Reader’s Digest to file for Chapter 11 protection – Charleston Daily Mail
August 17, 2009
Reader’s Digest to file for Chapter 11 protection – Charleston Daily Mail
NEW YORK (AP) – The publisher of Reader’s Digest, the country’s most popular general interest magazine, said Monday it will seek Chapter 11 protection from creditors amid declining circulation, an industrywide advertising slump and large debts. Reader’s Digest Association Inc. said it has reached an
‘Dancing With Stars’ includes Tom DeLay – Myfoxorl and O
NEW YORK – Former Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay will join 15 celebrities from the worlds of entertainment and sports in kicking up their heels on the new season of “Dancing With the Stars. Other hopefuls include entertainer Donny Osmond; singers Mya, Macy Gray and Aaron Carter; actors Melissa
MarketingScoop Offers High Demand SEO Training
August 14, 2009
MarketingScoop Offers High Demand SEO Training
Hello all you Marketing Mavens out there… just a quick announcement that may be of interest to those seeing SEO training for small to large groups.
Today it was announced that MarketingScoop.com, a leading provider of free Interment marketing tools, information, and resources is now offering SEO training for small and medium-sized businesses.
“Anyone can Learn SEO with the help of leading SEO experts and proven techniques that have helped dozens of companies achieve #1 Google rankings,” according to Michael Fleischner, the company’s founder and President. “I’ve been working with web sites seeking top search rankings for more than 5 years. Each of the sites has dramatically improved results by applying the right SEO techniques.”
Improving search engine rankings seems to dominate the attention of small to medium sized companies who can’t afford the high price of pay-per-click advertising. As a result, more time is being spent on SEO and learning how to improve organic results versus incurring the ongoing expense of Internet marketing that produces marginal results.
Today’s most popular search engine, Google, accounts for more than 67 percent of all online searches. Companies are optimizing their web sites for Google and seeking resources to do so. SEO consultants can offer theoretical advice that may or may not get implemented. Customized training programs provide businesses with detailed guidance on achieving their search engine optimization goals.
MarketingScoop’s SEO training is available in 1-day or 2-day sessions and is reasonably priced. In this program, students learn a step-by-step process for increasing search engine result placements for any web site or blog; techniques for improving on page optimization, and special techniques for increasing the number of in-bound links to enhance overall site value. These factors improve ranking for any keyword or keyword phrase, generating more organic traffic and lowering online marketing costs.
As more web sites place emphasis on improving the natural search results, demand for SEO training continues to grow. As more companies invest to learn SEO, MarketingScoop continues to expand their offering and provide world-class content, tools, and resources for Internet marketing success. To learn SEO and more about MarketingScoop’s SEO training, visit MarketingScoop.com.
PPC… Can It Enhance Your SEO?
June 29, 2009
PPC… Can It Enhance Your SEO?
Can pay per click marketing really work in tandem with SEO? I have found that the most successful SEO campaigns were born from PPC results. What do I mean? Read on…
Just a like a company’s house list, the information they gather from their own PPC campaigns can provide a significant boost to the effectiveness of their search engine optimization efforts. The key is to know what information you’re looking for and how to use it to generate qualified visitors to your website.
Qualified visitors are those that have a higher degree of interest in your products or services and a greater likelihood of purchasing your products. I’ve often seen websites that have reduced their traffic while significantly improving conversion rates. The result is lower costs related to traffic acquisition and higher revenue. With more revenue and less expense, margins reach a new level of success.
The concept that I teach in SEO training is the most effective way to combine pay-per-click advertising with search engine optimization is to focus on conversions. What keywords have you promoted through pay per click advertising that led to conversions? If you’ve been running PPC for a while and you are still unsure, then consider expanding your analytic coding to include Google conversion tracking.
Once you have the answer and know which terms produce the greatest conversions, regardless of ad variation, then you SEO keywords have been determined. You want to generate organic traffic to the same keywords you’re promoting through PPC as long as they are generating your highest conversions.
An example of this might be someone promoting a book on how to fix a car. If the highest converting keyword is, “car repair”, then you should consider car repair as a keyword phrase you must optimize for. Organic traffic to this term will produce targeted web site visitors and conversions for little or no money as you improve your rankings.
The last piece is to take your highest converting landing pages and build in some or all of the elements into your website. Once you’ve tracking and optimized landing pages via PPC, you can duplicate what you’ve learned from a conversion perspective organically. Consider applying the landing page elements that have generated the highest return for you on your pay-per-click advertising.
Whether you’re just getting started with search engine optimization or consider yourself a search engine optimization expert, leveraging your pay-per-click advertising is the best investment you can make. Determine which keywords generate the type of traffic that is most valuable to you and optimize around these terms. They will generate more traffic and revenue.
To learn more about PPC, check out our comprehensive Content Bully Review.
Improve Your Web site Traffic
June 14, 2009
Improve Your Web site Traffic
A question I’ve been getting recently is how to improve web site traffic. There are a few techniques that I use on a regular basis to improve site traffic. These techniques have helped me to drive traffic to specific sites, promotions, or affiliate products that I’ve sold from time to time.
Tip #1: Start to build a list. Whether you build a list by offering a free download on your website or by using inexpensive PPC advertising, having your own list allows you to encourage users to visit your site again and again. Over time, this can be one of your best traffic generators.
Tip #2: Make it easy to bookmark your site. Include a bookmark button at the very top of your web page. Doing so gives individuals easy access to your site and the content that you offer. You want it to be easy to find your site whenever someone is seeking the information you provide.
Tip #3: Include an RSS feed on your site. When individuals sign up for an RSS feed, they receive updates on a regular basis. This keeps your site and your information in front of them again and again. Don’t underestimate the power of repetition.
Tip #4: Offer original content on your site. Author original content and post it on your site. Doing so results in a higher ranking on search engine results. It also attracts new users to your web site.
These tips seem pretty basic but they build upon one another. Over time you will attract a loyal following and more visitors. My main website now sees more than 100,000 visitors each month and it all started with orginal content that is easy to find, bookmark, and receive with an RSS feed.
Best
-Michael
Meltdown 101: How do you market cars amid bankruptcy? Experts sound off on GM’s plans – Chicago Tribune
June 2, 2009
Meltdown 101: How do you market cars amid bankruptcy? Experts sound off on GM’s plans – Chicago Tribune
After filing for bankruptcy protection, General Motors is pushing a new ad campaign promising it will emerge from its financial troubles leaner and stronger. Is this a good marketing approach? Will it allay consumer fears about buying from a carmaker with an uncertain future? Advertising experts say
Penguins beat Red Wings, trail NHL finals 2-1 – PR Inside
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4-2 on Tuesday to extend the Stanley Cup finals to the weekend. The Penguins won at home after losing twice in Detroit against the defending champions just as they did last year in the NHL finals. Game 4, which could have been
Test Your Off-line Marketing
May 22, 2009
Test Your Off-line Marketing
Thank you all for the great comments and questions you’ve been sending to the Marketing Blog. As a result, I’d like to start answering your questions here on The Marketing Blog – so keep them coming.
Today’s questions is from Peter: How do you propose split testing for a campaign using offline media? There are many tools to do so with online media, but how do you measure the design of two different magazine ads?
It’s true that there are a number of tools for measuring the effectiveness of online campaigns. And it is, in many instances, easier today than ever before to evaluate the impact you marketing has with online tools such as Google website optimizer and a whole host of other resources. However, off line marketing can still be effectively tested and measured.
I’ve been testing offline campaigns for over a decade. The only change in the last few years is that many offline campaigns have been expanded to have an online component making it easier and quicker to track results. For example, you send a post card or publish and ad and have individuals fill out an online request form. This shows you quickly what type of results your campaign is generating in real time.
Without the online component, you can still track the effectiveness of your offline marketing. Personally I recommend you read, “Tested Advertising Methods” by John Caples a direct response expert. You’ll learn the methods John has used to evaluate campaign effectiveness. When marketing offline, you should always test one element at a time (ex: headline). Split test ads or run them consecutively within the same publication.
Always have a direct response mechanism. This can be a 1-800 number, an email address, or business response card. By having a direct response element, you can always test the response of your print campaigns. Different methods require different measurement techniques.
Test your print campaigns by circulating multiple versions of your creative in each campaign. Put in some type of mechanism to measure results that you can tie back to the unique version of your post card, magazine ad, or prospecting letter. By doing so you will always be able to test and improve your print campaigns.
Woody Allen, American Apparel settle suit for $5M – WTOP Radio
May 18, 2009
Woody Allen, American Apparel settle suit for $5M – WTOP Radio
NEW YORK (AP) – Woody Allen’s spokeswoman says American Apparel has agreed to settle his lawsuit for $5 million. Allen appeared Monday at a Manhattan courthouse, where he had sued the Los Angeles-based clothing manufacturer over its advertising. The actor-director sued American Apparel Inc. last
Gruden to join ‘Monday Night Football’ telecasts – Tampa Bay Online
So-so. He knows the game, but Terrible. He’s too arrogant. Getting poll results. Please wait TAMPA – The next John Madden? It may very well be Jon Gruden. The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach will replace Tony Kornheiser as top analyst on “Monday Night Football,” ESPN announced Monday
Obama: We must stop demonizing each other – Dubuque Telegraph Herald
President Barack Obama delivers a speech during the 2009 graduation ceremony at the University of Notre Dame. SOUTH BEND, Ind. — President Barack Obama strode head-on Sunday into the stormy abortion debate and told graduates at America’s leading Roman Catholic university that both sides must stop
Moderate quake rocks Los Angeles area – Nevada Appeal
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A moderate earthquake jolted the Los Angeles region late Sunday, shattering glass, setting off alarms and fraying nerves. There were no reports of any major injuries or damage. The magnitude-4.7 quake hit at 8:39 p.m. about 10 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles and three
Facebook and Twitter… Reaching Your Audience
May 9, 2009
Facebook and Twitter… Reaching Your Audience
Today just about everyone is writing about Facebook and Twitter. I have to tell you… I’m a skeptic. It’s not that I don’t think that both are great for communicating, but just like Myspace, are they really all they’re cracked up to be from a marketing perspective?
I recently spoke to a customer who said, “I love facebook… I spend about $5,000/month and pay only $0.50 per click.” When I asked him how many sales he had generated, his answer was, “I don’t know.” Even though it was a single conversation, I have a feeling that many marketers who think that Facebook and Twitter are such good ways to promote themselves have little or no data to confirm their success. Or, as the example above shows, think success
equals traffic.
To be successful with your online marketing, you need to find new sources of traffic – this is true. However, you must focus on the return of your investment. Are you advertising on Facebook? Using Twitter to build a list of followers? If you are, than ask yourself, is the return I’m getting greater than my investment in time and/or money?
My personal perspective, as I learn more about Facebook and Twitter is that it’s great for sharing information about you, your products, and or services. However, if you want to sell directly, you’ll be greatly disappointed.
Follow me on Twitter by clicking here
Asian Flu Fixes – Wall Street Journal
May 5, 2009
Asian Flu Fixes – Wall Street Journal Asian Flu Fixes
Boston Globe
Wall Street Journal
The A/H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, has arrived in Asia, with Hong Kong and South Korea confirming their first cases last week.
China set to repatriate Mexicans as flu fears ease
China changes visa rules for US citizens
Chrysler Delays Incentives; CEO Seeks Quick Bankruptcy Exit – Wall Street Journal Chrysler Delays Incentives; CEO Seeks Quick Bankruptcy Exit
TVNZ
Wall Street Journal - Jeff Bennett
By Jeff Bennett Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES DETROIT (Dow Jones)– Chrysler LLC will delay its new incentive announcement until Wednesday as it plans to introduce fresh discounts to back its new advertising campaign.
Dissident Chrysler lenders step up opposition
Chrysler Dissident Lenders Are Half Original Size, Filing Shows
Sri Lanka forces suspend offensive – Aljazeera.net
April 13, 2009
Sri Lanka forces suspend offensive – Aljazeera.net Sri Lanka forces suspend offensive
CTV.ca
Aljazeera.net
Sri Lanka's security forces have begun a two-day suspension of military operations against the Tamil Tiger rebels, intended to allow tens of thousands of trapped civilians to flee to safety.
Sri Lankan Rebels Must Let Civilians Out During Truce, UN Says
Sri Lanka holiday truce under way
Argentine Cabrera wins Masters in a playoff – Boston Globe Argentine Cabrera wins Masters in a playoff
guardian.co.uk
Boston Globe
Like a kid on Christmas morning, Angel Cabrera excitedly waits for the only present on his list – a green jacket – just like Trevor Immelman's.
Cabrera wins Masters title in playoff over Perry
THE MASTERS: Drama, tension return at Augusta National
Another Try for a Microsoft and Yahoo Deal – BusinessWeek Another Try for a Microsoft and Yahoo Deal
Straits Times
BusinessWeek
By Robert D. Hof In a development that can't be too surprising but may revamp the Internet landscape, Yahoo (YHOO) Chief Executive Carol Bartz and Microsoft (MSFT) CEO Steve Ballmer have started talking about forging Internet search and advertising …
Microsoft Lands a Big Cable Fish as Clients Clamor for New Ads
March search share: Google up, rivals down
