MySpace Tips for Marketers
Whether you're targeting teenagers, their parents or a "five-foot-tall divorced mom [who listens to Metallica] five miles from your home, MySpace might be a channel worth investigating.
Luke J. Bodley has written MySpace Marketing Tips, Tricks and Hints in this week's issue of MarketingProfs. He's been marketing on MySpace for a couple of years and has some great advice for anyone looking to connect on this social networking Web site.
He tells some funny horror stories, as well as some inspiring success stories as well. He also points out that if you're a B2B there's no bigger waste of your time or money than MySpace.
However, if you're planning an event, or have an interesting consumer-oriented product or service, this article is a must read.
Digg: A Guide for Web Marketers
What is Digg?
Digg is a Web 2.0 news Web site powered by it's readers. Articles, news stories, videos and now podcasts are submitted to the site by users (members of the community.) Other members can then vote on anything submitted, either "digging it" (a thumbs up) or "burying it" (a thumbs down.) As items become more popular they can be voted onto the home page where they'll get more views. There's a heavy technology theme at the site, but more recently they seem to be branching out to a wider variety of topics.
Why should you care?
Digg is a hugely popular Web site and getting an article from your Web site to appear on the home page can drown you in traffic...reports of 10K - 50K page views from a popular Digg article are not unheard of. In fact, many sites mention the down side of being "dugg," that their servers can handle the load!
What's the downside?
Well, there's the chance your server may crash. (This is a long shot.) It's also not easy to get into Digg, as a lot of other Web site owners and Internet marketers would like to drive that kind of traffic to their own site. If your articles aren't about technology you may be fighting an uphill battle.
There's also a lot of talk from people who have been dugg several times that there's very little conversion from Digg.com visitors. In other words, they come, they see, and they leave. They don't sign up for email newsletters, they don't click on ads, and they don't leave comments on your blog. In fact, they often journey back to Digg to leave their comments. It would be like if hundreds of tour buses unloaded their passengers in front of your store, but almost everybody just window shopped.
Of course, YMMV. (Also, maybe this is a savvy plan by folks who have been dugg to keep you from repeating their success.)
How do you Digg something?
Join the Digg community. It's free and takes just a few seconds. Once you login there will be a "Submit a News Story" link on the home page. It takes you to a guidelines page that asks you to make sure the story is interesting and unique (that it isn't already in the Digg database.) Then you'll be asked to provide the URL of the story, a title for the story (be clear and creative to get people to learn more) and a description that will compell people to click on the link. You'll also be asked to put the story into the right category.
The process is about the same for submitting videos or podcasts. And yes, you can submit your own stuff.
How do you get Dugg?
Many sites, especially blogs, include "Digg It" links at the bottom of each post or page. Like the tip jar at the local ice cream parlor, this gets people who are familiar with Digg thinking about submitting your post.
Make sure you have a compelling title that will get people to click on your link, but make sure it's accurate! If people feel fooled your article will get buried. I've noticed that many of the most popular posts aren't afraid of hyperbole. Examples include all cap words like "FINALLY," "Yes, this is REAL!!," and "MIRACULOUS!!!"
If you can tie your article or other item into a current event (like the release of the iPhone, a celebrity mishap or something else) you'll probably have a better chance getting dugg.
You might get a few other savvy friends to digg your story. The people behind Digg know this is going on and don't mind it, if it's just a few people. Just don't abuse it.
BTW, like this story? Then Digg it!
Blog Marketing Seminar in Portland
There's one--count 'em, one--space left for tomorrow's seminar on How to Plan, Build and Promote a Business Blog. (2/21/07)
If you've been wondering how to jump start traffic to your company's Web site, how to market yourself more effectively, or how to establish your expertise, then come listen to this seminar that will walk you through:
- how a blog can help your company or business
- what blog platform is right for you
- how much time/energy/money you need to invest
- how to promote your blog
- how to get your blog to rank well at the search engines and
- how to make money off of your blog.
This Working Lunch Seminar will be held at flyte's offices (136 Commercial St., Ste. 201, Portland, ME) from noon - 1:30.
The class is limited to 10 people, the cost is $50, and a delicious lunch is included.
The speaker is Rich Brooks--president of flyte new media--who writes this Internet Marketing 101 blog for MaineToday.com, as well as his company's blog, flyte blog: web marketing for small business.
Rich is the "tech expert" for NBC's Channel 6 evening news program,
207. He is also the instructor for USM's course "Web Marketing for
Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses." You can find his podcast at flytecast.
Hope to see you there!
Free Podcasting Class Tonight in Westbrook
Just a quick reminder that MESDA's Web Design User's Group is hosting Secrets of Podcasting with Franklin McMahon of Franklin McMahon Studio tonight (2/19) at their offices in Westbrook. Attendance is free, but they ask you to register online so they know how many brownies to bake.
According to the email I received:
One of the leading podcast producers in the world, Franklin McMahon shares insights and provides advice on getting into this explosive new media market. Topics include production of podcasting shows both video and audio, how to market your show and how to use portable content to extend your brand globally.
About the Speaker: Franklin McMahon is a media artist, director, designer and photographer with an extensive client list that includes Microsoft, FOX, Time Warner, Yahoo, Amazon.com and CNET. He has created award-winning podcasts including the #1 creative business podcast Media Artist Secrets, which won the award for Best Business Podcast at the first annual Podcast Awards held in Ontario, California. The show has been heard on Sirius satellite radio and appears each month on the CD in Computer Arts Magazine, the world's largest creative design publication. In addition Franklin McMahon Studio has produced several top podcasts including The Mary and Karla Show, Rumor Girls, Rumor Girls UNCUT, CreativeCOW, Secrets of Second Life and Podmodel. Franklin also produces podcasts for Podshow.com, one of the world's largest podcast and entertainment content providers.
Franklin McMahon Studio podcasts have produced millions of downloads in 21 countries. He has appeared in several podcasting books including just recently "Podcasting Pocket Guide" by Kirk McElhearn (O'Reilly), "Promoting Your Podcast" by Jason Van Orden and "Tricks of the Podcasting Masters" by Rob Walch (QUE). His podcast work has been a featured profile on many network affiliate stations such as ABC-TV in Boston (Chronicle) and his podcasts have been featured in local, national and international news programs such as BBC News (The Money Programme) as well as being profiled on leading news web sites such as Wired (Wired.com).
DOOR PRIZE: Registered attendees will be entered in a drawing for the O'Reilly book, The Photoshop Anthology - 101 Web Design Tips, Tricks & Techniques, by Corrie Haffly. You must register to attend and be present to win.
BTW, I was kidding about the brownies. See you tonight.
Are Title Tags the Most Important Factor for Search Engine Success?
If you could improve only one thing on your Web site to rank better at the search engines you should work on your title tags.
In the new High Rankings Advisor Newsletter, Jill Whalen answers all of your questions about Title Tags...those words that appear above the URL or Address Bar, outside the actual Web page itself.
Questions like:
- Do Company Names Belong in the Title Tag?
- Should Title Tags Contain Specific Keywords?
- Should Your Title Tags Mimic Your Visible Text Copy?
While Title Tags aren't the only thing that affect your search engine rankings, they are the first thing your prospects see of your business on the search engine results page.
Read All About Title Tags now!
More Votes Are In: Maybe I'm Not a Jerk After All
As many of you may know from reading my recent post, "The Votes Are In...I'm a Jerk!" I sent an email to my Maine contacts that wasn't universally loved.
The email started with the subject line, "You Won't Be Hearing from Me Again!" and continued in that sarcastic tone that is my way of talking. The purpose of the email was to promote our upcoming Working Lunch Seminars and getting people to subscribe our a new mailing list, flyte's Web Marketing Alerts, so I wouldn't have to bother everyone with these marketing emails.
I thought it was clever and different enough to cut through the clutter. However, two people complained, one contractor thought she was fired, and one prospect thought I was angry she was taking too long making a buying decision.
Oops.
So, I sent out a follow up email with the subject line, "I'm Sorry." Within just a few minutes I had dozens of responses, and within a day over 100 people had responded out of the 540 I sent it to.
(Please note that all of these people are friends, business contacts, or people who have filled out the contact form on our site agreeing to our privacy policy that we'll "gently" market to them.)
The majority of people, it turns out, got the joke and were sympathetic. Others thanked me for the mea culpa email. Others were relieved that I wasn't sick/hurt/fired/suicidal. A few referenced Joe Biden or the Turner Broadcasting snafu in Boston.
In the end dozens signed up for our new email mailing list and we sold 7 or 8 seats to upcoming Working Lunch Seminars at $50 a pop.
So, did I learn anything?
- A few negative responses DOESN'T mean your marketing campaign is a failure. In fact, it's probably a sign that people notice it.
- Being clever and being clear aren't the same thing. I should have been clearer in my message so that no one thought they were fired and people knew what to do.
- A mistake is only bad if you can't learn from it.
- Apologies are so few and far between, they may be a great way to cut through the clutter. (However, don't abuse this tactic.)
If you'd like to see all the responses I received from my second email I've posted them here.
Tracking Conversions With Google Analytics
I've been so busy talking about my 15 minutes of fame on local TV that I completely forgot that this blog is supposed to be about Internet Marketing. Let's get back in the swing of things by mentioning the recently published issue of flyte's email newsletter: flyte log.
This month's issue is entitled Tracking Conversions: Does Your Web Site Turn Suspects into Prospects?
With the price of a Web site ranging from near-zero to tens of thousands of dollars for a small business, it's often difficult to determine whether or not your site is a good investment.
An inexpensive site might prove to be wasted money, while an expensive site may be bringing in twice the revenue you laid for it. Or vice versa.
By using Google Analytics and setting up trackable goals, you can start to measure the results you're getting from your Web site. In this email newsletter, now archived at our site, we'll walk you through the step-by-step process of setting up goals and tracking them.
If you'd like to sign up to receive flyte log each and every month--talk about a competitive advantage!--you can do that at our Web site.
Video from the XBox 360 - PS3 - Wii Showdown
For those of you that didn't catch my segment on the new gaming consoles (PS3, XBox 360 and the Wii) on 207 the other night, take heart. WCSH has posted a streaming video of the segment. If you have trouble with that link, just go to the 207 home page and scroll down to 207 Video; my segment is called 207 Gaming.
That's me and Rob Caldwell opening a can of whup ass on some of Dr. Doom's henchmen.
What do I recommend? I own and enjoy my 360, but after playing all three, I covet the Wii.
What's The Right Domain Name for You?
To .com or .biz, that is the question.
Choosing a domain name for a new Web site is often a daunting task. Unless you're company name is Flz37kaharj Inc., you may find your first few choices taken.
Then there's the whole .com, .net, .biz question. That's the question I got asked the other day. A company we're talking to was having internal discussions on the best possible top-level domain to go with. Specifically, were there any surveys that had been done.
Since I didn't know of any, I came up with a quick 3 question survey myself called Business Top-Level Domain Survey. If you've got, say 30 seconds, would you mind taking it?
I'll follow up with results in a couple/few days.
XBox 360, PS3 or Wii?
Tonight (Tuesday, 2/6/07) I'll be on WCSH's evening news program 207 on my toughest assignment yet: which gaming console is right for you: the XBox 360, the PS3, or the Wii?
Expect the gloves to be off in this hard-hitting, undercover sting operation. Even Geraldo will be in awe.
Also on will be Gino Bona who came up with the winning Superbowl Ad. Maybe he'll discuss how his pitch was much funnier than the actual ad the NFL aired.
Tune in tonight at 7pm to channel 6.
The Secrets of Podcasting
Just ran across this upcoming event at the MESDA Web site: The Secrets of Podcasting.
An excerpt from the description:
One of the leading podcast producers in the world, Franklin McMahon shares insights and provides advice on getting into this explosive new media market. Topics include production of podcasting shows both video and audio, how to market your show and how to use portable content to extend your brand globally.
There are a number of guidelines, standards and laws that address the issue of accessibility, and in this presentation we will review these and how they should influence your work. We will also discuss how good design techniques and standards-based approaches to web design make for best practice. And, we will briefly discuss the future of web design, content management systems and accessibility.
It's from 6pm - 8pm on Monday, February 19th at the MESDA offices in Westbrook. The class is free, but they ask you to register.
See you there!
The Votes Are In: I'm a Jerk
Late last night, with a Geary's Hampshire Ale in my hand, I sent out what I thought was a funny email to my Maine contacts with the subject line: "You Won't Be Hearing from Me Again!"
It continued in that snarky vein, trying in vain to explain that I didn't want to fill people's email boxes with emails they didn't want. If you want to be alerted to Web marketing classes or events to please sign up for our new email newsletter, "flyte's web marketing alerts."
So far I've received two negative replies about my attitude, one distressed email from a contractor who thought I was firing her, and an apologetic email from a prospect who thought I was angry because she hadn't made a buying decision yet.
Yikes.
Marketing and advertising should never be dull, but perhaps I was a little too flippant with this particular campaign. I'm not alone these days.
Now I just need to decide if sending out a mea culpa email would be the right thing to do, or just add fuel to the fire.
Lesson learned: don't drink and Web market.
Business Blogging Seminar in Portland
Have you been wondering why there's all this buzz over blogs? Or have you been considering adding blogging to your Internet marketing, but you're not sure where to start?
Or maybe you are blogging, but you're not seeing the results that were promised in the infomercial by that guy on the yacht with the two supermodels on each arm.
Whatever the case is, you might be interested in How to Plan, Build and Promote a Business Blog. This next installment in flyte's Working Lunch Seminars will be on Wednesday, February 21st from noon - 1:15 or so.
As always, lunch is included and attendance is limited to 10 people, but there are only 6 spots left! Upcoming classes include:
- Building Traffic at Your Web Site (3/14/07) and
- RSS Marketing for Business (4/11/07)
Future (yet unscheduled) Working Lunch Seminars include search engine marketing, email marketing, what is social networking, and selling informational products online.
Every class so far has sold out quickly. If you'd like to get alerts before classes are announced publicly, be sure to sign up for our email newsletter and select "flyte's Web Marketing Alerts" on the confirmation page.
Updates
Sign up to be notified when there's a new entryRSS
Subscribe
