May/090
SEO 10 Step Run-Down - Step 8 - Stats
After the initial grind work of researching keywords, tested them with PPC for conversions, analyzing your competitors, optimizing your site, building your links and using social media to promote your cool tools, it’s time to reflect.
Hopefully at this point, you’ve watched your website crawl up the rankings and finally hit the sweet spot - you’re on the first page of Google or better yet - you’re above the fold on Google! Time to kick back and watch the money pour in from whatever goods or services you’re providing.
Unfortunately, that’s not true… Now’s when the work REALLY begins. Now don’t get me wrong, you’ve gone through a lot to get here and you’ve definitely put in your hours - you do deserve to take a bit of time off from dealing with your site before you head into the final three stages . This couple weeks will give you time to collect some baseline data for what we’re going to discuss here …
Improving Site Efficiency and Overall Health
At this point, your website is probably performing for you, generating sales leads, perhaps even help increase revenue. This is where so many businesses drop the ball… They get comfortable.
Now is the perfect time to analyze visitor data, and see exactly what’s happening with your visitors. Where are they coming from? How long are they staying, and which pages are they visiting. These answers will help you further improve your website, thus making it even more profitable.
We suggest Google Analytics. It provides in-depth information and statistics regarding your website’s visitor activity.
The stats are collected and seen by Google and provided to you in a fairly simple-to-read format complete with the ability to customize a lot of the data and set targets so you can track specifically who is landing on specific pages (such as you’re “thank you” page). The data in which Google Analytics is extremely favorable.
For example: If the average visitor to your site only stays for 30 seconds and visits 1.5 pages… what do you think that means?
I would take that to mean that your website isn’t providing the visitor with the most relevant information at their fingertips. Adjusting content to make it more favorable to the visitor will not only help you keep them on your website longer, they will browse more pages… Ultimately this leads to more sales.
I could go on all day about website stats and what they should mean to you, but who’s got that kind of time.
If you’re one of those types who’s never looked at their stats, or perhaps doesn’t have access to them… It’s time to start. Seriously.
Apr/090
SEO 10 Step Run-Down - Step 7 - PPC
Before we get into the practices that should be applied to a PPC campaign, it is tremendously important to understand why you’re interested in getting started. When people read about a PPC campaign, they often think of a Google AdWords campaign geared around making a sale. While this is generally the main use, there are certainly other aspects of PPC. The environment you are in will have a massive impact on how you manage your campaign. This will likely make more sense after they are outlined. So let’s do this dance:
Environment One: For the Sale
A lot of PPC campaigns are ran purely for the benefits they themselves provide. The goal of the campaign is to produce a lead or sale. The main issues you are going to face with this type of PPC environment involve budget, tracking, conversion and targeting. We will discuss this at another time.
Environment Two: For Research
When you’re considering launching a major organic search engine optimization campaign it is often smart to launch a Pay-per-click campaign first. When you’re conducting your keyword research for your organic campaign, you’ll get a good idea of the volume of traffic you can expect from each keyword but that doesn’t really tell you what you can expect as far as conversions.
Environment Three: The Whole Lot
There are also those aggressive types, that run Pay-per-click campaigns in conjunction with successful organic SEO campaigns. These are companies that want to be found in both sets of results and/or who want to use PPC to target those phrases that they aren’t ranking for in the organic results. Again, for people engaged in this type of promotions the metrics and the focus are very different than those running campaigns in a different environment.
Doing your Homework is Key
Just like organic SEO campaigns - PPC campaigns begin with keyword research. It is wise to use the keyword tools provided by the engine you are engaging in a campaign with. While all tools have their pros and cons - if you are launching an AdWords campaign with Google - the data provided by Google will be that which they’ve gathered from their own searchers and thus is far more likely to be more accurate than data gather from any other source. The same can be said for other PPC engines.
Here at Primary Target, we’re not the hugest supporters of Pay-per-click as a whole, however if you can get market some solid keywords at a low enough cost, and are willing to really stay on top of your PPC campaigns, they may perform well for you.
If you have any questions regarding Pay-per-click, don’t hesitate to drop us a line, or give us a call at 519-253-8885.
Mar/090
PTM Set to Release ‘Do-it-Yourself’ Email Marketing Application
March 24, 2009
Windsor, Ontario – Local email marketing experts Primary Target Media, a subsidiary of CDP Web Solutions, are all set to release the much anticipated ‘do-it-yourself’ version of their popular email marketing service.
Using the same technology which has helped Primary Target deliver over 10 million emails on behalf of their clients, will soon be available for businesses to create and deliver email campaigns of their own.
Primary Target is best known for their managed email marketing service, where they design, develop and deliver custom email campaigns for their clients. Using their experience in the email marketing field, they have been able to produce consistent, exceptional results for businesses of all types and sizes.
“The idea of email marketing is still in somewhat of an infancy stage in our area. A common misconception among many businesses is that all email marketing is both SPAM and ineffective”, states Joel Paterson of Primary Target Media. Paterson continues by adding that email marketing offers the highest ROI (return on investment), over any other form of advertising available today.
Primary Target’s decision to release a ‘do-it-yourself’ version of their application came about when discussing the topic with various colleagues throughout Windsor. “Some individuals are reluctant to pay a higher price for a managed service, however are certainly willing to try their hand at email marketing on their own. Our ‘do-it-yourself’ application will provide just that. Easy to use functionality at an affordable price” says Joel.
“Since the development of our first email marketing application five years ago, we’ve been working diligently on improving the system and its capabilities. Today, it offers some of the most robust reporting and analytic features available anywhere. Our clients are often extremely impressed with the comprehensive statistics and follow-up opportunities it offers”. Paterson adds.
Primary Target stresses the importance of customer loyalty and retention. Keeping in touch with current and past customers is what builds a strong foundation for any business. By developing effective email marketing communications, a business is able to keep in touch for as low as $0.02/contact… Far cheaper than the price tag of $0.60+ to deliver a letter or postcard.
Joel finishes by adding that email marketing can help most any business. With clients such as Car Dealers, Travel Agents, Garden Centres, Salons/Spa and more, the deployment of consistent, on-time communications doesn’t have to be intimidating or expensive.
For more information on email marketing, or any other of Primary Target Media’s services, contact 519-253-8885 or visit www.primarytargetmedia.com
Feb/090
BWTA Announces “Dancing with the Local Stars” at Caesars Windsor
Better World Today Association will be holding auditions for Ballroom Dancers for the upcoming “Dancing with the Local Stars at Caesars Windsor”
Dancers will perform, and the best will be paired up with the local stars. It is more about having fun and entertainment value. They are looking for Ballroom Dancers that have good talent and you don’t have to be a professional.
Sunday Feb 8th @ 3 pm - Nancy Pattison Dance World on 3900 Walker Rd.
The Local Stars include…
Actor Robert Nolan (Actor)
Steve Hart (Director of soccer)
Mark Lander (89X The River)
Dave Taylor( Host 92.7)
Kim Scott (92.7)
Tony Vidal (CEO CFTV)
Troy-Ann Massad (CFTV Reporter)
Dave Cassidy (Skilled trade Council President)
Claudia Renkwitz–Lefaive (Canadian Boxing Silver Medalist)
Barbara de la Fuente (Actress, Author, Producer)
Rachel Nevada (Actress, Reporter 760 AM)
Billy Whitehouse (Actor)
Jennifer Prentice-Songal (Interior Designer - Walkerville Trade Center)
Dates are as follows -
Series 1 - Tuesday, March 24, 2009 @ 7pm - Tickets $10
Series 2 - Tuesday, April 21, 2009 @ 7pm - Tickets $10
Series 3 - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 @ 7pm - Tickets $10
Series 4 - Tuesday, June 16, 2009 @ 7pm - Tickets $10
Semi-Finals & Gala Dinner - Saturday, July 4 2009 @ 6pm - Tickets $75
Finals - Saturday, July 26, 2009 @ 2pm - Tickets $10
For more information on this exciting event, contact Ron Giles at 519-945-8888.
You can also purchase tickets online here.
What is the BWTA?
The goal of the Better World Today Association is to ensure that no man, woman or child shall be deprived of a necessary Bone Marrow Transplant as the result of a lack of donors on the World-wide Registry, by raising public awareness of the need for Bone Marrow donors through Education; Special Events; Media Involvement; Community Sponsorships, And Fund-Raising Efforts.
Visit the BWTA website for more information.