lot for one person to manage. I often find myself wondering what it was that got me into this business in the first place and reflecting on whether or not those reasons still exist. The last thing I want to do is get mired down in the minutia of admin tasks when I could be doing what I ...

Google's Not the only Search Engine

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 11:34:07 +0100

Although it certainly is the most widely used search engine, Google does not stand alone. To have a thorough understanding of search engine optimization and what sorts of options exist out there, our friends at seologic.com have compiled a detailed list of search engines. Although there have been changes to the list over time (one search engine buys out another etc.), there is still value in reviewing the list. You can learn about the multi-layered relationships that exist between search engine...

Narrowing Your Online Search

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:00:59 +0100

Narrowing Your Search We would all prefer to have a more meaningful return for our search efforts so here are some things to keep in mind not only when entering search terms yourself, but when selecting and recommending keywords to clients. There are essentially 3 ways to search: broad match, phrase match, and exact match. The broad match means that Google will return results for each of the words in your search term. For example, if you type in article writing then the results will show sit...

Handy Twitter Tools

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:20:29 +0100

I’ve spent the last couple months working at developing my social media presence including LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. For some reason I have found Twitter pretty interesting and fun and am still discovering some of the cool things it can be used for. I’m glad to have found Twellow which helped me to find like-minded people on Twitter and connect with them. Of course, using HootSuite has been instrumental in enabling me to schedule some of the messages I’d like to send out. I turn m...

Setting Twitter Goals

Tue, 31 May 2011 21:04:12 +0100

Thanks to www.socialmediadiyworkshop.com for help in figuring out how to set Twitter goals. To figure out your Twitter goals, ask yourself the following questions. • Why am I considering using Twitter? • Will I be using Twitter for business or pleasure? • Who will I be looking for: customers, peers, vendors? • What will I do on Twitter: receive information or send out information? • What will I talk about on Twitter? • Am I seeking people only in my geographical area or any...

Content Management Systems - Which To Choose?

Tue, 17 May 2011 03:33:29 +0100

Content Management Systems – Which to choose? I’ve been working with a few different content management systems over the past few years and have found that each one has features and benefits that would recommend them. Do I have a favourite? Well, the jury’s still out. Here are the main three that I’ve used: Dot Net Nuke – I have been using DNN the longest so would be inclined to recommend it since I am most comfortable with it. There is a lot of functionality. I’m happy with how...

How are You Using QR Codes?

Mon, 09 May 2011 17:41:57 +0100

I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about mobile or QR codes so asked the question of some colleagues in the Halton Peel Communications Association (www.hpcaonline.org). Offering an interesting cross-section of opinions, some had been using it recently in print materials for clients, others commented on how it had been used on products they encountered in everyday living. There are different apps suggested by the group including Scan for iPhone and ScanLife. It was interesting to get another v...

Customer Focused Content

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:56:18 +0100

Thanks to www.toprankblog.com for insights on the winds of change in the online marketing world. Lee Odden suggests that marketers need to shift their efforts from providing features and benefits about their products and services in hopes of getting new customers. The current thinking is that you should focus on what the customer wants and needs and find ways to be there when they are ready for you....

Social Media Marketing Stats

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 19:39:14 +0100

Thanks to www.marketingcharts.com for putting together some interesting statistics regarding social media use among marketers. According to a recent survey from Social Media Examiner, ninety-three percent of marketers use social media to market their business. About 88% of those marketers suggested that their social media activities generated more exposure for their business. Other benefits they listed were improved traffic and subscribers, a rise in search engine rankings and generation of...

EMail Management

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:50:58 +0100

We are all using email as a part of daily business. It is unavoidable. Email can be an efficient means of communicating updates, tasks, requests or just keeping people in the loop of a conversation. But we do way too much of it or at least there are ways we can improve how we manage it. I was reading a great article on brasstackthinking.com where the author talked about a simple four step strategy to handling your email. It's called Do, Delegate, Defer, Delete. Here's what she suggests:...

Learning about Prosthetics and Orthotics

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 01:20:52 +0100

Today was a real education in some of the hands-on projects that Healing Hands works on. I spent the day at the P&O (prosthetic and orthotic) clinic where they manufacture artificial limbs and braces. This facility is a joint effort between HHH and Handicap International (HI).

Presidential Palace in Ruins

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 15:16:30 +0100

Here is the presidential palace. Or, what's left of it. This massive structure remains in ruins, untouched since the earthquake. Perhaps it sits as a symbol of the corruption of politics and the crumbling state of governance in Haiti. Across the street lies the rubble remains of the parliamentary buildings. Sixty government employees lost their lives in this building on the day of the quake....

Middle Class Haitian Life

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 21:43:26 +0100

Fri Mar 11, 2011 Today topped them all. As if that could have been possible! My objective at the start of the day was to join Marette Monson (social worker from Utah) to the Klinik where she would be working with the staff social worker and I would be interviewing patients and taking pictures. Well, it turned out we had an opportunity to go to Jurel’s house. Jurel is one of the drivers and he lives in a small shack-like space....

Notre Maison Orphanage visit

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 01:50:58 +0100

Our team headed out this morning around 8:30 (Thu Mar 10) which was touch and go as a few of the girls were suffering from ill tummies. But Dave provided just the right medication to help us get out the door.

This is Mimose. Biggest smile I saw today!

Smiling Children Brighten the World

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 22:07:11 +0100

What more do we need to push us forward than the beautiful, genuine smile of a child? What did you do today to make someone smile?

New Life Orphanage Visit

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 21:40:20 +0100

This morning (Wed Mar 9) we visited the New Life Children's Center. This was the first time our team has visited this orphanage and they were delighted to see how clean and well-run it was. What a rewarding experience! No, I'm not bringing any children home - but I sure wanted to!!

Safe Arrival - Humbled and Speechless

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 03:24:53 +0100

It's 10:30 pm and I'm sitting in the guest house at Healing Hands for Haiti headquarters on Rue John Brown in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The building is beautiful with barrack-style accomodation so I'm sharing a room with 5 other girls. This was the only building to have survived the earthquake of last year.

Bags Are Packed

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 01:09:43 +0100

Finally got the bags packed today. Eric and I packed 4 hockey bags with various things needed down in Haiti such as hand sanitizer, tools, brochures, back packs and children's toys. We had to check each one to make sure it didn't exceed the weight allowance. I packed my carry on and my backpack will hold my laptop, notepad, book and snacks. I'm feeling more anxious than I usually would when packing for a trip. If I forget something on this trip, it won't be so easy to 'pop out' and grab it at ...

Fundraising Friends

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:19:22 +0100

My heart is full after my wonderful friends pulled off a surprise birthday/fundraising party on Saturday night. Since my birthday is coming up while I'm in Haiti, I thought I was getting together with my girlfriends to hang out and have a few laughs. This is tradition for all our birthday celebrations with variations in theme and venue. One week from tomorrow and I fly to Haiti to embark on this adventure. Having the support of the people who mean the most to me - my family and friends - is a wo...

Using YouTube as a Keyword Research Tool

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 20:12:36 +0100

Here's a terrific idea brought to you by our friends at www.seomoz.org. When researching keywords for a website I often use Google Adwords tool. It's fairly comprehensive, but only one viewpoint. In addition to typing in my ideas for keywords, I need to come up with alternative terms that might be used in the same industry. Enter YouTube.

And the Medicine continues...

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 18:50:03 +0100

The number of medications required for a trip to Haiti caught me off guard. I knew I'd have to update my regular shots like tetanus (as everyone should do since you only need it every 10 years). But the addition of pills for malaria and a fancy cocktail to prevent cholera, those weren't entirely expected. So now that it's exactly three weeks from my travel date, I had to take my first dose of Dukoral this morning....

Staying Safe on the Journey

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100

When travelling to a part of the world with it's share of trouble, it makes sense to be as prepared as possible. Haiti has seen earthquakes, cholera and political unrest over the past year and intense poverty persists in much of the country. In order to be as prepared as possible, I've purchased travel insurance through CAA that will insure my safe return home should anything happen to me....

Let the Adventure Begin

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 03:22:13 +0100

I have officially booked my flight to Haiti so my first official volunteer/working trip is a definite 'go'. This week I received my Twinrix (Hepatitis A and B) shot and my tetanus shot. My arms were very sore when I tried to do pushups at karate that night.

SEO Success with Anchor Text

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 12:27:59 +0100

We all know the importance of strategically placing keywords throughout the text of your web pages. We also know that 'keyword stuffing' is BAD and 'pursuasive copy' is GOOD. One of the strategies I talk to clients about is making sure that the anchor text within the copy (links to other places on their site) should also contain keywords. Since search engine algorithms are evolving all the time to ensure a relevant experience for the user, they want to make sure that the keywords you are ran...

Google does not use keywords meta tag in ranking

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 18:55:24 +0100

The people that I’ve been working with to optimize their website put a lot of stock in meta tags. Here is the word directly from Google about how they are handling that...

Regular site updates

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 18:55:24 +0100

I’m one to talk! It’s one of those ‘do as I say, not as I do’ scenarios. The bottom line is - update regularly. Establish or review what part of the site will be regularly updated (such as a blog or news page)...

Let’s start with a plan

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 18:33:23 +0100

If you’re new to search engine optimization then know this: there are no guarantees and it’s a moving target in a changing industry. The reason I say that is I just want you to hear alarm bells if your SEO company is guaranteeing you a #1 spot in Google from organic results ...

Link popularity