I’m an old Trekkie, I admit it.  And by old I mean that I’ve been a fan since the original series (Yikes I’m old!).  Anyway, one of the “gadgets” they used often was the Universal Translator which translated any language into English or any other language.  After all, they had to communicate with so many difference alien species! –

And now, it seems, Google has taken us closer to that reality.  We may not have a Universal Translator that works so smoothly (although my husband loves to use his smart phone with his Korean patients).  We do have Google’s Gmail program which now translates emails.   Mashable reports.. “Gmail‘s automated message translation is no longer an experiment. Now Google’s popular email platform can automatically translate emails from one language to another. So, for example, you can get an email in Japanese and have it translated instantly into English, or communicate with a friend in French without ever knowing the language.”

It’s very cool, I tried it.  I went to Google.it (Italian Google) and typed in Limoncello (a great drink if you’ve never had it) – I found a recipe for it (in Italian of course) – copied and pasted it and emailed it to myself.  When I opened it – I was able to translate it with one click and – Ta Da!!!

So, if you have always wanted to communicate with your Italian cousins or Russian relatives but couldn’t because of the language barrier – you can now email with ease! Having pen pals from other countries is now easier than ever!  Hope this helps us to fight with each other less!

Google has been working, since April 2010 on a Business Photos Program. Basically, the idea is to provide businesses with a local photographer that apparently has been approved by Google to take photos and/or virtual tours of the business. These photos/videos are then put on Google searches, Google Maps, Google Places and who knows where else?

The Google Small Business blog has a great story on it.  Apparently it’s been successful enough that Google is now expanding it to other countries and they’re looking for more photographers to sign up to the program. Here’s a link to a photographer in the Atlanta, Georgia area just to give you an idea of the kind of photographers in the program.

It’s a really great idea – imagine looking for a restaurant and being able to take a virtual tour of that restaurant before you set foot in there?  I can see this working well for Bed and Breakfasts, animal day care centers, boutiques and many other places.  Very Cool.

Check out Google’s Business Photos program – it may just be the thing your business needs!

Okay, I know everyone on the planet seems to love Facebook (except me) and I’m really working on changing my attitude but today, is not going to be one of those days!

I received an email from a course I signed up for and in the email was a link to their Facebook page – so – I clicked on it and I was brought directly to their page. Cool. All I wanted to do was to “follow” them – include them in my facebook feed so that I can keep up with their news. But the follow, friend, fan, whatever button was nowhere – I clicked here, there and everywhere only to get so frustrated I just left.

Now, I’m on the Internet 14+ hours a day – I’m no genius, I admit, but I’m no dummy either. I know my way around the Internet and websites. So, when I can’t figure out how to use a website, something is wrong with that website!

Well, what about you? Do you LOVE Facebook or do you just tolerate it because it’s the flavour of the month/year/decade? Let me know!

Twitter Rules!

I talk alot about writing new content for websites, blogs and how important it is.  I mean really, Internet users type in words in search engines (or is it on search engines?) anyway, all these engines can do then is look for those words on pages.

But, I will concede, as I think anyone who does any writing will, it’s not always easy to write.  I found this on my Pinterest account and thought it was worth sharing. I hope you think so too.

Like this infographic? Get more content marketing tips from Copyblogger.

For most website owners, the understanding they have of SEO (search engine optimization) is limited.  They know that their websites need it, they know that it can bring in business, but do they REALLY know what’s going on at the SEO company?

It reminds me of my own experiences when I bring my car to the mechanic.  I mean, he TELLS me what is wrong and what he needs to do but he might as well be speaking Klingon, I don’t really understand and frankly, I just want the car fixed.  I have to trust him (and we all know that doesn’t always work out well!).

Anyway, I just read a great article explaining what the process of SEO looks like and I thought I would break it down for you.

First off, the article is written by Krista LaRiviere who is cofounder of a successful SEO software company – so her expertise is valid.  So, let’s get to the article.

1) Krista outlines the model of SEO like the old food pyramid we’re so familiar with.

She then assigns a percentage of the importance of each level.  They are…
(from bottom to top)

Technical Page Optimization
This accounts for 10% of the SEO model.  I can’t tell you how many times I argue with clients (well, I suppose I should call them discussions) about making changes to their website in order to comply with this rule.  Sometimes graphics are too large, sometimes there’s just too many graphics or flash or other animated features.  Sometimes there just isn’t enough text.  Believe me, I understand that it’s important to have an aesthetically pleasing website, but the reality is, the most beautiful looking websites in the world don’t necessarily bring in traffic.  Business websites are meant to bring in traffic, otherwise, what’s the point?

Keyword and Competition Research
This accounts for 25% of the SEO model.  Where it’s true that the website pages themselves have to be constructed with clean, up to date coding, it’s even more important that the words being used on the website pages are the right ones.  Does this happen right away?  I mean, when  website is first optimized are all the keywords chosen correct?  Are they the best?  I’m going to be honest with you – NO!  Why?  Because website traffic is dependent on a large variety of factors.  A keyword phrase may do well from January to April but perhaps it doesn’t do too well during the Autumn, perhaps there are other factors coming into play in the industry.  It’s difficult to tell.  Research is based on what has happened, so we can only go with that information.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that keyword research is constant.

External Marketing TO The Website
This accounts for 55% of the SEO Model.  Basically, this means creating articles to put on OTHER places like blogs, press releases, article directories, etc.  Of course, embeded within these articles would be links TO your website.

Some of the best types of articles to write are How To articles, Reviews and Case Studies.  The reason is that these types of articles showcase your expertise in your field.

Publish – Socialize – Share
This accounts for 5% of the SEO model.

Websites these days MUST be interactive.  The days of going to a website and just reading it are long, long gone.  Visitors expect to be able to link to you via Twitter, Google+, Facebook, whatever!  They expect to see you in those places and they expect others to be talking about you.

Make your website shareable.  Put the kind of information on your website that others will want to share.

Measure and Improve
This accounts for 5% of the SEO model.

No website EVER is launched being 100% complete, in fact, no website is EVER 100% complete.  If anyone tells you that it is, they’re just tired and don’t want to talk to you anymore.  The truth is, websites are in constant motion.  They’re constantly requiring work.  The reasons are easy to understand…

a) technology changes rapidly (so that means coding and search engine algorithms change)

b) needs of your audience changes – whether it’s due to seasonal changes or other factors, what your target audience needed in January is not necessarily the same as in August of the same year.  Keep up with what they need and you will always have enough traffic to your site.

c) factors in your own industry change – lawyers need to keep up with new laws, plumbers need to keep up with new tools and technology, doctors need to explain the new medications and treatments available.  Let’s face it, there’s always something new happening in your industry and you need to show that your audience that you’re on top of it.

Well, I hope the article and my synopsis helps you to understand the basics of the SEO process and hopefully I haven’t lost you (like those mechanics do with me!).  But, if you have any questions, you know where to find me.

If your business is retail, this is the post for you.  Mashable.com reviewed 10 startups that can help you to get your products “out there” on the Internet.

Now, it used to be that webmasters had to add retail websites and their products to directories but these days, it’s all about social media.  Meaning that the shop owner has to actually interact with their customers.  Yeah, I know, it’s more time consuming, but it’s more personal for the shopper.  And for small retailers, that’s their ONE major advantage – they can make the shopping experience very personal.  So check out these 10 online arenas!  I’m sure you’ll find at least one that’s suited to your products.

1) Mulu.me

Launched in December 2011, Mulu is a social platform for sharing the things you love and making the world a better place at the same time. Mulu allows users to make product recommendations, ask for suggestions and earn money for themselves or a social cause they want to support.

Mulu CEO and founder Amaryllis Fox says, “Zooey Deschanel and HelloGiggles are using their Mulu to support 826 LA, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write.”

2) Stippleit.com

Stipple leverages cloud services to power interactive commerce and content inside of web images. When people mouse-over a “Stippled” image, pins display useful information about the people, places, products and prices shown. The company’s patent pending technology syncs these commerce and content tags to images within its network.

“Brands lose tens of millions of dollars in revenue each month simply by not tagging their products in web photos,” says Rey Flemings, founder and CEO of Stipple. “Editorial images generate billions of pageviews, and if your product is in a photo, but people can’t find out what the product is, then your brand loses marketing value and revenue.”

3) Buyosphere.com

Founded by digital pioneer and author, Tara Hunt, Buyosphere is the Quora for fashion, interiors and retail.

Want to find “the best iPad cases for under $100 bucks?” Instead of searching through thousands of irrelevant images, Buyosphere allows you to ask the question to its community, and then your peers make recommendations (with direct product links). Even better, Buyosphere was built with brands in mind — the companies are encouraged to actively participate on the platform.

4) Stylmee.com

Launched in December 2011, Stylmee is the first iPad app that allows users in the fashion and interior design communities to create virtual 3D boutiques. Users are able to “design” their boutiques with custom flooring, fixtures, furnishing, accessories and apparel from their favorite retailers and brands. For every action, users earn points for their activities and can cash them in for retailer rewards.

The app combines online shopping and product sharing (via Twitter and Facebook integration) with social game mechanics in order to increase brand engagement. For brands and retailers, the application offers the ability to directly showcase the latest collections and obtain feedback and exposure through game mechanics. Products are viewed and judged worthy of placement within members’ personal boutiques.

5) Svpply.com

Considered Pinterest’s primary competitor, Svpply allows site members to keep track of the things they want to buy, and to browse a personal feed of products from across the web, curated and filtered by the people and stores they find interesting. Users with blogs can embed their Svpply activity via widgets and retailers can integrate an “add to Svpply” button on their ecommerce sites.

6) Lyst.com

Lyst is a social shopping and product bookmarking site specifically targeted to fashion. The site allows users to follow their favorite designers, boutiques, bloggers and stylists for updates in their personally made style feeds. “Lysting items is a form of self-expression,” says Chris Morton, CEO of Lyst in an interview with Business Of Fashion. “The act of publishing their lysts also enables users to build their reputation within the online fashion world.”

7) Nuji.com

A hybrid of Lyst and Svpply, Nuji allows users to save items they like from any online store using the platform’s web bookmarklet tool. Users can clip apparel from retail websites they like and purchase the items later. Plus, they can follow interesting users and earn rewards and discounts from retailers by tagging their favorite items.

Olioboard.com

For aspiring interior designers and overall design enthusiasts, Olioboard is an easy way to communicate complex artistic concepts visually. Use it as a brainstorming tool or simply to visually organizing thoughts.

Users are able to share, embed and email their creations to their blogs, as well as shop retailer products within the site. Olioboard plans to launch iPad and mobile apps mid-2012.

Olioboard was created by web design company Keele UX Inc. “Our main goal for Olioboard is to provide a design and decor-focused creative tool that essentially allows members to get inspired and ‘try it, before they buy it,’” says founder Sheilah MacSporran.

9) GetVega.com

GetVega is list-creating service based entirely on visual content. GetVega users access the platform for product comparisons and reviews, create lists of products, and write reviews. Users can also use it as a social (or private) bookmarking site. Currently, the site is generating an impressive amount of content, from visual cookbooks to theme bars in Paris to the best guitarists. Users even create the proverbial “bucket list.”

Once a public list is created, other users can contribute (see: the quest for the best chocolate) and rate the quality of a list and its contents. With a much broader audience than just fashion, GetVega offers retailers the chance to create context between their brands and their customers’ lifestyles.

10) Styloko.com

Styloko is the new kid on the block when it comes to product sharing and discovery. The site is hybrid of Pinterest, The Cools and what Google Boutiques wanted to be. Styloko is worth paying attention to because it caters to fashion, art and industry insiders – those with advanced knowledge of not so mainstream products.

The site allows users to add items they find to boards, upload images via the site’s mobile app, and set up specific sale alerts for the brands they follow.

Some of you may know that many years ago I worked as an Occupational Therapist and I worked mostly with all types of head injuries which included Alzheimer patients.  I’m no different than anyone else who gets to work with this population, you just end up falling in love with them.

So, this video just caught my heart and made me smile.  Not only because music brings ME joy, but to see what it does for Henry in this video, well, I can’t stop smiling.

Isn’t technology just a wonderful thing?  Sometimes!

A great friend of mine just introduced me to a wonderful website, Khan Academy.  As wikipedia puts it…

“The Khan Academy is a non-profit^[2] educational organization, created in 2006 by American^[3] educator Salman Khan, a graduate of MIT. With the stated mission of “providing a high quality education to anyone, anywhere”, the website supplies a free online collection of more than 3,100 micro lectures via video tutorials stored on YouTube teaching mathematics, history, healthcare and medicine, finance, physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, economics, cosmology, organic chemistry, American civics, art history, microeconomics and computer science.^[4]“

I love this website and I have to say, I’m pretty jealous.  If something like this was around when I was in school, it would have been so much better!  I just love it.

Check it out, doesn’t matter if it’s something you want to learn or something your kids are struggling with, the lessons are GREAT!!!

One of my favourite recording artists is Charlene Kaye – I love her sound and her music.  Last year she began a project to record a new album.  She needed $20,000 to do it, and as an Indie artist she did it the Indie way.  She used crowdfunding.  She raised $32,000 and created her new album!

Success!

Thursday, April 5th, Obama is set to sign the Jobs Bill which includes “crowdfunding“.  This has been around for quite a while but it’s now going more mainstream on the Internet.  There are multiple companies doing it and I’m sure there will be more who will join them.

1) Kickstarter

2) Rock The Post

3) EquityNet

4) Profounder

5) Startup Addict

6) RockTheHub

The idea is quite simple, crowdfunding allows anyone to contribute / invest.  Crowdfunding …”helps ordinary Americans bypass big banks, investment brokerages and large investors…”  “Crowdfunding is a way of financing a business venture without a financial intermediary or a stock exchange.”

Take a look at the websites above and you’ll see.  In my humble opinion, it’s going to be a major bonus for entrepreneurs across the country!

We are so very proud to be part of the marketing team for Mens Rights Law Firm in southwest Florida.  The Mens Rights Law Firm, is a small firm whose practice is limited to Family Law and focus is on Men’s Rights.  As attorneys for Men’s Rights in Florida, the firm aggressively represents the interests of husbands and fathers involved in divorce and other family law matters.

They’ve got a wonderful relationship with their community, giving whenever they can to charities such as…

Ann’s Restoration House

Lee Memorial Blood Drive

Voices For Kids Golf Charity

Lee County American Cancer Society

We’ve been helping Sam Assini and his team for many years and so proud to be a part of helping him to grow his business!