Marketing

Article: Website Reading: It (Sometimes) Does Happen, by Jakob Nielsen

Article: Website Reading: It (Sometimes) Does Happen, by Jakob Nielsen

(If you’re already a client, we’ve probably already talked about this. People DON’T read everything we put on a website, which is why it is critically important that we present content in scannable form. This doesn’t mean we omit details, but it does mean that we need to format and layout our content in such a way as to cater to their reading styles. The following article, by one, if not THE internet usability expert gives excellent insight which will help you present your content effectively. – Edward) Read article on Nielsen Norman Group website or continue here. Summary: When web content

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Article: How Google’s PageRank Algorithm Screwed the Online Writer (and What They Did to Fix It) by Demian Farnworth

Article: How Google’s PageRank Algorithm Screwed the Online Writer (and What They Did to Fix It) by Demian Farnworth

Read article on Copyblogger Media website In many ways, this century has mostly been a dark time for online writers. Huh? You mean the Internet — the most significant publishing revolution since Gutenberg — hasn’t been good for writers?! Yes. And no. Here’s the thing, good content writers got squeezed out during the early days of Google’s PageRank algorithm. As I’ll explain later, the importance was placed on the page, which created a nasty race to the bottom as far as writer’s value was concerned. Thankfully, Google has recently changed its tune, and the web writer is about to profit from that change

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KQED Podcast: The Freelancer’s Bible”

KQED Podcast: The Freelancer's Bible"

Fri, Jan 4, 2013 — 10:00 AM Download audio (MP3)  Getty Images Are you one of nearly 9 million self-employed Americans? Are you a freelancer and find your own clients? Or do you have a full or part-time job to pay the bills, and a gig you love on the side? Sara Horowitz is the founder of the Freelancers Union, which has 170,000 members nationwide, from writers to web designers to nannies. She joins us to discuss her new book, “The Freelancer’s Bible,” the pros and cons of life as an independent worker and tips for success in today’s economy.

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Entrepeneur Podcast: Tips From a Marketing Rebel

Entrepeneur Podcast: Tips From a Marketing Rebel

Click this link:   Tips From Marketing Rebel John Carlton to download and listen. John Carlton, marketing expert of Marketing Rebel will discuss how to record your sales pitch and turn it into an ad as well as how to avoid rip-off scamsters. Click here: http://www.entrepreneur.com/podcast/index.html for the same podcast on their website.

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SEO Won’t Solve Your Business Problems

SEO Won’t Solve Your Business Problems

  Writing by Brick Marketing in SEO   Search engine optimization, if implemented properly, can do many wonderful things for your business. It can help improve your brand visibility in the search engines and online overall in order to bring more targeted traffic to your site. An increase in visitors to the site will generate more conversions including sales, leads, calls, etc. However, one thing that SEO can’t do is solve your business problems. If your business is struggling, SEO isn’t going to be a magic fix. SEO works best for the companies that have their “stuff” together. SEO won’t change any

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Article: Measuring SEO Success via Google Analytics, by Jill Whalen

Article: Measuring SEO Success via Google Analytics, by Jill Whalen

September 5, 2012 By Jill Whalen If you’ve been reading much of what I’ve written over the years, you’ll know that I’m not a fan of using search engine rankings as a measure of success for SEO. Thankfully, we have much better ways to measure SEO success today, thanks to tools like Google Analytics. While presenting an all-day SEO training class at the University of San Diego last week, I realized that many people who do SEO as part of their job don’t always know what information in Google Analytics they should be looking at, nor how to find it. In

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Book Recommendation: The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey

Book Recommendation: The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey

One of the most amazing books I’ve had the privilege to read was The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey. Once again, I have my good friend and voracious reader Johnny Y. to thank for pointing me (once again) at one of the truly remarkable paradigm-changing reads I’ve had the good fortune to encounter. Click here to read important excerpts from this truly significant book. I recommend this book without reservation and offer it as a great resource to my small business clients who wish to grow their business and themselves with integrity and intelligence, two of the cornerstones

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Article: Optimizing your website for short attention spans: six tips, by Patricio Robles

(Link to original article HERE) Your company has invested a lot of time in building what you think is a great website. It’s not only pretty, it’s chock full of all the information about your products and services. Then reality sets in: attention spans are short and as great as your website is on paper, it just doesn’t hold attention long enough to convey all of the important information those customers and potential customers need to make the decisions that will boost your bottom line. What can you do? Here are six ways to optimize your website for short attention

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ARTICLE: Getting Ahead in Google: Dare to Be Different, By Jill Whalen

June 13, 2012 By Jill Whalen I recently did a site audit for a client who was wondering why they were having a hard time showing up in Google. When I read through the information they sent me and took a quick look at their website, it was obvious to me what the problem was: They simply didn’t deserve to be there. Let me explain… They have a fairly small local company that sells some common but specific types of office furniture. While they have a niche for the type of furniture they sell, for the most part it’s nothing

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Article: Facebook Tests Timeline Redesign | PCWorld

Facebook Tests Timeline Redesign | PCWorld. Facebook’s Timeline profiles may be getting a redesign, but this one probably won’t trigger a backlash. New Facebook Timeline being testedThe new Timeline design, spotted by TPM Livewire, condenses the biographical information at the top of the page, so it’s nested within the user’s banner image instead of appearing below. Links to the user’s friends list, photos, locations, and Likes are tucked neatly underneath the banner, next the user’s profile picture. Alongside those links, a new button called “Summary” leads to a list of major life events.

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Article: Google Sucks All the Way to the Bank! By Jill Whalen (January 19, 2011)

Google Sucks All the Way to the Bank! January 19, 2011 By Jill Whalen Most of the time when I have a bit of a rant in the newsletter or elsewhere it’s because I’ve seen or heard things that bug me or are just plain wrong. Writing about it gets it off my chest and that’s usually the end of it. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case with the Dear Google rant I had back in Sept. It’s not out of my system in the least. In fact, the feelings I had in that “letter” are growing stronger every day.

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Article: Google Announces Semantic Search Update by Karon Thackston (copywriting/SEO guru)

On March 15, 2012, Google officially announced (via the Wall Street Journal), what hardcore SEOs have been expecting since at least 2008.  Google is introducing semantic search into its algorithm. What exactly is semantic search?  It’s a technology that lets the search engine “understand” what each search query means.  So, rather than simply matching the keywords typed into the search box to the keywords on a web page and in links pointed to the page, semantic search also will return results based on related ideas and concepts… I suggest you read the rest of this article on Karon Thackston’s blog…

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CUSTOM Branded Business Cards (Same Look/Feel As Your Website) – NEW!

Business Card Options 1000 Full-color 2-sided Business Cards (w/website) $95.00 USD1000 Full-color 2-sided Business Cards ( no website order) $115.00 USD BUSINESS CARD DESIGN So…Brass Ring Multimedia does business cards now?! (Actually, have for years.) The business card remains a powerful tool (especially so when used properly and creatively) to make an impression, convey professionalism, drive traffic to our websites, serve as “mini-billboards” to advertise us, our products and services. If you ever get a chance, in fact, pick up a copy of Bob Popyk’s book: Here’s My Card: How to Network Using Your Business Card to Actually Create More Business, an excellent

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Article: Entrepreneurs Who Give More, Get More (by Nick Scheidies)

Written by Nick Scheidies Posted in Entrepreneurship | There’s nothing wrong with being a little selfish. When you own your own business, you have complete responsibility for all of its operations. You have to look after their own best interest first and foremost. But the more generous you are with your time, energy, and expertise the easier it will be to accomplish your personal goals. The more you give, the more you get. Don’t believe me? Keep reading and I’ll explain. Helping People is the Key to Success “It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no

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Article: 10 SEO Blog Post Publishing Steps that Most Bloggers Forget (By Nicholas Tart)

Written by Nicholas Tart I see this time and time again. As people get started with blogging, they think it’s as simple as clicking, “Add New Post,” typing up a few paragraphs, and clicking, “Publish.” Then they hopelessly wait for views, comments, and tweets. No one comes. No one comments. No one tweets. They do this three or four times and eventually write off blogging as, “not it’s all hyped up to be.” After writing for Michael for a few months now, I can tell you that there are dozens of small blogging nuances that we work into nearly every

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SEO Book: Content Rich: Writing Your Way to Wealth on the Web by Jon Wuebben

SEO Book: Content Rich: Writing Your Way to Wealth on the Web by Jon Wuebben

Excellent book…just finished reading it. Buy this book. Read this book…highlight and mark it up. Then RE-read this book. Finally, USE this book. I assure you, I don’t make a dime off of it, but you will! (Don’t worry I’ll be making my dimes from using it myself!) This book can be key to taking your website design from the realm of the common and ignored to effective website design which will attract visitors and provide them with useful information and lead them down the path you wish them to follow. I’ve been a website designer for a lot of

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Copywriting Tips for Better Flow from SEO Copywriter Karon Thackston

Karon Thackston is one of the leading sources for great advice and tips to improve your copywriting. I know, I know…you already KNOW how to write!(?) Maybe not well enough…in most things, regular improvement is key to success. I know if I’m not progressing, I’m likely being passed by. “Sharpen your saw,” and your work will go more easily. The world of internet marketing, search engine optimization (SEO) and generally writing for people with little time and/or short attention span calls for regularly adding new tools to your basic writing skill set.  Enjoy the video…you’ll be a better writer for having

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DON’T “CHARLIE SHEEN” YOUR BUSINESS!

DON'T "CHARLIE SHEEN" YOUR BUSINESS!

Written by Edward A. Sanchez Brass Ring Multimedia IS YOUR BUSINESS LIKE CHARLIE’S LIFE…going downhill? Charlie, Charlie, Charlie. I’ve gotta tell you, I like the guy…always have…it’s tough not to on some level. He’s got chops, he’s definitely a talented guy and Two And A Half Men is one of those shows I can always watch. Hot Shots, Wall Street, the list goes on…very cool. But, lately? (oy!) One of the habits I’ve learned to employ is that of looking inward whenever something “out there” irks me. (Like Charlie’s Vatican Assassin dive-bomb into hell.) I discovered long ago that I

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