Archives for September 2015
Four SEO Practices You Can Stop Wasting Your Time On
As search engines become more sophisticated their algorithms are prioritizing quality content, forcing site managers to keep up with SEO. The good news is these changes are focused less on complex algorithms, and more on creating a relevant user experience. Here are four SEO tricks you can quickly forget.
1) Keyword overload
Part of the emphasis on higher quality content means itās easier for search engines to understand what the user really means. The user can type, āmassage therapistā and it will still find āmasseuse.ā Rather than awkwardly stuffing āmassage therapistā into a page several times, you can focus on creating content that sounds natural.
Today, Viral Solutionsā mission is to provide its clients with the assistance needed to experience bursts of growth in their operations, and a big part of that is through the use of technology. When business owners feel overwhelmed, burnt out or unmotivated, Viral Solutions steps in to give them the tools they need to achieve new levels of success. At Viral Solutions, we help overwhelmed small business owners duplicate themselves ā so business can be fun again!
2) Multiple web pages (with duplicate content)
You no longer need to create multiple pages within your site hoping to improve your discovery chances. Theoretically the bigger your site the easier it is to find, but this opposes the shift towards quality content. Your search rankings improve if users continue to visit your site, which they will do if they have a good user experience.
On that note, you also donāt want to duplicate your own content across your site. If you have two pages with different URLs that say the same thing, thatās one too many. Search engines can tell, and rather than choosing which page to rank, they may ignore both entirely.
3) Obsessive site coding
Search engines almost always use visible text rather than metadata and HTML code. Meta tags for keywords wonāt boost your SEO; however, meta tags for the page description and title are still critical as this is the text that displays in search results.
The same goes for your page headings. Search engines used to favor H1 tags in CSS code because as the main header they usually described the pageās contents. When people began keyword stuffing their H1 field, search engines changed the algorithm to search the entire page.
4) Anything that isnāt a legitimate use for a link
Itās 2015. No link cloaking, link swapping. Donāt use guest blogging as your only way to get links. Donāt buy links; search engines can tell. Donāt be that guy.
Links are still important to help direct users to your site, but they need to occur organically and ideally come from authoritative sites.
For more digital marketing tips, contact the team at Viral Solutions!
Copyright 2015 Viral Solutions LLC
We help overwhelmed small business owners duplicate themselves – so business can be fun again
Viral Solutions LLC is a Digital Marketer Certified Partner, an Infusionsoft Certified Consultant, a Google Partner – Certified in AdWords and a Mobit Certified Partner.
The Most Common Mobile Marketing Mistakes
Have you been wondering why your mobile marketing strategy isnāt producing the results you were hoping for? There could be any number of reasons, but chances are you are guilty of one of the most common mobile marketing mistakes that infect small businesses.
Here are a few of those most common mistakes. Do any of these sound familiar?
ā¢ Failure to build a site or app specifically optimized for mobile. Companies that are serious about mobile marketing (which you should be) need to have a site specially designed for mobile users. People simply donāt have the patience for mobile sites that function poorly, where they need to constantly zoom and scroll to be able to read the text or click the links. Studies have shown that shoppers are 46 percent less likely to keep shopping around if theyāre using a companyās mobile app or website.
Deliver your marketing message direct to the smartphone of your audience in ways you never thought possible.
ā¢ Not optimizing for tablets. Donāt just focus on smart phones! There are plenty of tablet users that you need to cater to as well. Make sure that all of your mobile website looks good and functions well on tablets of all sizes. Thereās a projected growth rate of 54 percent in tablet users in the coming years, so donāt leave them out in the cold!
ā¢ Poor calls to action. Users have a specific task in mind when theyāre searching a mobile website. Make it easy for them to get what theyāre looking for by using easily located call-to-action buttons (purchase, schedule appointment, contact us, etc.).
ā¢ Not offering autofill. Mobile users get really annoyed when they constantly have to punch in all of their contact information when making purchases. Therefore, you should offer options for autofill. Not only will it reduce the amount of time that your users will need to spend on filling out forms, but it will keep them sane and make them more likely to return.
ā¢ Too much content. Content is great for regular websites, but remember that mobile screens are smaller and scrolling isnāt as easy. Therefore, keep it simple on your mobile site.
Are you guilty of any of these mobile marketing mistakes? If so, reach out to our team at Viral Solutions to learn more about how you can amp up your brandās mobile presence.
by Christine Kelly
CEO and Queen Bee | Viral Solutions LLC
Copyright 2015 Viral Solutions LLC
Prior to joining Viral Solutions, Christine held executive leadership roles at some of the largest small business consulting firms in the USA. Her experience includes leading direct reports of over 130 remote sales agents who generated $38mm in annual revenue. She obtained her Marketing degree from British Columbia Institute of Technology. Bring her C-Suite experience to your small business. Although our company is virtual, and we can work with you wherever you are located, she is located in Denver, Colorado and owns a second home in Vancouver, BC Canada.
Viral Solutions LLC is a Digital Marketer Certified Partner and an Infusionsoft Certified Consultant.
We help overwhelmed small business owners duplicate themselves – so business can be fun again.
Effective Content | How to Use Content You Already Have to Maximize Leads
You invest a lot of time and money into creating quality content ā thatās why youāre reading this, and itās why we wrote it. Hereās what typically happens: write a stellar blog post, itās featured on the first page of your blog, itās promoted on social media for a few days, and then nothing. That great content was probably just as relevant to todayās customer as it is to next weekās, and they may not find it.
Itās estimated that as many as 75 percent of marketers only use their content one time. Hereās how to continually promote your most effective content to build new leads.
1) Present your top content as how-to guides or must-reads
Keep your most popular or relevant content highly visible on your website. Bundle blog posts together as a series of articles under different topics related to your companyās work so that users can easily find all information on that topic. Link to these articles from newer posts, or included a listing of related posts at the bottom of new content.
2) Design the website to support content
Link to the bundled content mentioned above from your FAQ and the menu bar. Include links to content on product pages if there is a relevant blog post or tutorial video. Add content links to the
Blog marketing and promoting your blog is not only about text-based blog posts. You can repurpose your blog content to extend the reach of your blog and to identify further link-building opportunities.
error page and the email unsubscribe page to keep potential new users on your site.
3) Continually promote your content on social media
Post your new content to your pages two to three times daily for one week. Do not rely on your users to keep sharing the first post. Notify influencers when they are referenced in your content so they can share. Add social media buttons to content so it can be easily shared on multiple platforms.
4) Record and share presentations
Live and recorded webinars can help you engage with customers and give them on-demand, in-depth information about your company. Create presentations on how to use products, or expert talks on subjects related to your industry. Link to these presentations and promote as you would with other content.
Donāt let your high-level content go to waste. Give new customers a clear idea of your company and how you can help by making all of your great content easy to discover.
Copyright 2015 Viral Solutions LLC
by Thomas von Ahn | Chief Elephant Slayer
We help overwhelmed small business owners duplicate themselves – so business can be fun again.
Viral Solutions LLC is a Digital Marketer Certified Partner, an Infusionsoft Certified Consultant, a Google Partner – Certified in AdWords and a Mobit Certified Partner.
Effective Content | How to Use Content You Already Have to Maximize Leads
You invest a lot of time and money into creating quality content ā thatās why youāre reading this, and itās why we wrote it. Hereās what typically happens: write a stellar blog post, itās featured on the first page of your blog, itās promoted on social media for a few days, and then nothing. That great content was probably just as relevant to todayās customer as it is to next weekās, and they may not find it.
Itās estimated that as many as 75 percent of marketers only use their content one time. Hereās how to continually promote your most effective content to build new leads.
1) Present your top content as how-to guides or must-reads
Keep your most popular or relevant content highly visible on your website. Bundle blog posts together as a series of articles under different topics related to your companyās work so that users can easily find all information on that topic. Link to these articles from newer posts, or included a listing of related posts at the bottom of new content.
2) Design the website to support content
Link to the bundled content mentioned above from your FAQ and the menu bar. Include links to content on product pages if there is a relevant blog post or tutorial video. Add content links to the
Blog marketing and promoting your blog is not only about text-based blog posts. You can repurpose your blog content to extend the reach of your blog and to identify further link-building opportunities.
error page and the email unsubscribe page to keep potential new users on your site.
3) Continually promote your content on social media
Post your new content to your pages two to three times daily for one week. Do not rely on your users to keep sharing the first post. Notify influencers when they are referenced in your content so they can share. Add social media buttons to content so it can be easily shared on multiple platforms.
4) Record and share presentations
Live and recorded webinars can help you engage with customers and give them on-demand, in-depth information about your company. Create presentations on how to use products, or expert talks on subjects related to your industry. Link to these presentations and promote as you would with other content.
Donāt let your high-level content go to waste. Give new customers a clear idea of your company and how you can help by making all of your great content easy to discover.
Copyright 2015 Viral Solutions LLC
by Thomas von Ahn | Chief Elephant Slayer
We help overwhelmed small business owners duplicate themselves – so business can be fun again.
Viral Solutions LLC is a Digital Marketer Certified Partner, an Infusionsoft Certified Consultant, a Google Partner – Certified in AdWords and a Mobit Certified Partner.
What Mindset Rituals Do You Do Daily to Improve the Quality of Your Life?
Do you have a particular ritual of events that you do each day?
What do you do? When? How does it impact your day?
Perhaps, when you read the title āritualsā you thought it had something to do with an eclectic activity. Rituals, by definition, is a āreligious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order,ā. Sounds a little intimidating, but donāt let the wording fool you.
Individual daily mindset rituals are simply habits and activities that one finds essential and makes a priority to complete each day. Many successful entrepreneurs, such as Tony Robbins and John Assaraf recommend individuals practice daily mindset rituals that inspire, motivate, and sustain oneself.
- The art of gratitude. The attitude of gratitude is a recognized technique that can start your day with a
Simple strategies that one can do: daily Gratitude Journal, verbally acknowledging gratitude throughout the day, writing people that you care about āgratitude lettersā, or creating a gratitude jar and stocking up the jar with notes about things that you are grateful for.
mindset that shows appreciation and respect for what is and what will become. The recognition of the emotions associated with such actions brings together a greater awareness of life. Gratitude is simply a self-inventory of thankfulness. Dr. Robert Emmons, UC Davis Psychologist and author of Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You, Happier shows how practicing the art of gratitude daily can have a profound impact on the quality of oneās life. Simple strategies that one can do: daily Gratitude Journal, verbally recognizing gratitude throughout the day, writing people that you care about āgratitude lettersā, or creating a gratitude jar and stocking up the jar with notes about things that you are grateful for.There are many strategies that one can do to practice gratitude, but the biggest is awareness and consistency.
- Meditate. Consistent meditation practices can help individuals to reduce stress, improve concentration,
University of Wisconsin Neuroscience Lab Director, Dr. Richard J. Davidson notes that thereĀ are several meditation techniques and that each type develops different skills. Due to the nature of many business cultures, it is hard initially for individuals to sit still and to only concentrate on meditation.
practice self-awareness improves health and really aids in sustaining balance. The science of meditation is all around, which is why many individuals and companies are incorporating meditation well programs into their daily and corporate strategies. Companies like Googleās Search Inside Yourself program – āMeditation is Good for Businessā. Science has shown that consistent practice of meditation can have profound influences on individual and group performance, productivity, and happiness. Meditations can vary in content, time, and outcome. The University of Wisconsin Neuroscience Lab Director, Dr. Richard J. Davidson notes that thereĀ are several meditation techniques, and that each technique develops different skills. Due to the nature of many business cultures, it is hard initially for individuals to sit still and to simply concentrate on meditation.Ā Ā Concentration meditation can be short as a couple of minutes to hours, and the strategies that are used to aid practitioners with concentration may vary. Mindfulness meditation focuses on awareness toward thoughts that enter oneās mind, and the influence thoughts have on oneās emotional state. Other techniques for meditation: tai chi, chi kung, and walking meditations.
- Visualization. Top athletes, entrepreneurs, and success driven individuals practice the art of visualization. Entrepreneur and New York Times Best-Selling Author, John Assaraf supports and promotes the art of visualization – daily. Visualization connects short and long-term goals with emotions. Emotions influence oneās
āWhat stories am I telling myself as to why I havenāt done this work – the way you do anything is how you do everything. If youāre dragging your feet, ask yourself: why? What reasons are you giving yourself that you canāt do this? Your habits are forcing you to behave in the same old ways that you always have.ā
state of mind. The state of mind has a profound impact on everyday activities and outcomes. The key to visualization is alignment between what, how, and why one wants to live his or her life. It is essential to evaluate oneās vision, goals, emotions, and activities. Reevaluating and refining goals of your individual vision is paramount. Feeling your vision for what you want in life is an essential ingredient. If what you want feels good, and it aligns with your vision, then you are on the right track. Next, to support your visualization activities, you can create affirmations that align with your vision. John also suggests asking yourself the following questions: āWhat stories am I telling myself as to why I havenāt done this work – the way you do anything is how you do everything. If youāre dragging your feet, ask yourself: why? What reasons are you giving yourself that you canāt do this? Your habits are forcing you to behave in the same old ways that you always have.ā Simple, yet profound questions that can help you evaluate barriers to visualization and help you craft key goals, actions, and vision statements. Visualization requires actions, commitment and engagement is a process.
Three simple daily mindset rituals that can have a profound impact on oneās life: gratitude, meditation, and visualization. The simplicity of each can be done anywhere, anytime, and by anyone. Each strategy has been scientifically proven to improve the quality of oneās life through a variety of dimensions. Identification and understanding of the techniques are the first part, practicing the methods daily is essential to start and sustain personal self-improvement rituals. Entrepreneur, Tony Robbins, states āsuccess comes from taking the initiative and following upā¦persistingā¦eloquently expressing the depth of your love. What simple action could you take today to produce a new momentum toward success in your life?ā
by Katie Doseck, PhD MBA
Chief Visionary and Strategic Ace Up Your Sleeve | Viral Solutions LLC
Copyright 2015 by Viral Solutions LLC
Katie Doseck, PhD MBA | Chief Visionary & Strategic Ace Up Your Sleeve. I catapulted my experience with extensive education, trainings, and personal coaching; earning a PhD in Organizational Management with a specialization in Human Resource Management, MBA in Organizational Leadership, and BA in Law & Liberal Arts. Subject Matter Expert (SME) areas: Human Resource Management, Employment Law, Organizational Change, Change Management, Resource Planning, Strategic Planning, Talent Management, Selling & Sales Management, Training & Development, Decision Making Models, Project Management, Customer Relationship Management, and Motivation. Dr. Doseck is based out of Logan, Utah.
We help overwhelmed small business owners duplicate themselves – so business can be fun again
Viral Solutions LLC is a Digital Marketer Certified Partner, an Infusionsoft Certified Consultant, a Google Partner – Certified in AdWords and a Mobit Certified Partner.
