CorporateSEM.com

My good friend and colleague, Steve Wiideman announced the launch of  CorporateSEM.com, a search engine marketing service based in Calabasas, California. I don’t have to tell you how big of a role both SEO and SEM play in every sized business’s online presence.

From the announcement:

“The value proposition isn’t simply having the best resources on the project and delivering on time, it’s having an open communication channel and providing a service as though we were a partner, not a vendor. Performance results and communication play a vital role in our success and client relationships.” says Wiideman.

Visit the website, www.CorporateSEM.com to learn more.

Microsoft to buy FAST…

The WSJ reported that Microsoft is buying  FAST (subject to shareholder approval) in a deal reportedly worth $1.2 billion. FAST currently offers “enterprise search” products, a Pay Per Click platform, and mobile search functions. In short, FAST is the search company’s search provider. Endeca, Autonomy are just some that compete with FAST .

From the Microsoft press release:

“Enterprise search is becoming an indispensable tool to businesses of all sizes, helping people find, use and share critical business information quickly,” said Jeff Raikes, president of the Microsoft Business Division. “Until now organizations have been forced to choose between powerful, high-end search technologies or more mainstream, infrastructure solutions. The combination of Microsoft and FAST gives customers a new choice: a single vendor with solutions that span the full range of customer needs.”

FAST clients include YellowPages.com, Virgilio, Washington Post, Financial Times, CareerBuilder, and InfoSpace (acquired by Motricity) mobile division.

Microsoft interest: PPC advertising, search, Mobile, and maybe some new B2B relations.

Want more traffic?…Search Engine’s are the answer

Inc magazine publishes some great “How To” Guides covering the world of online marketing. Overall, online marketing, as confusing as it may sound, is something extremely viable to every business. Think of it as a new city in which you have to market your business and message. There are several ways to do it yourself and also some great services out there you can purchase to manage it for you. Either way, get it done!

Here are the guides themselves:

Search Engines 101

Somebody’s Watching You

Googled yourself lately? Then you know it’s nearly impossible to keep anything hidden anymore.

So Many Clicks, So Few Sales

Pay-per-click advertising seems like a dream. But up to 35% of all the clicks you pay for may be fraudulent.

Maximizing Pay Per Click

Thanks to search engines and local directories, pay per click advertising has become a viable option for advertisers.

Internet Opportunities Small Businesses Overloook

Search marketing and rich media work, but too few small companies use them to their advantage.

Ask Inc.: Generating Web Traffic

A Web of Ways to Bring Users to Your Site

You may be drooling over a Google listing, but until you can afford it, try these other techniques for spreading the word about your online business.

If You Build It, Can They Find It?

Tips for shining a searchlight on your company’s Web pages.

Increasing Web-Site Traffic

It’s hard to make money on the Internet, but increasing the number of visitors to your Web site could help boost your online sales and visibility.

Types of Search Engines

Knowing how they operate may mean the difference between a high ranking or one off in the back pages of cyberspace.

Why Your Web Site’s Rank Matters

Research shows that almost 90% of Web users find sites through search engines. Letting them find you doesn’t need to cost you anything.

The Golden Rule of Search Engine Marketing

Clever Netrepreneurs figure out why a competitor’s site is outranking theirs. You can too, by understanding how search engines prioritize sites.

Understanding Search Engines

The Internet is the biggest library ever, and search engines are the card catalog system. Learn the basics of how they work — and how they can work for you.

Attracting Search Engines: What Not to Do

With more than 1 billion documents on the Web, securing a good listing on a search engine is tougher than ever. By analyzing one site’s missteps, an Internet marketing professional shows you how to get a leg up on competitors.

The Little Engines That Could

A study from the prestigious Wharton School lists the best search engines for finding business data.

Using Metatags

Search engines do their thing by looking under your site’s hood for metatags, special lines of code that identify what your site is about. These few articles reveal savvy ways to maximize their potential.

Creating Killer Metatags

Using Keywords

Where to Put Keywords on Your Site

A search engine consultant talks about the most effective ways to wire your site with the keywords that potential customers will use to find you.

How to Create Effective Site Titles and Descriptions

Well-written site titles and descriptions will help get you optimal placement on search engines.

Brainstorming for the Right Keywords

It’s a good idea to incorporate misspellings of your company into your search engine strategy. Doing so may bring you a whole slew of grammatically challenged customers you never knew you had.

How to Avoid Trouble with the Engines

Search engines are increasingly shutting out those sites that misrepresent themselves to boost their placement. Smart Netrepreneurs, however, can play by the rules and get results.

Making Your Own Site Searchable

Add a Search Engine to Your Site

In addition to submitting your site to search engines, you should think about installing a search engine on your own site so visitors can more easily get around. A checklist from workz.com walks you through every step.