MarkWhittaker.com

In the last couple of months, friends have asked me to review new Internet marketing websites they’ve built and offer advice. I look at design, search optimization and content. Probably because of my journalism experience, I tend to notice language problems first.

I’m always surprised when folks don’t realize their writing is um, murky. Their content is muddied with misspelled words, grammatical errors and awkward sentences. As a result, whatever their message, it’s not getting across to the reader. When your message is muddled, it tarnishes great search optimization, brilliant design and all the other good work that goes into marketing a product on the Internet.

Granted, I can be rightfully accused of being a language curmudgeon, but I don’t mean to be stodgy. The rules of good writing, grammar and spelling are meant to foster good, clear communication. In a way, they’re like the conventions of good Web design, graphic design or filmmaking. Follow certain standards, and it’s likely that more people will clearly and quickly understand your message. Yes, rules can be bent or broken, but only when it improves the communication of the message.

Here’s a sentence I stumbled over while reviewing a site for one of my classmates in a University of San Francisco Internet marketing course: (continue reading…)

A vacation rental company in North Myrtle Beach, SC, is taking a stab at using Facebook for Internet marketing and is giving away a free, seven-day rental to the “friend” who convinces the most of their friends to “like” the company.

The company, Condo-World Resort Properties, has established a Facebook page.

I’m taking a vacation soon and am renting a condo through Condo-World, so that’s how I stumbled onto its Facebook presence. In mid-May, Condo-World began running the contest. True to good Internet marketing practice, it’s offering a give-away in exchange for information. They’ve asked all of their existing friends (now known as people who “like” your business or cause), to encourage their friends to “like” Condo-World.

The contest, which is nearly over, seems to have attracted some interest, but it’s hard to tell how much. The weakest link is that there is really no incentive for my friends to “like” Condo-World, so I haven’t even asked. But, it’s one of many approaches businesses are taking to try to collect information and reach prospective clients and customers.

So far, my experience in dealing with Condo-World has been smooth. I’ll let you know more after we’ve checked in and spent a few days in SC!

I’ve learned a few new things about Twitter in the last few weeks: If you follow the right people, more people will start to follow you. It’s also become apparent that a number of folks who “follow” me (@mwhit14) are doing a version of Internet marketing, hoping that I’ll return the favor and maybe even visit their websites.

There are two basic ways to use Twitter. One is to send messages (tweets). The other is to follow other people’s tweets in hopes of learning something, being entertained or finding a bargain. So far, I’m not much of a tweeter. Since I opened my account May 1, 2008, I’ve sent just 55 messages, or updates.

However, I’m an avid follower. I check my Twitter feed several times a day to see what people are talking about and to discover links to articles of interest. I follow people I respect in the news and online advertising industries like Steve Yelvington (@yelvington), Vin Crosbie (@vincrosbie) and Kathy Schwartz (@kathyschwartz). I follow some friends and colleagues, and I get news or info from David Pogue of the NY Times (@pogue) and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat writer at the Post-Gazette (@dejan_kovacevic).

A few weeks ago I started following Jay Berkowitz (@JayBerkowitz), who is the lead instructor for an Internet marketing class I’m taking through the University of San Francisco. Jay is an Internet marketing expert and CEO of Ten Golden Rules, a consulting and marketing company. For comparison, Jay has 5,440 Twitter followers and follows 2,269 folks.

Almost the moment after I began following Jay, I began receiving notifications of people starting to follow me. Most of them are Internet marketers or consultants. I’m sure they’re hoping I will return the favor by following them, thus adding to their own cadre of followers. The more followers you have, the more traffic you are likely to have to your website. And, if you’re selling something on your site, more traffic can lead to more sales.

After a quick search, I found one site, TwitterGrid, that show’s you who’s following who on Twitter. And there’s probably some software somewhere that helps folks identify the newest followers of a particular tweeter.

I admit I haven’t returned the favor to all of my new Internet marketing followers, but I have added some. I may even have time to visit their sites now and then. And, by the way, I’ll be tweeting a link to this column. Visit me!