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Five Things to Know Before Hiring an SEO Company
2008-05-27 23:44:00
There's no greater competition on the Internet than the fight to get to the top of the search engines. An entire industry has sprung up around search engine optimization and search engine marketing. Some companies make outrageous, tempting, but too-good-to-be-true promises about getting you to the top of Google, Yahoo, and other search engines. Like any other business, SEO has its real gems and its terrible scams. Before you search for an SEO company for your site, here are a few SEO "tricks" that could get your site penalized, or worse, blacklisted for good. 1) Keyword stuffing is not the path to success. Search engines are always looking for keywords, so the more you have on the page, the better, right? If you just repeat two or three keyword phrases 50 times on your home page, surely you'll rank higher than everybody else! Well, no. Keyword stuffing is a big no-no in the world of SEO. It doesn't matter if you color the keywords the same as the background or put them into...
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7 Things To Know When Looking For A Webmaster
2008-05-05 23:45:00
Maybe you're excited about the possibility of a new webpage, or just looking to overhauling your current site. The Internet offers incredible possibility for your organization, but you need to find the right partner to bring your dreams to reality. We've put together a few things you should know before settling on a webmaster. 1. What are your goals for the website? It's always easier to get what you want when you plan for it. Before you decide on a webmaster, you need to know what you want from your website. Do you want customers to buy from your website? If you want to do business online, you may want to feature products in an online inventory and process orders. In that case, you need to ask your potential webmaster about their e-commerce and database capabilities. Are you looking to provide information to a community? You may want to incorporate community management tools such as a blog or newsletter. Finding one place to handle all your internet work will keep your process...
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GreenCountry.com Launch Recycles over 1,000 Phonebooks for Charity
2008-04-23 01:43:00
http://www.GreenCountry.com April 22, 2008 -- Over 1,000 phonebooks were recycled at the Earth Day grand opening for GreenCountry.com, an online directory service for Tulsa, Bartlesville, and northeastern Oklahoma. Xeal Precision Marketing sponsored the event in partnership with Community Club Awards (CCA). "We had some people show up to our office with vans full of phone books," said Tony D. Baker, creator of GreenCountry.com and host of Results Radio Show. "Many of them were still shrink-wrapped. I think this goes to show how many people just aren't using the phone book anymore." Baker created the GreenCountry.com directory as a local alternative to phone book advertising. "In a recent Nielson survey of U.S. consumers, over 70 percent prefer using search engines over traditional phone books," said Baker. "It's time for businesses to recycle phone book advertising and start reaching customers online." For each phone book turned in, groups gained points towards cash rewards...
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Congratulations to Evolve on Publication
2008-04-21 22:54:00
Congratulations to Evolve for landing an article in the April 2008 issue of Industrial Heating! We created this piece for Evolve as a part of our Power Package. The article allows them to showcase their expertise and help educate industrial clients. Industrial Heating, the Largest and Most Preferred Industry Publication , has been applying the latest advances in thermal technology to practical use since 1931. With over 23,030 BPA audited circulation comprised of mostly thermal processing engineers, Industrial Heating's technical articles cover heat treatments, brazing, sintering, melting, process control, instrumentation, refractories, burners, heating elements, and other thermal processes typically in excess of 1000°F. Evolve provides advanced learning management software for industrial and business clients. They have recently branched into the health care industry with complete HIPAA training options.
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The Six Sacred Trees of Internet Marketing
2008-04-16 20:33:00
In our previous articles, we've talked about the present state of the market and how to defeat and/or offset it by using a few wily marketing techniques. So what's your next line of defense as a business owner? Why, a little self-education, of course! Which brings us to six questions that we hear quite frequently, or what I like to refer to as "The Six Sacred Trees of Internet Marketing ." Like ancient, magical trees of yore, these questions have remained shrouded in mystery throughout the past few years. The purpose of this post is to unveil their mysteries to you, the public. So let's begin. "What in the heck is Internet marketing?" would have to be the most commonly asked question (although I personally have enjoyed the more direct variant: "What do you guys do, anyway?"), so that's the one we'll address first. What In The Heck is Internet Marketing ? Internet marketing is a blanket term that covers a multitude of internet marketing methods. There isn't a formal list of ...

Recession Marketing Part 4: Radio Marketing
2008-02-18 17:01:00
Last time, we talked about the emotional appeal of advertising on TV. This time, we'll talk about a great way to educate your customers on your products or services: Radio Marketing . In the recent SIMM 11 study conducted by BIGresearch, it was shown that 44.2 percent of consumers who hear information that interests them on the radio go online to look into the product or service further. Further studies showed that 22 percent to 28 percent (depending on the industry) of consumers go on to buy the product that caught their attention. A recent recession marketing survey by BtoB Magazine shows that companies who normally invest in radio advertising are estimated to cut back in 2008 by 10 percent. So what does that mean for the clever business owner? It means you can acquire one of the most powerful marketing tools for influencing buying decisions at a significant discount this year. When radio stations experience a 10 percent loss in revenue, slots that are normally extremely compe...
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Recession Marketing Part 3: Television Marketing
2008-02-08 00:14:00
Last time we covered Internet Marketing , an excellent way to inform your customers about your business and generate publicity. This week, we'll talk about one of the best ways to tell your story…Television Marketing. There are a lot of ways to advertise and get prospects excited about your business, but very few are as attention grabbing and emotionally evocative as a well-done video. If you've never taken this angle for your business, this is an excellent time. Television, like any other industry during a recession, becomes extremely competitive for business. Prime spots and inflexible rates become available and discounted. So where should you start? The first step, and you'll start to see a trend in marketing here, is to identify your target demographic. The television broadcast day is divided into "dayparts," and each daypart caters to a different kind of viewer. Following is a list of the daypart categories and their audience demographics: Early AM: Programming: L...
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Recession Marketing Part 2: Internet marketing
2008-02-07 21:03:00
We've talked about the four major categories of marketing and the importance of balancing your marketing effort in Part 1: Beating the Recession . So where do you begin? If you had the time and resources to only pursue one avenue of marketing, make it internet marketing; it's one of the least expensive and most effective ways to get your name out there and it has the potential to reach the full spectrum of your client demographic. There are four crucial investments you need to make to ensure a long-lasting return on your internet marketing. These include a professionally designed website, press releases, articles, and social media marketing. Think of your website just like you would a brick-and-mortar location. What are some of the most important considerations when opening a store? 1. You want a good location that's easy for your customers to find. 2. The storefront should have good curb appeal; it should capture the attention of prospective customers and be pleasing to t...
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Recession Marketing Part 1: Beating the Recession
2008-02-07 18:08:00
An unspoken air of tension hangs over the populace. Whispers spread back and forth…"The market's down, hard times are coming." Sound familiar? There's a lot of negativity about the state of the market right now, but let's look past the gossip and examine the facts. All markets fluctuate to varying degrees. Economic cycles come and go, businesses rise and fall. But look at companies like McDonalds, Johnson & Johnson and Colgate that have survived and even grown in periods of economic recession. What's their secret? If you've ever been busy and on a budget, you've probably eaten at McDonald's. What makes them worthy of the title of "largest fast-food chain in the world?" Ba-da-ba-ba-ba, I'm luvin' it! Ever had that stuck in your head, followed by a slight tinge of resentment because you're now craving a burger, fries, and a Coke? Super-size it! And after that, don't forget to brush your teeth. How do you protect your teeth for 12 hours after brushing? Colgat...
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What to Look for When Hiring a Blogger
2007-12-18 23:14:00
Whether you've decided to select a blogger within your company, or are outsourcing to a freelancer, the issue remains that you still have to actually pick a blogger. You've got to choose somebody who's going to be personable and honest, with a unique perspective on your company and, of course, the ability to string a sentence together. But don't fret. Like any other job opening, it's just the matter of finding the right person. Here are some things to look for when you're hiring a blog writer. Personable Imagine walking in to a store and the first salesperson you see greets you formally. They answer questions if you ask, but seem kind of aloof and cold. They don't go out of their way to help you find things, nor do they seem interested in making sure you get exactly what you're looking for. Is this the kind of person you'd be interested in buying from again? Now, imagine you walk into a store and the salesperson greets you enthusiastically with a "Hey! How ya doing? ...
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Blogging 102: Tips for Surviving A Creative Drought
2007-12-18 22:56:00
The best prevention is avoidance. If you've got a steady stream of ideas to draw from, writer's block will never be a problem. The trick is to understand the ebb and flow of creativity. Harness the ideas when they are flowing freely, then stock up for dry seasons. Because dry seasons will come. Ten new clients dropping into your lap, a new speaking engagement, upcoming seminars, and dozens of other wonderful opportunities can drain your time and energy. When the well of ideas runs dry, the blog is usually the first to feel the effects of the creative drought. Even if you're in the middle of the desert, ideas may be flowing beneath your feet. Here are some ideas to help you draw water from the rocks. News Weigh in on trends, events, and people in the public spotlight. When the world is watching, you may be able to show up on the radar as well. Relate it to the topic of your blog and add value with your unique perspective. It is important to take a new angle on the news. You ...
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Using Your Site for Local Marketing: Eight Tips for Drawing in the Local Ma
2007-12-13 23:26:00
Having a website puts your business out there for all the world to see, but any savvy business owner knows that the best customers are going to come from your own city. As expansive as the Internet is, there's been a marked increase in the use of local search, and even big search engines are branching out into local guides. Integrate your local offline efforts with your online marketing to help draw in the people around you. Here are eight tips to start you on your way with local marketing. 1) Optimize for local SEO. Recent studies have shown that people are turning to the Internet rather than the phone book when they need to find something local. Optimize your site by having a page that has a map and driving directions, as well as a physical address. This way, you'll make it easy for the people doing local search to find you. 2) Promote in-store events via email. Don't just leave the promotion of your in-store events to fliers and newspaper ads. If you've been collectin...
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Internet Publicity Articles Published in Vows Magazine
2007-12-10 18:55:00
http://www.vowsmagazine.com/ With my recent success story, our PR staff reminded me that we have recently helped Jo Lind of Wedding Flowers DIY get a repurposed Online Publicity Article (SmartEditorial) placed with a print magazine. At Xeal Precision Marketing, our Power Package does focus on helping you build natural incoming non-reciprical links to your business from directories, online magazines, and sites with high traffic and established authority in the search engines. Our current strategy also looks to promote your business in any way possible. If your information is suitable for print, we most certainly will make a valient effort to exceed your expectations. Some of our clients have been written about in the Wall Street Journal, Barron's, and have even had products featured on television hits such as Grey's Anatomy and ER. If you are interested in finding out more about how Xeal can serve you, please visit http://www.Xeal.com/topsecret.htm
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Article Marketing 101: Writing Your Article
2007-11-30 00:06:00
On the Internet, you are what you publish. Article marketing is a great way to get your company's name out there by offering tips, tutorials and commentary on the state of your industry. You might be considering putting the articles on a company blog, into databases, or using them to populate your newsletter. However, none of that will make any difference if you don't know the first steps in actually writing an article. You may think there's nothing to it, but the Internet is flooded with meandering, pointless, poorly composed drivel. The stakes are higher for business articles than for your average blog. People will make judgments about your company based on what they read. If your articles sound unprofessional and poorly written, you might be surprised at how fast it can drive people away. If you want to get the most into your article content, here are a few tips to give you an edge over 90 percent of the articles out there. Consider your audience Who are you trying to...
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Press Release Optimization Article by Tony Darrick Baker featured in Search
2007-11-27 20:02:00
http://www.searchmarketingstandard.com/ Keep an eye out for the next issue of Search Marketing Standard. The Winter 07/08 edition features an article by none other than Tony Darrick Baker. Press Release Optimization , Deductive Reasoning to the Rescue This three-page article also includes an example of a press release optimized for search engine marketing. Special thanks go out to the Xeal PR department for helping us achieve this goal. Once again, this proves that Xeal doesn't sell anything that we wouldn't do for ourselves. If you are interested in finding out how Xeal can help you with online and offline publicity, then please visit http://www.Xeal.com/topsecret.htm
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