Friday Five: Tips for Writing, SEO, Google+, and Better Conversion Rates

1. 8 Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Site with Google+

Google+, the newest member on the social media scene, seems to leave quite a few people confused about exactly how to use it. While I haven’t quite made the leap to using it personally, I love using it for my business. The biggest reason? Google owns it! Which just so happens to mean that Google gives a little added weight to any links or articles posted on the social site. Marc Pitman (@marcapitman) is a Google+ expert, and in this piece he gives eight great tips for driving traffic to Google+ (and explains WHY you would want to do this). When you’re done reading this one, check out Marc’s other articles on the topic, especially his explanation of my favorite G+ feature: The Hangout. 

{#4: Author Authority

Last summer, Google started supporting an authorship markup. Basically, you cantag your work in a way that shows Google your writings across the web. It also allows Google to pull them together when people search for you.

This step is bit more advanced, but can be well worth the effort. Kristi Hines gives detailed directions on how to implement the authorship feature.}

 

2. Biz Ladies: SEO Cheat Sheet

As I’ve mentioned before, the Biz Ladies column on Design*Sponge has a wealth of information and tips for, well, women in business. Jen White (@snohwhite), of the L.A. design firm Drawing from Memory, shares her SEO tips in this great article. Whether you’re a total newbie wondering what SEO even is or you’ve built your own site but want to attract more traffic (and who doesn’t!), you’ll want to check this out. Here’s a snippet to get you started:

{And Finally, Our Top 5 Tips for Keywords to AVOID

1. Single words (“Cake”)

2. Terms that are too broad (“Graphic Design”)

3. Terms that are too specific (“Funny Los Angeles Female Web Designer”)

4. Unpopular terms (“Ornery Unicorn”)

5. Highly competitive terms (“Engagement Ring”)

Remember: It’s not the total volume of traffic to your site that counts; it’s the quality of the people landing on your site. A thousand hits from random people who end up on your home page for about four seconds before bouncing off won’t help you, but one hit from a customer looking for an orange swivel chair in Los Angeles will. The likelihood of her clicking through to your website and eventually purchasing your chair is much, much greater when you keep your keywords relevant and specific.}

 

3. 21 Tips to Keep Your Writing Sharp

I’ve been collecting writing advice for as long as I can remember, and it seems journalist and marketer Heidi Cohen (@heidicohen) has done the same. As E.B. White said, “I admire anyone who has the courage to write anything at all”; these 21 great tips will help you on your way. Trust me when I say I had trouble picking just one to share here. 

{Get a jump before you quit. Before you quit a writing session, write down the ideas you have for the next session; form them into an outline added to the current document to make it easy to pick up where you left off.}

 

4. How to Increase the Conversion Rates on Your B2B Product Pages

When it comes to having an effective website, it’s all about conversion. Why bother driving all that traffic to your site if most visitors never convert to customers? Increasing conversation is an artform–one that Rachel Foster (@CopywriterTO) has figured out and generously shared with us. It’s a quick three-shot list, so pop over and soak it up.

{2. Donʼt overwhelm your leads with too much information

Lots of B2B technology marketers love to discuss all of their productsʼ cool features. However, loading your pages with too much technical content up front can scare off leads who want to get a quick overview of how your product can help them solve a business challenge – as opposed to a technical challenge.}

 

5. Event Marketing Lessons from Marie Forleo

I know you know about Marie Forleo, the marketing mastermind who shares great tips each week in her Q&A Tuesday segment. Katrina Padron (@katrinapadron) doesn’t just soak up what Marie shares with her fans; Padron takes an analytical view of exactly how Marie has achieved so much success–particularly with regard to event marketing. 

{During the Event

• Take Photos – During the event have professionals taking photos live and post them to Flickr Live Stream.  Tell participants where to find the photos and give them permission to tag themselves and share the pictures on their social networks.

• Get Candid Testimonials Instantly – Nothing sells like a real person telling you how incredible something is while they are experiencing it.  During breaks, have designated areas for participants to share their story and their experience.  Capture it and use it in next year’s campaign.

• Give a Gift – Give a notebook or something valuable that participants will continue to use after they’ve gone home – something that will remind them about their incredible experience.}

  
  

If you found these articles useful, please share them with other small business owners and entrepreneurs. I’d love to read your thoughts in the comments, and, as always, let me know if you’ve written a piece you think would be a good Friday Five feature. I just might spread the word about your brilliance.