SEO – Let’s Get Creative!

Hey everyone, it’s Kelly, LCI’s Senior Account Executive, back for another session of Social Media 101.

The November issue of PRWeek includes a great article on how companies can be more creative in maximizing their SEO efforts.  We all know how important social media is, and understanding how to effectively utilize a tool such as SEO is mandatory for success!

Wikipedia defines SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, as “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.” In other words, getting more people to look at your website without paying for it.

The PRWeek article does a great job recognizing the important aspects of SEO and how to optimize these aspects successfully.

“Speak your audience’s language:” LCI Interpretation: If my client is promoting a new brand of tea, I’m not going to refer to it in a press release as “a hot beverage made from the dried leaves of an Asian evergreen shrub.”  Customers are going to search for my client’s specific brand of “tea.”  Understanding how your customers will search for your product is important. 

“Use the right keywords and phrases – a lot:” LCI Interpretation: Being repetitive is often frowned upon in press releases, but in this case, it might just make your client more popular.  Say a client is announcing a new social media network.  Use the terms “social media”, “online network” and “new social media network” as often as possible.  Including these search terms, especially in titles, will help optimize SEO.

“Find authority and get it to link back to you:” LCI Interpretation:  Hyperlinking your search term to an expert will make your client look more credible. 

“Say it again through multimedia:” LCI Interpretation: Include a video, podcast, audio sampling, image, chart, graph, etc. to help support your client’s message.  Visuals are key, and if an editor doesn’t have the time to sit and read through your press release, then a quick video link or graph will help illustrate your point quickly and effectively.

Buzzworthy Happenings:

Holiday Ice Rink at Embarcadero Center:  I don’t do well on skates, but I may risk it this year!

Turkey Trail Trot: Never thought “running” and “turkey” would be put in the same sentence, but there’s a first time for everything.

Macy’s Tree Lighting in Union Square:  This event is actually a holiday in itself for some San Francisco locals

Dottie’s True Blue Café: Homemade thick cut French toast…..that’s all you need to know!