In the wake of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that devastated Haiti Tuesday, the US State Department advises that immediate aid should be in donation form. Travel to Haiti (especially its ravaged capital, Port-au-Prince) is very difficult, so it’s best to donate to groups that are already on the ground working in the region. Even $5 dollars would help greatly. Here is a list (based on USAToday’s) of trusted charitable groups with details on how to give today:
**NOTES: If a site below is overloaded, please try again. The scale of this tragedy has caused millions to respond. Also, those looking for lost relatives in Haiti are advised to call (888) 407-4747, a line set up by the State Department. The official Twitter topic for the Haitian earthquake is #Haiti.
American Red Cross
The Red Cross has already committed $1 million in immediate aid to Haiti. Please join them. The link above leads to their homepage, from where you can donate money, time or blood.
Mercy Corps Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. Donate from the home page of their website by clicking the link above.
UNICEF You can text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts from your mobile phone. The charge will appear on your next phone bill. (I’ve done this myself and have researched that it is safe.) Or, you may click the link above, which allows you to donate specifically to the UNICEF Children’s Fund. Thousands of children have lost loved ones or are facing critical injuries today.
Yele
Musician Wyclef Jean, a native of Haiti, began this group to inspire change in Haiti– promoting education, sports, the arts and environmental responsibility. Either visit their website through the link above, or text “YELE” to 501501 for a $5 contribution.
Please also feel free to add any other charitable groups by Commenting on this entry below. Thank you.
Remember when Google announced that your page’s meta description was no longer used in their search algorithms? Google hasn’t completely changed decision to discount meta descriptions as a ranking factor; however, meta descriptions CAN affect your personalized search results. This change reflects just another Google algorithm update.Last year alone, Google changed their algorithms over 360 times. That’s almost once daily – no surprise.
First off, what exactly is a meta description?
A meta description is a short blurb you see in the search results that describes the web page. While your site’s meta descriptions don’t always show up in search results, they often do. Here is an example from our site:
What is Personalized Search?
Personalized Search is search results which are based on your search history.
You may be thinking, how do meta descriptions and personalized search relate to one another in this instance? Hear me out…. The better the page’s meta description the more likely that the search user will click on your website. When they click through to your site, it’s recorded in their web history. So next time they search for a similar product related to your site, it may appear higher in their search results.
Personalized search once only occurred when you were signed in to your Google account. Now, however, Google will customize your search results based on location and/or recent search activity no matter whether or not you’re logged in.
If one of your New Year’s Resolutions is to get more traffic to your site— take time to review your page meta descriptions and make them as descriptive as possible!
Last week, Upright Communications received great news from Google. Have you, too?
A letter stated that in 2009, thousands viewed the profile of our Cincinnati, OH headquarters in Google Maps. Now, Google Maps considers our main office a solid recommendation for local users. This notice comes at a perfect time, as we are gaining experience in local SEO strategies for our clients.
Once your business achieves “Favorite Place” status, what to do with the enclosed window decal Google sends (shown to the left)? Put it in your storefront window, and announce your business locations to a digital world. This Google-produced video shows why you’ll want to:
In November ‘09, Allison Kulage presented the topic “Is Your SEO in Balance?” for Cincinnati (Ohio) technology community network, The Circuit. Impressed by her expert knowledge and enthusiasm, The Circuit released a subsequent interview with Allison for their January newsletter.
It’s a great article! Allison continues to be a great ambassador of the Upright message. As we continue to publish news of our own press and speaking gigs, we invite readers to share their own ‘timely business happenings’ in the Comments section below. Go ahead – please publicize.
I remember very vividly watching New Years celebrations around the world on December 31, 1999. My extended family was holed up in a mountain cabin in Pigeon Forge, TN. At the time, my Grandpa had gotten me so confused about Y2K that I was thrilled that countries in earlier time zones “had survived.” The fireworks in Shanghai and Sydney were the biggest and most exciting I’d ever seen. Real proof that a post-Y2K world would thrive, together.
Exactly one decade later, I do not feel that same thrilling connection with countries around the world. This has been a decade of global mistrust and multiple wars. And the concept of “21st century globalization” has changed drastically as a result. But business always values progress, and in an industry that represents technology, the excitement of a global community still lives…despite obvious hurdles.
So today I have the news on, and I’m watching New Years celebrations around the world for the first time in 10 years. As I’m watching, I have a great sense of hope. Peace is not always attainable, and dueling perspectives are necessary for change. But we have a new decade on our hands– new goals to reach in close relationship with each other.
In 2010, I hope the world grows a little closer. May 2010 be a successful, ambitious, peace-filled year for each of you. Take care of yourself and those you value and love.
Facebook, with more than 300 million members, amounting to more than 160,000 new users every day, makes it the third most trafficked website on the internet. What better reason to utilize this as a marketing tool.
In order for you to generate the most energy from your customer base, it’s important to follow these important, yet simple steps:
Title the page: When titling your page you want to use your brand name or business name. It’s important to keep your business name consistent as this is what people will use to search for you.
Secure your username: Once you have 25 fans, Facebook allows you to customize your URL (otherwise known as a vanity URL). For example, Upright Communication’s URL: is http://www.facebook.com/walkupright. You want your vanity URL to be unique as well as short.
Size your image: When creating your Business Facebook page, it is very important to upload your logo. The ideal Facebook image size is 200 pixels wide by 600 pixels high.
Customize your tabs: You can create a customized tab that integrates the look and feel of your website onto your Facebook page. Just add the FBML app and paste in the code of the content you would like to have shown. See the highlighted yellow tab below as an example.
Import your blog posts: Utilize your notes tab on your Business Facebook account. You must go into your settings and look for a link that says “Import a Blog”. Just enter in the website of where your link is located and your blog posts will automatically appear on your page.
Talk with your fans: If your fans ask you questions or comment on a photo, be sure to write them back. Whether it’s “Thanks for the comment” or responding to a question- feedback is important.
Write a detailed bio: When writing the “bio” section, be sure to include keyword rich content as well as an uplifting statement about your company. It is also important to include the URL of your company’s website.
According to National Geographic, Americans throw away an extra million tons of garbage each week from Thanksgiving to New Years. Surprising? Probably not, when you think about all the holiday gift wrapping, cards, packaging, paper plates, party decorations, bottles and cans, and personal sanity you throw away every holiday season! Reduce “seasonal seepage” with these green holiday tips:
Recycle Your Tree: Instead of taking up space in a landfill, recycled trees can be ground up into wood chips to be used as mulch. Christmas tree recycling is localized — perform a simple search engine query to find area receptacles. Recycled Christmas trees go to work in conservation projects across the US!
Send e-Cards or Eco-Friendly Cards: Did you receive Upright’s holiday e-card this week? With over 600 recipients and sending 1 card as a group (vs. individually), we calculated savings of 8,000 cubic yards of paper!Electronic cards require no ink or postage costs, and save emissions by avoiding postal shipping.
Party Green: Avoid disposable products when entertaining guests if possible. When disposable plates and napkins are the only option, consider products from recycled materials. Many eco-minded consumers prefer Chinet Paper Plates and Natural Value Luncheon napkins.
Have a holiday greening tip of your own? Comment on this entry to share ideas with our readers. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanzaa this December! May it be a safe and enjoyable time with loved ones…from the Upright Family to yours.
Step 1:
Offer your valuable clients discounts, coupons and even giveaways. As you very well know, the Christmas season tends to get expensive. Earn your clients’ trust and approval by offering them a compelling incentive to keep coming back for more.
Step 2:
Be sure to post a Tweet on Twitter regarding your Holiday Marketing Campaign. Include information like your company’s holiday incentives or information on nonprofits that you’ve donated to. On your company’s Facebook business page, post your favorite holiday jingle and even spruce up your logo to be more festive.
Step 3:
A creative way to produce a professional, festive looking email is to use Constant Contact. Constant Contact allows you to create HTML emails with graphics. In your email include links to you company’s Holiday promotional offers.
Every Santa deserves a little budget relief this year! Whether buying for family, friends, co-workers or charity…it literally pays to shop now, online. Search engine Bing.com has joined forces with hundreds of your favorite e-retailers for the Bing Cashback program. It’s simple – shop at popular retailer websites, and receive a percentage of your purchase back in cash. Participating are stores you love–Barnes & Noble, Kohl’s, Footlocker, and many others offer cashback savings! All details are described below. Enjoy!
Keyword optimization is a vital component in website SEO, allowing search engines to find and rank relevant content for internet users. Increasingly, this effective concept is being utilized in business not only by marketing experts, but also by human resource managers.
With high volumes of job applicants and the benefits of evolving technology, many businesses are discovering that using computer programs to scan resumes is a viable way to increase efficiency in targeting qualified prospects. Instead of reading though stacks of paperwork, human resource personnel are typing keywords into search programs, and letting the software do the initial screening. This means that as an applicant, a job seeker will gain the best advantage by anticipating and focusing on keywords specific to the desired job and industry.
According to CareerPerfect.com, a job search and resume writing services website, the keywords that are most effective typically include: job titles, skills and responsibilities, education or certification, as well as acronyms and industry terminology. The website provides suggestions for employing the keyword strategy including easy steps to creating a Keyword Resume.
If you are one of the many job seekers out there looking for an advantage in a highly competitive arena, resume keyword optimization may be the edge you need. For more on the subject of job hunting and how technology can help, see Allison’s previous blog post about using social media to get a job.
