search engine optimization

search engine optimization, or SEO is defined as “the process of improving the visibility of a website or a web page in search engines' "natural," or un-paid ("organic" or "algorithmic"), search results.” In most cases, the most popular sites appear earlier and more frequently in the search results list. Companies can purchase a SEO, but Deciding to hire an SEO is a crucial decision that can potentially improve your site, its popularity, and save time. However, you can also risk damage to your site and reputation. As found on http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=35291 Some SEO agencies and consultants have provided useful tips for website owners to help them accomplish their goals.

• Review of your site content or structure
• Technical advice on website development: for example, hosting, redirects, error pages, use of JavaScript
• Content development
• Management of online business development campaigns
• Keyword research
• SEO training
• Expertise in specific markets and geographies

Also, on this website http://static.googleusercontent.com/external_content/untrusted_dlcp/www.google.com/en/us/webmasters/docs/search-engine-optimization-starter-guide.pdf there is a beginners guide to SEO’s that can help when deciding if purchasing one would be the right move for your company.

collaborative and distance communication tools

I am getting married in may, and my husband to be has accepted a job out in NYC. As a PR major, I figured the big city would be a perfect start to my career as well! As I started searching for jobs, I found the one that I KNEW I wanted. Ever since I started in my field of study, numerous people have asked me “so what do you want to do with PR” and the answer is always the same--something with the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. There it was, an internship ad for my dream job. In New York. for the church. starting in september. Could this opportunity be any better?

As I looked farther into the internship, the more excited I got. However, as I read the final details something caught my eye. “This is a distance branch public affairs office of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints” A distance branch? what does that mean? As I researched a little more heavily, I realized. The main source of communication to and from church headquarters is done through video conferencing and phone calls, allowing the NYC office to only house about 10 employees total. “

Is this as good as working in the REAL office? “ I asked myself. As I did some more research about video conferencing and distance branches, I learned how important this internship would be not only to my career as a PR professional, but in my awareness of the up and coming ways to communicate from a distance. From an article I found online at http://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/docs/00/00/19/14/PDF/reffay_chanier.pdf It states how collaborative and distance communication tools are an area that present employees sometimes still have problems with. People want to hold to their traditional ways of communication, However, how much more effective of an employee would this make me by having such interaction with different ways other than traditional communication? Also, an article found on http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=62267 states how some teachers already feel threatened by how much of life you can live online, including your education! This is a serious wave of the next decade, that we should all become more familiar with!

Viral Videos.

Websters difinition of Viral--quickly and widely spread or popularized especially by person-to-person electronic communication. You all know what I am talking about. Anything from charlie bit my finger, Justin Beibers "baby",bed intruder, kittens featuring kittens--we've seen them. However, viral videos are not only appealing to bored teenagers, but when it comes to advertising, they are a dream.Have you ever wondered WHY certain videos get to be so popular though? How can advertisers make their videos appeal to so many people to make their videos go viral? Is it luck? a science? a skill? Let's see what some have to say about the issue.

A research study conducted by searchenginejournal.com came up with these factors on how to make a video more likely to go viral.

• Use humor to its fullest extent. Almost 50% of viral videos feature humor and 70% of internet users who share content with others say they do so because the videos they share are amusing.
• Don’t make your video long. Internet audiences have notoriously short attention spans. It’s best to clock your video in under two minutes in duration – the average video in Forrester Research’s study was 1:42 minutes in length. Over a third of the videos were less than a minute.
• You don’t need celebrities. Celebrities cost you more but don’t necessarily pay off. Only about a third of really successful viral videos featured a celebrity.
• Sexy content isn’t necessarily best. Only 16% of successful viral videos in the study featured sexy content.
• Don’t try to mimic UGC. You might think that if you imitate the style of UGC videos are made in you’ll fare better but you’d be wrong. Users can recognize the difference. Don’t pretend to have a low budget when you really have a high one. 85% of successful viral videos by brands featured full production values.
• TV ads can go viral online. Even if your ad has already been played on television, it can still go viral on the internet. TV ads account for over half of viral marketing videos online.

Also, after doing some research THE most likely factor for a video to go viral is it's amount of humor. Take a look at this chart from an SEJ research study.

I guess Humor is the answer. Be funny. Be creative. Be original. Get Viral.