Archive for November, 2009
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
For a price of $750 million, Google Inc. will be acquiring mobile display ad provider, AdMob. As a result, it is expected that Google’s mobile display and search advertising reach will be significantly enhanced. The buyout of the 3 year old company is one of the largest Google has entered into signifying the push the company is making into the internet display ad market.
Even though the mobile ad market takes up a small percentage of the $24 billion spent on Internet Advertising, research company Emarketer estimates the money spent in the mobile ad market to go from $416 million annually to $1.56 billion by 2013.
Smart phone use grew by 63% year-over-year in August and touch-screen handset use increased 159% in the same period.
Written By: Sam Kim
Information Provided By: www.btobonline.com
Tags: admob, google mobile, mobile display ad, san diego internet marketing, webitmd internet marketing
Posted in Starting Up | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
Essentially the goal of a landing page is for visitors to take action, such as filling out a lead form or making a purchase. Often times a landing page will be your company’s first impression to your online audience and you only have a few seconds to make it a lasting one. If done correctly, customers will get the information they need to make their purchasing decisions. Below is a short and easy checklist to ensure your landing page functioning properly:
1. Are there any obstacles to scanning the page?
2. How hard is it to leave the page or get sidetracked?
3. Does the page have a fold?
4. Are you gathering unnecessary data?
5. Is there enough white space on the page?
6. Are there testimonials on the page? Is there a link to Privacy Policy?
7. Is it obvious which button to click on?
8. Does it take too long for the page to load?
9. Do the images on your page compliment your messages?
10. Are your landing pages available for indexing by search engines?
Written By: Sam Kim
Information Provided By: www.visibilitymagazine.com
Tags: internet mareketing blog, Internet Marketing, Landing Page Optimization, san diego seo, san diego web marketing, tips for sucessful landing page, webitmd internet marketing, webitmd san diego
Posted in Starting Up | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009
Mobile devices are the future of SEO
As research proves that everyday more people are obtaining cellular devices, the cyber population realizes they need to target those individuals immediately. Thus, SEO is going mobile. Remember when the only way to observe websites was from a computer?
Today, marketers are looking for bigger and better ways to specifically target their client’s segmented audiences and mobile SEO seems to be the answer. Consumers want websites to appear on their mobile devices as they view them on their computer screens- unscrambled and organized. Mobile SEO professionals need to make sure the website is clear and easy to see in order for the marketing to be effective.
The near future holds a plethora of options for mobile SEO and research marketers. Mobile SEO will become the norm for consumers to be exposed to new product and service marketing campaigns. Mobile marketing rules and regulations are far from being solidified at this point in time, but with more companies pursuing this new marketing scheme, the closer it will be. In addition, when many companies participate in this option, mobile SEO will become more ordinary to consumers.
The security of mobile SEO is a risk today. Rules and regulations must be known in order to create healthy competition among companies.
Information provided by: Visibility Magazine
Written by: Samantha J. Stephan
Tags: future of SEO, Internet Marketing, mobile marketing san diego, mobile network ads, san diego internet marketing, san diego seo webitmd, search engine marketing san diego, webitmd seo san diego
Posted in Internet Marketing News, Mobile Marketing, SEO | No Comments »
Friday, November 20th, 2009
Taking on a website redesign is more than creating a more aesthetically pleasing and creative site for an affordable price. You really need to find a web design company qualified and familiar about your business in order for them to suggest solutions that can improve your company’s image, exposure, and really ensure a strong ROI.
Not only do you need to consider web basics like SEO, local search optimization, and online media placement, it is recommended that you gather the following information to help you save time and money in your redesign.
Research and list the following for your website:
• Goals and Objectives for your business. You need to make sure your online goals are consistent with your offline business model. You also need to make sure that all of your goals and objectives are fulfilled on your website.
• Define your Target Market. Your market might have changed with a new online presence campaign.
• List your Competitive Advantages. Show your website’s viewers yours strengths and what sets you apart from other companies in the same industry.
• Keep your brand consistent both online and offline. If your brand has changed, make sure to let your customers know.
• Offer an area for feedback on your redesign. Focus on the feedback you are receiving on your current website before the redesign to know what needs reworking. Reference your current website statistics or analytics tools to shed some light on this.
• Examine your top competitors. Your competitors are your biggest threat but best examples for a redesign. What are your competitors doing that works for them and are they not doing that could improve their site?
Your website is more than a face for your company online; it is a driving business tool! A proper online presence can ultimately improve your efficiency, sales, and can help improve your customer service which is vital. You may discover that a complete website redesign will not be necessary for your business and that perhaps just touch-ups to your existing site are appropriate. Whether you decide to redesign your current site or not, you must take your website and its content very seriously. Check our WebitMD’s web development services to help you get started!
Content provided by: www.emarketer.com
Blost post written by: Kent Seiders
Tags: san diego internet marketing, san diego seo, san diego website redesign, tips for website design, tips for website redesign, web design tips san diego, web development san diego, webitmd web design, webitmd web development, website design tips, website design webitmd, website redesign, website redesign success, website redesign tips
Posted in Web Development | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
The battle for the smartest phone has begun.
Since the beginning of the Blackberry other competitors have been designing and brainstorming for creating the next big hit. In today’s market for new smart phones, that can virtually do anything, competitors are really listening and accommodating their consumer’s wants and needs.
The iPhone, for example, gets a lot of attention from advertisers because studies have shown that their users can recall mobile ads more often than others.
Nielson Q3 data shows that Android users are surprisingly more likely to use mobile internet and video apps than iPhone users. Consumers of both these smart-phones are well ahead of the overall average user.
Most internet usage rates are accumulated from popular social networking sites. Recent studies show that iPhone owners are the most active on social networking sites, but Android owners are not far behind. On the other hand, Android-based users hold higher rates for using other activities such as capturing videos.
“Android users were more likely than iPhone owners to surf the Web and use maps and directions, according to an August 2009 study by the CFI Group. The survey also found that, while overall satisfaction with iPhones was somewhat higher than with Android devices, Android owners were happier than iPhone owners with those functions,” stated by emarketer.com.
According to StatCounter, iPhone uses still hold the top place for most internet visits on a mobile device; more than 38% of mobile web activity came from iPhones. Less than 6% comes from Android-based devices.
Information provided by: eMarketer.com
Written by: Samantha J. Stephan
Tags: Android, internet marketing iphone, internet msrketing san diego, internet on phones, iPhone, san diego internet marketing, smart phones, social media, WebitMD, webitmd social media
Posted in Mobile Marketing, Social Media Networking | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
You think you’ve written killer ‘content’ and effectively search engine optimized your site with all the goods. You’re ready to start raking it in with the expectations that sales are going to soar but… it doesn’t happen. Now you’re wondering ‘why’ because you thought you executed it perfectly. Could it be possible that you forgot one very essential bit – the website was not optimized for conversion?
The competitive marketing area of the Internet makes it difficult if not impossible to reach top SERPs (Search Engine Result Placement).
“It is therefore imperative to understand that traffic is not the ‘be all and end all’; converting visitors into customers is as important as having them in the first place. You may win the ‘battle for traffic’ but if the website is not optimized conversion you will ‘lose the war’.”
A successful conversion happens when visitors that come to your website perform the desired action/goal. Conversion rate is simply the percentage of visitors that perform the desired action/goal.
The goal of the website is usually broken down into 3 categories:
1. Informational Conversion: visitor finds desired information
2. Transformational Conversion: visitor subscribes to a newsletter or free service
3. Transactional Conversion: visitor purchases a product/service
Simply put, maximizing conversion rate = increased ROI, and therefore you are getting for most ‘bang for your buck’.
Hotel restaurants use a similar concept where they calculate the percentage of hotel guests dining at restaurant, this is called a Capture Rate. Numbers such as Capture Rates and Conversion Rates are perfect examples of how something ‘little’ can make a ‘big’ difference.
Written By: Sam Kim
Information Provided By: www.kneoteric.com
Tags: Add new tag, Conversion Optimization, conversion optimization san diego, increase conversion rate, informational conversion, san diego internet marketing, seo webitmd san diego, SERP san diego, transactional conversion, transformational conversion, webitmd blog, webitmd SERP
Posted in Conversion Optimization | No Comments »
Monday, November 16th, 2009
The prediction is that the number of mobile users accessing social networks from their mobile devices will reach 607.5 million by 2013, representing 43% of global mobile Internet users. By 2013, the number of mobile social network users will have grown by over 400%.
As shown in the statistics below, mobile social network use is a significant driver of mobile Internet use.
Internet marketing analysts are seeing much opportunity in the two emerging channels – mobile and social.
The dominating US mobile social networks come as no surprise as they dominate the Internet and have the highest users.
“Location-based networks such as Loopt and foursquare have not yet reached critical mass, but are worth keeping an eye on as they work to link people, places and interests. In addition, location-based services can also be used in other contexts to help marketers target social network users with relevant information and offers.” The emergence of location-based networks and services are evidence that entrepreneurs are seeing opportunities with the growing number of mobile Internet users.
Markerters now have an avenue to engage their target audience more directly due to location-aware applications that include a social component.
There is no question that the two emerging channels – social and mobile, contain a large database that marketers could tap into, however, since the two channels combined are still in growth stages, advertising and marketing efforts are beginning as smaller scale programs.
Written By: Sam Kim
Information Provided By: www.emarketer.com
Tags: facebook mobile, facebook mobile networking, location based marketing, location based networks, location based services, mobile internet use, mobile network ads, mobile network marketing, mobile social network, mobile social networking, san diego internet marketing, social network access, webitmd internet marketing, webitmd social mobile networks
Posted in Mobile Marketing, Social Media Networking | No Comments »
Thursday, November 12th, 2009
Generation Y women are younger, trendier, and more technologically advanced than Generation X women. Studies have shown that Gen Y women have “redefined” their social networks to include their friends or buddies on various online social media pages, anonymous reviewers and bloggers.
Gen Y is therefore more likely than Gen X to share new products/ideas online to their larger networks which is the beginning of a new trend for Gen X. Women across the world can now research products they’ve never heard of and the products they love and use daily via blogs, status updates, and other posts.
When it comes to products that Gen Y women love, they are still more likely to distribute information about them via original mediums such as: telephone or in person. “But they post about products and brands on social networking sites or online forums nearly twice as much as older women. Gen X women, on the other hand, are more likely than younger females to share information via e-mail.”
The potential pop culture influence of social marketing is consequently increasing dramatically due to so many trendsetting Gen Y women using those types of sites.
Mothers are also a strong target of women for this type of research because mothers usually ask other mothers for advice on decisions they face with their families; this is especially true with “millennial moms,” or mothers who were born in Gen Y.
“With moms it is even a stronger source, as moms have always found it important to ask other moms before making important decisions that affect their families and kids,” Brandon Evans, managing partner and chief strategy officer at Mr Youth, told Media Life magazine. “With social media, it became much easier for them to seek out advice on a variety of topics from a wider net of people, so it quickly gained in influence.”
Information provided by: www.emarketer.com
Written by: Samantha J. Stephan
Tags: blog, gen x women, gen y women, generation y, new moms, social media, social networks, webitmd blog, webitmd san diego, webitmd san diego internet marketing, WebitMD social media networking, women blogs
Posted in Social Media Networking, Starting Up | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 10th, 2009
Some publications, such as newspapers, claim that e-mailing is declining in generation Y. Research shows that an increasing amount of people are joining social networking sites, for example, Facebook or Twitter, for communication but in reality college students still think highly of their e-mail accounts. WebitMD is active within these Social Networking sites as well. Follow us on Facebook & Twitter.
The Participatory Marketing Network and Pace University’s Lubin School of Business’ IDM Lab conducted research and more than one quarter of students claimed that e-mail was the activity that they are least likely to give up for a week. In addition to e-mail being the top activity is text messaging.
The research results show that emailing and text messaging are tied at 26% for the top two communication mediums that college students are least likely to give up for a week. Nearly one half of students send and receive about 500 texts per month.
“These results may be surprising to some, but not if you consider the role email continues to play in the day-to-day lives of Gen Y,” said Michael Della Penna, PMN co-founder and executive chairman, in a statement. “As long as email remains the collection point for social networking updates, including alerts around new followers, discussion updates and friend requests, it will remain a powerful force in marketing and our lives.”
Information Provided by; emarketer.com
Written by: Samantha Stephan
Tags: college students email use, college students social media, decline of email, email vs. social media, increase of social media use, internet marketing social media, internet marketing webitmd, san diego internet marketing, san diego social media, social media, social media webitmd, social networking, text messaging college students
Posted in Starting Up | No Comments »
Friday, November 6th, 2009
How do you reach your potential customers online? Many would say that they are focusing their attention on SEO or social networking campaigns which are effective online marketing strategies. However, you have to wait for customers to click on your site and search for your products to generate sales which can be time consuming and very costly.
You do not have to wait for customers to find you anymore with a new online marketing trend that has just started to become very popular. Creating demand online, rather than fulfilling it, presents a plethora of opportunities for marketers. Here, you can focus your online marketing tactics to reach potential customers through the information customers share on their social networking profiles and then advertise to them directly before they have a need for the demand of your products.
For example, CM Photographics, a photography studio located within Minnesota, recently tried Facebook Ads to generate new leads for their wedding photography sector. They created a series of ads targeted to women ages 24–30 that listed themselves as “engaged” on their profiles. Even though CM Photographics didn’t know anything about those users and in what stage they were in planning their weddings, Facebook Ad tools estimated the number of users that fit within that target market and allowed the ads to run on their profiles.
During the 12 months of their campaign, CM Photographics was able to generate $66 for every dollar spent in revenue on the online campaign and had a 60% conversion rate of their unique visitors to their website!
Ultimately, by finding social media networks that offer an opportunity to make a targeted marketing campaign for its users, you should stop waiting for customers to find you and create your own demand!
Information provided by Visibility Magazine.
Post written by –Kent Seiders
Tags: New Marketing Trend, New online marketing trend, online demand WebitMD, san diego internet marketing, San Diego WebitMD marketing, social media marketing, social media marketing tips, social media networking improvement, social networking tips, WebitMD social media networking
Posted in Social Media Networking | 1 Comment »
Friday, November 6th, 2009
You might think that the most attractive and eye-catching websites available online are the most popular to visitors. Although the aesthetic your site is important, search engines and unique visitors favor sites where the quality of layout and content of your pages is very high. By keeping your site simple, with informative and interesting content, you can increase your SEO significantly and can keep visitors on your pages longer.
Here are the top 5 tips for making your website more search engine friendly while making it more accessible for its users:
1. Improve the layout of your webpage. You want to make sure your homepage is clear and in a simple layout. You should make all of your links and navigation tools easy to find showing visitors, at a first glance, where they can go and how to find out what they are looking for. Make sure to use bullets, tables, bars, white spaces, and margins appropriately to make your website seems less cluttered. Always put your most important information at the top of the webpage so your visitors can see it without scrolling and your paragraphs should be less than 100 words for easy scans of the content.
2. Keep your webpage short in length. Physically longer websites take more time to load and also require your visitors to scroll for your information. Allow your visitors to find what they are looking for on your site without scrolling if possible. If scrolling does become necessary, make sure you add easy navigation buttons to enable visitors to jump directly to all of your pages. Recommendations include: keeping your pages fewer than 32K and making sure your pages load within 8-10 seconds.
3. Keep navigation tools a priority. Navigation tools should be located in plain sight and on top of your webpage. Navigation links should be on every page and should always provide an easy link back to your homepage. If you do have a complex website, make sure to add a search function at the top of the site.
4. Keep your fonts simple! Having fonts on your site that are too complex, too large or too small for your visitors will just make it more difficult for them to read. Fonts that are great to use are default fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, and Verdana because they are legible and load on any computer, anywhere. Making sure font colors, styles, and backgrounds are clear for your visitors is essential. Use underlining and bold texts to highlight the more important texts on your site.
5. Improve your site’s content. Your content should be informative but with some uniqueness to keep visitors interested. Avoid grammatical and spelling mistakes and offer many hyperlinks to allow your visitors to pursue a topic in more detail. Search engines scan your content so keep it in plain text and offer a variety of topics concerning your website’s goals.
These tips can help take your existing website and make it more user-friendly. Visitors and search engines are more concerned about the content your site offers and how to navigate through the content rather than how attractive it is. So, it is important to utilize these tips and keep your site consistent throughout.
Content provided by: www.emarketer.com
Blog Post written by: Kent Seiders
Tags: Improving website SEO, san diego seo, san diego seo webitmd, Search Engine Optimization Tips, SEO San Diego, SEO WebitMD, Tips on SEO, top 5 seo tips, WebitMD SEO, Website SEO Improvement
Posted in SEO | No Comments »
