If you are in the world of business (either for yourself or for someone else), gain a basic understanding of Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
Most people I know start their online research or shopping at a search engine site. Only the big boys (Amazon.com, Target.com, Walmart.com, etc.) have enough brand recognition to get consumers to go directly to their site.
Most other online sites, retailers, and businesses must relay on their sites returning high on the search result rankings or results. There are thousands of sites out there that give you tips on best practices, but I am going to break it down into 3 basic steps:
1. Keep your content fresh.
Search engines LOVE content that is ever-changing. If you are making frequent updates to your content consider yourself a leg up on your competition.
2. Learn from others.
Are your competitors outranking you? Nothing says that you can't learn from them. See what pages are ranking high for your competitors. Are they driving consumers to a 'landing' page? Or directly to a home page? You are never really there with SEO. Keep testing and keep learning!!
3. Know your page rank.
There's a handy little utility that Google provides called 'PageRank'. (See the Google Toolbar for more information.) Each site you visit has a Page Rank of 1-10. The higher the page rank, the more weight Google puts on that site when ranking it ahead of other sites. When considering your SEO strategy, try to align yourself with other high-ranking sites. Sure, you may not be able to get a link exchange with CNN.com or Foxnews.com, but look for those high-ranking sites in your niche that may benefit from a link swap. Is there something that your site is providing that theirs isn't and vice-versa?
Until next time,
Dan Naden
Naden's Corner
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Your life will continue even if Starbucks is out of Cranberry muffins
Change.
It’s a scary word. It’s a downright nasty word. But does it have to be?
We all have had to deal with or inevitably will deal with some time-bending changes during our lifetime.
These changes can be monumental – a death in the family, a job loss, or a car accident.
Microscopic changes such as being forced to make a detour on the morning commute, discovering that they are out of your favorite muffin at Starbucks, or finding a tear in your beloved pair of blue jeans are sometimes just as toxic – at least we make them into WWIII.
How about a three step plan to adapting to the changes that WILL introduce themselves to your life?
Breathe.
Lack of breathing restricts your focus. Breathe deep from your core. Inhale slowly through your nose and watch your belly rise. Gently exhale through your mouth and watch the tension dissipate. Use this trick before any important meeting, big athletic endeavor of anything else that requires your unwavering focus. Your muscles and mind can’t perform at their peak levels when you are not breathing properly.
Get over yourself.
Sure, you’ve got problems. We’ve all got problems. How about moving outside yourself and asking how someone else is doing? Can you help them solve their problems? When you are helping others solve their problems, you can’t be distracted and overburdened by your problems. Stressed about a big project at work? Take a lunch break and help out a local charity, call a friend, or swing by a co-worker’s office and see how you can help them with anything.
Start down the path.
Problems won’t go away until you find a solution. Make incremental steps towards resolving that major stumbling block at work or in your personal life by getting after it. You may not solve the problem of the moment today or even tomorrow, but making progress towards a solution can do wonders for your psyche and ego.
Change. That wasn’t that difficult, was it? It does not have to be a horrific experience.
Until next time,
Dan Naden
It’s a scary word. It’s a downright nasty word. But does it have to be?
We all have had to deal with or inevitably will deal with some time-bending changes during our lifetime.
These changes can be monumental – a death in the family, a job loss, or a car accident.
Microscopic changes such as being forced to make a detour on the morning commute, discovering that they are out of your favorite muffin at Starbucks, or finding a tear in your beloved pair of blue jeans are sometimes just as toxic – at least we make them into WWIII.
How about a three step plan to adapting to the changes that WILL introduce themselves to your life?
Breathe.
Lack of breathing restricts your focus. Breathe deep from your core. Inhale slowly through your nose and watch your belly rise. Gently exhale through your mouth and watch the tension dissipate. Use this trick before any important meeting, big athletic endeavor of anything else that requires your unwavering focus. Your muscles and mind can’t perform at their peak levels when you are not breathing properly.
Get over yourself.
Sure, you’ve got problems. We’ve all got problems. How about moving outside yourself and asking how someone else is doing? Can you help them solve their problems? When you are helping others solve their problems, you can’t be distracted and overburdened by your problems. Stressed about a big project at work? Take a lunch break and help out a local charity, call a friend, or swing by a co-worker’s office and see how you can help them with anything.
Start down the path.
Problems won’t go away until you find a solution. Make incremental steps towards resolving that major stumbling block at work or in your personal life by getting after it. You may not solve the problem of the moment today or even tomorrow, but making progress towards a solution can do wonders for your psyche and ego.
Change. That wasn’t that difficult, was it? It does not have to be a horrific experience.
Until next time,
Dan Naden
Friday, July 13, 2007
My Sports Walkman needs to be replaced with an IPod
Yes, I still own and use a Sports Walkman. I can hear the laughing now.
To make matters worse, it is a CASSETTE Walkman. I can't remember the last time that I bought a cassette. They actually haven't produced cassette for years, and here I am cutting my lawn listening to cassettes from the 80s. Yes, the 80s.
Well, it is time to change.
I am buying an Ipod. I know -- probably everyone reading this blog has an Ipod, but I was holding out. Holding out for something I am not sure of? A comeback in cassettes? A dramatic price reduction in Ipods. A personal visit from Steve Jobs?
The commercials for the Ipod are certainly eyeball grabbing, although I don't need an extra energy jolt for my life; I just need a reliable, small, and portable device that I can listen to when mowing the lawn, exercising, or just trying to be cool and hip. You know, like the commercials.
There's already one of these Sports Walkmans available on Ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-Walkman-Sports-AM-FM-Cassette-Vintage-Yellow_W0QQitemZ7627489403QQihZ017QQcategoryZ15053QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem
If that one sells like hotcakes, please let me know. I can give you a sweet, sweet deal on my vintage yellow Sports Walkman. And, yes, in case you are wondering, you can take it underwater.
Apple is doing plenty of things right these days. For me, however, the most important thing they are doing is forcing me to throw out 'Blackout' by the Scorpions, 'Kill em All' by Metallica, and 'The Game' by Queen -- all on low-fidelity cassette.
To make matters worse, it is a CASSETTE Walkman. I can't remember the last time that I bought a cassette. They actually haven't produced cassette for years, and here I am cutting my lawn listening to cassettes from the 80s. Yes, the 80s.
Well, it is time to change.
I am buying an Ipod. I know -- probably everyone reading this blog has an Ipod, but I was holding out. Holding out for something I am not sure of? A comeback in cassettes? A dramatic price reduction in Ipods. A personal visit from Steve Jobs?
The commercials for the Ipod are certainly eyeball grabbing, although I don't need an extra energy jolt for my life; I just need a reliable, small, and portable device that I can listen to when mowing the lawn, exercising, or just trying to be cool and hip. You know, like the commercials.
There's already one of these Sports Walkmans available on Ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-Walkman-Sports-AM-FM-Cassette-Vintage-Yellow_W0QQitemZ7627489403QQihZ017QQcategoryZ15053QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem
If that one sells like hotcakes, please let me know. I can give you a sweet, sweet deal on my vintage yellow Sports Walkman. And, yes, in case you are wondering, you can take it underwater.
Apple is doing plenty of things right these days. For me, however, the most important thing they are doing is forcing me to throw out 'Blackout' by the Scorpions, 'Kill em All' by Metallica, and 'The Game' by Queen -- all on low-fidelity cassette.
Develop a passion for writing
I truly believe in the importance of getting your thoughts down on paper.
The importance of strong writing skills is ever apparent in today's business world.
You can't escape the importance of writing as you grow professionally:
Whether you are a business analyst writing requirements....
A marketer writing a piece of collateral...
An executive preparing a speech for a conference presentation...
An engineer writing test cases for the newest software being developed...
There are some good business/professional writing classes out there that would be beneficial for those interested. I've found the most impactful improvement in my writing has been (drumroll, please) WRITING. Yes, pen to paper, or fingers to keypad.
You can think about what you want to do or what you want to accomplish. Putting it down on paper, however, makes it stick. It WILL seem more real and doable when it is on paper or screen.
As in any new endeavor, don't be afraid to make mistakes. No one is perfect in casual or professional writing settings.
One final tip: Buddy up with a strong writer at work and have him or her 'eyeball' your work before it goes to the boss or a larger audience. You will be amazed what another set of eyes will see.
Until next time,
Dan Naden
Naden's Corner
The importance of strong writing skills is ever apparent in today's business world.
You can't escape the importance of writing as you grow professionally:
Whether you are a business analyst writing requirements....
A marketer writing a piece of collateral...
An executive preparing a speech for a conference presentation...
An engineer writing test cases for the newest software being developed...
There are some good business/professional writing classes out there that would be beneficial for those interested. I've found the most impactful improvement in my writing has been (drumroll, please) WRITING. Yes, pen to paper, or fingers to keypad.
You can think about what you want to do or what you want to accomplish. Putting it down on paper, however, makes it stick. It WILL seem more real and doable when it is on paper or screen.
As in any new endeavor, don't be afraid to make mistakes. No one is perfect in casual or professional writing settings.
One final tip: Buddy up with a strong writer at work and have him or her 'eyeball' your work before it goes to the boss or a larger audience. You will be amazed what another set of eyes will see.
Until next time,
Dan Naden
Naden's Corner
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Are you moving your target audience?
I recently read a great p0st from Doug Stevenson:
http://www.dougstevenson.com/2007/07/02/what-exactly-is-motivational-speaking-part-one/
Doug's newsletter, blog, and Web site and great resources for anyone interested in being better communicators, storytellers, and leaders.
In this article, Doug cites the importance of 'moving' your target audience.
Are you working to:
Change the audience...
Inform the audience...
Entertain the audience...
So often in a corporate environment, you witness people mindlessly clicking through slides and talking emotionlessly about the latest initiative. It does not have to be this way!!
Be different. Be bold. Be memorable. Be courageous.
You can be entertaining and effective at the same time.
Thank you Doug for these solid words of wisdom.
Until next time,
Dan Naden
Naden's Corner
http://www.dougstevenson.com/2007/07/02/what-exactly-is-motivational-speaking-part-one/
Doug's newsletter, blog, and Web site and great resources for anyone interested in being better communicators, storytellers, and leaders.
In this article, Doug cites the importance of 'moving' your target audience.
Are you working to:
Change the audience...
Inform the audience...
Entertain the audience...
So often in a corporate environment, you witness people mindlessly clicking through slides and talking emotionlessly about the latest initiative. It does not have to be this way!!
Be different. Be bold. Be memorable. Be courageous.
You can be entertaining and effective at the same time.
Thank you Doug for these solid words of wisdom.
Until next time,
Dan Naden
Naden's Corner
Sunday, July 1, 2007
One to remember and one to forget...
Movie makers: Pay attention.I would like to give you an example of what we want from our movie experience and what will cause us to corrode in front of the TV watching the next American Idol episode (Please save us from this latter activity!!)
I recently saw two movies: "Once" and "Mr. Brooks".
"Once" told a truthful, believable story about a young Irishman who follows his passion for singing and playing the guitar. By day, he works in a vacuum store; by night, he grinds over his computer and guitar angling for that perfect blend of words and music. Surprisingly enough, his singing and playing talents are quite good. (Full disclosure: it turns out that the two lead musicians are full-time musicians, not actors, yet I really don't think the acting suffers because of it.)
The best thing about "Once" is its genuineness; there's nothing Hollywood about this picture. More like a musical than a movie, this picture follows Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova around scenic Dublin as they grow close to one another through the love of music. The music is sterling, and the ending caused many to grab for the Kleenex tissues as the credits rolled. Go see this film.
And now, Hollywood, here's what not to do. Yes, I spent nearly $8.50 to see Mr. Brooks. To make matters worse, I saw this snoozer of a picture at the Alamo Drafthouse. Alamo Drafthouse is the best place to see a picture in America -- hands down.
Mr. Brooks follows Kevin Costner playing 'Man of the Year', Mr. Earl Brooks. Brooks plays executive by day and mean, cold-blooded killer by night. The gruesome tale brings in Demi Moore with an average performance as the detective. Sure, Kevin Costner is fresh as the 'villain', yet Hollywood has revealed this plotline a number of times. (Killer plays fresh-faced exec by day and mean and dirty killer by night.) Yes, I am ashamed that I wasted by hard-earned money on this picture.
I usually trust the user-generated reviews on IMDB.com, yet I think the populace was way off-base with this one. Once moves me to run to Itunes.com to find the soundtrack whereas Mr. Brooks leaves me yearning for my money back.
Take your money to 'Once' and leave Mr. Brooks fishing through the couch for some coins.
Until next time,
Dan Naden
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