Earlier today I was asked by a FireDrum client about the the difference of singular versus the plural of a keyword in SEO/Google Adwords. It was a simple question with a “somewhat” straightforward answer, however the answer does not apply to all singular versus plural keywords.
Does singular vs. plural make a difference?
Is one better than another or are they the same? Does it really even matter? It is a good question that so often people look over who are not experienced with keywords/adwords. So, I thought I would investigate further and write about it.
For example purposes only, lets take a look at some keywords, “dental bur” and “dental burs”. For those of you who do not know what a “bur” is - do not feel bad, not a lot of us do. As my Economics teacher once said, “It could be widgets or butter - it really does not matter, your job is to figure out a solution to the problem.” So, with that said let’s jump over to Google Keyword tools to help determine which one is going to be the best performer as well as figuring out the difference of singular and plural versions.
Keywords and SEO local and global search
As you can see, there is a difference in the local and global search volume as well as advertising competition for each keywords. One thing to keep in mind as well is how this affects the SEO of your website. Since the plural version outperforms the singular version this is something to keep in mind down the road.
Lets head over to Google Insights for Search and see what is happening. Google Insights is a tool SEO’ers use to compare search volume patterns across a section of where you are looking to advertise. This is a great tool for SEM because …well it gives great insight into what terms people are using to search.
As you can see “dental burs” is searched considerably more that the singular across the US and the world. With Google insights you are also able to pick a region and take a look at what activity was happening in your section of the world.
Google Insights for Keywords
Another thing to keep in mind is how the people purchase the product, online and in a store. Dental burs are bought in groups, so the plural version is more applicable, however consumers search for ”individual” items they are looking to purchase in singular terms, ”Apple Computer” or ”iPod Shuffle”. These products also have singular naming conventions so this makes it more straightforward as well. Normally people do not surf the plurals of these terms.
So, I hope I have given you some insight into what Keywords to keep an eye out for when you are looking at some of the tools/products Google offers. As always we are here to help so please give us a call and lets talk about your next project.
Here is a video that has been around and it was just recently updated. It is one of those videos that just makes you think and is a great segway into debating the effectiveness of the Social Marketing medium.
We have done it! The new FireDrum 3.0 is officially hitting email marketing homeruns. So, with our updated service we have a great offer. Take a swing at email marketing with our new USE IT FREE program.
Our FREE program offers:
- FREE Accounts for Up to 750 Members
- No Credit Card or Contract Required to Start
- Easy to Use
- 100’s of FREE Templates
Sign up by May 31, 2010 and receive a $50.00 credit towards any email marketing service.
All you have to do is signup and enter in the promo code FDA10.
You can also upgrade your account and get access to:
- Customizable Templates for Your Business
- Hands-On Account Support
- Full Reporting and Google Analytics Integration
- Unlimited Campaigns and Categories
- Date-Triggered Auto Senders
- Birthday and Anniversary eCards
As an added bonus, we will help you move your data over from another provider at no charge! So, lets get started on that email marketing. You are just a few minutes away from email bliss.
Firedrum Internet Marketing, a leading provider of email marketing software and solutions for small to medium organizations, today announced immediate availability of the latest release of its popular email platform, Firedrum 3.0, with a free sign up program aligning the Scottsdale, AZ based company in direct competition with other email providers.
“The launch of our new email software platform places us in direct competition with our competitors and allows end users to email up to 750 members a month for free. A simplified email platform and robust reporting will effectively leverage any small businesses email marketing,” stated Mike Toll, Chief Operations Officer.
The key features of Firedrum’s latest software addition, Firedrum 3.0, include no credit card requirement, no contract and no trial period. “We wanted to provide a way for small businesses to immediately get started with their online marketing efforts”, added Toll. “Firedrum understands the small business owner’s need to test a no commitment email marketing program. We added hundreds of free quality templates to visually improve the email as well as complete access to full reporting and archiving to also improve the performance of an email marketing campaign.”
For more information about Firedrum’s free email account or other services, please visit www.firedrum.com.
About Firedrum Internet Marketing
With Firedrum Email Marketing, customers can quickly and easily create professional looking emails, manage email contact lists, measure email campaign results (including Google Analytics integration, click-throughs and open rates), and review who subscribed to an email list. Firedrum has incorporated these tools to help small to medium sized businesses, non-profits and private organizations across the country successfully launch their email marketing campaigns.
Firedrum Internet Marketing is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. Visit Firedrum at www.firedrum.com.
Do you have a Google Local Business Listing? If not, get one. Google’s local listings differ greatly from organic and pay-per-click listings by letting the business owner open their “virtual doors” through Google Maps. The ease of use, the physical location and phone number is critical for businesses that want a direct connection to their customers.
Here are a few tips to make sure you are connected locally;
1. Photos – A recent change on Google’s end now allows photos. Add as many photos as you can and a company logo. (Here is a great example - FireDrum Listing)
2. Reviews – Feedback. It is important what people think about your company on the web. It’s is also important that these be from real customers. Start asking clients what they think. (Hint, Hint - It can make for a great email campaign to ask your customers what they think!)
3. Use Keywords in Company Description – Keywords define who you are on the web. Google offers an area where you can describe what your company offers. Leverage it. Put in a keyword filled elevator pitch. (BTW – If you need some help with your keyword development strategy – Contact Us)
4. Add a Coupon – Google allows printable coupons to be added by your listing. When that person shows up at your business, ask them to give you some virtual feedback! Check out some of our online savings!
5. Video – Pictures say a lot, but imagine what a video does. Get a YouTube account to host the videos. If you have a storefront, get a virtual tour so people can see your store’s interior online.
Add these elements to your Google Local Business Listing and start climbing those ranks!
So where can Firedrum help? We will help you craft a keyword strategy, create email marketing, design a website or develop your SEO.
Tell us how what you think. Write a review on Yelp! and Google Review
Check out our latest special - Click here for an internet coupon.
Has email marketing disappointed you? Have you felt cheated that the results you desired were not there?
Take a small bit of advice…
Do not give up!!
Like any good marketing program things take time and effort to gel and garner results. Building upon a good routine and plan is essential.
The First Step
Create highly relevant marketing messages which assign complementary products. Get creative and apply this idea to any product or service you are offering.
Connect with your Customer - Make Things Relevant
Email marketing represents an enormous opportunity to connect with customers, but remember to make things relevant.
For example, if you email your customers a special on running shows, offer them relevant content - a link to buy other running apparel from your store.
Ensure Strong Customer Response
Marketers, this is you, must also include any teams or other individuals early in the creative process to ensure that the email audience responds to these “cross-sold” products.
Google Buzz the latest addition to the search giant’s cadre of products promises to be an awesome entry into the sphere of sharing. I mean anytime you can release a new product with a 150 Million plus user base that is definitely going FTW.
I am excited for the Buzz for a lot of reasons… Prominent Opponent to Facebook, Exciting Mobile Application opportunities (although not yet supported by Blackberry), Integration with yet fully explored and undefined Google Wave, existing Gmail integration, the list goes on…
To email marketing and social media optimization. It is too cool to anticipate how sharing links, posts, pictures and the like will integrate into some pretty amazing marketing possibilities. Of course with all of this sharing an engaged and trusted brand is going to get the most benefit out of the anticipated hybrid of Gmail, Wave, and now Buzz, but the opportunities are endless.
I have a lot of thoughts and anticipation around Buzz and will be sharing more in this space as I play with it more.
Check out my Google Profile here, and where you can hook up with me on Google Buzz
Groan and moan all you want, but face the facts – the holidays are approaching faster than a bullet train and sleigh bells are already ringing in your inbox. The holidays are the chance to add a little sparkle and fluff to your email marketing campaigns and promotions – which many marketers take advantage of. (Hint: I do usually write with so many cheesy phrases).
The economy may be down, but that doesn’t mean your marketing should be – You’ve heard us say it before: Email Marketing is one of the most cost-effective methods of advertising and currently the only growing forms of advertising. October sound too early for Santa to pay you a visit? The majority of businesses begin their holiday pushes in mid October to early November.
Non-profit organizations can use this time to petition for support for their annual holiday fundraisers, elicit donations and find other ways to encourage support. Emails like “What Do You Get for the Person that has Everything? Donate in their name today” etc. is a great example of how email marketing can become a stocking stuffer or make a great gift.
Lets review some tips and refresh a few of the basics
Holiday Marketing Tips and Practices
Compelling subject line: A slew of retailers, restaurants, organizations and others will storm our inboxes with offers, promotions and propaganda this holiday season. The trick is to be able to stand out amongst all your competitors when the pressure increases. The first thing a recipient receives when they look in your box is the subject line. Put this on your holiday list.
Address their needs - Needs vs. Wants -Don’t forget the basic principles of Giving them what they want - after all it is the holiday season
Be HONEST - Tell it like it is.
Holiday Marketing Pitfalls to Avoid:
Believe it or not, you can still screw up a holiday sale promotion – and many retail marketers do. Botched promotions can lead to hundreds of thousands of dollars in missed sales. After all look at the Jay Leno show and one of their most popular segments. Advertising that is wrong.
Here are a few mistakes to avoid like scrooge:
Over frequency: Many marketers increase the frequency of their promotions during the holiday season, but there are those that go overboard and overwhelm us with emails daily.
Pumpkins, cornucopia, turkeys, pilgrims, reindeer, Christmas trees, Santa – get ready for a visual overload of holiday propaganda. It’s daunting, it’s overwhelming – it’s the holiday season and its here whether you like it or not.
This is something I have been saying for months. Finally the disillusionment small business owners have been feeling towards social media has been quantified into terms I think we all can appreciate.
In today’s eMarketer it was reported a full 63% of small business owners claimed social media was not helpful at all.
And to me this only makes perfect sense.
Why?
Because most small business owners are not following the natural progression of building an online marketing presence and are just diving into and allocating resources to the “Hot and Now”
The natural progression starts with a website that DRIVES CONVERSIONS. Write that down, remember that… CONVERT
Step 2 is Email Marketing. Or in other words; building a qualified database of current and future customers that you can cost effectively target, which at the end of the day is really what email marketing is all about.
Step 3 is Search Engine Optimization, appearing high on search engines.
Step 4a and 4b. Now we can start to discuss Social Media strategy / presence, and possibly Pay-per-click
Successes abound in social media marketing, that much is true. However when you look at companies who are performing in the social mediasphere they have this frame work already in place.
Interested in seeing how we can help create that frame work?
Do you have a company or example that is killin’ it in the social aspect to prove me wrong?
