|
|
|
is 10 years old. |
It may seem like only yesterday that the verb 'to google' appeared in our language, but to celebrate being around for 10 years, Google has released data from the oldest search file they have on record which is 2001.
Entertainingly, if you searched for 'Michael Phelps' in 2001, you were probably looking for a scientist, not a swimmer. 'IPod' didn't refer to a music player, and 'YouTube' didn't refer to anything.
More frighteningly, certainly for my business, if you searched for 'search engine optimisation' in 2001 your would have brought up 12,300 results, today that number has grown to 77.8 million, an increase of 632,520%!
Tip: To get to the top of Google's ranking and grow your business for pretty much any phrase these days requires a focus on search engine optimisation, make sure you are doing the basics right. | |
|
Greetings!
Google Ga Ga Blah Blah!
I'm not sure whether I'm excited or frightened by a statistic I came across this week: 21% of UK parents have created a social networking profile for their baby within minutes of it being born. Photographs are being uploaded and family and friends encouraged to take a look and add their comments. Then by the time the little darlings are five, 16% of them are regular users of the Internet and managing their own social networking pages. I admit that I am of an age that remembers only having 4 TV channels, having to stop at Service Stations to make a phone call, going to the library if I needed information and looking in Yellow Pages if I needed a plumber. No more - today people might 'stumbleupon' you, someone may 'twitter' about you, you might be tagged as 'del.icio.us' or people might 'digg' you. Social networking is an extremely powerful tool to increase your business, but unless you are under 20 you may need some help. For more information on this, any other article or any aspect of improving your Digital Marketing give me a call sometime, 01422 823 075.
Janet Smith
Making Websites Work |
 Online Advertising Spend up while Total Market Falls. |
|
 Internet advertising expenditure grew 21% in the first half of 2008 to £1.7bn as the total market fell by 0.7% according to the Internet Advertising Bureau*. TV, press, outdoor and radio all experienced falls in expenditure.
Paid-for search continues to lead the way, growing by 28% (to £981m). Classifieds grew by 30.2% (to £361.6m) as recruitment, property, automotive and small ads continued their migration to the internet from print classifieds.
Guy Phillipson, chief executive officer of the IAB UK, said "Online is not immune from the economic downturn, but while other sectors see falls in expenditure the internet is still experiencing an incredible increase and is propping up the entire advertising market. The growth in internet advertising spend is beating all expectations as advertisers look to maximise their budgets."
TIP: Pay per Click advertising can be a great way to build you customer base in tough times, but make sure it's you that makes money not just Google!
Top of newsletter.
| |
|
| Have you been 'Poked' Recently? |
|
 According to a September 2008 study conducted by Opinion Research Corporation, if we use social media we are happy to interact with companies there too.
The researchers found 85% of social media users thought companies should interact with them through social media, at least when needed.
It appears we are "eager to deepen" our "brand relationships through social media," said Mike Hollywood. "It isn't an intrusion into" our "lives, but rather a welcome channel for discussion."
 Nearly four out of 10 businesses surveyed used social networks. Of those, nearly one-third said they had a page on Facebook, and more than one-quarter said they used both MySpace and YouTube.
Tip: Are you missing out? Read my 'Tips for Social Networking'.
Top of Newsletter
|
| The Internet in the Credit Crunch. |
|
The latest research from Hitwise* highlights three key areas in which UK online behaviour has started to change in recent months.
Robin Goad, Hitwise UK commented "As you would expect, people are using the Internet to find cheaper goods and services, but also to find information on everything from the reasons behind the credit crunch to money saving DIY tips."
Increased traffic to price comparison sites to find the cheapest prices.
Following a 2 year decrease in traffic levels, visits to price comparison sites increased by 20% between July 2007 and 2008. Similarly, searches for the summer sales have trebled this year compared with last.
Property searches have fallen, but traffic to House and Garden retailers has reached a new high.
 Falling demand for houses is mirrored by search behaviour, with searches for 'houses for sale' down 53.1% between August 2007 and August 2008.
At the same time, visits to house and garden websites increased and has now overtaken visits to property websites.
One of the factors behind the success of house and garden websites has been the increase in DIY searches. Searches for the top 10 DIY-related 'how to' queries have increased by 25% over the last 12 months.
Ethical consumerism has taken a back burner in favour of energy efficiency.
Searches for ethical consumer products such as fair trade and organic have not increased over the last 12 months, but searches for energy efficiency terms, such as 'loft insulation' and 'underfloor heating' have more than doubled. Similarly, traffic to utility websites has doubled as we all hunt for the best deal.
Top of Newsletter
|
|
To help you prioritise what you should do to improve the business generating performance of your presence on the World Wide Web, do give me a call - 01422 823 075 or 07785 255042.
Janet Smith
WSI Internet Marketing Consultant,
First Effect, Digital Marketing Solutions
First Effect Ltd (6515948) is an authorised supplier of the WSI e-Marketplace.
Registered Office: Blackwood, West Yorkshire, HX6 4QR.
Place of Registration: England. |
| Businesses I Recommend. |
I am a member of a professional group of businesses who seek opportunities for one another because finding the right people to do the right job shouldn't be a lottery.
If you are seeking any business product or service I'd be happy to give you a recommendation.
Alternatively you may like to visit our group to see for yourself how it could benefit you. Call me on 01422 823 075 or drop me an email. |
 Are you a property owner, landlord or builder?
The latest Energy legislation is now in force. Energy Performance Certificates are legally required when building, selling or letting property.
Did you know that failure to have these in place when offering premises to the market can lead to fines of up to £5,000/day!
I work with a Commercial Energy Assessor and Property Project Manager/Designer who is qualified to provide certificates for all types of building.
They also work with architects, builders and developers on projects to ensure they pass Building Regulations by providing essential SAP and iSBEM reports.
Tip: Energy efficiency makes sense - so do they! Call me on 01422 823 074 or email me for an introduction. | |
|
|
|
|
