Just 2 weeks remaining to our $10,000 video contest

There are just 14 days remaining to our $10,000 eCompliment video contest. There have been several new entries and the competition is heating up. Complimenting Strangers remains #1 but St. Albert’s is nipping at the heels.

This last week we have seen the addition of new videos such as You’re my #1, Calvary Christian School, Man who lives life through rose colored glasses, and Thank you Prairie!

Each day one spot gets removed from the leader board until there is only one left standing on October 1^st. The videos that have survived the cut have accumulated about 50,000 views.

We applaud the creativity and optimistic activism of those who have submitted videos. Good luck to all of our entries and we look forward to watching the new videos submitted.

A lot can happen in 2 weeks.

Share the good!

Utilizing keywords is one key to SEO

Continuing in the vein of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), it is helpful to understand how exactly a search engine “chooses” the results it does, which plays greatly in the overall ranking order. Delving slightly below the surface, each search engine is developed to various specifications, creating a unique algorithm. Though the programming and specifics of each algorithm is truly one of a kind, at its essence, they're all looking for the same thing: Relevance.

Utilizing the Keyword Feature on YOUR eCompliments Profile

When you begin to build out your eCompliments profile, one of the first things you'll notice is the opportunity to list keywords under your “Listing Info. Summary.” After filling out all pertinent, business-related information, utilizing the keyword feature is one of the best ways to begin the SEO process for your eCompliments profile. The keywords you choose should be relevant and robust – imagine if you were searching for something online.

As an example, let's use a fictional Japanese Restaurant in Juneau, Alaska called “Bob's Japanese Joint”: The following would be a great list of keywords for the business – separating all words/phrases with commas:

Bob's Japanese Joint, Juneau, Bob's, Alaska, bobs Japanese joint, Japanese restaurant, food, appetizers, Japanese food, Chinese food, sushi, teriyaki chicken, teriaki, best Juneau restaurants, tempura, Japanese steakhouse, Asian cuisine, Asian food, Japanese beer, oriental food, lunch specials, miso soup, hot sake, sushi bar

Be sure to include common misspellings.

Keyword Rich Content – Another Key to Search Engine Optimization

As mentioned in the blog entitled, S-E-What?, original content is part of the effort in maximizing SEO. Relevant content is exactly what you want to present to the public and to the search engine spiders, which are “crawling around,” trying to help the “seeker.” You can greatly assist the spiders by offering robust keywords, which boldly state the relevance of your profile. With a Professional Profile on eCompliments, you'll enjoy the ability to create fresh, original content. Consider the example business from above - relevant keywords in bold:

Bob's Japanese Joint in Juneau, Alaska, is no ordinary Japanese restaurant. We are proud to present an artistic display of the finest sushi in the state of Alaska, prepared by our world-class sushi chefs at our one-of-a-kind sushi bar. At Bob's Japanese Joint, we offer a full service menu that includes Japanese food favorites such as Chicken Teriyaki, tempura appetizers and entrees, as well as many other Asian cuisine specialties. Our Monday – Friday Happy Hour includes half-price sushi, discounted appetizers and daily specials on Japanese beers and hot sake. Stop by, say hello, and enjoy the atmosphere at Bob's Japanese Joint - Juneau, Alaska's best Japanese and sushi restaurant.

Posted by James Sheldon, Regional Director

S-E-WHAT?

Welcome to the 21^st Century folks, where small businesses will struggle to thrive without SEO, and yet most businesses cannot tell you what SEO actually means.

SEO firms have become one of the fastest growing entities in the realm of online marketing and functionality. The Internet, thriving on the function of the word “algorithm,” was made far more efficient and effective through site optimization. As business owner, you may not get this, and you may not really care to understand it; however, if you hope to continuously grow and thrive, and perhaps even survive, it’s time to get up to speed on a few basics!

In terms of a website and all online presence, it needs to be well optimized (done from the programming end), and it needs FRESH, ORIGINAL content to drum up successful and consistent search results.

As a business owner, what makes you believe that your little corner of web space is enough to draw “Joe Public” product seeker into your business? If your website isn't properly optimized, and doesn't offer fresh, original content on a regular basis, it might as well be a poster on your business wall... the only people who are seeing it will be your existing customer base. A static web site will collect dust and become antiquated, just as other once-proud possessions sit and collect dust in the attic or basement.

The good news is you are a short distance from owning a huge edge over your competition by simply working your eCompliments profile. Though a little effort, it can become the ambassador for your business and/or your business website.

By utilizing their eCompliments profile, many businesses are getting their eCompliments result to come up on the first page of search engine results. If online reputation management and new business is important to you, and I know it is, then this is the easiest and most effective tool you can be using right now.

eCompliments provides the space for your customers to create fresh and original content for you. This diminishes the need for having to hire or rely on a webmaster or an SEO firm that can cost THOUSANDS!

You can and should ask (and yes, you'll actually need to ask) your customers to share the good about your business! Request our eCompliments “Share the Good” sticker badges to put at your physical location. Or, if you have a virtual based business get your eCompliments digital badge for your website. Even if only small percentage of customers follow through, you will have significantly increased your profile optimization. It's a numbers game for you, as it is for everyone in any line of work.

eCompliments can give you the exact kind of positive word of mouth traffic that will increase revenues. In the digital world, the only thing worse than not having a website is having an outdated static one.

Your Pro profile on eCompliments.com gives your business an online presence that has fresh and relevant content (and the right key words), which serves as a powerful marketing tool to drive NEW customers to you.

When even a few customers share the good about you on your profile it does a lot of good for your search engine optimization!

By James Sheldon, eCompliments Regional Director