Keyword Espionage Posted by John Assalian on September 16, 2008 Google may not be too happy about this, but check out these two new keyword comparisons tools: http://spyfu.com/ www.KeyCompete.com The way they collect the data (at least KeyCompete) is that they are constantly doing automated searches on all kinds of keywords to see who is advertising on what keywords. Since these are done automatically, and by the millions, Google’s servers are made to work and Google gets no benefit. Both of these are great services, though, that Viewstream uses to help in our competitive and market research. This allows us to better formulate the right language around your brand, and optimize organic and paid search. More and more, the ability to define keywords and integrate within organic and paid search is one of the most critical aspects of creating competitive differentiation in today’s marketplace. Viewstream tries to extend the value of those keywords to the entire, integrated brand message.
Choosing the right social media tools for your marketing needs Posted by John Assalian on July 16, 2008 With all the hype today about social media and conversational marketing, companies need to keep in mind marketing basics about who your customer is and how you reach them before quickly engaging a social media strategy. Blogs may not be right for every company — and conversational marketing just might not be perfect for your customers. So before you jump onto the social media bandwagon, take a close look at your business model, your current customers, how your customers engage and your growth objectives. With that said, the list of social media marketing tools is growing, and companies like Viewstream are certainly benefiting with the growing interest in our solutions. Viewstream is particularly strong on the digital media side, including screencasts, social media videos, community videos, podcasts, HD videos, embeddable web videos, and product demonstration overviews. Beyond content marketing videos, digital video content that considers the landscape of your solution, and positions your company within this landscape, can be more powerful then a sales video. At the end of the day, social media is about building a stronger relationship with your customers, and more easily attract new ones. But like any marketing strategy, it needs to conform to how you do your business. Just a reminder – before you jump on the bandwagon!
In SEO, Don’t Forget the Details Posted by John Assalian on June 13, 2008 Most people understand the importance of SEO, the ability to find your site through search engines. As the price for paid search rises, organic optimization becomes more and more critical. One simple tip that we found on Web Designer Wall is good to remember as it impacts the copy and messaging phase of website development. Yes, it is important to place keywords throughout the site. If you are in the virtualization space, for example, you might want to mention data processing, networking, enterprise computing, etc. in your text. But don’t forget you can also place keywords in your design! So, for example, your site has navigation buttons to direct viewers to further information. The key is to say more than “Click Here” in the link anchor text. Try “Learn More About Desktop Virtualization.” Finally, don’t forget to use html copy for everything, including website buttons with simple code to make spiders find the copy.