Today we talked about what you can do to keep your information private.
Computer Therapy, What can I do to keep my info Private.
Yelp is only one of the directories put there…
Social directories, a place you go to find local restaurants, hardware stores, Lawyers, Accountants, etc. Companies get listed in these directories by just being listed in the phone book. How do we know that our information is correct or not? All of these directories allow users of this directory to add a review to your business listing. That can be a good thing for consumers and our companies when the reviews are legit. We have our clients add reviews. You find our quickly that most of the time you need to be a member of that directory to be able to leave a review. So you go through the process to get the reviews up. This is all well and good until it is not. I am going to tell you about two stories, both of these stories happen to deal with Yelp but it could be any directory.
First story is about a small local company here in the Berkshires. They are a good little company that has been around for a long time and up to this point got all of its new work by referrals. Things were going well. Then one day they had a client as we all do, that was not being reasonable. They did what they could do to please her but she just would not be pleased. They finished the job and moved on. Hoping not to have that experience again. Then the owner got a call from an old client that told him he needs to look up his web site right away. He did that and when he did he saw this listing right under his web site listing. It was from a company call YELP. This was a listing for his company and the description on the listing there was a bad review. The first two lines said ” These guys did not do what they said and they are on drugs…” Then if you click on the review and read the entire review of about 4 paragraphs. Ranting and raving about how bad these guys are. The more you read the more you realized that the woman that wrote the review had an alternate world view. Ok it shows you she was crazy. In most cases the new user will just read the description and move on to the next company. This was hurting his business and it was getting into the busy season for them. He did what anyone would do he call 10 clients and got them to go on YELP and add good reviews. Yelp saw that as packing reviews and disallowed all but two of the reviews and it left the bad review as first in the list so it showed up in his Google Listing. That is when he came to us. We worked with him over the next few months to add good reviews and get the disallowed one to show up. Then we looked at his web presences and started to get good reviews on GooglePlus, Angie’s list, Yellow book, and a few others. Over time the review went away and was replaced by a good review. Consumers read reviews. Those were a tough few months for his company but all is fine now and he has good reviews on all the services that have him listed.
This next story is about a Lawyer in California, His story is similar. In his case he was paying Yelp to advertise on their site and to allow him to come up more when people are using yelp. This worked great to get him some clients. He was paying YELP $500 per month to get the clients to call. It was working so well in the beginning that he told all of his friends they started to use yelp everything was great. Until it wasn’t! One of there clients didn’t like the way that he treated her and wrote a bad review. This review went something like this “this is a lawyer I will not recommend. He is rude and doesn’t know what he is doing…” He called yelp and they told him that he wanted the review removed. He was told that they do not do that and that they have no control over the reviews on your YELP listing. In his case too if you read the review you would see that the person was not working with a full deck. Never the less the yelp listing came up on the front page of the Google listing when you search for this Lawyer. His solution was to stop paying YELP. So now he doesn’t have any clients coming through his advertising and he still has a bad review just under his web site listing. Just because you are not paying them does not mean they are going to take you out of the directory. We are starting to work to help him now with his issue.
As in both of these true stories they did not look to protect themselves by getting good reviews in all the directories they are listed in before a bad review showed up. I know this is a lot of work and you don’t have time to do it. That is why we are here to help through the process Call us today to help with your Web Presence. 413 528-4402
Computer Therapy 8.8.2014
Computer Therapy is a weekly radio show for everyone that just wants to know what is going on with the tech they use every day. We talk about the current news and they talk about the web.
In this show I talk about you are your web presence. How does it help or hurt your business.
Depending on your connection it might take a little while to start. Check it out let me know what you think.
Top 14 Most Popular Vendor of IT Certifications
With companies fighting for the top spot, it’s certainly very difficult to choose, which one can help a student get through the exam and get him a certification that he actually desires. We have made it pretty much simple for you by reducing your finding work to a fickle, just the top 14 most popular vendors of IT certifications, along with the certifications they give u access to, so that you can choose to join whichever interests you. This list will not only narrow down your choices but also give you clues as to which companies are reportedly performing over others along with what they offer, that makes them the best of the best for the particular task. With easy training and hands on practical usage guaranteed by some, getting a global certification is an easy task, if you get it from any of the vendors given below.Yes, all vendors make promises, but which ones do really keep it? They get money, they are happy, technically some don’t care, but the one’s we have in the list provide such intense study material that doubting them would be a big mistake. For example, take Microsoft, take Cisco, they have some certifications that can’t be matched up with value by any certification. The Microsoft Certified Expert, the CCNA certified personnel, these certificates have some of the highest values in the job market and these are what will actually matter, when you present yourself somewhere in an interview. We recommend following this list strictly. All the best!
Presenting Top 14 Most Popular Vendor of IT Certifications:
1. Oracle.com
The world leader and also the creator of the brilliant database language SQL, which can be found anywhere in the world (games, websites) provides excellent global certifications such as the position of ATG developers which is certainly something BIG and a position to be proud of.
2. Hp.com
Hewlett has been recruiting and handing out pretty well sort out and reputed certifications to the deserving such as the ATA Certifications. Also, it’s ExpertOne certification that was bought about, is pretty good and running with success.
3. Test-king.com
The vendor is famous for providing study stuff and guides with a promise of short and concise material. Dump guides are full of short and meaningful answers that help people pass exams of different certifications, than providing certification itself as a whole.
4. Microsoft.com
Working at Microsoft, is a pleasure enjoyed only by the most talented, and unbelievably, Microsoft itself trains you for it. With their certifications like MCE and MCP, your status quo in the market increases dramatically.
5. Braindumps.com
Braindumps, the site famous for helping students get their certifications is continuing to be, and in our predictions, will continue to be in the top 14, if it keeps on providing with excellent papers and solutions to aspirants. Certification exams of all famous vendors such as Microsoft, IBM and Cisco are available at ease with braindumps. It provides dumps, such as the ccna dumps, cissp dumps and braindumps a+.
6. Pega.com
Pega.com, the short name for pega systems has gone from providing business solutions to providing global internships, certifications to interested candidates and has some high-level exams for recruitment such as the CPBA exam.
7. Pass4sure.co.uk
Pass4sure assures a wide majority of candidates with the confidence of passing in exams as well. The website guarantees the success rate, and since we don’t just go on guarantees, our professionals tested the products, in person and surprisingly, the website does what it says. Answers to exams of the hardest certification programs, easy tuts, this vendor is a must-go-for.
8. Adobe.com
With certifications such as the ACP and more, adobe is currently, nothing less than ruling the certification industry, adding to the fact that it invented the pdf systems as well.
9. Oracle.com
Just in sql? Naah, this company has gone from creating the best database software to some of the best certification programs such as the ring easy positions in all leading companies.
10. Exin.com
Exin.com provides ITIL foundation certification that falls under the category of global certification has the facility of viewing the certificate online with the brilliant certificate wizard portal on their main website.
11. Riverbed.com
The riverbed institution provides various certifications and for the certifications it provides online study material as well. One of its well-known certification is the RCSP (Riverbed Certified Solutions Professionals), it trains the candidates as well for it’s certifications in well known programs such as the RCSA-W red education program and the RCSG study guides as well.
12. Magentocommerce.com
Magento provides the finest degrees amongst the lines of IT, even though the title may read commerce. Some of them are the Magento Developer Certification and the Magento Solution Specialist
13. Avaya.com
Avaya deals with certifications along the lines of collab of innovatia and aims at providing with technical training to all its candidates and nourished the necessary skills in them to get Avaya certifications.
14. Zend.com
Zend technologies is a World Wide Web software infrastructure company which provides PHP certification that ensures a person is fully qualified to develop PHP web applications
Each day is a new beginning
Everyday we wake up. Get out of bed and face the new day. Everyday we go about our work, everyday we need to say a little about our work on a blog.
It has need a long time since I posted last. A lot has gone on. Kids, family, work. The good is that everything I did before is still there. Waiting to be built on. So done feel that you have blown it all you have done is deal with life. Get back up make it happen. Each time you begin again and start to see results the faster you will be to start again. it is just a matter of dpi g it!
So get up and do it now, don’t wait, make it work for you life and build your business today.
Blog, get the FAQs out on your site. Start now blog now. Do the SEO that you need to. Know that there are others out there that are doing the same thing in the same place.
You can do it!
Have a peaceful day.
Bob
Is your business on an empty street?
You can get up each day and go to work. If no one calls or comes into you business you are not getting far. If someone in your local area is looming for you and can’t find you again no business. No life.
So each day get up with a purpose. Decide it is going to work today. In my life I worked very hard for a long time 7 years. There were times I thought it was going to work and others I just wanted to give up. It was not until a major life change that I took a step back and let it happen. Now we are on a great road work is coming and I have people to help. Sometimes we just push too hard and get in our own way.
So get out of the way, make your business what you want it to be.
Find your path, find the way to make it work for you.
Have a peaceful day. I am going to start my yoga.
Bob
Day by day we can only do what we can do!
Yes, it has been a while. A lot has happened, life has changed. But we must get back up on that horse.
It is a balancing act!
How do I run my business and do the things I need to do to promote it. Well you just need to find the time. Sometimes it is in the morning. That worked for me for a while, other times is is sitting in a Resturant waiting for food. Create content for your web site that has the keywords you need. Oh ya the keyword density should be 1.8. No more or Google will not rate you well.
Make sure you stick to good SEO practices. There are a ton of articles online read a few of them. Remember on the Internet it is alway good to get a few opinions. You should never trust just one find the truth for you and you will be better for it.
Creating content for you website is the best way to bring traffic and establish you as an authority in your field. Make a difference in you business today. Spend sometime talking about what you know. And you will get people to listen.
Have a peaceful afternoon. I am going to eat my dinner.
Bob
Push through the fog.
Some days are harder than others. Just to keep thing going.
If you are not going to keep marketing you company the at some point things are going to just stop.
Just do it as the saying goes. Check your website, read others, like posts, comment on posts where there is a good conversation going on. That will introduce you to many more real people. You must let visitors know you are there. Let them find you. I can give you tips forever but if you don’t use them, are you helping yourself?
Everyday do something, it adds up over time. But you must start.
Have a peaceful day.
Bob
An empty seat.
Blue skies, a sign of calm
Blue skies in the distances after rainy days. A sign of clearing. No matter how you have faired in this Great Resession you will live to the next day. We need to look at our tasks ahead and mark them off one by one. As we see progress everything will become more clear.
It is clear to me that to I must find ways to reach out. To bring people and businesses together.
Content is king on the Internet. Find what you have to say. What is important to you? Tell the world! Do it now. Start today.
If you love your work then talk about it the way you do to your family and friends. What do you say when someone asks, What do you do?
Start there.
Also get help when you need it. When a pipe breaks in your house you call a Plummer. So of you need help with your web site find support. Find someone that will listen to your needs and come up with real solutions. That gives you options allows you to learn, grow.
If they feel like the right thing then do it, if not run. Find someone that gives you options and educates to allow you to make informed decisions.
Take the first steps. The second will be easier.
Have a peaceful day.
Bob
Internet Marketing Tonight at Fuel in GB
Today is the day to come together and work on your web site. Talk to me and others in your community about supporting your site and business. We will meet at Fuel Coffee Shop in Great Barrington MA tonight from 5 to 7 to talk about Internet marketing, WordPress and all things Internet.
We will work in a group to find the best ways to get more information out about your company and find ways that we can help each other to grow our buisnesses.
Let us come together as a group to learn and support.
I look forward to seeing all of you there. Tonight!
A sunny day and a new month!
It is a beautiful morning, a new month and a great time to start blogging. I know what you are thinking. I can't write, I don't gave the time, I don't know what to say!
Well then just stay in bed and let the world pass you by.
Get over yourself and find a way that works for you. Find a time, a tool.
For me the morning works best. If you have noticed I get my inspiration from looking out the window and seeing what is going on. Then I take a picture with my phone. Then use the IPhone WordPress app to make the post. It forces me to be short and use the least amount of words. I get tired of typing with my finger.
Think about you product or service. What questions do people ask you?
What are your answers?
Those are great posts! They will have lots of keywords and they will be what people need to hear. Don't worry about anything else just do it. Or find a service like ours to do it for you. But you have to do it or your web site is just not going to be seen.
Remember Monday nights 5 to 7 at Fuel in Great Barrington we are meeting to talk Internet Marketing. Get help and support from us and friends going through the same thing you are.
See you Monday!
Have a peaceful day and great weekend.
Bob
Storms come and storms go.
The other night a storm came through, the first real one of the summer. The lightning flashed and the thunder boomed. I shut down all my computers to wait it out. The kids were excited to see nature put on a show.
It reminded me that life happens around me even if I don't do a thing.
The Internet grows every day. How can we make a difference? After all we are just one person. You can make a difference. Studies have shown that normal people have about 500 people in their world. If you are working with the public there could be thousands. Facebook has a measurement called "reach". That how many people do all of you fans have. A fan is someone that likes a page on Facebook.
With Linked in they call it your network. How many people can you touch witha post or comment you make?
The other day I looked on my LinkedIn page and saw that I have under 500 contacts but I have over 2 million in my network. What does that mean?
When I post something to LinkedIn it goes on all of my contacts pages and it would then be possible for all if their contacts to see it. Facebook offers the same thing. But with a possible reach of many more. I am now working with both Facebook and Google directly learning how to get the most from a little. They both make their money from Advertising so they want you to spend big. But you don't have to. You can take you existing budget and move it to on line for just one or two months. See what it does for you. With online you can track it all down to the click. You know how you money is working for you.
One work of warning! Don't spend a dime unless your website is ready to convert the new visitors to clients or Contacts. It is worth a call to me to get more info. Or you can come to our Monday night workshop at Fuel coffee shop in Great Barrington from 5-7 starting next week on June 4th.
Life will past you by. So get up and make a difference in your life and business.
Talk to you soon.
Have a peaceful day.
Bob
Today is a good day to start.
Yesterday there were parades and celebrations. Honoring our fallen Heroes. Today is the day to become a hero and make you business successful. We are lucky we work for ourselves we have the success of our business in our hands.
For an investment if time we can talk about our business, get it in front of our clients. Show them why we are the best at what we do.
Take 15 minutes a day, an hour a month, down time in you day. Find a way to make it work. Create content in your web site. Write about what you know. You web site is the most effective tool in your marketing plan.
Make sure it is posting to Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Get most out of your work. Even if you have said it before say it again in a different way. It will reach different people.
Web sites can and do make a difference in the way your clients see your business. Make that difference today!
Have a peaceful day.
Bob
Relax, take the day
We all need time down. Time to reflect on what we have done. Time to rest in the shade. So have a great day today. Spend it with friends, honor our fallen Hero's.
Tomorrow is a great day to start posting great content to your web site. Follow up on a conversation on Facebook or Twitter. Put up some pictures on Pintrest.
The most cost effective way to get the word out about your product is also one If the best.
Have a peaceful day.
Bob
Seed your web content all around the web.
If you want food in the late spring and summer you need to start planting now. It is the same with your Internet Marketing it take time to grow.
You must engage you visitors get them talking about you products. Don't try to plant too many messages into any one email. It will only confuse the message. Keep your message free from weeds and extra words.
Above all just get out there, read, create content, take pictures, comment on other blogs. Get involved
in the conversation.
If you put yourself out you will be surprised at the. Creating content on your blog the Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and the new one pintrest. Are all good.
Get up and do it now!
Have a peaceful day.
Bob
Find a community in the fog.
Over cast, gloomy you wake up in the morning and look outside. That is what you see. In life we all have choices we can look at the fog and wish the sun would be out or we can see that the fog give water and life to nature. It serves a purpose. We really don't need to know what that purpose is. Just accept it.
Life throws many things at us every day. Live your life with an open heart and open eyes and you will know what to do.
In a few weeks we are going to start a weekly Internet workshop. It will be a place to ask those silly question. Meet with others in the community to talk about SEM, Content Creation, Design, credit card acceptance, email marketing. All that and more. We will build our online community with support of our physical community. If you are in Great Barrington stop by. June 4th between 5-7 at Fuel the coffee shop. Bring you laptop be ready to give and learn what we have to offer.
The coffee and tea will be hot and the support will be strong.
If you are not around here. Find some other businesses in your community to meet with. Allow your physical community to support your online community.
Have a peaceful day.
Bob
Love what you do and it will grow.
In my life and travels around the world I have seen many religions, many ways of life. The one thing that they all had in common at their core was love.
I think that is a strong driving force. It is one of the things that gets us up every morning.
Our companies need love too. They demand time and energy. If we want them to grow we have to take steps to make it happen. I was talking to a marketing director of a local non-profit yesterday. She said we can't afford you and I'm the only one to make this happen. In that situation you have think outside the box as they say. Ask the question. "what can I do to make a difference?"
I believe more every day the Internet is the way, to teach, to reach, and to bring people, real people together. And for those non-profits out there bringing people together create power and excitement for you organization.
Love what you do. Enjoy it, but remember you can't do it alone. If you don't have the money to pay then ask for help. See what happens. Find a way to make it work. To use the Internet to make your organization grow! You have to make time and take that first step. Now start you day with love and peace. See where it brings you.
Have a peaceful day.
Bob
Hiding is not going to get ranking!
Summer is almost here. What is your SEM plan?
Summer is almost here, what is you plan to add content to your web site? The kids will be home. Life will get busier than it already is and you don't want to lose the gains you made.
Can you take a few hours a week? Sit down make your posts and schedule them. If you are on WordPress you can.
Plan for the month so you can think about what you want to say. Planning is your best friend. Maybe write a long piece one one subject and break it up into parts.
I know that a lot of this sounds like common sense but sometimes you need to here it. Happy blogging and have a peaceful weekend.
Bob