The most successful blogs include at least one really good graphic representation of their concept. Often, it’s humorous to compliment the headline; sometimes it’s simply an easier way to communicate the information. After all, your content is only as effective as it’s communicated.

Products and services are sometimes best illustrated with timelines, symbols, or flow charts. This might be pretty obvious, but you might be surprised at how much time people spend explaining ideas through text when a simple illustration might do.

There are 3 things I want you to put major consideration on when creating your illustrated idea:

1. Message: text that appeals to the reader only (concept specific)
2. Graphic Appeal: clean, familiar graphics are usually best (why I used a Venn Diagram)
3. Marketing Motive: usually a call to action (ex: “buy” “apply” “sign up”)

In all online marketing, there is an overlying theme: It’s not about you or your product. It’s about your user/prospect/client. Forget that and you will fail.

Since I’ve already given you quick rundowns of my 54-hour startup weekend, here’s a preview of beta Nudge.

Nudge is a text message reminder service. Businesses will be able to input contact information and send reminders via text with appointment details and a number to call for clients who can’t make it. A friendly nudge will save you time and decrease missed appointments. (Victoria)

Business Card Marketing

Home Page (beta)

partial group shot:

When talking with clients and other web content professionals, I often discuss how headers are made more effective. The phrase that most often comes from my mouth is this:

“I’m going to verb it.”

Consider what “verbing” means and how it works. Rather then using a stagnant, stationary title, “verbing” paints a picture or identifies a task.

OTHER things to consider when creating effective headers and titles…

• Use keywords for SEO (that’s organic SEO)
• Avoid cliches
• Be straight-forward
• Be relevant

It’s strange working solid hours through the weekend, knowing I’m returning right back to “real-work” tomorrow…

At this point, we’re just about ready to launch our startup, called “Nudge.” It’s a text alert system we each own 1/13th of. Check out Nudge online (in a few days).

I’m sorry this is so quick; it’s a movement in progress. A couple candids:

I’m digging the the input integration from all sorts of different expert types. It’s really interesting to see the dynamics of how everyone works together. One of the best things about startup weekend has been working with my tweeple, even if they aren’t on my team.

Some of our team members (Team Nudge!):

Andrew, John (@jwphillips), Austin, me, Victoria (@typeis4lovers)

more photos of #swa2

It’s easy to forgot the ridiculous amount of copywriting required for a startup. Our web-based startup has meant:

• business plan (partial)
• marketing plan (partial)
• press release
• terms of service
• privacy policy
• site archetecture
• …and more

It’s getting a little scary now that everyone’s hungry. It’s probably about time for a break.

Just arrived to Startup Weekend in Ann Arbor. I just pitched my idea (first!) and everyone is throwing out theirs. The energy in this room is intense. We have a lot going on, combing ideas, talents, and dreams. I’ll keep you posted as to how everything pans out!

A secret: My idea pertains to social media. I’ll let you know how it turns out (or if we pursue it).

Organic SEO refers to the keywords found within your web content. Search engines, like Google, pick up on these terms and lists them within search criteria–without you paying Google to do so.

So, for example, if I were selling/informing/teaching about bicycles on my blog, I might drop in a few popular search terms (bolded):

Cycling products and accessories for mountain, road, triathlon, along with comfort, cruiser and children’s. (Taken from an actual Google hit)

The problem with supersaturating your content with keywords is that you’ll be flagged quickly. Choose a few words/terms to include that best describe your content and let the search enginges do the rest.

Using the keywords within your content isn’t all that is important. Google and other search engines employ complicated, secret methods on weighting the importantance of your terms. Such as bolding, linking, headling, titling, metatagging, and more.

There are a ton of scammers out there who will tell you they can improve your search engine ranking. Make sure to throughoughly investigate anyone you hire for web development. Check their portfolio and call their references.

Business applications of social media have been prompting serious debate on the very legitimacy of the networks. A while ago, I gave some business applications on how social media is used, and provided an example of how Twitter has molded communication. Having integrated social media into my personal and business life, I want to take it a step further to define how these same tools are carving business relationships.

In the past, passing along business cards was a standard. Don’t get me wrong, I love mine. Now, they’re a starting point for further communication contacts. More often, I’m finding profile links and social media references on cards. This accomplishes a few different things:

• Helps establish trust
• Keeps the conversation going
• Provides a lower barrier to entry to continuing conversation (less formal)
• Lends a peak into what other things the person has going on, in real-time
• Establishes talking points

Whether realized or not, providing this contact is a way to accomplish more than the stagnant “reach me here” personality of a phone number. Participating in social media is lending an open invitation for communication, which leads to continued, and ultimately actualized, relationships.

______________________

What you’re really saying when you offer your social network profile link to someone new
As I was joking around about what the different social networks said about the user, I realized some interesting points. Here it is, (add yours in the comments!):

Myspace: I jumped on that social media bandwagon and don’t mind all the spam and lacking integrity. Also, I hate organization and embrace poor spelling. Add me and the 489,229 people I don’t know! I’M SO COOL!

Facebook: Joined in college and it stuck. I keep in touch with all of my college friends (though it’s a little weird now that everyone’s posting wedding and baby pictures). …I hope I took down the photo that Jake posted of my passed out in the bathroom…

LinkedIn: Oh, this is social networking, too? Hm. Oh, look, Sue from accounting! She is always on time with reports and saved our company tons on taxes last year; off to write a recommendation!

Twitter: I’m really dedicated to this social networking thing. I also suffer from mild-to-severe ADD. Though I’ve only internet-stalked you so far, I’m actually interested in meeting you in person.

Nings (most): This topic keeps me up at night…so much that I don’t want to share it with anyone but my fellow up-at-nighters for fear of embarrassment.

Friday, 06 Jun 2008 10:45

The content included within marketing emails is a vital aspect of their success, a spokesman for the Internet Advertising Bureau has commented.

Ben Butler, a content manager with the body, explained that the information included in a message is “incredibly important”.

He urged marketers to ensure their copy is “concise, engaging and to the point”.

“Email marketing is easy to do but very hard to get right,” Mr Butler asserted.

The expert suggested that businesses spend time considering how they could change their marketing emails to make them more successful.

Changing the subject line or moving the content of an email around can make a big difference to the success it achieves, Mr Butler added.

A study recently published by Habeas revealed that almost seven out of ten consumers prefer receiving emails to any other online method of communication, such as instant messaging or video.

However, almost 90 per cent of those questioned by the organisation stated that they would like to have more control over the content of the messages and how often they receive them.

I’m currently stripping and recreating copy for a jargon-intensive website. Although I’ve mentioned understanding your audience before, I’m going to through a few tips your way on just how to do that.

1. Understand their Google terms. When Bob is looking for a doctor on the web, he might not know the diagnosis of his problem. While it’s easy for a doctor to refer to hypertension, not every Bob knows that this means high blood pressure. Taking it a step further: Bob may only know that he is getting a lot of headaches, feels sick after his favorite meals, and is sometimes dizzy after standing too long (all hypertension symptoms).

2. Consider the secondary state of mind: Emotion. A home architect can explain elegant home types all day long. What Sue is really excited about is how she’ll be able to model her new kitchen. By adding content that caters to that emotion, time on your site and trust increases. While I don’t suggest you add additional home expertise, perhaps a “Top 5 Things to Consider when Modeling a New Kitchen” might be of help.

3. Be benefits forward. You’re not marketing your features, you’re marketing your benefits. If you’re a website builder who creates some wicked flash and sassy style sheets, your psychologist client will hardly care. She’ll want to know how these elements come together to keep her patients informed, feel welcome, and engaged.