More is not enough. People want more than others, suggests a new study on how money motivates.

University of Bonn researchers used brain scanning to show how much people take others’ earnings to measure our own success. Economists and brain scientists tested male subjects in pairs, asking them to perform simple tasks and promising payments for success. Using magnetic resonance tomographs, the researchers examined the volunteers’ brain activities.

Participants who got more money than their co-players showed much stronger activation in the brain’s “reward center” than when both players received the same amount. So it’s not what we have that matters most, but rather what we have in relation to others.

It’s an odd trait, to be sure. “Keeping up with the Joneses” robs us of being grateful for what we have, and living blissfully in the present.

As far as marketing goes, “get ahead of your peers” proves to be a powerful motivator, and marketing and sales types will likely exploit this on an increasing level.

Leave the Joneses in the dust might appear on billboards and websites near you.

The Internet has entrenched itself within the landscape of business in a big way.

While the phenomenon made many entrepreneurs incredibly wealthy, many traditional industries were too slow to adapt, resulting in vast casualties.

Here’s a neat, quick read about six industries and businesses that were too slow — or perhaps too afraid or arrogant — to catch the powerful wave of the Web: Six industries / businesses the Web changed forever.

In a world where telephone directories are struggling to remain relevant, you need to make sure consumers find you on the Web.

Search engine optimization is a cost-effective and far-reaching marketing, lead generation and sales tactic that reaps lucrative rewards. Yet, so many business owners miss the most basic SEO elements that can improve online presence overnight.

Two common SEO errors:

1. Making Your Website Invisible to Search Engines

Search engines index what they can see, i.e. HTML text. So ensure your web designer uses text format for your web copy. Be weary about overuse of graphics and Flash, which can hurt your search engine rankings. If you absolutely need to use graphics instead of text, use alt tags.

2. Neglecting Votes in Cyberspace

Think of the Internet as a huge democracy in cyberspace. When other relevant and credible sites point to your website, Google and friends see this as votes for you. The more votes, the more credibility you build, thus, the higher the rankings. Start requesting links from your vendors, customers, partners, associations, friends and family.

Remember, well planned, developed and implemented search engine optimized web content doesn’t require any monthly fees. And, unlike paid marketing campaigns, you aren’t stuck with fixed budgets.

As a result, organic (a.k.a. natural) SEO can provide an exceptional ROI.

Found on everything from poorly translated signs and menus to bizarrely worded adverts and strange t-shirt slogans, the misuse of English can be found everywhere.

Check out this latest collection of amusingly ‘creative’ English from around the world.

There’s also a steady stream of side-splitting English at, well, Engrish.com.

Why should prospects invest in your product or service? If you can make a strong claim and support it on your website, you’ve got a winning brand.

Are you the biggest? Provide the widest selection? Offer patented technology? Feature convenient locations? Or are you young and small, allowing you to churn out customized solutions swiftly, unlike your much larger and slower competitors?

Define your strengths and leverage them. And be sure you get them right because they are key to your short- and long-term success.

Paint a picture that clearly demonstrates how your prospect’s world will be easier, more lucrative, healthier, happier, etc. with you in the picture. The overall messaging can then be continually reinforced not just in your web content, but also your print materials, advertising, tradeshow presentations, press releases and so on.

Remember, web designers aren’t the only ones with the ability to shape your brand. Well-versed web copywriters can also build your brand with words.

Annoying error messages occur frequently on the Internet — especially 404 file not found errors, which indicate a page no longer exists or is restricted.

The following Smashing Magazine feature brings to light 50 original 404 error designs, some beautiful, some witty and others more on the practical side.

Read 404 error pages, one more time.

A prospect this week asked us “what’s really the difference” between an optimized website and a non-optimized website. He figured it was a bunch of ‘cyber hype’.

I explained the difference is between the two is actively promoting and just existing.

Optimized Websites

A search engine optimized website is a virtual ambassador that promotes organizations 24/7/365. It works tirelessly without the need for breaks or benefits. And considering approximately 85% of all new traffic to websites arrive via search engines (namely Google), an optimized website is likely to be your most productive and valuable salesperson.

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Online visitors tend to scan the search results in order, confirmed recent eye-tracking studies conducted by Google.

“They start from the first result and continue down the list until they find a result they consider helpful and click it — or until they decide to refine their query,” reported the search engine giant.

Using heatmaps, the eye-tracking study revealed most users found what they were looking for within the first two results, and they seldom went further down the page.

See the full Google report.

Idea block is the natural enemy of the web designer (that along with escaped tigers and David Hasselhoff tunes).

What do you do when the idea for your next brilliant assignment just isn’t pouring out of your head like an industrial drum of Mrs. Butterworth pouring syrup over your project’s fluffy pancakes?

If the idea well has runnith dry, here are are a few tips on how to get the inspiration ball rolling:

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Buying life experiences rather than material possessions leads to greater happiness for consumers, suggests a new San Francisco State University psychology study.

The study demonstrates that experiential purchases, such as a meal out or theater tickets, result in increased wellbeing because they satisfy higher order needs — specifically the need for social connectedness and vitality.

“These findings support an extension of basic need theory, where purchases that increase psychological need satisfaction will produce the greatest well-being,” said Ryan Howell, assistant professor of psychology at San Francisco State University.

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