marketing Websites with extreme SEO search marketing resultz, Resultz Digital!

Two Favorite Free WordPress Photo Gallery Plugins (ones that you may not be aware of)

May 1, 2012 by Marc 1 Comment

For many years I used NextGen to create, manage and display photo galleries in WordPress. It was and is a very good gallery plugin. But then WordPress’ native image tools became much much better following the version 3.1 and subsequent updates. And I like being able keep all the images together in WordPress’ native media manager and use just one media library system. It also makes it easier to maintain optimal image SEO across all of a website.

For that reason I use NextGen much less these days and instead reach for either Shiba Gallery or Gallery To Slideshow. Now a little about each.

Shiba Gallery:

“The Shiba Gallery Plugin allows you to display a variety of javascript galleries within your WordPress blog. All you need to do is specify the type of gallery you want in your regular WordPress gallery shortcode.

The Shiba Gallery is very flexible and can render post, page, and gallery objects, in addition to image attachments.”

You gotta love Shiba Gallery’s flexibility, plus the huge library of included javascript galleries, particularly the ease of use of noobslide (a favorite), and that is can present even pages and posts in a slider. All within the native WordPress media manager. In using this plugin over the last almost two years, I have yet to be presented any conflicts caused by Shiba Gallery. It is a very tight well crafted gallery plugin. I wish I was in the WordPress plugin repository, but it is not. So you don’t see it all over the WordPress website universe, which can be good if you want to make your galleries look a little unique.

Gallery to Slideshow:

“Gallery to Slideshow converts the built-in gallery into a simple and responsive slideshow. It uses the FlexSlider jQuery image slider, and requires zero configuration from the user.”

For 2012 I am trying to make all my websites fully responsive to the device and display used by the visitor. With the huge growth of all types and sizes of mobile devices, and mobile users increased likelihood of purchasing, and Google’s advice to use only one domain (no mobile domains or subdomains) I believe responsive design is the best way to go! So the relatively new Gallery to Slideshow is getting a lot of use on the sites I am creating for photographers and others. It is simple and easy to use. And presents a good-looking fully functional gallery for Windows, Mac, Android or iOS visitors regardless of the browser and display size.

Although Shiba has many great and attractive features and is very reliable, the growth of mobile and the related marketing advantages has made Gallery to Slideshow my current “reach for first” WordPress gallery plugin. And I hope that Shiba will someday add responsive css.

Below are a couple of quick screen shots from the same site/page using Gallery to Slideshow, one with the browser at about 1140px width, and one at less at 400px width. You are welcome to visit the webpage gallery yourself and test it on different devices. If you have any display or sizing comments or other favorite responsive image gallery plugins, please let me know in the comments.

Filed Under: Internet Marketing, Photography, Tools and Tips, WordPress Tagged With: blogsites, galleries, marketing, photography, responsive design, search engine optimization, WordPress

Target your website’s SEO to your target customers

August 2, 2011 by Marc Leave a Comment

Most SEO articles just deal with SEO and don’t focus on the real reason that should be driving any SEO effort .. your target customer. All your SEO efforts should initially be directed by an understanding of your target market and its different customer search personas. Then using that “ground work” to effectively attract the customers you want through well conceived SEO optimized content.

This is a great article “5 Steps to Building a Search Persona” by Erez Barak which works through how to develop a search persona that you can use for SEO efforts to increase your online sales. The article provides excellent how-to steps and examples. Put it in practice and it will help you increase traffic and sales.

If you have any questions or want assistance leave a comment or send an email. I am happy to help.

Filed Under: Internet Marketing, SEO Tagged With: Internet Marketing, keywords, marketing, search marketing, search optimization, SEO

Best Bridal Show or business lead follow-up cover letter ever?

February 17, 2011 by Fuller Marc Leave a Comment

One of the most difficult things about following up on leads and contacts is being comfortable with your cover letter. It is the first impression and many marketing professionals believe that the cover letter makes the sale. The pressure to make it the best possible can feel intense .

So I started looking for cover letters, all types of cover letters. The best models and advice I found was related to cover letters for resumes. Which makes sense for small business too. After all when a small business responds with a letter and other collateral to someone who is asking for more info about services or products isn’t that analogous to seeking a job?

Here is the “The Best Cover Letter I Ever Received” according to Harvard Business Review (HBR).

Dear Xxxxxx:

I am writing in response to the opening for xxxx, which I believe may report to you.

I can offer you seven years of experience managing communications for top-tier xxxx firms, excellent project-management skills, and a great eye for detail, all of which should make me an ideal candidate for this opening.

I have attached my résumé for your review and would welcome the chance to speak with you sometime.

Best regards,

Xxxx Xxxx

Why is that cover letter so good? Here is what David Silverman the author of the HBR article has to say, “Here’s what I like about this cover letter. It’s short. It sums up the résumé as it relates to the job. It asks for the job.” Read more from David Silverman about this cover letter and other readers’ comments.

And look how easily, quickly it can adapt to a powerful cover letter to a bridal lead.

Dear Xxxxxx:

It was a pleasure to meet you at the Xxxxxx bridal fair. I am writing in response to photographing your upcoming wedding and reception at .

I offer you seven years of experience photographing weddings and receptions in Xxxxx (your market area) and more than a few at Xxxxx (chosen venue). My work is well reviewed and I have received awards for my artistic skills coupled with a great eye for detail and commitment to excellent client satisfaction and value. All of which make me an ideal choice for photographing your wedding for a lifetime of great memories

I have attached my brochure including samples of my work, client reviews and rates for your review and would welcome the chance to speak with you sometime soon.

Best regards,

Xxxx Xxxx

As you create your letter focus on the benefits you have to offer the reader. What is in it for her? That is what she cares about.

Finally, no matter how good your communication is … remember it also needs to be timely. Get your letter and email lead responses sent out within 5 days.

Hope it helps. Send me an email or leave a comment if you have questions.

Filed Under: Advertising, Leads, Sales, Wedding Marketing Tagged With: bridal show, cover letters, lead follow-up, marketing, Wedding Marketing

New census info on the number of US weddings

February 4, 2011 by Marc Leave a Comment

Some data points and facts on changes in the numbers of weddings (marriages) from the latest census. While weddings have declined to the lowest point since 1970 in the US, it is not all bad for wedding professionals, some states have had significant increases. You need to click on the links to get the data points. From the New York Times an interesting graphic of some factoids. And from the US Census, here is a simple state by state, table of the trends.

Filed Under: Business Planning, Wedding Marketing Tagged With: marketing, Wedding Marketing

Almost everything you need to know about SEO for search marketing

January 30, 2011 by Marc Leave a Comment

Once I get the structure and functions of your complete website correct (valid HTML, semantically correct, permissions, sitemaps, indexable domains, blog and galleries together, social media integration, optimal URLs, site speed and much more) then it is all about your content. That is the key to strong online search engine marketing. That is what is important! But how to do it day-to-day after the site is built?

In the below video one of the most respected WordPress SEO gurus, Joost de Valk, explains “Making sure your content is found”. It is 40 minutes long and very well worth every moment of your time.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me.

Filed Under: Internet Marketing, SEO Tagged With: Blogs, Internet Marketing, marketing, search engine optimization, search marketing, search optimization, SEO, SMO, web/blogsites, Websites

Optimizing Facebook Places pages for your business

January 20, 2011 by Marc Leave a Comment

Facebook Places is a fairly new feature and it works much the same as Google Places. Giving a map, hours, details, even allowing Facebook members to check-in plus more. You can even merge Facebook Places with your Business page, which is wise for some small businesses.

This is how Facebook describes Facebook Places:

“Places is a Facebook mobile application that allows you to see where your friends are and share your physical location. You can check in to nearby Places to tell your friends where you are, tag your friends in the Places you visit, and view comments your friends have made about the Places you visit. Use Places to experience Facebook in a completely new way by connecting with your friends in the real world.

Facebook Places provides a presence for your business’s physical store locations encouraging your customers to share that they’ve visited your business by “checking in” to your Place. When your customer checks into your Place, these check-in stories can generate powerful, organic impressions in friends’ News Feeds, extending your brand’s reach to new customers. Best of all, it’s free.”

There are reportedly over a million Facebook Places already automatically created for storefront businesses in the North America. With the traffic in Facebook alone it is well worth capturing and integrating Facebook Places with your Facebook Business page, if you have not already.

Here is some information on the how-to.

First step is to see if yours already has been created and claim it.

To find your Place, (from Facebook’s instructions) -

“Your Place may already have been created by Facebook or a Facebook user. To see if your Place already exists, search on www.facebook.com via the Search bar on your computer. If you find your Place, you may proceed through the claim flow on the following page.

Otherwise, you may need to physically be located at your store’s location. Once there, launch Facebook Places using your Facebook for iPhone Application or any HTML5-enabled mobile device via touch.facebook.com. Search nearby Places to find your Place. If you are unable to find it, you may add it by clicking the ‘+’ or Add’ icon.”

Not there? You can Create your Place.

“Creating your Place on Facebook is easy. To add a new Place, enter your Place’s name and description (this can be edited later on). Click add. You have now successfully created your Place and you may check-in.”

Now claim your Facebook Place, this is much the same as it is in Google Places.

Claim your Place as this will allow you to manage your Place’s address, contact information, business hours, profile picture, admins and other settings. Managing a Facebook Place is similar to managing a Facebook Page, but there is additional functionality including maps, directions to the business, and check-ins.

1) Login to www.facebook.com, search for and select the name of your Place. Click on “Is this your business?” to claim your Place.

2) Check the box to declare that you are an official representative.

3) Next, we will attempt to verify your Place by calling the phone number listed for it. Please ensure that you can accept phone calls at the listed number. Click the “Call me now” button. During the call, we will provide you with a 4-digit verification PIN.

4) Enter your 4-digit verification PIN to verify your business. If you don’t receive a phone call, click on the “Call me again” link. Once you’ve verified your Place, you will receive a confirmation message that it has been claimed.

If you have multiple Places to claim, you must go through the claiming process for each of your Places. In addition, a solution for linking multiple Places to a single Facebook Page may become available in the future (emphasis added).

The last step for merging your Place and Business Page is optional and not recommended if you have multiple business locations. That may be changed if the possible solution mentioned above is provided by Facebook in the future. But, if you have only one location and are likely to have only one location for the forseeable future I would merge the pages.

This is what Facebook has to say about the features of a merged page.

“You will be able to manage your business centrally on Facebook if you choose to merge your single Place and Page. This includes posting status updates, photos, and links. Most importantly, all of the people who Liked your Facebook Page will remain connected to your business and you can continue interacting with
them.

Your new merged Page will now be updated with a richer design that includes Place information such as maps and check-ins. Your core Page content – Photos, Videos and Events will remain, as well as any custom tabs. In addition, you will keep your existing vanity URL if applicable.”

There is not much to do proactively for the merge, Facebook will likely prompt you to merge the two if you have both a single Business page and a claimed Place page attached to your Facebook profile record. Facebook recommends the merge upon the following conditions -

1. You are prompted to merge
2. You have just one physical store location
3. You have one Facebook Page representing your business

For more details please review the following resources -

The Facebook Places Help FAQ – http://www.facebook.com/help/?page=1159

The Facebook instruction guide, 6 page illustrated pdf – http://ads.ak.facebook.com/ads/FacebookAds/Places_advertisers.pdf

Let me know if you have any questions, or need assistance. I feel this is an excellent way to extend your business and website further into social media. Particularly if your site is already integrated and socially enabled. SEO has become much more than just keyword marketing on a webpage. Today it has to include social media. It almost calls for a new term.

Filed Under: Internet Marketing, SEO, Social Networks Tagged With: Facebook, maps, marketing, Places, SMO, social media, Social Networks, website marketing

Optimizing Google Places for Local Search Marketing Results

January 16, 2011 by Marc Leave a Comment

Local search is critical to most of my clients’ businesses. That is how people find many, if not most, of the goods and services they buy. Face it we have used it for years with directories and yellow pages, that is a form of local search. It is easy and appropriate to think of search engine driven local search as the new yellow pages and replacing all kinds of directories. Today’s market uses online search with computers and smart phones. Not so much anymore … phone books.

One of the most quickly effective and productive tactics to boost your local search engine marketing is to improve your Google Places page. This is the listing of a few business with a map locating them that appears at the beginning of many search results initial page. All it takes is time and effort properly applied, to frequently be one of those few businesses when people are searching for what you offer.

If you have not already verified (and captured) your Google Places page do it as soon as you can.

First step, if you not have already done it is to “verify” the Goole Places page for your business. Or if you’re a brand new business you may even need to start the Google Places page for your business.

Here is how you do it. (from this excellent 31 page pdf guide, “Ranking in Google Places” by SEOFactor)

We need to first see if your business is already listed in Google Places. If it is, we need to make sure there aren’t any problems like duplicate listings or incorrect information.

Finding Your Business.

Searching for a Google Places page is simple enough. Simply go to http://maps.google.com and search for the name of your business.

It’s a good idea to search for more than just the business name though. Try your street address and phone number. Also, go ahead and try a few “common” searches one of your customers might make. If you still don’t see any listings for your business, it’s probably not in there.

Google will also do a search for you when you first begin the claiming process, and if they find similar listings they will let you know.

What if You Find Your Business?

If you find a listing for your business, then there are a few things we need to look at. Take a look at all of the information on the listing’s Place page and note any corrections that need to be made. Also, see if there are more listings, and make a note of those as well.

When you’re looking at the Place page, you should see a link in the upper-right corner (almost the exact middle of the screen). The link will either say “Business owner?” or “Owner-verified listing.”

If your listing has the “Business owner?” link, then nobody has claimed ownership of this Place page yet. However, if the page you are looking at has the “Owner-verified listing” link, then somebody claimed that listing. Don’t worry too much. This could just mean that someone in your company has already claimed the listing. Ask around the office to make sure.

If your business was claimed, but not by anyone in your organization, then it means that someone claimed the listing, and not likely for honorable reasons. Take a closer look at the listing, and you may notice that the phone number or website address is incorrect.

No matter. Whether your business has a listing or not, you will soon be taking ownership.

If you didn’t find your listing, then you’ll need to add it to Google directly. Simply go to
http://google.com/places and you will be met with a login screen. If you don’t already have a Google account login, then you’ll have to create a new account.

If you found a listing during your initial search, you just have to click the “Business owner?” link, and the process will continue as normal.

Above are just the first steps in making Google Place provide a competitive advantage for you. For detailed instructions on completing the process and making as good a listing as is possible you should download the guide linked above, or contact me to make your Google Places page as strong as possible and significantly increase your search impressions. I recently increased a clients Google Places search impressions for their product in the Denver area from an average of 300 impressions per month to over 9,000 impressions per month in just two weeks time. If you don’t have the time it is worth the small amount of money to pay an experienced expert for this optimization service. I do this service for each of my website clients.

A final tip. This is not mentioned in the guide but one thing I have found recently that will significantly help boost your placement in Google Places is to offer a special or coupon. There is a link in the Google Places edit screen for the information and duration of the coupon special. Make it timely, relevant to your marketing keywords,of modest duration say 30-60 days and describe if with your marketing keywords. Then change and add new specials every 30-60 days. If you have question about this send me an email.

Bonus – here is another good link that will help you understand Google Places best practices and even a little information about optimizing Yelp for better placement and local marketing of your business.