Talks of standard procedures in search engine optimization has been going around the Internet lately. Many SEO experts have their opinions and own ideas that standardizing SEO will probably continue to be a arguable topic among search engine marketers and SEO specialists. Standard SEO is, after all, a rather complicated subject in the field where white, gray, and black hat techniques exist.

Here’s an interesting debate among some SEO experts on why we need SEO standards or not:

Jill Whalen of Search Engine Land takes the lead in discussing why SEO standards are not needed. She enumerated four reasons for her stand, all pointing to the conclusion that search engine optimization is flexible to one’s business and marketing needs, thus no standard can be ultimately decided on.

Other SEO experts disagreed. Lisa Barone of Bruce Clay, Inc. specifically addressed Jill Whalen’s concerns on not needing SEO standards. Lisa Barone has expressed her view that SEO standards are needed to rope in all internet marketers on proper SEO techniques and concentrates on educating everyone on the developments of SEO.

This debate is showing no sign of an end, at least not for now. SEO is still in a young age where internet marketers are still building on and developing techniques. People are still tinkering on the internet to see what gets a high ranking and what can boost sales. There is the opinion that there is still a long way to go before SEO is clearly defined and SEO experts can finally draw a clear line around standard SEO.

]]> http://www.myagentofvalue.com/blog/2008/04/08/standard-seo/feed/ http://www.myagentofvalue.com/blog/2008/04/02/internet-business-conversion-tips/ http://www.myagentofvalue.com/blog/2008/04/02/internet-business-conversion-tips/#comments Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:12:01 +0000 maryann http://www.myagentofvalue.com/blog/2008/04/02/internet-business-conversion-tips/

We all know that traffic is not going to make you a big profit until it gives you conversions. Here’s a video from Pierre Chuong, elaborating his very own tips in making conversions from his online business.

]]> http://www.myagentofvalue.com/blog/2008/04/02/internet-business-conversion-tips/feed/ http://www.myagentofvalue.com/blog/2008/03/31/dealing-with-a-client/ http://www.myagentofvalue.com/blog/2008/03/31/dealing-with-a-client/#comments Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:14:40 +0000 maryann http://www.myagentofvalue.com/blog/2008/03/31/dealing-with-a-client/

When you work for an agency that offers labor and services, you can expect to meet different types kinds of clients. As you work for them, you will have to adjust your pace according to what they specifically want from you and how they want it done. As there are different kinds of clients, including in the online marketing industry, you will have to understand what kind of client he or she is and go all out for the primary objective of completing projects and tasks properly.

A client may want a full service from your company, thereby you should be open on how you do your tasks for him or her and also offer some suggestions and comments on how he or she wants things done. You can recognize this type of client when he or she expresses some interest on your capabilities and knowledge on the kinds of projects you will be doing. He or she will wan to know what is readily available for you to use and the level of expertise that you can offer. This way, he or she will be able to use your services to the fullest.

There are clients, though, who are just focused on the general goal of success. Clients like these are mostly counting entirely on you and how you accomplish the project. They will be mindful of what you do, and they can offer you the resources you might need (softwares, programs, etc.), but you will be the one guiding them on their goals.

There are also clients that would prefer to have a share in the projects while having you guide them. They would just ask for information and help with specific programs and tasks. These clients want a thorough understanding of what they’re doing and would like to be the main canon in their projects. This is understandable as success would indeed be sweeter when you’ve exerted a lot of effort on the projects.

Whichever type your client is, it is harmonious for both you, your agency, and your client that you agree on a certain way of doing things. As the agent, you need to be flexible and offer the kind of service that the client asks of you. Dealing with a client is critical in achieving success for both him/her and your agency.

Promoting and selling Ebooks online is one way of making a business on the Web. Many online entrepreneurs branch out to creating their own Ebooks for more exposure and promotion. For first-time creators of Ebooks out there, here’s a video on how to create an Ebook using Open Office.

Of course, creating an Ebook isn’t enough. You’ll need exposure on the Web to capture leads and sales. Here’s an article from SearchNewz that focuses on how to optimize your PDF creation: Tips For Optimizing PDF Files For Search Engines.

Have your business objectives and goals changed since you launched your website? If so, then you need to revisit your website’s content to ensure it supports your current business needs.

2. Remove useless items

Every item on your website competes for your visitors’ attention, reducing the impact of your key message. Is that welcome message necessary? Are some of those buttons redundant? Scrutinize every element to help deliver a strong message and eliminate distractions.

3. Update your information

Keep time-sensitive information on your website up to date. If you don’t have adequate resources, keep time-sensitive information to a minimum.

4. Edit your web copy for consistency

Businesses often have different people adding web copy at different times, which leads to inconsistencies. Review your copy from start to finish with a keen eye on spelling, format, style, narration, tense, flow and so on.

5. Split text blocks into scannable chunks

Massive blocks of text discourage visitors from exploring your website. Break up web copy with relevant headlines, subheads, bullet points and short, one-topic paragraphs. Your visitors will thank you by spending more time on your site.

6. Review fonts

Check your fonts to ensure consistent size, style and spacing. Consider using a style sheet. Fonts optimal for the Web include Arial, Courier, Georgia, Time New Roman and Verdana.

7. Add new web copy

Add relevant web copy frequently to satisfy visitors and search engines alike. Improve search engine rankings and give your visitors a reason to keep coming back.

8. Refresh your graphics

Renew your image with new graphics, charts and photos. Many are royalty free. Type in terms like “clip art,” “graphics,” and “free photos” into your favorite search engine and you’re on your way.

9. Make your graphics search engine friendly

Give your images tags with keywords to help improve search engine rankings.

10. Consider your color theme

Go over your colors to ensure they are a part of or at least complement your logo and brand. Dump backgrounds that make it difficult to read web copy.

11. Extinguish flashing content

Flashing content irritates visitors and turns them away. It’s one step away from announcing, “Congratulations! You’re the 1,000,000th visitor! Click here to claim prize!” If you want it to make a point, do so with compelling web copy, placement, font size or color.

12. Speed it up

Your pages should load fast. Don’t make your visitors wait 30 seconds or so just to watch your logo spin around. How many times have you retreated from a site while waiting for its intro to load? Relevant web copy is much more likely to grab the attention of a potential client.

13. Re-evaluate PDFs

Are you guilty of throwing PDFs onto your website to save time? PDFs are designed for print, not the Web. Unless it’s an e-book or a form, offer the information as a webpage and give your visitor the option of viewing it as a PDF.

14. Leave music to the DJs

Don’t blast music at your visitors. It slows access to your site and can cheapen your presentation. If music is required, hand over the controls to your visitor by making it optional.

15. Repair or delete broken links

Check all your links and be quick to repair or delete any that bring your visitors to the ‘404 file not found’ message. If a section is under construction, take it offline.

Looks like Google Docs have another use! We can create live polls and quizzes with Google Docs and Spreadsheets. Live polls and quizzes can be used by online businesses to encourage more response and interaction from the online community. In this video, Chris Pirillo guides us in using Google Docs and Spreadsheets to create live polls and quizzes.

]]> http://www.myagentofvalue.com/blog/2008/03/26/creating-live-polls-and-quizzes-with-google-docs-and-spreadsheets/feed/ http://www.myagentofvalue.com/blog/2008/03/25/blog-posts-and-articles-the-written-words/ http://www.myagentofvalue.com/blog/2008/03/25/blog-posts-and-articles-the-written-words/#comments Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:31:25 +0000 maryann http://www.myagentofvalue.com/blog/2008/03/25/blog-posts-and-articles-the-written-words/

Blog posts and articles (with a lot of SEO) are sure to be noticed and read by the online community, much more so nowadays because of the influence the blogosphere and article marketing has on online businesses. It’s not just the blog posts and articles. The same goes to press releases, blog comments and reviews, ratings, etc.

In any case, business professionals have to keep something in mind — keep their written words grammatically correct while a little personal.

In this age where spam posts and comments are looked down upon and the Web is more personal than before, the online community has clearly implied that posts, articles, reviews, comments, etc. are much more welcomed when they are true to the writer’s opinions and feelings. The rising surge of social sites is proof that personal and unique content are more interesting for the readers.

Let’s not forget, though, that while posts and articles may carry puns and cliché remarks, grammar and sentence structure is also a plus. Wrong grammars and improper English usage can sometimes be annoying. Some will consider it funny, and that would be a small tarnish — still a tarnish — to a professional businessman’s reputation in establishing good communication.

While this may not be a big thing for many, remember that interaction among the many users of the online community. The online community has especially become witty and critical of the written words they see online. Blog posts, articles, comments, and others are under their watchful eyes.

Social Network Marketing are definitely in and fun. With the whole online community accessible in the social networks, it is only expected that internet marketers want to use the social networks as their medium to tapping into potential customers and subscribers. But unlike the users, internet marketers have to follow 7 rules to effectively market themselves in the social networks.

]]> http://www.myagentofvalue.com/blog/2008/03/19/7-rules-for-social-network-marketing-effectiveness/feed/ http://www.myagentofvalue.com/blog/2008/03/18/advertising-with-banner-ads/ http://www.myagentofvalue.com/blog/2008/03/18/advertising-with-banner-ads/#comments Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:12:59 +0000 maryann http://www.myagentofvalue.com/blog/2008/03/18/advertising-with-banner-ads/

Like any other advertising strategy, advertising with banner ads isn’t always the best path in promoting your online products and services. There are considerations that need to be taken into account for this.

For one thing, you need to prioritize your goal in advertising online. Most obviously, the goal would be to generate leads that could turn to sales and conversions, and get a return. But that would generally be the long-term objective of advertising. With banner ads, you have to be more specific in your goals. For example, your goal in advertising with banner ads stems to branding. With branding purposes, you need to customize your banner ads in a way that the goal of branding is accomplished, like designing it in a certain way with the company’s logo very visible.

Finance and money is also a concern in banner advertising. Is using the banners going to be effective for you to make sales and profit? Remember that online banner ads has been under fire for some time because of its low response rate from customers. In general, banner ads aren’t a good way to generate sales leads. But provided you have a very confident marketing campaign using the banner ads, the ads would surely give a most profitable return.

Money and return flows differently with branding as your goal. In branding, your only purpose in using the banner ads is to expose and make known your brand, recognize your logo, and realize your company message. In banner advertising branding, it is not necessary for the user to click on your logo or ad. With branding, a user can become a sales lead by becoming acquainted with your brand and opting to make business with you.

No matter the goal of using banner ads, it cannot be dismissed that there is still a critical aspect to designing and messaging the banner ads properly. The design and message is important, both to entice your customers to click it and to catch the users attention and introduce him or her to your business. Factors like colors, images, environment, and location of the ad is important in advertising with banner ads.