Don’t know nuthin’ about social media?
Don’t worry. “Social media” is simply a term for people connecting with people using the Internet. The Internet has always been a social medium. However, in the past few years the technology and methods for connecting with others have been rapidly growing and evolving.
Almost everyone has heard about social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace, blogging tools and platforms such as WordPress and Blogger, video sharing site YouTube, virtual worlds such as Second Life, and, of course, good old email programs. All of that is what is called social media.
I like the way Cory Treffiletti in today’s post on OnlineSpin breaks social media into four main categories:
- Social Networks
- Social Applications
- Citizen Journalism
- Virtual Worlds
As many are fond of saying, it ain’t rocket science unless it’s rocket science. You can understand just about anything once you learn the lingo.
When developing a Web site, remember that words come first
I like beautiful Web site designs and hot technology as much as anyone. But without words — the right words — such sites are only eye candy. Here’s a great reminder from Gerry McGovern that content is still king.
Words are the building blocks of every website. But then, words are the building blocks of modern civilization.
Presidential candidate, Barack Obama, was recently accused of being all words and no action, of being lots of rhetoric and little substance. Here’s how he replied:
“Don’t tell me words don’t matter. ‘I have a dream.’ Just words? ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’ Just words? ‘We have nothing to fear but fear itself’ -just words? Just speeches?’ (Obama plagiarized his friend, Deval Patrick, for these lines, but that’s not the topic of this piece.)
Words matter. They always have. They always will. On the Web, words matter even more. The right words.
The problem is that there are lots and lots of words. For your website, there are a small set of words that really matter, and then there are an awful lot of words that don’t.
How do you judge if a particular word matters or not? You don’t. It’s not for you to judge. It’s for your customers to judge. Customers are highly impatient. They search and scan a page quickly, looking for their right words.
You might want to communicate about “climate change”, but if customers are searching for “global warming”, you’re out of luck. You may have “tight” jeans for sale but if customers prefer “skinny” jeans, you’re out of luck. You might have great “low fares” but if customers want “cheap flights”, you’re out of luck.
If you want to design a new website, the first thing you should decide on is the words. Not the graphical design, not the software. No. The words must come first. Once you get the words right, you are half-way there.
But the words don’t come first, do they? Most websites are driven from a technical or graphical design perspective. The words are hardly even considered. The people who wrote the words were brought in late on in the process and asked to fill in an already agreed-upon structure and design with some words.
Words are simply not respected. Does it really matter if it’s:
“Buy” or “Buy Now”
“More information” or “Request a demo”
“Find a dealer” or “Buy: shop locator”
“Login” or “Logon”
“Fleet” or “Vehicles”It does. It really does matter. It matters hugely. It matters enormously. I have seen situations where sales have been doubled by changing a couple of words. (Nothing else on the website was changed.)
In most web teams people who work with words get very little respect. But if you work with words, you are literally sitting on a goldmine. The problem is you are selling it like a coalmine.
Most web writers think that their job is about writing articles. But it must be much broader and deeper than that. What is the navigation of the website made up of? Words. What are the links on the website made up of? Words. What are the applications on the website made up of? Words.
Nothing can work on the Web without written words. No page. No link. No classification, navigation or menu. No application or software. Nothing.
Content management solutions: Gerry McGovern
http://www.gerrymcgovern.com
Subscribe to his New Thinking newsletter: subscribe@gerrymcgovern.mailer1.net
Keyword research is not the key to discovering a niche market on the Internet
Discover a profitable niche on the Internet and make millions of dollars! We’ll show you exactly how to find those hidden treasures by using the power of keyword research. For only $49.95 you’ll know everything you need to be in business tomorrow on the Web and raking in thousands of dollars every day, 24/7 — while you sleep or frolic on the beach!
Not.
I just received an email from Jim Morris, Founder of NicheBOT.com. NicheBot provides keyword research tools. He writes:
I receive questions all the time that ask me how to find a profitable niche market or how to conduct market research and which tool to use.
And you know what?
Most webmasters and online business owners go about it all wrong.
My answers may be shocking to hear, but it’s the truth.
In this most recent article, I reveal how keyword research falls flat on its face when it comes to market research.
I also discuss why more and more keyword professionals are now turning to one keyword engine to find out about true keyword popularity.
Then, I discuss the true indicators of how to conduct real, nitty-gritty market research.
I read the article and, yes, I am shocked that this advice comes from someone who makes his living selling keyword research tools!
Read his blog post, Market Research (or finding a profitable niche market) has NOTHING to do with Keyword Research!
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About TFC
Talking Feather Communications is located in Anthem, Arizona. We provide business and marketing communication services, including copywriting and content development, Web site development, WordPress blog setup, and search optimization.