WanderingSalsero

Google....a scatter gun or a rifle?

I'm sure all of my adoring readers know what Google is and, basically, how to use the Google search engine.  You also no doubt know kinda what those numbers in the SERP(Search Engine Results Pages) mean.

But did you know that you can get entirely different 'numbers' depending on how you enter your searched-for words (AKA: "search terms")?

Yeah......that's true. 

I thought some of you might kinda like to know, or be reminded of the difference between Broad Match, Phrase Match and Exact Match.  It could be very important if you're making business/marketing decisions and it could be casually amusing if you're just naturally inquisitive about people.

Knowing how the Google search engine works (i.e. returns results) is the difference between having a shotgun or a rifle.

Here's the page from Google itself which explains the difference:

http://adwords.google.com/support/aw/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=6100#exact

Landing Pages vs. Home Pages.....what?

Are you aware of the difference between a home page and a landing page?

There is a difference, you know.

The traditional home page, the first page that you see when you go to somebody's website, is what you're probably familiar with.  But a 'landing page' is something slightly different.

Love Field in Dallas, Texas is sorta an example of a 'landing page' for Dallas.  Love Field specifically services local and regional traffic.  The larger airport however, Dallas Intercontinental (right?) is the airport for the 'average' traveller coming into that metroplex area.

So.....it's a similar deal with landign pages vs. home pages. 

In the old days, when websites didn't have as much content as they do today and companies got customers from other, non-internet, means a home page was adequate for the vast majority of web visitors.

But not anymore.  There are reasons why a company might not want everybody to come 'into' their internet site through the same door:

• Customers from one niche might not be interested, or even be 'turned off if they don't see the specific information they're looking for.
• Companies are now able, through the use of the internet, to more specifically target a greater number of niches......each niche deserving it's own set of content and information.
• Companies themselves are becoming more specialized thus their home pages don't need to have as much information of a general nature.

Got that? 

Point is, a landing page simply represents that most optimized initial view that a web customer gets of your business.  And I just read an interesting article that called that to my attention. 

The article was on the Wealthy Writer newsletter that I get from Awaionline.com  .  It's a great newsletter from a very fine company.  Here's the quote that got me thinking about this:

Landing page creation. Gone are "home pages." Now, you'll create landing pages – essentially short sales letters for specific products or services.

What this means to studio owners is that maybe you should reorganize your site a little bit.  With more specific landing pages for different kinds of dances.

Here's an audio I made about it just now.

 

Who needs beta testers?

Do you?

If you don't, I know why.....and it's not the reason you think.

Twitter Discussion on Dave Letterman

Do you Twitter?

I really don't but I do have a Twitter account.  I couldn't even tell you for sure what my 'handle' is.  I suppose it would be 'wanderingsalsero'.  I might be curious enough to delve more into it if I was back in the US but, far as I know, being on the Korean phone system over here sort prevents me from effectively interacting with Twitter.  Thus.......I don't.

But I read a lot about it and just last week I even read something about some IM guy (that's "internet marketing" to you who don't know) whos' figured out a way to make money from it.

Anyway.......here's a funny video of Dave Letterman discussing Twitter with Keven Spacey.

Major update to Typepad

I discovered today that I had the option, as a member of the Typepad Beta team, to try the new design they've come out with.  I really like it. 

Two things stand out right away.  For some reason that I don't know but it's undeniable, I'm able to type much faster with this new user interface.  On the old interface I never understood why but there was always a slight but noticable lag in the time it took my text to actually appear as I type.  Now it's virtually instantaneous.

Also, I haven't done it yet but......you remember yesterday I mentioned the new MP3 upload feature?  And I tried it but it didn't work, right?

Well, I haven't actually put it on this post yet but I was just successful in uploading a file, an MP3 file of music that Benjamin Nande gave me (the one I mentioned yesterday).  So I'm hoping that I'll be able to successfully get it in this post.  I know I uploaded it to somewhere!!

I don't know if or how much of a file limit there might be but........if there is, I'll find out.

Anyway, it looks really good to me so far.

Another comment I can make right now is that today I only have two classes.  I've already done one and I've got one to go.  Yesterday I only had one class.  I've always said this isn't a hard job, right?  But you might wonder how I can get by with only one or two classes a day.

The fact is that I actually have 19 classes a week.....i.e. 3 or 4 a day.  Yesterday and today however, the first level students (you'd call'em 7th graders) are on some kind of field trip.  It's called a 'mind and body training trip' but of course that's bullshit.  They're gonna be raising hell like they always do.

Later this year the other two classes have trips too.  I heard that I'm getting to go on one of them.  I guess that'll be fun.  I still say, even though the exchange rate and currency fluctuations have really hurt the value of my pay relative to the US dollar, teaching English is Korea is still a pretty good gig. 

I'm not saving as much money as I otherwise would if I didn't have some expenses denominated in US dollars.  If a person was over here and didn't have any, or many, US expenses they would save several hundred dollars a month.  Add that to the end-of-contract bonus of one month's pay and you'd be going home (or moving on) with a pretty good chunk of change in your pocket.

I've recently hired an outsource so some of my online planes are into a different gear now.  Hopefully more productive.  My goal has been to not have to do anything like this (i.e. teaching in Korea) but rather to be able to semi-retire someplace like the Philippines or Colombia or Argentina or Croatia or Spain or Thailand or Cambodia.  On the other hand, there's always the possibility of getting a super easy job that didn't pay very much but did give me a visa and a legal option of staying in the country while I continued to work on my internet empire dreams.

I'm not really trying to make a fortune.  Just enough to be able to live comfortably wherever I am.  Regardless, if you'll like some information on the opportunity of teaching in Korea, the salsa capital of Asia, visit http://www.asknow.ca/teach .

Once again......the "V" Hour......right now.

Once again, it's the WanderingSalsero Vereconference Hour.  I'm here in my command post at International WanderingSalsero Headquarters and I'm logged into my space age communication tool.....Vereconference.

I'd very much like to chat with anybody from the US or Europe.  Just log into:

http://atw4.vereconference.org

Use any name as an ID and the word "guest" as the password.

More mind expansion re: social networking sites

Here's a guy, Kevin Nations, who have been using 'social networking' to sell big ticket items. 

 www.kevinnations.com

And here's the MP3 of the interview where I heard about him.  What he said that intrigued me was that he used social networking to sell a variety of very big ticket items.  I've often wondered what would be a good way for salsa dancers, couples and teams who entertain at corporate events (like www.salsaeddy.com or Camille Yanantuono) to promote themselves.  Kevin sounds like the guy who could do that.

He has a Facebook site too.....mentioned in the interview.

Domain buying information...for what it's worth.

For those of you who might be thinking about buying a domain name, here's some up-to-date (like...just now!) information about the process.

eMusic+Facebook+Vereconference+Your Brand+???=?????

I just had my next great idea.....really.  I'm getting into it slowly but enjoyably right now and it's something that's totally free (which is always good).  Here's the dealie-oo:

These facts are undeniable:

• the internet is about information
• people want information (depending on who they are)
• more and more 'apps' exist to share and link information
• most information on the net is free
• everybody likes music
• most people don't have as much time as they'd like to discover new music
• it's fun to spend time discussing music with friends

That's a start.......but, here's the idea.

eMusic has great little 30 second previews of all their tracks plus they've got an excellent library of tunes.  They also encourage viewers and subscribers (like me) to write reviews of their music. 

Plus, just recently they added a Facebook integration button that allows you to put your recommendations (from eMusic) on your Facebook page.  So adding your eMusic discoveries to your Facebook page is one way to add value to your Facebook page and build your credibility as an 'authority'.......right?

Now.....hey!  What better way to express yourself than show the world what kind of music you like, right?  Use the eMusic Facebook button and that's exactly what you can do.

But........!  Could it bet even better than that?

You friggin' bet your ass it could......IF.......you think 'out of the box'. 

Use the Vereconference live-streaming feature.  Dig this scenario:

You get a 10 person room. It's not expensive at all plus it has other uses than just this.  Next you invite several of your friends into your Vereconference room and then you pop over to eMusic and simply start sampling, sharing and discussing music wherever your collective fancies take you.  Doesn't sound like 'work', does it?

And remember that you can share live voice commentary as well as text chat.....all of which is captured because Vereconference allows you to record everything that goes on in the room (including the parallel text chat).  And any participant can bookmark as a "Favorite" anything that appears in the 'co-browsing' feature.

The end result is it's just like you sitting down with a bunch of your friends and sharing your musical tastes and ideas....all very spontaneously.  And you can even record it and put it up as a podcast or videocast later.

How radically innovative is that??!!

I'm still playing around with my new Vereconference room right now but remember that you can get a free 3 person Vereconference room anytime by going here.  And if you click on this link below, you can get a free, 51 page Vereconference eHow PDF eBook explaining all the fantastic features of Vereconference.

Vereconference Ebook Manual

I think it'd work.......now!

One size doesn't fit all......but there is a size for everybody.

Here's the new, definitive 'how-to' manual about what VoIP conference rooms can do for you and/or your business.  The Vereconference VoIP conference room has always been good but lately it's been upgraded with several spicey new features that make it hands down the leader of the pack.

As you read through this dynamite new eBook, you'll get dozens of ideas about how you can use it for your business.  Vereconference is more than just a fantastic communication tool.  It's also a lead generator, podcasting studio, an orgazational trainer, social networking tool and much more.

Use Vereconference to train your dance team, use it to give online lessons and tips, use it to build brand loyalty with your students and clients........and so much more.

See for yourself after you download this exciting PDF eBook.  The information here is absolute cutting edge and could literally add a whole new 'department' to your business no matter what kind of business it is.

Click on the link below now and get ready to spend an exciting hour or so reading.

Vereconference Ebook Manual