Web Video Propels Search Engine Rankings

I first got the phone call a month or so ago. I was knee deep in web site marketing projects and was actually jammed to capacity. I was looking to finish up all of my small jobs so I could move forward and do some more challenging assignments. Plus I was in the middle of releasing some top notch online hybrid techniques that I was about to figure out on my own. This has become somewhat of a hobby of mine if not an obsession. This phone call was different from the ones that usually come into my office. As I learned more about my prospect on the other end of the phone I became somewhat intrigued.

WORKING ABROAD IN MY LIVING ROOM

The project that fell on my desk was for an online campaign for the Philippines. I have no idea about anything that pertains to Philippine culture but this didn’t stop me from getting involved. I was fascinated with the challenge of getting involved with this amazing project. You see, this customer was none other than the famous David Newby, Best Selling Author to, “Why Didn’t Anyone Teach Me This?”. Newby is well known for his financial strategies that he teaches here in the states and abroad. I was eager to get started and got so wound up in the conversation that I didn’t clarify the details. You see, I thought we had over a month to get this thing launched properly. Pleasantries were exchanged and money changed hands and my new customer was zooming off in his candy apple red Lamborghini

………..it turns out I was wrong. I had 4 days to pull off the impossible.

I had exactly under 4 working days to get my client, David Newby, listed and ranked highly on Google and Yahoo. That is not a whole lot of time. You see, we had decided not to bother putting up any pay per click campaigns up for our efforts. We didn’t even want to put any sponsored links up. We were going to play a straight game of organic search engine rankings and do it very quickly. That meant that I had to get his pages at the top of Google without paying a dime.

Could it be done? Could we actually get our pages included into the Google directory index and have our pages rank at the very top? I knew that If I could actually get Newby in the top ten just once I had done my job. If I was able to get him listed just one time for every keyword set he had designed I would have been pleased. I had my work cut out for me. This meant that I had to get on the move. The more I sat around pondering the less time I had to make history happen.

BEYOND ORDINARY SEO, (SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION)

The one thing we did that catapulted our results into another stratosphere was digital video. This wasn’t just your ordinary web video. We shot the video using a HD camera with high resolution and a green screen effect. Basically we used a simple chroma key effect and completely took out the background and made it all white. The effect was flawless but that is not what got us high rankings. We took that simple video and translated it for the search engines. The video search engines that is.

Only 10% of all web traffic comes from the search engines. That is actually pretty shocking when you consider the significance of it all. So where does the other 90% come from? The traffic comes from a variety of sources and these are:

1. Video Search Engines
2. Podcast Search Engines
3. Blog Search Engines
4. Social Networks
5. Publicity Sites

These are all in addition to the regular search engines. The magic of using all of these incredible elements is that they literally propel your rankings to the top – not once, not twice but multiple times. In fact, we were able to get to the top ten 8 out of 10 times in just about every category we picked. That is substantial. We did some incredible things with our rankings. We definitely got the word out about our seminar and info related products.

Now here is the one thing you may have never expected. We were able to get these top rankings in just four hours. That’s right. Four hours.

It took a little pushing and prodding but we were able to get our message out there to the masses in just a few hours. Web video is definitely an attention getter. Not only were we able to get our messages into the niche categories but also into the top of Google. This was accomplished without so much as paying a dime to Google for pay-per-click or any sponsored listings. This is substantial.

Imagine being able to knock out the high cost of pay per click and still being able to dominate the top of the search engines. That is something that is worth celebrating about. I found myself looking for alternative ideas to PPC after my clients kept complaining about high rising costs to market online. This constant rise of client dissatisfaction pushed me into finding new ways to getting top rankings with moderate fees. In doing so I was able to get away from the expected ways of online popularity.

USING THE NEW TYPES OF SEARCH ENGINES

The best way to get good at this type of marketing is to try out new services and live by doing. It is one thing to think about it but taking action is the greatest short cut to great results. Not every industry responds the same way. When I created my first online radio show, (podcast) I noticed immediately that I was not a big hit in the Midwest. However my ratings picked up pretty heavy in California and New York City and ironically that is where all of my business is coming from.

When we were hitting 8 out of 10 of the top ten listings on Google we noticed these listings came from a variety of sources. Some of them were from video listings, some came from podcasting sites, some came from social networks and others came from blogs. But the kicker came in a few weeks. Since web 2.0 services like http://YouTube.com and Google Video automatically creates HTML code it makes life very convenient. This means that visitors can copy and paste into their own web pages or blogs. And that is exactly what happened. Our videos started to pop up on services that we didn’t set up. Our clips started to pop up on video search engines that we never heard of. Someone had seen our clips and liked what they saw and posted them on other services. That means we got our material distributed for free.

This had a huge affect on our search engine rankings. This sent us to the very top on Google and Yahoo. I might also add that the other web site services jumped on board and put us up on high rank visibility as well. These other search engines often use the same technology. Ask Jeeves, Dogpile and many others borrow the same search engine technology to fuel their services.

The moral of the story? By using the new modern tools you can literally write your own ticket.

Ted Cantu is an ex-Art Director and the owner of http://www.1seomichigan.com. He specializes in web site marketing, and direct response copywriting. Cantu creates search engine optimization campaigns, and sells his own Internet marketing courses.

Lighted Menu Boards For Restaurants

Are you renovating the existing location of your restaurant? Do you want something digital to perk up your establishment and give customers something to talk about? What do you think about going for digital menu boards, a fantastic investment for any hospitality establishment?These menu boards have made the life of restaurant owners easy while increasing the USP of their eatery significantly. More and more people are now realizing the advantages associated with technology inputs and the digital boards are surely a case in point. However, before you go on and consider this for your requirement it is necessary to understand the applications and benefit associated with each one. This will make your investment easier and more fulfilling.

Digital version is better than backlit

The backlit menus of yore have today given way to straight digital versions for obvious reasons. In the backlit types, lights are present behind panels for increasing visibility. However, here you need to change options in a manual way bringing down operational efficiency and the versatility of the boards. Also, the inconsistent illumination related to them limits their visibility and even burning out of the light occur after some time.

So, why should you go for these unnecessary hassles when the developments in technology has today ensured complete ease of use in the form of digital menus? Today change of operations related to the menu boards is easy with simple handling of the mouse. No wonder, more and more people are including this technology for their hospitality business requirements.

Digital makeover for write-on boards

Do you know that even the good old write-on boards nowadays come in conjunction with a digital screen for enhanced applications? In the age of digital makeovers, this news should not come as a surprise. Just throw away the colored chalk because a state-of-the-art digital menu is here to make your life easy and automated for getting the best results. Software programs these days can change greeting messages for customers every day without you giving vent to your calligraphic skills on a regular basis!

However, establishments may also choose to mix and match based on their particular choice. For example, you will find that certain bistros or coffee shops tend to use our regular write-on board at the entryway while opting for the latest digital versions for the main panels. If you want, you can even go for a versatile hardware, which changes as a writer-on or a digital version as and when required. The choices are too many to count, so just seek your options and make the best choices.

Applications before decision-making

When it comes to the choice regarding a digital menu board for your restaurants, it is necessary to use one and then consider its feasibility for your establishment. When you are going for larger overall, opting for a lighted board makes sense. This will be in keeping with your more sophisticated and modern projection for your restaurants. It is important to remember that digital boards do not cost much at least as far as the recurring cast scores cool. Therefore, installing them for your business makes sense.

Paul Stephens is a published web content writer with countless blogs to his credit until date. His chosen topics relate mostly to technology and electronics because he is a self-confessed tech-junky. He loves to share the latest innovations and marketing techniques with his readers such as electronic message boards, digital menus, and more.

Saving Time And Having Fun With Emoticons

The Internet has made it much easier for us to make friends all over the world as well as keep in touch with loved ones who live far away. With the ease of emails, message boards, chat rooms, and instant messaging, we are able to carry on lively conversations on just about any subject you can think of.

Of course, the written word can sometimes be ambiguous when it comes to expressing the feelings behind the words. A great tool that helps put our words into perspective are the happy little smiling faces that so many of use in our messages: the emoticons.

Configured so that they can be inserted into the text of everything from a post on a message board to an instant message conversation, emoticons are often used to make the intent of our words a little clearer. The basic emoticon, known as a smiley, is a way of letting the person you are communicating with that the remark you just typed is meant in a friendly way. Resembling the happy face that was so popular during the 1970’s, the most popular style of emoticons are round, often yellow in color, and have eyes and a mouth that are used to convey all sorts of emotions.

There are emoticons that can cover just about any feeling or emotion you want to express. As an example, surprise or shock is often indicated by an emoticon that displays wide-open eyes and a round mouth. Anger may be conveyed by an emoticon that is red rather than yellow, and features a grimace. Love or cordial feelings are often expressed by the use of an emoticon that features a beating red heart. There are even emoticons that can convey boredom, excitement, wild laughter, and a sly wink.

Using emoticons is very easy. Just about every message board and text messaging service provides the user with basic information about how to insert emoticons into communications. Typically, it is a matter of selecting the emoticon from a listing, using the computer mouse. Many systems also allow key sequences from the keyboard to register as emoticons as well. If you are particularly savvy and know how to create the emoticon you want by using your keyboard, you can forego pulling up the emoticon menu and using the mouse to make your selection.

In addition to being informational, emoticons are a way to add a touch of whimsy to any of your electronic communications. Most of us do use these types of communications in an informal manner, so the emoticons will lend themselves well to this type of usage. Opening up an email and seeing a cute remark followed by a line of laughing emoticons can bring a smile to our lips with ease.

Who doesn’t like to receive an emoticon conveyed electronic kiss from someone we are romantically interested in? Between the real service of helping to make our written communications clearer to the recipient, and the sheer fun that emoticons bring to our emails and instant messages, they are definitely now part of our culture.

Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on emotion icons and emoticons at http://www.emotioniconshq.com

How to Choose the Right Digital Signage Software for Your Business

The world has gone digital in the past few years and the advertising marketing sector has been revolutionized. The digital signage software has become the most important means of advertising, especially in the retail markets. The advertiser has the option to deliver the real time content to the shoppers which allow them to directly communicate the usability of their products to the end users which undoubtedly enhance their sale.

Although the digital signage has become part and partial in the advertising sectors, the advertiser should always choose the right digital signage content company so that it can realize advertise business goal and thus help them in creating greater impact on the shoppers. Therefore, it very important to do a thorough research before choosing any signage content creator. In the below paragraphs we will discuss how to choose the right advertiser for your brand:

Always look out for the digital signage software that can support various content and images formats such as WMV, MPEG, EXCEL, PPT, XVID and others. Make sure that the list of the supporting formats is not limited. More over it should have the ability to support live data feed.

Make sure that the software provided by the digital signage content company gives high quality display. We need to ensure that the message of our advertisement is clear and effective; grabbing customers’ attention the main motto of the advertisement and this is possible only if we provide our message in clearer and precise way.

Make sure the application for the interactive digital signage is user friendly; it should not require any technical knowledge or amount of hassle to operate nor should it require a tech savvy programmer to operate. The software should not take large amount of time in installation and utilization. It should be very easy to use rather a drag and drop system will be very handy and useful.

Make sure that the software has the ability to modify the content or image of our display from anywhere and any point of time without visiting the physical location of the advertisement board. It is important to have remote network access of the display signage, this helps in sending communication command from the console without any hassle.

Lastly, and most importantly it is advisable to take help of experienced digital signage network manager who can precisely help you and let you know what kind of software you should buy, what types of content and images should be used and most importantly the area where the display signage should be place. Hope this post will help you in identifying the best digital signage for your business and brands.

The author specializes in, Digital signage software, relationship and offers many valuable tips. But if you want to know more about

Norfolk Premium Outlets Grand Opening

Area shoppers and tourists are invited to join the opening celebration at Norfolk Premium Outlets, Thursday and Friday, June 29-30.

Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Cooper Alexander will officially welcome the region’s newest shopping destination on Thursday, June 29 at 9:40 am. Stephen Yalof, CEO of Simon Premium Outlets and Scott Richardson, vice president development of Simon will be in attendance.

DIRECTIONS: Shoppers coming from the I-64 westbound off-ramp at Northampton Blvd should come straight down the ramp to the traffic signal. From there, turn right to access the dedicated left turn lane for Premium Outlets Blvd. Watch for posted signs.

Norfolk Premium Outlets boasts an ever-growing collection of fashion-forward labels offering daily savings of 25 to 65 percent. Visitors can expect to find dozens of sought-after outlet brands at Norfolk Premium Outlets, including Banana Republic Factory, Gap Outlet, Nike Factory Store, Steve Madden, Under Amour and more.

The Grand Opening Weekend will feature live entertainment, family festivities and prize giveaways. The highlight is a Friday night Beach Party Bash, June 30 from 7:30 PM– 9 PM. DJ Kurt and the Beach Patrol will lead a ‘60s inspired beach party, complete with dancing, beach music mixes and games, all leading up to the Beach Ball Drop at 8:30 p.m. The event will take place at the Entertainment stage near Market Hall. Following the bash, guests can look forward to the anticipated display of beach balls, released to cascade down over the crowd.

*Schedule of Events, June 29-30

Music and Entertainment
Thursday, June 29 and Friday, June 30 from 1 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Entertainment Stage near Market Hall
Guests can take a break from shopping and enjoy family-friendly performances and musical entertainment.

DJ Kurt
Throughout the day on Thursday and Friday

Mad Science: Fire & Ice
Thursday and Friday at 1 p.m.
Young scientists can see just how “hot” and “cool” science can be! Paper will disappear in a flash, carbon dioxide bubbles will pop and a special Mad Science “burp” potion will amaze children as they learn about dry ice, chemical reactions and the states of matter.

Strolling Entertainment
Thursday and Friday from 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Children can enjoy face painting and balloon artists throughout the center.

Mad Science Discovery Station
Thursday and Friday from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Young shoppers eager to become a Junior Mad Scientist can experience fun, interactive experiments while exploring a variety of science concepts. Meet the Mad Scientists and perform some cool reactions!
Location: Near Gap Factory

The Significant Others
Thursday at 3 p.m. and Friday at 2 p.m.

BJ Griffin Duo
Thursday at 5 p.m. and Friday at 4 p.m.

10 Spot
Thursday at 7 p.m. and Friday at 6 p.m.

Prize-an-Hour Giveaways
Thursday, June 29 and Friday, June 30 from 11 a.m. – 4:55 p.m.
Entertainment Stage near Market Hall

Shoppers may register every hour to win prizes ranging from 0-0, starting at 11 a.m., near the Entertainment Stage. Five minutes before each hour, all entries will be collected for the next drawing. Beginning at 11 a.m., one winner will be announced at the top of each hour at the prize display area near the Entertainment Stage. See entry forms for complete rules and regulations.

Select stores will take part in celebrating the opening of Norfolk Premium Outlets with in-store events Thursday, June 29 – Sunday, July 2. Shoppers are encouraged to visit premiumoutlets.com/norfolk for more details.

Savvy shoppers are also encouraged to join the Simon Premium Outlets VIP Shopper Club for exclusive access to extra deals and savings. The Simon Premium Outlets VIP Shopper Club Enrollment Bar will be open Thursday – Saturday from noon – 6 p.m. near Skechers, and new VIP Shopper Club Members receive a free gift (while supplies last). Membership is free and provides access to exclusive benefits including online coupons, insider information from favorite brands, sales and event updates, special offers and more.

Norfolk Premium Outlets will host extended hours throughout the opening weekend from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Thursday, June 29 – Saturday, July 1 and from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Sunday, July 2.

More information about Norfolk Premium Outlets www.premiumoutlets.com/norfolk
Facebook at @NorfolkPremiumOutlets, Twitter at @NorfolkPO and Instagram at @NorfolkPO. Share your favorite moments using hashtag #shopnorfolkpo.

#norfolkVA
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Drive-Thru Menu Boards: Digital or Traditional?

When choosing a menu board for a new drive-through, or replacing a board in an old one, the biggest decision you make may be choosing between a digital and a traditional menu board. With that in mind, here are a few things to think about as you consider this investment.

First of all, you want to think about functionality. Which type of menu board is going to give you what you need? If you’re thinking about cycling through different menus throughout the day, week, or month (for example, a separate menu with breakfast items for morning customers, or a different special every day), digital signage makes that dramatically easier. Alternately, if you don’t anticipate changing your menu more than a few times a year, you might prefer a traditional menu board.

Another factor is cost. Though digital signage tends to show a good return on investment if used to its full potential, it’s still going to be more expensive than a traditional menu board up front. Digital signage also requires you to designate employees in charge of upkeep, which can increase costs as well.

Reliability is also significant. While digital signage technology has improved dramatically lately, even just in the past few years, the particular challenges of maintaining digital signage outdoors mean that digital signage simply requires more upkeep than traditional signage. A traditional menu board in your drive-through isn’t going to need tech support like a digital sign might!

Ultimately, if you want to change your menu board layout regularly and have the resources to pay for a digital menu board and keep it in good working condition, that investment can really pay off. However, traditional menu boards are a tried and true medium, and whether you’re on a budget, looking for a static display, or just a traditionalist, traditional menu boards can be a valuable and reliable addition to your drive-through.

Origin Display Group has a several years of experience in implementing Digital signage in so many businesses under our belt, we have learned to handle almost all situations with fluidity & professionalism. We at Origin Display Group as a supplier of Digital Signage, understands that how important it is for your business, and how it can help you to achieve more profit. To learn more about products & services, visit www.origindigitalsignage.com & www.originmenuboards.com or call 888-235-2579 today