Tees In A Pod: businesses

Showing posts with label businesses. Show all posts

Thursday, July 15, 2010

What Does SMO and SEO Really Mean ?

Online business owners are always looking to expand their business' growth, online presence, and profitability, but it can be difficult to do. In knowing how to optimize your website can help bring awareness to your business, while improving your business' online reputation. Knowing the difference between Social Media Optimization (SMO) and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) helps in understanding how to make them work for your business. The ultimate question we all have been asking ourselves is, "What are SMO and SEO?"

Social Media Optimization (SMO)
There are many businesses who are improving their website's SMO without even knowing it. Today, many businesses are incorporating social media sites into the way they do business online. In knowing what Social Media Optimization really means and how your business can benefit from it, may change the way your business uses their social media sites.

What does Social Media Optimization mean?
Businesses who use media outlets found within social media sites, with the intent to bring unique visitors to their website's content, are boosting their sites Social Media Optimization. In other words, when businesses use photo sharing, social bookmarking, videos, and blogging as a part of their business' promotion on social media sites, Social Media Optimization is occurring. The main focus of SMO is to drive visitors to your website from places online, other than from search engines.

There are two main ways in which to improve your sites Social Media Optimization (SMO):

1. Social Media Features: When adding social media features to website content via RSS feeds, sharing buttons, polls, ratings etc. and also including the use of hosting sites for videos and photos, also known as third-party communities, helps in building your businesses Social Media Optimization.

2. Social Media Promotional Activities: Occurs when businesses are doing social media activities on social media sites, as a way to promote their website without promoting a specific product. When businesses blog, comment on other blogs, join in on group discussions, and update statuses on social media sites, they are also raising their website's SMO.

Social Media Optimization is a method used as a part of viral marketing, but instead of "word of mouth" by family and friends, it is done through various activities on networking sites such as, commenting on forums, photo sharing, videos, blogging etc. SMO is looked at as a major factor in gaining an online presence and is an important part of protecting and managing your sites reputation via search engine queries.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO):
Unlike Social Media Optimization, where you use social media sites to bring traffic to your website, SEO or Search Engine Optimization, focuses more on driving traffic to your website via Search Engines.

What does Search Engine Optimization Mean?
SEO is to increase the amount of traffic and the quality of visitors to your site by using un-paid or "natural" search results, within search engines. The key, is to have your website rank high within search engines, for the higher your site is on Google, Yahoo, etc. the more chances your site's traffic will increase.

Ways to improve your sites Search Engine Optimization (SEO):
Your websites content is crawled by search engine spiders on a regular basis for the purpose of indexing and ranking your site within search engines. There are many ways to improve your sites content which will in turn, improve your site's SEO. The better your website's content and coding, the better your site will be ranked. Here are two ways to increase your websites SEO, On-site and Off-site Optimization.
1. On-Site Optimization: Is when the information/content on your websites page (that visitors see) and the coding that occurs behind the scenes (that visitors do not see) are correctly done to meet search engine standards. In other words, if your website is coded properly and the content is filled with quality content, then your sites SEO should be good. In knowing how to properly use website coding can affect how your site will be ranked by search engines (Ex: html, CSS, etc.). In understanding what your website's content needs, for search engines to qualify it as quality content, is also very important in increasing your sites Search Engine Optimization (Ex: Site titles, keywords, descriptions, etc.).
For examples of how to improve your sites On-site Search Engine Optimization, visit the Tees In A Pod Blog Post 6 On-site SEO Tips You Can Use To day To Improve Rank!

2. Off-Site Optimization: Is when good quality backlinks are created on other sites that point towards your website. The more backlinks your website or page has, the more popular it is looked at by search engines. Keep in mind that page rank also factors into the importance of a website and that the number of backlinks a website has, helps search engines determine it's ranking. With that said, it is not just the number of backlinks that count towards how search engines rank your website, it is also determined by the quality of those links as well.

The best quality backlinks are called, "Anchor Text Backlinks", which are also known as hyperlinks or links that are created using HTML. These links use clickable text to drive traffic to your website.

Example: Tees In A Pod Facebook Page (This Text is clickable and is actually directing people to the Tees In A Pod's page on Facebook.)

How to create an Anchor Text Backlink?

***NOTE: Click above to get a larger view and then hit your browser's back button to return to post**

Anchor Text Backlinks should be placed on high ranking pages or sites that are related to your website. They are most beneficial to your site, when you use keywords you want ranked by search engines in the links "Title" and are relevant to the landing page. These type of links should remain below 60 characters.

Poor/Bad Quality Backlinks
When your website's link(s) are left on sites, pages or directories that have no real value to your website, they become bad quality backlinks. These links will lower your websites SEO and could possibly get your site banned by search engines, so be very selective in where your website's links are placed.

In integrating Social Media Optimization and Search Engine Optimization into how your business creates, promotes, and sustains it's website, will inevitably improve your sites ranking, reputation, and online presence. Get to know SMO AND SEO and watch your online business, continue to grow!

Did you find this article helpful?

Written By: Amanda Ryan, Creature Creations, Personalized Photo Gifts

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Networking: "Won't You Be My Neighbor?"

Each time you join a social networking site, like Twitter or Facebook, you are entering into a brand new "neighborhood," filled with people who want to be, "your neighbor." As a business, it is important to keep in mind, that you now need to make an entrance into this neighborhood, not just as a business, but also as a neighbor. When wanting to become a part of a community within these social networking sites, it is important to connect with those already in the community, via Networking.

Networking: First Steps
There are several steps a business should take to start the Networking process.

First, get to know the people who are on the site. Check out their interests, bio, and business information, etc. This way when you are ready to start interacting with the people in the community, you can reach out using their shared information as a starting topic.

Secondly, when you do decide to begin engaging with other businesses, customers, followers, and likers, be sure to use their name, if possible. As in any community, people like to be addressed by their name, for it is more personal and begins building a friendship between you, your business, and the other person. First name usage, shows that you have taken the time to find out about who they are, which is extremely important in networking, and may also make them want to find out more about you and your business.

Thirdly, most people will click on a link that has been referred to by a "friend," than one that was advertised or posted on the site without a referral. In knowing this, once comfortable with the person, (people) on one or more of the social networking sites, reach out to them via DM (Direct Message on Twitter) or by emailing them on Facebook, etc. Ask them if they would like to share your business link with their followers and you will do the same for them. This will allow those who follow them see what your business is about, through a referral, and the same goes for their business link you are going to share as well.

Networking: Good Neighbor

Another way to network with others on social networking sites, is to extend your hand as a "good neighbor" should. Try not to shy too much away from giving tips, advice, and information when asked by other businesses who are seeking for help. This doesn't mean you give away all your business secrets, but like a neighbor who is asking for some sugar, you would give some to them (not all), for you would definitely keep some for yourself. However, it is important to share some useful information with others, that way, when you need some help, they will be more than likely to do the same for you!
If you are searching for some help, there are several great ways to ask for it, without sounding desperate or intrusive. Start your question(s) off with, "In your industry..." or "With a company like yours...", etc. This way it doesn't seem as though you are trying to gain information that is geared towards their specific business and always be sure to thank those with whom have helped you, for it shows your appreciation. With that said, it isn't necessarily always going to be the person with whom you've helped, that will be the one who helps you. Know that there are many people (neighbors) who are seeing what you are doing within these social networking sites (the neighborhood). Know that you and your business are always being watched, as they say, so never neglect the fact that people are drawn to those who are most helpful and kind to their neighbors.

Networking: Who Matters?

Some feel that the higher the followers, likers, etc. the more important that business or person must be. Although there are some truths with numbers, for their will definitely be more people who see what is being shared on that page, there is an even higher importance then this. Taking time for those on the page through engagement, speaks louder than numbers. When engagement is used, more people will come, because those with whom you are engaging with, are more likely to refer you/your business to a friend. Also, don't discount the ones who have less followers and likers today, for you never know where they might be tomorrow.
When joining a social networking site (neighborhood) people gravitate more towards the person/persons who takes the time to get to know 2-4 people personally, then that of a person who just pushes their products to the group and talks mostly about themselves. Quality definitely speaks louder than quantity!

Finally, although you're main reason might be to promote or market your business online, it doesn't have to be all that you talk about. Have fun with your "neighbors" by sharing non-business related questions, and/or thoughts, etc. Be social on these social networking sites and your business will become a part of the "neighborhood" and be a place most "neighbors" want to be!

"Won't you be our neighbor?" Come network with us, Tees In A Pod, on Facebook and Twitter too! Also, feel free to post comments and tell us other ways in which you and/or your business networks with others!

Written By: Amanda Ryan, Creature Creations, Personalized Photo Gifts