Do You Need Search Engine Marketing (SEM)?

If you need online marketing, you need Search Engine Marketing(SEM).   Search Engine Marketing, my vocabulary, covers all the tools you will need for online marketing.  It is the marketing that will make you a success or failure in online marketing.

Originally there were two basic areas of search engine marketing

•    PPC (Pay Per Click)
•    SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

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Focusing on these two internet marketing tools put you ahead in the business of online marketing. But now you need to know more.

What is SEM?

It is a rather broad term referring to the multiple ways of marketing a site to all of the search engines available on the internet.    If you have a business with a website, you will need search engine marketing.

Search engine marketing as a lot of different specific area and identifying the areas you need to use for your online business can be difficult.  An expert in this field can provide you with guidance and assistance so that your work is focused on areas you need to focus on and not on other things that would have little benefit for your marketing efforts.

The purpose of search engine marketing is to get as much targeted traffic as possible to your website.

The primary components of search engine marketing still include pay-per-click marketing and search engine optimization, but now include social media marketing, email marketing, PR and press, video, and article marketing (or blogging).  The search engines are attracted to each of these methods and proper use of them with result in higher ranking for your site on them.  There are specific rules of how to implement each of these into your online business for lasting results.

Most websites will use all three of these components of search engine marketing at one time or another.   The goal with search engine marketing is to obtain high search engine ranking and then measure the traffic and sales flow into your online business.  We cover most everything in our Wisdom Book.

And here is our lastest White Paper and Free Seminar.

 

Winning Internet Marketing Strategies

Internet marketing can effectively assist in attracting more of your target market to your website.  It is a known fact that, if you increase traffic to your website, you may increase sales of your products and services...BUT maybe you simply increase costs.   Developing an internet marketing strategy that works in CONVERTING traffic to your website into sales is key to your business success.

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There are some key components of marketing that should be a part of your marketing plan.

1. Conversion Architecture. Web design that is developed with marketing in mind from the get go should be the focus.  Everything from the look and feel of your website to the content should be carefully considered in relation to your marketing plan. This we call Conversion Architecture

2. SEO. Implement search engine optimization during the building stage of your website and make sure every facet of your marketing plan stays in tune with SEO as you continue to grow you business.  This is an area you will need to continually update to assure your ranking stays at the top.

3. Email Marketing. Learn and apply email marketing to effectively promote your website to your target market.

4. Build a Prospect Base. Include an email newsletter or opt-in list on your website.   This list will become invaluable to your continued growth over time.

5. Be an Expert. Become prominent in your niche with associate, affiliate, and resale programs.

6. Find a Consultancy. Get some expert assistance with your internet marketing endeavor early on from a quality internet marketing Consultant Company or coach.   Doing this can make the difference between spinning your wheels and getting real sales or conversions faster and less expensively.

7. PR and Press. Get your business name out in front by inclusion in news stories and article marketing programs.   Press releases are great opportunities when you launch your business and when you have new products and services.

8. Publish your Knowledge. Offer a free EBook with relevant informational content that serves to meet the needs of your target market. Perhaps you could develop a mini course with several lessons being provided over time on a related topic.

9. Blog, Blog, and Blog.  Communicate with your visitors by way of blogging.  This is also a great way to learn what your visitors think, need, and value.

A marketing plan with these key components executed correctly can lead to dominance by your business and fullfillment of your forecasted sales of your products and services.  It is a whole process to succeed.  It is a full-time job, but what business does not require a full-time investment?

 

Social Networking: A COMPLETE GUIDE FOR BUSINESS article 43: Social Media and PR

TOP 5 SOCIAL PORTALS

Social Media and PR

PR Tools and Resources

Below is a list of free PR tools and resources. (Source: Mashable.com)

1. Help a Reporter Out (HARO) www.helpareporter.com – This is a free resource where reporters submit queries directly to PR professionals - no strings attached. Subscribers to the list receive up to three daily emails, each with anywhere from 15-30 queries per email.

2. PitchEngine www.pitchengine.com – PitchEngine offers a full suite of Web 2.0 tools for PR professionals and journalists (ie: links to your social network profiles, video and audio capabilities). Readers may opt to receive a release on any social networks they belong to.

3. ReportingOn www.reportingon.com – Still in its beta stage, this social network is designed for reporters to discuss their beat or stories. There are around 600 reporters and professionals from around the world subscribed to the network.

4. Journalisted (UK) www.journalisted.com – This site is meant for consumers to search their favorite reporters and stay up-to-date on their work. It currently boasts more than 100,000 unique users. Although it only features reporters in the UK at the moment, it will soon broaden
its reach starting with the US.

5. Wikis www.pbworks.com – PR professionals can create a shared space in which to provide information to reporters. From interview source contact information to comprehensive product/company background, a wiki site can become a living media kit. Free wiki sites, like PBwiki, offer security features to protect updates and email notification options.

6. Media on Twitter www.mediaontwitter.com – This is a comprehensive database of media on Twitter. Use this database to find your favorite media contacts and learn who you should pitch your story idea to.

7. Twellow www.twellow.com – Seek one another out and connect. Type in a keyword such as “journalist” or “public relations” and start connecting with PR professionals and journalists.

8. BeatBlogging www.beatblogging.org – A resource for beat bloggers, PR professionals can use this as a source to build a strong pitch distribution list. More and more reporters are looking to blogs for trends and upcoming story ideas.

9. WiredJournalists www.wiredjournalists.com – Created for reporters, editors, executives, students and faculty, this tool is for journalists with access to limited resources. The members of the network keep up with Web 2.0 trends and share resources with one another.

10. Your Pitch Sucks (YPS) www.yourpitchsucks.com/about.html – Submit your draft pitch to public relations experts for a serious review. They will let you know whether or not your pitch is up to par (and if it’s not they offer suggestions).

Personal note: Let me invite you to lunch on line: http://www.squidoo.com/FreeLunchForBusiness

I end each day's segment with this link in case you want to research possibilities: http://bit.ly/WSIDigitalMarketing and http://www.squidoo.com/Website_Audit

This is the fourty-third in a series of articles over several weeks to explain social networking.  Now I am describing each of the five major social portals. Copyright ©2009 by WSI

 

Social Networking: A COMPLETE GUIDE FOR BUSINESS article 42: Social Media and PR

TOP 5 SOCIAL PORTALS

Social Media and PR

Free Press Release Distribution Sites

Below is a list of 20+ free press distribution sites. (Source: Mashable.com)
1. www.24-7PressRelease.com - Free release distribution with ad-support
2. www.1888PressRelease.com - Free distribution, paid services gives you better placement and permanent archiving.
3. www.ClickPress.com - Distributes to sites like Google News and Topix.net; Gold level will also get you to sites like LexisNexis.
4. www.EcommWire.com - Focuses on eCommerce and requires an image, 3 keywords and links.
5. www.Express-Press-Release.com - Free distribution company with offices in 12 states.
6. www.Free-Press-Release.com - Easy PR distribution for free, more features for paid accounts.
7. www.Free-Press-Release-Center.info - Distributes your release, offers a web page with one keyword link to your site. Pro upgrade will give you three links, permanent archiving and more.
8. www.I-Newswire.com - Allows for free distribution to sites and search engines, premium membership differs only slightly in adding in graphics.
9. www.NewswireToday.com - All the usual free distribution tools, premium service includes logo, product picture and more.
10. www.PR.com - Not only will they distribute your PR, but you can set up a full company profile.
11. www.PR9.net - Ad supported press distribution site.
12. www.PR-Inside.com - European-based free press release distribution site.
13. www.PRBuzz.com - Completely free distribution to search engines, news sites, and blogs.
14. www.PRCompass.com - Distribute your press release with a free or paid version.
15. www.PRUrgent.com - Not only distributes your release, but attempts to teach you how to write one, and even offers downloadable samples for you to work with.
16. www.Press-Base.com - Submit your release for free and get on their front page and the
category of your choice.
17. www.PressAbout.com - A free press release service formatted as a blog.
18. www.PressMethod.com - Free press release distribution no matter what, but extra services based on the size of your contribution.
19. www.PRLeap.com - Free distribution to search engines, newswires, and RSS feeds. Fee based bumps get you better placement.
20. www.PRLog.org - Free distribution to Google News and other search engines.
21. www.TheOpenPress.com - Gives free distribution for plain formatted releases, fees for HTMLcoded
releases.

Personal note: Let me invite you to lunch on line: http://www.squidoo.com/FreeLunchForBusiness

I end each day's segment with this link in case you want to research possibilities: http://bit.ly/WSIDigitalMarketing and http://www.squidoo.com/Website_Audit

This is the fourty-second in a series of articles over several weeks to explain social networking.  Now I am describing each of the five major social portals. Copyright ©2009 by WSI

 

Social Networking: A COMPLETE GUIDE FOR BUSINESS article 41: Social Media and PR

TOP 5 SOCIAL PORTALS

Social Media and PR

Understanding Press Release Boilerplates

What is a Boilerplate?

The boilerplate is a brief paragraph at the end of a press release that describes the company. It usually follows the bold words “About [Company Name]”. This paragraph contains just the facts (ie: who a company is, what they do, the services they provide, how long they’ve been in business and their unique selling proposition). It is stamped at the end of each press release without change.

Boilerplate Writing Tips

For news items related to your company, product / service launches or events that you may conduct or participate in, you may want to write your own item specific boilerplate. In this section, you will find questions that should be answered when writing a boilerplate. If you do not have the in-house resources, WSI would be happy to offer you copywriting services as well as manage your online PR campaigns.

• Try and limit your boilerplate to between 75-100 words.
• Keep focused - don’t go into too much unnecessary detail.
• If you have trouble in keeping it short, delete the jargons or cut unnecessary adjectives.
• Rather than including every detail you want journalists to know, supply a link to the relevant page on your website or company blog with more information.

Writing Your Company Boilerplate

When writing a boilerplate for your company, be sure to answer these questions:

• When was your company established?
• Where is your company located?
• What products / services do you offer?
• What is your unique selling proposition (USP)?
• Where can readers learn more about your company? (This should link to the About Us page of your website.)

If you need a boiler plate for any of these ideas, just let me know and I will furnish one to you.

Personal note: Let me invite you to lunch on line: http://www.squidoo.com/FreeLunchForBusiness

I end each day's segment with this link in case you want to research possibilities: http://bit.ly/WSIDigitalMarketing and http://www.squidoo.com/Website_Audit

This is the fourty-first in a series of articles over several weeks to explain social networking.  Now I am describing each of the five major social portals. Copyright ©2009 by WSI