Chrome — Google’s answer to Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari — recently acquired 1% market share of the web browser world.
Known for its lean structure and speed, it’s attracted more advanced, tech-savvy users.
Industry types say Google can establish a solid user base and eventually increase its market share with the help of frequent updates.
Web content has the ability to deliver a message to prospects at the right moment — precisely when they’re looking for a product or service. Unfortunately, the right message is rarely delivered.
Self-centric copywriters and business owners are to blame.
Some copywriters believe it’s more important to win awards than for clients to win new customers. They write for themselves, disregarding key business objectives.
Meanwhile, numerous micromanaging business owners insist prospects are interested in their mission statements and corporate values. Employees have a hard time getting excited about these things, so why would consumers care?
So what engages visitors and turns them into customers? Read Web writing: The Good, Bad and Ugly.
.Pro domain registrations increased roughly 1,000% compared to January of last year, advised a source at one of the .pro domain accredited registrars.
While this is a massive percentage increase, .pro registrations are expected to continue growing rapidly, likely dwarfing growth rates of other domain extensions.
Another domain extension that hopes to create some buzz this year is .tel. The .tel domains will allow you to store and manage contact information and keywords directly in the DNS without the need to build, host or manage a website.
Registrations for .tel open up at premium prices on Feb. 3, 2009, and general registrations begin March 24, 2009.
Given the .pro domains’ registration standards and credibility, they are expected to make a mark with mainstream Internet users by the fall of 2009. Meanwhile, several top .pro domains are still available on the market.
Both organic and paid search results can increase your revenues dramatically. But which is worth more?
Recent earning reports reveal Google-owned websites (mainly search results) generated revenues of $3.40 billion in the first quarter of 2008, equating to $37.7 million per day. This reflects what it’s worth to be listed on Google’s first result page.
Meanwhile, an iProspect study indicated 72.3% of Google search engine users choose natural search results over paid search results. Why? Organic search results are deemed more relevant and trustworthy.
In fact, studies by Enquiro and iProspect revealed that 60.5% to 70.0% of users trust organic results, compared to just 30% to 39.5% of users that trust paid results.
Both organic and paid online marketing are powerful tools. But with web users trusting and clicking organic search results much more often, organic search results have greater value.
How do you get online visitors to take interest in your products or services? Write about things they care about. Most would say that’s brain-dead obvious. Yet, it seems 90% of websites miss the mark completely. The problem: self-absorbed web content. The cause: self-absorbed copywriters and business owners.
To engage prospects and turn them into customers, you need to appeal to the visitor’s self-interest — not yours.
Who is your website written for — your audience, your business, or your writer?
The following insight will help you answer this critical question, and guide you toward higher online engagement and conversion rates.
While discussing Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs at a web writing workshop, a student asked what the most powerful consumer appeals are. Great question.
I suggested sex, greed and fear top the list.
First of all, does sex sell? Just ask Calvin Klien. The concept has been around as long as advertising.
However, during the past decade, it seems consumers are more sophisticated and have greater expectations of companies and their marketing ploys. Hence, to achieve the fully desired effect, flesh-induced images and suggestive word plays might require increasingly developed strategies.
As for greed and fear, they are timeless motivators. That’s because humans naturally: (a) have a desire to improve the status quo; (b) or fear losing the status quo.
Mix a person’s wallet into the equation, and you have a powerful formula to get people to act.
Not sure? Take this short quiz.
A) Providing useless second-guessing.
B) Making references to what his spouse might think.
C) Being able to create your likeness on a spreadsheet using a Sharpie and some old pipe cleaners.
D) Listening to your ideas because that’s why he hired you in the first place.
ANSWER: D of course, but that usually only happens in an ideal world where dogs and cats walk hand-in-hand sharing ice cream.
I got to participate in a debate last week about the future of newspapers. Some say they’re dying; others insist they’re here to stay.
It seems most newspapers won’t be able to replace their traditional business with an online alternative. With each day, they become less relevant. In Vancouver, there’s a classified ad publication that used to be a leader in its field. Today, trying to compete with the likes of Craig’s List, it’s clinging on to a mere few pages.
Consumers are spending more time online, and that’s where the advertising dollars are going.
Hence, one can claim it’s ultimately consumers – not technology – that are burying the once-loved pulp chronicles.
If you’re planning to buy .pro domains for marketing, sales or SEO, it appears 2009’s the year to cash in on great deals.
The fact is all the valuable .pro domains have not yet been snapped up. And it’s not because the general public doesn’t recognize the value in the .pro domain extension. People just don’t know it exists.
As noted in recent .pro-related comments (thanks Alex), RegistryPro and Hostway could better serve the domain extension and Web world at large by marketing .pro domains or delegating the duty to other organizations. A few press releases and updates would get the ball rolling.
There was increased interest in the .pro domains in 2005 when their prices dropped to $99. Registrations reportedly reached almost 7,000 by January 2008.
Now the .pro domains are selling for less than $30. For instance, Network Solutions offers the domains for $29. If you’re looking for after market treasures (which can cost you upwards of $10,000), you can also look for investments and opportunities at reputable domain resellers, such as sedo and afternic.
The Internet provides a lot of web content. It’s unlimited. And that’s a problem.
Sure, as a business, the Web extends your reach to millions of prospects around the globe. But it’s also the case with your competition. They’re always just a click or two away. It’s true in almost every market.
Faced with infinite choices, consumers are often inclined to jump on the cheapest or the biggest.
Still, your business can get a share of the action. But you need to clearly define your unique selling proposition (USP) — the distinct advantage or benefit that sets your business apart from the competition.
Identify what your business does to provide customers superior results and value. Talk about your quality, service, speed, experience, prices, customer service or selection — and convey what it means to your online visitors.
Unique business offerings drive customer demand — even on the information-inundated Web.
