Comments for Liquis Design Blog http://www.liquisdesign.com/blog Liquis Design is a Phoenix website design and graphic design company in Phoenix. Visit our blog to see what’s hot in design, marketing and small business! Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:10:21 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 Comment on My takeaways from Social Media AZ #SMAZ by John Gerstner http://www.liquisdesign.com/blog/my-takeaways-from-social-media-az-smaz/comment-page-1/#comment-445 John Gerstner Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:10:21 +0000 http://www.liquisdesign.com/blog/?p=551#comment-445 Andy ... thanks for posting your excellent notes. I attended as well, and got a lot out of the conference, but my notes are, well, pitiful. Would you like to cover our upcoming conference in Scottsdale in similar fashion? I think it would be a great benefit to attendees, and to all those who can't attend. The conference is BUILDING AND PROTECTING REPUTATION 2010: Executive Communications and Speechwriting in the New Media Age, Scottsdale, Arizona Feb 24-25, 2010. http://www.communitelligence.com/content/ahpg.cfm?spgid=380&full=1 This is the first year for the REPUTATION conference in Scottsdale but we are expecting this to be a premier annual learning event. We have some of the very top experts on executive communications and speechwriting on the agenda, the venue is an architectural delight and we've partnered with the Cicero Speechwriting Awards and local IABC and PRSA chapters for added learning and value. There's also a cocktail reception under the stars and an evening dine around for networking. Thanks, John Andy … thanks for posting your excellent notes. I attended as well, and got a lot out of the conference, but my notes are, well, pitiful.

Would you like to cover our upcoming conference in Scottsdale in similar fashion? I think it would be a great benefit to attendees, and to all those who can’t attend.

The conference is BUILDING AND PROTECTING REPUTATION 2010: Executive Communications and Speechwriting in the New Media Age, Scottsdale, Arizona Feb 24-25, 2010. http://www.communitelligence.com/content/ahpg.cfm?spgid=380&full=1

This is the first year for the REPUTATION conference in Scottsdale but we are expecting this to be a premier annual learning event. We have some of the very top experts on executive communications and speechwriting on the agenda, the venue is an architectural delight and we’ve partnered with the Cicero Speechwriting Awards and local IABC and PRSA chapters for added learning and value. There’s also a cocktail reception under the stars and an evening dine around for networking.

Thanks,
John

]]> Comment on My takeaways from Social Media AZ #SMAZ by FireSpy http://www.liquisdesign.com/blog/my-takeaways-from-social-media-az-smaz/comment-page-1/#comment-444 FireSpy Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:04:02 +0000 http://www.liquisdesign.com/blog/?p=551#comment-444 Here are my notes from Arnie's presentation on Social Media & Search at SMAz -- very informative! <b>Social Media and Search</b> Arnie Keunn, CEO of Vertical Measures @ArnieK <a href="http://www.verticalmeasures.com" rel="nofollow">Vertical Measures</a> </b>Optimizing for search is critical</b> <b>What happened in 2009?</b> --Google made ~ 540 changes in 2009 they update their algorithms almost every week. --Search Engines got better at eliminating spam. --Quality backlinks became much more important, weak links became worthless in terms of rankings. --If the link is easy to get, the Search Engines know it. --Social media ‘signals’ became a real factor. <b>What to expect in 2010</b> --Quality in SEO --Create engaging unique content --Optimization of each page you want to rank --Trusted inbound links --Changing search results Personalized search: you need to be there to be considered. Universal Search: capture real estate with local video press blog post <b>Social Media influence</b> --Signals & real time results <b>How does social influence search? </b> It can influence your rankings for your websites • Mentions & Signals • Backlinks Social Media actually appears in the search results • real time search • Blog posts • Images • Video <b>Social media as reputation management</b> How Does It Work Today? Google bot or spider Your website: Create Good Content Build pages around your Keywords Add real value to the web visitor • Unique • Informative • Entertaining Who Do You Link To? • Good neighbors • It’s your reputation <b>On Page Optimization (in order of importance for 2010)</b> Recommended reading <a href="http://www.seomoz.org/blog/ranking-factors-version-3-released" rel="nofollow">SEOmoz's 2009 Latest Ranking Factors</a> Links – Internal & external Freshness of content & KW usage TT (viewed in results) Image Alt text H1 Tag Description meta tag (viewed in results) URL structure Page Load Times <b>What NOT to do on Pages </b> Try to fool the SEs KW stuffing More links than text Biggest factor is Still Inbound Links The best links: From trusted sites (.gov, .edu) Have proper anchor text Have varied anchor text Are from many different domains (new 2010) Determined editorially (SOCIAL!) <b>Social Media in Search results</b> Videos Images Blog posts Profiles Tweets Updates They all appear in Search Engine Results Pages You still need to optimize for Social / Profiles where possible: Titles, KWs, tags, descriptions. Try to build links to them too. <b>The Best of Both Social & Search</b> Build great content and promote it Good for Social Media? • Is it ‘linkworthy’? • Can you promote it? Examples: Lists Case Studies Comparisons Satire & parody Interviews Polls & Surveys Videos Contests 0 detailed example, next) Promote it using social media!!! Have a corporate blog. <b>Social & Search – Other Ideas</b> Widgets & Badges Licensing of Content or Tools Research results, white papers, free tools, etc. Article Placement Here are my notes from Arnie’s presentation on Social Media & Search at SMAz — very informative!

Social Media and Search Arnie Keunn, CEO of Vertical Measures @ArnieK Vertical Measures

Optimizing for search is critical

What happened in 2009?

–Google made ~ 540 changes in 2009 they update their algorithms almost every week.
–Search Engines got better at eliminating spam.
–Quality backlinks became much more important, weak links became worthless in terms of rankings.
–If the link is easy to get, the Search Engines know it.
–Social media ‘signals’ became a real factor.

What to expect in 2010

–Quality in SEO
–Create engaging unique content
–Optimization of each page you want to rank
–Trusted inbound links
–Changing search results
Personalized search: you need to be there to be considered.
Universal Search: capture real estate with local video press blog post

Social Media influence
–Signals & real time results

How does social influence search?

It can influence your rankings for your websites

• Mentions & Signals
• Backlinks

Social Media actually appears in the search results

• real time search
• Blog posts
• Images
• Video

Social media as reputation management

How Does It Work Today?
Google bot or spider

Your website: Create Good Content
Build pages around your Keywords

Add real value to the web visitor
• Unique
• Informative
• Entertaining

Who Do You Link To?
• Good neighbors
• It’s your reputation

On Page Optimization (in order of importance for 2010)
Recommended reading SEOmoz’s 2009 Latest Ranking Factors

Links – Internal & external
Freshness of content & KW usage
TT (viewed in results)
Image Alt text
H1 Tag
Description meta tag (viewed in results)
URL structure
Page Load Times

What NOT to do on Pages

Try to fool the SEs
KW stuffing
More links than text
Biggest factor is Still Inbound Links

The best links:
From trusted sites (.gov, .edu)
Have proper anchor text
Have varied anchor text
Are from many different domains (new 2010)
Determined editorially (SOCIAL!)

Social Media in Search results
Videos
Images
Blog posts
Profiles
Tweets
Updates
They all appear in Search Engine Results Pages

You still need to optimize for Social / Profiles where possible:
Titles, KWs, tags, descriptions.
Try to build links to them too.

The Best of Both Social & Search

Build great content and promote it
Good for Social Media?
• Is it ‘linkworthy’?
• Can you promote it?

Examples:
Lists
Case Studies
Comparisons
Satire & parody
Interviews
Polls & Surveys
Videos
Contests 0 detailed example, next)
Promote it using social media!!!
Have a corporate blog.

Social & Search – Other Ideas
Widgets & Badges
Licensing of Content or Tools
Research results, white papers, free tools, etc.
Article Placement

]]> Comment on My takeaways from Social Media AZ #SMAZ by Joe Mana http://www.liquisdesign.com/blog/my-takeaways-from-social-media-az-smaz/comment-page-1/#comment-439 Joe Mana Thu, 28 Jan 2010 04:12:15 +0000 http://www.liquisdesign.com/blog/?p=551#comment-439 Andy -- Awesome. ...Make that spectacular! The verbosity and clarity in all your notes and summaries of the presenters was excellent. This is a great resource and you cited everything the best you can with links. Seriously, thanks for attending and taking the time to put your thoughts on this together. It shall benefit many people. I plan on taking a number of these points item by item and writing about them. Thanks again! If you ever want to connect and discuss social media strategy, let me know. :) ~joe @joemanna Andy —

Awesome. …Make that spectacular! The verbosity and clarity in all your notes and summaries of the presenters was excellent. This is a great resource and you cited everything the best you can with links.

Seriously, thanks for attending and taking the time to put your thoughts on this together. It shall benefit many people. I plan on taking a number of these points item by item and writing about them.

Thanks again! If you ever want to connect and discuss social media strategy, let me know. :)

~joe
@joemanna

]]> Comment on My takeaways from Social Media AZ #SMAZ by Abbie S. Fink http://www.liquisdesign.com/blog/my-takeaways-from-social-media-az-smaz/comment-page-1/#comment-438 Abbie S. Fink Thu, 28 Jan 2010 03:42:42 +0000 http://www.liquisdesign.com/blog/?p=551#comment-438 Andy - first, it was great seeing you at SMAZ on Monday. And I'm with you - I got so much out of it. So often now these types of events are about the "What Is" of social media. This really dived into the "How To" of social media. The trending presentation as well as Jason's on blogging were the winner for me. Lots of great ideas, anxious to put some of them to work. Andy – first, it was great seeing you at SMAZ on Monday. And I’m with you – I got so much out of it. So often now these types of events are about the “What Is” of social media. This really dived into the “How To” of social media. The trending presentation as well as Jason’s on blogging were the winner for me. Lots of great ideas, anxious to put some of them to work.

]]> Comment on Generational Profiling by Tony Arranaga http://www.liquisdesign.com/blog/generational-profiling/comment-page-1/#comment-424 Tony Arranaga Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:55:41 +0000 http://www.liquisdesign.com/blog/?p=541#comment-424 Great conversation starter! I just celebrated my 40th birthday. I'm a gen x'er, I'm totally a product of the 80's and I love my MTV. (Did I just say totally? That's so 80's...) I think for certain issues there is a need for generational profiling. Healthcare, for example, is one of those issues. Baby boomers can relate to the affects of aging, medical bills, etc. - and how all of that will affect their pocketbook. AARP continues to be a success in this country because the organization provides a place for this demographic to talk about the issues baby boomers are facing together. Alternative transportation, however, is completely different. These days, using mass transit and living carfree is becoming a lifestyle choice rather than something you're forced to do. The people who read my site range in age from their early 20's to late 50's. This means I have to speak to a broad spectrum of people - I find the best way to do that is to just talk about my daily experiences living carfree. Great conversation starter! I just celebrated my 40th birthday. I’m a gen x’er, I’m totally a product of the 80’s and I love my MTV. (Did I just say totally? That’s so 80’s…)
I think for certain issues there is a need for generational profiling. Healthcare, for example, is one of those issues. Baby boomers can relate to the affects of aging, medical bills, etc. – and how all of that will affect their pocketbook. AARP continues to be a success in this country because the organization provides a place for this demographic to talk about the issues baby boomers are facing together.
Alternative transportation, however, is completely different. These days, using mass transit and living carfree is becoming a lifestyle choice rather than something you’re forced to do. The people who read my site range in age from their early 20’s to late 50’s. This means I have to speak to a broad spectrum of people – I find the best way to do that is to just talk about my daily experiences living carfree.

]]> Comment on Social Media for Business by Ann N. Videan, APR http://www.liquisdesign.com/blog/social-media-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-136 Ann N. Videan, APR Fri, 02 Oct 2009 04:34:10 +0000 http://www.liquisdesign.com/blog/?p=433#comment-136 You MADE me comment because you said on Facebook you knew I wanted to! Well, you are right. I did! Good advice, here, Andy. Cheers! You MADE me comment because you said on Facebook you knew I wanted to! Well, you are right. I did! Good advice, here, Andy. Cheers!

]]> Comment on What’s in a name? by ScribeDevil http://www.liquisdesign.com/blog/whats-in-a-name/comment-page-1/#comment-90 ScribeDevil Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:31:26 +0000 http://www.liquisdesign.com/blog/?p=428#comment-90 When I launched my ASU sports blog, I wanted to choose a name that would appeal to the most hardcore Sun Devil fans. I wanted it to be a kind of winking way of saying, “Yeah, I’m hardcore too.” (I also wanted to avoid running afoul of the university’s brand police!) After compiling a list of names I thought would appeal to my target audience, I chose <em>Echo from the Buttes</em>. I liked it for three main reasons. First, it’s a key lyric in the ASU fight song that isn’t obvious to outsiders. Second, the name doubled as a call-to-action for readers seeking to sound off on ASU sports. And finally, I liked how the name tied into the visual of A mountain (one of two said buttes) for the blog’s banner/logo. So that’s that. It was a fun exercise! When I launched my ASU sports blog, I wanted to choose a name that would appeal to the most hardcore Sun Devil fans. I wanted it to be a kind of winking way of saying, “Yeah, I’m hardcore too.” (I also wanted to avoid running afoul of the university’s brand police!)

After compiling a list of names I thought would appeal to my target audience, I chose Echo from the Buttes. I liked it for three main reasons. First, it’s a key lyric in the ASU fight song that isn’t obvious to outsiders. Second, the name doubled as a call-to-action for readers seeking to sound off on ASU sports. And finally, I liked how the name tied into the visual of A mountain (one of two said buttes) for the blog’s banner/logo.

So that’s that. It was a fun exercise!

]]> Comment on Liquis is turning 1! by Paula Moyes http://www.liquisdesign.com/blog/bday/comment-page-1/#comment-57 Paula Moyes Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:12:22 +0000 http://www.liquisdesign.com/blog/?p=346#comment-57 Congratulations to all of you! I owe my entire website to Liquis. I really feel that my site is current and I am proud to show it off. I love my "What's New " page. I can update it on my own, and this adds value to me as a business owner. Thanks again, Paula Moyes Congratulations to all of you! I owe my entire website to Liquis. I really feel that my site is current and I am proud to show it off. I love my “What’s New ” page. I can update it on my own, and this adds value to me as a business owner. Thanks again, Paula Moyes

]]> Comment on PM tools we love by Deb http://www.liquisdesign.com/blog/327/comment-page-1/#comment-51 Deb Fri, 17 Jul 2009 02:22:03 +0000 http://www.liquisdesign.com/blog/?p=327#comment-51 I'm a huge fan of Remember the Milk (www.rememberthemilk.com). It's a super functional Web-based to-do list that keeps me organized and on top of my daily and, let's face the truth, overdue tasks. The free version does everything I could ever want and then some but for a mere 25 buckaroos you can upgrade to pro and have it sync with your BlackBerry tasks, too. My favorite part is that there is also a gadget available for Windows Sidebar so my nifty little to-do list is staring me right in the face all the time and I can even add to it directly from my sidebar. I'm going to have to check out Sosius and DimDim (I've used it before with you guys, I think). Thanks for the suggestions! I’m a huge fan of Remember the Milk (www.rememberthemilk.com). It’s a super functional Web-based to-do list that keeps me organized and on top of my daily and, let’s face the truth, overdue tasks. The free version does everything I could ever want and then some but for a mere 25 buckaroos you can upgrade to pro and have it sync with your BlackBerry tasks, too. My favorite part is that there is also a gadget available for Windows Sidebar so my nifty little to-do list is staring me right in the face all the time and I can even add to it directly from my sidebar.

I’m going to have to check out Sosius and DimDim (I’ve used it before with you guys, I think). Thanks for the suggestions!

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