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I have always found it interesting that Usability Experts and Search Marketers both discount each other's work as not being relevant. Usability focuses on making a site more intuitive for an individual whereas Search Engine Optimization focuses (primarily) on making a site more intuitive for a search engine.
When compared side by side, both focus primarily on organization and retrieval of data. Let's think about this for a second. The algorithms that a typical search engine uses are built based on retrieving results relevant to how an individual would search for them.
Knowing this, it's easier to understand why when a client comes to me expecting a search engine optimization proposal that I have been known to respond with a proposal that contains tactics such as: "A/B testing," or "site analysis." Frankly (and this is where my colleagues in a competing business may get nervous), each business industry should be offering these skill sets as a service to their clients. I have found this knowledge imperative for developing my web strategies, implementations and subsequent testing. A process, that because of this methodology is no longer linear in it's approach.
Still, I know of many Search Engine Marketers (SEM's) that do not know how to read/write HTML. Conversely I can also think of many Designers, Developers and Information Architect's that have never considered a keyword strategy" or the ramifications that AJAX and/or Flash can have on a website.
A Designer may even tell you "We care more about the experience than the ranking that the site has on a search engine." A SEM may try to convince you that "exposure alone drives conversions." Both of these statements are missing the bigger picture.
In closing, a search engine will entice a user to come to a site as a result of proper page indexing. A properly designed and functional website will entice them to stay. When traffic and in turn content is targeted, usage and subsequently conversions will increase.Labels: A/B Testing, internet marketing, Search Engine Optimization, web marketing, web strategy, Web Usability, Website Analysis
In the several blogs and other online articles I read there appears to be some contradiction revolving around the motive of influencers. In a few cases there appears to be a general assumption that an influencer within a given marketplace is already a customer. While they can certainly fall into this category I do not believe this to be the case. Here's my fundamental reason why...
The primary objective for targeting influencers within a given market is that they quite simply have the power to sway your current customers and prospects. Which one of us goes around telling their friends about "product X" simply to talk about "product X"? While I am sure it does happen on a few occasions, I feel largely this is a marketer’s pipe dream.
Since an influencer is not likely to pawn products that they simply do not believe in the first place, a component of trust needs to already be instilled between a given influencer and their peer group. The influencer may bring up a particular product or brand however they are not standing by idly to market a desired brand. Instead it is more plausible that they are simply engaging in this dialog to help their friend.
Remember, when targeting influencers through online or offline initiatives, you are NOT looking to influence an entire demographic. You are looking to influence very specific people.
Therein lies the danger with targeting and then reaching out to influencers. Consider this scenario, as a marketer, I identify specific influencers for a client. (Which I am developing some software to do and will share this with you shortly.) I hand over the list to the client who in turn blasts out emails to every individual on the list. The vast majority of these individuals then respond with a one-word answer: "Unsubscribe". A death sentence for online marketers as the opportunity is wasted.
So you see, when people are passionately engaged, and when they are true believers in the brand they are promoting, viral campaigns will accelerate. And that is why the influencer theory of marketing continues to be one that is both useful and relevant.Labels: demographic targeting, influencers, internet marketing, social media, viral campaigns
A transformation is occurring within marketing.
Marketers are realizing that a single person's trusted advice and experience can be more valuable than that of many passive groups. Studies have shown that these key individuals, known in the marketing world as "influencers" reach over twice as many people through word of mouth as the average consumer.
It should come as no surprise then that marketers want to particularly target these influencers to increase their marketing efficiency. The question is how to do it. Many marketers attempt to lure these key individuals through beta testing, product invitations and samples.
Taking The Bait
According to a 2006 DoubleClick report on influencers, this market segment demonstrates a high-level of sophistication regarding the media and the advertising they consume. They enjoy being part of such programs and being able to learn about products in advance. Influencers are also more likely to want advertisers to target Internet ads to them based on their browsing behavior. They also like to give feedback to marketers regarding their ideas. This is evident in Starbucks recent campaign which attempts to solicit ideas from it’s user-base in an effort to "help shape it's future."
On the other hand, influencers are more likely to delete or clear their cookies and fast-forward through TV ads when using a digital video recorder than non-influencers. Simply stated, influencers are finely tuned into advertising, both positively and negatively.
Stay tuned for my next post on influencer behavior...Labels: demographic targeting, influencers, internet marketing, word of mouth
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