The most widely used search engine is in the test phases of launching an upgrade code-named "Google Caffeine." Designed to provide more comprehensive and accurate search results, it is critical to know exactly how this new Google engine will affect your website's rank.
Most of the changes will influence the way Google indexes pages. This means that how it stores relevant website information on its servers may change the order in which site results are displayed. Adjustments may also include the ability to better recognize synonyms.
"Google Caffeine" is still in the pre-beta test. You can see how your website stacks up in the new Google by visiting the developer’s beta version.
Which company would you rather join — one with a Human Resources Manager or a Talent Master? Employees are looking to be rewarded for their accomplishments and acknowledged for their potential to grow — all through a title. In fact, some even value a specialized title more than a pay increase!
Titles of your employees can signal to customers the right contact person to solve a specific issue and reassure them that they are talking to an expert. Naming a department with a more active title can project a favorable impression. For example, I know I’d rather be speaking with a representative of the Customer Success Center, rather than the Customer Service Center.
Allowing for titles that provide room to grow and instill confidence will likely help keep your employees happy, not to mention have a positive effect on customer relations. And in a downturn economy, loyalty can be priceless.
The great thing about online marketing is that it's measurable. And, thanks to social media, it has pushed us beyond a simple analysis of impressions, unique visitors and visits — now, the quality of the interaction and the relationship with the site are key.
It's not just about the visitor coming to the site, but what they are doing — registering, returning for multiple sessions, logging in for each visit, etc. And, it's no longer just about a visitor posting comments to a site — it’s about consumption of content. The more content a visitor consumes, the more information they absorb about products and services. Making an online sale is always a win, but the value of that sale is increased if the customer also returns for service, tells friends about the product, buys an upgrade, submits a suggestion and blogs about a response to their idea.
By going deeper, you can translate online behavior into actionable analytics that support business decisions.
Some free tools to help you do just that: Google Alerts, FriendFeed, Yahoo Pipes
Many webinars are guilty of TMI — too much information. A disciplined, well-crafted webinar will attack challenges and demonstrate how your products/services provide real solutions to their real problems.
Tips to keep those wandering eyes focused on your webinar content:• Avoid unexciting presenters and static PowerPoint slides• Take advantage of existing video footage • Add professional voice-over and graphics • Forge an emotional connection with your audience by using a high I:you ratio• Create interaction with Q&A — using memorable industry experiencesBesides the obvious tip of concluding the webinar on a good note — tell your audience what to do next: Is it a continuing Q&A on your social media platform? Is it lead-capture for additional person-to-person contact? Leave your audience empowered, motivated and ready for action. Who knows what the great information you’ve shared with them could lead to!
Do you and your associates feel like you can't keep up with what’s going on in the world of technology and social media? One way to stay informed is to compile a list of relevant industry blogs. Use a blog reader (i.e. Google Reader) to aggregate all your news into one place, and read what's going on. Because some blogs post content from other industry blogs — find and follow the source of the information.
Another way to stay connected is by creating a group on sites like Yammer. Yammer is a tool for companies to provide a place for colleagues to share industry buzz, ask questions and get instant feedback on ideas. It serves as a company directory in which every employee has a profile and as a knowledgebase where past conversations can be easily accessed and referenced.
Now is the time to form an understanding of the technologies that allow for collaboration to develop new ideas and ways to have conversations with consumers — and each other.