Internet Marketing

What You Need to Know About Gestalt Laws for Perceptual Organization For SEO

For sometime now, SEO has been about on-page elements, keywords and backlinks and so on and so forth.

 

However, Semantic search, which uses Gestalt psychology, looks at structured and organized wholes instead of studying the sum of their constituents. In other words, it seeks to understands complete entities.

 

That said, the easiest way for one to use this approach to their website or social media activity is to use gestalt laws of perceptual organization. Here are 3 of these laws:

 

#1: Similarity

This law states that objects that are grouped together are actually similar to each other. What this does is amplify the collective value of these objects. One example of this is Amazon’s semantic search where it brings up a list of books that are similar. It’s clear that listing these books bring a complementary value to each other while increasing the likelihood of people buying more books. In a non-commercial setting, it increases the chances of people staying on the site longer.

 

#4: Symmetry

Our mind is focused on finding symmetry especially in the situation of grouping of objects or content is concerned. In fact, it can be more subtly used in the case of content such marketing messages or even social media network positioning. You don’t have to articulate your message when you use symmetry. Nike’s “Impossible is Nothing” campaign is one such example.

 

#5: Closure

If you look at the blue lines that are stacked up to make the IBM logo, that completeness to represent a whole that means something is what brings into effect the law of closure. It is that situation when all elements of a data set all add up to mean something. When you organize content on your website, this law is in effect.

Internet Marketing

Virginia to Yelp: Unmask Anonymous Reviewers

Article by Peter Black from Fix Bad Reputation.

In a new victory for businesses who feel they have been victimized by spoofed reviews, a Virginia court has compelled Yelp to unmask a group of anonymous reviewers or take down the text. Online reviews are a trusted resource for those shopping on the Web, but faked reviews present a serious problem for consumers and businesses alike. While Yelp does allow users to post with an anonymous monicker, these rules may change with this new ruling.

Drawing on a pre-existing statute, the Virginia court ruled that anonymous reviews can cause significant harm to a business. Because it is unreliable to identify these reviewers, it is within the court’s jurisdiction to request these reviewers get unmasked. Though the ruling occurred in Virginia, the implications are wide reaching. Some are worried that this ruling will forever jeopardize Internet anonymity.

Is free speech a thing of the past? Where will the federal courts draw the line? Submit Express CEO Pierre Zarokian explores the issue in depth, examining the ramifications of this landmark ruling.

Read More: www.searchenginejournal.com/court-slams-free-speech-anonymous-yelp-reviews-fire/86069/

Internet Marketing

3 Changes Facebook is Making to Marketing As a Whole

For a while now, Facebook has ruled the roost when it comes to organic social interactions. This is for the simple reason that Facebook has a reach and visibility that is unrivalled.

However, the social media giant is now moving away from organic reach to paid search. This, quite clearly, will change marketing as we know it as it continues to use the confusing EdgeRank system.

That said, here are 3 specific changes that Facebook is making, and that will change marketing as a result:

#1: External content links

Any type of content that leads users away from Facebook such as links to blogs, sales pages or websites will be lowered, in terms of Facebook’s rankings. Even if Facebook says that it intends to keep content that it’s users might be most interested in, the truth is that it’s is in Facebook’s best interests to have users stay on the site.

#2: Image and Memes won’t work any longer

Simple put, memes and image-heavy posts will not work any longer but instead Facebook will place more emphasis on links. Of course, any of Facebook’s link post images will have to be optimized to obtain the minimum dimensions of Facebook’s open graph images. In other words, high-quality articles will take the place of meme posts in your News Feed.

#3: Quality links posts and Content will

What this suggests is that articles from big news publications will be given more prominence rather than ones made by Facebook’s users. Of course, this means that blogs from small businesses and publishers will drop down that list. Also, more work will have to be put into link posts from now on.

Internet Marketing

How to Attract Senior Citizens to Your Internet Café

If you own an internet café franchise, it might not be doing so well. While it was a hot business during the 90s, internet cafes today are having a difficult time attracting new clientele. Why? Because children, youth, and adults who used to venture out to café to surf the web and play video games now have computers in the palms of their hands.

So how can you improve your business without shutting down? Consider targeting a new demographic: senior citizens. Here are two ways you can attract senior citizens to your internet café.

Add Sweepstakes Games

The latest trend at internet parlors across the nation is sweepstakes games. And senior citizens love playing them! Many senior citizens don’t have computers of their own, let alone smart phones with access to the web. For them, it’s easier to dial a ride to the nearest internet café for sweepstakes games. Another reason why the older generation enjoys sweepstakes games is because it’s a way for them to socialize with others of the same age. But senior citizens are not the only people who love playing sweepstakes games. People of all ages will enjoy playing these games.

Change Up the Menu

Since an older crowd will be coming into your shop, consider changing the menu from junk food such as chips and soda to healthier choices including fruit smoothies, salads, and wraps. A new menu will prove that you’re serious about pleasing an older clientele, but it will also keep your current customers coming back for more.

Internet Marketing

5 Types of Facebook Posts that Receive a Lot Of Engagement

If you own a Facebook page, you’d know that there are certain posts that tend to enjoy greater engagement than others.

Of course, with the objective being to keep people abreast of your page, let’s look at 5 posts that can help you do this with ease.

#1: Asking Questions

This one doesn’t require much research or preparation. However, if you want invite more participation, ask questions that are divisive in nature. You can ask multiple choice type or yes or no questions but keep in mind that light-hearted questions get the most responses.

#2: Quotes

Quotes by famous people tend to appear in newspapers, magazine and now with the internet a part of our lives, just about everywhere on it. No matter how old they are, you can use them to get attention on Facebook. Just make it is relevant and topical with your audience.

#3: Memes

It goes without saying that the number of people who are using the meme is really high.  After all, the internet is the home of the meme and replicates and goes viral like no other. If it’s humorous, as most of them are, then why not use it for your marketing if it already exists.

#4: Caption this image

It’s become a habit for people to caption images in the form of funny comments. This used to be done in magazines and newspapers but can be used when making Facebook posts. You’ll understand why when you make one of these on your page.

#5: Tips

Tips are usually a great option for a Facebook post because they’re sure to guarantee engagement. The reason for this is because they’re written keeping your audience’s problems and concerns in mind and offers them clear and simple solutions for these issues.

Featured, Internet Marketing, Social Media Marketing

Achieving success with Social Media Marketing

Using Social Media to do online marketing is being done on a large scale. You may not even be aware of it, but your are part of the target market for someone and therefore you are being subject to some sort of Social Media Marketing every time you use a Social Network.

The trick is being subtle and using a lot of finesse. Try out these simple tips and see the results for yourself.

1. Hit the right target audience. If you don’t know who your target audience is, then your marketing efforts simply boil down to shooting in the dark. Very few products appeal to every age group. Even in that situation, your marketing efforts should be tailored to suit those age groups. For example if you sell high performance mountain bikes, your target audience is generally between 14-35 years in age. Even this can be broken down in to a 14-19, 20-35 demographic and targeted differently.

2. Add value. Communicate with this target group. Figure out their likes and dislikes of the product, what they want, what they need, etc. Then try to figure out how you can give them what they want. This is what will make you unique when you eventually start selling. In the meantime give them as much information as you can in helpful videos, articles, advice etc. Basically you have to appear as a Guru in the making.

3. Get personal. Have one to one discussions with people from the target group. While this maybe time consuming, the bond you form will help you get a sure sale when the time comes. Once they do become your customers, this bond will prompt them to promote the product for you as well.

If you need professional help, we recommend iClimber. iClimber provides social media marketing services, as well as content writing.

Internet Marketing

3 Ways Local Businesses Can Build a Good Email List

There’s no doubt that email newsletters can be a lot of work, so it only makes sense that you create and maintain a good list in the first place.

Another reason why this is so important is because it can be twice as effective as a print ad where instead of making sales pitches, you can create interesting content that helps you sell your product or service.

So, with that said, here are 3 ways local businesses can build a good email list:

#1: Use Text-to-join

Statistically speaking, almost 50% of online activity comes from using mobiles. Text-to-join makes it easy for people to sign up with your service apart from other email service providers such as MailChimp, BlueHornet, iContact and Bronto. If you don’t use any of these other services, then you can use TXTImpact that will set you up with Text-to-join.

#2: Offer incentives to both employees and customers

Some companies offer incentives to both customers and staff to help them a good email list. The trick is not offer such good rewards that they are tempted to cheat. For example, instead of offering financial rewards, an early day off on Friday should work just as well.

#3: Use the iCapture iPad app

Most businesses are finding the iCapture app to be useful not only for checkouts but also to capture customer information. While this app has a free version, the $6 per month version will offer you features to add your business logo and colors to the opt-in page along with gathering customer preferences and email addresses and so on and so forth.

Internet Marketing, Reputation Management

Reputation Management Attorneys Claim Bing Has Changed Policy on Defamatory Content

SearchEngineWatch.com, an industry-leading SEO news site, on August 23 published an article written by Submit Express CEO Pierre Zarokian about the supposed change in Bing’s policy to remove defamatory content from its search index. Titled Bing No Longer Complying with Court-Ordered Defamatory Content Removals?, the article suggests a provocative claim by top reputation management attorneys – Bing is no longer complying with requests to remove defamatory content from its search engine, even if the requests have been ordered by court.  

According to the article, Zarokian has spoken with several attorneys including internet lawyer Aaron Kelly who agrees on the recent developments. According to Kelly, the search engine used to remove defamatory URLS in the past without problems. But now the search engine seems to be refusing to honor every court order he has recently sent in. It is not a surprise that a spokesperson from Bing denies the claims, stating that the search engine “complies with its legal obligations.” Has Bing really changed its policy on defamatory content? Read the entire article to find out.

Internet Marketing

3 Things to Consider When Updating Your Website

Probably the most important question that one must ask about their website is whether it creates a good impression on visitors or doesn’t.

If it doesn’t, thanks to your website looking boring or lifeless, then your business will seem the same.

So, how do you know when it’s time to revamp your website?

First, if you haven’t updated your site for a few years, then that should be a no-brainer as to what you need to do next. Another way to check whether it’s time is to make comparisons between your website and your competitors and seeing where you stand.

And if you think it’s time, here are 3 things to consider when updating your website:

#1: Think Customer-Centric

You’ll be surprised if you use Google Analytics, as to which pages your customers visit – and how little time they spend on the pages of your site. Armed with that information, it’s a good idea to make those pages appealing by using good color combinations and lesser amounts of text. Keep your message simple and put yourself in the shoes of the customer and what they want to know. Finally, make your contact information easy to find.

#2: Use Videos

It’s an excellent idea to add videos to your website. Experts have found that even if people don’t always watch videos but when they do, the videos are only a couple of minutes longer and not more. And this even pertains to boring videos as well.

#3: Pictures are Good Too

Make sure you add pleasing pictures too with excellent captions. Research has found that captions are read almost always. It pays to post pictures that reveal the evidence of your work whether you are a roofer or even a dentist. However, do not assume that the pictures you’ve posted should do. Keep testing the response by changing pictures every now and then.

Business Services, Internet Marketing

Get Noticed: A Foolproof Way to Get Your Idea off the Ground

The information revolution of the last few decades saw the emergence of a generation of great entrepreneurs who built their business empires by bringing their ideas to the internet. People such as Mark Zuckerberg, Jeffrey Bezos, Larry Page and Sergey Brin became billionaires through ingenious ideas brought to the internet. Due to this, it’s no wonder that tens of millions of people try their luck in doing business online.

Doing business online is more than just a matter of having a great idea and posting it online. In order to really get your idea out there, you need to get real traffic into your business’ webpage. Without traffic, a really great idea that is potentially worth billions will only go to waste because no one will ever really see it. With your average internet search getting upwards of a hundred million hits, it is no wonder that a lot of online businesses simply flop no matter how good the underlying idea is.

What you need, in order to get your online business going, is an expert partner that can help bring viral traffic to your business website. An experienced website traffic solutions provider such as Traffix Tech can direct real and relevant web traffic your way. Think of it this way, you know you have something good to offer but you’re in a busy street full of other businesses. What you need is a partner that is no different from a traditional ad agency. You need someone who can bring attention to your business that is both effective and affordable.

Article submitted by Traffix Tech. Traffix tech is an experienced website traffic solutions provider where you can buy hits that are designed to bring good business.