Articles by Lisa Wood on ArticleSnatch.com

Social Networking and College Students

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Today's college students have grown up with the internet. They are web-savvy and know their way around cyberspace. This can be a big challenge for teachers and administrators, who may not be as well-versed with today's technology. The emergence of social networks such as Facebook and MySpace has created a technical gap between teens and adults unlike anything that previously existed. Because of the way teens use technology, it's becoming even more important that the adults in their lives catch up with the times. The value of technology in the classroom is growing, and social networking is central to communication. Although some teachers are hesitant to use social networking because of privacy issues and the potential learning curve, it's the way of the future and a very valuable tool. This is how our students communicate - through Facebook, through Instant Messaging, and through the many portals on the web. It's time that everyone gets on the same page. The problem that teachers and administrators will encounter is that for now, MySpace and Facebook are a place where students can talk freely, and teachers and parents are not always welcome. An adult presence is an intrusion to some. **End Summary** Topics: college social networking]]> social networking]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> To learn more about college social networking , visit BestSocialNetworkingSites.net . Get more tips on social networking and business social networking .

What Is Search Engine Optimization? (SEO)

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Simply put, search engine optimization helps search engines find you on the web. Good search engine optimization ensures that your site ranks high in search results. Why is that important? Because it's the top results that get the most traffic. If you're not being found at least on the first page, you won't see the traffic you want. It's better to be in the top 10 results, and if you can secure a number one or two spot, you're in terrific shape. Search engine optimization, or SEO, involves a few different things: * Keyword research. This involves researching and choosing the most appropriate targeted keyword phrases related to your site. * Well-written, targeted content. You'll use your keywords in your page title, meta description, meta tags, navigation, and in your content. * Link Building. Google loves links, so you'll want to develop a strategy to get quality inbound links to your site. How do these elements help search engines find you? Search engines use complicated formulas called algorithms to determine what comes up in search results. A search engine may use hundreds of factors while ranking the listings. Algorithms differ between search engines, as well. **End Summary** Topics: web design]]> seo]]> search engine optimization]]> search]]> what is SEO]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lisa Wood creates websites for a living and teaches people how to improve their web presence at BestWebsiteTips.com. Get tips, tutorials, and honest product reviews at BestWebsiteTips.com

Why You Should Use Social Networking to Promote Your Business

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Why do businesses use social networking? The internet is shifting from just an information gathering tool to a social participation arena with information at its core. Because of this, taking advantage of social networking can be an important part of your business marketing strategy. Social networking has plenty of business benefits, but let's break it down to four main areas. Understanding these benefits will help you shape an effective approach to your own social networking efforts: Establishing business connections/joint ventures: Because a lot of businesses are using social networking opportunities, there is no shortage of business owners to connect with. This is your opportunity to establish mutually beneficial relationships with other business owners who complement your products or services. Connect, share ideas, and form a profitable joint venture. Do not limit yourself. Be creative. It will be worth the effort. Getting new readers/subscribers: Social networking generally requires more than subtlety than just blasting out your sales page link. People don't participate in social networks to get a sales pitch. They do it to share information and opinions, build friendships, have fun, and be social. Be yourself! Share ideas, be helpful, give value. These things will build trust and your reputation. **End Summary** Topics: social networking]]> business social networking]]> promote your business]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> To learn more about the different types of social networking, visit BestSocialNetworkingSites , where you'll find this article and much more, including social networking links and tips .

What Is Social Networking and Why Should We Use It?

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

There seems to be a lot of talk lately about social networking. This article will help you understand what social marketing and networking is all about. Social networking is essentially the act of interacting with others on the internet. Online networking helps to form connections, establish and enhance relationships, and build a list of contacts. The use of any form of web interaction through which you can express your opinion is social networking. How does someone use social networking? You can comment on blogs or forums, you can post a video on a site like YouTube, or you can use social bookmarking sites like Digg, Stumbleupon. You might prefer MySpace, Facebook, or Twitter. All allow you to send and receive messages from members. There's really no limit to what you can do. From a business perspective, social networking can be an incredibly valuable tool. A business owner can hear what their customers are saying about their products or services. Social marketing is also a good way to get ideas for new products and services. What are people talking about? What kinds of questions do they have that you can answer? **End Summary** Topics: social networking]]> social marketing]]> what is social networking]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> To learn much more about social networking , visit BestSocialNetworkingSites.net where you'll find this and much more, including tips on business social networking .

Why You Should Create a Targeted Email List for Your Marketing Campaign

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Snail Mail is quickly becoming obsolete. Email is cheaper, since you do not need to buy a stamp, and it is definitely faster. Emails can be sent in seconds, to any location anywhere in the world. Emails are being used to distribute millions of newsletters, promotions, and general correspondence every day. Are you cashing in on this technology? How do you use email to market to your customers? If you don't have a good list, it's time to get one. An opt-in list is a collection of qualified email addresses - your customers, potential customers, or interested prospects. Though it seems to be easy to find email addresses and it's tempting to buy a list from someone, there are legal and ethical guidelines you need to follow. Requiring the reader to "opt in" gives the reader control over their inbox, and ensures that you're not viewed as a spammer. A good opt-in list should include the profile of the email address owner. Here are tips on how to create a comprehensive opt-in list for target market. Set up a promotion or a free giveaway on your website. Not all the best things in life are free, as they say. **End Summary** Topics: email marketing]]> email list]]> opt-in]]> confirmed email list]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lisa Wood creates websites for a living and teaches people how to improve their web presence at BestWebsiteTips.com. Get tips, tutorials, and honest product reviews at http://www.bestwebsitetips.com.

How to Set Up An Ergonomic Workspace

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

As someone who works at my desk all day, I've always made a conscious effort to have a well-designed workspace. When I recently set up my new home office there were some crucial elements that had to be in place: * a good desk - not too high, not too low, and large enough that I had room to spread things out * a good chair - one that had good support and cushion, and one that I could adjust the height * a good monitor, set at eye level * a keyboard that would be comfortable to type at I definitely had to make some adjustments as I set up my new space. I had already researched desks and purchased my perfect desk, so the rest was pretty easy. * My office chair that I had brought home from my old job was super comfy and supportive, but did not go up as high as I expected, so it was a little too short for the desk. I have fixed that problem by adding some memory foam cushioning to the seat for a little height boost. **End Summary** Topics: workspace ergonomics]]> ergonomics]]> how to set up an office]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lisa Wood creates websites for a living and teaches people how to improve their web presence at BestWebsiteTips.com. Get tips, tutorials, and honest product reviews at http://www.bestwebsitetips.com.

Why You Should Build an Targeted Email List

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Snail Mail is quickly becoming obsolete. Email is cheaper, since you do not need to buy a stamp, and it is definitely faster. Emails can be sent in seconds, to any location anywhere in the world. Emails are being used to distribute millions of newsletters, promotions, and general correspondence every day. Are you cashing in on this technology? How do you use email to market to your customers? If you don't have a good list, it's time to get one. An opt-in list is a collection of qualified email addresses - your customers, potential customers, or interested prospects. Though it seems to be easy to find email addresses and it's tempting to buy a list from someone, there are legal and ethical guidelines you need to follow. Requiring the reader to "opt in" gives the reader control over their inbox, and ensures that you're not viewed as a spammer. A good opt-in list should include the profile of the email address owner. Here are tips on how to create a comprehensive opt-in list for target market. Set up a promotion or a free giveaway on your website. Not all the best things in life are free, as they say. **End Summary** Topics: email list]]> build an email list]]> opt-in email]]> email newsletter]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lisa Wood creates websites for a living and teaches people how to improve their web presence at BestWebsiteTips.com. Get tips, tutorials, and honest product reviews at http://www.bestwebsitetips.com.

Grow Your Businesss With These Small Business Marketing Tips

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Marketing a business is not easy. Business professionals often have a hard time deciding where to start with a marketing plan, who to market to, how much to budget for marketing, etc. Small business owners have an even bigger challenge. Small marketing budgets and even smaller available blocks of time to work on marketing make things tough, for sure. Check out the following simple marketing tips that you can implement into your business, without investing lots of money or time. * Get Out There on the Web. Every business should have a website, without question. On the web, your customers can view your product or service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Contrary to popular belief, starting a website doesn't have to be expensive, either. You can purchase a domain for under $10 per year, and hosting plans start out at less than $5 per month. There are many free website templates available, and with a little research and help, your website can be up and running in no time. * Start Blogging. One way to get established on the web is through a blog. **End Summary** Topics: small business marketing]]> marketing tips]]> marketing]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lisa Wood creates websites for a living and teaches people how to improve their web presence at BestWebsiteTips.com. Get tips, tutorials, and honest product reviews at http://www.bestwebsitetips.com.

Five Important Tips for Designing Your Website

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

When it comes to your website, you want to get it right the first time. Pay extra attention to every little detail to make sure your site performs the way you want it to. Here are five important things to consider to make sure your website performs well. 1) Avoid splash pages Splash pages are the first pages you see when you arrive at a website. They normally have a very beautiful image with words like "welcome" or "click here to enter". In fact, they are just that -- pretty vases with no real purpose other than serving as Google bait. Splash pages are usually built for search engines, not for the visitor. It's just one more click that your visitor has to make to get into your site. Your visitors will feel more welcome if they get what they want right away! Don't make them open a door - show the value of your site up front without the splash page. 2) Go easy on the banner ads You know what I'm talking about - you arrive on a site and there are more flashing ads than content. **End Summary** Topics: web design]]> website creation]]> website creation guidelines]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lisa Wood creates websites for a living and teaches people how to improve their web presence at BestWebsiteTips.com. Get tips, tutorials, and honest product reviews at http://www.bestwebsitetips.com.