Darling Online Marketing

What’s New With the 2nd Largest Search Engine in the World?

Posted on 06. Jan, 2012 by Darling.

YouTube is the 2^nd largest search engine and something like 24 hours worth of video footage is uploaded every minute to the site.  How in the world does a small to medium sized business like yours stand out and leverage the platform?

Take advantage of it with YouTube’s new home page layout with the subscription feed.  This layout and feature is making YouTube play more like a social networking site rather than a video content sharing site and this is great news for small to medium sized businesses with limited resources.

If creating viral videos is not your thing or figuring out how to make web videos optimized for search is too difficult for you, your next best option is to get a boatload of subscribers to your channel.  I do highly recommend optimizing your channel as a whole on YouTube for the keyword phrases it is about.  Seriously, lets get with the program here so you can totally maximize all of your time on the second largest search engine in the world.

If someone is subscribed to your channel, your latest videos are more likely to pop up on their new home page layout inside the subscription feed.  Sort of like Facebook huh?  As you create more interaction and value with those that subscribe to your channel, you can increase the chances of others seeing your videos when they are poking around on YouTube. 

======>> Please subscribe to my YouTube channel! <<======

Think people are not on YouTube much?  Is your world all about Facebook?  Or are you just concerned with Google?  There are 800 million UNIQUE visitors every month to YouTube.  That’s a lot of people.  So, if it makes sense for your business to be creating videos then it will make sense to create a decent presence on YouTube with an optimized channel.

How can you leverage YouTube’s new home page layout and subscription feed feature?

Like any other social network, the best way to leverage it for a positive return on your marketing dollars and time are to 1) consistently use the network on a daily basis and 2) prompt interaction with your subscribers.

This means you need to create good content for the site, and get views, ratings, and comments. 

Geez…. You just can’t get away from this whole requirement of content creation, time and engagement with your online marketing can you?  There just doesn’t seem to be a set it and forget it solution or a plug and play hit the big read easy button and watch your bank account get fat! 

Welcome to the new age of digital and interactive marketing.  I LOVE it as do many other smaller businesses because this is your chance to compete with those corporate conglomerates and make a decent living while you are at it!  With a decent understanding of how SEO or search engine optimization works underneath it all, you could be quite dangerous out there!

If you are looking for additional guidance and support on how to use the Internet effectively to stand out and Be The Obvious Choice Online check out the exclusive club www.BeTheObviousChoice.com.  In there you will discover how to get to the top of search results, drive traffic, and grow your customer base so that you can make a lot more money from your online marketing efforts doing what you do best and love the most.

Please leave your comments and feedback below on this topic.  

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Social SEO: The Future is Now

Posted on 07. Jul, 2011 by Darling.

Not too long ago, hard core SEO professionals and emerging social media gurus were standing across a great divide gallantly protecting their pillar of marketing.

Blog posts about the “death of SEO” followed quickly with the “SEO will never die” claims were countered with the new social media world that has successfully distracted over 750 million users to date and counting just to Facebook alone.

Through it all, I have maintained that an effective online marketing strategy will pull together SEO and social media to help an organization meet their ultimate goals.  Good strategy will pull it together into a workable and manageable system.

Today, the emerging term is “social SEO”.  The opposing sides are finally giving in to each other and asking, “can’t we all just get along?”  To this, I say, thank you!

But, there is much work to do. There is a lot of work to do with educating businesses about SEO or search engine optimization.  There is a lot of education to complete that will help businesses use social media correctly so that it will serve their SEO efforts and vice versa.

For the consultant, there is also a need for understanding how a business organization works and being able to go inside and pull together so many different departments with different thought processes for the greater good.

This can be a tall order indeed.  A great way to start incrementally and pull together a few different departments for the greater good is to identify a blog related to the corporate site and implement SEO and social media strategies that will increase web traffic to that blog while providing a solid platform to distribute information to the appropriate social media channels.

If there is not a blog to work with, this is a great time to start one!  Blogs are a great method to use for contributing to the search engine optimization value of a static, boring, not-so-social business website.

SEO is not going anywhere and neither is social media.  Businesses that operate locally should still be making sure their SEO items are taken care of because that is the primary place people will find out about your business; in the search engines.  Social media in addition to effective SEO works well to feed good quality traffic into your website so it should not be ignored.  The two fields are merging together and mingling more each day becoming more complex.

For a business that understands how they are working together and adopts the 2 strategies early, they will be best positioned to benefit from the evolution of Social SEO.

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Say No To Gurus!

Posted on 29. Jun, 2011 by Darling.

A fun Infographic I found that makes a great follow up post to yesterday’s rant:  Social Media Gurus: Who Do You Listen To?

The Social Media Marketing Clown by Command Partners.
View Other Infographics

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Social Media Gurus – Who Do You Listen To?

Posted on 28. Jun, 2011 by Darling.

In my mind there are only 2 true social media gurus that exist.  One is Mari Smith.  The other is Don Crowther.

What do you feel when you look at these social media gurus and experts?  Personally, I feel that when they talk, I listen.  It’s sort of like the old EF Hutton commercials, “When EF Hutton talks, people listen”.  Wow, yeah, I’m that old!

How about all of the other countless social media “gurus” and “experts” that seem to pop up overnight?  How does that make you feel?

Well, I usually find myself asking, what do they have in common?

One thing is they ALL have the gift of gab.  I’m not talking about any old dull banter but witty, sometimes politically correct gab. I find myself thinking… “thanks dude, you talk real smart-like and sometimes you’re kinda funny but are ya makin’ any real money?”

What if you don’t have the gift of gab, you don’t particularly care for socializing, or you don’t have the time to invest on all the social media hype?

Side note:  I am the type of person that can and has stayed locked up in my home for 3 solid weeks without speaking to or interacting with another human being AND being perfectly content with it.

Another commonality I find when I look at the countless social media “gurus” and “experts” popping up over night is that they are all beautiful people.  You know, good looking, aesthetically pleasing, easy on the eyes.

What if you are ugly?  I mean what if you got beat with the ugly stick by your momma so dag-gone bad that not even a $60 make up job can help you overcome?

BTW… this picture right here, that’s a professionally taken photo by Tim Dishong from Creative Image and a $60 make-up job by Trilogy by Alison that literally washed down the drain 2 hours after its application.

I felt like a clown!  Here is the real me:

Okay, so I’ve taken off on a tangent.  What’s my point here?  What’s the take-away I want you to leave with?

Social media is a platform where your marketing must be completely transparent.  It has leveled the playing field for a lot of folks.

Why?  Because for those that have got nothing else, not 2 shiny nickels to rub together, can’t even keep a dollar in their wallet, but they’ve got a sa-weet computer, plenty of free time, and a burning desire to be something someday…  they excel beyond those big corporations gathered in the board room with their round table banter bickering over theoretical issues that no one really gives a crap about.

Let me be clear with you right now.  I do not claim to be a social media “guru” or “expert”.  I have cringed from the start whenever that title was used in reference to me.

What I do is take that social media puzzle piece and apply it to my client’s over all lasting and sustainable SEO and online marketing campaign to Be the Obvious Choice for what they do.  Here is my shameless plug: Go to www.DarlingSEO.com and get the free gift I have there for you to discover the secrets to Be the Obvious Choice online.  I should mention, my private clients do need more than 2 shiny nickels to rub together, an established business model to work with, and know the importance of always traveling with more than a dollar in your pocket in order to actually receive the full benefit of my system.

Okay, back from the commercial break!  If you are looking for real social media gurus and experts I recommend looking up Mari Smith and Don Crowther.  They have a seemingly endless supply of information out there that you can learn from and use in your efforts to really get the most benefit out of using social media in your business.

If you need an online marketing system that connects the dots between your website, SEO, social media strategies, and email marketing to help you Be the Obvious Choice, read more about online marketing and SEO consulting services available to you.

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Tips for Creating a Social Media Policy for Your Business

Posted on 15. Jun, 2011 by Darling.

With the growing use of social media, small and large businesses are implementing social media policies. A social media policy encompasses more than just how your business uses social media. Your social media policy should also cover how your employees use social media in relation to your business.

• Include social media guidelines and appropriate disciplinary measures in your employee handbook. While this may seem a bit heavy-handed, it is important that your employees do not vent their work frustrations on Facebook. Many people list their place of employment on Facebook and have local friends who could be potential customers. You don’t want them to form a negative opinion about your business.
• Either the owner or someone trustworthy in the company should have a Facebook page and send a polite friend request to all company employees. You can’t demand that your employees accept the request; however, it never hurts to ask. Employees who accept the friend request are less likely to say something negative about their workplace if they know someone in the company will see it.
• Certain businesses, such as doctors’ offices, have the right to tell employees they cannot post anything that violates personal privacy laws. The same goes for other medical professionals. If a patient feels that their personal privacy has been violated publicly, you could be leaving yourself open to a potential lawsuit.
• Whoever handles your reputation management should search Twitter regularly for your business’s name. If someone within the company, or a customer, is sending out tweets that make your business look bad then you need to take action. Employees should be warned and you should try to apologize to customers and make amends.
• Don’t allow your employees to use their personal social media accounts in the workplace. People who access Twitter or Facebook during the course of the workday are much more likely to vent when something is going wrong. Banning personal use of social media in the workplace helps reduce the possibility of your business receiving negative publicity online.

Personal privacy is a murky issue, but it becomes a lot clearer when your business’s reputation is on the line. As a business owner, you can’t dictate how your employees live their personal lives, but you can set limits on how they represent your business. The best approach any business can take to employee social media use is a firm, but friendly approach.

Chris Darling is the creator of the Be The Obvious Choice System for owners of service based businesses across the nation. She works with those that struggle with getting their websites found by effectively using local search SEO and Social Media sites for their business. The main goal is to provide Pain Relief for Your Social Media SEO Aches and set the stage to earn more online revenue from new contacts, clicks, and phone calls. If this speaks to you and your online business goals discover if it is time for Darling Online Marketing.

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How to Separate Your Personal and Business Life on Facebook

Posted on 13. Jun, 2011 by Darling.

Facebook can be a dual-edged sword. On one hand, social media is critical to local online marketing because you have the ability to interact directly with your customers, on the other, things can get too personal sometimes. Just because Facebook calls them friends, that doesn’t mean you want to mix-up your personal life with your business.

How to Keep Your Profiles Separate

• It is a violation of Facebook’s Terms of Service to have multiple accounts. Although, it is perfectly okay to have a personal profile and a fan page for your business.
• Don’t add people you do not know to your personal Facebook profile. Direct them to your business’s page instead. It may seem great to have a profile with 2,000 friends, but these people are privy to your personal life and it may affect how they view your business. You don’t want to make a bad impression on strangers.
• If you have already collected too many Facebook friends on your personal profile that you don’t really know, send them a polite message asking them to follow your business’s page instead and then unfriend them. It may seem rude, but it is better than letting them see comments from your real friends and/or family that might embarrass you. Unfortunately, there is no way to do this automatically. You have to repeat the process with each individual person.
• Set the privacy settings for your personal profile so that only friends can view your profile. Your business’s fan page should be publicly viewable so that everyone can see it. You want potential customers to find your business, not your personal profile.

Other Tips

• Facebook imposes a limit of 5,000 friends on personal profiles. Fan pages, however, can have an unlimited number of followers . A business fan page will let you reach a larger audience.
• You shouldn’t market to your friends. Marketing on Facebook requires posting updates about things related to your business. Your personal friends are likely more interested in hearing about your life, not your business.

It is possible to have a personal life on Facebook and utilize Facebook for your business, but you have to handle it tactfully. In the end, you will be much happier if you can enjoy socializing with your friends on a private level and still interact with your business’s customers without blurring the lines.

Chris Darling works with owners of service based businesses who struggle with getting their websites found by effectively using local search SEO and Social Media sites for their business. Find Pain Relief for Your Social Media SEO Aches and set the stage to earn more online revenue from new contacts, clicks, and phone calls. If this speaks to you and your online business goals discover if it is time for Darling Online Marketing.

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Attract More Twitter Followers and Build Links

Posted on 03. Jun, 2011 by Darling.

Do you know that you can use Twitter as a tool to build quality links? Many businesses are finding creative ways to utilize Twitter as part of their online marketing campaign. One of the best ways to use Twitter for link building is to run a giveaway or contest. A successful Twitter giveaway will not only build links for your website, but it also attracts more followers to your business’s Twitter account.

In 7 NEW Tips for Running a Twitter Giveaway, Rob Ousbey outlines a great plan of action businesses can follow to run a successful Twitter giveaway campaign. Ousbey’s seven tips cover some of the most important elements of SEO such as anchor text and social media links. The article not only explains what businesses should do while running a giveaway, but also what they should not do.

Consider the prize you offer for your business’s Twitter giveaway is an investment in your SEO. Whatever you spend on the prize is a worthwhile investment. Reading 7 NEW Tips for Running a Twitter Giveaway will help you maximize the return on your investment.

Chris Darling is the creator of the Be The Obvious Choice System for owners of service based businesses across the nation. She works with those that struggle with getting their websites found by effectively using local search SEO and Social Media sites for their business. The main goal is to provide Pain Relief for Your Social Media SEO Aches and set the stage to earn more online revenue from new contacts, clicks, and phone calls. If this speaks to you and your online business goals discover if it is time for Darling Online Marketing.

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What Does Facebook’s Switch to iFrames Mean for Businesses?

Posted on 30. May, 2011 by Darling.

Facebook’s recent switch from FBML (Facebook Mark-Up Language) to iFrames has left many business owners uncertain how it will affect their social media marketing. Well, the short answer is that businesses will have to rework their Facebook pages if they are currently using FBML for tabbed content. However, the change is not a bad thing. Facebook’s switch to iFrames allows businesses to add a wider variety of content to their Facebook pages.

In Elle Billias’ blog post, Facebook iFrames: Opening The Window To Possibility, she explains what iFrames is and why it is important to Facebook. Billias also provides detailed instructions, with explanations, on how users can get started using iFrames to enhance their Facebook pages. The post also explains how to convert FBML to iFrames so that page owners can migrate their existing content to the new format. Her instructions are simple and easy to follow for anyone with moderate technical skills.

If you’re concerned how the switch will affect your page, or you want to explore the new possibilities that iFrames offers then Facebook iFrames: Opening The Window To Possibility is a great starting point.

Chris Darling works with owners of service based businesses who struggle with getting their websites found by effectively using local search SEO and Social Media sites for their business. Find Pain Relief for Your Social Media SEO Aches and set the stage to earn more online revenue from new contacts, clicks, and phone calls. If this speaks to you and your online business goals discover if it is time for Darling Online Marketing.

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Tips to Get Higher Ranking for Your Social Media Profiles

Posted on 18. May, 2011 by Darling.

Social media has become an important way to grow your business online in a relatively short amount of time. Many business use social media, but they don’t know how to create profiles that rank highly in search engine results. Social media profiles often show up in a larger number of search results than most companies’ websites, so they are valuable breadcrumbs that lead your business’s website.

Your Name vs Your User Name

• Social media sites often use your user name as part of your URL. However, unlike with websites, your URL does not factor into page ranking as much as your real name. It is important that you include your real name or your businesses’ name in your social media profiles so that people can find you. Including the name that you want people to find you under is part of establishing your brand.

Profile Pictures

• If you are your own brand, make sure you have a flattering photograph and use it was your profile pictures across various social networks. Using the same picture consistently builds your recognition.
• Businesses should add their logo to their social media profiles as their profile picture. In cases where the profile picture has to be cropped in a way that makes the logo hard to read, try to pick an iconic image or portion of the logo that represents your brand.
• Do not upload photos or other images with the default file name. For photos of yourself, use a name like “your_name.jpg.” If it is a photo of your business, use your business’s name in the filename. Using the right file name for your images like adding keywords that improves how they show up in search results.

Put Your Keywords to Use

• Fill out your social media profiles completely. Businesses often ignore areas such as interests and background. These are key areas where you can add text that includes keywords related to your business. Work the keywords naturally into the profile; don’t just add them as a list.

Optimizing your social media profiles does not take long, but it does require some time and planning. Instead of tackling all of them at once, pick one social media account at a time and optimize your profile. If you do this regularly for all your social media profiles such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, you will see all your profiles rise in search engine results.

Chris Darling works with owners of service based businesses who struggle with getting their websites found by effectively using local search SEO and Social Media sites for their business. Find Pain Relief for Your Social Media SEO Aches and set the stage to earn more online revenue from new contacts, clicks, and phone calls. If this speaks to you and your online business goals discover if it is time for Darling Online Marketing.

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Using Social Media for SEO

Posted on 06. May, 2011 by Darling.

Do you know how to use social media and SEO together? In the post-Facebook, post-Twitter era of web 2.0, social media and SEO are completely entwined; you cannot effectively use one without the other. If your social media and SEO aren’t working together, your businesses is ignoring a huge pool of potential customers.

Erez Barak, co-founder of Optify, wrote a post for Search Engine Watch titled Search + Social: A Growing Relationship that gives readers a lot of insight into how important social media is for businesses. One of Barak’s key points is that “Businesses can’t afford to ignore social, namely because this is where consumers are spending most of their time.”

An infographic in the article from Nielson shows that if you take users’ average time spent doing various things online and break it into one hour, they spend over six times more time using social media than searching the web. Barak also goes on to explain exactly how the time people are spending on social media site directly affects your website’s SEO.

Search + Social: A Growing Relationship is necessary reading if you want know how to use social media to get SEO results for your business.

Chris Darling works with owners of service based businesses who struggle with getting their websites found by effectively using local search SEO and Social Media sites for their business. Find Pain Relief for Your Social Media SEO Aches and set the stage to earn more online revenue from new contacts, clicks, and phone calls. If this speaks to you and your online business goals discover if it is time for Darling Online Marketing.

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