Category: Tips & Myths Debunked
The QR Code as a Marketing Tool
Before delving into the marketing uses and future of the QR (Quick Response) Code, we first should understand what they are and where they came from.
Increasingly consumers are seeing small square graphics, similar to the one on this page, appearing on traditional forms of media. These include: bus shelters, magazines, newspapers and even on television. But how many of those consumers know what they are or what they do?
What is a QR Code?
QR Codes, first created by Toyota in the mid-90s for use tracking cars during the assembly process, can quickly pass a large amount of data, provided you have a device to read them. Their use has expended to other industries including the world of Internet Marketing, where they are intended to be scanned using a Smart Phone (i.e. iPhone or Android)
More on Keyword Density…
In a past article on Common SEO Myths I included Keyword Density in my list. For those of you who don’t know what that term refers to, in short it’s a theory that to properly optimize a page for a specific keyword or phrase, the word(s) must be included a certain number of time – usually calculated as a % of the total words on that page or paragraph.
While I know a lot of “SEO Professionals” who spout this nonsense, it’s mainly done to baffle and impress their clients as there is no proof that this is at all an effective strategy. In fact as the quotes below show, industry leading experts do not agree that this is a valid or important aspect of SEO. I’m republishing these quotes and links as I recently had a client who believed this was a valid SEO practice because his former SEO agency mentioned it in every report.
My approach to writing or optimizing page content is to write naturally and for human readers. If you know the topic you’re writing about, all the desired keywords should be included naturally. Don’t over-repeat words or try to keyword “stuff” your content. But don’t just take my word for this…
5 Mobile Adwords Tips
The use of smartphones is growing at a rate faster than any other modern technology adoption. At the recent Vancouver SEMPO Google Summit, a Google spokesperson reported that 41% of Canadian consumers are using smartphones compared to 28% globally.
Targeting this “on-the-move” demographic can be a perfect fit for many types of businesses, in particularly products or services people may seek while away from their home or office computer such as places to eat, specific types of stores, or hotels while traveling.
Here are a few tips to consider before getting started. These are based on tips provided by Google, as well as my own recent experience launching and managing mobile campaigns for my clients.
Tip 1: Ensure Your Website is Mobile Ready
Driving conversions on mobile ads is about providing the best experience for your customers. Does your website work well on a mobile device with full internet browsing, such as an Android, Blackberry or iPhone? Is it easy for users to navigate or are there too many options to choose from? Can they find what they want quickly, or do they need to browse through lots of pages? Consider building a mobile-optimized site to remove these barriers to conversions. If running WordPress there are several plug-in modules which will recognize a mobile visitor and display a simplified mobile version of your site.
Your Online Store-Front
Is this the street version of your website?
Would you distribute a sales brochure to potential customers which was designed a decade ago, contained missing pictures and outdated information? I suppose some might, but no successful business owner would.
If you had a store front business on a busy pedestrian street would you never clean your windows or touch-up peeling paint? Would you allow your signage to become so dirty no-one could make out your company name? Again, some might, but successful business owners take pride in their business and the image they put forward to the public.
Choosing an SEO Consultant – Part II
A quick search in Google for “SEO Consultant in Vancouver” turns up thousands of results. How do you know who is a legitimate expert in your area? How do you know if they are really local, and actually know what they’re doing?
In a totally unregulated industry with no recognized certifications or professional association to determine who can call themselves an “SEO Expert”, business owners are on their own to do their own investigating and due diligence to determine who really can deliver results for their business.