Twitter has put a new twist on the “old” Web 2.0 theme. Twitter is a cross between blogging and instant messaging, popularly referred to as micro-blogging. You have 140 characters to convey what you are doing to your fellow twitter peeps. Although the message is short and sweet, there is something to be said for the 140 characters Twitter provides. This essentially eliminates the long-winded messages that make readers and recipients (or clients) yawn. Your 140 characters, used wisely, can pique another’s interest, evoke emotion and potentially have them contacting you to learn more or visiting your link to get the full low-down.

The transparency of Twitter is quite divine and is an excellent way to build trust. Twitter is personal which is why many businesses seem to shy away from the forum, but imagine that all of your clients are viewing you as a person, not an industry or business. You are real to them and that is an essential element in establishing quality and long-term relationships with customers. Consider it a way of adding a human voice to your brand.

Another valuable asset of Twitter in the social media arena is that it updates in real time. This gets your message to your audience immediately. When you engage in two-way conversations, and please don’t be a spammer, you have an opportunity to interact with your audience on the spot. You can ask and answer questions and really open dialogue with your following.

Twitter also offers an opportunity to follow your competition and possibly join them, if you are so inclined. Joining the competition may not seem like a good part of your marketing plan, but by connecting with others in your niche you are opening yourself to new opportunities should they need assistance with a project or if for some reason they need to suggest another company to their client. You can also stay on top of trends in your market as a lot of news hits Twitter way before it hits the local news.

You want to know the very best part? Twitter is free. This is a powerful return on investment if you consider the number of tweet peeps you can follow and be followed by. The sheer number of Twits is a great motivational factor for becoming one your self. Like most social media, Twitter offers the opportunity to connect with literally thousands of potential clients looking for information about your business or services.

We do have one warning. As with most social networks, Twitter can be addictive. Don’t let it take you away to Twitterland. Keep your tweets simple and use Twitter wisely. Posting too much can take things overboard. Using Twitter moderately can make it a powerful marketing tool expanding blog exposure, with the Twitter Widget, and gaining valuable readers.

Check me out on twitter: Rafferty Pendery’s Twitter.

Rafferty Pendery
Internet Marketing Consultant

People searching for information enter specific keywords into the search engines to find what they are looking for about products, companies, services or whatever. Keyword research allows you to see how people are searching for information, what words they are using and which phrases you should use in your content so they are directed to your website. By gathering keyword data, you can gain valuable insight to searchers behavior and ways to create a user-friendly, informational website that converts visitors into customers. So where to does one start their keyword research?

Start by washing away the common misconception that you already know what terms searchers use to find your website. If you are just guessing at what people are looking for, you run the risk of getting it completely wrong. Place yourself in the searcher’s shoes and don’t look for one right answer. Successful keyword research should lead to numerous great answers.

When doing your research, don’t limit yourself. It is easy to get trapped with a specific phrase you have your heart and mind set on. In some situations, starting with a single word can open the door to a much larger range of potential keywords. If you are not sure where to start, select a broad, non-specific term to start your search and discover a plethora of less competitive yet very effective keyword terms to develop your keyword list. Bear in mind, many keywords and keyword phrases are so popular it is almost impossible to get a high ranking for them.

Once you have completed your keyword collection, and it should be a fairly extensive list, the next step is to research the keywords popularity and competition. This can be accomplished through the use of several keyword research and analytic tools. There are many keyword research tools available, like those offered by Overture, Google and Wordtracker. To ensure the quality of your keyword data, analysis should be performed and cross-referenced across multiple tools. There are also web analytics tools available such as those offered by Webtrends, Omniture and HitBox. Using these tools will allow you to identify the most effective keywords for your optimization plan.

It is also important to target locally. Local targeting, including your location in your keyword search phrases, is very successful as many people mention specific locations when searching for services and products. Also take the time to explore all niche opportunities. It is essential to identify what part of a market you’d like to focus on. Don’t forget, getting ranked number one for a term that has nothing to do with your website is a giant waste of time and money.

Keyword research is the first step in the optimization of your website for search engines and to gain greater site traffic. So get out there and start researching. Discover new keyword opportunities and fix existing keyword uses. Keyword research is an ongoing process. Your customers and your website change over time. It is important to monitor your keywords and tweak them accordingly. Although keyword research is a tedious task it is well worth the effort.

Rafferty Pendery
CEO Studio98

I have been invited back to the 2008 in August. The team is listed on that page.

I will keep you posted on updates on this project.

Rafferty Pendery

Communication is much more than words. Communication involves tone, gestures, meaning and movement. Dumping lots of facts, figures and bullets on your site doesn’t mean you are delivering a message your audience wants to hear. Think true sincere communication, not marketing. Be honest and sincere, offer knowledge not sales jargon, and leave the technical stuff for the glossaries.

Write your content in a natural voice, as if speaking directly to a customer. No filler. No fluff. Keep your content interesting, engaging and relevant to ensure a fulfilling experience for your online guests. Your website should be about giving your customers attention, addressing their need to know and the ability to find an immediate answer to their question.

When looking at well-communicated sites like www.futurenowinc.com, their success is no mystery. They know why a consumer would visit their site, address that need to know and help to identify paths to meet those needs. All of this is done in a no-nonsense tone and they don’t squander their message space bolstering their own business egos.

As many businesses have learned the hard way, bad content can kill your site. You don’t have to be boring because you are talking about business. Be creative. Be Bizarre. Just don’t be mind numbing or the only place your content will lead is to the back button.

Rafferty Pendery
CEO Studio98