On Wednesday, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the site hit a half-billion active users.

That’s nearly five times as many people as watched this year’s Super Bowl — the most popular television broadcast ever — and about four times as many people as voted in the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

People spend more than 700 billion minutes per month on the site and, according to Facebook, 400 million of them have logged in during the past month. Keep in mind there are only 309 million people in the United States — total.

Source:  CNN.com

Post from: beachdog.com

5 Times More Popular Than The Super Bowl

I admit it.  I’m addicted to caffeine.  Once, in college, I even shot a video that included an IV drip from a coffee pot.  Living in the Pacific Northwest where there is a coffee stand on every other block (or at least it feels that way in some towns), you can’t help but be addicted to some form of caffeine.  But the Caffeine that I’m here to write about is Google’s new search technology.

For those who have been watching the Search Engine Optimization world lately, you already know that Google’s new search algorithm, Caffeine, went officially live on June 7th.  Partially released last September, it wasn’t until early May that the full promise of Caffeine hit.  The changes Google brought forth with this new search technology devastate some sites that were optimized using old tricks that no longer work.

Google yourself; search by your company name, by the terms you think your customers may type in to find you, and see if you’ve been affected.

Now that the dust is settling on Google’s changes, it’s time to take a look at the new Google Index, its new rules and top listings.  Here is what Google considers important in your sites:

• Fast Loading - delays of even a half of a second can have a negative effect on your site.  Visitor satisfaction will decrease, users will spend less time on your site and will return less frequently.  The trick is to not sacrifice quality for speed.  Smaller images would be key rather than using lesser quality images.
• Quality Over Relevancy - Long tail keywords were often relevant but lacked quality.  Having more incoming links and better matching specific search queries are what Google is looking for.
• Meta data is back – Google is using meta data description information for the descriptions in the search indexes. A quality description is once again an asset.  Keywords…not so much, but some.
• Social Media - While you can ask users to re-tweet or share your content to help give your ranking a boost.  Remember, an aggressive social media strategy does not replace a well designed and optimized web site.  Together, however, you have a powerful machine.
• Standard SEO Applies – The emphasis on the above is still small when compared to the SEO basics.  Build strong incoming links, produce unique content and optimize pages, videos and images.  Content is still the most important of all of these.

At beachdog.com, our SEO approach, for most clients, continues to be ‘white hat conservative‘.  We strive to apply standard SEO basics to help our customers generate longer-term ‘organic’ placement within search engines.  By focusing on our clients’ marketing goals, we make recommendations on how to best organize their online presence to remain competitive in the dog-eat-dog world of search.  Now, more than ever, is apparent that quality content, both visual and textual, delivered in an efficient manner, is more important to search ranking than fancy tricks that often drive customers away with increased load times or distracting images.

We’re offering some special pricing right now for clients who would like us to:

• Analyze what Caffeine means to their site(s)
• Make recommendations for improvement
• Make those improvements

As always, we like to meet you where you want to be met; we’ll be happy to teach you, guide you, or do it for you, at your discretion.  If you’re interested in learning more, zap me a note at karl@beachdog.com, or call on Code Puppy Ethan: ethan@beachdog.com or phone either of us: 360-642-4431.

Our fellow Web Hound, Blair, is working up some social marketing packages and plans for you.  Watch this blog for details soon.  With solid ‘white hat conservative’ SEO, a well-designed and functioning site and social networking, miracles happen!

~Karl

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Caffeinated SEO

Watch the TV Commercials. |   Check them out on facebook.

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How Tillamook Used Facebook to Break Away from the Pack

“Social media has changed our lives. It has not only changed the way we communicate, but the way we connect with one another, consume our news, conduct our work, organize our lives, and much more. So why not celebrate?” –Mashable

Still think social media is just a trend? Please take a peek at this video… it is worth EVERY second and literally gives me chills.

Are you ready to CELEBRATE?

-Blair

Post from: beachdog.com

Happy Social Media Day!

Is it really THAT quick and easy? Absolutely. Twitter is a microblogging service; a tool that allows the user to broadcast brief messages (140 characters) to a diverse community that has grown to nearly 100 million users since its birth in 2007. You pick and choose who you follow… and you have the option to sort them into manageable lists (i.e. Friends, Media, Business, etc). Imagine the success that business owners alone can achieve through being active on this site. How? By directing traffic to your website, building your brand, obtaining constructive feedback, sourcing information, or simply networking with like-minded folks! Better yet, there is no cost to use the service. Yes… we’re talking about FREE (and incredibly effective) advertising. Not only are you proving that you have an innovative marketing plan… but you’re putting yourself directly in front of your sphere of influence. Did I mention that Twitter is approaching 100 million users…? “I’m out there, Jerry, and I’m lovin’ every minute of it!” -Kramer, Seinfeld.

The most common objection to Twitter is predictable, “Do people really care what I’m doing right now?” While the original rollout was arguably self-indulgent (I’m eating lasagna – I’m playing video games – I’m washing my car), let’s fast-forward to 2010. The perception and value of Twitter has transformed immensely. While personal touch is certainly important (who wants to read article after article, anyhow?), it’s no longer a platform to continuously applaud yourself. Today’s casual user will post links to their favorite websites, share recipes, contribute to polls, network with potential employers, dispense advice, whatever… Gone are the days of “I’m petting my cat” and other useless announcements.

Want tips on how to utilize this great tool for your biz… or how to manage your feed and understand the lingo? Do not hesitate to get in touch with me… I’d be glad to point you in the right direction. I would also recommend taking a peek at the ultimate Twitter guide book.

“It will be hard to wait out Twitter because it is lightweight, endlessly useful and gets better as more people use it. Brands are using it, institutions are using it, and it is becoming a place where a lot of important conversations are being held.” –Clay Shirky, Here Comes Everybody, a book about social media.

Tweet, tweet!

-Blair

Post from: beachdog.com

Twitter: The Quick and Dirty on the Birdy

WordPress is a top-notch publishing platform with a focus on aesthetics, web standards, and usability.  It is used for blogs about your dog and Fortune 500 companies alike.  We like it for many of our clients because:

• It allows you to make easy updates to your site without waiting, or paying for, web developers like us
• It’s simple; if you can use Microsoft Word – you can edit your WordPress site
• Because it is Open Source, the program is free, not going anywhere, and has thousands of programmers contributing to make it better
• It makes it easy for us to make your site mobile-friendly
• It makes it easy for us (inexpensive for you) to add a variety of functions to your site

WordPress has a new version (3.0) being released near the end of June.  There are quite a few exciting features but what we’re most excited about are some of the technical improvements “under the hood”. These improvements allow us to create even more impressive and complex sites.  Previously, when the team met with a new client, they determined if WordPress was a good fit or if they needed a more custom back end solution.  Much of the time, more custom meant a lot more expensive because it required a fair amount of high-end coding time.  Now, with this latest version, we can handle much more complexity, offer lower costs and keep Wordpress’s ease of use. Thats quite the trifecta!

Already have Wordpress? If you would like to chat to someone about what Wordpress 3.0 can be used to take your site to the next level — give me a woof!  360-642-4431  or ethan@beachdog.com

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WordPress 3.0 – A Sneak Peak

1. What will make you stand out among the others “yelling into the chasm?”
2. Who is your target audience?
3. Who are your direct competitors?
4. What could be some indirect inhibitors?
5. Do you have a marketing plan – written down with goals, strategies, tactics and a reasonable budget?
6. Is there a strategy or tactic within your marketing plan that social media could compliment / support (Public Relations, etc.)?
7. Do you have the manpower/ time for social media marketing?
8. (If not) Do you have the budget to outsource components of social media marketing?
9. Do you know how to carry on an engaging conversation?
10. Do you have patience?

He also referenced an article on the Small Business Success Index;  it’s a quick snapshot on how small business owners like YOU are using social media for business.  Worth the read.

~Karl

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Wondering how to use Facebook, etc., for business?

What are Google alerts?

Google.com/alerts are automated email messages sent from Google.  You register at Google alerts and tell them to send you messages about a particular term or subject, and you’ll receive an alert email every time there is a mention of the word
in any site appearing in the Google search results. These are likely to be new web pages appearing on the web, like a news alert or a new story.  Whatever it is, whenever there is a mention of the keyword you requested, you get an email.

Even better, there are quite a few customizations possible such as sending you an alert as and when your term is indexed or sending you an alert on a daily basis.  You’re in control of how often you’re notified.

Why should I care and how do I use this to my advantage?

Let us count the ways… 

• Manage your online image & company brand
• Stay on top of reviews written about your business
• Learn what bloggers are saying about you
• Find media mentions of your company
• Be the first to learn of new information releases on a topic
• Track a news story relevant to your industry
• See how popular a particular search term
• Follow niche markets
• Track incoming links to your site (In the “Search terms” field enter – link:www.yoursite.com where ‘yoursite’ is literally your website address and in the “type” option, select “web”)
• Increase traffic and search engine rankings!  This one is a little time-consuming, but cash-FREE.  What you do is set the alert for a particular keyword phrase/term with “type” blog articles.  You’ll get alerts about sites who use that term in their blog.  Go there and make a useful comment about what they’ve written.  If the blogger likes your comment, they’ll approve it and you will likely get a link from their site to yours.  This is REALLY GOOD link strategy.  If it sounds interesting but you need more info, you know how to find us!  webmaster@beachdog.com

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How To Use Google Alerts To Help Your Business

Drop in next week and we’ll be happy to show you your site on a mobile phone – no charge and no commitment.

Source: http://news.softpedia.com/news/56-Public-Wi-Fi-Connections-Made-via-Mobile-Phones-136010.shtml

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56% Public Wi-Fi Connections Made via Mobile Phones

HARO

Reporters get access to the right source at the right time.

News sources get media opportunities they never would have heard of otherwise.

Sponsors get access to a ridiculously large and targeted audience who actually listens and is looking for what you’re promoting and selling.

And it is FREE to reporters and news sources.

I signed up a few months ago and receive daily emails with list of stories looking for sources.  A number of our clients have benefitted from my noticing a story looking for a news source that I knew was a good match for them.  Past calls include things like:

• Family Friendly Seattle Area Hotels (regional parenting publication)
• Urgent: creditors/bankers needed for social media and credit story (creditcards.com)
• Need to speak to electronics recycler (NYTimes)
• Moms Who Love or Hate Twilight (Blog)
• Do you have a seasonal job? (CNNMoney.com)
• Looking for Divorce Attorney to share tips (Book)

You get the idea.  The email also includes more details on these headlines, including who to contact if you are a match for their story.

So sign up!   All you have to lose is a few minutes of reading email until you decide this is either not a good fit for your business or a launch pad to FREE EXPOSURE with little effort and no dollars spent.  I like those odds.

–Keleigh

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29,478 Ways to Get FREE PR