Don’t Give Me the Run Around!

by Dionne Aiken

Confused about all the Search Engine Optimization buzz but want to get your site top ranking?  There are experts around every corner, but when it comes to your website, there’s a basic rule of thumb:

Don’t give people the run around.  Tell them what you do, be clear and concise, and make it super easy for them to access information.

This is the general idea behind what search engines are looking for when they rank websites.   Matt Cutts, software engineer for Google, offers valuable tips on how to make your site more optimized:

1. It’s a common error to place more emphasis on meta tags than actual original content. This actually works against SEO. You must have original content and actual text on your site pages.
2. Don’t just use fancy terms or generic overused terms. Think about what users will actually type and search for.
3. The easiest way to generate content on a site without doing any work is to add the ability for users to leave comments.
4. Don’t just add a bunch of links to your site – have a link strategy. Look at where people are online, where the conversations are, and link to/connect to them that way.
5. If you use WordPress, Drupal, Joomla or any other similar CMS tool you must always keep it patched/updated with the most recent version or you will get hacked. Hackers and Spammers can then inject code into your site that can cause all those annoying pop- ups, and thus cause your ranking to go down.

He offers a ton more advice in his hour-long review session.

So if you think about keywords, title tags, descriptions, original content, user-generated content, link strategies and campaigns, etc.,  all this contributes to the ultimate goal of just telling it like it is and meeting peoples’ expectations without all the fluff, padding or trickery.

Search engines will love you – you’ll stick around for a while and ultimately you’ll get that higher ranking you’ve been “searching” for.

World Cup and Social Media, an Organic Goal

by Kim Taylor

If you’ve spent even a short amount of time on Twitter or Facebook since June 11, chances are your tweet stream or Facebook wall have been all aflutter with one word:  Gooooooaaaaaaall!

Ratings are up, Twitter is down … we probably haven’t seen this many fail whales since the King of Pop’s death (which, incidentally, happened a year ago this week).

Interaction, excitement and sheer fandom are through the roof.  But, as I observe this new media success story, I can’t help but think it happened for one reason … it was organic.

Our firm has long been known as The Strategic Firm^®, so don’t get me wrong, I strongly believe in strategy and social media is no exception, but sometimes it’s fun to sit back and watch what happens when it just … happens.

Authenticity

by Dionne Aiken

At AIGA’s annual SPOT event, I had the pleasure of reviewing some great work from talented students and professionals around the area.  It was a great exchange of creative energy.  Guest speaker Randy J. Hunt, design director at Etsy, spoke about the site as a strong tool connecting the buyers and sellers of authentic products.  He also spoke about his work and shared a wealth of design resources and information.

This brought me back to the AIGA Re:Solutions day conference where Rich Roat, co-founder of House Industries, spoke about incorporating hand-done methods into their type creations, and this being the key element setting them apart from their competitors.

The documentary Handmade Nation highlights a surge of Do-it-Yourselfers, artists, seasoned craftsmen (and women!) and designers all over the world making a living by creating unique handmade products for consumers.

The common thread here is authenticity.  From online communities like Etsy to stores like Cog and Pearl in Brooklyn, New York; we see more and more individuals creating uniquely handmade products driving a “micro-economy” that goes against the grain of diluted mass-produced products.

There is a sense of ownership, pride and a personal connection to authentic products.  The personal touch and exclusivity of owning something uniquely made adds an intrinsic value which often translates to an increase in monetary value – as people are willing to pay more for authentic products.

Give Them Your Best Solution First

by Kim Taylor

What if every solution you brought to your clients was the best one?

What if that solution came first, instead of angst, confusion and disappointment?

What if your actions were more about actions and less about reactions?

I’m not often in a client role, but walking in their shoes this week with a vendor reminded me of the value of one of our 5 Steps to Professional Success:

“Bring the client solutions, not problems.”

Smart clients know the difference.  So why not give them your best. First.

Coach Embraces the Power of Social

by Kim Taylor

When Vanity Fair featured prominent women in social media in their “America’s Tweethearts” article last January, I remember gasping at just how far this medium had evolved.

Companies have been flocking to the social scene at a breakneck pace, but which ones are leveraging the popularity and influence to really stand out in the crowd?

Today my vote goes to Coach.  Not because they’re “on” Twitter, Facebook, etc., but because they understand the power, influence and reach of the blogger community enough to partner up for a limited edition, online-only collection of blogger-designed handbags.

So … how are you leveraging your Tribe?

First Impressions

by Connie Gonzalez

You’ve heard the saying a million times … “you never get a second chance to make a first impression.” It’s cliché and overused, but for good reason: it’s true.

A few days ago I walked into a fast food restaurant to place an order and was greeted by a girl—not just any girl—a girl with piercings in her cheeks (!). While I realize she shouldn’t have been decked out in corporate attire, it hardly seems like a lot to ask for food service people not to be covered with piercings. Like it or not, it doesn’t leave a positive first impression.

Over the years, businesses have relaxed their dress codes … in fact, we used to require women to wear stockings and closed-toe shoes, but look around, those days are all but gone.

I’m the first face you see when you come into our office. I take pride in the way I look. Not just for my own delight, but because I represent Curley & Pynn.

What impression are you making for your customers?