SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is for experts and you\'re NOT right? Guess again. Almost anyone can apply simple techniques to help your organizations page results in search engines. It use to be enough just to have a website. Not anymore! Static webpages are a thing of the past.

Updated content is the current gold standard and all your clients expect it.

So where do you start? I would suggest checking out www.SEOmoz.org.

They have a fantastic beginner\'s guide!

 

Mike

Number 10: Google

Number 9: CNN Digital

Number 8: Turner Entertainment

Number 7: Disney Online

Number 6: ESPN

Number 5: MSN/Windows Live

Number 4: Nickelodeon

Number 3: Yahoo!

Number 2: FOX Interactive Media

Drum roll please...


Number 1: YouTube

I'm sure that wasn't a surprise.

Total streams (thousands): 3,646,076
Unique viewers (thousands): 69,604

Here are a few of my favorite sites that were not on the list:

Viddler (I love this site more than YouTube!)

Blip.tv

Breitbart.tv

Mevio

Metacafe

Where do you watch videos?

Source: Nielsen Online March 2008

Mike

Video advertising is increasing at a rapid rate. Here are the numbers (in the millions).

2001- $40

2002- $55

2003- $85

2004- $135

2005- $225

2006- $410

2007- $775

2008- $1,350

2009- $2,100

2010- $3,100

How much has your organization budgeted on video advertising this year?

Source: eMarketer, June 2007

Mike

Here's a quick rant...

Why do commercial real estate companies place HUGE OBNOXIOUS signs out in front of business properties? Do they get the majority of their business by drive-by customers? Do business people drive around aimlessly looking for properties to stumble upon??

The worse the economy gets...the more HUGE OBNOXIOUS signs pop out by the street. It's annoying and an eye sore.

Would somebody please let me know what the strategy is??

Do commercial property prospects not use a computers, agents, or other research means to figure out where the best location might be for their business?

I would prefer to have a video listing broken down for me online. Along with all the information and pictures listed on a pdf document.

When will the commercial real estate business join us in the 21st century?

Well, at least all the sign companies are doing well.

Mike

I'd like to give you an update on some of my social media experiments. I've tired quite a few applications over the last couple of years. I've enjoyed some, disliked others, became addicted to a few, and down right couldn't figure a bunch.

One main reason I joined these services was to simply promote my business, Visual Media Concepts, and enjoy the fruits of higher rankings on the search engines. Not only did I join social media services, but I joined a few trade sites, freelance, and job sites that also claim great exposure services and search results.

Test #1:

I "Googled" my name..."Mike Cornett".

The first page results were:
3rd- LinkedIn account
9th- My website!
10th- Facebook account

Page two results:
12th- Twitter
13th- LinkedIn account...again
17th- Meetup.com
18th- The Production Hub

Not bad at all! I was pleasantly surprised.

Test #2:

Next I "Googled" my business..."Visual Media Concepts".

The first page results were:
1st- My website!!!! Hurray!
6th- Blogger account

Page two results:
16th- The Production Hub

I thought typing in my business name would exploded with results. Besides being #1, which is great, I really expected to almost fill the page.

Test #3:
I decided to do the most important. What would a potential client type in to search for my services. I'm specializing in web-video, video on websites, and podcasting.

So, I "Googled"..."Web Video Dayton Ohio".

The results were not good...not good at all!
37th- LinkedIn account

I searched "Video Production" on Google maps and found myself on page 5! Yuck!

What does all this mean? It means that I'm developing positive social networking searches, but I need to work harder on developing my SEO (Search Engine Optimization) keywords.

I need potential clients to type in "web video, podcasting, and/or video for websites" along with "Dayton, OH" and have my company or name land all over the first page.

One other thing. I was really surprised how well my LinkedIn account and trade sites ranked. I expected Facebook and Twitter to rank more often and higher.

I'll keep experimenting with social media and SEO and sharing my results.

Mike