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We counsel new clients everyday, and in search engine optimization much of what holds true for one, holds true for another when it comes to the basics. And one rule that always stands above the others is the following: Add new and original content to your website on a consistent basis.

What do we mean by consistent basis? It can be daily, weekly or even monthly. Whatever schedule you choose, stick to it like it was the single most important step you can take with your website to improve your organic search ranking because it is.

Content is king, and in an information age content will continue to be king however, the consistent adding of content is queen. Without one, their can be no other. The consistent adding of new original content is like search food to the search engines, and like goldfish, can be trained to come back to the same spot to be fed.

Now, what do we mean by content? Sign up now to receive our free newsletter or watch the blog later this month for the second article in the series.

Typically, making changes to your website during the beginning to middle of the 4th quarter is considered too late for results in your search engine ranking.

The big ‘but’ however is that anytime is a good time to correct deficient websites, adding better product descriptions, making sure each page meta tags are in-place and that they are entirely different than that of every other page and correction of non-working links.

Making any other change, especially a site redesign this time of year is not advised and in-fact can hurt much more than it can help.

As always is the case, making changes to a website should be done slowly over time and deliberate with each change.

For one low monthly cost (Fax Thru Email has no activation or per-fax fees), you and your company or organization can send and receive faxes anywhere that you can receive and access your e-mail. Intuitive web-based manager lets you view and manage your complete Fax Thru Email history, including any faxes sent and received, account information, fax thru e-mail help, and of course your billing details. Plus, it’s all done securely — your incoming, outgoing, and personal information remains completely confidential.

* Easily send faxes from any computer without needing a fax machine or phone line.
* Receive faxes from anywhere in the world.
* Send faxes anywhere in the United States and Canada, up to 30MB in size, from any email program.
* Create and customize your own cover sheet.
* Fax files from your computer, mobile device, or your Online File Folder account.
* Receive email confirmations so you know your fax went through.
* Take advantage of a fax number that is unique, personal and private.
* View your Fax History to see a record of all incoming and outgoing faxes.
* Fax to your hotel’s fax on the road to print documents.

To find out more about Blue Bayou’s affordable fax thru e-mail services, including our new toll-free number options click here.

Yesterdays post talked about the ins-and-outs of maintaining a Facebook account to represent your business. Today we’re going to expand on those points with this follow up post of an example of a failed campaign, that is ‘one that draws more bad press than good press’.

Texas Pete began its Facebook Fan campaign alluding to an offer that if they reached 100,000 Facebook Fans by 11/15/2009 their Fans would get a coupon for a FREE bottle of Texas Pete Hot Sauce. Recently, Texas Pete posted on their Texas Pete Fan Page that the offer was for a BOGO (Buy One Get One) coupon, NOT a free bottle.

Of course, Texas Pete Fans soon began stating their displeasure with the alleged bait-and-switch and made comments that were not flattering or positive. This one from Melanie FeehanWow, “pretty sneaky. Will have to switch brands. Maybe you should rename to Sneaky Pete”. and this from Chrystal Hawthorne “Not that BOGO free isn’t great, but this did say free bottle. Kind of misleading!”

What this says is that social marketing can be a powerful and beneficial move for your business, but like any part of your business it must be well thought out, and each campaign must be thoroughly tested before unveiling it to the public.

Using Facebook is a difficult decision for some businesses. After all, how does it impact my business model with or without a Facebook account? Quantifying a Facebook account traffic, if any that it generates, how much time and cost would I have to spend on establishing our brand identity for the company.

Tracking your traffic is simple, use a good analytics program on your website, we highly suggest using Google Analytics.

A good example campaign is the recent T.G.I. Fridays “Become a Fan of Woody campaign”. It offers a free Jack Daniels Burger to every fan who signs up if, “Woody” reaches a sign up or fan rate of 500,000 Facebook Fans by September 30th, 2009. That’s one expensive offer if all Fans take them up on the coupon.

Along with the campaign comes two or more videos of Woody trying to recruit or griping about how hard it is to get these Facebook fans. These videos are posted directly on the Facebook Fan Page, and also on YouTube for even more viral spreading of the promotion.

How long the campaign will run after it’s 500,000 Fans offer, will Fridays be able to continue developing this same character?, or will it be retired upon completion?

Your business can implement a much simpler campaign, one involving the giveaway of a product, or not. Things like the demographic of your audience should be decided well ahead of time. Keeping the Facebook Fan page updated should be planned and executed by someone involved with the business enough to know each of it’s departments. And lastly, it should be updated on a schedule, once every two days, three times a week or just once a week. Whatever posting schedule you decide on, keep too it like clockwork.

If your company doesn’t have an experienced social marketer or search engine optimization professional on your team, call us at Blue Bayou for a free consultation anywhere in the U.S on using analytics or setting up a social marketing program at 404-567-6095.

Blue Bayou Now Offers Tool to Optimize Your Internet Presence

According to analyst firm Netcraft, there are more than 238 million Websites online with thousands more each day. Getting your website noticed online can be daunting, which is why Blue Bayou decided to offer a Search Engine Visibility package that any business can afford.

Search Engine Visibility walks a user through a step-by-step process to make their Website search engine friendly. This not only makes search engines more likely to index the entire site, but to help get the Website higher in search engine rankings.

Blue Bayou has offered a hands on search engine optimization program for a few years now, and we’re pleased to introduce this self-serve model for business owners who would rather manage their own campaigns say’s Nick J. West of Blue Bayou, LLC.

Search Engine Visibility lets users optimize their site by defining keywords, analyzing content and tracking keyword performance. Search Engine Visibility also provides a “Top 10 SEO Checklist,” which helps identify commonly made mistakes and techniques on how to make a Website stronger.

Search Engine Visibility provides excellent video tutorials and other educational materials which help users understand the search engine optimization process without an involved learning curve. Once a Website is optimized, users can submit their Website to the most commonly used search engines on the Internet.

Users can call Blue Bayou’s 24/7 customer care representatives if they have any questions during the optimization process.

For more information about Search Engine Visibility or any of Blue Bayou’s services, click here.

Blue Bayou, announces the release of Web-Based e-mail 4.0, coupling the benefits of a desktop e-mail program with the convenience of a Web-based platform.
 
“Finally, a product that virtually blocks all unwanted e-mail, spam and viruses”. Say’s Nick West.
 
Blue Bayou’s Web-Based e-mail Accounts are fraud, spam and virus protected, POP3-configured and advertising-free. Each account offers true you@yourdomain.com personalization for a unique e-mail identity that reenforces your companies brand, generous disk space to accommodate today’s large attachments and provides immediate access to accounts from anywhere with an Internet connection.
 
Web-Based e-mail 4.0 is a feature-rich upgrade to Blue Bayou’s already successful e-mail program, giving customers many NEW features, some of which include:
 
Instantly preview e-mail messages while scrolling through them in the inbox
Unique Drag and Drop to quickly move e-mail messages for easy filing
Search your e-mail OR the entire Web in a single click and save searches for future reference
Create folders from any screen view without a complicated folder management interface
Customize the program’s appearance by choosing from among a wide variety of color palettes
 
For more information about Blue Bayou’s Web-Based e-mail 4.0, visit us here.

Blue Bayou is offering the new Windows Server 2008 with Internet Information Services 7.0 (IIS7) software as the backbone of its Windows Web hosting product line.

The technology, which Microsoft officially launched at its “Heroes Happen Here” event in February, improves Web site performance by making more efficient use of server resources. It also provides customers with new tools to help build their Web sites, and boasts enhanced security features that augment Blue Bayou’s multi-faceted approach to protecting customers’ data.

“Blue Bayou supports Microsoft products for their proven testing in databases, many of which require a stable windows environment”. Say’s Cesar Hernandez, Software Engineer.

Blue Bayou has already seen a substantial increase in server performance, with initial testing of the new technology, and is excited to see it in production for its customers at an affordable price.

The addition of the technology means there is no better time to develop or expand your online presence. Blue Bayou also makes it fast and easy with Web hosting services that are ideal for both individuals and small businesses.

Shared hosting packages feature the best in 24×7 Customer Support, our world-class data centers and a 99.9 percent uptime guarantee.

For more information about Blue Bayou’s shared hosting plans, visit us here.

If you like many business owners are considering outsourcing an SEO firm or professional to assist with your companies website optimization goals, you are probably wary of dropping what may well be over a thousand dollars or more, without knowing exactly what you’re going to get for your money. Who can blame you, money’s hard earned and even more so with a tough economy.

How did you hear about the agency or individual? Did they call you up unsolicited on the phone with a line about ‘not finding you on Google’, and how they could get you on the first page of Google? Forget it, hang up immediately, seriously don’t even engage them! These are phone rooms working on sales volume, many provide shoddy or down right unethical services or, don’t do anything and just run quickly with your credit card number.

Besides, no one can guarantee you first page placement on Google or Yahoo for anything but nonsensical words or terms that are hardly, if ever searched.

A face to face meeting with your potential SEO professional is best because you should expect to get a clear, direct non-geek speak answer to every question that you have, no matter how small. Search engines, including Google and Yahoo may ban your website for any blackhat SEO tactics, after all you hired the agency.

You MUST know exactly what the web firm you select is going to do to optimize your website or your marketing efforts may be for naught.

Blue Bayou offers professional consultation on any number of website and SEO issues. Contact us today at: 404-567-6095.