Is SEO BACK From the Dead? [Update]

In a previous post, we talked about how SEO and how strategies and web algorithms have changed over time, particularly in relation to social media and small business online marketing strategies. Content marketing may be partly to blame, with a huge focus and push on publishing content, establishing a tone, voice, and even a brand.

Most non-technical entrepreneurs or bloggers who think or hear anything about SEO often grown or run away in fear. Most perceive SEO as scary. It's big, bad, and can even harm us, if not taken seriously. But like something out of the "Thriller" video, we've seen the transformation of content marketing and shifts in SEO strategies and management over the last year (and even in the last week!) so much that it begs the new question: Is SEO BACK from the dead?

Yes, today is Halloween, and while its a time for ghosts, ghouls, and goblins to emerge from their dark hiding places, SEO is back from the dead, but its zombie-like presence shouldn't mean entrepreneurs and bloggers have to lock their doors tonight or plan for an apocalypse.

The Customer Journey is No Longer Spooky. Today when customers or website visitors hit the web for the purpose to look up or purchase something, they really embark on a journey. Back in the day, this journey used to be more like a haunted house tour...but without the thrill and the fun. Many websites employed tactics that were designed to "trick" (not treat!) customers into a specific call-to-action or even blowing up their screens with annoying pop-ups, ads, and download prompts. But those days are now gone...mostly. Not only are customers and users smarter, Google is smarter. Sites that attempt to trick customers by the allure of fancy keywords and back links now get knocked by Google.

Trans- "actions" -sylvania. The customer journey now involves three steps. Those steps are similar to the buying process we learn about in sales. Reaching a level of trust with a particular business, finding information on a particular product or service and recognizing the value of that product or service, and then make the purchase decision. In summary, the journey is informational, navigational, and transactional.

This customer journey experience now has everything to do with SEO strategy. It's about matching customer experience with SEO strategy; the SEO strategy ultimately playing the role of the customer map. Each "customer map" or SEO strategy should be informational and navigational in order to ensure a customer reaches the "transaction" or the step of "purchase decision".

SEO Becomes Human. Over the last several weeks, Google's algorithms have changed. It focuses on the HUMAN behind the MACHINE. Keywords, content, and SEO strategies are now all tied to the customer. It's all about user-centered SEO. So rather than focusing solely on keywords, back links, and meta tags, Google is now interested in websites and content that builds or represents a BRAND.

Brands Come ALIVE! Each small business should have its own content marketing strategy, which includes a unique tone, voice, culture, or recipe, if you will. Once this has been established, and even documented, this content strategy now becomes a part of the small business brand. So a brand itself has evolved from an image, a logo, a color, or even merely a customer reaction. A brand is still all of those things, but now throw in a superb blog and web content that incorporates all these great elements, and you've now got Google's attention. As a result, SEO has now shifted to focus on the end user, audience, and customer. It's now more about taking those keywords and HUMANIZING them.

So is SEO really BACK from the dead? Or with now more content marketing still taking charge and altering how Google ranks pages, does this really mark the death of traditional SEO? Traditional SEO can still be found haunting various web and social media channels, however, as we progress into 2015, small businesses and bloggers can expect to see an even bigger push on content marketing, but in different ways. As discussed, one of these ways is by embracing the customer journey, and their map is your SEO strategy. Each customer will be matched with a particular SEO experience. Talk about personalization tokens. We just might have created a monster...

Image credit: © Jeffrey Collingwood

Written content: © 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 J.H. Language Solutions

International Translation Day: How Important is Language Anyway?

In observance of International Translation Day let's talk about translation, the art of localization, and the importance of language in today's digital world. With technology, social media, and communicating through text, email, and through a number of other twenty-first century mediums, how important is language these days anyway?

It's no secret that technology and even social media run our society. We can't go anywhere without some tablet or device to refer to or communicate through at any point during the day. Since we now rely on this type of technology to communicate, our language and how we communicate to others has changed, hasn't it? Many of us often overlook when someone emails or texts us without proper punctuation, capitalization, or even shorthand abbreviations and acronyms. However, some still believe that language is still important. Do you still judge those who don't use proper grammar and punctuation? Has our digital society and age run language obsolete?

Translation and Localization. How do you think technology and our "social speak" has changed the world of translation and localization? Translators and localization teams have been faced with the challenge of translating and localizing shorthand language, acronyms, which, of course, vary between languages, cultures, and communities, and even digital terminology and phrases.

For example, let's look at the most basic, widespread acronym used throughout the digital and social worlds: LOL, which means "Laugh Out Loud". Obviously this is what the term is in English...but is "LOL" used in the same form in Spanish, French or German? No. So when translating or localizing a transcript, text string, email correspondence, or even G-chat or Skype conversation, the chances of coming across shorthand language and acronyms is pretty good...even in the world of business. Therefore, translators and localization teams have really struggled with properly translating these terms and phrases to accurately depict what is going on in the conversation.

Body Language: What Does it Mean? When we think of language, the first thing that comes to mind is our own language we speak. We think of a certain dialect or dialogue, vocabulary, and the language we were raised to speak. But what about body language? Body language is just as important as the language we speak. In fact, we might even rely on body language to help us "translate" what a person is thinking or feeling, which is a visual representation of "language" and can even help us when words simply won't do.

In the world of business, most sales and customer service representatives would agree that body language is incredibly crucial when working with customers or closing deals. In fact, body language can even play a crucial role in landing a new job in an interview, getting that promotion, or even help leaders carry themselves in a manner that allows team members to feel like they can approach them.

However, if we aren't careful, our body language can kill our image, as well as set up a poor first impression when working with others. Our body language and even our tone and what we say can all be easily misinterpreted if we aren't careful. It's important to establish a reputation, a rapport, or a comfort level in the language used with customers. Of course, this can vary between industry and business, but setting a consistent style and tone with customers can really help avoid misusing or misinterpreting body language. This is especially important to keep in mind for professionals traveling to other countries or working with various cultures. A phrase or tone in one culture may be seen as offensive or negative in another.

I've personally always found in working with a diverse client and customer base in both my professional, and even personal, environments to avoid using the word "you", either in the phone, text or email. "You" can be accusatory which can send an incorrect message, especially when communicating via email. For example, instead of typing an email that reads, "You need to take the time to review this so we can move this project along", how about rephrasing to, "It is of the utmost importance that this document be reviewed as soon as possible in order to avoid schedule delays. I'd be more than happy to help, if needed." Which sounds better to you?

Did you know that 72% of people prefer texting to calling today? Why is that? Some reasons may be because texting gives us the convenience to respond when we are able to. Another common reason is that it gives us a chance to think and craft an answer before responding. It's important to remember when conducting any message is that how it sounds to us may not always mean it will be received in the same way. The beauty of communicating via email, chat or text is that it gives us an opportunity to think before we hit "send".

Content Marketing and Grammar. Going back to an earlier question at the beginning of this blog, do you still judge those who don't use proper punctuation and grammar in an email, text, presentation, or social media post? Interestingly, the world of content marketing is beginning to believe it's okay to "break the rules" now and again when publishing or posting marketing or web copy. On the other hand, there are still those firm believers and those who stand behind the use of proper language and who still might judge those professionals or organizations whose copy or written communication is riddled with errors. This often gives the appearance of lack of education or unprofessionalism.

However, some content marketers believe that how we speak is different than how we write. While this is certainly true, it's almost that technology and the mediums in which we write or communicate to one another gives us a free pass to using shorthand, acronyms, or avoiding the use of capital letters and punctuation, because who has time? What do you think?

All in all, regardless of which type of language you "translate", whether it is French, German, Italian, Spanish, digital phraseology and terminology, or body language, it all counts, and today is for you.





Vector flat icons - translation and language
© venimo - Fotolia.com

Written content: © 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 J.H. Language Solutions

Business Women's Day: Why Women Naturally Do it Better

September 22nd is Business Women's Day. Hail to all the female entrepreneurs who are rockin' it in business today. Today it's all about you.

 

The Facts Don't Lie.

Women in business are highly successful in business, and the facts don't lie. The number of women-owned businesses and startups have almost doubled the last decade alone. Women have proven to become better managers, accountants, networkers and sales representatives, and even crowd funding entrepreneurs better than men. Recent studies have also detected some some pretty interesting differences between female and male entrepreneurs. 

• More than half of female entrepreneurs consider multitasking, creativity, and empathy to be major strengths compared to men. 
• Men consider confidence as their biggest strength.
• Women are more likely to sacrifice their personal time and social lives for the success of their businesses. 
• Men are more likely to sacrifice time with their spouse and children. 
• Women are also more likely to hire their own children to work with them in their businesses than men.

Personality and Passion. 

It's all about personality that separates one business from another. Women who run successful businesses embrace change, are empathetic with customers and team members, are willing to trust others, and are reliable. Some of these personality traits may be difficult to acquire when running a business, particularly being open to and embracing change. After a length of time, women or female entrepreneurs can become very attached to their routines and "set in their ways". While there's nothing really wrong with this, it can make adapting to change a little difficult. Each woman's individual personality, however, plays a huge role in this. A female entrepreneur who open, empathetic, are willing to trust, and are reliable will have an easier time dealing with change and will run successful businesses.

So this begs the question...Is entrepreneurialship inborn? Or is it learned and based on gender?

In this blog and many others, we've talked a lot about personality and how it is a key component in leadership and being an entrepreneur. So this begs the question...is entrepreneurialship inborn, or can it be learned? In addition to the top five key personality traits that are necessary to running a successful business, we dive into a little bit more detail here and look at what most entrepreneurs have in common...both male and female. Most entrepreneurs have a high level of intellect, have good instincts, are passionate and energized, have an exceptional drive like no other, are excellent communicators, leaders, and motivators, and are fearless. Does this sound like anyone you know?

So which comes first...the chicken or the egg? Are these characteristics that an entrepreneur learns? Or is are these innate personality traits that an entrepreneur is born with? You be the judge...

Show Us the Money, Ladies. 

In addition to the above, women are also believed to naturally be better money managers, which is obviously a crucial area of business. In fact, women have proven to be pretty successful crowd funders. According to a report released by Bank of America earlier this spring, about 40 percent of women began startup businesses within the last five years. Furthermore, 70 percent of those successful female entrepreneurs expect their revenue to increase over last year, which is more than the percentage of male-owned businesses. This is likely due to women's success with crowd funding.

While studies have shown that businesses and startups owned and operated by men receive more venture capital, traditional funding, and sponsors than women, women have proven to be more successful with crowd funding websites. This even goes for female-owned small businesses that are technical in nature or provide a tech-based service.

So we've covered quite a bit here. But what is the reason for all this? Why are more women killing it in business and becoming entrepreneurs? Is it because we are finally entering a more equal society? Are women taking charge and closing the pay gap? Is it because the economy has forced more women to take on second and third jobs? Does technology make it easier to operate a business for stay-at-home moms? Maybe all of these are legit reasons. But maybe the shortest answer is because women do it better...

Image credit: © ra2 studio - Fotolia.com

Written content: © 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 J.H. Language Solutions

Will New Makeup Technology Turn Salons into Cyber Salons?

Do you have that perfect lipstick shade that you absolutely love? Do you also fear the day you run out and worry you’ll never find it again? What if you were able to “print” that favorite lipstick shade or eye shadow right from your own home? Because of new makeup technology, now you can!

Not Just Any Old Printer...

The new technology, Mink, allows users to “print” their own lipsticks, eye shadows, and blush right from their own home. You can surf the web and find that perfect lipstick or eye shadow shade, and print it…like anyone would their favorite photo, article or recipe. The new Mink technology costs around $200 and it looks like any ordinary printer in size and shape.

How Does it Work?

The printer is built to include a formula comprised of basic cosmetic ingredients. Studies have shown that while some may prefer Chanel, most women who buy more expensive cosmetics will also purchase the cheap Wet n’ Wild at local drugstores. It’s all about convenience for most people today. Designer and inventor, Grace Choi, believes that her invention will succeed because it caters to today’s do-it-yourself society that also caters to convenience.

What Do Salons Think?

Should this type of technology take off, local salons will inevitably see a decline in cosmetic inventory sales. But what if salons were to catch onto the technology and purchase a couple of printers for their clients’ use? It could help that teenage girl looking for the perfect prom hairstyle, or the professional woman look for that perfect rich hair color, or anyone in between looking for that perfect lipstick shade that they don’t have to bounce from drugstore to drugstore to find...because who has time?

The Birth of Cyber Salons?

Who ever thought that some day you would be able to print your own favorite cosmetics. This technology could take social media sites like Pinterest to a whole new level. “Pin and print” that gorgeous lipstick you just found and have it to go with your new ‘do or that new dress within seconds.

Most professional cosmetologists and salons will probably dislike the idea of turning a portion of their salon into part cyber café, especially when the space could be used for more chairs, spa services, etc. but for the clients showing up for their appointments, but maybe need to flip through some magazines for that perfect look, it could be a great convenient solution.

How easy would it be to go online or surf Pinterest to find that perfect lipstick or eye shadow? Or even the product you love but fear you will never find again once it's gone. Those days are over...or will certainly shortened to a minimal amount once this new technology takes off. While the Mink printer may still be considered costly for some, for those who spend at least $200 per year on make up and cosmetics, this is a deal.

While the company and Mink technology plan to target individuals between the ages of 13 and 21, it is likely that the technology could catch on and be marketed to a wider reach, should popularity and use increase. All in all, time and the future will tell how individuals will be finding their make up, what their salon visits will look like, and how beauty, fashion, and cosmetic 2.0 trends spread.



Image credit: © didecs - Fotolia.com

Written content: © 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 J.H. Language Solutions

*This topic was written by J.H. Language Solutions for a third party. This article has been altered to fit this blog accordingly.  J.H. Language Solutions in no way assumes ownership of the content above. Topic posted by third party permission.

What Are Business Analytics and What is a Business Analytics Dashboard?

Last Wednesday, I attended a seminar at Bryant University in North Smithfield, RI. To further my professional development and education in addition to my pursuing my degree, I try to attend at least two seminars or other networking events per year. This seminar was on business analytics dashboards. I read the description before registering the event and thought it would be useful to learn, but otherwise I wasn't sure what it was...

So anyone reading this who might be thinking, "what are business analytics and what does it have to with a dashboard?" I will tell you and share what I have learned.

So what are business analytics and metrics, and what do they typically consist of? In short, a business analytics dashboard is an information data resource. It involves charts, graphs, and other pertinent business or project related data all condensed and organized on one screen. What is its purpose? To help give a one shot view of all combined data and to assist with decision-making.

Here is a closer break down:

•  Product sales numbers and data (weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually, etc.)
• Project related information and data (such as project status, schedule of tasks, estimated completion dates, deadlines, milestones, etc.)
• Project risks and associated risk response plan
• Project costs, master schedule, time and materials, etc.
• Percentage of business growth
• Organizational goals (for both for-profit and non-profit organizations)

Basically any type of data that a project manager, business owner, CEO, or any other executive level position needs to see or needs to present to team members, other executives, or even customers in order to make decisions and keep track of data is a business metric.

Here are some design tips to keep in mind when creating and drafting your dashboard:

• Select an attractive color scheme and appropriate font style so it is aesthetically pleasing. 
• Avoid decorative fonts as descriptions and labels should be clear and easy to read.
• Descriptions should be clear yet concise as possible. Context is key here.
• Avoid clutter and “junk”, such as images and widgets. These just take up valuable space. Save them for your brochure or website.
• Arrange and organize data efficiently and accordingly.
• Beneficial dashboards should present both efficiencies and inefficiencies.
• Communicate and share data clearly and effectively.

When designing and drafting your dashboard, keep one thing in mind: What is the most effective way to combine and condense all the data we need to see and review for a project all on one screen? Where do you want your or your users' eyes to be drawn to first? What are your organizational or project goals that you want to stick out and be visible?

Of course, these are all just some ideas on how a dashboard can be used and how to start designing one. Dashboards can be tailored to any position, industry, or audience. Whether you are a project manager studying the schedule of tasks, project milestones, phases, and other project-related specs and information or a CFO managing and monitoring all sales, revenue, and other financial information, or a small business owner who needs to moderate all business facets including finances, projects, sales and organizational goals, and percentage of growth, a dashboard can be a huge benefit in helping teams to organize pertinent data.

Creating and designing a dashboard that is both useful and organized and aesthetically and visibly clear and pleasing is certainly a challenge. All in all, a business analytics and metrics dashboard should help organizations organize and streamline data in a helpful and even professional and presentable manner.




*Photo taken by J.H. Language Solutions, November 20th, 2013 

Written content: © 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 J.H. Language Solutions

Which Blogging and Online Marketing Strategies Actually Work?

Do you have a blog or website? How are you marketing it? Whether you run a blog or website that features your creativity or something you show off or you run a small business, you may be trying to market it in some way to increase your audience and traffic. Most methods include "sharing" content on social media sites, optimizing your web or blog content with keywords, back links, etc., and using ads. But which blogging strategies actually work and which are a waste of time and money?

Is SEO really dead? Social media is the new SEO... 

Current blogging and business trends suggest that SEO is dead, and has been replaced by social media. Social media IS the newest and most effective online marketing technique that has been incredibly successful for many businesses. If you have a small business or are a fully functional entrepreneur and have a website, you should be utilizing social media and online marketing strategies as much as possible. Look into using Facebook ads. Not only is this incredibly cost effective (you are able to set ads to run and control your reach based on what you are willing to spend), but it also increases the amount of "likes" you receive, as well as increase traffic to your website, if you are sharing relevant content on your Facebook fan page. You can kill two birds with one stone here.

While Google page ranks are still vital to a small business's success, and should still be considered in any online marketing strategy, the focus has certainly shifted to social media and utilizing ads, promoting your small business Facebook fan page, and even responding to leads and customer queries. One of the best features to using social media marketing is the ability to interact with clients quickly and directly. Today clients are looking for personalization.

To Click or Not to Click...

Another effective blogging and marketing strategy from years passed is Pay-Per-Click ads, or PPC. This method basically involves using Google Adsense or even another affiliate marketing solution to post ads on your blog or website. So how does this work? Basically small business owners or website owners hosting the ads will get paid a small commission each time a visitor clicks on the ad, and some affiliates even offer a slightly higher commission for those clicks that turn into conversions. Sounds like a good deal, right? Maybe. Basically in order to generate a substantial commission from PPC ads, you would need to ensure that your website receives a LOT of traffic. This may not be the best idea for small businesses trying to establish an online presence or who are just starting out.

The downside? Different articles and studies from various online marketing experts have also claimed that small businesses trying to establish an effective online presence should keep their websites easy to navigate, organized, intuitive, user-friendly, and even interactive (with plenty of videos, infographics, etc.). Some believe that PPC ads create clutter to a web page, are annoying to look at (especially those that pop up in front of users), and are often times irrelevant.

The Future of Digital and Inbound Marketing

So what does the future hold for small businesses and inbound marketing? There are many predictions on what digital and inbound marketing has in store for us. Will Google Glass finally catch on? It's tough to say. Consumers are happy with the ability to swipe their phone in front of a coded box to find out information on a particular ad or billboard advertisement, or even on a box of cereal to obtain nutrition information. Some predictions include virtual ads that will pop up in bus or train windows in front of commuters' and passengers' faces. Some small businesses firmly believe that the future of digital marketing will be all about getting in a customer's face...literally.

On the flip side, what about print advertising mediums? Some of the more "old school" businesses and older generations believe that print will never die. Sure it has declining and will continue to do so each year for the foreseeable future, but will it die completely? It's tough to say...but the moral of the story here? As much as there is a huge push towards inbound marketing, and it is effective, don't abandon your print advertising. Printed brochures, business cards, and flyers still work...and are significantly cheaper than a decade ago.

Time is Money

So what is the best blogging strategy? You can include all the ads, all the posts on your Facebook page, and incorporate all the trending topics into your blog and on your website as possible. Maybe this will work, maybe it won't. But all in all, only blog when you have time. Don't throw any old article up on your website or blog and "share" it on your Facebook and Google+ fan pages just to post something. Your fans and users will see right through this. They aren't going to bother reading content that isn't relevant...or is full of errors. Of course it is important to post content on a regular basis, but keep it meaningful and keep it relevant. This will yield the most results.

Currently the market is flooded with content, webinars, and conferences on "what to dos" and "what NOT to dos" in relation to digital marketing, proven methods versus not-so-proven methods, what works and what doesn't. How do small businesses know what to believe and how do they get it right? At the end of the day, blogging and online marketing strategies really depend on your business, strategy, industry, and what you are looking to get out of it...

Many studies and articles claim that small businesses should be using Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and everything else out there. But how much time does that take? A ton. Not to mention, if your small business offers professional services, how is Pinterest going to be of use to you? Use the social media platforms that make sense for you and your small business. Choose several to commit to that are worth your time and effort and be consistent in your strategy.



Image credit: © Alexey Lisovoy | Dreamstime Stock Photos

Written content: © 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 J.H. Language Solutions

Small Business Ideas for 2013

Have you ever thought of starting your own business? Maybe you have but you weren't sure what to do or what service to provide. After the country's economic recessions which resulted in job loss and never ending unemployment rates, many have looked to other employment and career options. This includes business start ups and online entrepreneurships. So if you fall into any of these categories, here are some great small business ideas and trends for 2013.

1) Design a mobile app. Mobile apps are still where it's at. However, the market has become flooded with them. There is an app for just about everything imaginable, even down to the most ridiculous. The advice here? If you've got a good idea for an app, run with it. But take the time and do research and invest in proper programming and development.

If you are unsure of where to start your market research, consider using social media. You can post general updates or questions on Facebook or Twitter and get feedback from fans. You can even create a Facebook fan page devoted entirely to your app. This will help give you some idea to your app's potential popularity, reviews, and revenue.

2) Tech start ups. Although this seems like another area that has flooded the market, companies based in both the U.S. and overseas are still looking to outsource IT departments and and even looking for consultants to help them with their technical needs...especially with the constantly changing technology.

Also, a recent article published on the New York Times states that tech start ups are worth billions and are most definitely in high demand for 2013. Of course this requires a background and education in a technical or related field, but if you've got a technical background, make it happen. You can't afford not to.

3) Personal training. Who doesn't want to get in shape today? Personal training is another area in high demand. Although it may seem like most people can't afford to feed themselves let alone hire a personal trainer, there are many out there desperate to get in shape and are seeking out reputable and affordable personal trainers. Personal training does require some knowledge and background. There are several certifications and trainings required, including CPR, but it is not as vast as what is required to establish technical training, knowledge, and expertise.

All in all, personal training is said to be one of the least stressful jobs out there. Not to mention you can make and set your own schedule, you have the choice to work at a gym or visit clients in their homes, and you would be working in a field that helps and makes others feel good about themselves. What is better than that?

Advice for your new start up.

Becoming an entrepreneur and investing your time and money in a start up is definitely something to give careful consideration to. It takes time, money, research, and even a little business savvy up front. However, regardless of what kind of start up you choose or in what industry, here are some areas of additional advice to consider:

1) Consulting. If you've got to jump into business with limited or no capital, consider becoming a consultant. This can be accomplished in just about any field, whether you are a lawyer, teacher, a project manager, human resources, or a health care physician of any kind, you can most certainly use your skills, knowledge, experience, and expertise and work independently.

The only out-of-pocket expenses you may incur is for any necessary certifications, insurance (such as a professional liability insurance), and/or having business cards printed up. However, if you choose to really function as a business, set up and register a DBA, and you will be able to claim any out-of-pocket expenses when you file your yearly income taxes.

2) Use social media and start a blog. In order to promote your business or your start up idea, consider creating a Facebook fan page or other social media site or medium to share what you are doing. You can also write and start a blog and post articles, share information, or write press releases on what's going on in your business or even in your industry.

If you aren't a writer, you can always hire a freelancer or ghost writer to write and post content for you. You can write and post content as often as you want, but be sure it is on a regular basis. At least once or several times per week. This will keep visitors returning to your site, which will increase your site's overall traffic as well as your Google rank. Taking advantage of social media will also increase your audience, your fans and "likes", and even your client base.


3) Take Copyright seriously. Yes, I saved one of the most important bits for last. Copyright is no joke. Regardless of whether you are creating or designing an app, putting together a website, using a logo or any photo, or even writing your own blog, please, please, please consider Copyright laws. Most think when they are posting a blog post, or using a photo or logo on their social media sites, or even "sharing" photos on Facebook or Pinterest that it's okay. It's not. Just because it's online doesn't mean it's free. In fact, there are many laws out there that now protect businesses, particularly online businesses from plagiarism, or "borrowing" material.

My advice? Use your own photos, write your own material, research logos before you use them, and register your own published work through the official Copyright office. Protect yourself, protect your business, and respect others' works.

The moral to this story? If you've ever thought about creating your own start up, what are you waiting for? There are many new start ups and small businesses on the market more than ever before. Regardless of what product or service you offer, you are bound to offer something unique that others will find valuable. Make 2013 count for your business.



 © Photo credit: Anatoliy Babiychuk | Dreamstime.com

 © 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Content written and owned by J.H. Language Solutions. Usage by permission only.

Putting the Strategy in SEO

Why is SEO important for businesses today? 

So what is the deal with all this talk of SEO today? In order to ensure survival, businesses must establish a strong online and virtual presence. Gone are the days when prospective clients and customers flipped through the yellow pages to find and hire a company. Today it’s all about who pops up in a search engine first, who has the most Facebook “likes”, and who has the most prominent online presence.

What Goes Into SEO?

Most businesses, particularly those that are new to the world of online marketing and SEO, think that all they need is a well designed website that will speak for itself. While it may seem simple to design and promote a website, there’s actually a science behind it. In fact, SEO comes with its own vocabulary and technical knowledge that one can easily learn.

What’s the First Step in Developing a SEO Strategy?

Another important aspect to utilizing and understanding SEO is staying ahead of the competition. One of the essential tasks to promoting a website is to research and study a competitor’s website and see what works and what doesn’t. What is generating traffic? What kind of content appears? What is the overall look and feel of the site? By answering these questions, a company can use this data in creating and promoting their website that is unique and creative and that will draw attention, a dedicated audience, and drive traffic.

Is the Print Advertising Medium Really Dead?

In addition to creating and promoting a website, a blog, and other virtual content, using social media, researching competitors’ sites, or whichever method works best for a particular business, one medium that most businesses forget to take advantage of these days is print advertising. With the wave of technology and with everything going electronic, it’s easy to forget about the simple brochures or business cards where businesses can promote their websites and fan pages. Printing up brochures, business cards, and flyers with a website, phone number, and other contact information is proven to still be just as effective as it was a decade ago.

Finally, many businesses, particularly the ones that have been around for some time, believe that they are well established enough not to require a good website or do not have to participate in social media. While this may be true, implementing the proper SEO strategies can only lead to a more established online presence, enhance branding, stand out from competitions, and even broaden audiences and target markets. Don't underestimate the power of SEO.

Written content: © 2010, 2011, 2012, J.H. Language Solutions

*This topic was written by J.H. Language Solutions for a third party. This article has been altered to fit this blog accordingly.  J.H. Language Solutions in no way assumes ownership of the content above.

Staying Social in a World of Social Media

Social media is all the rave today. Who ever thought it would get as big as it is? It has even altered how we communicate with one another, how we look up information, and even the way we do business and our daily routines. But has it totally overcome our lives?

Are you addicted to social media?

 It is safe to say that many would agree that social media is addicting. When you are bored at work - how many times a day do you check your Facebook? When you are out running errands - how many times do you "check in" at certain locations? Whenever you run into someone you hadn't seen in awhile or maybe even someone you just met - how many times have you said "I'll Facebook you"? It was recorded just this month that Twitter has amounted to over 500 billion users and sees approximately 340 million tweets per day.

I think we've all been there at one point or another...or maybe even on a daily basis. But how much actual physical social interaction do we engage in now...or do we just rely on Facebook to keep up with all our engagements and correspondence? Some of you may be thinking "I interact with others every day!" That could be true, but I'm not just talking about our jobs or with our families...I'm talking about actual social interactions that involve physically talking face to face and/or engaging in outside activities with another person. These activities also don't involve having a cell phone taped to your ear or your hand. When was the last time you were able to do this? Remember, 22% of users spend their time online on social media.

• It's addicting. The fact is too much social media isn't exactly good for us. Studies have shown that spending too much online or on social media has some serious health risks. In addition to the fact that is extremely addicting and perhaps it's not the best way to be spending our time. I understand that many companies and businesses rely heavily on social media to promote their business or to keep up with competitors, clients, and partners and colleagues. In fact, I'm one of them. However, just like anything, when does it become too much? 

• It can cause depression. There are some people out there who will lock themselves in their rooms or in their homes for an entire weekend or night and just play online. This is most likely more common in younger adults or children, but this isolation is a sure sign of the beginning stages of depression. 

• It leads to decreased physical activity. In a society where obesity is such an epidemic, again, especially in children, the last thing we should be doing is sitting in front of the computer. 

So in a society where everyone and their brother are pushing you to jump on social media, what do you do about it? You can utilize social media in order to plan events that involve engaging in other human beings. This automatically reduces the feeling of isolation, depression, and decreased physical activity. Getting out into the world and doing something fun with a friend, significant other, or family member or child is definitely a more fulfilling activity than just sitting and chatting. In fact, it's not secret that human beings require social interaction with another human being. This could be interacting with another person's emotions, personality, or even just their touch or smile. Humans are social beings that require the interaction with another in order to thrive and develop healthy, social relationships.

Okay, so it's not all bad.

Social media has also helped us in many ways, especially in conjunction with technology. Social media helps you connect with people you already know or maybe haven't seen in awhile, such as distant family members, high school or college friends, international contacts, people with similar interests, etc. It is extremely convenient and easy to keep in touch with people, which is always a great thing.

Then there is the whole business world. Anyone who owns a business has probably reaped the benefits of social media in some way. Utilizing social media as a part of your networking or marketing strategy is not only easy to do, but it's extremely cost effective. You can purchase and run ads through Facebook for as little as $1 per day...and still reach potential clients and business contacts. Facebook does all the work for you. In addition, posting your blog, business site, press releases, or any other published content to your Facebook page or Twitter account is bound to get your name out there and boost your branding faster than print advertising ever could.

Getting out (and not in the social media sense).

All in all, there should really be a limit to how much social media we consume in a day...just for the sheer purpose of getting out there and getting away from the computer. For those who have jobs that involve sitting at a desk in front of a computer screen all day, do you really want to go home and do the same thing? For those who are looking for a change a pace, try getting out and doing something fun with someone else at least once per week (and again, without your cell phone attached to your ear or your hand the entire time).

Maybe you recently started a new job or moved and you don't know anyone and would like to meet someone. For those cases, there is Meetup.com. This is a great way to find something close in proximity to either work, home, or school; that is relative to your interests or hobbies; and that involves meeting others (whether for the purposes of making new friendships, relationships, or networking).

Finally, it's easy to become addicted to social media today. Everywhere you go and everything you do involves posting to Facebook, visiting an organization's fan page or "tweeting" or "posting" a status update. While we've already looked at the pros and cons to social media, there should really be a balance to social media and life.



Cover image: © Radu Razvan Gheorghe | Dreamstime.com

Written content: © 2010, 2011, 2012, J.H. Language Solutions

Publishing and Copyright: No Joke

The publishing industry can't keep up with today's technological advances, which unfortunately is leading down the path of lost sales and revenue. With today's technology and the World Wide Web, it is extremely easy to find, download, and "share" content without having to pay for it or requesting permissions to duplicate it. But is this right? No. In fact it's downright illegal.

A recent article posted this morning indicated that the International Publishers Association (IPA) is fighting to close some selected file sharing sites due to copyright infringement concerns. One particular site (which will remain nameless in this blog) made over 400,000 eBooks available for free. Just because books are now made in electronic or "e" form, does not mean they are "free" to download, use, share, or what have you. Besides, eBooks are extremely cheap. In fact, there is controversy on what eBooks are being sold for on Amazon, versus what publishers should be selling them for. The price of eBooks do not reflect the work that is put into them. The editorial, production, and manufacturing costs...but that's another story.

Now, some of you may be reading and think, "It's online...who cares?" Well, you couldn't be more wrong. The common misconception is that "if I get it offline, it's free". Believe it or not, the Internet isn't a huge free for all of information, even though we absolutely perceive it that way. This is partly one reason why the government wants to censor the Internet with the new Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). While many users and companies are against it, you really can't blame them. Piracy is the same as stealing.

Most of you know that I am a full time editor and project manager for Pearson, (which for those of you who haven't heard of Pearson or aren't familiar with publishing at all, Pearson is the largest publisher in the world.) I work in Pearson's higher ed custom division. Basically my job is to work with universities and colleges to create custom textbooks that are tailored specifically to students in a particular course. Many times, I will get an order that involves printing something the adopter, or professor, wrote, or claims he or she wrote. In my professional experience, you'd be surprised how many times I've had to explain to one of our adopters that they cannot use a particular image or material that they claim is theirs. "But I got it off the Internet..." so? That doesn't mean you own it.

In another example, I'd also like to refer to my Baby Boomer parents, who are still very technologically behind. I had been working full time in publishing for four years at this point and was about to start my business, and I recall one evening after work my father was working on a training PowerPoint presentation for his staff while my mother was cooking dinner. He was getting frustrated with trying to find an image to use in his presentation through Microsoft Clip Art. Then my mother pipes up, "just find one off the Internet". That's precisely when I stepped in with my two cents. I then jumped in the room and said "no, you CAN'T do that!" Both of them looked up at me in surprise as if to say, "what's the big deal?" I explained that that was copyright infringement and that Dad was about to grab an image off the Internet that not only did he not own, but he was about to use that in a presentation that had his company name on it. Not to mention presenting it in front of how many people. Nowadays with "sharing" files and uploading and downloading, my innocent father's training presentation could easily end up in the wrong hands...which could result in a lawsuit, and the possibility of my father losing his job.

Far-fetched? Not quite. Intellectual property is nothing to screw around with, no matter how easily it may seem to grab content offline. Why do you think these lawyers that specialize in intellectual property make big bucks? Have you heard the story of the Kinkos lawsuit? You can read the article, but basically back in the early 90s, Kinkos used to have small locations on university and college campuses, kind of like how Barnes and Nobles manages various campus bookstores. While it was very convenient for students to make copies of assignments, compositions, etc., Kinkos also offered "course packs", which basically included illegal printed copies of copyrighted material that the students could purchase, for profit. However, once word got out, Kinkos was sued by various publishers, claiming that they were distributing and selling various publishers' and rights holders' copyrighted material. Kinkos came back and claimed that it was for educational purposes. The copyright laws back then were a little leaner, however, Kinkos was still sued, and it was at that point that copyright laws became clearly defined and the punishments became more severe.

So the next time you think, "oh, I'll just grab a picture offline for my website or blog," or something to that effect...think again. Think of what you are using the content, material, or image for, and then think of whether or not it is a good idea. You can absolutely use images, however it is best to grab them from stock image sites. There are some on sites that are available for purchase, but there are also free images that you can download and use at your leisure, however, while this is more morally sound, it is still a good idea to credit the designer where possible. Or to avoid the whole deal, take pictures or videos yourself and upload them. The only thing you should be careful for, is protecting YOUR work. You can always add a disclaimer in your description claiming that you took the photo or video or wrote your own work and that you do not permit the sharing or duplicating of content. Now while you don't have a lawyer on your side with documentation protecting your work, someone would have to be pretty stupid to ignore that and use it anyway.

The moral to this story? Just because it is available online, doesn't mean it's FREE, in every sense of the word. It doesn't mean that it's public domain, free of usage, free of an author, or free of cost. More and more sites will be shut down in the future due to this issue, however, you can do what you can and what you know is morally correct or incorrect.

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Children and Technology: A Good Idea?

Technology has consumed our lives. You may read this and think to yourself that this is either good or bad. However, no matter if you are a huge fan of technology or you are totally against it, you have to admit that it has made our lives easier in one way or another. But what about technology and education? Our children have no choice but to succumb to our technologically driven society. But is that a good idea?

More and more schools are instituting technology in their classrooms, and out. Many classes are conducted online, in addition to online education portals where children can study, do homework, activities, and even collaborate with one another and their classroom teacher. There are also technological initiatives to provide each student with a laptop or iPad.

Now that sounds nice, right? Yeah, it’s great...but with the budget cuts nationwide, how are schools going to afford to provide EACH child with a laptop, or iPad for that matter? Schools today can barely afford teachers’ salaries and books...never mind top of the line technology. Our country has to get their shit together before we can provide these great things to our children. Steve Jobs said it best that education cannot be fixed with technology.

Even if the economy and our schools improve and suddenly we have all the money in the world (an obvious exaggeration...) to buy our kids these fancy technological gadgets...what happens to textbooks? The fundamental tool we have used for education since the invention of the printing press. We’ve always thought that we couldn’t really learn without books...so what happens if/when education goes paperless? Wold that do more harm than good?

If you are a parent, or grandparent, or teacher, or older sibling, or have even spent a minute around children, you will see that kids today are more emphatic about technological gadgets, video games, and cell phones than reading or studying. I get that this is why schools are trying harder and harder to integrate technology into their classrooms and curriculums, in order to keep kids focused. However, children today aren’t interested in reading books. And it’s really a sad thing. Kids are already losing the ability to read and write up to graduation standards due to constant instant messaging and texting shorthand. Are our kids and our kids’ kids going to lose the ability to read and write English? What kind of world would that be?

Back in what seemed like another life for me, I was pursuing a Master’s in Education. One of the courses I took was Technology in Education. I thought it was going to be an extremely boring class...but not only was my professor interesting, but I found that the coursework was just as interesting. For my final paper, I did some research on “multiple intelligences” and on children and how their minds work. Children of what is now as today as the “Digital Age”, have actually begun to learn digitally. So it’s possible that our children and their creative minds have actually altered from the traditional learning methods that we possess, and now have the ability to not only be more creative, but have the ability to learn technology and digital methods easier than us.

So I ask you...is technology and education a good idea? Sure...I think we can all agree that there are definitely benefits involved, but there’s a lot to consider. The cost and the long term repercussions. However, today it is impossible to avoid children’s collaboration and ability to get their hands on technology.

© Xavier Gallego Morell | Dreamstime.com