Archive for October, 2009
Reliance on Google PageRank – A Thing of the Past?
Posted by admin in Search Engine Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Web Design on October 27, 2009
Search Engine Optimizers have always relied on Google PageRank to determine the strength of websites on search engines; however, Google is trying to wean us off its use. To do this, Google removed the PageRank values from the Crawl stats section of Google Webmaster Tools.
Google PageRank stats range from (Lowest) 1 – 10 (Highest).
Google Toolbar PageRank
Google has always implied that PageRank is not the end all be all but no one seemed to listen. Now that it’s no longer there, Google is hoping the temptation to utilize these figures dissipates.
Still, the PageRank value is not completely obsolete. The Google toolbar and other third party applications currently provide access to this information, so technically this only affects those that utilize Google Webmaster Tools to closely monitor their sites.
It seems the moral of this Google update is, when analyzing the value of your website do not rely on only one metric.
Remember, when SEO has you confused, contact Marion to get you headed in the right direction.
This Year, Celebrate with a Different & Memorable Corporate Gift!
Posted by admin in Entertainment, Seasonal on October 21, 2009
Normally, we at Marion do not get too excited by the many corporate gift ideas coming across our desks. However, Gift Wrap Gifts are certainly different and really memorable. The sample we received caused quite a stir in the office and a lot of excitement.
When your customers open one of these Gift Wrap Gifts, they will be amazed at its beauty – how it is neatly packaged in a box filled with beautiful wrapping papers, tissue papers, gift labels, pre-tied bows and spools of ribbons, in jewel-like colors and holiday patterns. Gift Wrap Gifts are a treasure customers can take home and share with their families all season long – always an appropriate gift and truly memorable. For maximum enjoyment by your customers, order Gift Wrap Gifts before Thanksgiving or shortly afterwards. Call Marion for more information.
B2Blog: Social Media Marketing Tips for B2B Companies
Posted by admin in Social Networking on October 14, 2009
Social media marketing, like any marketing strategy, takes planning, a tactical approach and most importantly, effort. For B2B companies, social networking can easily fall to the wayside or even sometimes, be abandoned completely. It seems though that with the right mix of strategy and planning and the all-important effort, B2B companies can reap the benefits that social media offers.
Strategy
Have a strategy. Why does your company want to use social media? To help with search engine optimization? To interact with clients? Whatever the reason, just have a reason. Your company will not stick with it, if there is no reason to do it. At Marion, every time we post a blog, we put a link to it on our FaceBook page. It keeps the content updated regularly and utilizes a bit of link strategy to optimize it.
Planning
Have a plan, and stick with it. Search engines, like Google, like it when content is updated. Simply having a blog and never updating it, doesn’t help you. So, make a plan and update it regularly. Here, at the Marion Group, we try to update our blog on every Friday and then post a link to it on our Company FaceBook page.
Effort
Execute your plan. It takes 100 “fans” for your Company FaceBook page to be picked up by Google. So, make some effort. Contact everyone in your Outlook and ask them to join. They help your page get picked up by Google, which is great for optimization purposes, and it keeps your company’s name in front of them, which is key in any marketing strategy.
The Marion Group provides Social Media Packages for clients seeking Social Media Marketing, but don’t know where to start. We develop the strategy, provide the planning and can even put forth the effort for you too. Whatever your marketing need is, The Marion Group has the solution.
For more information on our Social Media Packages, contact us at 713-623-6444 or email us at info2@marion.com.
Are Display Ads Really Measuring Up?
Posted by admin in Advertising, Brand Building, Search Engine Marketing on October 5, 2009
| Online display ads are paid ad placements that may include graphic elements, audio, video or animation and appear on web pages in a variety of sizes and formats. They are also referred to as banner ads. |
How do you know if your display ads are worth your marketing dollars? The standard metric for measuring this media has been click-through rates but according to a recent study by ComScore and Starcom, clicks are a poor way to measure what’s really going on. In fact, the number of people who actually click on display ads has dropped 50% in less than two years and 85% of all clicks are by 8% of internet users. Only 16% of U.S. internet users can be categorized as clickers. In July 2007, it was 32%.
Are internet users ignoring display ads altogether or just becoming savvier viewers?
The study also found that although clicks are down, brand-site visitation and trademark search are up. Internet users may not click on the ad but within one week of viewing, they are 65% more likely to visit the advertiser’s site than someone who’s never been exposed to the ad. Even after four weeks, they are still 45% more likely to visit the advertiser’s site.
Search and display are more effective together than apart. If you relate your display ads to television spots, it is about creating awareness in the prospective buyer’s mind. It’s about building brand awareness verses measuring display ad success through clicks.
Marion Display Ad Example
Some key points to consider when analyzing display ads are:
- How do they fit into the big marketing plan picture?
- How are display ads and search working together?
- How have results improved in brand-awareness studies, purchase-intent increases and engagement rates?
- How are display view-through rates panning out?
- And, if you really want to measure clicks, is your creative message strong enough to demand a click?
If you are considering an online marketing campaign, let Marion guide you in the right direction. We create search engine optimized websites and strategies for your search engine marketing.
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