Posted by: Chet Woodside on June 1st, 2009
Category: e-Commerce, Marketing, Internet Marketing, Twitter Roundup
Viewed: 616 times
The blog has been quiet for some time now, we have been doing some house cleaning. In the coming months there will be some interesting changes, one of these changes is our presence on Twitter.
Twitter is a brilliant source for News and Information. In this the first of many Twitter Monthly Roundup posts I'll share with you some of the best articles I found related to small business online. If you would like to find us on Twitter look for @ebc_chet and @ebc_ali.
Put Ad on Web. Count Clicks. Revise (NYtimes.com)
A good read that talks about the strengths of data analysis when adevertising online.
How site personas can enhance your site. (boagworld.com)
When developing a website it's a great idea to create user personas, it's a great exercise for understanding the readers coming to your website. Have you overlooked you websites persona though? It's equally as important, this article will explain why.
7 Tips for Effective Calls to Action (blog.hubspot.com)
Have you defined your websites goals? If so is your call to action statement well designed? A good read talking about the importance of well designed call to action statements.
12 Tips For Designing an Excellent Checkout Process (smashingmagazine.com)
Shopping Online can be a painful process, help ease the pain and make your customers experience shopping at your online store secure, reliable and easy.
9 Essential Principles for Good Web Design (psd.tutsplus.com)
It's all about the details, this article is a little more web developer focused however it's still a valuable read for any company that is relaunching or getting a new website developed.
How to Improve Your Branding With Your Content (smashingmagazine.com)
Your content is a very large part of your Companies branding online, Rick Sloboda wrote an excellent article for Smashing Magazine discussing this very topic. For all you Vancouver locals, Rick has been a long time speaker for eBusiness Connections and he has an upcoming "Writing for the Web" Seminar on June 8th. You can register for this seminar at the Small Business Education Center
Creating Your Own Deadlines and Setting Aggresive Goals for Your Business (thenetsetter.com)
A great read discussing the benefits to setting aggressive goals for your business.
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Posted by: Andy on June 9th, 2008
Category: Research, Search Engine Optimization, Internet Marketing, e-Business Basics
Viewed: 1,093 times
eBC Guide to Improving Usability
Writing good copy for your web pages is extremely important not only for users but also for search engines. Fortunately for us there is no conflict in writing for users or search engines and if your copy provides the information needed by users then it will also provide the information needed by the search engines.
The practical aspects of good copy are well known thanks to many usability studies, and if you pay attention to the following for all your pages you will be doing better than 99% of websites.
1. Length
There is no fixed requirement for the amount of text on a page. Some pages may require only 150 words others may require 800 or more. Be succinct and use as few words as possible, at least half of what you would use for conventional writing.
2. Keywords
Include your keywords of course but do not worry about the number of times they appear on the page (see Keyword Density). Just write naturally and your keywords will occur in the right places and at the right frequency.
3. Grammar
Good grammar is important. Write in the active voice not the passive. If you are not sure of the difference between the active and passive voice there is a good explanation here at the Purdue University Online Writing Lab.
4. Spelling
Users who are poor spellers may not notice bad spelling but users who are good spellers will. Search engines are good spellers.
5. Headings
All usability studies show that users scan web pages ( http://www.useit.com/alertbox/reading_pattern.html ), they do not read them word for word. You should make liberal use of headings and sub-headings (h1, h2, and h3) so that the users' attention can be drawn towards those elements of the text that is of interest to them. Also make sure that they are meaningful and not ‘clever' like some newspaper headlines.
6. Highlighting
Use text highlighting such as bold, italic or color to assist the user in scanning the page.
7. Bulleted lists
An excellent method for capturing the users' attention and getting across information in a concise manner.
8. Paragraphs
One idea, one paragraph. Usability studies show that if users are not ‘captured' by the first few words of a paragraph they will move to the next (or hit the back button of course). One idea per paragraph ensures that users will not miss an idea by skipping paragraphs as they scan the page.
9. Sentences
Keep your sentences short.
10. Links
Embed outbound text links in your copy to improve your credibility.
11. Market Speak
All usability studies show that users hate the promotional writing style with boastful claims often used by the marketing profession. Web users want to read the straight facts and credibility goes out the window when they see marketing hype.
12. Vocabulary
Familiar words and not jargon.
13. Acronyms
If you have to use an acronym or abbreviation make sure it is understood by every user and define it on the page.
If you are not an English major (like most of us!) then the Guide to Grammar and Style ( http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Writing/contents.html ) or the Economist Style Guide ( http://www.economist.com/research/styleGuide/ ) can be extremely useful.
Additionally, Usability guru Jakob Nielsen has some useful advice on Writing for the Web ( http://www.useit.com/papers/webwriting/ ) and using ‘old' words ( http://www.useit.com/alertbox/search-keywords.html ).
Reprinted ( http://www.seo-blog.com/text.php ) with permission by SEO Expert Michael Duz ( http://www.seo-blog.com ). Michael Duz is a researcher in the field of e-marketing and search engine optimization whose organization has many well known corporate clients.
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Posted by: Andy on May 20th, 2008
Category: General eBusiness, Reports & Resources, Marketing, Internet Marketing, e-Business Basics
Viewed: 1,056 times
Small Businesses Need to Know About
Businesses are starting to look at Social Networking as a vehicle to reach potential customers and expand into new markets. Preferring text messaging, instant messaging, and interactive environments like Facebook over email, communicating to the under 25 demographic is becoming a challenge. In fact, a recent ComScore Media Metrix report showed their usage of email dropped 8 percent last year. They are savvy, cynical, and aware, and they know when they are being sold to. So businesses are being forced to adopt new methods of getting the message out, without looking like they're getting the message out.
1. Facebook
(http://www.facebook.com)
The free-access website allows users to join networks organized by city, workplace, school, and region to connect and interact with other people. Users can add friends and send them messages, and update their personal profile to notify friends about themselves.
2. Jaiku
(http://www.jaiku.com/)
Jaiku's main goal is to bring people closer together by enabling them to share their activity streams. An activity stream is a log of everyday things as they happen: your status messages, recommendations, events you're attending, photos you've taken - anything you post directly to Jaiku or add using Web feeds.
3. Linked In
(http://www.linkedin.com/)
LinkedIn is an online network of more than 20 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 150 industries.When you join, you create a profile that summarizes your professional accomplishments. Your profile helps you find and be found by former colleagues, clients, and partners. You can add more connections by inviting trusted contacts to join LinkedIn and connect to you.
4. Meet Up
(http://www.meetup.com/)
Meetup is the world's largest network of self-organized clubs and community groups. Meetup helps people: find others in their area who share their interests, learn, teach, and share things, make friends and have fun, rise up, stand up, unite, and make a difference, be a part of something bigger—both locally and globally
5. My Space
(http://www.myspace.com/)
MySpace is an online community that lets you meet your friends' friends using profiles. Profiles contain two standard "blurbs:" "About Me" and "Who I'd Like to Meet" sections. Profiles also contain an "Interests" section and a "Details" section. In the "Details" section, "Status" and "Zodiac Sign" fields will always display. However, fields in these sections will not be displayed if members do not fill them in. Profiles also contain a blog with standard fields for content, emotion, and media. MySpace also supports uploading images.
6. Nexopia
(http://www.nexopia.com/)
A true internet success story, Nexopia was born in the dark of a cold Edmonton winter only to rise to become Canada 's largest social networking site for youth. With over 1.2 million members, and hundreds of new accounts created every day, Nexopia is quickly solidifying its reputation as the online place for teens to connect and express themselves.
7. Plaxo
(http://www.plaxo.com/)
Plaxo securely hosts address books for more than 40 million people (and growing rapidly).Plaxo is not a place to see how many online "friends" you can collect. It's meant to be a better way for you to stay in touch with the people you actually know and care about.
8. Squidoo
(http://www.squidoo.com/)
SquidU.com is where lensmasters learn to make better lenses, and pick up tips for promoting their lenses to the public. A lens is one person's view on a topic that matters to her. It's an easy-to-build, single web page that can point to blogs, favorite links, RSS feeds, Flickr photos, Google maps, your eBay auctions, CafePress designs, Amazon books or music, and oh so much more.
9. Twitter
(http://twitter.com/)
Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?
10. Xing
(http://www.xing.com/)
XING makes your professional network an active part of your life. Far more than a directory of business contacts, XING enables its members to discover professional people, opportunities and privileges through its unique discovery capability and advanced contact management tools.
Tags: social networking, facebook, twitter, xing
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Posted by: Allan on October 9th, 2007
Category: General eBusiness, Blogging, Marketing, Internet Marketing, e-Business Basics
Viewed: 2,486 times
by Lindsay Smith
CEO of Massive Technology Show
Facebook, the world’s second largest social networking site, only after MySpace, has captured the attention of hundreds and thousands of Canadian; majority of them are between the ages of 25 and 35. Originally created as an online copy of the print facebooks handed out at Harvard University, this online tool has now develop features that can be used to strengthen business relationships and broaden one’s client base.
1. Professional Online Profile
Overview: Each user creates a profile for himself/herself. This profile is then made available on their “friends” list and includes both personal and career information. Users have the ability to only reveal limited public information to certain members if they choose.
Tip: Take the time to fill out your full career resume. This will provide an overview of your experience, expertise, and where you currently work. And be sure to use a professional looking photograph.
2. Finding and Adding Friends/Contacts
Overview: By using the Facebook member search you can find people that you know or simply have heard of by typing in their first and last name. When you find your search target, you can send them a request to become their “Facebook friend.” As you broaden your search, your online network of business contacts grows and can even potential clients.
Tip: make an effort to connect online with people that you have met face-to-face events, meetings, and at the office. Meeting online can often be just as effective as the relationship building that you’ll do over a networking lunch or an after work drink. It allows both parties to break down awkward barriers and connect on a neutral playing field.
3. Special Interest Groups
Overview: These are networks created by members who share a common interest. Creating a network can be done in as little as 3 minutes and can be a great way to connect with and even generate new business contacts.
Tip: Identify a topic related to your business that you that you are passionate about and create a network around it. Then invite other members to participate in discussions surrounding that topic. For example, a local gym would start a network on fitness and then invite their clients to participate in online discussions related to general health and working out.
4. Sending Messages
Overview: Facebook allows you to send private messages to people in your friends list or to groups of people on your list.
Tip: Send private message to your business contacts from time to time. This allows you to connect in a more personal manner and discuss private business matters.
5. Events
Overview: Post and advertise for upcoming events and invite everyone on your friends list with just one click. Create buzz by inviting invitees to RSVP, comment, and even post pictures on your event page.
Tip: This is a fantastic way to get the word out fast about events that your company is either hosting or involved with. If you are holding a seminar for your clients, post it! If you are attending a tradeshow, post it! If you are participating in a corporate fundraiser, post it! And of course, tell everyone about it.
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Posted by: Andy on June 19th, 2007
Category: Reports & Resources, Research, Search Engine Optimization, Internet Marketing
Viewed: 1,477 times
If your hosting company is having performance problems and your website is down it will have a negative effect on your Google rankings. "If the host is down when Googlebot tries to access your pages, then those pages may disappear from the index until Googlebot can crawl them again."
Here is information from Google
WEBSITE MONITORING SERVICES
How often does your site go down? Checkout these moitoring services.
Host Tracker
http://host-tracker.com/
Free account monitors 2 URLs in a 30 minute interval and includes weekly reports
SITE UPTIME
http://www.siteuptime.com/
Free account monitors 1 URL in a 30 minute and 60 minute interval and includes monthly reports and email alerts
WEBSITE PLUS
http://www.websitepulse.com/
30 Day Free Trial
DOTCOM MONITOR
http://www.dotcom-monitor.com
30 Day Free Trial
INTERNET SEER
http://www.internetseer.com
30 Day Free Trial
Tags: Google, Hosting Problems, Website Down
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