Thursday, December 26, 2013

Having Online Marketing Success in 2014 | Bosmol - Social Media & Web 2.0 Internet Marketing News

Having Online Marketing Success in 2014Search engine optimization has been changed forever in 2013. With the continually huge changes that Google implemented through the Penguin and the Panda updates as well as the supplementary programs such as Disavow, there are new tools as well as new pitfalls that must be dealt with in order to create the same success for 2014 that you had in 2013.



2014 Online Marketing Philosophy



2014 will see a continued push for the major search engines to perform search indexing more like a human visitor; however, this human visitor has the advantage of being able to remember everything that it comes into contact with as well as instantly access an endless number of examples to compare. The closer that the search engines come to perfecting this technology, the less that black hat techniques that rely on manipulation will work in increasing the search ranking of a website. Content will become more and more prevalent.



Changes in 2014



In order to receive the best indexing that your site possibly can, you must first relieve your site of weak links. This can be done through the Google Disavow program, which allows you to disassociate yourself from the spam sites as well as the dead sites that may be taking down your PageRank.


You must make the content that is on your site as dynamic and as up to date as possible. If you do not have the manpower to keep the news on your site up to date, then you can take advantage of many aggregation services to siphon in content from other sources. This is better than a static website, which will always be ranked lower in the search engines than dynamic sites.


You must be sure to make your code conducive to a high search engine rank. There are many standards that the major search engines adhere to – if your code is not one of these standards, then you will suffer in the search engine rankings.


The internal structure of your website should be as perfect as possible. Indexing a site in search engines is much easier if the website is organized in a fashion that makes it easier to index. Imagine having to draw up a table of contents for a book that had no punctuation – this is what an unorganized site looks like to the major search engines. Take the time to properly label all of your pages with tags, link internally to each of your pages from other pages, spell check and grammar check your web copy and cut down the number of pages on your site to only those that are truly necessary.



Content Remains King



Above all of the changes on your website will be exclusive content. Exclusive content will be found by the major search engines and always be ranked above synthetic or copied content as long as it is relevant. In order to make sure that it is relevant, perform tests with the free word-web tools that are provided by the major search engines.


One of the most important updates that you must make is that your content cannot be filled with keywords in a spammy fashion. Individual keywords have been downgraded in the formula that the major search engines use in determining the relevance of web copy to a particular subject – what is much more important is the behavior of people who find the website. Make sure that your copy reads well to a human so that the website will be “sticky,” that is, people stay on your site for a long time after visiting.


Aaron Russell, an internet marketing master, is highly dedicated in developing strategies for SEOCompanyGuru.com. The company deals with various techniques used in Search Engine Optimization like SMO, link building, reputation management and much more. If you want higher search rankings for your website, stop waiting and get your desired results.


Having Online Marketing Success in 2014 – Click to Tweet


Having Online Marketing Success in 2014

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

European Airlines Allow Use of Gadgets during Take-Off | Bosmol - Social Media & Web 2.0 Internet Marketing News

European Airlines Allow Use of Gadgets during Take-OffOh, how we hate having to switch electronic devices off on a flight. Waiting to be re-connected after you take off or land can be a total bore – but it looks like things are about to change. European travellers will soon be able to use their electronic gadgets for the entire duration of their flights, thanks to changes announced recently by Europe’s air safety agency, otherwise known as EASA.


Currently, we know that passengers are only able to use personal electronic devices once the plane has fully taken off but the EASA has announced that travellers will soon be able to use their gadgets during take-off and landing as well.  It is estimated that a full list of devices able to be used on aeroplanes will be released towards the end of November.


“Hurray!” we hear you cry. This is no doubt very welcome news indeed to frequent travellers.  Gone will be the days of stowing away your e-reader whilst those around you continue to read their paper books.  With e-readers and tablets having taken such a prominent place in many people’s lives, not being able to use them can be very inconvenient and many passengers find themselves sitting and twiddling their thumbs waiting for their plane to take off before they can once again immerse themselves in their latest purchase.  For those who are afraid of flying it might also perhaps provide a welcome distraction.  It will also no doubt be great news for business travellers who will now be able to make the most of their time in the air.


The reason behind these alterations to air safety rules follows extensive research which concluded that the majority of commercial aeroplanes can handle the radio interference signals which electronic devices such as smart phones, tablets and e-readers emit.  If airline companies wish to allow their passengers to use their personal electronic devices they must first assess whether their aeroplanes can tolerate the radio interference.  Once they have done this then they must apply to the UK Civil Aviation Authority to receive the go ahead.  It is thought that the first approvals will start to take place in the next few months.


When an airline has received the necessary approval, passengers will be free to use their smart devices as long as they are in ‘flight mode’.  Ultimately though, the decision over whether passengers can use their devices lies with the individual airline companies and not with the EASA.


The sad news is that no changes are being made to the rules over calls and texts being made during flights, although the EASA have indicated that they are looking into this as a possibility for the future. This is a big factor for many people who want to use their phones during flight for texts and internet. Currently, the plane has to land before being allowed access to connect. This can be a nuisance for business travellers who want to stay in touch with their email service. Providers like www.mobi-data.co.uk will allow you to connect to high speed internet from anywhere in the world as soon as you land, and it would be great to see this service in the air too.


In any case, it is a step in the right direction. It is very exciting to think of the advances being made in aeroplane technology and that making calls during flights might be a tangible possibility in the not too distant future.  Although this may not be welcome news to those looking to travel in peace and quiet!


European Airlines Allow Use of Gadgets during Take-Off – Click to Tweet


European Airlines Allow Use of Gadgets during Take-Off

Monday, December 9, 2013

Social Media Marketing Gone Wrong: Epic Twitter Fails | Bosmol - Social Media & Web 2.0 Internet Marketing News

Epic Twitter FailsWho, in the stream of numerous brands, doesn’t have any Twitter account these days? Whether it’s a multi-national business or a mere start-up, most brands maintain a Twitter account to keep their followers posted regarding new products, services and promotions. There is no doubt that using the micro-blogging site is an effective way to keep in touch with users and potential customers. Being so, there is always a right way to use Twitter and other social networking platforms to promote brand awareness.


As much as there are numerous success stories on the use of Twitter in online marketing efforts, there are still a handful of Twitter marketing fails which can be singled out. Here are some of the most popular social media marketing attempts (via Twitter) gone wrong.



The Case of Radiohead and Their Scheduled Tweets



Last 2012, the popular British rock band, Radiohead was scheduled to have a concert in Toronto, Canada. Tickets were sold out and everyone was excited for the show and so as any proactive promoter would do, prescheduled tweets were made for the show. But then, the outdoor stage constructed for the concert gave in before the show and took the life of one person and injured three others. The show was then canceled. However, the tweet that was supposed to be sent during the concert was not.


The scheduled tweet was prompting fans in the concert to take pictures during the concert and compile an album which will be featured on Instagram. The promoter needed to issue an apology after deleting the tweet.



Celebrities Making Mistakes



PR agencies were the first ones to adapt social media marketing as a tool in promoting their events and getting people on-the-know about their new campaigns and promotions. In the past, PR firms would ask professional writers to write lengthy press releases for media outlets in order to promote new products or notify people of any upcoming events.


Fast forward today, traditional press releases are slowly becoming a thing of the past, thanks to interactive social media platforms like Twitter. However, one PR company and one careless celebrity proved to be a bad mix. In a PR agency’s desire to promote their event, they asked the famous athlete Desean Jackson to tweet about how cool the event was.


However, carelessness has taken its toll when Jackson tweeted the original message prompting him to tweet about the event as if he was on it even though he was not. Half a million followers received the tweet which became an embarrassing blow towards the PR agency and to the careless actor. Jackson managed to delete the twitter and replaced it with the intended message, but as always, the incident spread like a wildfire thanks to the social media.



A Bad Mix of Auto Companies and Auto-response



Big brands have their fair share of fails when it comes to their social media marketing strategy. It all began when Toyota was prepping up to promote a new model of their Camry line in last year’s Super Bowl. Fans who were merely tweeting about their favorite teams received an auto-response which can be aptly characterized as, well, spammy. Same thing happened when the automobile company Acura attempted to promote their brand in Jazz Fest 2012. Both companies issued an apology following the incident.


Cara Lane Svendsen started with a simple tech blog in the early 2000s and has expanded her scope to cover other emerging and relevant tech issues, more recently, about the use of social media platforms in optimizing and improving business strategies. Cara now works on a freelance basis for essayontime.com, a well-known online essay writing company and is now a senior associate of a successful US-based finance and consultation consultation company. Get in touch with her via Google+


Social Media Marketing Gone Wrong: Epic Twitter Fails – Click to Tweet


Social Media Marketing Gone Wrong: Epic Twitter Fails

Friday, December 6, 2013

How Social Media is Revolutionizing Workplace Learning | Bosmol - Social Media & Web 2.0 Internet Marketing News

workplace learningEducation, from elementary school to corporate training, is being flipped on its head by technology, and social media has been one of the biggest disruptors of all. When Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other social media tools first started to take off, teachers and companies tried their hardest to ban students and employees from using them during school/work hours. But today, the value of social media is becoming more recognized in classrooms of all types and instead of trying to get rid of it, educators and employers are embracing it. Social media is revolutionizing how we learn, and as a result we are becoming both more connected and more productive.


Social media is changing workplace learning by making the process of training and development more relevant to employees’ actual needs. It has long been known that formal learning (i.e., what is done in classrooms) accounts for only about 20 percent of our learning experiences, while informal learning, which includes social learning, comprises the rest. Social media tools greatly facilitate social learning, and smart companies are starting to leverage this fact in their training and development departments.


Here are the major areas in which social media are changing workplace learning:



Personal & Professional Learning Networks



In the past, it was possible to learn everything about a particular field, but today there is simply too much information in any given area for a person to learn it all. So instead of trying to memorize everything, learners are using social media to build their own personal and professional learning networks. This goes way beyond LinkedIn to include people, communities, content, and other digital resources spread across the web. By accessing these networks, employees can foster relationships with their coworkers, keep up with new innovations, and quickly find answers to complex questions.



Personalized Learning



Training and development programs often take a shotgun approach to workplace learning, but social media allows employees to personalize their own learning. This leads to cost savings (not all training needs to be delivered to everyone) as well as better training (employees can ensure they learn the knowledge and skills that are most relevant to them).



Access to Experts



Social media, especially Twitter, provides direct access to experts. This has huge advantages for learners, who can now learn from the top experts in their field.



Just-In-Time Learning



On-demand, just-in-time learning is replacing in-advance, just-in-case learning. This model has many benefits, as employees can use social media to learn new skills at the moment of need and then apply those skills immediately. For example, a study earlier this year showed that 25 percent of doctors use social media every day to learn something that will help them in their job. 



Shared Content



Social media allows both trainers and employees to easily curate and share content outside of formal training environments. This not only facilitates access to information, but also fosters collaboration, helps ensure that all employees are up to speed, and provides a filter for the vast amounts of information found on the web.



Anytime, Anywhere Learning



The combination of social media and mobile learning technologies has expanded the classroom way beyond the traditional four walls. Today people can connect with their learning networks anytime and from anywhere. This means that people literally never stop learning.


If you are a business owner or manager, chances are your employees are already using social media to join networks, find and share content, and just generally improve productivity. Here are a few ways you can create a workplace environment that promotes the use of social media for learning:


  • Don’t ban Facebook. Banning Facebook deprives employees of a major social learning tool and also suggests you don’t trust them.

  • Host Twitter discussions. Twitter chats are not only great opportunities for employees to interact, but they can also promote awareness of your brand.

  • Create virtual environments for collaboration. Set up an intranet chat room, an organizational knowledge base, or even some collaborative Google Docs where employees can share resources.

These are just some of the many ways social media tools can be leveraged for workplace learning. If you are unsure how to begin, start by discovering what tools your employees are using already and find a way to support their efforts. By embracing these technologies now, you create a learning environment in which your employees will be better informed, better trained, and more productive.


Sameer Bhatia is founder & CEO of ProProfs.com which is a leading provider of online learning tools for building, testing, and applying knowledge. ProProfs LMS Software offers marketers and trainers powerful-but-simple features without requiring them to download or learn expensive software. Sameer has a background in technology with a Masters in Computer Science from USC (University Of Southern California) and is an ed-tech industry veteran. You can find Sameer on Google+ and Twitter.


How Social Media is Revolutionizing Workplace Learning – Click to Tweet


How Social Media is Revolutionizing Workplace Learning

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Organization Recruitment Tools #SocialMedia #MakeItWorkSoYouDon’tHaveTo | Bosmol - Social Media & Web 2.0 Internet Marketing News

how-to-make-social-media-work-for-non-consumer-brandsIt’s no secret that everyone and their grandma is using social media. Your organization probably is too. If, however, you haven’t bought into the digital world yet, you ought to ditch those luddite ways and make social media your greatest recruitment weapon (read=strategy). If you are online, you should make you’re your efforts worth your time. Social media offers opportunities to connect with new and existing members in ways that the old-school ways of recruiting just can’t touch. But, you have to do it right.


Here’s how….



Know Which Outlet(s) Will Work Best



If you’re new to all this, then the first thing you’ll want to figure out is which social media outlet will work best for you. If, for example, you were a clothing retailer, you’d likely want to use Pinterest, Instagram, or both because they’d allow you to showcase photos of your products. If, however, you were a software company, you’d likely skip the Instagram account and opt instead for an outlet that would allow you to share information, articles, etc., like Facebook, or a blog account. As an organization, you’ll likely want to create a community of followers that you can interact with, so you’ll probably want to explore Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.



Use it Well



One of the side-effects of identifying the purpose and usefulness of different social media outlets is that it will help drive your focus as you use it. If your purpose is to recruit members, you will want to be really present on your account and show that you’re serious and invested in the digital space. You don’t have to share things every hour of every day (in fact, being overly-present can have adverse effects if you aren’t staying intentional with your account), but you ought to update your account regularly and consistently. Don’t forget that one of the best features of social media is that it allows you to interact directly with your followers. Don’t be afraid, then, to respond to their messages or comments on behalf of your brand or organization.



Create (or Reflect) Your Culture



Social media accounts are also prime spots to represent or create your organization’s culture for others to see and participate in. Everything from the photos (or videos) you share to the tone of your posts lets people see what you’re about and influences whether or not they want to jump on board your train. Use that to your advantage, and portray yourself as accurately as possible.



Make it Worth Their While



Of course, culture and presence are important factors in gaining and keeping people’s interest in your account, but it’s also a good idea to ask yourself what you hope people will get out of interacting with your social media account. Are you sharing helpful information that is in demand? Are you addressing their concerns? Are you using it as a platform for them to share their ideas with you? Are you sharing special “inside information” or promotional deals? Whatever you decide, make sure it fits within your organization’s mission, and don’t be afraid to keep it simple or get creative.


As a final note: it is better to maintain one account well than it is to have only a hand in a few different social media sites. Stay focused and meaningful, and you can’t go wrong.


Victoria Michelson is a freelance writer for Wild Apricot, and when she isn’t blogging about membership software, she is running races to support local nonprofit organizations in Boise, ID.


Organization Recruitment Tools #SocialMedia #MakeItWorkSoYouDon’tHaveTo – Click to Tweet


Organization Recruitment Tools #SocialMedia #MakeItWorkSoYouDon’tHaveTo