Online Marketing for Local Business
Posts tagged web content
The Last Generation With Backpacks – The End of Print Media?
13 years
by jhaynes
in Uncategorized
I recently read this very interesting article on CNN Money, on the introduction of iPads as well as the “one computer per child” concept into today’s schools.
The article cited research that was quite eye-opening in regards to the digitization of modern schools.
A recent survey of 25 educational technology directors at a conference on integrating technology in the classroom found some interesting results regarding digital computing in the classroom.
The findings included:
- 100% of schools were testing or deploying iPads in their schools. 0% were testing or deploying Android tablets
- Their schools currently have an average of one computer for every 10 students
- Nearly half (12) expect to eventually deploy one computer per child; two of their schools already do
- More than a third (9) expect to deploy one tablet per child; 16% within the next 5 years; one school already does
Given the huge problems facing America’s schools, this is a slender thread on which to base a vision of broad educational reform. But these trends represent a profound shift in how students will be educated in the years and decades ahead. It also highlights the absolute need for the strongest web presence possible for businesses that wish to succeed with these students as they grow into adulthood.
Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster, who conducted the survey, quotes outgoing Apple retail chief Ron Johnson, who has suggested that the current crop of students might be “the last generation with backpacks.”
It’s common wisdom to assume that digital technology and the Web will become ubiquitous sometime in the future, but these latest findings clearly show that the complete replacement of all print copy can already be seen on the horizon.
In addition to the classroom, the plummeting rate of magazine and newsprint subscriptions, and the steady decreases in the purchase of physical books thanks to various e-readers and smart phones, point directly to a time in the near future when print becomes completely obsolete. As these students mature they will have very little exposure to printed materials in general, making this communication and advertising medium a relic of a not-so-distant past.
The takeaway is:
There has never been a more critical time to focus time and resources towards your overall web presence, the SEO rankings of your website, and the creation of social media campaigns for your company.
The very survival of your business may depend on these factors far more quickly than you have recognized, or addressed.
The Many Benefits of Content Marketing
013 years
by jhaynes
in Uncategorized
Content marketing is becoming one of the most widely used forms of promotional strategies on the web today. It is cost-effective way to reach a wide audience base, yet it is not as easy as submitting a simple pay per click ad.
Content marketing is relatively cheap compared to most other options, but it requires you to invest your time, effort and a lot of patience before you can reap its returns. This is one of the reasons why many people are not sold to the idea that using content online is a good way to market their products and services. For those that do understand the true long-term value of web content, they have found ways to create it themselves or work with someone who can.
For those who are still uncertain about the advantages of content marketing, here are five factors that make content marketing such an effective online marketing strategy:
It’s cost-effective
Other forms of marketing need you to invest your fortune. In content marketing, it only needs time and effort to have your website, products or services promoted online if you are doing the work yourself. Working with an outside writer to create your content can also be very cost effective.
It lasts FAR longer than other advertising methods
On top of its being economical, your content stays on the web for an indefinite period, and continues to drive traffic long after your content has been published. Other methods of marketing get exposure as only for as long as you have the finances to support it. This is huge benefit when considering ROI for your marketing dollars.
It helps to build credibility
By consistently sharing helpful information on the web, you are actually making your content work for you because it gradually builds your reputation online. Over time, people will see you as an expert in the field that you are writing about. As your credibility grows, you will be able to establish trust. Trust is a big thing in business, as credibility matters very much in marketing.
It attracts traffic
Content marketing is intended to attract an audience with a certain degree of interest on your niche. These people will also be the ones who will visit your website to know more of what you have in there for them. Content which is focused on facts and solutions pertaining to the products or services it promotes will surely attract traffic.
It builds up your site’s SEO
By consistently publishing content, you are actually attracting search engines too. Search engines are always on the lookout for fresh content they can rank. Content which are infused with effective keywords will always catch the attention of search engines, moving you up in the rankings and bringing quality visitors interested in your services and products to your website. Great content also creates good links back to your site as other people share your information.
These are the primary reasons that web content marketing is so effective in promoting your business.
If web content writing and posting isn’t something you can (or want to!) do for yourself, consider hiring someone who can help you build your online content to reap the many rewards detailed above.
Contact me if you’d like to know a bit more about the potential content solutions that we provide, or conduct your own searches and see what options are available to you.
Whatever route you choose, for the health of your business – begin creating and sharing high-quality web content today!
Hiring A Reliable Web Content Writer
013 years
by jhaynes
in Uncategorized
The quality of your web content is critical if you really want to build your brands online and increase your web presence.
It’s vital that you provide quality content not only on your website but everywhere else you communicate online as well, such as article directories, press release sites or your email marketing efforts. Great content helps you achieve the two most important goals of your online marketing – increased sales conversions, and revenue online, and also creating future sales opportunities in the form of better SEO rankings for your website.
If you can’t provide the content that your target audience is looking for on your website, you should get someone to write it for you. Publishing often is a key to higher SEO rankings, as the search engines like Google LOVE frequently updated sites, it shows them that someone is actively managing your site and continuously communicating with your web visitors.
Here are some tips you should consider when looking to hire a content provider:
1. References
A reference refers to a personal testimony from a former or current client or a co-worker regarding your prospective contractor’s performance, attitude and work ethic. References can be included on an individual’s resume, on their business profile, or provided upon request. You need to contact those references in order to learn the background of your potential writer.
2. Writing Samples
Ask your potential ghostwriter to send you a few writing samples so that you can determine their writing ability and style. They need not be proficient in your niche (though it can be a big plus if they have some prior knowledge about it.) What you should consider most important is the writer’s overall ability to give your website a personality and character that your readers will love and relate to.
3. Search Engine Optimization
You must be absolutely sure your prospective writer is familiar with SEO. This is critical, since their written articles and webpages must get noticed by the search engines to have the most value. You should ask them to explain what they know about SEO, since their understanding of it may include mistakes such as spamming their articles with keywords.
4. Keep an eye for small details
Before you select a web content writer to interview, there will always be some exchange of communication between the two of you. Read messages carefully, and try to spot any mistakes in grammar or spelling. Simple typos are common and understandable, but poor writing is something that you should never consider when hiring a writer to represent and build your brand online. Ask the question: Would I be proud to have this quality of writing attached to my business, my brand, my product or service?
5. State the rules
As the paying customer, you have to state your policies regarding deadlines, quality, quotas or rewrites and edits, just in case you’re not satisfied with the work delivered. You should also specify any documents such as non-compete clauses or confidentiality agreements that must be signed before any work can start.
The mission of Hat Trick Associates is to provide one-source online marketing and consulting services to small and medium-sized business owners. We provide the expertise and resources of a large, nationwide marketing agency, with the responsiveness and flexibility that you would expect from a small, nimble team such as ours. “Big agency” results without the big agency price, we can handle all of your web and social content writing, SEO, graphic design, website programming and email marketing needs, among a number of other specialties. If it’s web, we can help. And our goal is to be as seamless and easy to work with as humanly possible, so you can spend your time doing what you do best – running your business. Take just a moment and contact our team if that sounds like something you might be interested in taking advantage of, and let’s get the conversation started today.
