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Monday, March 29, 2010

Video Marketing and Optimization Resources

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Thursday, March 25, 2010

Video - Search Engine Optimization (Tool 9)

Video Optimization
One of the utmost benefits of video search traffic is that it’s free, it’s viral and it can still be easily controlled for certain groups of phrases. Generally speaking the video search engines can’t look inside the video to identify what the video is all about for which they rely on other factors such as meta files (title, description, tags) and anchor text / hyper links in order to categorize the video.

However, searching engine have become smart enough to identify adult content within the video through some flash detection, which also helps in detection of text on the screen but it does not help us in optimization process of the video.

Few Tips for Optimizing of your videos:

Ensure that your videos are relevant and informative – make sure that your video provides useful information and is relevant to the tags inserted while uploading a video. The best practice observed are those that provide demonstration, step-by-step guide and opinions regarding some products or brands. Do not just upload videos for the sake of providing something to your viewers which is not relevant to your offerings.

Give a Catchy Title – One way to get users to view your video is to give catchy titles that contain relevant keywords as of your service or product offerings. This will also help in bring the traffic over to your site.

Use Video Portals for link back - try uploading videos on portals like YouTube, MySpace etc. and link back to the related videos uploaded on your site.

Optimize your video on Important Key Phrases – Ensure what keywords your target audience are searching for and tag your video with these terms preferably name the video based on these terms.

Give Transcripts along with your Videos – Search engines will need something to index and rank your site accordingly for which it is necessary to provide some transcript on page which serves as HTML and is still search engine’s favorite.

Do not create lengthy videos - try keeping your video up to maximum of 5 minutes. If your video content is of long duration, my suggestions break it up into smaller parts and tag each of them accordingly. It helps in making your videos more interesting and also keep users looking for more.

Create Video Site-map on your site - For videos uploaded on your own site, make it is for the users and crawlers to find the video content easily. The easiest way is to create a site map based on important keywords or key phrases with respect to the search volume and provide anchor text link to your videos.

Apply Appropriate Tags - tag your videos with key phrases that are insightful of the content.

Brand your Video – Videos are observed to be a great tool, which helps in generating brand awareness to your prospects. Take complete advantage of this tool by incorporating your logo within your videos.

Inbound Linking – It is not much different from promoting a website so remember to link your videos using important keywords in anchor text.

Provide Embed Option with your Videos – it allows users to embed the video to their sites or blogs through inserting the code in their sites. Think viral marketing

Insert Descriptive Meta Data – while uploading videos insert relevant keywords and a keyword rich description of your video content.

Allow Ratings on your Video – allow users to rate your videos the higher ratings the video receive the chance of grabbing search engines attention will get higher.

Syndicate Your Video - Submit your video to RSS and MRSS directories.

Some basic tips to assist you in promotion of your videos:

• Give exposure to your videos by placing them everywhere possible.

• Social bookmarking sites and tools will help you in providing the visibility to your videos. Social bookmarking sites can help your video go viral and works regardless of promotional medium.

• End the video with an option of sharing or send to a friend. Give some incentive to help you spread the word.

Video optimization is gaining more importance these days due to its mainstream aspect to search engine optimization. Be smart about it, don't just post a video for the sake of posting but try to engage users through it. Think about your audience, their language, and their needs and keep focus on delivering them the value through the content, which also helps in link bait.

Next post will be based on resources, which will guide you in submitting your videos MRSS, so stay tuned.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Mobile Marketing (Tool 8)

 What do you take with you when you leave your home?

According to a research by Morgan Stanley, the answers received were wallet, keys and mobile phone. 91% of mobile phone owners keep their phone within one meter, 24 hours a day. Based on a survey, it is a tool, which keep you in contact with anyone – anywhere, marketers uses this platform of communication for sending simple marketing messages to introduce them with their services or an invitation for joining as a new audience for some participation based campaign.

Mobile connectivity does not only allow for voice communication but it enables the users to connect via internet but also consolidates the different communication channels in a simple, yet effective, medium through different type of gadgets such as PDA, communicator etc.

Due to the direct response and comparatively lower cost of communication the face of advertising and marketing is changing, in 2008 Ahonen has identified seven unique features of mobile phones, which highlights the unique benefits and challenges which are:

1. Mobile phones are personal and usually users do not share it with others.
2. Due to its compact size they are portable and can always be carried along.
3. The mobile phones are mostly switched on, so that the users can keep themselves in touch with others.
4. Mobile phones have a built-in payment system.
5. It is available at the point of creative brainwave.
6. Through mobile phones, you can receive precise audience measurement.
7. The mobile phone captures the social context of media consumption.

The research, endorsed by the Internet Advertising Bureau and the Mobile Marketing Association, shows 54% of the people questioned would be willing to use mobile to interact with "brands of their preference".

Based on above seven points few connotations for marketers:

Don't just pitch

This is not just a rule for mobile marketing but it has become an important cross-platform guideline. The consumers don’t like to be told to buy something, but they desire value for the time which they have invested in your marketing.

Don't overdo it

Don’t’ just start bombardment with message at those contact, which you might have captured during a transaction, which is usually practiced by small businesses maybe due to lack of marketing skills where they are unable to recognize that they risk alienating their customers. It also antagonizes, irritates and alienates people while rarely prompting sales.

You must realize that a mobile is a very personal device, to interrupt too often and without good reason will not do your brand any favors.

Respect the recipient

Never embark on a mobile marketing campaign unless consent has been given as handset holders have the right to control what information they shall receive.

If you are offering a good deal, for example, discount coupons etc., whatever works for your brand, then your customers will be happy to provide you with their details.

Adopt good marketing manners by making it easy for them to opt out if they decide to, because unsolicited messages, as well as being legally dubious, will antagonize your recipients.

Target appropriately

You need to be very careful in targeting the appropriate users. Do not send grannies the chance to win tickets to Disney in association with your new product because it is unlikely to have the response you are hoping for.
However, it may harm your brand’s goodwill too, so make sure you're careful.

Remember SEO

Internet usages on mobile phones are increasing day by day, so it is important for marketers to remember SEO, who wants to gain maximum value from the handset platform.

Interestingly, Tad Chef listed 33 mobile SEO & mobile analytics resources on the SEOptimise blog, which is a good starting point for those wanting to explore the various opportunities on offer.

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