ASA to adjudicate complaints about website and social media marketing content
Guide to internet marketing
Things are always changing in the world of marketing and from 1st. of March 2011 folk in the UK will be able to complain to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), relating to the content they find on commercial websites.
This means that the public can now make official objections about what they consider to be false, indecent or misleading information on any website.
In practice this means that even greater care needs to be taken regarding any statements that are made be it on your website, your blog, or any of the social media sites that you use that could be seen as marketing in any guise.
Whilst this is an area where I foresee many complaints coming through from disgruntled people and other marketers, fear not.
As the ASA’s guidelines state: ‘The guidelines simply set out standards that society has deemed necessary, through a process of consultation, to protect consumers and businesses alike. To that end, it promotes and preserves organisations’ right to advertise responsibly – and those that do shouldn’t find it burdensome to comply with……… It’s not there to catch you out or to unnecessarily curb what you want to say and how you want to say it.
Simply ask yourself whether all that you’re putting out is legal, decent, honest and truthful and that you’re happy to be fronting with all that you’re presenting, which, of course, for the vast majority of professionals, this is exactly what you’ve always been doing.
Read the rest of this entry »
My online video marketing services
Our online video marketing services are provided for you and your firm.
In an earlier message introducing my online video marketing services I said that the market is awash with copycat professionals, all looking and performing pretty much the same; nobody stands out any more.
If you’re to take your firm to the next level you simply have to stand out in distinctive and special ways. In this post I reveal how we can help you to win-out, build relationships, establish trust and bring in more of the right sort of clients.
If you’re to get to the next level in a competitive marketplace, you must be seen as the ‘must-use’ firm.
To do this in a competitive marketplace you must be using the most powerful tools available to you to get your message over so as to get evermore people to know like andtrust you and this must be being done on a sustained basis.
But this said, for those that do decide that they want to stand apart and develop authoritative leadership in the local context, using the power of online video and the social media, the scope for enhanced fees and hugely improved profitability is tremendous; its simply a decision that needs taking and appropriate action taken. Read the rest of this entry »
A musical interlude: some beautiful Russian sacred music
Russian sacred music
Russian sacred music
To break up a never ending tirade about the power of online video for business owners of professional service firms I continue on the theme of videos but offer this time something of timeless beauty; some Russian sacred music.
Sometimes I think you can go right off theme but if its done well it keeps your audience engaged in wholly new ways.
Its only 3 minutes 54 seconds of Russian sacred music; take time out, turn up the volume, close you eyes and listen. If your not moved by the bass when he kicks in, if goosebumps don’t take over, when its finished, get up and check your pulse, you may be dead!
I hoped you liked it.
I have come to love Russian sacred music over the years, its sounds stir the heart and the basso profondo is almost unbelievable; I’ll play more from time to time so keep coming back. Let me know what you think.
By way of a little information on this type of music it goes back a very long way; albeit manuscripts from before the 10th century are few. But its popularity goes back all that time as it is recoded that Prince Vladimir of Kiev said of it in the 10th century, “We did not know whether we were in Heaven or on earth”, after attending a celebration at Aghia Sophia.
Russian sacred music is very special
Enjoy more Russian sacred music here in the near future
What rights do you have when you upload a video to a site such as YouTube?
Online Video Marketing
Online Video Marketing
Online video marketing is something to take about because there a re legal implication. If you’re concerned about your Online video marketing rights when uploading videos to sites such as Youtube or the social media sites then it pays to take legal advice. This post in no way whatsoever conveys any legal advice regarding such rights or any related legal considerations.
Online Video Marketing Advice
I am not a lawyer as aren’t the guys in this YouTube video but the advice appears sound so take a look.
Now, let me say, I have read the You tubes terms of service and here they are in French. The only advice to take is that you MUST play by the rules and this means you do need to be very careful if you work in any way near the margins or use others’ material.
The big issue that seems to vex many is: Does Youtube own the video content when you upload a video?
The short non legal answer is that by agreement with you, as set out in their terms of service, they share the same rights as you to use your content world wide on a non exclusive basis. I said it wasn’t legal advice but you get the point.
At all times you still own the content and can withdraw your video at your will. Be aware though that if you transgress Youtube’s strict conditions of service, in any way, you are at real risk of loosing your account and all your uploaded videos. Be warned, be alert, be careful but don’t get worried.
The most important Online Video Marketing question
The more important question that many don’t ask relates to the person who is preparing your video and in this context who is the owner? Well, non legal advice again but, in general you’ll find its the videographer!!!
So this said, can I say, when working with ourselves at ‘Online Video For Professionals’ on your online video marketing you will have a contract that states that you retain all rights to all the materials and content that we prepare on your behalf when preparing things for you website, blogs and for upload online. Furthermore we make every endeavour to take into account all that needs to be considered such that the rules set out in video upload site’s such as You tube’s terms of service are not transgressed.
I hope that’s clear. Online video marketing is fun; just take care
As part of our online video for business professionals we only work with one firm in each county for each service offer
Our online video for business professionals services are exclusive
One thing that some business owners are not clear about in terms of our Online Video For Business Professionals service offer and its a biggie; and that is that we only work with one firm in a given service category per county in the UK.
We do this because we focus in all our online video for business professionals work on finding which are the optimal keywords we should be focused on for your service mix in the local context and then helping you to get top Google placements for those keywords. Clearly we can’t get two firms with geographically similar keys to the top; hence we only work with one firm per service category per county.
I hope that’s clear.
I hope to hear from you soon and look
Stephen
For more information on our Online Video for Business Professionals services keep returning.
If what you’re viewing in my Online Video for Business Professionals posts is of interest and you’d like to know more then please do make contact and we can see how we might help.
Blog Marketing:The WordPress template I use is Socrates
Blog marketing with Socrates
I really do appreciate all the comments the blog is receiving; many thanks. It seems people really do appreciate value laden content and shows that blog marketing really does work.
One of the comments I get almost daily is “We like the format of the blog are you using a template and if so which one”?
The answer is yes, I’m using a Socrates template.
When starting out I searched around for one that looked right and knowing the creators of the template I took a chance and went for it. It really was a one of the best decisions I made at the outset; in saying that, there’s no sales hype.
Why? Because:
- the template is a doddle to set up; and it blends without an hassles into WordPress;
- there are videos that help you set up and get the most out of the template; these are great;
- there is help with adsense monetisation, which at the moment I’m not using as I want to keep people on my site not send them off elsewhere;
- there’s help with traffic strategies and most importantly for me when I was setting out; and
- when I had any issues or wasn’t quite sure of things I got a response back from both the forum and the help desk in less than an hour every time.
So I can honestly say that I recommend it; witness the fact that I’m still using it.
Blog marketing
To watch an introductory video about the Socrates template click here:
Blog marketing made easy
I’ve never seen a theme as easy to use with so much functionality as Socrates. Some of the features include:
Online Marketing Strategies: Just how should you focus your marketing energies
Online marketing strategies come in many guises, getting the focus right is critical
In this extended post I am addressing a really important question relating to online marketing strategies.
Exactly where and how should business owners of professional service firms focus their business development energies and shape their online marketing strategies; where might things go wrong; and what should be done about these?
Can I say that I am using the phrase ‘business development’ as so many professionals feel uncomfortable with the word ‘marketing’, which I guess they see as a synonym for ‘selling’, and they don’t like selling.
Can I address this one right at the outset by saying that if you’ve done your marketing right then the need to sell will disappear. If you find yourself focused on selling, trying to close deals, then maybe you haven’t approached your marketing in the optimal way.
Okay lets begin.
There’s a real dilemma facing many professionals today. They tell me their business is stagnant, that they’re working harder and harder and that their business development works seems to be going nowhere so they’ve decided to go online to promote themselves, their firm and their services. Now they don’t exactly say it this way but you get the point.
They often add that with traditional marketing techniques no longer working going online appears to be the only effective way to communicate, cost effectively, with any prospect of a positive result.
So far so good.
They do some preliminary research and come to appreciate that the social media, using organic search, PPC, online video, social book marking, Blogging, forums, online directories and press releases are all there for the taking; ‘its going to be a breeze’. Read the rest of this entry »
Business Video Marketing: Making videos on the hop.
Done well making videos on the hop is business video marketing at its best
If you’re to make the most of opportunities afforded by the use of Business Video Marketing and the social media, particularly if you want to take advantage of time sensitive matters you have to be ready to make a video at a moment’s notice.
One thing to say before I go on. When something comes up on the hoof the technical or visual quality of the video is not so important providing the value or interest of the content is of a really high order; that said the quality cannot slip below a certain standard.
So, the need to have to produce something in short shrift need not be a worry but you have to have planned things in advance.
You, or someone who’s been designated and who is readily available, should be ready to film when the moment arises; this means having all your essential kit to hand; meaning your camera with a directional, external microphone and light and a tripod; though this may not be needed and not appropriate, but it really does help if you can steady the camera.
You’ll find there are many Business Video Marketing opportunities to present ‘made on the hop’ video presentations that serve a myriad of business development, relationship establishment and, trust building purposes if you give it some thought.
Local Internet Marketing: Getting Localised
Local internet marketing is now in vogue
Local internet marketing is nowadays so important and so valuable you just can’t not do it. By marketing your firm in the local geographic context you can give your search engine rankings a clear geographic focus and by so doing attract to your blog, website, videos, articles, podcasts, far more relevant, genuine and targeted people than you will ever do using more general non geographically focused target keywords.
Why?
By optimising your online videos, articles, blog posts or web pages using long tailed keyword phrases, that’s to say using 3 keywords or more, with a clear geographic focus [i.e. local internet marketing>], such as a region, county, town or city, your search engine rankings for those keywords will work much harder and achieve much better results than if you use more general, non geographically specific, keywords; an example in my own context might be:
Online video marketing services Leicester
And whilst the number of people searching on these highly focused keywords will undoubtedly be smaller their quality will be much higher; that’s to say they are much more likely to be someone genuinely and specifically looking for a service, such as yours, in your area than would be the case when using more general keywords that are not geographically specific. Read the rest of this entry »
Targeted internet marketing: Becoming a leader
Targeted internet marketing
Its strange. On the same day I got the Ronnie Corbett YouTube link I also was recommended to view another and it spoke volumes about targeted internet marketing ; I’ve embedded it below.
But who is it targeting?
People who want to be leaders! This is the essence of targeted internet marketing
Now don’t be put off by the nut who is dancing; he’s the reason for the message but the message transcends the nut………… And don’t just watch the video and smile and say that’s right, really think about it…………… no, I mean really think about the message. What does it mean for you and your firm? In your community, in your sector?
This got a standing ovation at a Ted conference.
Not watching Ted presentations! You absolutely must; they’re free, hugely engaging and presented by some of the world’s best presenters. Over the top? No!
Ted presentations are full of some of the most engaging, most interesting, most courageous and most valuable presentations you’ll find on the web today; and they cover every conceivable subject area. You’ll find the Ted site:by clicking here
But for the minute back to a short presentation on leadership! And when you’ve watched it ask yourself are you ready to stand up first or to be the second nut? Because both are needed.
Targeted internet marketing is so important you have to be doing it.
