The Buyer Group PR + SEO News

1. Identify your top three keyword phrases – know what your audience is searching for.
2. Confused about the keyword density in your press release? When in doubt, use an optimization tool like Newsforce.
3. Submit online press releases via an optimized wire service such as PRWeb, BusinessWire or Marketwire.
4. Link your press releases to a video of related content produced by you on a client-specific YouTube channel. This generates link building. YouTube shows up on the first page of Goggle results.
5. If applicable, list all of your company locations on Yelp, the social reviewing directory site.
6. Provide your social networking information on press releases when possible and appropriate.
7. Announce press releases and important events to LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter groups.
8. Link your keyword phrases to specific landing pages of client or internal Web sites.
9. Correctly define your online PR opportunity: Who are you trying to reach? Consumers? Media? Both?
10. Don’t underestimate the blogosphere. Seventy percent of reporters check a blog list on a regular basis.
11. Utilize the online newsroom. If you or your client doesn’t have one, make one. Fifty percent of reporters check a corporate Web site or online newsroom for story ideas at least once a week.
12. Keep your Facebook, LinkedIn and other social networking pages up to date and check them often. This is an important way journalists find sources and contacts.
13. Utilize directory submissions to improve linking strategies.
14. Email pitch letters and releases to the media, its timely and effective – and doesn’t waist paper.
15. Be wary of over-optimization. There is a fine line between optimized and over-utilization of keywords. Over-optimized press releases are not end-user-friendly and are less likely to be read.
16. For very important and timely information, use Newsforce (paid placement PR). This guarantees top-tier placement of your release on major news sites.
17. Newsforce is excellent but natural optimization is always better – using optimized press releases guarantees your news will be present in natural search results.
18. Use Google alerts to stay on top of client mentions in the online press.
19. Client blogs are a great idea. Just don’t try to “sell” readers on your client. Keep posts interesting, trendy and timely.
20. Stay current. Interactive PR is constantly changing. Read, listen, and learn about new innovations and how to best utilize them for your clients.

Topics Include the Power of Search and Using Online PR to Grow Web Traffic

Deerfield Beach, FL – November 10, 2008 – Using online PR to increase Web traffic for businesses is as easy as three letters: S-E-O. Search engine optimization not only increases the likelihood of web site visits and page rank but also generates quality leads and conversions.

Florida online public relations agency CEO, Lisa Buyer, is speaking at PubCon, the annual conference for web writers and developers in Las Vegas, Nevada. As part of a panel on growing web traffic through online PR, Lisa’s presentation will focus on how effective PR campaigns offer a great way to achieve targeted Web site traffic through search engine optimization and other tools.

“In today’s economy, utilizing all tools possible to reach key audiences is extremely important,” said Buyer. “Online PR campaigns are an effective way for businesses to improve online visibility for lead generation. With that, PR professionals can’t lose sight of the journalist or news bloggers searching for relevant story sources, another great way to generate quality business leads.”

Buyer will be sharing the results of a media focus group asking top tier media including news bloggers about their perspective of online press releases and how they use online search.

“I will be in good company sharing the panel with online PR industry experts Joe Beaulaurier of PRWeb and CamcorderInfo.com Founder, Robin Liss,” said Buyer.

The Buyer Group is a member of Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization, South Florida Interactive Marketing Association, Agency Management Roundtable, and is recognized as a Google Advertising Professional Company.

For more information about The Buyer Group and its interactive public relations and branding services visit http://www.thebuyergroup.com or call Lisa Buyer at 954.354.1411.

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Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/in/lisabuyer

Will Obama implement the same groundswell tactics that aided him to victory in his government? Josh Bernoff, social media expert and author of New York Times Bestseller, “Groundswell” seems to think so…

Bernoff is a Forrester Research analyst and blogger who calls on Obama to create “a community of committed Americans to discuss the solutions to the problems that face us.”

After the stunning Internet strategy Obama used to secure the presidency, harnessing the groundswell to govern is certainly a logical next step. Obama’s revolutionary social networking site, mybarackobama.com (MyBo), engaged hundreds of thousands of voters and supporters in an unprecedented fashion. Designed by Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes, MyBo’s contribution is described as “maximizing group collaboration, while acting as a gateway for millions of ordinary Americans to participate in the political process.”

MyBo was just one factor in Obama’s groundswell efforts. Through the use of social networking sites including Facebook pages and Twitter updates, Obama was able to rise above the press in a proactive way. By giving supporters and “naysayers” alike, direct access to his campaign via the Web, Obama achieved online PR goal “numero uno”: Positive messaging given directly to the target audience, no message clutter in sight.

Now that’s good PR.

*UPDATE!* 10.7.08: It seems we were correct in our assessment of President-Elect Obama’s commitment to harnessing the groundswell to help him govern a new America. Visit www.change.gov to see social media in action, changing the government one blog at a time. Also, guess who’s the most popular Twitter user? Yes, President Obama.