The Maine SEO Blog

Whether you’re new to Twitter or you’ve been on it for what seems like a decade, it’s easy to get stuck in who you’re following. You may even find that you don’t actively make searches for new people like you used to.

It’s time to break out of that. 

Since Twitter has become so filled with spam (or that’s what it feels like, at least), why not try finding valuable Tweeps in more unique ways?

People Search

Sure, you’ve used the Twitter Search function before, but that usually means you’ll have to spend hours and hours sorting through piles of bogus tweeps. Instead, look at the “People Search”. In the new version of Twitter, you can change the search to show just people. Typically, this group is sorted by the most relevant – and often, most popular – tweeps.

Friends of Friends

Pay close attention to those tweeps you hold in high regard and watch who they’re talking with. A lot of times, you’ll find relevant tweeps when your favorites ReTweet or reply to them!

Seminars & Webinars

If you’re attending a webinar or even a live seminar, be sure to follow the hashtag. You’ve already got one thing in common with these people: whatever it is that brought you to this conference/seminar/webinar. Start checking out some profiles; my guess is you’ll find a ton of interesting tweeps. Then, take it to the next level by tweeting out phrases and takeaways from the conference; this way, people will start following you, too!

What about you? What are your favorite ways to find new tweeps?

Nicki Hicks
Tweep finder

Trying and Succeeding

So, my friend Megan and I had lunch together today. She was telling me all about her new Facebook Ad Campaigns that she is running for her Facebook Business Pages. She’s had a lot of success lately so we were comparing notes on some of our processes and tricks. Below is a compilation of some of her tips and some of my own…

1. Have a goal: If you are going to start a Facebook Ad campaign you better know what you are trying to accomplish. Is it more likes? Brand awareness? Event registrations? Sales? What is your goal for the ad? This answer is going to determine what type of Facebook Ad Campaign you are going to run. For instance if it’s to get more likes or to build awareness you might want to just use the traditional marketplace ad, however if it’s an event you may want to promote you could do a sponsored story and promote a page post highlighting it.  Having a goal also gives you the ability to measure your success later on.

2. Testing: Many people create one version of an ad, pick one target, select their bid and just run the ad continuously. This is not best practice for running a successful Facebook ad campaign and can end up costing you quite a bit of money while providing mediocre results. Here are a few testing tips:

• Images: Test different images on the same ad and see if one gets more action than the others
• Verbiage: Once you’ve seen what image performs best, test out the language you use in your ad
• Target: Test the different targets using the same ads how are these working
• Ad Type Choice: Test the different types of ads offered by Facebook (standard market place ads, sponsored story ads, like ads, post ads, check in ads etc.)
• Targeting Your Audience: Create different ads for your different audiences, don’t lump all into one, sometimes a bigger audience isn’t better when it comes to Facebook ads

3. Landing Pages: Create landing pages that make sense. If you are advertising a coupon, bring your audience to a coupon page, if you are trying to get people to like your page bring them to your welcome page, if you are advertising an event bring them to an event page or landing page that promotes it. You get the picture; just make sure that your target makes sense for the person clicking on the ad.

4. Update Your Wall: Make sure that you are still consistently engaging your audience on your page, asking questions, posting video, posting photos, bringing in your blog posts, and offering valuable content. This makes the page look lived in, interesting and inviting for the newbie arriving on your wall.

5. Ad Copy: Don’t feel compelled to use all 135 characters available to you. Sometimes a short sentence does a better job of generating interest and attracting an audience.

6. Photos: We mentioned selecting different photos above for testing, but it’s important to state again, a great image can change the whole look, feel and meaning of your ad. Make sure that your image is attracting the audience that you want.

7. Play In Their Sandbox: Don’t create Facebook Ads that take your audience off of Facebook. Now I know that there is some differing opinions on this, but in my experience, when you lead someone off Facebook you risk the chance of that user becoming cranky. People who are on Facebook want to stay on Facebook. So, lead them to a landing page on Facebook talking about your product or service, have an ecommerce page on Facebook, offer them a downloadable coupon on Facebook, or have them like your page. Not only does this keep them in the place they want to be it also allows you the opportunity to gain the like, which means you now have the ability to market to them in the future, not just that one ad click.

8. Know Your Audience: Facebook has some amazing targeting abilities but it’s up to you first to know who your audience is. What they are interested in? Where they are located? What age range they are? etc.

9. Create Audience Specific Ads: Once you know whom your audience is you should segment them out. For instance, you may have one product that you sell to a wide range of demographics. Say you are selling an anti-aging skin care product, your message to a 25 year old woman is going to be much different than the message you would deliver to a 65 year old woman. And, how you sell a weight loss or fitness program to members of the opposite sex will be much different. Create demographic specific ads, and test different ads within that space as well.

10. Measure. This is the most important part. This is how you see if your Facebook Ad Campaign is successful or not. This is how you see which ad is performing better than the other. This is how you know if your targeting is correct, and so on. This may take some time and effort on your part, but it’s worth it in order to create more successful ads campaigns.

BONUS Tip: A recent study by Neilson said that Facebook ads get stale faster than traditional ads. Your audience is sick of the same ad after 2 – 5 days, so keep a close eye on how your ads are performing so they don’t get stale.

Joan Woodbrey Crocker
Fan of Facebook Advertising

Image By: AnnieGreenSprings

Can search engines read PDF files and if so how well? This is a great question posed by one of our developers this morning at our staff meeting. So, guessing that others are asking the same question I thought I would create a post about it.

The quick answer is, Yes. All search engines can read PDF files. Therefore it’s important to optimize your PDF for the search engines.

How to Optimize your PDF for SEO -

1. First step is to make sure that you create your PDF in a text based program like Microsoft Word or Adobe Pagemaker. If you create your PDF in Photoshop, it is considered a large image and is not an actual readable PDF.
2. Optimize your title, header tags and descriptions. There are a few ways to do this.
   -  If you are working in Microsoft Word, use the H1, H2, H3 tags provided where necessary.
   -  Also, make sure that when you go into Adobe Acrobat you fill out the proper description fields. This means adding a title, subject and keywords into the appropriate content fields.
   -  Title your PDF with a keyword, for example it should be named keyword.pdf.
   -  And, lastly create alt text and captions for any images used in the document.
3. Don’t bury the PDF on your site. Make sure that you create a link to the PDF from a page on your site that is crawled often, like your homepage.

There has been a bit of discussion about how well a PDF will rank compared to html content. And, while we recommend html over a PDF, there have been cases where a PDF ranked for a certain search term quicker than the html version, however, eventually the HTML landed at the top.

Joan Woodbrey Crocker
If only Google Bots were as Cute as that Dog!

This will be my third year in a row creating a “best of the year” post; feel free to check out posts from 2010 and 2009, too.

This year, I’ve done the best at flyte: from our flyte blog, Maine SEO blog, and Florida SEO blog. Go ahead and browse the archives; enjoy!

flyte blog

1. 50 – Count ‘em, 50! – Creative Uses of QR Codes
2. Print Keynote Handouts Like PowerPoint
3. Post to your Facebook Business Page as you…and more!
4. What is a QR Code? What is QR Code Marketing?
5. What is a Facebook Landing Page and Why Do I Need One?

Maine SEO

1. What is a Good Bounce Rate in Google Analytics?
2. Facebook Fun | What Was Your Status Update On This Day Last Year?
3. Can I create a Facebook Business Account (or Fan Page) without a Personal Account?
4. How to Like a Facebook Fan Page…as a Fan Page
5. Allowing Pingbacks and Trackbacks on your blog: Is there any value back?

Florida SEO

1. Alt Tags vs. Title Tags for Images in WordPress: What’s the difference?
2. The Top 5 Most Liked Pages on Facebook and What We Can Learn From Them
3. How Long Will It Take to See Results from Search Engine Optimization?
4. How to Decrease Your Bounce Rate in Google Analytics
5. Welcome the Newest Member to flyte new media: Joan Woodbrey Crocker!

Photo credit: stockerre

A client asked me this recently and it’s a fantastic question! After we optimize a client’s website, I’ll always say that it’s important to keep up with SEO even after launch. Simply put, things change online so quickly that it’s imperative you – and your website, blog, social media presence, etc. – keep up.

So….how can you keep up with SEO without becoming overwhelmed?

Check your GA monthly.

Set up your Google Analytics so that you get monthly reports emailed to you directly. Pay specific attention to the keywords visitors use when they come to your website; are they the same ones you optimized for? Are you even seeing the keywords you optimized for in the list? If you’re still not seeing the keywords you optimized your website for 6 months after you did initial SEO, go back and rework things.

Do keyword research annually or even bi-annually.

Google and the search engines change, and so do what your visitors are searching for. By updating your keyword list at least once a year, you’ll be sure to optimize for all of the keywords your audience is using.

Blog and use social media regularly to drive traffic.

Pay close attention to “hot” keywords and phrases your audience will be searching for depending on the season or time of year and incorporate them in the content you create. Blogposts can be especially helpful, as you can create content quickly around a hot, new subject and almost instantly have a blogpost show up on Google.

How do you keep up with SEO?

Nicki Hicks
Keeping Up with SEO, a new reality series

The following is a recap from recent webinar from Social Media Examiner. Speakers included Mike Stelzner, Founder of Social Media Examiner; Andrea Vahl, social media consultant; Rich Brooks, president of flyte new media; and Kristi Hines, founder of Kikolani. See more of the conversation by searching for #10ways on Twitter. 

1. Google+ business page

Create your G+ business page here, but know there are limitations:

• you can only have one admin
• and you can only follow fans back

Get a G+ badge and you can get more recommendations on your site in Google search and grow your audience on G+. Having a business page and the badge has also been shown to increase your website’s visibility on Google.

2. Getting leads on Facebook

What’s a lead?

• Not just any like
• Interest
• Authority to purchase
• Move along sales cycle and have need for your product/service

Facebook sales pyramid: Like > Engage (know, like, trust) > Buy

Build a deeper relationship. How do you get individual email addresses? By adding a Facebook email capture.

• Offer a freebie – value report, discount, coupon
• Require an iFrame application for a custom tab
• Can be set as default landing tab (first people land when they come to your page)
• Design your own or hire someone

3. Facebook and webinars

• Promote your webinar to your audience
• Use webinar service to capture emails
• Promote a product or service at the end
• Offer valuable content
• Continue to connect with audience through email

A while back I wrote a post about some of my favorite free online graders.  And, as an update to that, I wanted to point out the recent change to Hubspot’s Website grader, being updated to Marketing Grader. In the blogpost announcing the launch of the new grader, Hubspot explained the reasoning behind the change. Saying “In 2012, marketing is about more than just your website. It’s about social, mobile, blogging, email marketing, lead nurturing, and analytics”, and I couldn’t agree more.

Like with any other grader, the marketing grader isn’t perfect. For instance it didn’t recognize the Twitter accounts associated with flyte, nor did it recognize the sharing buttons on our blog, as they are not a plugin but rather hard coded.

Overall I like Marketing Grader, it’s definitely more comprehensive than the original website grader, measuring over 30 aspects of your marketing and web efforts and creating a grade based on a scale from 1 – 100. The incorporation of social platforms, analytics and sales funnels will prove to be very useful.

Great Job Hubspot! A+!

About two weeks ago, the second to last Twilight movie (Breaking Dawn, Part I) came out.

Women of all ages (and any men who were dragged) came out to the theater for the unveiling of the film. Regardless of what you think about the series – or about this movie in particular – like many series throughout history (Star Wars, Harry Potter, and The Matrix, just to name a few), Twilight has an incredible following. And why wouldn’t it? You like it, you love it, you want some more of it. (Don’t worry, I’m not taking credit for that line.) Social media is very similar, even now. It’s bright, it’s shiny, and we want more of it.

We may not fully understand Twilight or social media, but that doesn’t mean we won’t try. I’ve seen women of all ages attempt to sort through the complexities of the characters that Stephenie Meyer dreamed up. (It certainly doesn’t hurt that the movies’ cast is easy on the eyes.)

The funny thing is…the same thing goes for social media. I’ve seen business after business try to understand the complexities of the social media world and how they can fit into it. And the truth is: sometimes you can’t.

Some social platforms simply aren’t going to work for your business. It’s not that your business isn’t interesting enough; it’s just that your audience doesn’t spend their time there or they wouldn’t want to connect with you there. Just as Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner appeal to screaming estrogen-filled beings everywhere, Hollywood knew they probably wouldn’t attract many men.

So, if you’ve seen the movies or read the books, can you see any similarities between them and social media?

I’ve started seeing all these new posts about how Facebook “Likes” are no longer important. It’s more important now to start measuring and tracking your engagement rather than number of Likes.

While I agree that it’s all about engagement and we need to learn how to engage people enough to share our content on Facebook, I believe there is still a need for gaining Facebook “Likes” otherwise the engagement just doesn’t come.

Mari Smith points out in her blogpost, “Ways to Craft Your Facebook Posts for Maximum Shares”, that anyone can share, comment,  and/or like your updates on your Facebook business page, they don’t HAVE to like it first. This is new to Facebook and it’s a good thing. Her post is amazing by the way, if you haven’t had a chance go check it out as there are excellent tips in there to get your content shared.

Engagement is gold. It is much easier to measure engagement and see the benefits, than to judge your success simply through your Facebook “Likes” going up in number. However, unless there is an audience there that is already fairly involved how are they going to see you in the first place to share those items?

So, I say while engagement is the new measurement, because it’s really all about getting seen and improving reach through shares of your content, you still have to get the “Likes” first, or at least a base of “Likers.”

Joan Woodbrey Crocker
Facebook Business Pages

I’ve been bad. Very, very bad…about blogging. This is the first post I’ve written in November.

You may have had a similar experience. Maybe you got busy with work. Maybe you haven’t had any great ideas. Maybe you feel like you’ve written about everything there is to write about. Fear not, my friend. Perhaps climbing out of my own blogging coma will help you conquer yours.

Luckily, the blogosphere is a forgiving world. You may have missed out on some traffic, but it’s ok. Go ahead and pick up where you left off.

You’re simply too busy

I understand, real work gets put ahead of blogging. But think about it this way: blogging is a form of marketing and another way to ensure you’ll continue having that work in weeks and months to come. Here are a few easy ways to get around the “time” issue:

Figure out what works for you. Is it easier to blog first thing in the morning? During lunch? At home? Over the weekend? Do you prefer writing just one post at a time? Or do you like to create several when inspiration strikes? Regardless, figure out the schedule that works for you…and do it!

Keep It Simple, Stupid. You don’t need a ground breaking, earth shattering blogpost every single time. Use resources like the questions your customers ask you every day for inspiration. Often times, the quick, easy, and simple posts are the best ones.

Now you’re just making things up. Most of us aren’t too busy to watch our favorite shows. Most of us aren’t too busy to catch the game. Try multi-tasking; if you can sit in front of the TV and watch the ball game and blog, then do it! Or, if you need peace and quiet, carve out 15 or 30 minutes and write your post. That’s why they invented DVR, right?

You don’t have anything to write about or you’ve written about everything

Inspiration isn’t going to hit every day of the week – and if it does, you’re lucky – but that doesn’t mean you can’t inspire yourself.

Use tools at your disposal. There are a ton of tools out there from Google Insights for hot, new keyword ideas to Google Alerts for daily or weekly updates about new articles, blogposts, and websites in your industry. There are hundreds, even thousands of these type of tools out there, but these two are my go-to’s.

Listen to what other people are saying. Lean on your favorite writers, bloggers in your niche, or even your competitors. My favorites for SEO are the SEOmoz blog, Search Engine Roundtable, and Search Engine Land. Whatever your favorite blogs may be, make sure you subscribe to them (be it via email or RSS) and read them as often as you can.

Find a new way to spice up old blogposts. Use tricks like checking out your Google Analytics or using a different blogging technique to resurrect an old post you created.

And there you have it. Now get out there and write! But first…what are your tips or tricks for getting yourself out of a blogging coma?

Image credit: xlibber

Nicki Hicks
Really, what’s cuter than a sleeping baby?