#something changed in algorithm or SEO or something. I don’t know enough

[beazt]

I made an angry post about this recently but google has literally become functionally useless over the last few months and like. I don’t think I realized just how horrible it’d be

[tjmnofluffbiztips]

Harnessing the Power of Blogging in 2025 A Beginners Guide

Why You Should Start a Blog in 2025 (Even If You Feel Clueless)

If you've been dancing around the idea of starting a blog but haven’t quite pulled the trigger, let me say this: 2025 is screaming your name — and not in a woo-woo "align your chakras" kind of way. More like a "blogging has never been easier or more powerful" kind of way.

Let’s break it down. Whether you want to build a business, share your story, or just figure out what the heck you’re doing in life, a blog can be your anchor — your own little patch of the internet where you get to set the rules.

  Blogging is Your Digital Home (And It’s Finally Affordable)

Think of a blog as your online home. Social media? That’s renting a flat — and one algorithm change later, your reach disappears faster than a cuppa in a British office.

But a blog? You own it. You shape it. No landlord (read: algorithm) can suddenly kick you out.

And the good news? Setting up that blog in 2025 is easier than ever. Between drag-and-drop builders, AI tools that basically write your drafts, and YouTube tutorials for every step of the way, there’s no tech excuse left.

(And if you’re thinking, “I���m not techy enough” — I run an online biz while being a full-time carer for my mum with dementia. If I can figure out WordPress between adult nappies, burnt toast, and shouting “Where’s the remote?!” every ten minutes… you’ll be just fine, love.)

  It’s Your Chance to Stand Out Without Shouting

Tired of screaming into the void on social media? A blog lets you go deeper — not just surface-level “look at my breakfast” nonsense.

People crave substance again. Google wants helpful content. Readers want guidance, not gimmicks.

And let’s be honest — a solid blog builds trust faster than a TikTok trend with 17 hashtags. When someone finds your post on “Starting a Side Hustle in Midlife” or “Affiliate Marketing Without Selling Your Soul,” they see you — not some filter-fueled avatar.

  You’ll Build Skills You Didn't Know You Needed

Blogging isn’t just about writing (though that’s part of the fun). Along the way, you’ll pick up:

SEO basics (so Google can actually find you)

Email marketing skills (hello, subscriber list!)

Confidence in your own voice

Planning, structure, and a surprising level of personal growth

Plus, if you're a woman in midlife trying to stay sharp, creative, and a bit rebellious — blogging hits the spot better than sudoku.

  You Don’t Need a “Niche” Right Away (Shocker, I Know)

Most beginners think they need to choose one niche for life.Spoiler alert: you don’t.

Start broad. Blog about what you're learning, trying, failing at, figuring out. Write your way into clarity.

I started by feeling like I was zigzagging down country lanes — but eventually, it turned into a motorway (or highway, if you're across the pond 😉). And once you're cruising, you're cruising.

  It Can Actually Make You Money — But That’s Not the Only Win

Let’s talk money, shall we?

Yes, blogging can become an income stream. Think:

Affiliate links for things you actually use

Digital products like eBooks or courses

Sponsored content and brand partnerships

Or just growing your authority to offer services

But the real win? Freedom.Freedom to create something of your own. To help people. To be known for what you care about, not just what you do.

And that moment when someone emails you to say, “Your post helped me”? That’s the real dopamine hit.

Community Over Competition

One of the best parts of blogging? The people.You find your tribe, your readers, your people.

This isn’t about going viral. It’s about going valuable.

  So… Why Start a Blog in 2025?

Because you’ve got things to say. Because you’re allowed to take up space online.Because you’re learning, growing, and maybe — just maybe — ready to share that journey with others.

2025 isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being real.

  💡 Thinking of Starting Your Own Blog?

If this post’s got your brain whirring (or your fingers itching to write), I’ve made something that might help.

It’s a simple, beginner-friendly checklist that walks you through what to do first — in plain English, with no jargon, no overwhelm, and definitely no “just manifest it” advice.

👉 Click here to get the Blogging for Beginners Checklist (free)

I made it because I know what it’s like to feel totally lost at the start — and sometimes you just want someone to say,“Here’s where to begin.”

And this time? You’ve got the tools, the support, and the cheeky little checklist to make it doable.

Your voice? It’s more powerful than you think — and someone out there is waiting to hear it in your words, not from some marketing bro or Instagram life coach.

[laurafaritos]

HDMS030. Search Engine Marketing for Comedians: How to Get Discovered (Without Relying On Going Viral)

Aiaiaiiiiii!!!! Can you believe we're halfway through March already???

Boy, oh, boy. We've got a long one, so buckle up (she says, as if all the other blog posts aren't long enough to be the Third Testament)

First things, first. Your girl is back at it again with another Harvard-inspired marketing breakdown!!! If this is the first post you come across, let me catch you up on my shit. By now, I’ve officially completed Harvard’s Digital Marketing Strategy Certificate, and while I’m still waiting for my actual certificate to be approved, I can already say this course has completely changed how I think about marketing and business. So, I’m finishing up this HDMS blog series as a way to document what I’ve learned, apply it to comedy, and help other comedians and creatives do the same.

Anyway!!! This post is inspired by my reflections on module 3.2.1 Search Engine Marketing. How can comedians get booked or sell tickets without going viral?? That’s what we’re tackling in today’s post... specifically, how comedians (or any creative entrepreneurs) can use Search Engine Marketing (SEM) to get discovered and build an audience in a way that’s actually predictable.

If you’ve ever wondered how comedians who aren’t constantly going viral still manage to get booked, grow an audience, and make money... this post is for you <333

Let’s goooo babyyyy!!!

I. SEO vs. SEM: What’s the Difference?

If you’ve ever Googled something and seen both ads at the top and regular search results below them, you’ve already seen the difference between Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM)—even if you didn’t realize it at the time.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is all about ranking organically on Google. You don’t pay for traffic—you earn it by creating content that aligns with what people are searching for and making sure Google sees your website as relevant. It’s a long-term strategy that requires consistent content, strong website structure, and good keyword research to slowly climb the ranks and get discovered by new audiences.

SEM (Search Engine Marketing) is when you pay Google to show up first in search results. You’re essentially bidding on keywords so that when someone searches for a term related to your business (e.g., “stand-up comedy shows in Toronto” or “best comedy podcast”), your ad appears at the top before the organic results. SEM is a short-term, instant traffic strategy that gets your name in front of potential audiences right away—but it costs money.

Sooo, I don't know about you, but most comedians and creatives I know ONLY focus on social media, hoping to go viral and get discovered that way. And I can't even blame them!!! If they went to school, chances are that THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY LEARNED!!! I know this because it's exactly what I learned.

Maybe this is a strategy that worked at some point for some people. But it is definitely not a strategy that works for MOST people I know... and that's because social media is unpredictable!!!!! And unless you have millions of followers, it’s hard to control how many people actually see your content!!!!! And even if you do have hundreds of thousands of followers, sometimes the algorithm doesn't deem your content worthy of showing it to your followers!!!!!

There is a science to this, people!!! It's not about luck!!! It's not about talent!!! It's not about posting the right joke on the right the day so the right person can see it!!! It ISSS about treating it like a predictable business practice for creatives who want to be self-employed.

So what are comedians supposed to do??? SEO and SEM, unlike the unpredictable realms of social media, are veryyy much predictable and very much search-driven—which means your content is shown to people actively looking for what you offer. And when someone is actively searching for something like “comedy show near me” or “how to start doing stand-up”, they’re already interested—you’re not fighting for their attention like you are on social media.

Do you understand what I'm saying?? If you're going to spend your time and energy on the internet trying to set yourself up for a future where you can eventually make a living off your comedy... you've got to be strategic about it!!! There is no such thing as luck!!!!

And I'm not saying that organic social media content isn't valuable. It absolutely issss valuable, especially for creating and establishing a comedian's brand voice and identity. I'm just saying that organic content is meant to reach people who already follow you... and that's IF the algorithm deems your content worthy within the first hour. But it's not necessarily going to reach new people to follow you, and it sure as hell isn't going to reach new audiences to buy show tickets...

So I want you, as a comedian, to start thinking of the following:

SEO is the long game—it helps you build credibility and get free traffic over time.

SEM is the fast track—you pay for immediate visibility and conversions.

Most big businesses use both—and if you’re serious about building an audience for your comedy (whether it’s for live shows, a podcast, or a YouTube channel), understanding how to combine these strategies can make a huge difference.

II. What Is SEM & How Does It Work?

Now that we’ve covered the difference between SEO and SEM, let’s break down how SEM actually works and what makes it such a powerful tool for comedians looking to grow their audience.

When you run a search engine marketing (SEM) campaign, you’re essentially paying for your website, show, or content to appear at the top of Google search results when someone searches for relevant keywords. But how does Google decide which ads to show and how much you pay? Here’s how it works:

1. Bidding on Keywords

Google Ads operates like an auction—you bid on keywords that you want your ad to show up for. For example, if you’re a comedian in Toronto, you might bid on:

“comedy shows in Toronto”

“stand-up comedy tickets near me”

“best comedy podcast”

“how to become a comedian”

When someone searches for these terms, Google decides which ads to show based on a combination of bid amount and ad relevance. It’s not just about who bids the most—Google also looks at how useful your ad is to the searcher.

2. Creating the Ad

A good Google ad has: ✔️ A compelling headline (e.g., “Hilarious Stand-Up Show in Toronto – Get Tickets Now!”) ✔️ A clear description that tells people what to expect (e.g., “Join top comedians for a night of laughs at [Venue Name]. Limited seats—book now!”) ✔️ A strong call-to-action (CTA) (e.g., “Buy Tickets” or “Watch Now”) ✔️ A landing page that matches the ad (Google ranks ads higher if the page they lead to is relevant!)

3. Paying Per Click (PPC)

Unlike traditional ads (where you pay just to be seen), SEM operates on a pay-per-click (PPC) model—you only pay when someone actually clicks your ad. The cost per click (CPC) varies based on competition, relevance, and quality score.

4. Optimizing for Performance

The work doesn’t stop after launching an ad! To make the most of SEM, you’ll need to:

Track which keywords bring in the best traffic

Adjust your ad copy based on what gets the most clicks

Optimize landing pages to convert visitors into ticket buyers or subscribers

SEM is one of the fastest ways to get in front of the right audience. Instead of waiting for social media algorithms to bless you with visibility, you can target people who are already searching for comedy content.

Immediate visibility – No waiting for organic reach

Laser-targeted audience – You reach people looking for comedy

Pay only for results – No wasted money on people who don’t care

Now that we understand how SEM works, let’s talk about what makes a good SEM campaign for comedians and how to choose the right keywords. This is where shit gets good.

III. The Right Keywords: What Should Comedians Bid On???

Now that we know how SEM works, let’s talk about the most important part of your campaign—choosing the right keywords. Keywords determine who sees your ads, how much you pay per click, and whether your ad actually converts into ticket sales, podcast listeners, or social media followers.

There are two main types of keywords in SEM:

1. Branded Keywords (People Searching for You Specifically)

These are searches that include your name, show title, or personal brand. For example:

“Laura Faritos comedy”

“Haunted Comedians live show”

“Failed by Sex Ed podcast”

Bidding on your own name or show might seem unnecessary (since you’ll probably rank organically), but it protects your brand from competitors who might run ads on your name. Yes, other comedians or venues can bid on your name and appear above you in search results—so securing your brand name ensures you control your audience’s first impression!!!

2. Generic Keywords (People Searching for Comedy in General)

These keywords capture people who don’t know you yet but are looking for what you offer. For example:

“stand-up comedy show near me”

“best comedy podcasts”

“Toronto comedy events”

These keywords help you reach a completely new audience, but they are more competitive and more expensive since bigger brands (comedy clubs, Netflix, streaming services) are also bidding on them.

3. Niche Keywords (Targeting a Specific Audience)

The best way to reduce competition and increase conversions is by going hyper-specific. Instead of bidding on “comedy show” (which every comedian and club is bidding on), try:

“immigrant comedy Toronto” (for Foreigner Diaries)

“comedy about dating fails” (for Failed by Sex Ed)

“horror comedy stand-up” (for Haunted Comedians)

These long-tail keywords (phrases with 3+ words) tend to be cheaper and convert better because they match exactly what people are looking for.

So Which Keywords Should Comedians Focus On??

For comedians, a strong SEM strategy should include:

Branded Keywords – To make sure you own your search results.

Niche Keywords – To target specific, high-converting audiences.

Selective Generic Keywords – To expand reach, but only if budget allows.

Once you’ve picked your keywords, the next step is creating an ad that actually gets people to click—which is what we’ll cover next!

IV. How Can Comedians Write Google Ads That Actually Convert??

Now that we’ve chosen the right keywords, it’s time to craft ads that actually get clicks. Your SEM ad is often the first impression people get of your comedy, show, or brand, so making it enticing, clear, and clickable is key.

The Anatomy of a Google Search Ad

A standard Google search ad includes:

Headline (Up to 30 characters each, 3 total)

Description (Up to 90 characters each, 2 total)

Display URL (Shows the link people will click)

Extensions (Optional add-ons like phone numbers, locations, or additional links)

Here’s an example of what a comedian’s Google ad might look like:

Headline: Hilarious Stand-Up in Toronto | Limited Tickets Left! Description: A night of comedy you won’t forget! Get tickets for Laura Faritos Presents live at [Venue Name]. URL: laurafaritos.com/shows

How to Write an Effective Google Ad for Comedy

1. Capture Attention with Strong Headlines

Your headline is the most important part of your ad. It needs to be clear, engaging, and relevant to the search query. Google lets you write up to 3 headlines that rotate automatically, so make them count.

✅ GOOD HEADLINES:

Comedy Show This Friday – Don’t Miss Out!

Dating Fails? We Turn Them into Stand-Up Gold!

Haunted Comedians – Horror Meets Comedy!

❌ BAD HEADLINES:

Stand-Up Show This Weekend (Too vague, doesn’t stand out)

Live Comedy Show Toronto (No urgency or personality)

Come See Me Perform (Why should they care?)

Use power words like “Limited Tickets,” “One Night Only,” or “Hilarious” to make the ad pop.

2. Make the Description Enticing & Specific

Your description should tell people why they should come. Use this space to add personality, a unique selling point, or urgency.

✅ GOOD DESCRIPTIONS:

Toronto’s funniest comedians, one night only! Book now before we sell out.

Love ghost stories & stand-up? Haunted Comedians is the perfect mix!

Breakup? Bad date? Laugh about it with us at Failed by Sex Ed!

❌ BAD DESCRIPTIONS:

We have comedy shows every month. (No excitement, too generic)

Come to our comedy event. (No details, no hook)

Comedians performing live in Toronto. (Boring, no urgency)

3. Use the Right Call to Action (CTA)

Your CTA (Call to Action) tells people what to do next. Examples:

“Get Your Tickets Now” → Best for live shows

“Watch Now on YouTube” → Best for digital content

“Follow for Daily Comedy Clips” → Best for growing social media

Avoid weak CTAs like “Check it out” or “Click here”—be specific!

4. Leverage Ad Extensions to Boost Clicks

Google allows you to add extra links or details to your ad with extensions. This makes your ad bigger, more informative, and clickable.

Great extensions for comedians include:

Sitelink Extensions – Add links like “Buy Tickets” or “Watch Clips”

Location Extensions – Show where your show is happening

Call Extensions – Let fans or press contact you

Review Extensions – Feature positive audience feedback

Using these makes your ad take up more space in search results, increasing visibility.

Example of a Strong Google Search Ad for a Comedy Show

Headline 1: Haunted Comedians Live – Limited Tickets! Headline 2: Horror & Stand-Up Collide! Headline 3: Get Ready to Laugh & Scream!

Description 1: Toronto’s funniest comedians take on ghosts, horror movies & haunted houses. Get your tickets today! Description 2: One night only – don’t miss out! Friday at [Venue Name]. Limited seats available!

Call to Action: Buy Tickets Now!

Extensions: Links to About the Show, Watch Clips, Get Tickets

How To Make Your Google Ads Pop

Use headlines that stand out (avoid generic phrases).

Make descriptions engaging & specific (add humor & urgency).

Always include a strong CTA (tell people exactly what to do).

Use ad extensions to make your ad bigger & better.

A well-crafted SEM ad can be the difference between an empty show and a sold-out night—so make every word count!

V. The Cost of Getting Clicks: Bidding & Budgeting for SEM

Now that we’ve covered how to write a great Google ad, let’s talk about something just as important: how much does it actually cost to run SEM ads?

This is where bidding strategies come in. SEM is a pay-per-click (PPC) system, meaning you only pay when someone clicks your ad. The cost of each click depends on competition, keyword demand, and bidding strategy.

How SEM Bidding Works

Google Ads uses an auction system to determine ad placement. When someone searches for a keyword, Google compares all advertisers bidding on that keyword and ranks the ads based on:

Bid Amount – How much you’re willing to pay per click.

Ad Quality – Google scores your ad based on relevance, engagement, and landing page experience.

Expected Impact – Does your ad get high click-through rates (CTR)? Does it use strong ad extensions?

Even if someone else bids higher, you can win the auction if your ad is better quality. Google rewards relevant, high-performing ads with lower costs per click (CPC).

Example:

Comedian A bids $3 per click but has a weak ad with low CTR.

Comedian B bids $1.50 per click but has a high-quality, relevant ad.

Google prefers Comedian B’s ad and places it higher, even though the bid is lower.

Choosing the Right SEM Bidding Strategy

Google offers different bidding strategies depending on your goals. Here are the most relevant for comedians:

Maximize Clicks – Google spends your budget to get the most clicks possible. Good for beginners.

Maximize Conversions – Google prioritizes getting actual ticket sales or sign-ups rather than just clicks.

Target CPA (Cost Per Acquisition) – Google tries to get you leads or sales at a set cost per action.

Manual CPC (Cost Per Click) – You set your own max bid per click, giving you control over spending.

If you're new to SEM, start with Maximize Clicks to drive traffic. Once you gather data, switch to Maximize Conversions to focus on actual ticket sales.

How Much Should Comedians Budget for SEM??

💰 Real talk: How much should you spend on SEM as a comic???

There’s no magic number, but let’s break it down:

Industry average CPC for Google Ads: $1–$5 per click.

Comedy niche CPC (estimated): $0.50–$2.00 per click (varies by competition).

Show ticket price: $20–$30 per ticket (your revenue per conversion).

If your CPC is $1.00 and 10 people click your ad, you’ve spent $10. If 1 out of those 10 actually buys a $25 ticket, you’ve made $15 profit. So SEM issssss worth it IF your conversion rate (clicks → sales) makes the ad cost profitable!!!

Pro budgeting tip:

Start small: $5–$10 per day to test ads.

Scale up once you see which keywords & ads convert best.

Avoiding SEM Budget Burnout

SEM can get expensive fast, so here’s how to spend wisely:

Set a daily budget – Prevents overspending. Even $5/day can work!

Use negative keywords – Stops your ads from showing up for irrelevant searches.

Track conversions – Focus on keywords that actually lead to sales, not just clicks.

Test & tweak ads – Run multiple versions and see which ones perform best.

Biggest SEM mistake comedians make? Spending $$$ on clicks without tracking what’s working. Use Google Ads’ analytics to see which keywords bring ticket sales vs. which just bring lurkers.

SEM Budgets Are an Investment, Not an Expense

Think of SEM as paying for digital billboards—except instead of hoping people pass by, you’re targeting fans actively looking for comedy.

Best approach:

Start small, test ads, track results.

Optimize your budget for keywords that actually drive ticket sales.

Scale up when you find what works best.

A well-managed SEM campaign can turn a small daily budget into consistent ticket sales & audience growth.

VI. SEM & AUDHD: How I Manage Search Ads Without Melting My Brain

Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is one of the most data-heavy, detail-oriented marketing strategies out there. And if you have AuDHD (Autism + ADHD) like me, you probably know how fast information overload can lead to burnout.

So, how do I manage SEM without frying my brain? Let’s talk automation, batching, and making SEM work for neurodivergent minds.

1. Automate What You Can (So You Don’t Have to Check 24/7)

ADHD brain + SEM dashboards = disaster. There’s too much data, too many buttons, and the constant urge to check stats every 5 minutes. That’s why automation is a lifesaver.

What I automate in SEM:

Bidding – Instead of micromanaging costs, I use Google’s Maximize Clicks or Maximize Conversions strategy to let the algorithm handle it.

Ad Scheduling – I set ads to run at optimal times (like evenings when people buy comedy tickets).

Negative Keywords – I add a list of irrelevant words upfront (e.g., “free comedy” or “comedy jobs”) so I don’t waste money on clicks that won’t convert.

Performance Reports – I set up automated reports in Google Ads so I can review once a week instead of every hour.

Result: SEM works in the background, and I don’t waste mental energy obsessing over it.

2. Batch Tasks to Reduce Decision Fatigue

AuDHD means my brain hates switching tasks constantly. If I have to think about SEM every single day, I will 100% burn out.

So instead, I batch my SEM tasks like this:

🗓 Weekly:

Review campaign performance reports.

Adjust bids & budgets if needed.

Add new negative keywords to block irrelevant clicks.

🗓 Monthly:

Test new ad copy variations (so I don’t hyperfocus on perfecting ads daily).

Check which keywords are driving conversions & remove underperforming ones.

Adjust targeting & scheduling based on what’s working.

🗓 Quarterly:

Do a deep dive into overall SEM performance.

Make big decisions about budget increases or campaign expansion.

Why batching works: It reduces decision fatigue, lets me focus, and stops SEM from feeling like a never-ending mental chore.

3. Use Templates to Reduce Overthinking

ADHD overthinking = writing a Google ad that takes 3 hours instead of 10 minutes.

To stop myself from spiraling, I use pre-made ad templates that follow a simple format:

[Keyword] + Unique Selling Point + Call to Action

Example: 🎤 Live Comedy in Toronto! See Top Comedians & Get Tickets Today!

This way, when I need to write new ads, I don’t have to reinvent the wheel—I just tweak a few words and move on.

4. Set “Checkpoints” to Prevent SEM Paralysis

A classic AuDHD struggle is either hyperfocusing too much or forgetting about a task entirely. With SEM, this can mean:

Checking ad stats every 10 minutes like a stockbroker.

Ignoring campaigns for weeks and realizing I burned money on bad keywords.

The solution? I set “checkpoints” to review SEM at specific times so I don’t go overboard or neglect it completely.

💡 How I do it:

Mondays – Quick 10-min check-in. Are my ads running smoothly? Any major changes needed?

Fridays – Deeper review. What’s converting? Where is money being wasted? Any tweaks?

Last day of the month – Bigger strategy review. Do I need to increase budget? Test new ads?

Why this works: It creates structure without overwhelming me, and I can trust past-me to handle SEM in a way that future-me won’t regret.

Make SEM Work for Your Brain, Not Against It!!!

If SEM feels exhausting or overwhelming, remember: it’s just a tool. You don’t have to do everything manually or perfectly.

Simplify where you can.

Automate what drains you.

Batch tasks to reduce burnout.

Marketing shouldn’t feel like suffering—especially for neurodivergent creatives. The goal is to build an audience without destroying your mental energy. SEM can help, but only if you set it up in a way that works for YOU.

TL;DR How SEM Can Help Comedians Get Discovered

We’ve covered a LOT in this post, so let’s break it down one last time.

✅ SEM (Search Engine Marketing) = paying to show up in search results when people are actively looking for something related to you. ✅ It’s different from SEO, which is about ranking organically over time. SEM is faster but costs money. ✅ Comedians & creators can use SEM to get in front of the right audience—whether it’s selling tickets, promoting a show, or getting booked. ✅ Managing SEM with AuDHD requires a different approach—using automation, batching tasks, and setting checkpoints to avoid burnout or overchecking ads 24/7.

At the end of the day, SEM is just a tool. It’s not a magic bullet, but if used strategically, it can help comedians & creatives get discovered without relying on going viral.

I know this was a long, in-depth post... but it's not like I expect people to be reading these long posts. This is MY PROCESS for retaining information from the course and understanding how it applies to me so I don't forget it in a few months and I'm actually able to put the theories to practice.

Still, I hope this long ass blog post was as valuable to you as it is to me!!! It takes me a long time to reflect on these submodules but I truly see value in retaining information this way. And if it helps anyone else along the way, EVEN BETTER!!!

As a reminder, these posts are inspired reflections from each submodule from Harvard's Digital Marketing Strategy (aka this HDMS series). I've got 30 posts already and I'm not even properly halfway through the course content. Sooooo lotsssss coming!!!!

In the next few posts we will be exploring the remaining submodules in Module 3: Acquiring Customers Via Paid Media.

See you in the next one!!! Tchau, tchau <333

[krunal-vyas]

Top 5 Reasons to Hire an SEO Agency in Toronto

As a small business owner or marketing manager in Toronto, you might be struggling to build a strong online presence. Maybe your website doesn’t get enough visitors, or your search engine rankings are low, leaving your site hidden from potential customers. These issues can be frustrating, especially if you don’t have the time or knowledge to handle them on your own.

But you don’t have to figure it out by yourself. Hiring an SEO agency in Toronto could be the perfect solution. In this post, we’ll look at the top 5 reasons why working with an SEO agency can help you overcome these challenges.

Whether you’re trying to get more traffic, improve your search rankings, or outpace local competition, you’ll learn why hiring experts can make all the difference.

Why should I hire an SEO agency in Toronto?

Reason 1: Expertise in Local SEO for Toronto Businesses

If you run a local business in Toronto, showing up in local searches is critical. Whether you own a restaurant, gym, or real estate office, you want nearby customers to find you easily. That’s where local SEO comes in. But it’s not just about adding a few keywords to your site — it requires a lot of knowledge about your market and your audience.

A Toronto SEO agency can help you by:

Understanding the local market: They know the Toronto area well and can adjust your SEO strategy to attract the right customers.

Targeting local keywords: They’ll help optimize your site with local keywords like “best pizza near me” or “real estate agent in Toronto” to reach more local customers.

Improving your Google My Business: They can optimize your profile to make sure your business shows up in local searches, maps, and the local 3-pack on Google.

For example, let’s say a local coffee shop in Toronto wasn’t showing up when people searched for “coffee near me.” After working with a local SEO agency, they improved their keywords and Google My Business profile, resulting in a big increase in foot traffic.

Local SEO is tricky, but with an expert’s help, you can rise above the competition and reach more customers.

Reason 2: Access to the Latest SEO Tools and Techniques

SEO isn’t something you can do well without the right tools. To be successful, you need access to tools that help with keyword research, site audits, and competitor analysis. Many small businesses don’t have the budget for these tools, but an SEO agency already has them.

Some of the top tools an agency might use are:

SEMrush: This helps analyze your competitors’ keywords and backlinks, giving you an edge in ranking.

Ahrefs: It tracks backlinks and shows areas where your site can grow.

Moz: This tool helps track your keyword performance and finds issues with your site that need fixing.

These tools are not only expensive but also take time to learn. Working with an agency saves you the cost and effort of managing them yourself. Even more, an SEO agency stays on top of the latest trends and Google algorithm updates, so your site is always optimized for the newest changes.

Reason 3: Saves Time and Lets You Focus on Your Business

Managing SEO isn’t a one-time task — it’s an ongoing process that requires regular updates, research, and fixes. As a business owner, you probably don’t have time to handle SEO on top of running your company.

Hiring a Toronto SEO company means you can focus on what you do best while leaving the SEO to professionals. They take care of:

Keyword research: Finding and using the right keywords to help your business rank.

Content updates: Ensuring your website’s content stays fresh and relevant.

Technical SEO: Fixing issues like slow site speed or broken links that could hurt your rankings.

Trying to manage all these things on your own can be overwhelming. By outsourcing your SEO, you can free up your time and energy while knowing your website is in good hands.

Read also: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right SEO Services Agency in Toronto

Reason 4: Proven Results and Accountability

Many businesses hesitate to invest in SEO because they’re unsure if it will work. Maybe you’ve tried it before and didn’t see results, or you’re concerned about spending money without knowing what you’ll get in return. An experienced SEO agency in Toronto provides transparency and proven results.

A good agency will track your progress with key performance indicators (KPIs), such as:

Search engine rankings: You’ll be able to see your business climb in the rankings for important keywords.

Website traffic: Over time, you should see more visitors to your site.

Conversions: You’ll get more leads, sales, or bookings as your visibility improves.

Reputable agencies also provide monthly reports so you can easily track the progress of your SEO campaigns. These reports show you where your money is going and what kind of results it’s bringing in.

For example, a Toronto-based café partnered with an SEO agency and saw their organic website traffic double within six months. They were able to see exactly where the traffic came from and how much business it brought in, thanks to detailed reports from the agency.

Reason 5: Comprehensive and Holistic SEO Strategies

SEO isn’t just about keywords. It includes many other important elements like technical SEO, content creation, and link building. A professional Toronto SEO agency knows how to create a complete SEO strategy that covers everything your website needs to rank higher and drive more traffic.

Some of the services a good agency provides include:

Technical SEO: Optimizing your site’s structure, speed, and mobile responsiveness.

On-page SEO: Improving your content to make sure it’s engaging, relevant, and easy for search engines to understand.

Off-page SEO: Building authority through backlinks from other reputable websites.

Local SEO: Boosting your business’s visibility in local search results and Google Maps.

By combining all these elements, an SEO agency creates a strategy that builds your online presence and sets you up for long-term success. For example, an e-commerce store in Toronto might use an agency to optimize their product pages and launch a content marketing plan. Over time, this kind of full-scale SEO strategy leads to higher search rankings, more traffic, and increased sales.

Conclusion

Hiring an SEO agency in Toronto ensures expert local SEO, access to the latest tools, time savings, and a comprehensive strategy that delivers proven results, including higher search rankings and more website traffic.

Ready to boost your online presence? Contact iQlance, a trusted SEO agency in Toronto, for a free consultation and start improving your search rankings today!

[cindylouwho-2]

RECENT NEWS, RESOURCES & STUDIES, May 2, 2021

Welcome to my latest summary of recent ecommerce news, resources & studies including search, analytics, content marketing, social media & Etsy. If you are interested in Etsy news, please read my top story below, as there seem to be a lot of changes afoot. (There is also a section general Etsy news below that.)

If you have any questions or news you would like me to cover, please drop me a line here on Tumblr, reply to this post, email me, or contact me on Twitter.

TOP NEWS & ARTICLES

Something is brewing at Etsy: as of April 26, people in almost all non-Etsy Payments countries “temporarily” cannot open new shops. They hid this development in a Help file, but someone reported it to Ecommerce Bytes, which garnered more attention. Why does this matter? Currently, Etsy Payments (EP) is only available in 44 countries; i.e., most of the world cannot currently open a new shop on Etsy. [Updated May 3 2021] Apparently the only exception is India; see the screenshot below, which someone kindly sent me:

(please click to see it in more detail, or check it out on Twitter)

There was no warning, and no published end date, even though they say it is temporary. Of course, they say it is to protect buyers, but they said that when they removed standalone PayPal too, and we know that was just about making more money. It’s possible they are adding new payment companies to the backend which will be able to operate in most of these countries, greatly expanding their take from EP. The first quarter report is scheduled for May 5, and that is often the time they announce new or expanded income streams. Expect to learn more sometime around then. In the meantime, watch for payment glitches.

It is also possible that the above situation is related to the glut of bad press Etsy has garnered recently. They released a blog post on April 29th, explaining how they plan on spending $40 million extra this year on marketplace enforcement. Turns out, they were just trying to get out in front of an April 30th report from Business Insider [paywall], which describes 800 policy violations in listings on the site. You can get the details in articles from Engadget and Gizmodo. This might get more traction, as both Insider and Gizmodo noted it is very easy to find more prohibited and even illegal items on Etsy.

“After Etsy deleted the listings the outlet identified, Insider reports that it was still able to find several others for ivory products, brass knuckles, mandrake roots, tools for using cannabis concentrates, mass-produced products, and other banned items. We poked around Etsy’s marketplace as well, and within a few minutes found a bunch of prohibited products, including a vintage ivory bracelet put up for sale as recently as March, several weapons that are plainly marketed as such, and a shop with more than 1,000 reviews selling all manner of spells for attracting love, wealth, and what have you.” [from Gizmodo]

Note that Etsy has also changed the wording of its Prohibited Items policy to include new definitions for counterfeit items. See discussion on this Reddit thread. Etsy is also still getting negative attention for allowing fake COVID-19 vaccine cards to be posted for sale. Vice has the most recent article, and Forbes has an overview of this hot new scam area.

So, is all of this linked, and if yes, what does it mean? Etsy hasn't cared about enforcing its listing policies for many years, as long as the media doesn't notice. Heck, you can still buy gift boxes of manufactured candy in thousands of shops, which is expressly prohibited, yet reporting never removes them. Is the media finally noticing enough to make a difference, or is Etsy really embarking on a huge cleanup that includes (at least temporarily) banning people from most countries from opening new shops? We will likely learn more this month, and perhaps even this week.

ETSY NEWS

Etsy says that shoppers are searching for “eco-friendly” items more often this year, and released a trend report on the topic. Insights include “42% YoY increase in searches on Etsy for reusable cotton menstrual pads...100% YoY increase in searches on Etsy for reusable straws...76% YoY increase in searches on Etsy for food covers...54% YoY increase in searches on Etsy for reclaimed wood shelves...176% YoY increase in searches on Etsy for environmentally friendly candles...712% YoY increase in searches on Etsy for eco-friendly tissue paper...285% YoY increase in searches on Etsy for vintage hoodies.” Definitely read the report if you want to know everything that people are looking for.

They also did a UK-based article on trends in outdoor items. Search tips of note: “2,644% YoY increase in UK searches on Etsy for patio furniture...Over 1,000% YoY increase in UK searches on Etsy for spring wreaths...1,266% YoY increase in UK searches on Etsy for garden lights or lanterns” It is hard to say how much these trends can be extrapolated to other countries, as the UK appears to have embraced online shopping much more during the pandemic than some other countries (see story below).

The latest Etsy Success podcast [transcript with podcast links] covers their buyer research, as well as a few questions from sellers. Not much here, except for the fact that they do expect wedding sales to pick up.

Reverb had a really large data breach, exposing the personal information of over 5 million customers.

As mentioned above, Etsy’s first quarter financial results for 2021 will be out on May 5th.

Apparently, Etsy is testing videos in search; here is a forum thread on the topic.

SEO: GOOGLE & OTHER SEARCH ENGINES

Here is an intermediate/semi-advanced article on ecommerce websites and common SEO issues. If you don’t do any of your own coding and don’t have much control over site design and indexing, skip the first 3 points.

Link building: what is a high-quality link? (you know, the type we are always told we need.) Moz’s Whiteboard Friday covers the basics. [video & transcript]

If you are new to blogging or writing instructional articles for your website, this template for writing for both readers and for Google SEO should be very useful.

Google introduced an algorithm update for product reviews starting April 8th. If you review other products on your website or blog, you will want to get the details here and here.

The Google page experience algorithm update has been delayed; it is now going to start in June and be completed by the end of August. That and more is covered in the Google Search News video for April. [YouTube video with highlights and links in the comments]

Yes, you can use SEO to get more attention to your podcasts. Here’s a detailed how-to.

Focussing on YouTube? Here are some tools for YouTube SEO. (Some are free or have free versions.)

There are probably as many Google SEO myths as there are Google algorithm factors, but Google saying something isn’t true isn’t always proof it is a myth. With that in mind, please enjoy this summary of 15 Google ranking factor myths (some of which are in dispute).

[semi-advanced content] The current state of long tail SEO has changed due to both searcher behaviour and Google, and that has led to both more and less opportunity. [Google redirecting results to what it thinks the searcher really wanted, even when the exact words aren’t on the page that they rank first, reminds me of what is happening with Etsy search lately.]

(CONTENT) MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA (includes blogging & emails)

Facebook still has the most traffic in the US, compared to all other social networks, but YouTube is even more popular. YouTube and Reddit are the only established major platforms with significant growth since 2019. You can read more details from the actual study here.

Instagram is working on new ways for creators to make money on the platform, not just those with business accounts.

HubSpot put together a summary of how the algorithms work on Facebook, Twitter, And Instagram.

Reddit appears to be testing a group voice chat feature, which would compete with Clubhouse.

TikTok isn’t just for young people; parents and grandparents are now on the platform too.

Twitter’s timeline algorithm (active if you are seeing “Top Tweets” on your feed) tends to ignore a lot of external links, and more than half of the posts can be “suggestions” from people you don’t follow. I’ve noticed lately that Twitter rarely makes suggestions in my chronological timeline anymore, except when I don’t have any activity for over 24 hours.

Twitter obeyed an order from the government of India and removed several dozen tweets which criticized the government’s COVID-19 response. The tweets in question can still be seen outside of India, however.

ONLINE ADVERTISING (SEARCH ENGINES, SOCIAL MEDIA, & OTHERS)

Understanding the definition of “return on ad spend” (ROAS) is the first step to making sure your ROAS is good for your business. “in general, a ROAS of 4:1 ($4 in revenue for every $1 spent) or higher usually suggests a successful campaign. But keep in mind that this is just a benchmark, not something to swear by. Some businesses need a ROAS of 10:1 to stay profitable, while others can do well with just 3:1...A large profit margin means you can continue the campaign with a low ROAS, whereas smaller margins demand a relatively higher ROAS and low advertising costs to maintain profitability. ROAS can also vary by platform. For instance, the average ROAS for Google Ads is 2:1.”

10% of money spent on US online ads last year went to Amazon, but they are still well behind Google. Meanwhile, Facebook’s ad revenue was up 46% in the first quarter of 2021, Google’s was up 32% & Bing's increased by 17%.

eBay launched the ability to automate their Promoted Listings.

ECOMMERCE NEWS, IDEAS, TRENDS

Payment processor Stripe purchased TaxJar, with a plan to integrate it into Stripe. This would provide new options for calculating & filing US taxes to Stripe customers. TaxJar will also have a standalone version for the moment. While TaxJar does do US taxes for business from many countries, it has almost nothing available regarding non-US taxes at this time. (Someone needs to do this for other taxes including UK VAT registration, since they don’t have a minimum threshold for micro businesses, and are no longer in the EU, so won’t be included in the new VAT collection rules come July 1. How many sole proprietors want to be registering for & remitting all of these countries by ourselves?)

In related news, Florida has joined most other US states in requiring online businesses to collect state sales tax even if they have no base in Florida. Missouri is now the only state with sales tax but without such a law, and they are working on it.

eBay has rolled out its new coupon code tool. Also, they released lower than expected projections for the current quarter, which has disappointed the analysts.

Meanwhile, Amazon hugely beat its first quarter expectations, and projects the growth will continue. Prime Day will be in June instead of July this year; date to come.

Also, Amazon is letting its larger brands email customers directly, which was previously not allowed. Customers do have to follow the brand to receive these messages.

Mailchimp will soon be offering ecommerce stores, including a free option that has a 2% transaction fee, or more advanced versions with lower transaction fees for $10 and $29 a month respectively. US and UK customers will be able to start a store as of May 18th.

Shopify probably doesn’t feel that threatened by the new competition, as their first quarter revenue was up more than 100% over the previous year. Note it is estimated they got 8.6% of US ecommerce revenue in the quarter, while some believe that eBay, Apple and Amazon lost market share.

BUSINESS & CONSUMER STUDIES, STATS & REPORTS; SOCIOLOGY & PSYCHOLOGY, CUSTOMER SERVICE

Mastercard says that people worldwide spent $900 billion more online last year compared to 2019. They expect the ecommerce trend of grocery shopping and bargain hunting to continue more than other retail areas.

Regions that had stricter lockdowns during the pandemic may have had a greater increase in ecommerce activity; this report compares the US and the UK.

Generation Z is likely to stop shopping with you if your site has issues. “Seventy-one percent of respondents want the experience to be personalized, and 76% said their favorite brands should reward them for their business, the survey found.”

MISCELLANEOUS

Brave browser has disabled FLoC, Google’s new tracking that is supposed to replace cookies in the next year. They explain why here. If you like Chrome but don’t want FLoC, try DuckDuckGo’s FLoC blocking Chrome extension.

[raquel08]

The Complete Guide to Search Intent for SEO

Search intent is often one of the most overlooked ranking factors but arguably one of the most important. Have you ever had a page that seemingly has super useful content and is optimised for keywords, yet you still aren’t ranking?

The most likely culprit is search intent.

Our complete guide will teach you what search intent is, what the different types are, why it matters for SEO and most importantly, how to optimise for it.

What is Search Intent?

Search intent, also sometimes known as user intent, refers to the meaning behind a search query; what is it the user is actually looking for by searching for that specific term?

It is essentially the goal of the user and could fall into a range of categories including informational, navigational, commercial or transactional. We will look at these in more detail a little later.

Search intent can often be inferred from the types of words used within search queries, for example if a search contains the word ‘how’, it is likely they are looking for information, or if the query contains the word ‘buy’, it is likely they are looking to make a purchase. By aligning your content to the users intent you can help to improve your rankings, and provide a relevant solution to the users query.

What are the Different Types of Search Intent?

Briefly mentioned above, there are 4 main types of search intent. These are informational, navigational, transactional and commercial. Learn more about each of the different types below.

Informational Queries: In informational searches the user is simply looking for information on a certain topic. Often formulated in a question style e.g. ‘how do I get more traffic online?’, ‘What is the best way to get traffic online?’, these are usually relatively easy to spot however, there are some exceptions. Informational queries may also be presented in a non-question format e.g. ‘search intent guide’.

Navigational Queries: Navigational queries are those of people who already know where they want to go. It may just be a case of it’s easier to search for a specific website then it is to type in the URL. They may also be looking for a specific section of the website such as the blog. An example of a navigational search would be ‘SEO Works’ or ‘SEO Works blog’. It is hard to capitalise on these if the search is not directed at your website as the user already has a clear idea of where they want to end up.

Commercial Queries: Commercial, or commercial investigation, searches help the user to make a decision on the best solution to their query. Linked to informational, this style of search often compares products or services to provide users with more detailed information that will eventually allow them to decide on the best solution for them. Searches may also take the form of reviews or lists. Some examples of searches with a commercial intent include ‘best SEO companies’, ‘SEO Works review’ or ‘SEO vs PPC’.

Transactional Queries: Transactional searches occur when the user is nearing the end of the buying cycle and is looking to make a purchase. This type of search will often contain language cues such as the terms ‘buy’, ‘buy online’ or ‘cheap…’. Anything related to price, buying or where to buy will generally be a transactional search. E.g. ‘online SEO services’.

Why is Search Intent Important for SEO?

With search engine algorithms improving by the day, keyword mentions are simply not enough anymore. Search engines are now able to determine the searchers intent much better than they used to. They then display content most relevant to that intent. Aligning your pages to this is therefore essential in order to gain high rankings. In doing this, your impressions will increase which in turn will help to boost traffic to your site.

In addition to this, by accurately communicating the intent of your page to users via the page title and meta description, you can also help to increase click through rate. Well-optimised meta will help to convince users that they will find the solution to their query on your page and will therefore encourage them to click through.

In relation to this, by attracting the right type of users to your site, they are more likely to convert. This is because if your page matches their search intent, you are presumably able to provide a solution for them. This is true of all types of searches, even informational. If they navigate to your site and see you as a useful source of information, users will be more likely to use you in the future for products or services as they will trust you.

The Importance of Search Intent Summary

Higher impressions

Boosts traffic

Increased click through rate

Higher chance of conversion

Improved trust

How to Optimise for Search Intent?

So now you know why optimising for search intent is important, you may be wondering how do you actually do it?

SERP Analysis

The first step is analysis. This is key; if you don’t determine the type of search intent before starting, it’s more likely that your page won’t match up. In order to determine the user’s goal, look at the search engine results pages. The search query itself may hold some clues. Look at the language used; are they trying to buy something, or are they asking a question? Once you have looked at this, review the top results. How is their page formatted? What kind of information is included?

Further clues to the search intent may also be inferred from certain SERP features. For example, if ‘people also ask’  boxes appear the search is more likely to be informational, if a product carousel is present, the search is likely transactional. This is not a foolproof method however, so make sure to carry out detailed analysis of all the top search results.

You should also note, that search intent is not necessarily black and white…just to make it that little bit harder. Search intent can be mixed, e.g. ‘Things to know before hiring an SEO agency’. This search is predominantly informational but, it also has a transactional element to it as the user is looking to buy services.

Aligning your Content to the Intent

You should have learned a number of things from your SERP analysis, including what type of content is ranking highly e.g. blogs, landing pages etc., it’s style e.g. video, infographic, text etc. how it is formatted e.g. a guide, a review etc. and what angle it takes. Once you have determined these things, you should have a solid plan for how you can adjust your page to match the search intent of the user.

If ‘how to’ guides are ranking highly, write your own and try to offer more useful information than that of the top search result. You should also adjust your meta to better communicate the content of the page to users. As previously mentioned, this can help to improve your site’s click through rate and attract traffic that is more likely to convert.

Review Regularly

It is important to note that search intent is not static. It can fluctuate and change over time so if you notice any rapid keyword drops, your first port of call should be to check the search intent of the target query, and repeat the above steps if necessary.

Search intent – in summary

Understanding and analysing search intent will influence your content creation, and ultimately help you answer the questions your target market are looking for, resulting in a better chance of search visibility.

Still not sure or too busy to ensure your search intent is on-point? Then it is best to connect with the SEO experts of an SEO company in Clearwater, FL.

[dukeofriven]

From An Old Internet Veteran: Go, and Sin No More

I wish I could explain to young people how wild the internet was as it went from the ‘weird niche thing for lame nerds’ irrelevancy of the early 90s and the “Boy This World Wide Web Thing Sure Is Nifty”-style painful optimism that describes 97% of Western Culture between 1994 and 2002 to the ‘Mad Max But Statistically Less Australian” culture that was the internet from 2002 to around 2010. I come neither to praise this era of internet nor condemn it. I merely want understanding. I cannot polish a lumpen pile of rape jokes, Chuck Norris glorification, “ironic” racism, and numa numa fat shaming and say that it’s misunderstood comedic genius. Trash is still trash even if it wins a bunch of Emmys. But at the same time I cannot take you with me back to the 90s and get you to feel, on a visceral level, what it was like to live in a place where Bart Simpson was both promoted as a real and present danger to the moral upbringing of the world’s children and was named by Time magazine as one of the most influential icons of the 20th century. And because I cannot do that I cannot get you to understand how freeing it felt to be on the internet in that Mad Max era. Ten years before a yellow boy shouting “Don’t have a cow” while doing a pathetic kick-flip on a chunky skateboard was considered the potential downfall of humanity’s children, but now you could make something so risqué that the old-guard stuffed-shirt in 1994 would have died on the spot, his brain unable to consider anything so outside his moral world view. I cannot easily make you understand a time when nobody just said whatever it was they wanted, not just because they had no platform to do so but because the rigidity of social convention was so strong. Nobody ever had hardcore lesbian sex on Northern Exposure on prime time television. Nobody on the X-Files ever died by having their head smashed in a car door repeatedly like a melon until viscera spilled all over the pavement. You could not have made Game of Thrones or Steven Universe in 1995. Forget the graphics, forget the budget, you simply couldn’t do or say any of that on television for either kids or adults. The Mad Max internet changed that - changed the very firmament of what was acceptable in media for every genre and for every demographic.  Is this a good thing? Not particularly. Is this a bad thing? Not particularly. If this sound frustratingly ambivalent that’s because it is: were we to go back and do it all again, knowing all that we know now, would we do it the same way? No. But then, we would not know all that we know now had we not learned it by making the attempt in the first place.

This poor comfort for someone who dives into some 2006 webcomic with a reputation of a Legacy Touchstone and finds it full of ‘jokes’ about their gender, or sexual preference, or the liberal use of the r-slur, or a kind of hyper-suburban comedic racial ignorance. I am not here to argue that that had any value merely because it was transgressive. But the same space that opened-up to let such ugly things out also opened-up places for marginalized groups to made themselves known, groups who never before had such public voices.

Imagine an apocalypse. Imagine society rebuilding in the ashes. Imagine how many false starts and missteps there would be and you begin to understand just a little of what that period was like. It was embarrassing. It was cruel. It was childish and stupid. But in living through it we grew up. Or, at least, those of us capable of growing up grew up, and learned, and learned to be better - learned what better was. And then we built new places where other people could learn too - and spread the gospel of being better. One of the things that always irritates me when it comes to young people talking about the past is the unexamined privilege of knowledge being at your fingertips. It’s more than just everyone carrying a wireless-internet connected computer in their pocket at all times. It’s more than just a Wikipedia with hundreds of millions of articles and a reputation for fact sourcing. It’s more than just a Google that works. If you never experienced it you cannot imagine what using WebCrawler was like in 1995 against Ask Jeeves in 2005 against Google in 2015 - or even Google between 2005 and 2015. Most people don’t go around thinking about SEO and search engine algorithms but maybe we should because anyone who wants to go “this info’s been on the internet since day one so people have no excuse not to know it” disingenuously argues that information search and retrieval has been consistent across the decades. There was a time - not all that long ago - when to look something up on-line involved getting the tacit agreement of everyone in your household to lose the use of the sole telephone for as long as you were web browsing. There was a time - not all that long ago - when ‘looking something up’ was to burden everyone around you with inconveniences, and while you were doing your web searches there was no guarantee what you wanted could be found with the primitive technology of the day. Do you know how much I’ve learned since joining Tumblr in 2011? On a fundamental level, both about myself and the make-up of our species in terms of social conception? I recently went through a bunch of old posts, removing those with broken links and meaningless content, but also shit that just embarrasses me now - mostly opinions from a period where I hadn’t yet had a chance to learn because the spaces in which to learn it did not yet exist. It’s not just things like communities for [demographic X] - it’s things like “communities for [demographic X] with an ability to broadcast their voices and have platforms able to network their ideas and audience halls able to receive them and a search engine to guide people to that community and a basic understanding that the community even exists in the first place.” And this does not even begin to touch on internet access, something that even now is not a universal thing, and for which getting angry about people’s ignorance reflects a bias all its own. I say all this because I think that a core tenant of cringe culture is a myth of universal access to knowledge and universal awareness of one’s own ignorance. I look back on old posts of things I said and I cringe with self-hatred - cringe enough to rip them down and stuff them in the trash. “HOW DID I THINK THAT?” and “HOW DID I NOT KNOW?” But why should I have known - what, in my life, would ever have put better ideas across my desk? That I can meaningfully speak now about privilege and intersectionality and historiography is because between then and now I was put in a place to learn these things. I was exposed to ideas that I had never before been exposed to, and was given the grace to learn. I am tired of the expectation that every aspect of our past selves should be held to the same standard as the present. (Yes, to all the disingenuous bad-faith trolls out there, I obviously and of course am advocating for complete and total uncritical pardon for everything in the past ever. Were you a neo-Nazi ten years ago? Water under the bridge without question because that’s obviously, obviously, obviously the sort of extreme outlier case I am talking about good on you for being clever enough to notice.) But for the non-dipshits out there who understand how to read without injecting insincere hyperbole into every argument, I want us to be kinder to our past selves when we have learned to be better. It’s okay that you used to like Sherlock - there were genuinely fun things about it, and it’s okay that you didn’t possess an expert grasp of post-graduate feminist critical theory when you were 21. Or 31. Or 41. More concepts of academia have filtered into mainstream consciousness than ever before - and in saying that we should remember the corollary that ten, twenty, thirty years ago that was not the case. We knew less, had access to less, and were exposed to narrower viewpoints than we are today. It is unfortunate - but it was not our fault, and we cannot easily blame ourselves for it any longer. Nothing makes my blood boil more than seeing people taking umbrage that... oh, Farmer Joe McSmithHead of Buttnut, Alabama in 1963 was ignorant of internal Chinese politics and said some untrue things about Chinese Communism. But the only thing Farmer Joe had to tell him of the outside world was a radio that played country music, a TV with four channels and strict content guidelines to only show pleasant, moral, and god-fearing content, and the three books in the Buttnut library, two of which were the Bible. There have, and will always be, certain moral lines so obvious that people of any era should always be held accountable to them. But above that, in the more trivial space of media consumption, absorption, and critique, we have to learn to be more forgiving - to ourselves and to others, so long as in the present we have changed. Did you use the r-slur a lot because it was practically a form of punctuation on 4chan and that’s where you learned the ways of the internet? Did you learn the harmfulness of this practice and cease to do it? Then I do not condemn thee - go, and sin no more. Did you and your friends used to make jokes about how Mexicans smelled because you saw Seinfeld do that in his standup and the whole TV laughed as though it was funny? Did you realize one day ‘wait a minute that’s actually super gross’ and stop repeating it? Then I do not condemn thee - go, and sin no more. Have you gone back to a beloved childhood property and found it’s full of woman-beating and weird views on homosexuality? Did you find yourself able to critique this beloved thing and did not defensively double-down on shielding it from all harsh words? Then I do not condemn thee - go, and sin no more. I will not allow us to dismiss the cruelty and hurt of Mad Max Internet Culture with a flippant ‘well that’s just how it was back then” but nor will I allow anyone to condemn us all as being consciously unfeeling, willfully ignorant, purposefully hateful. Some of us were. But some of us did not know, could not have known, needed to learn - and we were lucky enough to live in a time before cringe culture and cancel culture where we were allowed to have that opportunity to learn and grow. We need that today, for all young people who think themselves as woke as can be and ten years from now will look back and blush with shame for things they said and did in total ignorance. The sin is choosing to never change, not failing to change sooner.

[mustlovetights]

hey! i read your novel “unlimited potential” on wattpad and i fell in love with it, so is there anywhere can i read the rest of the chapters? your writing is beautiful by the way ❤️

Hii!! Thank you so much, you’re lovely. 

Well...long story short--I deleted my Wattpad account because if you’re not “publishing new content”, then they kick you off the Stars program. Long story long... (This post includes affiliate links---in which I earn pennies at no cost to you if you purchase one of my books!) 

I got the warning email that I wasn’t posting new content often enough and was going to be kicked off, so, I just deleted everything and said THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES! 

On one hand, I understand they want that program to mean something--but on the other hand, they tied up their ‘advertising’ and ‘payment programs’ so tight, 99.9% of us in Stars never saw a dime of money. Even though I had accumulatively a million reads across all of my novels and short stories (and ads running across all of them the entire time I was there). You know how much of that ad revenue I was ever paid? $27 (and that’s me rounding UP). 

You know what else I got from Wattpad Stars? Nothing. Supposedly you were going to be given opportunities “monthly” for paid writing opportunities. I can count on one hand those that were opened to all Stars--of which there are several hundred writers involved. It’s not exactly a privilege anymore. MOST opportunities were given to a select few. Just like the same select few that are featured for automatic reads, views, and library-adds when someone signs up to Wattpad. There’s a reason some books have millions of reads and others languish unseen. Wattpad doesn’t feature anyone they don’t think they can milk for profit in some way (and I get that they need the ad money to keep servers running etc. In the end it’s just a business. Best to remember that). 

You were also supposed to be “featured” regularly to gain exposure. And I was--once. It was on their twitter, complete with a “soundbite” from one of their “staff” who was reading my 1000% gay mystery/thriller Lost Souls. A male data technician a Wattpad HQ--who wasn’t following me or Lost Souls, didn’t have it in his Library, and had zero gay books on his shelves, comments, or recs-i.e. That was a fake tweet. Something they did once to “meet the obligation” and the poor dude probably had NO IDEA he was “recommending” my gay novel. It was insulting.

You were also “required” to let your “talent manager” know if you were interested in any publishing opportunities that THEY did not explicitly seek first. Then, they were to have a minimum of 30 days to find a suitable opportunity for that fiction property before allowing you to pursue your own avenue. When I discovered SwoonReads was having an opening in their publishing schedule, I felt Unlimited Potential was a good fit and contacted my “manager” at Wattpad to inform them, well within the 30 days. Nada. No response. When I finally got fed up and on the last day of SR’s opportunity, I emailed again and said Look, I kind of need a response. Her reply? “We don’t care what you do with your writing. None of your work is suitable for what we are doing. You don’t even have to ask because we don't care.” I’m not even paraphrasing. I’m quoting. 

I made a couple of friends at HQ and I adore them. ADORE THEM. But the reality of the program itself is that its broken. Probably permanently broken. I would never recommend it to anyone. It hampers an author from pursuing publication and was both demeaning and degrading on a fairly regular basis. That’s without mentioning that the vast quantity of writing on WP is atrocious. Even the the writing they seek publication for. After? Oh holy Jesus it was horrifically bad. They trotted out their “White Stag” publication deal for a young author as a real boon to their program. White Stag is likewise atrocious. The heroine is mutilated (breasts sliced off) in like the first chapter for shock value.  They don’t care about writing. They care about manipulating the numbers for a psychological gain on investment. If “30 million people like this and read this, so must I!”

You know that ‘manager’? That was my 2nd of my 4 during Stars. EVERY time there was a change they would send out a blanket email and say “here is your new one, this one is going to concentrate on (sic-the important people, which is not you) blah blah clients. your new person will be contacting you for a personal interview and get to know you session so we can best serve your publishing needs and aspirations!” 

Yeah, I never had a single email, phone call, skype, NOTHING, from any manager ever. No one EVER contacted me to “get to know me” or “learn about my publishing aspirations”. Who knows if they ever contacted anyone at all, I can just say that in my 4+ years as a Star, I was never once contacted personally by their talent managers outside of my own inquiry responses (and you see how well those went). 

 TL;DR--I’m not at Wattpad and none of my works are there (if they are, it’s a thief). However, Unlimited Potential can be purchased on Amazon. 

So can these novels: 

Freefall

Past, Present

Lost Souls

Small Town Charmer

Rosewood

And these short stories:

No Strings

Baker’s Dozen

Exposure

Cinderfella

And here’s my traditional author request: If you purchase or read through Kindle Unlimited, please leave a review if you liked it. The Amazon algorithm really only features books that are reviewed after so many days/weeks of publication. I can keyword and SEO backend play forever, but without reviews, my works will languish unseen. 

And mama’s gotta eat. 

xoxo

Annie

[webdesignanddigitalmarketing]

3 tips to develop your business with Digital Marketing

More than ever, a global digital marketing agency is essential in the ultra-competitive market we know today.

If you are at the helm of a business, it is crucial to judge the potential behind Digital Marketing.

Even if the term "Digital Marketing" is abandoned today in favor of that of Digital Marketing, it is nevertheless the same practices.

If your company is not present on the Internet, it does not exist!

This may seem exaggerated. But don't you search on the Internet:

The address of a doctor near you?

Any opinions on this or that product?

Not to mention the train tickets that you surely buy from your computer or mobile phone?

Why would it be different for your customers and prospects who need your products or services?

Many companies already have an online store in addition to their traditional stores. And some of them are implementing new ways to connect these two worlds to offer their customers the best possible experience.

Your small business may be a long way from that, but there is no reason not to get started today.

1. Understanding search engines to better take advantage of the advantages of Digital Marketing

There are finally 2 cases:

Your brand is established , like that of Fnac. Your customers and prospects will type in the search engines the name of your brand to find you. Then they’ll browse your website to find the product they’re looking for.

Your brand is much less known . In this case, internet users will then search by typing in generic words representing what they are looking for, such as “Plumber in Nantes”, or “garden sprinkler hose”.

I imagine that you are rather in the second case: a company with a brand little or not enough known .

The terms that internet users type in search engines are called in Digital Marketing, the “keywords”.

Knowing that Internet users click on the first links presented to them by the search engines, it is important that your web pages appear at the top of the ranking for the words that represent your products and services.

To win over new customers, he knows how to play on this ranking. This technique is called natural referencing (SEO) or search engine optimization.

Natural referencing ( SEO ) is therefore the set of rules to be followed so that your digital presence (your website, its content, etc.) is well classified in the search results pages (SERP).

It is not necessarily easy because SEO is a perpetual “game” of the gendarme and the thief:

On the one hand, the “gendarmes” (Google, Bing, etc.) want to leave everyone a fair place,

On the other hand, “thieves” (Digital Marketing experts) are always looking for new ways to apprehend the algorithms of the police to stand out from the competition in search results.

This is why it is important to know a little about how google algorithms work and evolve  for example.

Natural referencing (SEO) is a long-term task. Sooner or later, it's a safe bet that you're going to want to get help.

It is for this reason that Laurent and Mathieu decided to launch this site on Digital Marketing for small and medium-sized businesses.

You will find hundreds of tips on:

Natural referencing (SEO),

But also about your presence on LinkedIn or  why distribute a newsletter … In short, all the key subjects of Digital Marketing. Everything is free and open 24 hours a day. So take advantage of it.

Obviously if you have the budget, it is always possible to outsource your SEO or hire an expert who masters what he or what she does.

But it is always difficult to outsource a subject that you have no control over and which, moreover, may seem obscure.

To avoid too many unforeseen events, even scams  (Laurent's osteopath was a victim), I can only advise you to document yourself beforehand.

2. Track your performance with reliable indicators

Analyzing your results is the second essential component of Digital Marketing.

What is the point of investing time and money if you cannot measure your success?

Good news, all email platforms, all search engines, all social networks offer dashboards to track your performance over time.

To follow the traffic of your website, I advise you to use Google Analytics .

But there are also tools to track:

The performance of your advertisements , The opening rate of your e-mailings ... In Digital Marketing, as in all other areas, your business has its strengths and weaknesses.

It is therefore important to regularly monitor your main indicators. Define the right indicators, follow them carefully and take actions to improve yourself.

3. Continuous learning

As a small business owner, you surely wear multiple caps.

Often, business leaders play the role:

From the management team,

Customer service,

From the marketing team,

IT staff,

And above all sales people…

Bad news, you're going to have to add Digital Marketing to this list. Because today your business will have a hard time growing without it.

Obviously, you have to manage your priorities. And you're not going to be able to spend a lot of time on it. It doesn't matter as long as you do it regularly. It starts by reserving time slots in your calendar.

Much like the algorithms of search engines, other practices of Digital Marketing also evolve regularly.

Every day there is always something new to learn, to test.

Do not be intimidated by this constantly changing landscape. On the contrary, adopt it and consider each new development as a new opportunity to grow your business.

Thus, Digital Marketing will become a strategic lever for the growth of your business.

Conclusion on Digital Marketing as a growth driver

In order to remain competitive, any business must be present on the Internet to reach its customers and prospects.

Indeed, with a strong presence on the web, a company can quickly develop its activity.

But for that, you must know how to effectively use all the levers of Digital Marketing.

Indeed, developing your presence on the Internet is not necessarily a simple exercise.

It is not enough to create a website, nor to be present on social networks.

It is necessary to establish a relevant “digital strategy” and to put the resources in check.

First, define the different objectives to be achieved as:

Increase your client portfolio and increase your turnover, Develop awareness of your business, Improve the recruitment of target prospects ... In this exercise, take into account:

Your competitors and their presence on the web with a SWOT analysis for example, Your ideal customers Your current state ...

Then apply your plan, follow your indicators and correct the situation if necessary.

Foor more information click here.

[bliklab-blog]

Thumbnail Blaster Review and Bonus

Welcome to my Thumbnail Blaster Review and Demo YouTube first became popular while an online platform regarding musicians to generate a name for themselves as well as becoming whole lot more views was, and still is, the ultimate goal to get movie content creators. In older times, people would use deceptive title, tags, and thumbnails to the extent to get additional views and now times Search engines has won the particular battle with spam by simply integrating new voice and impression identification technology to acquire an idea involving what exactly a video is around compared to what the subject material creator claims in this title, tags, together with information. This helps to give people who have a much far better end user experience when looking something up on YouTube. Video content creators are now facing having to really make quality video tutorials that people will enjoy and in order to get more views, this should be viewed by good enough people to find the suitable person who will add the idea on his internet site, or at least share it on Myspace. Correctly consequently, Google's best main concern is user knowledge over often the content provider's see add up, however some professionals point out the new changes for you to often the algorithm will bring about old videos, that folks have already seen, drive more moreattract attention than new types and could actually help make it tough for the particular user to find fresh content in search success regarding well-known search conditions. So, just how can a online video content creator this summer combat the latest changes to be able to this YouTube Algorithm? Make Video lessons Like Never Just before Create a Following Comment Your own personal Way into the Top Down Site Seo Know Typically the Difference Between Junk In addition to Optimization Make Video clips Just like Never In advance of Along with YouTube's 92 Billion webpage sights a thirty day period and even increasing, a video clip really needs to be one of a kind for it to find recognition. Planning a online video media and scripting are now a must along along with image quality. By comparing typically the videos with millions regarding views to the lesser involving the people, you can see that will high definition and excellent lighting are two popular traits shared by often the just about all viewed videos. This kind of doesn't mean you have got to get an high priced HIGH-DEFINITION camera to pick up more views. YouTube offers a set of formatting tickets, again to support provide a much better person experience. yt: crop=16: in search of yt: stretch=16: 9 yt: quality=high Use these kind of tags to eliminate window boxing and poor video high quality if you do not really have access to HARLEY-DAVIDSON equipment. Pay attention to your video's thumbnail models careful to not be flagged for unsolicited mail. "OMG" encounters are favorite thumbnail alternatives just as long as it is usually what will be within the video. The. 25. four plus. 75 points inside your movie used in order to be what determined your own thumbnail selections when uploading. With so much mistreatment, Yahoo and google came up having the bright idea to use the three top clips from your online video and semi-randomly picking the point from your three schedule points. Stereo and image root file names are usually also added in the situation to better give right thumbnail models. Spammers is unable to just add a short image flash at the halfway level of their videos to get a lot more ideas. Build a Adhering to

As with Fb, Tweet, and MySpace, Vimeo is certainly also a social network. Being mixed up in community will be a must for fresh plus old video content makers looking to turn out to be popular on YouTube. Create your channel around a special specialized niche that has the mid-sized level of opposition. Visit similar channels together with comment on their videos together with sincere compliments or perhaps issues. Treat your subscriber's video lessons the same means so you are definitely not to work as a dormant quantity in their subscription foodstuff. The old SUB4SUB method is still being employed and has expanded in to its own community or even niche. If your target audience can be teenagers, go intended for it! Be careful certainly not to be called out there being a spammer because typically the idea of, "You sign up to to me and My spouse and i will subscribe to you" is often frowned on by simply people of a qualified background. YouTube picks right up in closely repeated feedback and auto-marks them while junk e-mail so just work with a SUB4SUB profile graphic and be participating in typically the SUB4SUB channels within the Dailymotion community. Set aside a day to work about building a new following upon other social networking sites such since Facebook, Twitter, together with Bebo. This increases the using to those who don't have a new channel on Youtube . com which usually surprisingly enough tends to make up for the majority of the website's 92 billion visitors each month. Comment Your Way Into the Top Uploading a video double a week and strategies on the readers videos and programmes the particular day before is a wonderful principle of thumb. Being consistent from doing so can be the work the main whole factor. However, by doing this you brand yourself with the readers and build a awareness among them which starts off typically the snowball effect regarding even more experiences together with subscribers when they comment and share your videos. That is why you want for you to stay within your niche market. When leaving comments, possibly be sincere about what you model. Never just claim 2 words and depart. This totally defeats the purpose and it is certainly not heading to make people would like to know who also left said remark. Leave comments people wish on their videos plus share the particular comment in Facebook and Tweets to make it show finished as a "linked comment" on top of this review feed. Each time period a friends from Myspace or even Twitter clicks about this, the comment is certainly moved back in the major of the comment nourish. Be creative in your own personal responses and it could very well get thumbed up in addition gaining more and even more awareness towards the author of explained comment. Typically the ultimate goal at this point is in order to compliment the movie user's work which models your current username and station so when your videos turn up in their subscription supply, it is hard to endure. Off Site Optimization In this article is more "work" that has to be carried out in order to maneuver your videos to the particular major of search results. When people are trying to find you, it is best to help be readily accessible. Just employing a lot of tickets individuals are searching for basically going to lower this cake. Google wants to see back links on favorite web sites leading to your own personal online video to back up your statements of the things you have like your title. Should a popular web page has a hyperlink to your video using the phrases in your subject, it gives PUBLICITY details for that phrase after a certain amount of period. However, should you go around posting unrelated inbound links, chances are the idea will become taken out and wouldn't rely as a good back link anyway because of the time factor threshold. Post your online video media to other web sites connected to your niche along with participate in forum discussions plus post your video clip since a hyperlink when it is relevant to the particular dialogue. You have for you to maintain it related and this have to add value for you to the dialogue. If your own links get taken away, it will have a change effect on your lookup results position so be sure and respect often the terms and conditions regarding forums the fact that allow hyperlinks to video lessons and world wide web sites. Know The Distinction Between Spam And Seo The fine line between spam and optimization is important to breaking through the particular mass amounts of video clips on YouTube if people interested in your product will even know this is available. If you are Fred, in addition to your personal funnel (Lucas) says your age is definitely 33, it is highly improbable you will acquire called out for hiding your age when you created your. If a person are like many some other Dailymotion celebrities and your current description is full of advertising your own social networks together with T-shirt sales instead of conveying the video, you may well not get called out there either. However, then you will be not really a Vimeo movie star and if you comply with suit, it is only a couple of time before you are banned coming from the site. When choosing a title for your video clip, you should be creative and make use of words that are proceeding to get results via search engines like yahoo at the similar time. Decide on a search term you desire to be found by way of (that best identifies your own video) and use this in your title. Engines like google like range so include a few support words in your phrase. For example: Target saying: Remote Control Garden Mower A superb title might be: Remote Control Yard Mower vs. Steep Inclines Write a brief outline making use of the target phrase solely once towards top yet not as the first phrase. Be normal and chat to your viewers. Often thumbnail blaster review for the online video media need to be specific to your own target key phrase with and without quotations. By way of example: "remote control yard mower" remote control control backyard mower. After the thirty days of positive viewer side effects, you will observe your online video climbing typically the charts. Intended for competitive phrases, your movie has in order to produce lots of beneficial customer reaction before it will probably show up on major of search engine results and eventually on Google as the online video media result. Patients, hard work, and even regularity will be a must. You should add videos on a normal basis all of with somewhat different concentrate on phrases affiliated to your niche. It is a lot associated with work. However , when you get your first online video up to a thousand views, you may be hooked upon YouTube, wearing YouTube Tshirts, and even making tutorials to help others.

[cindylouwho-2]

RECENT NEWS & STUDIES, late April 2019

Welcome to my latest summary of recent news & studies including search, analytics, content marketing, social media & ecommerce! This covers articles I came across from April 9th to May 2, although some may be older than that. 

I am really interested in hearing what you think of this new format - please leave a comment below, or convo, Tweet or email me through my website. Let’s make this as useful as possible! 

TOP NEWS & ARTICLES 

US Amazon sellers were told via email that they will have to pay taxes on some Amazon fees, as Etsy has been doing with sellers in the EU and in Quebec. 

The Instagram look may be dropping out of favour; apparently, reality is in. “Instagram museums and walls were built to allow normal people to take influencer-quality photographs—but they worked so well, those types of photos became common enough that they don’t resonate like they used to. “#unfiltered 

In case you missed it, my review of Etsy’s Spring & Summer Trends Guide, including all of the keyword data (which you do need to check out, as they reveal some interesting search info). 

ETSY NEWS

Etsy published a new census/survey of sellers in its 6 core countries, and also did a summary (if you don’t want to read the whole thing). “More than nine out of ten Etsy sellers (91%) are the sole owner of their businesses.”... “The majority (82%) of Etsy sellers would like to grow their business, but more than three out of five would not want to grow so big that they would have to hire more help.”

The bugs & errors with financial statements and records continue; Etsy botched the VAT statements yet again, even overwriting them all the way back to 2016. No word on whether any sellers have notified EU authorities on this yet. 

New seller handbook article covers advertising; not much new or gripping, but it does discuss general ad approaches, not just Etsy’s. 

There is also a new free shipping tool, in case you didn’t realize that Etsy wants more sellers to offer free shipping more often. “When we talk to shoppers during research, many say things like “I want to feel like I’m getting a deal!” and “I would love to see free shipping across the board, even if it meant increased prices.” Offering free shipping can be a great way to give customers like these the shopping experience they are looking for.”

CEO Josh Silverman participated in The Wall Street Journal’s “In the Elevator” interview series [video link]. Every 90 seconds, an engagement ring or wedding ring sells on Etsy. He also talks about free & fast shipping not always being a reasonable expectation when shopping on Etsy, unlike Amazon. 

Speaking of free shipping, a limited number of US customers will be getting it from Etsy, with Etsy reimbursing sellers for the costs. Non-US sellers and buyers get nothing. 

Etsy’s 2019 1st quarter results will be available May 8.

SEO: GOOGLE & OTHER SEARCH ENGINES 

Rand Fishkin released Part 5 of his Learn SEO in 1 Hour series: technical SEO [video & written transcript]. This is the one most of you can skip or just skim over, as it does talk a lot about coding.Some tips are important to everyone, however, like page linking/site structure (for websites), and having https set up. 

Part 6 covers link building, in 10 minutes. Remember, if you are going to put effort into getting links, do it for your website & not your Etsy shop or other marketplace page. If you are creating traffic, make sure you own it. 

Don’t forget looking beyond Google for your search engine traffic; this podcast [with written transcript] breaks down an approach to several of the biggest ones beyond Google. Spoiler: they only recommend worrying about the biggest, Bing, if you have around 1000 unique search visitors to your website per day. 

How to get keyword ideas from the Google search results: there’s a lot more available now, beyond the search bar suggestions. 

Google is asking local businesses if they would pay for their Google My Business listings. This possibility raises concerns about the impact on organic rankings. 

More SEO tips for Amazon, including discussion of the various factors involved.

If pages on your website aren’t indexed by Google, there are some steps you can take to fix them. (For websites only, not Etsy shops)

Advanced/semi-advanced content: Great tips on using bookmarklets in Chrome to get SEO things done quickly. (A lot of these involve tools that work best in the paid version, so I suspect most of us will not have much use for this, yet.)

Possible Google algorithm update last week. (I am seeing changes)

CONTENT MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA (includes blogging & emails) 

Looking for new hashtags for your social media accounts? Try: https://www.tagshitter.com  (apologies for the name; that’s what they call it. It’s good, too! Just like its regular keyword research partner, http://keywordshitter.com/ ) 

Email subject lines [infographic] are crucial to top interaction with your newsletter etc. Includes Dos & Don’ts, plus the shockingly low open rates in most industries. 

Selling through social media directly is a great way to avoid people losing interest as they keep clicking. Note that this seems to work best with items under $50, though, which they suggest solutions to in the next part of the article.  

Despite all the scandals and negative media coverage, US social media use hasn’t really changed in the past few years. “A 2018 Center survey found that some Facebook users had recently taken steps to moderate their use of the site – such as deleting the Facebook app from their phone or taking a break from the platform for some time. But despite these findings and amid some high profile controversies, Facebook users as a whole are just as active on the site today as they were a year ago.”

Facebook scandal watch:  FB’s “stock price jumped after it said it expects to incur a fine of up to $5 billion from the Federal Trade Commission. And that’s all you really need to know about whether the historically large penalty matters to the company.”

Also:

they admitted to asking for your email password then importing all of your contacts. “...Facebook disclosed to Business Insider that 1.5 million people's contacts were collected this way and fed into Facebook's systems, where they were used to improve Facebook's ad targeting, build Facebook's web of social connections, and recommend friends to add.”

The Canadian Privacy Commissioner is taking FB to court over breaches of Canadian privacy law. 

But hey, it’s all fine, because they beat earnings expectations in the first quarter. 

70% of YouTube videos watched are recommended by its algorithm. “ The recommendations are fueled by the artificial-intelligence arm, Google Brain, of YouTube’s parent company. The machine-learning models help identify videos that aren’t exactly what you just watched, but similar enough that you might like them.“

Does directing people to the link in your Instagram bio really work? Testing says that it probably doesn’t work for most accounts, and more importantly, that Instagram may be limiting the algorithm visibility of posts that direct visitors to the link in your bio. 

Twitter has now limited the number of accounts you can follow in 1 day, to 400 down from 1000; this is intended to cut back on spammers. 

US Twitter users are better educated & better off than the average American.(Good article for target market considerations)

ONLINE ADVERTISING (SEARCH ENGINES, SOCIAL MEDIA, & OTHERS) 

Amazon is reducing/removing the ads for its own products, possibly due to increased complaints of unfair competition. “Amazon is now the third-largest digital advertising platform, behind Google and Facebook”, and could grow 50% this year alone, based on projections. 

Facebook retargeting tips. And everything you need to know about the Facebook pixel for tracking your ad performance. 

STATS, DATA, OTHER TRACKING 

Some Google Analytics tips for websites - almost beginner level! 

The Google Search Console delays are nearly all fixed. 

Stats programs all give you different numbers, and that isn’t likely to improve. (This piece is semi-advanced; don’t bother with it if you aren’t a stats geek.)

ECOMMERCE NEWS, IDEAS, TRENDS 

eBay’s Spring Marketplace Updates include several back end changes and a fee increase for sellers who run afoul of eBay’s seller performance standards. 

Amazon sellers can buy so-called “black hat” services to beat its algorithms. These include tips from Amazon employees who are making money by reporting on Amazon’s inner workings. Amazon “also said it takes action against sellers who pay for internal information; penalties include terminating their selling accounts, deleting reviews, withholding funds, and taking legal action.” No doubt the company already has closed some of the loopholes discussed in the article.

Amazon also fires warehouse workers by algorithm, based on productivity. 

GoDaddy launches an ecommerce sharing tool that lets you list across multiple websites including your standalone. Current marketplace options include Etsy, Amazon, eBay, Jet & Walmart. They bought Sellbrite as part of this move. Quite a few different entities are releasing this type of service, so shop around if it is something you are interested in. 

eBay released their 1st quarter 2019 results on April 23. Total sales were down 4% from 2018 (they were close to even when currency fluctuations were accounted for), but eBay’s own income from seller fees was up. “eBay reduced their marketing by a significant amount where their cash was being used to effectively subsidise the sales of high value items. Put simply, eBay have been buying sales and now they’ve stopped and this has seen a reduction in high ticket items being sold in comparison to sales of lower value items.” Easter being later this year may have slowed ecommerce growth overall in the quarter. 

...but Amazon reported record revenue, up 16.9% over 2018. Despite that, analysts note that growth is slowing, & that Amazon’s own projections for the second quarter are lower than many predicted. “Amazon’s CFO Brian Olsavsky said during the call with analysts that part of the lower guidance is due to an $800 million investment in making free one-day delivery shipping the default for Prime members.” - if you thought buyers wanted stuff yesterday already, wait til this becomes the norm ... I mean, Walmart & Target stocks fell after the announcement. Walmart is already hinting at offering the same. 

You can return your Amazon purchases at Kohl’s in the US, starting everywhere in July. Ease of returns is going to be a bigger battleground in the next few years, as retailers continue to increase free & speedy shipping options. 

BUSINESS & CONSUMER STUDIES, STATS & REPORTS; SOCIOLOGY & PSYCHOLOGY, CUSTOMER SERVICE

Generation Z will be making 40% of US retail purchases by next year; they are going to change a lot about selling. “ Fair trade products, ethical business practices, and a strong mission statement have never been more essential. Vend reports, “Research has shown that this particular generation cares about various environmental issues (76% are concerned about humanity’s impact on the planet) as well as social causes such as racial, gender, and income inequality.” [Gen Z come after millennials, and are currently more numerous than millennials or boomers.] 

Millennials & Gen Z are big gift card buyers in the US - over 1/3 buy a card every 3 months. 

Brick & mortar stores & malls are using your phone location data (location analytics) to make marketing and product decisions. “Every company interviewed for this story said it chooses not to use information that could identify individuals. But for the most part they’re on an honor system because rules governing data remain relatively lax.” This surprised me: “To glean details, including an individual’s age, income, ethnicity, education level, number of children and more, firms connect the phone’s evening location with U.S. Census data”

MISCELLANEOUS 

US copyright law: the USSC rules that your copyright registration must be finished/approved before you can sue an infringer in federal court.  

If you hate Gmail’s current layout, you will love this Chrome extension. 

And if you use Google Sheets fairly often, you will likely learn something useful from these tips. 

Google’s parent company, Alphabet, missed industry revenue expectations in the first quarter of 2019. 

[indiblogs-blog]

Benefits of Joining Bloggers Community

IndiBlogHub is the horizon where the ends of brands and influencers meet. Creating quite the prospect for Top bloggers in India to showcase their talent and present their arena of expertise skilfully for the world to notice and take assistance from.

Blog Networks Increases Learning

With the help of blog networks, you will meet top bloggers in india who has same mission as you. It feels good to have people who you can work closely with to achieve goals you have either in life or business. There is a great feeling linked and it means that you guys can help each other out.

The ideas, avice, and insights that you can give each other in the blog networks is incredible.

It is good having a group of friends you can meet somewhere in several time with a common interest and share ideas and advice that can help you achieve your goals. Only that this one is in an online setting so it is basically a virtual meeting, which is a goldmine.

As I said earlier, it is all about dependent on you to gain knowledge and continually providing value when in these groups.

It is hard for you to get known even achieve full potential benefits from these networks if all you do is lurk and never actively participate.

Traffic

One  year ago when I started my first blog indian travel bloggers, I  knew that  I need to do master SEO strategies, with some keyword research as well as on-page SEO optimization to get my blog on first page of Google. But i was wrong !

After studying the complex SEO strategies my blog growth so quite slow and almost demoralizing.

Algorithms of Google keep changing and SEO alone could not bring the kind of results I wanted.

Therefore, i had to look for other ways to grow my blog and connect with other bloggers to get backlinks.

Bloggers in India like Indian fashion bloggers, indian fashion bloggers and food bloggers india need to connect with each other, share knowledge and help each other grow and provide value to their readers.

I never realized the benefits of joining bloggers community in India early enough. Probably things could have been way better by now.

Now I am connecting with a lot of people, and I am getting better readership and i often share my posts that solve problems to the people in these networks.

I  constantly check posts and comments of the network members, if they are about to  an inquiry about something on post about, you just share some valuable insights and then paste the link to that post so that they can read more about that stuff.

Benefits of Joining Blog Networks as a Blogger

It is a seamless way to increase engagement with your content, and since I started using it, I have experienced a significant increase in engagements in my facebook posts like best blogs in india.

Being a part of blogging community has numerous advantages. However, there are several negatives as well of joining such networks.

It is important to note that I’ll be talking about the advantage of joining a network and not about having one.

You might also want to know that these blog networks work differently. You can, therefore, join several of them depending on how flexible your schedule is to participate in all of them actively.

Sometimes you will not participate if you don’t have anything to say, most important thing is that you ensure that you are following closely for discussions and comments.

[avoider-net]

Rebranding is hard

Even if it’s something barely anyone looks at, it’s something I spend quality time shaping and honing at my leisure. While I only do it for fun, it’s still something I pour a good bit of my soul into, which is why it’s worth considering somewhat seriously.

But for me, the thing that gave me difficulty wasn’t the rebrand itself since my old one was such a long edgy-ass name anyway, so this new one is a welcome change. What put my balls through a salad shooter was dealing with the main asset of the brand, which is the website.

Website

It was expensive since I had to get a new domain name — the very thing that made consider the rebrand in the first place. If the domain weren’t available and I didn’t fall in love with it at first sight, I would’ve stayed Avoiderdragon for at least another 18 years.

The blog has a decade’s worth of posts. They’re not a lot since I couldn’t be consistent with writing posts throughout the years, but there are some bangers in there with SEO that I didn’t want to lose. I had previously paid for the old domain for the next 10 years, and I did the same for the new one. The good thing with that splurge is that I could set up a redirect.

Unfortunately, the only real way for me to do that is to find a service that has better options for redirecting. My current hosting service doesn’t have one that lets its https domain redirect to my new one, so I had to route it to another service that turned out to have such an option.

I split hairs for a couple of days and spent thousands of pesos (which I can afford, so don’t worry) to finally find a way to make every URL in my old domain redirect to my new one and still be able to use whatever minuscule chunk of SEO I got for the past decade.

Perhaps this time, with a new and better brand, I’ll be motivated to write stuff that will get way more views so I won’t have to care about the SEO of the old domain anymore and I can finally put it to rest (and save some money).

YouTube Channel

The reason I really wanted a rebrand was so I could be assed enough to do something about my long-abandoned YouTube channel, which I stopped uploading to in the middle of 2018. While making videos has never stopped being fun for me, it stopped being so for that channel with that name due to mistakes I made along the way and all the toxic comments I foolishly deigned to read.

I gave it a long-delayed spring cleaning. I downloaded the old videos I uploaded there as far back as 12 years ago and then deleted them. It used to be my personal channel, so I had some really old stuff with my friends in them. As I counted down the years, it made me think that perhaps I really should’ve uploaded more, but I couldn’t do that just because I wanted to blow up because I know that would only result in shoddy work and questionable ethics.

Video is a lot of hard work, and I don’t want to fall into the trap of doing it just because I had to. This time around, I got a bunch of drafts I would like to try turning into videos I can be proud of. I think I’ll do that by starting over and redoing the videos that have remained in the channel. If I can improve on them, I know I can redeem myself.

Facebook Page

I live in the Philippines. Therefore, I’m on Facebook. That’s just how it goes. While I have multiple YouTube channels because I have no lick of sense, I have one Facebook page I upload all my vids and share all my blog posts to. I also share links and write statuses on it. I don’t expect it to blow up at all since it’s neither a meme page nor full of lewds that would attract eyeballs.

But I’ve had a couple of videos go viral in Facebook. That brings me some hope as while the YouTube algorithm is a cruel mistress and going viral on Twitter is basically setting yourself up for public torture, the Facebook algorithm seems to be a bit more fair. I should upload more on it and see if I can find some traction with more content.

I also used to stream on Facebook because it was easier for me to get an audience through it, no matter how small. But there’s no way to blow up as a streamer in that platform unless you’re a pretty girl playing Mobile Legends or a known online personality. And even if you’re famous on Facebook, you get up to a few thousand viewers at best, nowhere near Twitch numbers.

While its a surprisingly ok platform for video, it’s being superseded by TikTok. Even if Facebook now has reels, YouTube also has Shorts now, so its a double whammy against it. Meta lost several billion dollars this year due to what now-former Meta VR consultant and executive John Carmack would describe as “inefficient and fragile”. Just give the Meta Business Suite a try and tell me it’s not a convoluted mess.

However, Facebook is the only platform I was able to properly rebrand to Avoider.net with. All other platforms don’t take the dot on either the profile or the URL, and worse is some don’t take it on both (fucking YouTube). Perhaps the one sacrifice with this rebrand is that I don’t have a consistency with URLs on every social media channel like I used to.

(I also was able to do so with TikTok, but I haven’t been on there long enough.)

And before you say, “Why not just make it avoidernet?”, I counter that by saying that the point of having the dot there is to promote the website. Perhaps in the future, I’ll get rid of that separator and just have it be ‘avoidernet’ once I get over the need to promote the website through it, but that’s not going to be for a while.

Other Channels

If I get really active, I should post on other platforms like TikTok and Instagram. However, the caveat here is that minding more than two platforms is not recommended as you’d stretch yourself too thin and won’t be able to do your best work in the platorms that actually matter for your brand.

But if making shortform video content becomes a part of what I do, then I might as well give some priority those platforms as well. 

Conclusion

I can’t promise that I won’t be lazy. But so far, with this rebrand, I’ve been feeling quite motivated. Let’s see how it goes for 2023.

[tyronearmstrong]

Don’t Measure the Easy in Internet Marketing, Measure What’s Important

All lawyers and law firms use the Internet for marketing and business development.

Websites, SEO (search engine optimization), directories, ratings, content marketing, email newsletters and more. Lawyers spend a lot of money and, in most cases, a lot of time, here.

But do lawyers know how these forms of Internet marketing work? Do they know if these forms of Internet marketing work at all for lawyers like them?

Most lawyers marketing on the Internet focus on the easy to measure (traffic, clicks, views, likes and subscribers).

Rather than measuring the easy, widely respected author, speaker and blogger, Seth Godin suggests a different focus.

What is it that you hope to accomplish? Not what you hope to measure as a result of this social media strategy/launch, but to actually change, create or build?

Focus on the real goal – where do you want to be at the end of the day.

An easy but inaccurate measurement will only distract you. It might be easy to calibrate, arbitrary and do-able, but is that the purpose of your work?

I know that there’s a long history of a certain metric being a stand-in for what you really want, but perhaps that metric, even though it’s tried, might not be true. Perhaps those clicks, views, likes and groups are only there because they’re easy, not relevant.

Good lawyers have always generated their best work by word of mouth and relationships. That’s what good lawyers value, that’s what they measure — and of course, the business and revenue generated thereby.

Nothing has changed with the Internet. A lawyer’s word of mouth reputation and relationships remain the lynchpins of business development.

What has changed is how lawyers build relationships and their word of mouth reputation. What took decades before the Internet can be accomplished in a fraction of the time by networking through the Internet.

As you would offline, focus on an area of the law, industry or locale.

You cannot network with an audience that’s comprised of everyone. You can only network with people with similar topical interests – clients, prospective clients, referral sources, association leaders, bloggers and the mainstream media.

Now, just like you would offline, listen.

You would never walk into a room and start reading off content through a bullhorn, push articles at people or announce where you went to law school, what you do and why you’re good at it.

It would be viewed as rude. Same with the Internet – if not by lawyers, at least by the people lawyers are trying to reach.

Listening on the Internet requires tools, none of which are complicated to use.

The first is a news aggregator, of which the most widely used is Feedly. Feedly, available for free for desktop and mobile devices, enables you to subscribe to sources (news sites, digital publications, blogs) and subjects (terms of art, case names, companies etc).

Imagine estate planning on a statewide basis is the niche you are looking to grow. You would subscribe to leading estate planning blogs written by lawyers and financial planners around the country and terms and phrases such as estate planning, types of trusts, tax provisions and the like.

The articles you’ll see represent the conversation in the room in which you will network. Rather than talking first, by publishing content and hoping the right people see it or putting up a website and hoping people look at it after you pay for SEO, you listen.

Next, you engage in the conversation. Reference what others are saying, so that they hear you, and offer your take – your insight.

How so? By blogging and using Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Blogging is not just about content, blogging is about engaging in a conversation.

Reference a blog post by another estate planning lawyer by linking to their post in your blog, include a block quote or two from their blog post and share your take, with your intent throughout to offer valuable information to the people of your state or city.

The lawyer you referenced, no matter where they are in the country, will see you what you blogged. They’ll be intrigued that you cited something they wrote. They’re apt to follow your blog and reference what you write on their blog and social media.

The same happens when you reference the writings of associations of estate planning lawyers, financial planners and reporters (state, national, trade) writing on financial planning and estate planning matters.

Blogging in this fashion raises your influence, builds your reputation and grows relationships.

Your referral sources will grow, people who search your name on Google will view you as a trusted and reliable authority in your field (as someone who stays up to speed in their field and who is cited nationally), you’ll be invited to speak and your blog posts will rank high on Google searches because the posts are viewed as important by Google because of the incoming links to your blog posts from citations and social shares..

Twitter can be used to engage your target audience by sharing items you read from Feedly.

“Tweet” the title or an excerpt of what you read. Include the Twitter handle of the author and/or the subject of the piece. This way the author of the piece and the subject will see that you shared their story or a story in which they were referenced.

By engaging the sources and subjects like this you are building relationships in no less an effective way than reaching out to shake their hand.

Overtime, you will be viewed as an intelligence agent in your area of the law, someone others on Twitter should follow if they wish to stay abreast of relevant news and information.

It is one small step from being seen as a trusted source of information to being seen as a trusted and reliable authority in your field.

Twitter is also used for “listening” by following leading authorities and influencers – bloggers, reporters and associations. By sharing and commenting on their tweets in your “retweets,” they will see you and in turn like and share items that you share on Twitter.

Linkedin and Facebook can be used much the same way as blogging – as a means of engagement, networking, building a name and nurturing relationships.

On LinkedIn, share your blog posts with enough of an excerpt so that people can get the gist of your post. LinkedIn’s algorithms will surface the post in the LinkedIn feeds of those who have a relevant interest.

You will be notified on LinkedIn when people like or comment on your post. Connect with them and, as appropriate, drop them a note through LinkedIn – perhaps suggesting that “we should catch up some time.”

You may share others’ articles and blog posts on LinkedIn as well, though they don’t often draw as much engagement as a blog post of yours.

Many lawyers are opposed to using Facebook, others will only use it personally. Such a position is untenable if you want to engage and network with your target audience.

70% of American adults are Facebook users with three-quarters of those users accessing Facebook on a daily basis. Facebook demographics favor lawyers, with users being college educated, affluent and older.

As on Facebook, share your blog posts and articles from others. Not to worry about your personal Facebook friends being bothered by your professional sharing. Facebook algorithms work to put items people want to see in their Facebook News Feed.

Look for opportunities to become a “Facebook friend” with referral sources and influencers of your target audience – bloggers, reporters, community leaders, association leaders and conference coordinators.

Engaging these Facebook friends, even as to personal events as simple as a family vacation, a youth sporting event or a local charitable event breeds trust and relationships.

Relationships and a word of reputation may not be easy to measure, but they are what you hope to accomplish from business development as a lawyer.

Web stats, analytics, followers and subscribers are an easy, but inaccurate measurement that will only distract you. They may be easy to calibrate and achievable, but are they the purpose of your business development as a good lawyer.

Originally written for the Wyoming State Bar Association. 

Don’t Measure the Easy in Internet Marketing, Measure What’s Important published first on https://personalinjuryattorneyphiladelphiablog.wordpress.com/

[antonioriley]

Don’t Measure the Easy in Internet Marketing, Measure What’s Important

All lawyers and law firms use the Internet for marketing and business development.

Websites, SEO (search engine optimization), directories, ratings, content marketing, email newsletters and more. Lawyers spend a lot of money and, in most cases, a lot of time, here.

But do lawyers know how these forms of Internet marketing work? Do they know if these forms of Internet marketing work at all for lawyers like them?

Most lawyers marketing on the Internet focus on the easy to measure (traffic, clicks, views, likes and subscribers).

Rather than measuring the easy, widely respected author, speaker and blogger, Seth Godin suggests a different focus.

What is it that you hope to accomplish? Not what you hope to measure as a result of this social media strategy/launch, but to actually change, create or build?

Focus on the real goal – where do you want to be at the end of the day.

An easy but inaccurate measurement will only distract you. It might be easy to calibrate, arbitrary and do-able, but is that the purpose of your work?

I know that there’s a long history of a certain metric being a stand-in for what you really want, but perhaps that metric, even though it’s tried, might not be true. Perhaps those clicks, views, likes and groups are only there because they’re easy, not relevant.

Good lawyers have always generated their best work by word of mouth and relationships. That’s what good lawyers value, that’s what they measure — and of course, the business and revenue generated thereby.

Nothing has changed with the Internet. A lawyer’s word of mouth reputation and relationships remain the lynchpins of business development.

What has changed is how lawyers build relationships and their word of mouth reputation. What took decades before the Internet can be accomplished in a fraction of the time by networking through the Internet.

As you would offline, focus on an area of the law, industry or locale.

You cannot network with an audience that’s comprised of everyone. You can only network with people with similar topical interests – clients, prospective clients, referral sources, association leaders, bloggers and the mainstream media.

Now, just like you would offline, listen.

You would never walk into a room and start reading off content through a bullhorn, push articles at people or announce where you went to law school, what you do and why you’re good at it.

It would be viewed as rude. Same with the Internet – if not by lawyers, at least by the people lawyers are trying to reach.

Listening on the Internet requires tools, none of which are complicated to use.

The first is a news aggregator, of which the most widely used is Feedly. Feedly, available for free for desktop and mobile devices, enables you to subscribe to sources (news sites, digital publications, blogs) and subjects (terms of art, case names, companies etc).

Imagine estate planning on a statewide basis is the niche you are looking to grow. You would subscribe to leading estate planning blogs written by lawyers and financial planners around the country and terms and phrases such as estate planning, types of trusts, tax provisions and the like.

The articles you’ll see represent the conversation in the room in which you will network. Rather than talking first, by publishing content and hoping the right people see it or putting up a website and hoping people look at it after you pay for SEO, you listen.

Next, you engage in the conversation. Reference what others are saying, so that they hear you, and offer your take – your insight.

How so? By blogging and using Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Blogging is not just about content, blogging is about engaging in a conversation.

Reference a blog post by another estate planning lawyer by linking to their post in your blog, include a block quote or two from their blog post and share your take, with your intent throughout to offer valuable information to the people of Wyoming.

The lawyer you referenced, no matter where they are in the country, will see you what you blogged. They’ll be intrigued that you cited something they wrote. They’re apt to follow your blog and reference what you write on their blog and social media.

The same happens when you reference the writings of associations of estate planning lawyers, financial planners and reporters (Wyoming, national, trade) writing on financial planning and estate planning matters.

Blogging in this fashion raises your influence, builds your reputation and grows relationships.

Your referral sources will grow, people who search your name on Google will view you as a trusted and reliable authority in your field (as someone who stays up to speed in their field and who is cited nationally), you’ll be invited to speak and your blog posts will rank high on Google searches because the posts are viewed as important by Google because of the incoming links to your blog posts.

Twitter can be used to engage your target audience by sharing items you read from Feedly.

“Tweet” the title or an excerpt of what you read. Include the Twitter handle of the author and/or the subject of the piece. This way the author of the piece and the subject will see that you shared their story or a story in which they were referenced.

By engaging the sources and subjects like this you are building relationships in no less an effective way than reaching out to shake their hand.

Overtime, you will be viewed as an intelligence agent in your area of the law, someone others on Twitter should follow if they wish to stay abreast of relevant news and information.

It is one small step from being seen as a trusted source of information to being seen as a trusted and reliable authority in your field.

Twitter is also used for “listening” by following leading authorities and influencers – bloggers, reporters and associations. By sharing and commenting on their tweets in your “retweets,” they will see you and in turn like and share items that you share on Twitter.

Linkedin and Facebook can be used much the same way as blogging – as a means of engagement, networking, building a name and nurturing relationships.

On LinkedIn, share your blog posts with enough of an excerpt so that people can get the gist of your post. LinkedIn’s algorithms will surface the post in the LinkedIn feeds of those who have a relevant interest.

You will be notified on LinkedIn when people like or comment on your post. Connect with them and, as appropriate, drop them a note through LinkedIn – perhaps suggesting that “we should catch up some time.”

You may share others’ articles and blog posts on LinkedIn as well, though they don’t often draw as much engagement as a blog post of yours.

Many lawyers are opposed to using Facebook, others will only use it personally. Such a position is untenable if you want to engage and network with your target audience.

70% of American adults are Facebook users with three-quarters of those users accessing Facebook on a daily basis. Facebook demographics favor lawyers, with users being college educated, affluent and older.

As on Facebook, share your blog posts and articles from others. Not to worry about your personal Facebook friends being bothered by your professional sharing. Facebook algorithms work to put items people want to see in their Facebook News Feed.

Look for opportunities to become a “Facebook friend” with referral sources and influencers of your target audience – bloggers, reporters, community leaders, association leaders and conference coordinators.

Engaging these Facebook friends, even as to personal events as simple as a family vacation, a youth sporting event or a local charitable event breeds trust and relationships.

Relationships and a word of reputation may not be easy to measure, but they are what you hope to accomplish from business development as a lawyer.

Web stats, analytics, followers and subscribers are an easy, but inaccurate measurement that will only distract you. They may be easy to calibrate and achievable, but are they the purpose of your business development as a good lawyer.

Originally written for the Wyoming State Bar Association. 

Don’t Measure the Easy in Internet Marketing, Measure What’s Important published first on http://personalinjuryattorneyphiladelph.tumblr.com/

[solidplissken]

How to get free youtube subscribers: 5 Proven ways to increase following

How to get free youtube subscribers: 5 Proven ways to increase following:Simple Hacks

Prelude:The Beginning

Do you know how to get free youtube subscribers? Well here is the right guide for you! Youtube is one of the biggest social network out there. It boasts 1.8 billion registered users last 2018. Back then youtube was used for video uploads. And now behold, how it has evolved. It became a platform for streamers as well.

Youtube started in 2005 back then the site was all content rich but most of them are revamped amateurish video. Now look, it has evolved into much more. It also became a breeding ground for aspiring artist. Remember those people who were recognized about how large is their following on youtube.

pixabay photo credit

TALK ABOUT SUBSCRIBERS:HOW TO GET FREE SUBSCRIBERS

The hustle and bustle of building your own following on youtube is a must. Frantically, there are a lot of guides that do offer you a surefire way to get ahead of the pact and become one of the many influencers in their platform. Unfortunately nothing beats hard work. Also there is no magic bullet for this. Allow us to give you some tips on how to get free youtube subscribers. We from purpslam have something for you.

1) Identify your audience – you need to know what are their needs, what are they looking for and what’s the mostly likely the age and demographics . Why is this so important? This is the first step in creating a suitable video for them. Would you want to show such violent content on younger audience of course not!

2) Engage your audience – It is not just about creating videos. But molding videos into masterpieces. How can it be a masterpiece? First, if you are recording outside. You need a suitable cam recorder, else your videos would be unprofessional. You can try one of the products recommended below.

However if you are recording from your desktop or streaming videos. You will need a decent webcam at least you can get this as an example . It’s break even and quite good for the price.

Recording the video is the first step and what’s next? Edit the video with proper editing tools. I wouldn’t say not to use the basic tools just like windows movie maker. But, would you want to make it look superb and eye-catching? How about try something like sony vegas or adobe premiere after effects. These tools bring a bang to your videos.

Place a good intro: You don’t need to learn how to make introductions. Some novices claim to have problems with making intros and outros. However, there are free video template sites which have pre-made templates for these and they can save you so much time!

Great Now I have A decent Outro and Intro: What’s Next?

Get a couple of interesting sound effects for each video sequence. You can place them on some lull videos/moments. Sound effects give an interesting mix to your videos. And if you aren’t using any of your voice you can get some creative commons sounds from bensounds.

How to get free youtube subscribers by Incorporating sounds effects or music into your videos create the so-called feel or theme of the video. Imagine, the likes of some horror or thriller movie that’s not how to get free youtube subscribers. Would it still be as scary as it was without the sound effects? Or an upbeat video without an upbeat sound?

Okay now I have some decent sounds to include: What now?

Okay, here is the hitch. You need to mold the video into something as informative and as helpful as possible. You need to capture your audiences hearts! Keep it as spontaneous as possible. Nobody likes, a monotonous video of you talking  of 5 minutes in a monotonous voice. Cut the videos, in sections. Get the most interesting parts and set some clear and concise pattern for the video. If it’s an information type of video you could show some nice pictures while discussing the subject.

3) Encourage feedbacks -Alright, this is just a continuation of our last tip. Make the viewer leave a like or comment on your video. How do we do this? The simplest way is to get an outro-template and say please subscribe and leave a comment below. Or asking the audience to like the video if they found the video helpful or subscribe to your channel if they want some content like yours.

NOTIFICATION BELL TIP:Back then when a user subscribes to a channel they would instantly see notifications. However, this has changed a lot. They should click subscribe and hit the notification bell in order to receive updates from you. Check image below.

chittagongit photo credit

4) Respond to video requests – well this applies if you have engaged your audience enough and they ask you to do some stuff or videos which might be in demand. So go ahead, make a video for them and then highlight the user request. This makes them feel important or appreciated they will love you even more. This is very evident in the music industry especially those small youtube  channel artists. They have some specific fans who wanted to hear some renditions of music by the artists itself.

5) Create content on a daily basis – Nothing beats consistency and hard work. This tip not only makes you look good to your target audience but also to youtube’s algorithm. In time, google see’s you as an authority channel and begins to feature your videos in google search! Talk about Video Carousels!

Wait! what Google Search and video carousels?

These my friend, are the best signs that you have been working hard and churning useful videos for your specific audience. Well, there’s a good news for you it’s not only through Hard work that you can achieve this. There is a known shortcut which might get there in a jiffy!

Presenting Youtube Video Seo Tips: On Page Madness!

Well, these tips will get your video noticed by youtube and place your video higher in search results.

1)Title – Keep it short and simple but descriptive – Give it the appropriate title anywhere over the 50 character mark is okay. Longer than that would make it look like the title is cut from google’s and audiences eyes.

2) How to get Free Youtube Subscribers:Utilize the description box!

While the average user will be enticed by a good title. A good description will let the user know what is the video is all about. Also this is an extra factor in which your video will rank. A good 250 word description will keep things going. Also don’t for get to link to social channels or any authority related to your video.

3) Tags Usage: How much is enough?

Using youtube tags will help your videos get noticed more. Use 5 to 6 tags which includes your target audience. E.g if your video is about “best dogs collar” you should have it in your tags, twice in  description, and once in your title.

4) How to get Free Youtube Subscribers:End screens and cards use them!

End screens and cards gives you a chance to promote a video or a playlist. Why is this useful? Let’s say you a have a popular video which got noticed. Placing an end screen pointing towards your other videos and adding another video link through a youtube card will certainly boost your other videos as well. This creates a domino effect with other videos as well.

5)Hashtags Usage:

Well, these are pretty basic. You just make up a hashtag “#” for your video and or target word/keyword. For example “#bestdogcollars” . You can place them either on the first part of your description or at the end of your description. Also, you can place them in your title.

The post How to get free youtube subscribers: 5 Proven ways to increase following appeared first on PurpSlam.

from PurpSlam http://bit.ly/2APIMyE