Web Training Wheels
teaching you how to make the best of your online presence
Do You Know What Your Site Visitors Really Want?
In: Online Marketing
2 Feb 2010
One way to find out is to analyze what they are searching for on your website. To track this, make sure to add site search to your Google Analytics. This will track what visitors are typing into the search box on your site, revealing further information about what they are hoping to gain at your site.
Here’s how: Read the rest of this entry »
Social Media For Psychologists And Therapists
31 Jan 2010
I presented to a group of psychologists the other week about getting started with online marketing and some interesting issues were raised around how they can use social media.
Most social media strategists for business advocate being open, connecting with individuals on a personal level, and freely sharing information. But what happens when professional, ethical and legal considerations restrict such activity? Psychologists, along with other medical professionals face a unique set of challenges.
Here’s some of the talking points that came up.
Does blogging provide too much information that a client should be paying for?
This is a question that crosses industries – does giving away information cannibalize your business? The overall consensus would seem to be that the more you give, the more you get but guidelines must be observed for this profession. First of all, a blog post could in no way replace the value or experience of an actual therapy session, and it would also be inappropriate to try and provide actual therapy in this way.
Basic SEO for Blogger – Adding Alt Text To Images
In: seo
26 Jan 2010
I personally use and am a huge fan of Wordpress – I made the switch from Blogger many years ago. However I do have a couple of clients that use blogger to publish their blogs – they find it simpler to use. But simplicity comes at a price. Although it is owned by Google, Blogger does not do a great job at providing SEO features by default. One of the basic things it lacks is an easy way for the user to add alt text to an image they are uploading.
Adding alt text to images is important for 2 main reasons:
1) Accessibility – visitors to your site that don’t see well and are having the page read to them need alt text to understand what the image is all about.
2) SEO – the alt text is the only way a search engine knows what the image contains. It cannot ‘read’ an image by itself and relies on alt text. Additionally you can attract traffic from Google Image Search with well-optimized images.
Microkids Related Posts Wordpress Plugin
Why you need it
Related post plugins allow you to present your reader with other content they may find useful or interesting. This helps keep your reader browsing your site and also provides additional internal links, which help search engines discover all your content.
Microkids Related Posts plugin provides a simple, effective solution.
Ease of use
The options are very easy to configure but has advanced capabilities for those that need them. Read the rest of this entry »
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- Tags: microkid, plugin, related posts, review
Make Your Video Debut
In: video
16 Jan 2010
This is a guest post written by Kathleen Dowdey of AvocadoVideo.com. Kathleen produces online and offline video for small businesses, agencies, special events and entertainment venues. www.avocadovideo.com
Ready to take the plunge and liven up your website with some video? You’re not alone. “With the advent of YouTube, anyone with a video camera, some editing software and a little bit of free time can create a video of just about anything,” writes Katie Wertz. She’s published on the Bruce Clay, Inc. website, a leading search engine optimization consulting service that helps clients up their SEO rankings. Wertz notes how well video engages website visitors, then mentions an attractive bonus: “Because of the YouTube partnership with Google, it’s a great way to be found…”
Join the millions who are rushing to broaden their web user reach with video. After all, video on your website sounds like a simple proposition, doesn’t it? Still, you might take a deep breath after visiting YouTube where you’ll discover a staggering range of possibilities. Before you touch that camera, consider what kind of video you want. There are many factors – the quality, content, genre, style and vision. Your research and project conceptualization will likely be the most valuable investment you make. Done well, it will even save you money.
Read the rest of this entry »
I’ve been attending quite a few different networking events and groups lately, to expand both my business and social circles and so I’ve been thinking about how social networking happens on and offline. For me, networking is about more than collecting business cards – it becomes much more interesting, fun and effective when you add social media into the mix as I describe below.
If you are not already connecting the dots between your offline and online social networking, you’re missing out on the real benefits. In The Tipping Point Malcolm Gladwell emphasizes the importance of ‘weak ties’ – social media is the perfect way to maintain these – especially for an introverted geek like me who’d prefer to tap at a keyboard than pick up a phone ;) Read the rest of this entry »
Small Business CEO has published my guest post: 10 Tips For Integrating Social Media Into Your Marketing Mix
There’s a lot to be said on this topic but these are some initial thoughts and considerations if you’re just starting to think about integration. The main point is that this is indeed the key word – integration. Social media is not the be-all and end-all of your marketing – it is but one set of tools that should be used in coordination with your other efforts. Check out the post and let me know what you think.
Using Online Video Trailers To Market Books
In: video
12 Dec 2009
This is a great idea I spotted over at Digital Media Buzz – authors are starting to use video trailers, similar to movie trailers, to promote upcoming book releases. It’s a simple idea – applying an existing marketing tool to an industry that hasn’t typically embraced the digital world yet – and has tons of potential. Below is a trailer for W. Heyden Nissim’s new sci-fi novel, Our Time is Near, created by Idea Werks Studios. I see no reason why authors shouldn’t up their digital guerilla marketing game in the same way that independent musicians and labels have been doing. Read the rest of this entry »
The Girl Effect And Viral Video Marketing
In: video
10 Dec 2009
The Girl Effect is a viral video demonstrating the premise that investing in girls in developing countries has the potential to change the world. There are lessons to be learned from how they executed the campaign that can be applied to your own viral video marketing, whether yours is a non-profit or for-profit venture. I wrote a guest post on this topic for AvocadoVideo. Head over to their blog to read about amplifying the Girl Effect and your own viral video marketing.
This is a great read from Mashable and I think the general principles apply not only to LinkedIn, but to running a group or community on any platform. If you thought just engaging in social media was a lot of work, read this before you get all gung-ho and decide to start your own group! If you do it right, and follow these guidelines, you’ll see that it takes time and effort to create a successful group.
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- Tags: community, groups, linkedin, mashable
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About this site
The goal of Web Training Wheels is to coach small businesses, entrepreneurs & non-profits in internet marketing and strategy so that you can take a hands-on approach to your own online efforts.In addition to this blog I work with people one-on-one or in small groups to provide the necessary coaching and direction. I'll give you the confidence and tools you need to effectively use the web to expand your business and express yourself online. Find out more.
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- Blogging Basics (2)
- Online Marketing (5)
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- Social Networking (9)
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- lucy: Thanks for your comment Larry. I like your idea that social media can push the boundaries of the per [...]
- Larry Brooks Ph.D.: This post is timely and your perspective is sobering and encouraging. Psychotherapists tend to be ap [...]
- Justin McCullough: Hi Lucy, I recently found you via a Chris Brogan post. I agree with this post and included you in my [...]
- lucy: @The Frosty - thanks Austin for adding these resources @Julie - you're welcome, glad you found it t [...]
- Julie Grist: THanks Lucy! Great summary of last night's MeetUp and very helpful. [...]
- Do You Know What Your Site Visitors Really Want?
- Social Media For Psychologists And Therapists
- Basic SEO for Blogger – Adding Alt Text To Images
- Microkids Related Posts Wordpress Plugin Review
- Make Your Video Debut
- Using Online Social Networking To Reinforce Offline Networking
- 10 Tips For Integrating Social Media Into Your Marketing Mix
- Using Online Video Trailers To Market Books
- The Girl Effect And Viral Video Marketing
- Mashable’s 8 Tips for Managing a LinkedIn Group
Connect With Me
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bookmark collection contains marketing resources for small business and non-profits
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lucy [AT]webtrainingwheels.com
