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Daily Archives: June 21, 2011
Katonah NY real estate sees “The SEO Industry Needs Better Industry Associations | Search Engine Journal” for the Katonah NY real estate market
Jun 21 2011
The SEO Industry Needs Better Industry Associations
Compared to other marketing practices like advertising and PR, the SEO industry is incredibly young. As an industry we are still finding our way, establishing best practice guidelines, maturing and, in some cases, still proving our worth as SEO experts, consultants and firms to the marketing “old guard.”
One of the ways SEO has legitimized itself in the eyes of the old guard has been to form SEO industry associations, which were designed to promote solidarity and increase the credibility of their members. While some of these associations do a good job of providing education for their members, across the board they could be much better. In my 12 years in the SEO industry, I have found most associations to be a waste of my time and money.
What the SEO industry really needs is an association that not only provides valuable educational resources to its members, but also actively works to help those SEO and SEM firms get business.
Most (if not all) industry associations require a fee to join. What is my membership fee really getting me? For the most part, I get a link on their website and the privilege of posting their logo on mine. I have never gotten a client that came from an industry association’s website, and only a handful of leads.
A major part of being in an SEO association is getting invited to events for “networking.” But who am I really networking with? Not potential clients, just other members of that association. What good does that do me a small SEO firm owner? The other SEO and SEM professionals aren’t looking to hire me or my company. If I paid to travel to one of these networking events, what kind of return can I actually expect? I’m not going to make my money back by going to that event.
Of all the SEO industry associations out there, I think that there are two national organizations that do a decent job and are worth being a part of. The first is SEMPO. I have been a member of SEMPO since 2005, and while I have never landed a client from being a member of the organization, it did lend credibility to my business when I started out. That was a huge boon in the beginning. I’d be willing to bet that the vast majority of SEO firm owners are like me, small business owners; what are we really getting by being members? I’ve built my company’s reputation up to the point where I don’t have to rely on SEMPO’s stamp of approval to show my worth. I remain a member because the SEMPO badge looks good to prospective clients, but I’ve only gotten a few leads that I can attribute to my SEMPO membership and no actual clients.
The other industry organization that I think does a good job is SEOPros.org. They are not as big as SEMPO, but I am a big fan of them because they are very particular about who they let join. They don’t believe in pay-for-play (such as TopSEO.com) like other SEO industry associations (the idea that anyone who has the money can join). They conduct a thorough review of your company to make sure you are a white hat, ethical SEO company. I appreciate that because black hat SEO firms and spammers shouldn’t be allowed to join industry associations just because they can pay. Their membership devalues the association as a whole and drags down the reputation of the other members.
I am also a member of some smaller, local SEO organizations like the Boston SEO Meetup. Boston SEO Meetup hosts local events and there is a sense of camaraderie among the members. It’s not just SEO professionals at the events; small business owners, web designers, freelance copywriters and more all show up. The best part about the Boston SEO Meetup, it’s free. Other local SEO/SEM associations such as SEMNE, CIMA and SEMpdx are good, yet once again they are mostly for networking with other SEO professionals. You might get a little local branding, which is important, but you could do a lot more branding with the $1000 or so (depending on the local SEO association) you paid to belong. I’d rather invest the $1000 membership fee in an AD campaign or something that is going to help me get clients.
I’m not denying that some SEO industry associations have their place or value, but on the whole we need them to be better. I have to give props to the eMarketing Association. They offer certification classes to members and do a good job of promoting their members. But the eMA is an Internet marketing association, not an SEO association. An SEO industry association should do more for their members than just give them a link. A link isn’t worth my $1000 membership fee, a client is.
I remain a member of several industry associations mostly because my clients expect me to. A good, white hat SEO firm is supposed to belong to the big industry organizations. However, I have seen very little return from belonging to these associations other than a directory link. What has been your experience as an SEO firm, consultant or actual client that has used and/or increased business from an SEO industry association? Please share your thoughts and I would like to hear other opinions well.
Written By:
Nick Stamoulis | Search Engine Optimization Journal | @NickStamoulis
Nick Stamoulis, a search engine marketing industry veteran, is the President of search engine marketing company, Brick Marketing. Nick Stamoulis also writes daily in his SEO blog, the Search Engine Optimization Journal and publishes one of the largest SEO newsletters with over 125,000 opt-in subscribers.
More Posts By Nick Stamoulis
How many global organisations are there for the engineering industry or the accounting industry? These have been around since God was a boy but there’s still no globally recognised professional association, only country specific ones with tenuous links to similar organisations in other countries.
SEO is a global industry with practitioners in little towns in rural Scotland (me) working for large businesses around the world. In my view it’s going to be impossible to set up a credible (i.e. you don’t just pay a fee and get a badge) globally recognised organisation covering SEO. It’s just not going to happen.
To become a Chartered Engineer I needed academic qualifications and industry experience. All in it took around 10 years. In my view that’s a credible thing to have and something I’m proud of. It shows academic ability and dedication to a profession. With SEO there’s virtually no legit qualifications you can get so the idea is scuppered from the start.
Most SEO experts are self taught and their CPD is ad-hoc. It’s a non starter to take this into a professional setting at this early stage, again this is all just IMHO!
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Bedford Hills Real Estate wants “7 Easy Steps to Get More Action on Twitter | Bedford Hills NY Homes for sale
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June 21, 2011
7 Easy Steps to Get More Action on Twitter
If you're using Twitter for your business, good for you! You're probably wondering how to get more Twitter activity such as re-tweets and followers. Well, here's a fun idea you might want to give a try. The basic concept is to give a promotional code with an amazing discount on your product or service – but only once you reach a predetermined number of re-tweets. The incentive will help you mobilize your current followers and email recipients, and get them tweeting and re-tweeting. Here's how:
1. Create, Send and Post Your Email. Put your offer in an email solo and send it to your best customers (i.e., advocates, repeat purchasers, etc.). Your copy should state something like this:
For the next two days, we're giving out something very special. A $50 promotional code [insert your discount here] on our product line [insert product line here]. Is there a catch? You bet! We need 200 [insert your own number here] re-tweets of this offer before we post the code. So be sure to RT this offer to your followers to get the code. We'll tweet our progress to keep you up-to-date on the number of re-tweets before the final post.
2. Post a hosted version of this email online so you'll have a page to send everyone to.
3. Include the Twitter icon in your emails so it's easy for your recipients to post to their followers. You can do that in most email marketing programs including VerticalResponse.
4. Tweet the hosted version of the email to your own followers after you've sent your email.
5. Track in TweetDeck how many RTs you're getting by setting up a new column. Include tweet copy or a few words from it so you can filter and count how many RTs you get.
6. Tweet every hour or two how many RTs you're up to, or how many more you need to reach your goal.
7. When you reach your limit (or close to it) make a new copy of your email marketing campaign with the promotional code, send it to your list, and tweet the URL of the hosted version out to your followers.
Viola! Your efforts should get you plenty of Twitter activity such as tweets, re-tweets, and even some new followers. Give it a try and let me know how it goes!
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Pound Ridge Realtor wants to “Create a Website from Start to Finish With His iPhone | Real Estate in Pound Ridge NY
Bedford Corners NY Homes reads “An investor mindset to beat the market | Inman News” for the Bedford Corners NY Real Estate market
An investor mindset to beat the market
Book Review: ‘The Most Important Thing: Uncommon Sense for the Thoughtful Investor’
Image courtesy of Columbia Business School Publishing.
Book Review
Title: “The Most Important Thing: Uncommon Sense for the Thoughtful Investor”
Author: Howard Marks
Publisher: Columbia Business School Publishing, 2011; 200 pages; $29.95This is a do-it-yourself, consumer-education-and-empowerment-oriented media age. There is a constant flow of simplifying, demystifying tips and how-to guides for those looking to take more control over their personal finances. For some subjects, that makes sense.
But while there is certainly a market for books that break some complex money matters down to eighth-grade level, the fact is that other topics simply cannot be rendered so simple, in good faith.
This is the premise of Howard Marks’ new book, “The Most Important Thing: Uncommon Sense for the Thoughtful Investor.” In fact, the first point Marks makes is his position that there are actually 18 or so “most important things” when it comes to investing for market-beating returns, all of which must be managed at the same time to achieve success.
Marks makes plain from the jump his belief that successful, above-average investing is just not simple, and his belief that “those who try to simplify investing do their audience a great disservice.” Marks also makes clear that this book is not intended to be a how-to guide, but rather a statement of his investment philosophy, a fundamental way of thinking about investing that facilitates good decision-making and the avoidance of money-losing pitfalls.
(If, by chance, you’re wondering what makes Marks, who is the chairman and co-founder of Oaktree Capital Management, qualified to bestow such advice, consider these words of Warren Buffett: “When I see memos from Howard Marks in my mail, they’re the first thing I open and read. I always learn something.” Yes, that Warren Buffett.
After very little introductory ado, Marks gets straight on with it, drilling through 20 chapters of his most important things and thoughts on putting them all together to achieve superior results.
This book is deep — not “surface level” at all — as are the thinking styles, viewpoints, understanding and priorities it demands readers take in the course and scope of their self-education and investment decision-making processes. It is not at all about math tricks, rules of thumb or algorithms; instead, it is all about acquiring the edge over average investors by taking different approaches and going much, much deeper than the ordinary, simplicity-seeking, highly computerized investor does.
Marks makes no bones about admonishing readers to carry out what he calls “second-level thinking”: starting up the process of analyzing a stock where others leave off, then going several steps further, going “deep, complex and convoluted” to answer a dozen or more questions that average investors rarely, if ever, take the time to consider.
Marks applies this level of depth and unconventional thinking to such matters as market efficiency (and the lack thereof); value investing; understanding, recognizing and controlling risk; market cycles; how to avoid mistakes through mindset management (minimizing the impact of greed and fear, among other powerful emotions; contrarianism; opportunism and more.
Is this the most user-friendly book on investing? No. Does it contain oodles of tips, tricks and sidebars with bullet lists of “million-dollar musts”? Not even close. But if you’ve decided, as I have, to invest the work and effort it takes to be serious, involved and proactive with respect to your investment decision-making and retirement planning, it provides a very deep, rich understanding of the elements that can power you to above-average results.
Will the results of an intense program of self-study and assertive investing results in returns that are worth the extra time and extra work? Only time will tell, but one way to look at it is to consider Marks’ own words: “only if your behavior is unconventional is your performance likely to be unconventional.”
Tara-Nicholle Nelson is author of “The Savvy Woman’s Homebuying Handbook” and “Trillion Dollar Women: Use Your Power to Make Buying and Remodeling Decisions.” Tara is also the Consumer Ambassador and Educator for real estate listings search site Trulia.com. Ask her a real estate question online or visit her website, www.rethinkrealestate.com.
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Chappaqua NY real estate asks “File civil lawsuit for property damage? | Inman News” for the Chappaqua NY real estate market
File civil lawsuit for property damage?
Pipe installation leaves lawn a disaster zone
DEAR BENNY: While we were out of town, my neighbor and a well installer destroyed 400 square feet of my lawn, leaving us with ruts, dirt piles and dead sod. In addition, they buried 40 linear feet of water pipe and electrical cable on our land without our permission. I have a recent land survey to validate our claims.
They refuse to repair my lawn, or remove the pipe or cable. The sheriff has refused to take any action. What are our options? –Suszan
DEAR SUSZAN: And you call those people your “neighbors”? I understand that the sheriff might not want to get involved, even though (if your facts are correct) there was an illegal trespass onto your land. Police (and sheriff’s) departments are extremely busy with more serious crimes. I am in no way belittling your situation, but you have a civil remedy: File a lawsuit for wrongful trespass and damage to your property.
Generally speaking, our courts follow what is known as the “American rule on legal fees.” That means that each side pays his/her own legal fees, unless (1) there is a provision providing for attorneys fees to the prevailing party in a legal document — such as a lease or real estate sales contract; (2) there is a provision providing for legal fees in a statute in your state — you will have to have an attorney give you this advice; (3) a pool of money has been collected as a result of a court judgment obtained by an attorney — such as in a class action; or (4) the court finds that the action of the defendant was not so outrageous that punitive damages (including legal fees) should be ordered.
I don’t want you to get your hopes up about this fourth category, but from your description, your attorney should be able to make a strong case for punitive damages against your “neighbor.”
P.S.: After writing this response, someone sent me a provision from the Virginia Code. I thought it would be of interest to my readers, as you may have similar language on your state laws:
“Section 15.2-1717.1. Designation of police to enforce trespass violations.
“Any locality may by ordinance establish a procedure whereby the owner, lessee, custodian, or person lawfully in charge as those terms are used in Section 18.2-119 of real property may designate the local law enforcement agency as a ‘person lawfully in charge of the property’ for the purpose of forbidding another to go or remain upon the lands, buildings or premises as specified in the designation. The ordinance shall require that any such designation be in writing and on file with the local law enforcement agency.”
DEAR BENNY: I paid off the mortgage on my townhome years ago. Should I have received something (the deed?) indicating that I own it? I contacted the lender last year and (a representative said the company) would send me something “in a few months,” but … never did. Can you tell me what I should do? –Doug
Also a similar question from another reader:
DEAR BENNY: I paid off my mortgage two years ago; however, the only document I received from the credit union is a statement saying that the loan has been paid off. Where is the title or deed? –P.D.
DEAR P.D. AND DOUG: I will respond to both of your questions.
When you get a mortgage loan, you are required to sign a whole bunch of legal documents — many of which are (in my opinion) irrelevant, unnecessary and/or duplicative.
However, there are three documents that are very important. First, the settlement statement (called a HUD-1). In the past year, it has been amended considerably by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and presumably is aimed at providing more complete information about the services and fees involved in a homebuying (or loan refinancing) situation.
I recommend that readers (1) review the HUD-1 very carefully before you sign it, and (2) keep that document in your possession until you sell your very last house. There are expenses contained in the HUD-1 that may assist in reducing any capital gains tax you may have to pay when that home is sold.
Second, you sign a promissory note (the IOU to the lender). Once again, read it carefully before you sign that document; it contains information about the interest rate, the date on which the loan must be paid in full.
Also, if you are getting an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) it will explain when your interest rate will be adjusted and the formula on which the new rate will be determined. Your lender will keep the original, but you should not leave the settlement (escrow) office without getting a copy of absolutely every document you signed.
The third important document is the mortgage — called a deed of trust in many states. If you get a mortgage, typically the lender will have to go to court to foreclose should you go into default. However, with a deed of trust, you get a deed to the property and immediately deed it — in trust — to a trustee (or trustees) selected by your lender.
The deed of trust gives the trustee the “power to sell” your house at a foreclosure sale, if you are in default. State laws differ dramatically as to how and when the trustees can proceed to a foreclosure sale.
The mortgage — or the deed of trust — is recorded among the land records in the jurisdiction where your house is located.
Now, you have paid off your loan — either because you sell the property, you refinance, or you just decided to make all payments so that you have a house “free and clear” of that lien on your property.
If you sell your house or refinance your existing loan, the settlement (escrow) company will take on the responsibility of releasing the old mortgage from land records.
However, if you just pay off the loan and keep the house, the old mortgage (deed of trust) must be released from land records. All too often (as happened to our two readers) the lender just sends a letter advising that the loan has been paid off.
That is not sufficient: The lender should prepare a release (often called certificate of satisfaction), and that document must be recorded on the same land records where your original mortgage was recorded. You want the world to know that you now own the property free and clear of that old loan.
If your lender is a national bank, you can complain to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency — a federal agency (www.occ.treas.gov). If your lender is a credit union, you can file a complaint with the National Credit Union Administration (www.ncua.gov). Alternatively, you should send a complaint letter to your state’s banking office and to your state’s office of attorney general.
You cannot let this sit. In my experience with clients whose loan has been paid off but not released from land records, many times the existing lender no longer exists and it is a real hassle to find out who currently has the obligation to release that loan.
Ultimately, you may have to file a lawsuit to quiet title, but that’s time-consuming and expensive.
Incidentally, you should have received the deed when you first bought the house. The settlement (escrow) company records the deed, and when it is returned from the recorder’s office, the original should be sent to you.
DEAR BENNY: I purchased a home in April 2009. The house is relatively new, built in 1995. I purchased the home with an FHA loan, as a short sale. My concern is disclosure. My home is constantly creaking and cracking. I did have a home inspection before I purchased the home; however, it was not noticeable during the inspection. Are the previous owners responsible for disclosing the “noises”? Should I contact a real estate lawyer? –Diana
DEAR DIANA: There are two things you have to do first before you talk with an attorney. First, review your sales contract. Does it say that you bought the property in its “as is” condition? If so, then you may have a hard time convincing anyone — a judge or the seller — that the seller has any obligation to you.
Second, you should have a licensed home improvement contractor (or a licensed structural engineer) make a determination of the cause and source of the noise. Perhaps, it is routine settling; new houses often “creak” as they settle down on the ground. You should also find out how much it will cost to correct — if correction is even possible.
There are things that you can do, without having to spend money on a lawyer. It may very well be that there is no way to solve the problem, and that in time, the problems will go away. It may also be that the cost to correct is minimal, and it would make sense for you to bite the bullet, pay the cost, instead of filing suit against the seller.
Over the years, I have advised my clients that sometimes it pays just to fix the problem instead of spending a lot of money (and time) on litigation.
Benny L. Kass is a practicing attorney in Washington, D.C., and Maryland. No legal relationship is created by this column. Questions for this column can be submitted to benny@inman.com.
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Armonk NY Real Estate reads “Seth’s Blog: Adopt vs. adapt” | Armonk NY Homes for sale
Adopt vs. adapt
An early adopter seeks out new ideas and makes them work.
An adapter, on the other hand, puts up with what he has to, begrudgingly.
One is offense, the other is defense. One requires the spark of curiousity, the other is associated with fear, or at least hassle.
Hint: it’s not so easy to sell to the adapt community.
Posted by Seth Godin on June 21, 2011 | Permalink
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