Month: January 2011

The Best SEO and Social Media Tools Are Not As Expected!

Best SEO and Social Media Marketing Tools
Best SEO and Social Media Marketing Tools

It seems that a lot of people talk about the mechanical aspects of marketing these days. When the Internet is involved, people seem to get really hung up on the technical issues … the mechanics of marketing. Sure, it matters, but the mechanics of today’s marketing starts to seem like the equivalent of marketers of the past calling a printing press their best tool.

I am a marketing guy, and a web guy. I write a lot of articles about SEO and social media marketing, and it is something that I know well. I write about topics such as SEO tips, blogging tools, social media measurement, marketing strategy, and much more.

I work hard to teach people how to help themselves, and when they need some extra help, I provide services for hire. Now I want to share an important tip that may very well help you more than any other!

I have expressed this before, but I want to say it again: “The Best SEO and Social Media Tools Are Not What You Think!” Some people will find this to be shocking, but the best SEO and social media marketing tools are not at all what you have likely been led to believe. I want to clear this up for you, and share what I know, without a doubt, to be the best tools for improving your online marketing efforts.

In order to best express this, I offer you this short video titled “Best SEO and Social Media Marketing Tools”.

Coffee and Cigarettes?

Yes, there is my answer … Coffee and cigarettes are my favorite tools for building a brand and for improving search engine optimization and social media marketing. I am crazy, right? It is a challenging concept for a lot of people, but it is often much easier than explaining every nut and bolt that makes a marketing machine run smoothly.

You see, coffee and cigarettes are a part of my brand. I even published it in a book, and I have said it a squillion times: “I take coffee and cigarettes and turn them into better social media marketing and SEO.”

The real truth is that the mechanics of marketing are of considerably small consequence when compared to marketing creativity and talent.

When I call coffee and cigarettes my best tools, it is because they help me to work longer hours, without sleep. They keep me functioning during those long hours of trying to discover something genius about a client’s products or services, and what makes them more attractive to their model customers.

My tip for the day is to consider the tools which are not so obvious. Try something less mechanical and be ready to get creative.

Do you smoke cigarettes and drink coffee? Talk to me … your comments are well-appreciated!

You Like Cake, Right? Food Network Does, Too!

Peggy Murnahan of Mad Eliza's Cakes and Confections
Peggy Murnahan of Mad Eliza's

I am excited to share my wife’s audition video for Food Network Challenge. This was not an open casting call. A Food Network associate producer recently contacted Peggy to ask if she is interested in competing on Food Network Challenge. Of course, she was brought to tears with the excitement of competing in this prestigious cake decorating competition.

Food Network found our company, Mad Eliza’s Cakes and Confections on the Internet. As a marketing guy, it is my job to be sure opportunities like this come to my clients. This client is one which is very dear to me.

Peggy tells the story of “Rocker Girl and Buttercream Boy” and what brought her to opening Mad Eliza’s Cakes and Confections. It is not all glitz and glamor, but it is a real story of how she found herself in the cake business, and how her passion led her to master the art of cakes.

January 2nd is my birthday, and Peggy made a birthday cake which matches well with my personal brand. I have often said that “I take coffee and cigarettes and turn them into better social media marketing and SEO.” I say that, because I consider them my greatest marketing tools. The construction of my birthday cake is played out in her audition video.

I am proud of this domestic “Rocker Girl”, so I am trying to spread her word. Please add your comments here on my blog and at YouTube.com, to say hi to Peggy, and to tell Food Network why they need more “Rocker Chick and Buttercream Boy”. Yes, she actually called me her “Buttercream Boy”!

Now for The Audition Outtakes!

I spent much of my birthday helping to encourage Peggy, and capture things which make her special. She was nervous as can be, as you will see in the video outtakes. These are the goofy pieces we held back from the official audition video. Enjoy!

You may see photos of Peggy’s work in the Mad Eliza’s Cakes and Confections photo gallery or join Mad Eliza’s on Facebook.

Tomorrow, I will share the significance of the coffee and cigarettes, and explain why the best SEO and social media marketing tools are not what you may have been led to believe. Be sure to subscribe to my blog by RSS or email and always be up to date with Murnahany things!