Who or what influences your decisions?

Who do you trust online? Is it brands, your friends, members of your community? Who influences you in what you buy, endorse, follow or like?

Would you prefer to be guided by a search engine algorithm from Google or by a friends 'Like' on Facebook or a 'Follow' on Google+?
Most of us now use community or consumer sites in one way or another, whether that's to check on hotel reviews via Trip Adviser, or simply using YouTube to check out the latest 'choon' from a band playing at a local venue. Other peoples' comments already influence our decision making process in one way or another.

In our increasingly lazy society do you think that video is going to outweigh our capacity to actually read online? Would you sooner watch a video to tell you about the latest innovation in digital cameras, or read a 3,000 word article? If brands get it right, video can convey a must buy, a not-to-be-missed opportunity, or even a life-style choice – you simply just have to connect with the viewer.

Let's face it most people only have time to read simple sound bites or chunks of information. We read the news online in summary form rather than buying a tabloid. Most people can only be bothered to write in 'txt spk' rather than formulate a full sentence in any media, let alone text messaging.

How much do you think video is going to influence our daily lives, our choices and our endorsements? Personally I strongly believe in the power of the visual and interactive engagement through video. In fact the CEO of YouTube recently claimed that 90% of all Internet traffic will be video in less than 5 years’ time. We are already seeing brands becoming more aware of this, by placing advertising at the beginning of music videos and film trailers. They can already see a benefit in this type of interaction.

However, this will largely be dependent on the rollout of strong Wi-Fi and broadband connections. The use of mobile and tablets will increase, leaving the use of laptops and PCs behind. So the demand for on the move video and TV streaming will become more relevant.

At the end of the day, people still sell to people. It is about making brands more human and engaging with their audience by using video and clever online interactivity. The continued use of personalisation through digital marketing will enable much more connection.

Sadly we are living in an increasingly listless age and although video will be an important influencing factor in marketing in the future, I do wonder if we will suffer as a result? Will we somehow lose the human touch and become more isolated in our virtual worlds? Let's hope not.

I came across this really great article today on The Guardian website - 'The role of social media in community building and development' It explores how despite the increasing importance of social networks, community development needs to take place both on and offline.

I saw a talk from a guy who worked for Amnesty International a few months ago and he cited the exact same argument; that we can all get carried away with technology, but remember we shouldn't alienate those who don't have access to it.

We still need to interact, talk and get to know each other away from our laptops, tablets and mobiles. Actual human contact is just as import as the having 500+ friends, or followers on Facebook and Twitter.

Your phone is now your wallet... According to Google

This week Google has launched it's latest venture 'Google Wallet'. The app that makes your phone your wallet.

Checkout the promo video giving further details on the launch and the Google Wallet service:



Google has been testing this product extensively since May, but currently only select users will be able to use Google Wallet to make payments. At the moment Google’s product has only one compatible device (The Nexus S 45) and one credit card that connects with the app (Citi MasterCard).

So if you're not running on the above at the moment, then, Google has said that they would be making a Google prepaid card available for use with Google Wallet. Users can fill this card by using any other standard credit card. According to the Google Blog post announcing the launch, “Visa, Discover and American Express have made available their NFC specifications that could enable their cards to be added to future versions of Google Wallet.”

I have concerns for security, battery outage and privacy / hacking issues, but hey there's still credit card fraud and tricksters now, so whether you pay by phone or payment card there are still risks either way.

Let's see how well the launch goes.

Ever wondered why you're not reaching the dizzy heights of the first page of Google?

You can develop the most stunning and attractive business website of all your competitors. You can employ the best usability experts, professional photographers and web developers money can buy. However, if you're business isn’t on the first or second page of Google, then really you may as well go into hiding!

Unfortunately, consumers and business peoples attention span is zero these days. Expectancy is for immediate, quick and relevant results. If people can't get what they want within a few minutes of looking, mainly because we're too busy or lazy to keep going, they simply go elsewhere. It's not that search engine users don't value what your website has to offer, it's just that if you're not on the first or second page of Google, then users can't be bothered to delve any deeper.


Nearly 53% of us change our search terms, and/or search engine after not finding our prefered result on the first page and only aorund 10% of us actually bother going past the third page.

So you need to think about your website as your shop-window to your business. Like any shop-window you want to have the most attractive on the high-street. Your aim is to catch the eye of passing visitors and entice them into your store. It's the same principal with any website, you need to get yourself noticed ahead of your competitors on the Web.

Get thinking about how you can create that attraction. With the help of some good search engine optimisation (SEO), you can start to embellish your shop-window to enhance your visibility in search engines.

Some things you can start looking at are:

• Keyword Research - keyword research and competitor review analysis - think about how will people find your website?
• Content Optimisation - review your web website content. Does it include the words people will include in a search?
• Current Ranking - benchmark your website to view your current search engine position.
• Website Compliance - does your website comply with accessibility and coding standards?
• Search Engine Submissions - create major search engine accounts and manually submit your website, including a site map and robots.txt file.

But these are just for starters and that's why we include all of the above methods in our Oxford Web SEO 3-month SEO Starter Package.  We recommend this to anyone who is actively seeking better search engine ranking results for their website. 

Our SEO starter package is a good foundation for getting better search engine results for your website. Although there’s no secret formula to getting your site on the first page of Google, we aim to improve the quality of your website through a variety of SEO services.


You need to begin polishing your shop-window now if you want to get ahead of your competitiors and start appearing on that first page of Google.

Tarset Epic Design: Tools to measure your social media activities: #1 ...

Tarset Epic Design: Tools to measure your social media activities: #1 ...: Social networking to promote your online presence can at times feel like a thankless task. If you're using Twitter , Facebook , Google+ or ...

Are we no longer in control of our online destiny?

A recent article in The Observer on Sunday, reviewed the latest book by Eli Pariser, about his ever increasing fears of the manipulation of the Internet, specially Google and Facebook about the perdetermined choices that they continue to make for us - http://bit.ly/lkPwED

In his book 'The Filter Bubble' he explains how, "An invisible revolution has taken place is the way we use the net, but the increasing personalisation of information by search engines such as Google threatens to limit our access to information and enclose us in a self-reinforcing world view..."

It's certainly true that since th roll out of the Google serach enhancements that I feel myself being narrowed by the choices that Goole is making for me, based on assumption, previous searching and other online behaviour. Infact, Facebook is just as much in control, by the types of adverts I'm delivered, or the personalised views of friends news feeds. Surely, it should be my choice? It's just like having some pushy salesperson trying to sell you a product you know you really don't want, but in the end you just go along with it anyway.

And I guess that's the issue, do we just go along with this? We can't deny that the Internet plays a huge part in our lives now, but do we really want it to run and dictate our choices, what we do and not let us see the bigger picture. As Pariser says, I think that this does have repurcussions not now on a personal basis, but how this will effect our understanding of what all this means for our politics, our culture and our future.

I think this will be a very interesting read.

Happy Birthday to The Athena Network North Oxford

I really enjoy my monthly meetings with all of the ladies from Athena Network North Oxford. It's a great opportunity to make new business contacts in both a friendly and professional environment. Yesterday's meeting was no exception as it was the Group's 2nd Birthday, celebrated in 'pink' style.

This group of keen networkers meets at The Oxford Centre in Summertown and attracts businesswomen from a wide range of professions from Accountant to Change Agent to Pilates Coach and just about everything in between.

Being part of the Group enables me to evangelise about web marketing and SEO, as well as get to know a wide range of women professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds and businesses. In September I'll be looking forward to running a workshop for the group, looking at the question of 'So you want to appear on the first page of Google'...