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Hello everyone! I'm back!
Since I last blogged The Byne Group has kept me very busy. I've worked on such a wide array of different projects. Over the last few days I have been working on flyers for a local charity, made a few changes on a logo I've designed for an insurance company, designed a whole invitation package for a banquet event, and was on the set of a photo shoot.
Being on the set of a photo shoot is so exciting! There is so much that goes into taking a picture it's insane. All the equipment has to be set up just right, the model has to be sitting at the right angle, and the weather needs to be cooperating to get that "picture perfect" picture. It was really interesting to see the process of making that perfect picture.
This photo is from one of the shoots I was on for United Hospice of Rockland.
Back to work!
Dana
–Dana Tandoi, Intern, The Byne Group
10 Tips to Maximize Your SEO Using Keywords
Our clients are always asking us for ways to improve traffic to their websites. “One of the 'KEYS' to improving their SEO” we tell them, "is to use keywords correctly.” Here are 10 tips to help you unlock the keyword puzzle:
1: When setting up your website, make sure you have descriptive content on your home page that will be recognized by search engines. This means using words and ALSO phrases that pertain to your particular service or product.
2: A little research could be the KEY! Make a list of words and phrases that describe your service or product. Now go to your competitor’s site or a comparable service present online and see how they are or aren't utilizing keywords. Looking at comparable sites (if designed wisely!) is a great way to see if you're missing an important phrase or keyword.
3: Do a bit of research about how your customers or users might describe your service or product. You might be surprised that your definition and theirs contain different descriptions AND different keywords or phrases you may want to incorporate.
4: DON'T use slang or "industry" terms unless you provide an industry service or product. Use keywords that the general public would likely be using to find you.
5: If your service or product is contained to a "location," make sure that location is stated somewhere on your home page. We all hate when we pull up a service thinking it's local and it's halfway across the country. If your service is national or international... well, you should state that too!
6: Is your copy live? Images of text are not going to help your SEO. Make sure your keywords are not images but live text, including your menus.
7: A good way to "ADD" keywords to your existing home page is to put an additional list of keyword links at the bottom of your page that are descriptive and bring users to subsequent areas of your site. This is also a useful tool for your SEO when designing a new site.
8: DON'T over do it! In this case, less is more. Cramming as many keywords or phrases that are not relevant to your service or product can actually lower your rankings. Choose wisely, and if you are unsure, you can get help from experts (like The Byne Group), to guide you.
9: Now, make sure your hierarchy of web pages in your site also follow these rules and contain keywords and relevant phrases for your service or product. Follow all the same general guidelines as for the home page.
10: And finally, if this all baffles you, just call us at The Byne Group and we’ll help you unlock the keyword puzzle!
–Amanda Holt, Creative Director, The Byne Group
I’m a big believer in giving back to the communities we do business in, but is it also good for our small businesses bottom lines? I believe so! Giving back to the community can raise your business' profile and even bring you more customers or clients.
According to Umair Haque's article from Harvard Business Review, Why Betterness is Good Business. “Striving to do more good is associated with greater profitability, equity and asset returns, and shareholder value creation.” And he believes these new business models will help build companies with a purpose, and a mission that is truly understood by their customers.
And as successful members of the community, we have a responsibility to help those that are less fortunate and contribute to the common good. I really enjoy the intangible benefit of giving. Giving back to the community gives me a wonderful feeling of connectedness and the satisfaction of at least trying to make my small corner of the world a better place.
I think customers like patronizing businesses that give back and I believe that giving back has helped my firm move forward!
Have you found ways to give back, would love to hear from you.
–Ann Byne, Principal, The Byne Group
Hi everyone! I am Dana, the new intern at The Byne Group. Currently I am a Senior at SUNY Purchase where I am studying Graphic Design.
I have only been here two weeks, but have noticed that being in the working world is slightly different than being at art school. For one, I have yet to walk in and find someone sleeping at their desk from the night before. Also, design work goes in and out of the office in about two or three days. At school it’s more like six or seven weeks.
Despite the differences, I love my internship at The Byne Group just as much as being at school. They have truly welcomed me and made me feel part of their "group."
–Dana Tandoi, Intern, The Byne Group
We have now entered the world of Web 3.0. Is your website stuck in 1.0 or 2.0 mode? Answer these 5 questions to find out:
1: Is your site static? (meaning your website shows the same content over and over again)
2: Has your company grown and evolved? That’s great! But have you brought your website along for the ride?
3: Are your competitors’ websites bigger and better then yours?
4: Is your site interactive with your viewers?
5: Have you added social media outlets to your website?
These are the most important things to keep in mind when updating your website. Basically your website is your “first impression” and we all know first impressions are very important. I can say from personal experience how important a well designed website can be to potential customers.
When I moved recently I needed to find a veterinarian closer to my new home. So I searched on Google Maps for local vets in the area and chose one with a great website design. The information was well organized I could move through the site easily and found everything I was looking for. I knew that a company who is well branded probably had it pretty well together (first impressions...). Once I visited the vet, their office, stationary, their everything had one consistent look. They left out no details. And the veterinarian herself was amazing. [rockawayvet.com]
You need to keep your website interesting, up-to-date and take the leap into Web 3.0. You don’t want to bore your current customers and in the process of the update you’ll probably get new customers.
–Melissa Behrens, Art Director, The Byne Group
I am a believer in serendipity and coincidences and the amazing power it has in our lives. Hey one of my favorite sayings is “coincidences is gods way of being anonymous.” In a book by Glenn Llopis titled Earning Serendipity he talks about serendipity and the 4 steps that build pathways to prosperity. [www.earningserendipity.com/the-book.php]
The one that really resonated with me was seeing with circular vision. He describes that when you broaden your observation beyond what you seek and beyond the obvious details in front of you, you enlarge your field of opportunities.
I think that’s so true! I was a one person show until I received an unsolicited call from someone looking for work. Rather than being dismissive we spoke for a bit and he shared that he had designed his own magazine in Ireland. Coincidentally I learned earlier that day that I was chosen to design a magazine, something which I felt completely unprepared for! Hence my first employee.
I comfortably search within conversations in business settings for links, the numerous aha moments with surprise connections. You know, where did you grow up, what book did you just read and love? And when I network for business it especially helps me to feel less awkward. Where my difficulty seems to arise is comfortably doing the same with family and friends for “business” aha moments. Finding the links that might lead to business referrals seemed too tacky.
Maybe this comes easier for men, you know over a round of golf with pals the conversation naturally shifts to business connections. I hate to generalize but not so for women. Conversations with our friends tend to drift towards our children or the most recent guy in our lives. Of course we might complain about work or ask for business advice but asking friends or family for business connections seems to be pushy and personally speaking almost taboo.
I’m seriously trying to rethink my point of view and will attempt to use the powerful tool of “serendipity” in all phases of my life. HELP! Any thoughts or advice on how to get there please share.
–Ann Byne, Principal of The Byne Group
Marketers are enthralled by Gen Y's youngest partner, the Millennials and for very good reason: They are an important market today and will become even more important as they graduate, hopefully start jobs, and spend money.
Because one of the markets we do work in is colleges, I can't get enough on the subject. Today I read with interest an article at media post by Jack Loechner about 200 Students from the College of Journalism at University of Maryland who unplugged all their media for 24 hours. (http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=127323)
I have a nineteen year old nephew and if you spend any time around any 18-22 year olds you know gadgets are like appendages to them. They can't imagine life without their cell phones and iPods. So what caused the most anxiety for these 200 Millennial's in the study? One student wrote, "This technology craze has become so deeply ingrained in each of us we know no other way of living our lives, but to rely on our cell phones, laptops, televisions, and iPods to keep us occupied and connected with the world around us..."
Daily text-messaging by teens has "shot up" dramatically in the past 18 months, according to a new study, "Teens and Mobile Phones," from the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project. The study also said nearly 75 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds have cell phones, hey no surprise here. And the love affair between teens and texting will only continue to grow. An interesting dilemma as marketers try to stay connected to this generation in a honest and meaningful way.
–Ann Byne, Principal of The Byne Group
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