You don’t have to spend large amounts of money for online publicity. By utilizing free press release services, you save your company marketing dollars, time and energy. Free press release services are a great promotional tool - another dynamic way to brand and promote your company, products and services.  These services hit regional, national and international audiences.

Benefits of Online Press Releases

• Increases traffic to websites and blogs
• Boosts search engine rankings and backlinks (when keywords are used)
• Builds/strengthens branding
• Inexpensive marketing tool (especially if you use free press release services!)
• Enhances credibility and trust within your field
• Captures large, diverse audiences - media outlets, online publishers and search engine users
• Increases sales and bottom line profit
• Builds strong relationships with media outlets and online publishers

The Basics of Press Release Content
Before you submit to a free press release service, you need to understand the basics of press release writing. A press release is a written announcement about companies, events, products and services that are targeted to media outlets.  A press release is basically a “pseudo” news article and needs to follow a specific format. It’s important to review the formatting criteria before you submit to free press release services – each site is different.

• Don’t advertise! That’s the biggest mistake you could make. If your press release sounds like you are selling a product or service, online media outlets and online publishers will ignore your release. PROMOTE but don’t sell!
• Use the Five Ws – Who, What, Where, When and Why Make sure you answer the Five Ws in the beginning of your press release– this concept is used in news writing.
• Make your headline POP – Make headlines compelling to instantly generate interest and makes readers want to know more!
• HOOK your readers – Grab their attention in the first paragraph and think of a unique angle. How can you make your press release NEWS worthy? Ask yourself WHY would a media contact want to write or talk about your event, product or service? What sets you apart from other companies in your industry?
• Just the FACTS! Stick to basic facts. Lose the big words and write at a level your audience understands. Use correct grammar and keep paragraphs short.
• Use keywords and links sparingly– Optimize press releases by using targeted keywords and links but don’t overstuff or your release will get booted from search engines.
• Add photos and logos – Paint a picture in the journalist’s or reader’s mind with a photo and your company’s logo – this adds a compelling element to your press release. Don’t go overboard with visual elements but photos can also add credibility to your press release.
• Include contact information (emails, bios, URLS, etc.) – This sounds simple but many companies forget to include basic contact information with press releases

Check out the following FREE press release services:
•    PRLog
•    PRFree
•    Free Press Release
•    24-7 Press Release
•    1888 PressRelease
•    AddPR
•    FreePressIndex
•    PageRelease
•    iNewswire
•    TechPRSpider (hi-tech industry)
•    MediaSyndicate
•    PressAbout
•    PressReleasePoint
•    FreePressReleaseCenter
•    PR.com

Here are four of the latest articles I’ve written for Startup Nation, Blogtrepreneur, PartnerUp and Biznik.

• Forum Posting: The Internet Marketing Underdog

• Save Your Marketing Pennies - Five FREE Online Promotional Resources

• Marketing Through Twitter – Using Twitter to Generate Buzz About Your Business

• Increase Your CTR: How to Write Enticing Page Titles and Meta Descriptions

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Duplicate content has become a hot issue in the SEO world and it can cause big problems for sites. Don’t be a duplicate content offender - use these best SEO practices to avoid duplication issues.

It’s very likely that another website could be passing off your content as their own, and you may not even know it!  As a result, your site could be penalized as the violator for duplicated content and not picked up as the “original” expert source.

The worst thing that can happen is that your site is dropped from high-ranking search engines such as Google. Other issues: traffic dramatically decreases, ranks wrong page versions (page 2 instead of page 1), and low ranking for newly-launched sites.

Duplicate content is broken down into two categories: external and internal.

External

• Tricky “scrapper” sites troll the Internet searching sites for fresh content. They swipe YOUR content and pass it off as their original content. Your site gets banned because your site is recognized in search engines as duplicated content.
• If you find out that your content is used without permission, contact the webmaster and ask them to remove your content immediately.
• If you run into a webmaster that doesn’t budge, contact the search engine directly to report the duplicated content.

Internal

• Sites that sell products sometimes run into duplicated content issues, especially if they include multiple product descriptions on their web pages.
• Blogs are often notorious for duplicate content – this happens when identical content shows up on both the direct post URL and home page.

How Can You Check For Duplicate Content?

These free SEO tools can easily check sites for duplication issues.

• Copyscape – Searches for duplicated/plagiarized content
• Xenu – Scans site links and searches for identical URL titles
• Google Webmaster tools – Reports duplicate meta descriptions and titles

These tools check the following areas:

• Google cache
• 404 header response
• PR (PageRank) dispersion
• Default pages and similarity
• WWW and Non-WWW Headers

Take proactive steps to ensure your content isn’t duplicated

• Avoid empty web pages (placeholders) whenever possible
• Minimize similar content – merge similar pages or create unique content for each page
• Keep internal linking consistent
• Use only top-notch domains that are country-specific
• Carefully review webmaster guidelines (under Google Webmaster Tools)
• Understand how content is displayed (especially sites that show the same content on different pages such as forums and blogs)

How To Handle Illegal Copyright Issues
If webmasters or search engines don’t remove your plagiarized content from other sites, contact the web hosting company or domain registration company. If they host illegal copyrighted material, they violate their Terms of Service and DMCA regulations and could get into trouble.

These companies can’t take that risk, so they will usually pull off the plagiarized content immediately. In severe abuse cases with content violations, the owner of the copyrighted material/website can take action with the hosting or domain registration company to shut down the site permanently. You can’t afford to have your website shut down so don’t be a duplicate content offender!

When you catch a fish, you use bait. You cast your line into the water hoping the fish will grab your bait so you can reel it in.  Like fishing, linkbaiting uses the same strategy. You need a hook to capture your audience.  Linkbaiting helps visitors find your site through a variety of avenues– websites, blogs, social networking sites, instant messages and emails.

Linkbaiting is a SEO (search engine optimization) technique that can help you achieve big marketing results. The concept may sound complex but it’s easier than you think. You just need to know how to implement linkbaiting so it works correctly. The ultimate goal is to attract a lot of visitors and backlinks to your website.

Another way to utilize linkbaiting is through social bookmarking. For example, by tagging content in Digg you expose your content to more online users. As a result more visitors are likely to read your articles, follow your website and/or tag it.

Some tricks to keep in mind are to keep headlines short and don’t make the subject headers vague. These are the five common “hooks” attributed to linkbaiting:

1. News – Newsworthy information will always draw visitors. Be an expert in your field and offer the latest scoop first. Controversy wins every time – expose a fraudulent story related to your niche and it’ll spread like wildfire on the Internet.
2. Contrary – This hook can be a bit tricky, but if you know your subject well enough you can pull it off. Take an opposing viewpoint against a fellow competitor. Debate a hot topic in an industry-specific forum. Think outside the box!
3. Resource – The resource hook offers condensed information (such as reports) in an easy-to-read format. Offer comprehensive guides and tools in your niche that benefit readers. Write a unique Top 10 List that would benefit your specific industry.
4. Humor – Humor is a great way to grab a reader’s attention. Funny stories, videos or quirky pictures will draw in traffic. Post funny jokes but keep them clean (so you don’t offend readers).
5. Attack – This hook is controversial and there is both good and bad associated with this particular style of linkbaiting. It takes the contrary hook one step further. This hook could be more harmful than good so proceed with caution. Remember to respect boundaries and don’t take it too far. You could receive negative attention and hurt your reputation, especially if you attack a well-known expert in your niche.

Don’t take after the D-Lister public relations practitioner with his bad Twitter netiquette. He angered his Fed Ex client with his negative tweet about Memphis, Fed Ex’s home location. As a result, the PR agency lost Fed Ex as their client.

Unfortunately, Fed Ex was one of their highest paying clients—ouch! Mr. Slap-on-the-Hand Tweeter learned a hard lesson about proper netiquette and also lost his job in the process. Here are some simple rules to follow so you aren’t downgraded to the social networking D-List:

Think Before You Tweet: Employers and potential clients can easily research your social networking posts online. Before you write, think about exactly what you’re writing.  Always promote yourself in a professional, positive manner. Even a harmless comment could read negatively to clients or employers. Words can sometimes get lost in translation in cyber world.

Social Networking Isn’t JUST for Advertising Products and Services: If your company or business has the mentality that social networking sites are JUST for advertising, it’s time to re-think your marketing strategy. Instead of blasting out “2 for 1” messages, you need to offer value to customers.  First build a personal relationship with contacts.  Tailor your posts to promote a value-packed message: 90% information mixed with 10% advertisement.

Do NOT Blast Customers with Hourly Promotions: If you don’t want to be blocked or reported as the Super Spammer, remember that value wins over click-happy, hourly promotions. The rule of thumb is to keep your promotions to a minimum – at least once a week. If you’ve established a strong relationship with contacts, you can bump up posts to twice per week.

Add Group Postings in Moderation: If you belong to a group, don’t blast groups or forums with posts. This could be seen as spamming and you will probably get booted out of the group. Develop a rapport with fellow group members and figure out their interests, likes and dislikes.

Don’t Add Friends Just Because You Want to Look Popular: Don’t add just “anyone” to your Facebook or Twitter because you want to impress others with your huge friends list. Remember quality wins over quantity. Carefully consider who you want on your contact list. Don’t ruin your well-respected reputation by adding people who are a poor reflection upon you and your company’s ethics. It’s acceptable to decline friend requests from people you don’t know very well or have never met.

Follow these simple netiquette rules and you’ll be successful as an A-list social networking guru in no time!

It’s the end of the day and you’ve been hit with writer’s block. You are wracking your brain for exciting, unique content for your blog. Writing fresh content is not as difficult as you think. Articles are easy to write when you have a winning strategy right at your fingertips.

Target your markets. Think about your online audiences who visit your website or blog. Your articles need to capture and hold their interest. Unique content needs to educate and inform your readers, and keep them coming back for more articles.

Define your niche. Don’t write about generic topics. You need to hit your niche with your articles. For example, if you own a sporting goods store and want to sell more running shoes online, don’t write content about running shoes. The topic is too broad. You need a unique perspective such as the health benefits of running or how to choose the proper running shoe for your stride. Angle your article to fit your specific niche.

Keep up with industry trends and news. Read daily industry news and be “in the know.” Unique content needs to be fresh and timely which makes you look like an expert in the eyes of your readers. Don’t regurgitate information that can be found on The New York Times website.

Write on a regular basis. In order to keep those creative juices flowing, it helps to write on a regular basis.  If you write a blog, write consistently and keep a journal or notebook on hand. Jot down notes and ideas as they come to you throughout the day. This will help you create new, interesting topics.

Don’t compare yourself to other writers or industry experts. Each writer has their own style of writing.  It will only hurt your creative process by comparing yourself to others. It’s helpful to research blogs, ezines and websites for ideas, but don’t copy another writer’s style. The key to branding yourself as a content writer is to find your own style and stick with it.

Don’t duplicate content. Do not steal or copy information from online or offline sources.  It’s acceptable to directly quote information, but copying word-for-word is plagiarism and is illegal. If you summarize content from another website and stick it on your site, you are basically duplicating information. As a result, your site will lose search engine rankings. Unique content bumps you higher on search engines.

Keep your writing simple. Don’t confuse your readers with jargon and complicated language. Write in a breezy, conversational style. It’s okay to bend some of the rigid grammar rules when you write web content; however, it’s still recommended to edit and use spell check.  Implement this editing trick: print out your article and circle mistakes with a red pen. When you review a hard copy, it’s easier to find errors.

Link building is a common internet marketing tool – you get other websites to link back to your website. Not only does it increase quality traffic to your site, but it can also dramatically bump up your SEO rankings.

This “off page” technique has become more popular and very important in the SEO realm. Search engines won’t recognize fluffy, useless links and this outdated trick will get you quickly booted out of the search engines.

Before you tackle these awesome link building strategies, remember that visitors aren’t going to link back to your site if they don’t receive a benefit. What can you offer them? How can you get them to take action? If you keep those questions in mind, you’ll be a huge success with link building and drawing more traffic to your sites.

Directory listings – The best way to begin link building is to submit your websites and blogs to directory listings. Don’t just submit to any directory. Submit to niche-specific listings since this allows you to target your markets more accurately. Free listings: ODP and Search Engine Guide

Social Networking sites – Use catchy headlines and add keywords in your headlines and profiles when you post content. Check out the following social networking sites: Reddit, Delicious, Fark, and StumbleUpon

Discussion forums: Another great way to market your site or blog is to interact in online discussion forums. Post to forums that target your niche. Make sure to include your URL in your signature line.

Article Directories: If you’re an expert in your field, you need to submit content to article directories. When you share useful content with visitors, they will highly benefit from this FREE, helpful information. This will generate a stronger marketing branding and always include your URL in signatures and company bios.

Online Press Release Services: Another easy way to link to your site is through press releases. Include your URL throughout the press release and also in your company bio.

Blogs: Create your own blog and post helpful content. Link back to other blogs in your niche – you’d be surprised at the traffic you’ll generate. Submit to blog directories: Best of the Web Blog Directory

Multiple sites: If your company has multiple blogs or websites, make sure to link to the main site.

Guest Comments: Use your expertise to your advantage by posting guest comments to other blogs in your niche. Remember to include your URLs.

Quality Outgoing Links: Be known as a resource in your field and people will take notice of your outgoing links on your site (i.e. industry news, professional groups, etc) This helps generate high PR because you will draw quality traffic to your site.

Contests: Generate incentive by offering a links contest – whoever links back to your website or blog wins a prize.

Affiliate programs: Affiliate marketing programs can effectively promote your links.

Lists:  Look like an authority in your niche. Another trick is to create a resource list of experts and gurus in your industry. As a thank you, these experts will probably appreciate being named and will link back to your site.

Q&A Sites: Utilize Yahoo!Answers and other Q&A sites. These sites allow you to add URLs. Be an expert and answer questions in your field of expertise.

Local Resources: Tap into local resources. Submit your link to your local Chamber of Commerce, professional trade organizations, and the local library. Leverage links with clients and vendors (non-competitors in your niche).

Your company just spent thousands on a new website design. You crafted the perfect blend of search engine optimization and pay-per-click advertising – what happened to your sales? Where did you go wrong?

The explanation is simple: you forgot to include a call to action or your call to action is weak. As visitors scroll down to the bottom of your homepage, they don’t have any idea what to do next or where to click. Say good-bye to potential sales as lost customers vanish into cyberspace.

A “call to action” is an advertising concept that requests or directs a consumer to take that next step to purchase products or services.  You might request visitors to fill out a form or call you for a free consultation.  The biggest mistake with a call to action is thinking that visitors KNOW what’s expected of them – they don’t.

Think of calls to action as an answer to your website visitor’s question: “Ok, I like this site and I’ve had fun visiting – what do I do next?”  It’s up to you to invite them to take the next step.

You could have the most dynamic, persuasive copy scattered throughout your site, but that still won’t motivate visitors to sign up for your newsletter or call you. You need that call to action right there – front and center!

What if you include calls to action on your site but no one is taking ACTION? Calls to action can be creative and catchy, but don’t go overboard with confusing language – keep it simple and direct.

Bad example: Click here! This is a bland “no-action” statement.  No offer is included and it doesn’t entice your readers to take that next step.

Good example: Call Us Today or a FREE Home Inspection! This call to action specifically states the reason WHY you want visitors to take action and what they get in return – they will receive a free home inspection.

Place the call to action on every website page. On the homepage, the call to action needs to stand out and should be placed high (in the central column of the page).

Your call to action really depends on your marketing goals. Do you want more sign-ups for your newsletter? Do you want more people to purchase your newly released DVD?  These simple tips can help you create a dynamic call to action:

• Underline or link keywords to make the offer stand out - Sign Up for Our Newsletter and Receive Tips on How to Reduce Your Energy Bill this Summer!
• Offer an incentive such as a free product or discount to encourage visitors to take that next step: Donate Today to The Make-A-Wish Foundation and Receive a FREE T-Shirt!
• Use active words and urgent phrases such as: register, subscribe, buy and “for a limited time only.”

Just when you think you’ve finally mastered how to blast out tweets on your own, HootSuite comes along and takes Twitter to a faster, advanced level.  HootSuite is Twitter’s mega-toolbox that makes using Twitter simple and easy.

HootSuite takes the guess work out of your Twitter experience and will make you a Twitter guru in no time. You don’t have to keep logging into separate accounts anymore, which can be a big hassle when you don’t have time to spare.  HootSuite saves you time by allowing you to add multiple Twitter profiles at once.

With HootSuite, you can also update multiple accounts, add editors (for more than one tweeter), and schedule tweets in advance. This is a great marketing and branding strategy for your company. You can plan out your Twitter campaign BEFORE you tweet.  The toolbox allows you to post “live” updates directly from the Dashboard. Updates show up on your Twitter profiles for fellow tweeters to view – it’s just that easy and SAVES you time throughout your busy day.

Once you’ve set up your account and add your Twitter profiles, HootSuite practically navigates itself. Another convenience is its easy-to-use bookmarking toolbar, Hootlet. Just drag the icon to your toolbar and you’re ready to “hoot.” The bookmarking toolbar allows you to click on a website, create a tweet, and post a URL (automatically shortens with ow.ly). You can either post the tweet “live” or send the tweet later.

If you want to measure the success and ranking of your tweets, the Stats tab allows you track clicks.  If you want to measure your statistics, remember to add the owl.y URL shortener or clicks won’t be tracked. Individual tweet data is also available (by date range).

HootSuite incorporates standard Twitter functions into its toolbox feature including: DMs (direct messages), replies and search.  Additional time-saving tricks include:

• Send DMs (direct messages) in tweet box - write ‘d username’ or ‘dm username’ in front of your tweet
• Sort tweets by tweet date, date created or by author.
• Use the “Shrink it” feature to shorten long URLs.
• Automates with the “Save it for later” feature – select date and time for when you want tweets sent. Allows you to choose email alerts after they are posted.
• Post multiple updates to different Twitter accounts at once
• Allows RSS feeds which delivers unique, updated content
• Automatically saves searches so you can go back and find past searches

Social networking is the latest buzz word when it comes to online marketing. However, you may have overlooked an even more powerful tool to add to your promotional arsenal: niche social networking. Social networking sites target mass audiences which is helpful when you want to appeal to a LOT of people at the same time.  Niche social networking allows your company to really focus and target markets specific to your industry.

Before you take the social marketing world by storm, spend some time researching niche social network sites. You will waste time and energy if you ONLY blast marketing messages to big social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace.  Think about your demographics – WHO will actually benefit from the services and products you promote on niche social networks?

The following sites can be helpful networking tools for your company and industry:

ActiveRain– Specifically focused on the real estate industry, this site connects real estate agents and brokers.

BallHype – Sports buffs can find the latest sports news, videos and weekly highlights.

BuzzFlash – For political junkies, this progressive news site allows readers to submit their favorite political-based stories and members vote on favorite stories.

CafeMom – Geared towards moms, CaféMom allows moms and soon-to-be moms to share parenting tips and advice.

Care2 – This niche site is dedicated to an earth-friendly audience. People can interact with others who live the “green” lifestyle.

Closet Couture – For fashionistas, this site hits the mark with the fashion world, stylists and clothing retailers.

Daytipper – Daytipper allows members to share their expertise including favorite practical tips that make every day life easier.

Dealigg – Bargain hunters can browse the latest bargains, coupons and deals on the Internet. Members can also post their hot deals on the site.

Design Float – Web and graphic designer submit industry news and vote on popular stories.  The site is broken down into specific categories ranging from digital art to identity and branding.

DNHour – This site features popular domaining news and stories.

Dogster – For dog lovers, this niche social networking site addresses everything you wanted to know about dogs from care to how to find a dog. Connect easily with other dog owners and breeders.
Members participate by submitting a favorite sports story.

Sermo – A site dedicated to medical doctors. Physicians share clinical discussions, and collaborate on opinions for new medications and treatments.

ShowHype – For celebrity fans, members post and share the latest Hollywood gossip and news.

Snooth – For vino lovers, this site is all about wine targeted to both experts and beginner wine connoisseurs.

TeamSugar – A great place for women to connect - share fashion and beauty tips, swap recipes and write daily blogs.

Tip’d – This community is geared towards financial news and insider tips. The site is broken down into specific categories such as business, stocks and personal finance.