Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Blogging 101
By definition, a blog is a type of web site that includes recurring entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics and video. Most blogs display entries in reverse-chronological order (with the most recent being the first). Often used as a verb, the word “blog” also means to maintain or add content to an actual blog.
A lot of companies prefer to use blogs because it allows them to meet their customers more directly. Unlike flyers or electronic messages, a blog is more interactive and can be visited more frequently.
Search engine optimization professionals recommend that a company post a new blog each day or weekly. Customers and clients like to see updates; it makes them believe that you are serious about your business.
Below is a list of CODANK Charlotte Web Design recommended blog sites:
• Articlesland.com
• Articlesbase.com
• Hubpages.com
• Blogspot.com
• Digg.com
• Technorati.com
• Onlinemarketingconnect.com
• Getyourcontent.com
• Articleblast.com
• Merchantcircle.com
• Populate.net
• Articlepress.com
• Goarticles.com
• Articledashboard.com
About CODANK Web Design
CODANK is a top rated Web Design and Internet Marketing firm located in Charlotte, NC. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality, cost effective custom software development services, delivering a broad range of business consulting and outsourcing services.
For more information, visit us at www.codank.com
Monday, October 26, 2009
To Blog or Not to Blog?
A blog is a type of website that includes regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. The word "blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.
One simple blog lets a small to large size business meet their customers more directly rather than sending out flyers or an electronic message. It changes your website from a plain information sheet that people tend to look at only once to something that they can interact with and visit more frequently.
Posting a new blog each day or weekly is a wonderful way to reach a specific target audience with your thoughts, opinions, and offerings on significant topics.
Below is a list of CODANK Charlotte Web Design recommended blog sites:
Digg.com
Technorati.com
Onlinemarketingconnect.com
Merchantcircle.com
Populate.net
Articlesland.com
Articlesbase.com
Hubpages.com
Blogspot.com
Getyourcontent.com
Articleblast.com
Articlepress.com
Goarticles.com
Articledashboard.com
Be sure to visit these blog websites to see if they fit best with your business. Many of the above sites are looked at by search engines such as Google and Yahoo. High page rank and backward links can be acquired simply by posting quality blogs.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top rated Charlotte Web Design, Internet Marketing and Search Engine Optimization firm located in Charlotte, NC. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality, cost effective custom software development services, delivering a broad range of business consulting and outsourcing services. We specialize in web design and development, branding and identity, internet marketing, and content management systems.
For more information, visit us at www.codank.com
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Social Networking: Twitter
Besides blogs another networking site creating a worldwide buzz is Twitter. Unlike Facebook, Twitter is a free networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets. Businesses to celebrities and everyday people use Twitter. Some use it more for entertainment purposes while others use it for marketing reasons.
Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters displayed on an author or subscribers profile page and delivered to the author’s “followers”. Users are able to send and receive tweets via the Twitter website, SMS (Short Message Service) or external applications (such as UberTwitter for BlackBerry users). Even though the service is free, accessing it through SMS may incur phone service provider fees.
Created in 2006, Twitter is ranked as one of the 50 most popular websites worldwide. It is estimated that at least 6 million users visit the site per month.
Advantages of Using Twitter for Your Business
Promote your company’s blog by posting updates
Attain lots of followers by being active
Create an online identity for your brand
Earn money using sponsored tweets
Stay engaged with customers
Suggest tips and new info about your company
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top rated Charlotte Web Design, Internet Marketing and Search Engine Optimization firm located in Charlotte, NC. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality, cost effective custom software development services, delivering a broad range of business consulting and outsourcing services. We specialize in web design and development, branding and identity, internet marketing, and content management systems.
For more information, visit us at www.codank.com
Friday, September 11, 2009
Promote With a Video: Video Marketing
Many businesses are exploring different avenues of marketing. While some may prefer email marketing others are looking to try new ideas. The new crave is promoting a web site and products through the usage of video – video marketing. If a company has experience in editing and creating videos, then they can take great advantage of this new communication medium and use it as a driver for increasing their own online traffic.
One of the best places to post videos and receive attention is on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/). YouTube is a video sharing website where visitors can view video clips uploaded by anyone who is a member of YouTube. YouTube is open to any and everyone.
Video marketing is far more cost effective than other forms of marketing. Using video to create a buzz can be a little difficult and does require some creativity. Attracting a target audience is where video marketing does extremely well. It is known to generate a high, fast response rate because the message is passed to others through the customers who enjoyed the videos.
Strategies to help with Video Marketing
· Seek to convey a message with emotion – surprise, humor, or an educational aspect
· Allow people to use your videos on their web sites
· Create a blog on a website and add videos/images on a regular basis
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top rated Charlotte Web Design, Internet Marketing and Search Engine Optimization firm located in Charlotte, NC. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality, cost effective custom software development services, delivering a broad range of business consulting and outsourcing services. We specialize in web design and development, branding and identity, internet marketing, and content management systems.For more information, visit us at http://www.codank.com/
Friday, July 24, 2009
RSS: Rich Site Summary
What is RSS?
Rich Site Summary, commonly known as RSS is a family of web feed formats used to publish frequently updated works—such as blog entries, news headlines, audio, and video—in a standardized format. An RSS document is also referred to as a feed, web feed, or channel. It includes full or condensed text, publishing dates, and authorship.
Web feeds benefit publishers by letting them automatically syndicate content. This is beneficial to readers who want to subscribe to timely updates from preferred websites or to combine feeds from many sites into one place.
Benefits and Reasons for using RSS
RSS is the simple resolution for people who use the web on the regular. It allows these users to easily stay informed by recovering the latest content from the sites which they are most interested in. People who use RSS save time by not having to visit each site separately. Because you don’t have to commit to any newsletter nor provide personal information, your privacy is ensured. Sites such as Yahoo News and Google News offer RSS feeds. RSS is shaping up to be a very popular and useful means for communicating. Many sites display a small icon with the acronyms RSS, XML, or RDF to let you know a feed is available.
Other uses
Besides notifying you about changes to websites and news headlines, RSS is often used for many other purposes. A web page is not always necessary to be associated with the items listed. Sometimes the information you may desire will be located in the titles and descriptions themselves.
There does not even have to be a web page associated with the items listed -- sometimes all the information you need may be in the titles and descriptions themselves.
Commonly Mentioned Uses
Notification of the arrival of new products in a store
Listing and notifying you of newsletter issues, including email newsletters
Weather and other alerts of changing conditions
Notification of additions of new items to a database, or new members to a group
About CODANK Web Design
CODANK is a top rated Web Design and Internet Marketing firm located in Charlotte, NC. We are dedicated to provide the highest quality, cost effective custom software development services, delivering a broad range of business consulting and outsourcing services. For more information, visit us at www.codank.com.
Friday, May 29, 2009
12 Blogs To Write
1. Give some insight as to who your employees are and what kind of people they are.
2. Hold some sort of contest or competition that gets users involved and gets your product out just a little bit more.
3. Write a top 10 or top 100 list having to do with your business.
4. Write some testimonials and post some pictures of customers using your products.
5. Post 10 things customers most likely don't know about your business.
6. Refer others to blogs that you may read or that may be pertinent to your company's industry.
7. Ask an open ended question about your industry and allow readers to respond and join in the discussion.
8. Explain a facet of your industry that the layman may not understand without your help.
9. Describe the reasons why the average person would be interested in your product.
10. Take questions from readers and potential customers and answer them.
11. Write your opinion regarding some recent news in your industry.
12. Explain the average customer experience step by step.
These are but a few good ideas of blogs to get you started. If you apply yourself, and find some inspiration, you'll be on your way to a successful traffic driving blog in no time!
About CODANK Web Design of Charlotte
CODANK is top rated Web Design firm, and Internet Marketing Experts located in Charlotte, NC. We are dedicated to provide the highest quality, cost effective custom software development services, delivering a broad range of business consulting and outsourcing services. Here at CODANK, we understand that web design can present complex issues for our clients. That's why we work closely with you to develop a custom solution that will fit your every need. We take great pride in our ability to analyze each individual situation and apply the most appropriate, proven technologies in order to achieve the goals and objectives of the initiative.
We offer full application design and development services, world-class e-Commerce web development, and custom content management solutions to name a few. All of these products and services are backed by the most important asset CODANK has . . . employees. Each individual works diligently in an open teamwork atmosphere, to bring our clients superior products that deliver great results while providing friendly and responsive customer service. CODANK is your one-stop shop for a custom solution tailored to your specific issue.
Contact us for a free quote today! For more information, visit us at http://www.codank.com
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Effective Blog Writing
Blogs are new and exciting. This means that the way they are written should follow suit. No longer are people attracted to mounds of information contained in a brochure or catalog. Sure they are still functional but the information age has brought a whole new wave of businesses communicating their businesses’ ideas or inner workings in a fun and personal way.
Keeping it fun and personal is difficult sometimes when you are used to informing the heck out of your customers. Blogs are supposed to be relaxed reading so writing interesting and laid back content is a must. Try writing an anecdote about recent happenings in your industry. It is refreshing when a visitor comes to your website, sees good web design, and then experiences a personal voice associated with your website. You will need to remember though, that your blog is not an online journal or diary. What this means is that even though your blogs need to be laid back, an e-commerce website will not need to blog about a lawn mowing experience and a web design company will not need to blog about a day at the beach. Write about content that is relevant to your industry that way you will draw visitors to your website.
So remember that when you get out into the blog world, you are almost expected to make it fun, laid back, and enjoyable for your readers. The information you want to get across can still be important but if a blog is drab and boring, there are 112.8 million blogs to choose from so why wouldn’t a potential customer just move on? Blogs can increase direct traffic to your website, improve your web design, and make your site more linkable. CODANK can help you start up your company blog today! Call for a free quote.
About CODANK Web Design of Charlotte
CODANK is top rated Web Design firm, and Internet Marketing Experts located in Charlotte, NC. We are dedicated to provide the highest quality, cost effective custom software development services, delivering a broad range of business consulting and outsourcing services. Here at CODANK, we understand that web design can present complex issues for our clients. That's why we work closely with you to develop a custom solution that will fit your every need. We take great pride in our ability to analyze each individual situation and apply the most appropriate, proven technologies in order to achieve the goals and objectives of the initiative.
We offer full application design and development services, world-class e-Commerce web development, and custom content management solutions to name a few. All of these products and services are backed by the most important asset CODANK has . . . employees. Each individual works diligently in an open teamwork atmosphere, to bring our clients superior products that deliver great results while providing friendly and responsive customer service. CODANK is your one-stop shop for a custom solution tailored to your specific issue.
Contact us for a free quote today! For more information, visit us at http://www.codank.com
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Why you should Blog
Writing a blog will draw new visitors to your website as well as keep previous visitors coming back. Your information and expertise are valuable to the people who are interested in your industry. Writing articles every now and then about your product or service will not only load the search engines with more content that people will be searching but it will establish the credibility of your company.
Putting out free information will help you gain the trust of your visitors. If the first impression someone has of your business is a helpful blog full of professional wisdom, just imagine the likelihood that they will return to your website the next time they need information. Also, as mentioned earlier, posting well-written, informational articles will help establish your company as a credible source of information and a good place to find what you need. Also, giving your visitors an opportunity to comment on your blogs can give you an insight into what the readers or potential customers are looking for.
So go out there and start blogging. It does not have to be a daily entry or an eloquent piece of literature. Just write what you know and know what you write. A few helpful tips for the blogger:
• Have a consistent tone – visitors are turned off by a seemingly amateur tone of voice. Keep it natural but still professional.
• Keep it updated – There is no rule of thumb but basically, the more you write, the more likely visitors are to reach your site.
• Stay up to the newest strategies – Search engines’ algorithms are always changing. Make sure you are taking advantage of every bit of their mystery.
CODANK has experience in getting blogs up and running. Let us write it for you or let us make it easy for you to get started yourself. Contact us for a free quote today!
