Google demands quality content.

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Posted on 27th February 2011 by Mick Carling in Uncategorized

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Google has introduced a new search projected to influence almost 10.5 billion search results every month, this new algorithm lowers the rank of sites that take content from other sites without adding to the usefulness of the original, link farms, and other useless sites while increasing the rank of quality sites.

Google’s post,  ”finding more high quality sites in search” explains,  “Google depends on the high-quality content created by wonderful websites around the world, and we do have a responsibility to encourage a healthy web ecosystem. Therefore, it is important for high-quality sites to be rewarded, and that’s exactly what this change does.”

Quality in this case means increased visibility. If there was ever a justification for creating good quality content, then this is it.  From now on, Google will  reward websites with original content and information such as research, in-depth reports, analysis and regular but relevant update, with higher search rankings. Personally I suspect that Google has registered that search sites such as Bing are consistently delivering better and more relevant results which means their lucrative adverting revenue is threatened.

If you want to increase your visibility through Google search then forget about SEO businesses that offer instant front page listings make regular changes to your website or blog with high quality and relevant content. Read and follow Google’s quality guidelines and you will almost certainly get better results than using a search optimisation company.

Quality guidelines – basic principles

  • Make pages primarily for users, not for search engines.
  • Don’t deceive your users or present different content to search engines than you display to users.
  • Avoid tricks intended to improve search engine rankings.
  • Don’t participate in link schemes designed to increase your site’s ranking or PageRank.
  • In particular, avoid links to web spammers or “bad neighborhoods” on the web, as your own ranking may be affected adversely by those links.
  • Don’t use unauthorized computer programs to submit pages, check rankings, etc. Such programs consume computing resources and violate our Terms of Service. Google does not recommend the use of products such as WebPosition Gold™ that send automatic or programmatic queries to Google.

It would appear that this is just the beginning of  of Google’s master plan to make search more accurate and relevant. So watch out for announcements and heed the requirements.

If you need advise on quality content for Google search please contact us.

Trade Local Event in Chesham

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Posted on 24th February 2011 by Mick Carling in Uncategorized

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On Tuesday there was a gathering of local business people at the Chesham United Football ground. Over 50 people attended the event organised by the Chesham Chamber of Trade & Commerce. It was a free event paid for by member subscriptions and sponsored by Santander Business Banking.

It emphasised, for me, the value of face to face networking between local businesses and was especially appropriate because it was held at the local football club who are currently enjoying 4th place in the Zamaretto League. As if inspired by the additional attendance of the towns business elite, the team won 6-1. (more…)

New Linkedin Group for Chesham Business

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Posted on 16th February 2011 by Mick Carling in Uncategorized

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The Chesham Chamber of Commerce has started a new group on Linkedin specifically aimed at businesses in and around the Buckinghamshire town of Chesham. The aim of the group is to promoting discussion between businesses in the Chesham area.

I hope you will find it useful in promoting trade, discussing issues of mutual concern and adding new contacts to your network. Let’s make Chesham a better place to do business. If your doing business in the town you will find this a useful resource for asking questions or promoting your products. The Group is called “Chesham Chamber” and you can find it by typing the name into the Groups area on Linkedin.

The initiative complements the launch of localchesham.org an online directory of Chesham businesses.

Local knowledge makes informed decisions

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Posted on 9th February 2011 by Mick Carling in Uncategorized

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Marketing your small business is rarely a matter of science, there is no mathematical formula as to what will work or fail. However, it is important that any decisions you make are based on solid evidence with regard to your business objectives, your competitors activity and your customers needs.

To gather this evidence is much easier these days than it used to be. The internet has made the world a smaller and much more accessible place. Effective research is much less time consuming than it used to be and the search engines offer ways to automate your intelligence gathering.

Google Alerts keep me informed about what is happening in and around my geographic target area, my competitor activity on and offline and the activities of my customers.

You can register for Google Alerts at http://www.google.com/alerts. They take the form of  email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic. Enter the topic you wish to monitor, then click preview to see the type of results you’ll receive.

I monitor words such as Chesham our town, Chiltern our district, the names of a couple of competitors and the names of a few target companies I would like to do business with. So everyday I get a roundup of news and intelligence that allows me to act on events that happen locally and an indication that my competitors are active or not in promoting themselves. I also have an alert set up to monitor my website and blog that lets me know how quickly Google picks up my latest posts.

They say knowledge is power so utilise the power of Google Alerts to inform you marketing decisions.

Free Business Networking at Chesham United

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Posted on 8th February 2011 by Mick Carling in Uncategorized

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Chesham Chamber of Trade & Commerce is holding a free business networking event at Chesham United Football Club on Tuesday 22nd February from 6pm to 7.30 pm. Drinks and Canapés will be served  before Kick Off and then guests will be able to watch Chesham United play Cirencester Town in the Zamaretto Premier League. Chesham are currently 4th in the league and will be chasing maximum points – sounds like a great game.

The Evening is jointly promoted by Santander and The Chesham Chamber of  Trade & Commerce. Admission is free to all businesses operating in Chesham and the surrounding villages.

So, to book your place at this great networking opportunity call 0800 0273842 or email secretary@cheshamchamber.org

Boost your business with local Chesham website

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Posted on 6th January 2011 by Mick Carling in Uncategorized

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If business is a little slow with the start of the year consider updating or adding your entry on www.localchesham.org.

Localchesham.org is a free directory site specifically for businesses and shoppers in the Chiltern market town of Chesham. Qualifying businesses (those who are based or trade in Chehsam or the surrounding area) can have a micro-website with text, logos and images, completely free of charge. Featured listings can be bought for just £50 per year and include a trial membership of the Chesham Chamber of Trade and Commerce.

The site was launched as a service to the Chesham Community by the Chesham Chamber of Trade and Commerce and is aimed at boosting business in the town and to provide a one stop portal for Chesham based services. Launched in November 2010, the site is has already experienced over 10,000 page hits making it a very valuable resource for business in the area.

The site offers a number of opportunities for highly targeted sponsorship and advertising at exceptional low cost. You can get more information by emailing secretary@cheshamchamber.org.

You can record X-Factor but this you will never see again!

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Posted on 7th December 2010 by Mick Carling in Uncategorized

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On Saturday 11th December, live for 1 night only, three of the most extraordinary talents on the music scene today will be playing live at The Drawingroom in Chesham. Yes! You better believe it – Live in The Drawingroom this Saturday. Strictly is on early and X-factor is on later so set up sky+ or your video recorder because this is the show to watch.

Jack Garrett will be performing – hearing is believing – totally original, outstanding singer song writer plays guitar and keyboards with the best and has the most awesome voice. Click Here for Music

Estas Tonne will be performing following his sell out gigs in Russia, Ukraine and Paris. One of the most talented guitarists I have had the pleasure of hearing.  Click Here for Music

And Little Fish will also be performing after touring with Hole, Blondie, Placebo and Them Crooked Vultures, while releasing their debut album Baffled and Beat. Click Here for Music

I promise you will never hear a line-up like this again!

Booking is absolutely essential and tickets can be obtained from richard@the-drawingroom.co.uk or stop by the website.

New Online Directory for Chesham Businesses

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Posted on 25th November 2010 by Mick Carling in Uncategorized

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localchesham.org online business directory

LocalChesham.org

A new, online directory service has been launched aimed at making it easier to do do business in the Chiltern Town of Chesham. The site is www.localchesham.org.

The site launched this week by Chesham Chamber of Trade & Commerce is the most comprehensive directory of businesses in Chesham and the surrounding areas. The idea is to make it easy for consumers to find businesses in Chesham that provide local products and services. The site will also allow businesses to discover each other and hopefully keep more trade circulating around the town instead of going outside.

There are over 800 businesses listed on the site many with full business descriptions and contact details. There is also a map for each business showing their location. Businesses can claim their listings and edit them with up-to-date descriptions, logos, images and links to websites and email. If you find your business is not listed you can register with the site and add your business by filling in a simple form.

Social Media is no silver bullet to marketing success.

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Posted on 27th October 2010 by Mick Carling in Uncategorized

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Over the past year I have been keeping a close eye on the marketing activity of my clients. Increasingly, I am asked for Websites, Facebook Campaigns, Blogs etc. Well That’s OK. “Money in the bank” you might say. But I like to track results from the work I do for people, look at website hits, Facebook friends and how much business is generated by each project.

Now with Social Media it is difficult to quantify results. I know that and I’m prepared to accept the view that reputation is difficult to put a price on. I am even prepared to accept that the “conversation” through social media builds trusting relationships that are hard to put a value on. But believe me for most small businesses I have yet to see any sales result directly from social media.

While it is no silver bullet, social media can work where it is heavily supported by more traditional media such as postcard campaigns, online and offline advertising, events etc. The problem is your social network must attract people other than your friends and your competitor spying on what you are doing.  In truth for a small business to get any kind of result from Social Media will require so much of your time, it is unlikely you will  not have any left to run your business.

Don’t get me wrong. There is a place for Social Media in the marketing mix, just don’t do it in isolation.  Social Media takes time to build an audience, trust and community which is great for medium and long term strategies. In my experience small businesses are much more short term in their needs and goals. In these tough market conditions survival is the most pressing imperative. So by all means employ Social Media but support it with promotions, direct mail, advertising, websites or whatever means that is most appropriate to your business model.

Get to grips with Twitter

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Posted on 6th October 2010 by Mick Carling in Uncategorized

This morning I came across a great list of resources on using Twitter for business. It comes from Tom Pick and is published on Social Media today.

Love it or hate it, Twitter is gaining in popularity faster than Facebook. It is actually a great way to share resources, knowledge and experience with your network. Few people seem to get much beyond publishing what they had for breakfast but a little work and research can take you far beyond this. It helps to build your reputation and lets people know how much research you do to support your business.

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