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How to get a vanity URL for your facebook page?

Fri 7 Jan 2011

You can get a customized url for your facebook page (ie, you can get a facebook.com/yourpage ). But this is possible only if you have a minimum of 25 page fans. Just follow the simple steps below:

Login to your facebook account and type http://www.facebook.com/username/ on your address bar.
Here you can choose the page for which you want to get the custom url
Check the availability of the username you want to use.
If the username is available click ok.

Note: This option is available only once, you cannot change the url, ever, once you submit it. So be sure you choose the right username.

Tags: vanity url for facebook

Posted by Charles John under Facebook
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Facebook Marketing in 10 Simple Steps

Fri 7 Jan 2011

I posted this in a hurry, let me know if I am missing any points.

The ten Simple steps of Facebook Marketing are:

Blog frequently (atleast once in 3 days) and promote it in Search Engine
Create a facebook page about your business or blog
Properly fill the page info to let people know who or what you are
Add a facebook ‘like’ widget to your blog sidebar
Add a ’share this in facebook’ button to each of your posts.
Use facbook applications like ‘RSS Graffiti’ or ‘Networked Blogs’ to update your page automatically with your blog posts.
Add a vanity url for your facebook page after getting atleast 25 fans
post pictures of events and offers to your facbook page
Encourage discussions and interact with your fans on your page
STAY AWAY from people/companies who promise to get 5000 ‘likes’ for your page in a week.

Share your Ideas!!

Tags: facebook marketing

Posted by Charles John under Facebook, Web Promotion
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MBA marketing concepts explained (Funny)

Sat 11 Sep 2010

Just got this one from Pagalguy.com.

A Professor at one of the IIM’s (INDIA) was explaining marketing concepts to the Students:-

1. You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say: “I am very rich. Marry me!” – That’s Direct Marketing

2. You’re at a party with a bunch of friends and see a gorgeous girl. One of your friends goes up to her and pointing at you says: “He’s very rich. Marry him.” – That’s Advertising

3. You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and get her telephone number. The next day, you call and say: “Hi, I’m very rich. Marry me.” – That’s Telemarketing

4. You’re at a party and see gorgeous girl. You get up and straighten your tie, you walk up to her and pour her a drink, you open the door (of the car) for her, pick up her bag after she drops it, offer her ride and then say:” By the way, I’m rich. Will you marry me?” – That’s Public Relations

5. You’re at a party and see gorgeous girl. She walks up to you and says:
“You are very rich! Can you marry Me!?” – That’s Brand Recognition

6. You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say: “I am very rich. Marry me!” She gives you a nice hard slap on your face. That’s Customer Feedback

7. You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say: “I am very rich. Marry me!” And she introduces you to her husband. – That’s demand and supply gap

8. You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and before you say anything, another person come and tells her: “I’m rich. Will you marry me?” And she goes with him – That’s competition eating into your market share

9. You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and before you say: “I’m rich, Marry me!” your wife arrives. – That’s restriction for entering new markets.

Tags: MBA marketing concepts

Posted by Charles John under My Scribblings!!
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Fast Approving Article Directories

Mon 30 Aug 2010

Given below is the list of fast approving article directories which will do a good job in improving your website’s search engine ranking.

http://ezinearticles.com/
http://123articleonline.com/
http://articlealley.com
http://articlesnatch.com
http://a1articles.com/
http://articlenexus.com
http://articlefeeder.com
https://www.amazines.com/
http://articlesbase.com
http://articleclick.com
http://articlecastle.com/
http://articlecounty.com.
http://articlefree4all.com
http://articlefire.com/
http://articlediverse.com/
http://articlegush.com/
http://articleinfo.org/
http://articlestars.com/
http://articlewealth.com
http://articlexplore.com/
http://directoryarticles.com/
http://everydayarticles.com/
http://fresh-article-directory.com/
http://hostcontent.net/
http://rhinoarticles.com
http://smartfindsdirectory.com
http://tss-articles.com/
http://upublish.info
http://everyonesarticles.com/
http://theegarage.com/
http://marabe7.com
http://articleseek.org
http://pixel4less.com
http://articlezu.com/
http://articleassets.com/
http://articlepantry.com
http://articles.live-webmaster.com
http://articledir.uniqueweblink.com/
http://qwesz.info
http://qwesz.org
http://articles4today.com/
http://pickarticle.com/
http://articlesinfinite.com/
http://collectibles-articles.com
http://articlekingpro.com
http://articlewarehouse.com/
http://articlesgalore.info
http://free-article-depot.com
http://ideamarketers.com/
http://freearticledirectory.co.uk
http://weeno.com/
http://articlesmagazine.com/
http://articlebeach.com/
http://articlepros.com/
http://articletrader.com/
http://ultimatearticledirectory.com/
http://smasharticles.com/
http://articler.com
http://article-buzz.com/
http://articlecat.com
http://articlecell.com/
http://articlepool.com
http://5star-articles.com/
http://articlesolve.com/
http://qualityfreearticles.com/
http://articleserve.net/
http://articlebliss.com/
http://articlecity.com/
http://isnare.com/
http://365articles.com/
http://1articleworld.com/
http://add-articles.com/
http://articleonlinedirectory.com/
http://reprintarticles.com/
http://articlesphere.com/
http://articledashboard.com/

Tags: Fast Approving Article Directories, SEO

Posted by Charles John under SEO
1 Comment

Tips to Increase Article Submission Approval Rate

Tue 17 Aug 2010

Article submission is one of the many basic steps to promote your website’s search engine rankings. When you submit an article to a list of article directories, its approval rate depends on certain common factors which of course are mentioned in their article submission guidelines, but they vary with each directory. Over the past few years I have done hundreds of article submissions. The articles which had higher approval rates qualified the following few factors:

Minimum word count of an article should be more than 420 words
The Article should have a minimum of 4 paragraphs.
The article should have a catchy title which is very much related to the content of the article.
Favorable keyword density is 3-4%.
The article should not have any links in the first 3 paragraphs.
The author resource box can have maximum two links to the website you are promoting.
The maximum number of links in an article including the resource box should not be more than two.
The article should not be directly promoting YOUR product or services, but it should be about the benefits of having or using such products or services from you or anyone. (In short, the article should not be self promoting.)
The article must be submitted only to relevant categories.
Use relevant keywords as anchor texts to link the article to your website. (Not required to qualify for approval, but for SE rankings.)

Also hand pick those directories to which you are going to submit. Majority of the websites do not approve the article not because it is not qualified, but because the moderators are too shy to do their job. I tested a list of 300 directories by submitting 20 articles. I then waited for 1 month and found that around only 100 directories did their job, submission to the other’s were a waste of time. So be selective about article directories.

Tags: article submission, article tips, Tips to Increase Article Submission Approval Rate

Posted by Charles John under SEO
No Comments

FAQ to student startups by everybody else :D

Fri 13 Aug 2010

I am listing some of the common questions asked to me mostly by my parents, relatives and some by my friends when we started out first.

How can you get any money from your computer?
If you can do this why not his/her son/daughter do it? (yaa they are brighter than you after all)
What if somebody cheats you?
What if clients don’t give you money?
why don’t you go for MBA?
He/she is working at infosys, why not you?
Why can’t you work at infosys and do this as part time?
Why not ask your partner to do your job also so that you can take up another one in an MNC?
Why are you always sitting infront of your computer while others are ‘working’?
What if your partners throw you out?
All you do is sitting in front of this thing (my computer), why don’t you go for some work?
(After 1 month from starting) Did you make any money from your business? (yes, I did), ohh then why don’t you lend us some Rs.100,000?
I shall help you with designing, all you need to tell me is how to turn on this computer.
Is that company still there?? (From friends)
Why don’t you ‘dismiss’ that partner of yours? i don’t like him. (From friends)
ok, now since your business is going well why not ask your partners to give it all to you? (They won’t ask you for any money, they are your friends naa..)

So far these were the few ones I could think of now. I am sure there are so many. Feel free to share…

Tags: FAQ to student startups

Posted by Charles John under Entrepreneurship, My Scribblings!!
1 Comment

Start-ups – Are you Really Prepared?

Fri 30 Jul 2010

It is common that people, after achieving their professional goals, set to start a business venture of their own. But to be successful one must not only work hard but also commit sacrifices. ‘What if I fail’ is not an option for an entrepreneur targeting success. But many people start their ventures without being very sure of success, without being prepared to face the new scenario, which will undoubtedly end in its failure. Being an entrepreneur after being a high earning, reputable professional is not that easy. When you are a Senior Corporate guy you enjoy the power and status of the chair you sit on and when you leave it you leave everything associated with it whether it is social recognition, paychecks and anything.

I just started reading the book ‘The High Performance Entrepreneur’ by ‘Subroto Bagchi’ and found this set of questions whose answers will help you to decide if you are ready to build an organization.

Would I feel lost if my Boss found out my desire to venture out and gave me the pink slip?
Have I discussed the venture and the possible outcomes with my dependents?
Am I ready to give up my house, car, club membership and official position?
Would I be willing to take a serious salary cut to make sure the company is not saddled with a fat compensation structure-and thereby can break even sooner?
Would I be happy traveling economy class against the business class travel I am so accustomed to as a vice president in a multinational corporation?
Will it be fine with me to stay in a modest hotel and travel by train and not taxi?
Is it all right for others in the company to earn more than me?
Am I willing to work 70hrs a week for the next few years to make sure the company stands on its own?
Will i be comfortable in working out of a cheap business centre or from a downmarket address, with bad air conditioning, hired furniture, poor lighting and no secretaries?
Will I be comfortable making my own phone calls, writing my own memos and creating my own set of slides?
Will I be able to set my own goals and work unsupervised?
Will I feel awkward going back to people who reported to me a long time ago to solicit business.

Before you start ‘Think Again’.

Tags: start a company, startup companies, startups

Posted by Charles John under Entrepreneurship
[2] Comments

Rama Setu-It’s Really Beautiful!!!

Fri 23 Jul 2010

Oh! this is not a well prepared post like the previous ones. I just saw a Google map of Rameswaram, and found this bridge like connection between India and Sri Lanka (either made by Rama or nature) and has written this one in that excitement.

View Ram Setu in a larger map
I did know something called Ram Setu was there and had heard a lot about it in the media sometime back, but never paid any attention because like many, I didn’t think it was something worth paying attention to. But I never knew it was this beautiful!! You won’t find it attractive on the Google map view, but it is in the Satellite view. In the excitement I Googled and found this.

You can find more videos related to Ram setu or Adam’s Bridge(LOL..The English made that too a Christian property) on youtube, hell!! there are so many!!

Tags: Rama setu

Posted by Charles John under My Scribblings!!
1 Comment

SEO in a Coffee Cup

Mon 5 Jul 2010

Original content : http://www.webnesters.com/what-is-seo-why-is-seo-important

What is Search Engine Optimization?

According to Wikipedia Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the volume or quality of traffic to a web site from search engines via “natural” or un-paid (“organic” or “algorithmic”) search results as opposed to search engine marketing (SEM) which deals with paid inclusion.

Why is Search Engine Optimization Important?

The reason why you built your website is to showcase your products and services so that your potential customers will know about it and thus increase your revenue and brand value.

But how will your future customers know that you exist?

The answer is ‘Search Engines’. People use Search Engines to find more about products and services they need.

For example if a person residing in US wants a freelancer in India to build a website for him, the easiest way to get a service provider is to Search for ‘Freelance web designer India’. But how will he choose? Because such a query will give him thousands of results detailing each and every free lance designer in India. He will not be able to go through every provider. So the best possibility is that he will choose some companies appearing in the first 2 or 3 pages and send queries to them to see if they are available.

The same rule applies to 95% of internet population. People go through results appearing in the first 2 or 3 pages of the Search Engine and will not look further. So each time a search is made for a product or service you are providing and our competitors are ranking better, you lose a potential customer. This is where Search Engine Optimization has its role.

In short:

SEO helps your website to rank better in Search Engine
It helps to build a brand value.
It is the easiest method to target the global market
It helps to win more customers and revenue

What are the usual trends of people while they use a Search Engine?

People do not go through more than 2 or 3 pages of search results.
People have a feeling that the websites ranking top for queries are more trusted and have the best information.

I can display my ads through news paper advertisements, TV and other advertising media. Then why should I go for SEO?

The reasons are simple.

The internet is a global media; it can be viewed and accessed from any part of the world.
Advertisements through TV and news papers are mostly constrained to a geographic area.
News paper ads have only 1 day life.
Advertisements through TV need not viewed by everyone as they will be displayed randomly.
These short life advertisements costs you much more than what it would online.
Ads in TV and other media are viewed by everyone, it cannot be targeted to a group of people who requires your service.

What are the benefits of SEO over other marketing media?

} Your ads are viewed only by targeted customers.

} It is much more economical than advertising through other media.

} You get Global coverage

} The number of internet users is increasing globally. This provides you a growing market.

} Life of the optimised website in SE position is much higher compared to other media like newspapers which has only a day’s life.

Common Terms used in Internet Marketing:

SEO: Search Engine Optimization

SMO: Social Media Optimization- Includes marketing your website through twitter, facebook, linkedin, Social Bookmarking websites and forums.

Keyword: It is the word or words used for a query in Search Engines. For example, if you are looking for a web designer from India, the keywords can be “Web designer India” or “India web designer”

SERP: Search Engine Ranking Position: The ranking position of your website in Search engine for a keyword.

Backlinks: Links pointing to your website from another website. For example, someone is making a comment in his website regarding a product you are selling, he will include a link to your website.

How is a website optimized?

Each engine has an algorithm using which the website rankings are determined for a query. They are one of best guarded secrets in the world. But each algorithm is built on the assumption that the more number of Backlinks a website has, the more will be its relevance and hence so will be the ranking.

SEO consist of:

1. Keyword Research
2. Competitor analysis
3. On-Page optimization
4.Off-page optimization

Keyword research:

It is one of the toughest jobs in SEO. Not every keyword benefits you. Some highly competitive keywords (Keywords for which most sites of your niche are optimized) will drive large traffic to your website, but will offer only fewer conversions.

For example: If you are a web developer located in india, you will get more conversions for the keyword ’Web Developer India’ than for the term ‘Web Developer’. The latter being highly competitive needs more time and money to be optimized while the former requires lesser efforts and at the same time offers more customers.

Keyword Research includes finding potential keywords that has the least competition. Proper keyword research helps you to get better benefits for a smaller budget.

Competitor Analysis:

It is important to know what your competitors are doing. This applies to both direct marketing and online marketing, we need to check the strategy used by your competitors and follow a strategy formulated from it. In SEO we need to find out how your competitors are ranking and for which keywords. From competitor analysis we can find out the cost and time we need to put in our SEO efforts.

On-page Optimization:

It involves modification in your website design and codes.

Optimizing your site design and structure according to Search Engine Ranking algorithms (content, meta tags, descriptions, image alt-tags, titles, link structure, Site Navigation)
Implementing Google analytics and tracking traffic trends, keywords, goals, conversion rates etc.
Setting up a sitemap account to ensure 100% visibility of contents by bots.

Off-Page Optimization:

Off-Page SEO mainly consists of building links to your website from other websites.

What are the different link building methods?

Directory submission: Listing your website in web directories.
Article submission: Writing and submitting articles and reviews about your products in article directories.
Blog reviews: Reviewing your service or product in popular blogs.
Bookmarking: Bookmarking your website in popular social bookmarking websites to make it known to other users.
One-way links: Getting links from related websites.
Forum Posting: Posting in forums of your niche to find potential customers and also to increase Backlinks.
Link Baiting.

NB: By SEO in a Coffee cup I just mean a brief post about SEO, only just to make the title interesting

Feel Free to add your points.

Tags: SEO

Posted by Charles John under SEO
No Comments

Common problems faced by student startups

Tue 29 Jun 2010

When I was doing my final year in engineering I chose the path of entrepreneurship with some of my colleagues. It is only after some time that I realized some common mistakes associated with not only my company but with many other student startups as well.

Problem No.1 : Lack of work experince: We may be gurus in what we do, or at least we feel so. But knowing your work and knowing your industry are two different things. Without knowing the work flow pattern in an industry you will have a hard-time managing your customers, works, workers and partners.

Problem No.2 : You are the best in the field: This is a common mis-conception among many college startups. While launching your products or services you believe that it is foolproof and is the best anyone can get. But as long as there is competition there are companies better than you.

Problem No.3 : Lack of skill set: Often it is your technical ability that gives you confidence to start a company. You may know how to do something in your field, but not everything. For example you know how to make a wordpress template, but don’t know how to develop a wordpress plugin or a widget. There are many clients asking for them all. There are many companies who have skillset in all. So being skilled in just one thing may not help you as an entrepreneur. Either you have to have expertise in related fields or you should be able to hire experts in that area.

Problem No.4 : Lack of study on market scenario and underestimating the value of Marketing: This is associated with Problem no.2. When you believe that you are the best in the field, naturally you feel that customers will come for you without any marketing efforts. I know many companies that still spend more money on technical side and more or less ignore marketing. Many feels that marketing campaigns and network meetings are irrelevant because they do not win instant customers and hence spends more time on learning shortcuts. But in the long run these campaigns and meetings will prove useful to your business.

Problem 5: Deviating from your business plan: It is common that startups face financial problems. To overcome this many resort to do small works that are not in your actual plan. It is normal and even advisable but you should always set the limit. We faced a similar problem with our company Techseol Web Solutions. In the first month we developed some blog networks to earn money and we literally struck gold! We made almost 5 times the amount we planned to make and that within 2 weeks. So instead of expanding our market for our actual services we went on with these blog networks. After a few months when we looked at our actual market we were still where we started, winning zero clients with zero marketing effort. Avoid such a scenario and stick to your business plan.

Problem no.6: Pricing too low: It is a common belief that you can earn a lot by pricing low. It may be true in the case of established business, but for a startup it is not so. As a start up you won’t have enough skilled man power at low operating costs to handle large volumes of work. Instead concentrating on potential clients can get you enough money, good references and a better market.

Problem no. 7: Maturity problems: Whatever you are, a student at college aging 21 or 22 is still immature in many aspects. There are many problems faced by startups due to lack of maturity. Many problems associated with your business will cease to exist gradually, but many problems arising from lack of maturity are not so, especially in internal matters.

a. Doing business for the sake of friendship: This problem is often seen in many student startup companies. This arises during decision making and when someone is under-performing. Not asking someone to improve their work thinking you may offend them is the worst mistake you can make in a business. In the long run this will hurt your business than any other problem.

b. Lack of an efficient leader: This occurs when you start a company with friends of similar age. There will be no one to control you or you will be obedient to. This problem is faced at the time of decision making and plan execution.

c. Personalization of problems: It is common to have difference of opinion, but at the end you should find a common solution. It is only possible if you can look at the problem at different angles and accept the facts. But when you are not mature enough this doesn’t happen. Instead you personalize these matters and end up hurting everyone and your business.

If you know any other problems associated with college startups, feel free to share.

Tags: Common problems faced by student startups, startup companies, startups

Posted by Charles John under Entrepreneurship
[5] Comments

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