I have found the various functions that occur on Twitter, like #Follow Friday, is a great concept. Think about it. You are being offered a free ticket to one of the biggest events, every day, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Think of it as a huge cocktail party. You now have a choice of whom you follow and whom you want to talk to. There are so many users that don’t engage, no matter how many times you chat with them. Are they worth it? Hey that’s up to you. Would you continue talking to someone if they never responded? That’s one of the reason I don’t follow any of the A-Listers; you know, the Super Stars, Rock Stars, or self proclaimed Guru’s.

The information I have been able to gather by being a passive watcher is amazing. Therefore, as a Twitter user my time  fluctuates with the projects we have at hand. I have tried to continue my end of sharing some great names, but the busier we are, the harder it is to really engage on Twitter. Again, Twitter gives you back as much as you put in. To some it’s a waste of time, while others (in my opinion) still don’t get it. But as we all know, every one has an opinion (we won’t talk about what else everyone has).

I follow a little over 2600 people (on two accounts); our accounts are followed by a little over 3700. We are not crunching numbers; we are following real people. I don’t mean to say that people who follow over 10K are not doing it right, but our company’s strategy is really simple. There are thousands of people using Twitter worldwide, but our focus is on a certain target of that market. How we find them is not easy.

We know that Twitter is a great tool that continues to drive traffic to our site. What we offer is not only unique, but we are driven by the client’s success. What and how I use the Follow Friday list is time consuming yes, but well worth the effort.  I am still testing different approaches. I can tell you #Follow Friday used to be one of the ways, but now it seems most recommendations come as a long list with @yourname @hisname @theman etc. I have to admit, that just doesn’t look very personal. Maybe if people would use a header like “this is a list of my favorite graphic designers ” or “women that rock” would be more palatable but, as it stands, people have ruined the personalized experience.

Now that I have time again, the first thing I changed was the way I use Twitter. I have stopped following people just because they follow me. I grit my teeth when someone DM’s me with complete nonsense and immediately unfollow them without wondering why they turned out to be such a looser. As soon as a new person engages me, I engage them (by engage, I do NOT mean with a “come check out my site” Or “lets play Mafia wars“, or worst yet the consummate spammer that inevitably sneaks into your list of followers and swears they have the answer to all your woes for $19.95).

Which brings me to the reason I insist on continuing to share my picks for the week of great people to follow on Twitter. Because they’re worth it. These people continually and consistently have knowledge, humor, questions and theories to share. They make me think, smile, listen and often teach me something. Thank you, my #FF list!

@nicole_harrison Her posts have been entertaining. One thing I can tell you about her when she sets her mind to something she is an Eveready battery.  Does Kutchner ring a bell?
@MarjyMeechan Out of Fort Lauderdale this woman has some great posts. She is engaging, smart and always ready for a dip.
@Nicolamenicacci A countrymen and a wonderful writer. He & his business partner run a coaching consulting firm. As they say in Italian “Qualcuno da seguire” Grazie.
@StaceyHood I really love this guy’s site.  Stacey is from the Deep South you can hear his Southern hospitality. Great find if you want to add value to your twitter feed.
@soultravelers3 Would love to do as much traveling as this family of three. She always has a kind word and some great links. For example “I am sitting outside at night here in Italy w/ 5 other folks from several nations, each with a laptop, chatting & working. Small world! ” How could you not dream with a post like that!
@Santamistura Patricia is my favorite DJ on Twitter. She is also a great textile designer. Always has great tunes & amazing links to share. Granted she doesn’t do much talking (I think her English is not up to par) But who cares when she has great music, videos, design, trends, fashion, illustrations and great links.
@Spideas Scott Peters a wonderful fun guy to follow. Great ideas man that sends out interesting links. Always a kind word very engaging on Twitter. Check his site out.
@RyderMedia Erika has a great personality and is extremely engaging. As a social media consultant she always has great tips. Great thing about following her is her noise is minimal … unlike mine on some days lol
@Joycebossom I started following Joyce because of this post “My false sense coolness has been crushed…
@eFusionman Okay so he doesn’t share a link to his site… but, he is very funny. What value is he adding to my day you ask?  “Q: Do you know how to save a drowning lawyer? A: Take your foot off his head.” Classic funny guy lol.
@KimBrater There is something about Oregonians and dry sense of humor that go hand in hand.  She shares some funny videos, and  has a great sense of humor.  A marketing lady who is the Co-founder of Ant Hill Marketing, Certified Brand Strategist and news junkie. So what’s not to follow here. After all we are on Twitter to forge relationships.
@medlinksolution These guys are serious when it comes to information. A medical SEO copywriting company is rare in my industry. I am still amazed that doctors twitter from operating rooms.
@LouPage Lou is down to Earth. He always has nice things to say, with informative links. One thing that was nice to see was his “if you desire, in your walk with God. (Don’t worry, I promise not to be obnoxious about it.)”
@SocialNetworkTV William is someone you should follow if you want updated news on Social media, marketing, and someone who doesn’t produce noise. He has over twenty thousand followers and has only posted over four thousand posts.

Since I have been using Twitter, I have learned about new technology and kept up with the latest news. This includes finding out that Michael Jackson died before it hit TV. That moment will be etched in my memory like all things monumental. “Watching” it happen in real time, the furor, the rumors and finally the truth, was as striking as the day JFK was shot. Both are days I will never forget.

Using Twitter has made me re-think how I do business. It has made me a better writer, has given me inspiration and forged new relationships. I have been meeting new people not only through #FF but, at the various meet-up, webinars, conferences etc. Therefore, picking and choosing who I follow or recommend is more than just another reason to blog, but a reason to make recommendations  based on value. I hope you find some new people on this list to follow.

@wearethecure Dedicated to helping dogs with cancer. How cool is that? I am a pet lover and to me they are the best friends a human can ever have.  Sure a lot will argue that humans are more important than pets, sometimes though I wonder who is better for you.
@tommytrc Tommy is one of those nice guy with some great links. He is generous with his information and is a Mac user… What’s not to like? Sure being a Mac user is becoming more common these days, but hey it’s still cool.
@ashevilleallie Allie is someone I started following recently. She is extremely engaging, funny, witty and from what I have seen a great personality.
@JRMoreau James is a great guy indeed. A great writer and thinker…He is genuine, real, down to earth, extremely creative and fun to chat with. We have actually had a conference with a client while he was stuck in traffic, now that was something interesting.
@the_gman Gerald doesn’t really need my recommendation you see he  is one of the heavy hitters on Twitter. Great information, always shares links and has a great blog. One more thing I wanted to add he is an all around nice cowboy from Texas.
@KindaHibrawi What can I say about Kinda Hibrawi, but she is brilliant. She describes herself as an Arab American painter, but from what I have seen she is so much more. Take a look at her artwork, there you can see she is rooted passionately in her country for inspiration. It helps that I lived in Beirut and have a special place in my heart for Syrians.
@LibertyLady77 Someone that quotes Jimmie Hendrix on their profile is a Rock star in my book. Bottom line is she is creative engaging and someone I would recommend.
@pullmarketer Paula is a lovely lady to follow. She is very professional in her posts and is extremely helpful with her links.
@phxazlaura Laura is extremely smart and engaging. I have been following her for sometime & I enjoy her links including her recommendations.
@trinaunz This lady loves social media… you can tell by the way she engages in topics, shares links, and is not afraid to ask questions.
@Iconic88 Watching him post is like reading a book of inspiration. Always positive, fun, smart, and spot on with his 140 characters. He is a definite personality on Twitter.
@BradleyRoss A PR man with lots of great marketing and PR links.  I enjoy sharing his links since I find them valuable I am sure you would too.
@chrisjohnston Chris is a genuinely nice Geek. Okay so he deals with real estate but he is really engaging, smart, funny… & as I recently found out lives in Metairie, LA. Maybe I will meet him at the next New Orleans Twitt-up.
@XceptN You can see his bio is impressive he works for Oracle Corp. and specializes in Linux, Xen, Oracle VM, OCFS2. Wow this is one extremely helpful, very engaging and knowledgeable.

As I was cleaning this post I was trying to make sure I had all the correct links. Guess what Twitter is down. Not something we enjoy. So rather than getting frustrated I wanted to share a link with everyone in case you do run into that problem. Here you can get any and all updates on why Twitter is down.

Her you can find the previous #FollowFriday list.

You can see My first list here then last weeks post is here. Seriously some great people to watch

I can remember my first #FollowFriday; I felt like a deer caught in headlights. What does the little “#” mean? What is #FollowFriday? All I saw were feeds that looked like this “#FollowFriday @firstname, @secondname, @anothernam”. You don’t have to be a genius to figure out the concept, but I couldn’t understand or reason why I should follow these recommendations.

We all want to participate and make a difference on Twitter. It’s a great tool, but I will admit the dynamic of using Twitter is not for everyone. Individuals to corporations use it in different ways, and not always for the best. Some get it, and use it as part of their online brand as an extension of their services, while others still see it as a waste of time, a slow sinking ship.

My favorite comment ever made about Twitter was by the creator, Jack Dorsey: “Twitter is intended to be a way for vacant self-absorbed egotists to share the most banal and idiotic thoughts with anyone pathetic enough to read them.” Granted he was talking about the civil unrest in Iran and I don’t want to misuse the quote… But it did strike me as funny since I have heard variations of that sentiment.

Like any new beginner, I was overwhelmed at how to do the whole #FollowFriday “thing”. I started searching for sites that would make the process easier. The Twitter Tag Project seemed to be the answer.

Easy enough right? You put in your Twitter user name/password and voila. The engine will scan the last 200 tweets, count the dupes, and return your most active friends. The results will display: #FollowFriday @friend1 @friend2 @friend3 @friend4…

Now, I’m not going to get into why you should or shouldn’t use The Twitter Tag project, or any tool that will automate the process (that’s for a later post). My intent here is to share with you, and hopefully continue sharing with you, my list for #FollowFriday.

I feel they deserve more than just 140 characters. To me, the recommendation should be of value not just to my followers, but to new people reading this post. Below is my first list. If you aren’t here this week, check back next week, since I’m only going to do fifteen per week. After all, I do have work to do.

1. @monicakozak A wonderful smart funny woman. It helps that she is A VP of marketing at one of the hottest Public Relations companies online. I have to tell you she is extremely engaging, informative and a great leader.
2. @julibarcelona I recently watched her interacting with a group of Chicagoans.  That is when I realized this woman is going to be fun to follow. She is the VP @Barcelona Creative Group. Always willing to ask questions and share valuable information. I enjoy all her links & information.
3. @deanmeistr This guy is a visual problem solver. What is that? I had not clue until I got to know him better. We chatted while he “created” He is brilliant, and I hope to do some work with him someday soon.
4. @elizabethonline What a great lady. She is extremely smart and committed to helping her students by helping them develop college application materials. She is funny & a rare find on twitter.
5. @remarkablogger He is one of the first people I actually engaged with on Twitter. I was gun-shy back then but he was very laid back & really genuine. Extremely helpful, with online marketing, blogging, never a negative comment. Which is always refreshing.
6. @anthonylujan This photographer is actually good. One of those diehard picked up a camera at eleven and has never turned back since. I can only imagine how much dedication it takes to get into such a competitive field.
7. @mikefleming What a doll this guy is. Not only is he smart engaging and cute he actually adds value to my day. Part of the Chicago posy.
8. @ArteWorks_SEO Here is a guy that actually appreciates Texas Longhorns. Not only does he have great information, about SEO, social media and online marketing but he like “Rick rolling” people. Nice to see some people have fun.
9. @MyMelange Is a breath of fresh air. A great writer, photographer and bloger. She loves to travel and talk about food. The fact she goes to Italy every year has won me over.
10. @brokerkathy A lovely lady to follow. She is a real Estate Broker in So Cal with a positive outlook on life. Full of energy & curiosity.
11. @Nenad An entrepreneur, a coder, an adventurer, a visionary, a father, a husband is what his profile says. I personally have found him very engaging and a great guy to exchange links with.
12. @ginidietrich A true Professional. She helps business owners with their Public relations needs. She is fun, smart, and a wonderful Twitter personality.
13. @Lotay Here is another Jewel His company is raising awareness for, and providing grants, to non-profit organizations that serve one of the following core areas: Education, Environment, Healthcare, Global Development, and Poverty Relief.
14. @igrafix A great lady who has become someone I go to for advise. She is a great graphic designer with an appreciation for everything creative. She shares great links and even better information. The fact she speaks Italian, German, & English helps.
15. @ButtercupD a Super star in her own rights. Sure she works for someone famous on Twitter but guess what I would follow her regardless. She is very passionate about Social networking and it shows.

Tune in Next week for an update. You can see My first list here & then my third one

I can remember my first #FollowFriday; I felt like a deer caught in headlights. What does the little “#” mean? What is #FollowFriday? All I saw were feeds that looked like this “#FollowFriday @firstname, @secondname, @anothernam”. You don’t have to be a genius to figure out the concept, but I couldn’t understand or reason why I should follow these recommendations.

We all want to participate and make a difference on Twitter. It’s a great tool, but I will admit the dynamic of using Twitter is not for everyone. Individuals to corporations use it in different ways, and not always for the best. Some get it, and use it as part of their online brand as an extension of their services, while others still see it as a waste of time, a slow sinking ship.

My favorite comment ever made about Twitter was by the creator, Jack Dorsey: “Twitter is intended to be a way for vacant self-absorbed egotists to share the most banal and idiotic thoughts with anyone pathetic enough to read them.” Granted he was talking about the civil unrest in Iran and I don’t want to misuse the quote… But it did strike me as funny since I have heard variations of that sentiment.

Like any new beginner, I was overwhelmed at how to do the whole #FollowFriday “thing”. I started searching for sites that would make the process easier. The Twitter Tag Project seemed to be the answer.

Easy enough right? You put in your Twitter user name/password and voila. The engine will scan the last 200 tweets, count the dupes, and return your most active friends. The results will display: #FollowFriday @friend1 @friend2 @friend3 @friend4…

Now, I’m not going to get into why you should or shouldn’t use The Twitter Tag project, or any tool that will automate the process (that’s for a later post). My intent here is to share with you, and hopefully continue sharing with you, my list for #FollowFriday.

I feel they deserve more than just 140 characters. To me, the recommendation should be of value not just to my followers, but to new people reading this post. Below is my first list. If you aren’t here this week, check back next week, since I’m only going to do fifteen per week. After all, I do have work to do.

1. @theGypsy brilliant mind, great writer and of course an SEO guru. May sound like I am brown nosing but I really enjoy his comments. I have signed up for his SEO Newsletter and always read it from cover to cover.
2. @LeftTheBox engages in Social Media, SEO, and Affiliate Marketing. Always open to discussing what I love most: SEO and how it affects your overall presence on the Internet
3. @sherinola someone I have actually met. Wonderful lady, she is extremely creative, and not afraid to think outside the box.
4. @ShellyKramer what can I say about this lady other than she is one of the few people I would follow regardless of whether she follows me back or not. She is extremely creative fun to chat with. From her insistence on perfect grammar, discussing marketing, or social media, she’s a worthwhile follow.
5. @KGBTexas a true gentleman, cowboy, writer all around goofy nice guy. Shawn has made me laugh and shared some great useful links. A definite must if you want enlightenment with the world of public relations/advertising.
6. @pfrigerio a true find and now a dear friend. His interests are Social Networking, Online Marketing, his family and it helps that he is Italian.
7. @styletime an all around great guy. He seems to be a free spirit, doesn’t sweat the small stuff and always has great advice. He has some great ideas for anyone’s online presence.
8. @Burnsie_SEO a true SEO Geek at heart. Willing to give of her time and knowledge. She is funny, creative and I am glad to be part of her “Rick roll” jokes.
9. @briancray here is a very smart businessman. He is extremely laid back and always has some of the best links with the latest news. It helps that he engages… After all isn’t that what we all want?
10. @balmeras this woman was a great find. She is a Writer, bloger, educator, speaker, and has actually given me some great feedback. Took the time to engage how cool is that?
11. @seotips2go new Media Consultant (social media, seo, pay per click, blogging, podcasting, video marketing, and more!) He never fails to share some great information and is not beyond RT’ing.
12. @dudeman718 always full of energy great information and funny. It’s rare to see him posting links that don’t get passed around. Plus the fact, he actually read one of my favorite series “Steven King’s The Dark Tower Series.”
13. @RosevilleRockLn This lady has become a fresh welcome to all the “wanna” be cool people on Twitter. She is a real, sassy, smart and extremely creative marketing and e-communications manager.
14. @CGprogram When I first started chatting to this guy I thought, what a laid-back guy. Then I got to know him a bit more (reading his blog) and realized WOW what an absolute jewel. As a successful radio talk host, he is an inspiration to all who want to think outside the box.
15. @luiserpa Where do I begin? Customer Experience analyst, UX expert, Information Architect, edge pursuer, crazy thinker, funny guy. I find it refreshing to see the camaraderie’s he nurtures.

You can see the new ones here

Twitter this, Twitter that, ReTweet, DM, Follow Me – Once you’ve found the “Twitter craze” there’s no going back – right? Everyone is on Twitter – right? You can even meet famous actors, actresses, politicians – hell, even the President twitters… Right?

Erm – I hate to burst your bubble… but I’m about to burst your bubble. So, if you’re a Twitter-holic and this particular medium can do no wrong, stop now. No, really, don’t read on.

I’m waiting.

Okay – those of you who stuck around, get ready for some nuggets of knowledge, starting with: Twitter ain’t all that.

When you read about social media, Twitter is one of the first things that pop up. There are even “gossip channels” about the higher-ups on Twitter. You hear about the A-list, where people like Guy Kawasaki smile down from on high. However – did you know that less than 10% of American Internet users are actually on Twitter?

Did you know that a lot of businesses, famous people, etc. use ghost writers? That’s right. That personal message from Mr. Famous Muckety-Muck you’re so proud of may actually have been written by Ms. Not-so-Famous Ghost Writer. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg ladies and gentlemen.

Now, let’s see: there’s Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Twitter, DiggIt, Technorati… probably a few more social media or book marking places at the top of the list. But, did you know there are more than 1,000 other social media sites? That’s right, over 1,000, and the number is growing daily. The number also doesn’t add in the sites created for specific groups.

Recently, I had a client who really wanted to get into the social media arena. Now, I know a lot of the big players, but he needed more than just seven or eight. Conscientious, hard-working woman that I am, I took myself to the Internet and began to search. What I found was absolutely astonishing.

People from every walk of life use Twitter, and for every purpose conceivable.  However, the information I gathered pretty much makes Twitter moot.  For instance, if you’re looking for business connections and couldn’t care less about who’s in line for coffee at Starbucks, you might want to take a look at Ziggs or  Gather.

Ziggs is a social media site committed to “organizing and connecting people in a professional way”.  The site is specifically for increasing your company’s online presence and meeting professional career goals.  Gather, on the other hand, is perfect for meeting your target audience and finding out what they want – what they’re looking for.

Sphinn is another often-used site, though seldom mentioned.  An online forum and networking site for the Internet marketing crowd, Sphinn can help create interest in your company or connect with other like-minded professionals.  For small business owners wanting to share entrepreneur-related articles and gain exposure, Small business brief is the site to be.

Now, I’m not knocking Twitter.  Who wouldn’t love a platform that allows you to communicate quickly and precisely in 140 characters or less?  I mean, really?  The point is, however, not to get stuck on the idea that Twitter is the end all and be all of social media.  Ask yourself why you’re using Twitter.  Why are you really there?  Business, friends, contacts, just because?

If you’re using Twitter by itself and not getting the results you’re looking for, it might not be your fault, though many may say it is (you aren’t engaging, you’re not following the right people, etc, etc, etc ad nauseam).  It could just be that you’re using the wrong platform. One last thing it’s a blancing act that has to be waged. What works for you may not work for the next person, therefore look into all options and make sure you have a strategy.

Do you remember the terms “glad-handing” and “rubbing shoulders”?  The uses of these terms indicate physical, social interaction, but, thanks to social media, they apply to “chatting up” people.  Herein lies the issue.

As much as I love social media and what it can do for my business, it has its side affects.  For instance, before we could “connect” online, everything had to be done mostly over the phone or face-to-face.  In those circumstances, it’s easy to keep a professional demeanor.  Business conversations are normally polite, calm affairs.
However, with the advent of the Internet in general and social media, specifically, very seldom do people have to meet on such a personal level.  For instance, I communicate with my people through email and instant message generally.  Some businesses use places like Twitter to communicate with their employees – “here’s your assignment” in 140 characters or less.

Because of all this, a serious decline in social interaction is starting to rear its ugly head.  Maybe you’ve noticed, but if you haven’t, think about it.  Where are the manners?  Where is the politeness?  Where is the professionalism?

Maybe it’s noticeable to me because of the type of work I do.  In general, I might talk to a client over the phone – maybe – three times; otherwise, we communicate through email.  What I’m seeing because of this is a serious lack of professionalism.  It’s like people think they don’t have to be polite because – well, hey, they’ll never meet in person, so who cares?

Face-to-face, most people are non-confrontational, but I truly believe that they feel they’re safe behind emails, short messages, instant message and the like.  If they’re safe, if there is no threat (implied or imagined) as there is in public, they can say what they want without consequences.

Time and again over the past few years, I have had potential clients email me, using a tone that I wouldn’t use on my worst enemy.  No matter how I respond, it only seems to make them more belligerent.  There doesn’t seem to be anything I can say or do, and I’m stuck, staring in confusion and surprised at their sudden hostility, with no idea how it got there in the first place.  In one instance, I swear, all I did was send them a project agreement; they sent me a scathing email!

Hold my hand

We wake up everyday to hear more bad news on the economy. Are you surprised? It seems companies are letting people go while others are downsizing. We, on the other hand, have found ourselves with more work than we can handle. We have clients asking for more traffic, yet they are not willing to take on some responsibility. What do you think it’s about? This is my take on things.

We are freelance copywriters working online. We have been steadily growing our business with referrals and every so often, we pick up a client from Twitter. How are we doing this you ask?  Simple enough: we are changing our business model to meet the growing need of our clients.  As copywriters, we can weave the written word to change an opinion or to get a reaction.

We have added various services that have endeared us to clients. Instead of just doing SEO, we have added Social Networking to our services. What I cannot get my head around is how to make it all seamless.  Below are some of the old services along with the new.

1. Keyword analysis- The thing with key phrases is that the search engine will not only look for the phrase, but the individual words as well.  We use high result words mixed with medium results to garner traffic from both sets of searchers.  We can also split the words up throughout the content for better readability with the same ranking results

2. Site analysis- we look at existing websites and make sure the code looks good.  If our client’s pages need some optimization then we tackle that. Ultimately, we expect their site to load nicely, have good link placement, etc.  We then make suggestions to link to the blog and a tab for articles, or other things we think a client should implement.

3. Web page content- this is an important feature of our services. Not only do we inform the readers what the site is about, but also we make sure that all links are pertinent to the client’s services. Remember, your site is your online storefront. You have to attract them enough to come in and browse.

5. Articles, Blogs- What is there to write about? Current events, trends in your industry, get personal, Top 10 reasons (people love a quick how to), How you helped a client solve a problem, Interview an expert, Solicit and answer questions, Create a “Best of” list. These are just a few ideas that keep us busy.

6. Press release- Very important feature in our industry, but I have to admit it’s over used and sometimes abused. This should not read like a sales pitch but true information. Let me add that if you have nothing new to say, then don’t waste your time or resources since this can be costly.

7. Social Media - Why bother with social media?  Forums, blogs, social networks and other networking places are there specifically for communication purposes.  While they began as ways to meet friends or keep in touch, businesses have realized the importance of having that same ability to communicate between clients, customers, potential customers and other businesses.  However, social media takes effort; if you don’t participate and engage on a regular basis, you might as well not bother.  For business purposes, social media is a way to build awareness for your company, your brand, product, representatives, etc.

To build your brand and increase your ROI, you need to know the two main elements of engaging in social media:

1.    Gaining trust through engaging, educational or enlightening communication.  Once people on the network are engaged, they’ll move on to your blog or website.  The key here is to continue the engaging, educational and enlightening communication, which is, in turn, a continuation of trust.
2.    Using your blog or website as a call to action.  As long as you maintain the trust with your audience, you can create good call to actions for your visitors.  Opt-in forms for white papers, free reports and interesting, relevant information will give you the necessary formats to cause your audience to act.

It’s simple, really.  When you’re faced with lemons then, of course, you make lemonade. In our case, we have to make lemonade and make sure the client sees results. However, once those results start showing, it’s up to the client to engage.  They, also, must take responsibility for their sales and ROI.

SEO obsolete?
First, I don’t think that SEO is obsolete. Granted, it is changing form and moving with the trends of the marketplace and the internet (Web 2.0 as prime example), but the traditional methods and practices of SEO –  (what I like to call back room sweat shop) content writing, article submission, web submission, link building – are still as potent and practical as before. They work, and they will continue to work for a long time to come.

As I read recently, they are the foundation and the starting point for any SEM campaign. Regardless of what other tactics are utilized, search engine optimization is of extreme importance. They combine with social media optimization, and social networking to form a power-packed punch that sends your traffic soaring.

In terms of political campaigning, SEO and SEM can be thought of as the TV advertisements, the press releases, the interviews, the visits and the debates – all the traditional forms of campaigning that have worked for so many politicians in the past and present. Yet, there is another type of campaign that most resembles viral marketing: the grassroots, word-of mouth movement.

Viral Marketing Effectiveness
As seen in the last campaign for the Presidency, grass-roots movements can be extremely effective in gaining notoriety, fame and acclaim. Through word-of- mouth and, now, the online social networking, popularity can grow faster than ever before. This is, in essence what viral marketing is. It is the spreading of awareness of a website through referrals and recommendations.

There are many forms of viral promotions to stimulate talk. They include video clips, eBooks, interactive Flash games, text messaging and brandable software, all of which attempt to pique the interest of a consumer and satisfy them in some way, as to bring not only them back but also their friends. Think along the lines of funny videos (all the SNL digital Shorts ) or addicting games (Orbitz).

More Effective than SEO?
Though viral marketing has proven to be effective and looks to continue to be so in the future, it cannot be said to be more effective than SEO. However, it cant be dismissed either. Thus: maybe. If an SEM campaign uses both SEO and viral marketing, then it will decidedly work. The two do not stand in contrast, but can work together. My recommendation, though, is always to start with SEO then add other marketing strategies, including viral

Taking advantage of its accomplishment among college students, Facebook established a high school edition in early September 2005. In 2006, the corporation created communities for business organizations and since then, almost 22,300 corporations had Facebook directories.

In 2006, about 2500 United Stated colleges made use of Facebook, which became the seventh most well liked site on the Internet relating to total page views. The only requirement for joining Facebook is a legitimate e-mail address.

To connect with coworkers or classmates, people can use their work or school e-mail address to register. Once a person registers, the next step is to join a regional network to interact with people in surrounding areas.

In Facebook, people can see profiles of only those people in their network and confirmed friends. Privacy settings are present, which control who can see what.

Implications to Society:

According to professional SEO writers and professional SEO services, the comparatively open nature of information provided by Facebook participants and the lack of confidentiality controls enacted, users are putting themselves at threat of both online (identity theft) and off-line (stalking).

Facebook enables individuals to articulate their social networks, present themselves, and view each other’s profiles, gather friends who can send messages on pages and maintain or establish connections with others. This site is oriented towards romantic relationship initiation, work related contexts, college student population and linking those with common interests such as politics or music.

Participants can use Facebook to communicate with people they know off-line or to meet new people. It is also possible for Facebook members to join virtual groups depending on shared interests, learn each other’s interests, hobbies, romantic relationship status and musical tastes by browsing through different profiles and see what courses they have in common.

Facebook is a valuable site for SEO consultants and SEO service providers concerned with affordances of social networks because of its technological capacities and heavy usage patterns, which bridge off-line and online connections.

Facebook represents an alternate online to off-line trend wherein it mainly serves as a geographically bound community. According to professional SEO consultants, the original manifestation of Facebook information technology enhances a place-based community and results in the production of social capital.