A couple of weeks ago I was invited by the folks at the International Internet Marketing Association (IIMA) to speak on the same topic that I presented at IMC Vancouver 2010: “The Crossroads between Social Media & SEO”. The event will be at 6:00 pm on this coming Wednesday, October 13th, at the 4th floor of the YWCA Vancouver (535 Hornby Street).

To say that I’m excited is really an  understatement. Having been to several talks at IIMA by respected professionals such as Darren Barefoot, Jason Billingsley, Warren Sukernek and Richard Goossen, I feel honoured that I’ve been chosen to join the roster of speakers at IIMA.

For those not familiar with IIMA, they’re an organization now in its twelfth year. Their goal is “to bring marketers, agencies and professionals together to discuss the capabilities and potential of Internet marketing”, and judging by past events I’ve attended, they have certainly been fulfilling this mandate.

Below is a sample of  what you can expect to learn from the presentation:

- How a well-planned social media presence can increase your search engine visibility.
- The steps you’re probably already applying to search engine optimization, and which can be transplanted to your social media outreach for a stronger presence  on Google and Bing.
- How strategic Twitter updates, blog posts, Facebook statuses and YouTube videos can help your search engine rankings.
- Facebook changes that affect search.

I owe a big thanks to Jose Uzcategui, John Hossack, Charity Robertson and all the folks at IIMA for promoting and making this event possible. I’m sure there are other names that I’m failing to mention.

If you’d like to join us, book your ticket online here.  The cost for this IIMA is quite reasonable (CAD$38.25 for IIMA member, and CAD$45 for non-members)

I’m sure that many of us will get together at a pub nearby to continue to network and “talk shop” after the event, so feel free to join us there as well, and allocate some extra time for a pint!

Illustration credit: Luc Legay

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to speak at Freedom 55 Financial on how financial advisors can generate leads through social media and use social networks to grow their business. I couldn’t have asked for a better audience, especially at 8:00 am on a Friday! If you think that financial planners are nothing but stifled individuals with suits and ties, you only need to meet that bunch to change your mind. Laughs were had from both sides of the podium!

One thing that struck me almost immediately was that some financial advisors still don’t have a site. In fact, some of them even doubt the value of having one. What an eye-opener: here we are in the online marketing industry, presuming that every single business can take advantage of social media, when many don’t even have an online presence!

So, in true David Letterman style, The Online Strategy House presents you “The Top 10 Reasons Why You Need a Site”. Pretend you can hear Paul Shaffer in the background… and let’s go!

#10 – You prospects will very likely check you out online when deciding whether or not to become your newest client. A Web site is a perfect tool to build their confidence regarding your company.

#9 – If you choose to have your site built on an easy-to-use content management system, like WordPress, you’ll be able to effortlessly update it with new information. Imagine the possibilities: a new product becomes available to your clientele, and you can immediately let them know about its benefits. It certainly beats printing a new batch of brochures, doesn’t it?

#8 – If you don’t have a site, you can bet that your bigger competitors do. Which brings us back to #10: what if your prospects could not find you online, but saw a comparable business that offered tonnes of information about their offerings? That might create a little bit of doubt in their mind, no?

#7 – Because you want to take control of what happens if prospects “google” your name. If they find your professional-looking site in search results, with valuable content, they will likely feel more reassured — especially if they are in the information search stage of the purchase cycle. However, if all they see is the link to your Facebook profile and that comment that you left on a fishing forum long ago… that doesn’t look so respectable.

#6 - For referrals. People may not remember phone numbers, but they will recall a good domain name. Choose a memorable name for your site, and you’ll make it easier for your loyal clients to spread the word about you.

#5 – A Web site — specifically a blog — gives you a voice when there’s news that you’d like to discuss — related to either your own business or your industry. You can use this outlet to keep your clients “in the know”… which helps you to establish yourself as an authority in your field.

#4- You will probably look unprofessional if you DON’T have a site. Picture this: you’re enjoying a conversation with someone who’s taking an interest in what you do, and might even want to give you some business. He asks your Web address. You say… “I don’t have one”. See that blank stare on his face? That’s the look of disappointment.

#3 – Because it’s not as expensive as you think! If cost is what has kept you from having your own cozy home online, know that now it’s cheaper than ever to have a site created for you. There are many inexpensive services out there that you can turn to, and that make it child’s play to update it.

#2 – Because you can “SEO” (that is, search engine optimize) your site to target phrases that describe your products and services. If done correctly (shameless plug here… ask me how I can help!), your prospects will find you in search engines when they perform a query for those same terms.

#1 – Because it’s 2010! What are you waiting for?

The best time to optimize a site for search engine visibility is before it’s built. There are many design factors that affect whether your site will rank well on Google or Bing. Several of these elements should be considered when the site is planned — not after the fact.

If you’re considering finally taking the online plunge, contact me at The Online Strategy House. I’ll work with your design and development teams to ensure that it’ll help you get the online visibility to reach your goals.

So, as it turned out, three days ago I received a question, submitted to me via my page on FormSpring.me. Cole Roberts, a very talented Vancouver photographer with whom I had the pleasure of working while at Magnify Digital, did the honours as the first “human” (meaning, not FormSpring’s own robot) visitor to ask me a question. Below is a copy, and my answer:

Q: How can I get my blog to be #1 on Google search for ‘Vancouver Photo Blog’ : )

A: Hello, Cole – great to see you here, and thanks for being my first (human) visitor to pose a question.

So… how do you get your blog to be #1 on Google search for “Vancouver Photo Blog”?

As you know, this is not an SEO question that can be answered in a short paragraph, but let’s see what I can do to at least help you know a tad more today, than you did… say… 5 minutes ago.

First, the bad news: it looks as though you have your work cut out for you. A quick search on Google.ca shows that there are 17,300,000 search listings for that same term.

The good news: I’ve been following what you’ve been doing on your blog, and you’re on the right track. That contest you ran last year (http://ow.ly/Ywj3), which had the final draw broadcast on video, is an example of content that you can continue to do, to differentiate yourself from your competitors. One idea would be for you to keep on creating engaging, educational, informative, unique content on video, and post it to YouTube. According to data from October ‘08 (eons ago), YouTube, at that time, had more than 65 million unique users.

It also happens that videos are displayed among search results on Google. So… if you continue to develop catchy videos, and optimize them for terms like “Vancouver Photo Blog”, etc, there’s a higher likelihood that your videos will turn up on search results for those same phrases.

That’s just one element you can implement. Another one, which is critical, is the development of optimized text content for your site, focusing on “Vancouver Photo Blog”. Don’t overdo on the Title Tags, though. I’ve seen some pages where you’re just trying too hard.

Now, when it comes to text, you want to be careful. You don’t want to spam the text in your site with “Vancouver Photo Blog” written a thousand times, in sequence. There’s an art to this. Carefully chosen keywords, in carefully chosen places on a page, are part of the answer.

Now, last but not least… the easiest way for you to rank #1 on Google search, for “Vancouver Photo Blog”, is to… invest in PPC ads (AdWords). That’ll be quicker and easier, but the effects to your search ranking won’t be perennial…

Hey… you didn’t say if it had to be #1 in organic (unsponsored) results! : )

And when I happen to need photos made, you’ll be top of mind!

Would you like to ask me a question? Go right to my page on FormSpring.me and shoot it. Just to get your imagination going:

Q: “What’s your favourite city?” A: Berlin

Q: “Who was your favourite actor growing up”? A: James Dean

Q: “What is your biggest phobia?” A: Cockroaches. I can scare a bear away from my yard (which I’ve done while living in Whistler), but would run out of the house at the sight of a roach.