LookupPage Blog | Professional Web Presence and Visibility

Online Branding Tips: Get Designated Twitter Followers Using WeFollow

Marketing professionals do not often agree whole-heartedly with each other. One thing they would most certainly see eye to eye on is the importance of finding and targeting an engaged audience. Because the internet is practically endless in size, it is often difficult to find the exact audience that is interested in  what you have to say or the goods and services you wish to market on the web.

Twitter has become immensely popular in the past year and more businesse are using Twitter as a tool for improving their online presence as well as a networking mechanism. In order for a business to gain an engaged audience both in Twitter and in other social networks across the web, it needs to position itself within specific categories. Doing so would result in increased interaction with prospective clientele.

WeFollow is the invention of Digg founder Kevin Rose. It is a user directory for Twitter that allows each person or business listed in it to list themselves on the directory under five categories of interests and to include a location in the listing as well. Here at LookupPage, we are listed in WeFollow under the categories of Personal Branding, SEO, Google, Reputation and SEO expert. We feel that these categories represent some of the things we do extremely well online.    

WeFollow is very user friendly when it comes to tracking potential new followers, similarly to the way Digg lists the most popular stories in descending order, WeFollow lists each category separately with the most popular users for each topic in descending order, where the popularity of each user is determined based on the relevancy of his followers to the category (read more here). If you are already signed into your twitter account, adding new people to the list of whom you follow is easy as pie. 

Weekly Tips to Establish an Online Presence – Commenting

We often discuss how Google and other search engines aim to provide several kinds of results for each query it receives. The algorithm is more complex than what we are describing here but for the most part, it is safe to say that Google will try to find text, videos, images and presentations that are most relevant for every query and rank these results within the Google CV for this term. This is precisely the reason that brands and professionals who are engaged in personal branding and SEO strive to come up with alternating content in order to improve their online visibility.

Because of the fact that blogs are generating more traffic than ever before, search engines are competing to index blog posts quickly and efficiently. The outcome is that blog posts show up on blog search and web search often within minutes. Comments and conversations in those blog posts receive the same treatment from Google.

There are many advantages to commenting on a blog post. It creates an initial interaction between the writer of the post and the reader and at the same time, it is visible to other readers. If someone makes a valuable comment than he or she has essentially contributed valuable content to the post.

A professional who seeks to improve her online presence could benefit greatly from responding to a blog post dealing with an issue that she proficient in. People who are interested in the blog post will see her response and her web presence could grow as they might decide to add her to the list of who they follow on Twitter or look her up online. Most blogs currently allow comments to include a web link so if her response is impressive she may be able to get people to visit her site directly from the blog.  

Choosing which blog to post a comment in is important as well. Blogs that have been around for a while and have new posts on a regular basis, get indexed by search engine bots more frequently, thus increasing the chances of  indexation of both the comment the professional has made on the blog and the link to her website. 

 

 

Steps Comcast Should Take to Help its Online Reputation

Online reputation is somewhat of a buzz term these days as almost everyone is aware of its importance, but not everyone takes action to build and protect their brand reputation. The endless flow of online content (mainly due to sites like Youtube and Twitter) increases the chances of a celebrity or a brand to be effected by a bad review, an embarrassing video or any other negative press. A great example of the effect an individual can make on a brand using social media is Comcast.

A simple query on Google for the term “Comcast” yields several different types of results. As we have discussed in this blog before, Google prefers to offer varied results that include images, articles, videos and presentationsthat have to do with the search term. The number one video result conveniently positioned on the first page of Google is a YouTube video entitled “A Comcast Technician Sleeping on my Couch”.

It surprises us that Comcast who have made headlines recently when they discussed how Twitter has reformed the way they interact with customers, is either unaware of their negative online reputation or they are simply not doing anything to improve their Google CV. To make matters worse, a search for Comcast on Youtube is even more negative than a regular Google search. This is a major issue for Comcast because Youttube is an aggregator of public opinion. It uses video instead of 140 character tweets, but it is quite similar to Twitter yet Comcast is ignoring it.

What should Comcast do to improve their Google video search results?

Comcast needs to create similar presence on Youtube to the one they have on Twitter. If they opened up a channel on Youtube and started responding to some of the negative videos, they would be creating positive content that actually ranks on search engines and improves their online reputation. Other content such as funny ads Comcast created for television could also be used on this channel. Creating a channel on Youtube is free (although its maintenance isn’t), this is purely a strategy decision Comcast needs to make.

 

 

 

The NFL is Wrong for Going after Twitter Use

 The National Football league recently made headlines when it forbade the use of Twitter by journalists in the press box and by players during games. The NFL is making an effort to protect the organizations that have paid millions in order to have exclusive rights to report play-by-play accounts of each game. Threatening professional athletes with fines and suspensions for staying away from their jobs is understandable, asking journalists to not report what is going on in front of their eyes is unintelligent. 

Movie studios and record companies have tried to restrain technology in order to maintain their current business model and have failed miserably; it is unclear why the NFL feels that they would be successful where so many have failed before. In a recent blog post, we discussed why twitter is an effective tool for business. We feel that twitter is an excellent medium to engage an audience that is already interested and to interact further with this audience. Because Twitter has grown so much recently, it has become a great tool for building an online presence. If the NFL feels that people are less likely to listen to the game on the radio or buy season tickets just because there are play-by-play tweets online, they are simply mistaken. Twitter is providing the NFL (or almost any business for that matter) a great service.

The LookupPage Twitter account allows us to inform our audience in real time what we are dealing with. Professionals and businesses that are interested in online branding and visibility follow us because they know we provide relevant content ourselves and when we run across relevant content someone else came up with, we publish that as well while giving credit to the author. This is a great way to remain up-to-date, give people what they want and make sure they will stick with you. Try to restrain the flow of information now and you may find yourself losing business.

Google Hands Out Online Reputation Advice

In a recent blog post on the official Google blog, a blogger was addressing her issues with a photo of that she does not like and that has been posted online years ago and now comes up on image search for her name. We recently addressed how to remove embarrassing images from Google search, and what we suggested is in line with what Google is offering.

The blogger who was writing the piece and discussing what is essentially an online reputation problem is a Google employee . What is unique about the situation is that up to this point, Google did not officially discuss their policy with regards to people proactively handling and improving their reputation on the web. This is news because no one outside of Google really knew where they stood on the issue of online reputation management.

Google essentially says that if a professional or a business cannot have a negative result removed by contacting the webmaster of the site or appeasing a disgruntled client that wishes to harm the reputation of the business, then he or she should create positive results on the web for themselves. These results would come up on search and eventually (and hopefully) will cause the negative result to rank lower.

In the past, we have discussed many ways in which businesses and professionals can achieve better web visibility and control their Google CV. Google is reinforcing these ideas by telling people to be proactive when it comes to their online image. Google recommends countering negative results with positive ones. Some of the reputation tips include asking satisfied customers to reply to negative criticism online and creating an online profile with links to a company website over all improving the ranking for both results.  LookupPage is a great option for improving the web visibility of a professional or a business, and you can check out the LookupPage premium solutions which guarantee first page results on Google, the world’s most popular search engine.

Domino's Pizza Still Needs Online Reputation Management

Six months have passed since the disturbing videos of employees at a Domino’s Pizza store in North Carolina surfaced on Youtube and other various video sharing sites . The videos show two employees breaking just about every health code violation possible while providing narration for the camera. The video, seen below, was viewed over a million times on Youtube before being taken off the website.

Disgusting Dominos People @ Yahoo! Video

Dominos Pizza reacted quickly by creating a channel on Youtube where the president Patrick Doyle addressed Dominos clients regarding this embarrassing issue. The company had also opened a new Twitter account especially for responding to comments made on this topic. Here is the response video:

This is a classic case of online crisis management, although Domino’s reacted quickly, they could have done a better job in executing their strategy. Coming up with a response video of Domino’s president especially for the web was a smart decision, as it made sense to address the actions of these employees on the very same medium the videos originated from.

The video was shot at a Domino’s store and it featured Patrick Doyle, Dominos president wearing a buttoned shirt with a Dominos logo on it. The fact that Doyle is clearly reading the statement and not looking into the camera, gives the video a “staged “ feel to it and  almost defeats the purpose of having him in the store to begin with. After all, Domino’s way of re assuring us is showing the president of the company is on location, and is heading the efforts to regain customer trust.

Another aspect of strategy in online reputation management that was overlooked in this case is analyzing how the story would be searched on Google a year later. The original employee video was called “disgusting Dominos people”. Dominos wanted the response video to come up on Google when people searched for the mischievous video, so they named it “Disgusting Dominos people – Domino’s Responds”. The trouble with that is six months down the line when searching for “Disgusting Dominos people” – the image of Domino’s president Patrick Doyle comes up. This is something that Domino’s could have easily avoided, placing a screen shot of the Domino’s logo in the beginning of the response video.

 

 

Twitter For Business – Does It Work?

When Duct Tape Marketing founder John Jantsch was asked about the effects twitter has on his business he replied:

(1) “I get great insight when I ask questions, (2) let’s face it, I get traffic and (3) people on Twitter spread my thoughts to new places.”

We want to congratulate John for this answer. He is essentially hitting the nail on the head. It is simple enough to follow people and businesses you respect on Twitter, and if you run a legit operation most of them would follow you right back. Being able to address Twitterville with valid questions and receiving the opinions of respected professionals as a response, constitutes a great resource for feedback. All that is expected of you in return, is to follow basic courtesy rules and to get involved when being asked for your opinion as the interaction is reciprocal.

When it comes to traffic, Twitter takes the ordinary website and blog to the next level; people who introduce valuable content often get recognition by gaining more followers. The reason for that is once people realize that they have been exposed to valuable content, they do not want to risk missing the next great article.  

When a solid following has been built on Twitter, the business that is being followed could engage in self-promotion for marketing purposes. It is vital to do so carefully, so that followers would still find value in the content they are being provided and would not be deterred from remaining a follower.

When people feel that they gained important knowledge from one person’s tweets they go on and redistribute that information and that is called a Retweet. More often than not, the person who introduced the content to begin with gets the credit and gains additional followers. 

Many businesses would attest that although conversions cannot always be linked directly a specific tweet, the microblog is capable of significantly adding to the growth of a brand. Twitter makes the connection between customers and the business less formal, much faster and a lot of fun.

And let’s not forget the SEO value of a twitter account. Twitter enables you to add a link to business website, the more popular your twitter page is, the larger the amount of incoming links it will generate. This will enhance the search engine importance of your twitter page as well as your business website.

Here at LookupPage, we tweet quite a bit. We use Twitter to share content that we find valuable on issues such as online branding, web visibility and online reputation management. We also highlight our own blog posts on Twitter.Become a follower of LookupPage on Twitter now! 

Update Your Professional Image and Logo on LookupPage and Gain Traffic

In online branding, we spend an extraordinary amount of time trying to send the right message. It is imperative for both businesses and professionals to position themselves online as an authority in their field of choice. When attempting to establish credibility online we often focus more on content and less on the very first impression we make. When executives need to choose one professional over another and the candidates are not physically in front of them, they often go back to each candidate's Google results in order to compare and contrast.

An appropriate photo, along with a business logo, contributes significantly to the first impression that is made over the internet. When researching a professional on the web people initially look for an image and a short bio. The fact of the matter is that a picture is worth a thousands words and in the world of online branding it is no different.

A professional image should be exactly that, a photo, preferably a headshot that is fitting for the profession. The idea is for the picture to present the subject in a natural and confident manner. This image is important because it will be associated with any interaction the professional will be making online.

In addition to a professional photo, a business logo is essential because it is an additional visual aid that helps formulate a professional image. An enhanced profile that has both a professional photo and a logo looks more professional and is more likely to create a positive response. Not including a business logo on a professional profile can be perceived as lack of attention to detail, equivalent to a business card with no logo. Ehud Furman's LookupPage is a great example of a page that has both a professional photo and a business logo.

LookupPage Pro subscribers have the distinct advantage of presenting a professional photo and a business logo on their LookupPage. Pro members also enjoy top rankings on the LookupPage Directory where their logo shows up as well, increasing their traffic significantly.

To update your professional image and upload a business logo:

1. Signup / Login to your account
2. For uploading a professional image, click update "My Personal Details". 
3. For uploading a business logo, click update "My Business details". 
4. Choose a file to upload and click save. 

If you are a Pro user, add a link to your business website which will be associated with your business logo. 

Personal Branding Tips: How To Rank On Google’s First Page With A Common Name

Web visibility is an issue that has become increasingly important with the growth of internet access both in developing countries and in the western world. More people are online than ever before and more businesses are counting on the web to generate sales of products and services. 

Ranking on the first results page of major search engines in recent years has become harder to achieve as there are simply more businesses and professionals competing to rank for specific key terms. People who have a common name such as “John Smith” may find it very difficult to rank on the first and second page of Google even if the content that they are providing is informative and relevant. This is because there is a lot of content out there that includes the name “John Smith” as well as every other common name. 

If a professional, i.e. a lawyer or accountant wants to rank for a common name, it is often a good idea to bid for search engine marketing (SEM) results at the top of the page. The cost that each click would be  considerably lower than key terms such as “mortgage “or “wedding ring” and yet the fact that the name, title and specialties would be listed on the first page of Google could lead to solid conversions as a lot of people will search your name online before meeting you. 

Another option is to focus on more specific search terms which include your middle name or your profession. For example, “John A. Smith”  or “John Smith Lawyer”. Obviously, the more specific the search term, the more targeted traffic you will receive. The down side would be that some traffic could get lost along the way. 

If you have a common name, and don’t know much about SEM, LookupPage,may be the solution for you.Check out the LookupPage products page for more information.

Celebrity Twitter Of The Month – Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey is one of the most influential women in the world. She is an Oscar nominated actress, magazine publisher and most of all she is known for her immensely successful self titled talk show which has become the highest rated television show of its kind in history. 

It may seem strange that a talk show host who is on the air for an hour a day, 5 times a week still wants to interact on a regular basis with her Twitter followers, but it actually makes sense. Oprah’s use of Twitter is not a replacement for the messages of self-improvement and advocacy of literature that she engages in on television but an addition to it. 

Because of the tremendous growth in popularity of the micro blog, other celebrities and talk show hosts have started using Twitter as well. Creating this interaction and involvement with the audience is smart marketing of a brand. The fact that Oprah has a daily TV show and puts out a magazine, does not allow her the informal direct contact she has with her followers on twitter. 

Using Twitter, Oprah was able to reach out to her audience and remind them she has nothing to do with Acai Berry diets that email marketers have been linking her name to as of late. She also Tweets about her daily activities, some of which are clearly promoting the sales of her magazine and the viewership of her show.

Oprah is such a popular entertainer that people are following her on twitter for the small personal comments she makes. If it so happens that she engages in self-promotion in some of those tweets it must be ok with her followers, otherwise it would be impossible to explain how she is being followed on Twitter by more than 2.3 million people. 

LookupPage is on Twitter as well. We tweet on issues regarding online branding, reputation management and social media, follow us today! 

Looking For a Job? Create a Custom Resume on LookupPage

It is no secret that employers Google the names of applicants as part of their background check. Such activity on the part of employers is easy to understand; Googling someone is free, effective and quick. It can often tell you things colleagues, friends and former employers have been reluctant to say or may have overlooked.

On the other side of the spectrum, people who are in the job market can enhance their chances greatly by creating a custom resume on LookupPage. A clear advantage to having a resume online is the ability to present yourself professionally on the web around the clock. An additional advantage is that you can reference the resume while on the phone with a potential employer; by using LookupPage Pro and storing it in a custom domain just like your name you are promoting your web presence and increasing the chances your resume will be visible online. LookupPage enhanced statistics can help you find out who has been looking at your resume and what query they used in order to get to your profile.

Creating an online resume can allow an applicant to share more information and provide links to work that they have done online. This is especially effective for graphic design, photographs, reports, letters of reference and any other praises.

LookupPage Wednesdays – Complete Logistics Services

Three weeks ago, we kicked off our new initiative of LookupPage Wednesdays.  It is our chance to highlight a business that is doing an incredible job as far as online visibility and branding using LookupPage. We briefly discuss what the business is doing that makes it so successful on Google and if necessary, we give out some ideas on how to improve the results the business is getting even more.

This week we have chosen Complete Logistics Services of Wigan, UK.  If you Google their business name, you will not be able to overlook the fact that their LookupPage was carefully thought through and executed extremely well (first page from more than 6m results). Google simply does not miss a LookupPage with great content! 

Complete Logistics Services or CLS are really using their LookupPage effectively. The page contains plenty of content and explains in detail what it is that CLS does and why they are great at what they do. The page is useful for people who are in the logistics services business as it explains what new legislation has been taken into effect and how CLS can help implement the new rules. This is another great example of providing great content and subsequently being rewarded for it by the world’s most important search engine .The fact that CLS include a logo on their page that links directly to their home page is “icing on the cake” as far as we are concerned. CLS deserves the credit they are receiving because they created an excellent LookupPage and are doing a fantastic job at guaranteeing their online visibility.

Creating a LookupPage for your business is free and simple. All you need to do is sign up and your business page will be live in a matter of minutes.