| LED Digest 2689: The Lowly Press Release |
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The LED Digest Moderated Discussion List "Effective Online Advertising, Since 1997" Data > Information > Knowledge > Wisdom http://www.AudetteMedia.com : the LED's Publisher The Internet Marketing Boutique: SEO, SEM, Social Media http://www.SEOToolSet.com/training/ : the LED's Premier Sponsor Bruce Clay's Search Engine Optimization Training & Certification ================================================== List Moderator: Published by: Adam Audette LED Digest adam, led-digest.com http://www.led-digest.com .............................................. August 4, 2008 Issue no. 2689 .............................................. .....IN THIS DIGEST..... ====== NEW ====================== --== PPC Competitive Research ==-- ~ Joe Halbrook "How would I prevent my domain's PPC and other campaign keywords from appearing...?" ==== CONTINUING ================= --== Viral Ideas ==-- ~ Eva Rosenberg "...the old-fashioned method of getting the word out - press releases." ~ Dirk Johnson "One of the most successful viral campaigns of all time..." ~ Will Bontrager "This "Help A Reporter Out" service was mentioned by Brad Waller..." ~ David Strait "My apologies if I seem skeptical of modern 'news' media." --== Design Resolution & Sizing ==-- ~ Peter D'Aprix "There's the rub. What helps one hinders the other." ========= NEW ===================================== From: Joe Halbrook Subject: Question about competitive research ... > Over the past few weeks, I've noticed > http://www.keywordspy.com as a referral in > our daily web stats. We've reached 2 > conclusions about this site... - Jim Berry, LED 2488 - http://www.led-digest.com/content/view/1900/190/ I've not posted in some time, but I'd like to solicit feedback on services that offer competitive research. Jim asked this question nearly a year ago, and there were never any responses to his question. And, at least one other post asked about this service and others like it since Jim's question -- again, no response. What I'd like to know is how the industry would reply to a question about services like these. The question: How would I prevent my domain's PPC and other campaign keywords from appearing in this database? I've contacted the company days ago (via email only, as they post no phone number to talk to a human), and have yet to receive a response. Do any LED'ers know anything about them? Is there a fee to prevent inclusion? And if so, what are your feelings about the ethics of this approach? Much thanks, in advance. Joe Halbrook ======== CONTINUING =============================== From: Eva Rosenberg Subject: Viral Ideas? > I would like to make something go viral and > there is not a lot of time to do it in. > They are documents containing the daily > lucky numbers of the two primary USA > presidential candidates. Download is at > http://affinity-numerology.com/Lucky- > Numbers/Famous/ - Will Bontrager, LED 2688 - http://www.led-digest.com/content/view/2103/190/ Hi Will, Adam and LEDers, Please remember the old-fashioned method of getting the word out - press releases. Write a brief, fun article about these documents and why people should want to download them. And send it out. Some places I just found by Googling "press release services free" http://www.prlog.org/ http://www.pr.com/press-releases http://www.pr.com/promote-your-business http://www.prfree.com/ PRWeb used to offer free distribution. Now, the minimum fee is $80 http://www.prweb.com Of course, you could also post an announcement in one or more of the social network sites and ask people to pass it on. Once upon a time, your Humble Guide, Eva Rosenberg, EA & TaxNerd www.taxmama.com www.taxquips.com -------- new post - same topic -------- From: Dirk Johnson Subject: Viral ideas One of the most successful viral campaigns of all time was the Million Dollar Web Page guy, who sold a million pixels on his home page for a $1 each. He actually used press releases to get the initial word out. The concept had enough traction and interest to take on a life of it's own. Curiously, it caused a lot of high-brow web marketers to cry foul, for some reason. Maybe because they failed to think of it themselves. In any case, I just searched for "viral marketing best practices". There was a lot of good info there to keep you busy for a while, from some well known, well-regarded web marketers. Best regards, Dirk Johnson www.domaindrivers.com -------- new post - same topic -------- From: Will Bontrager Subject: Press/Publicity Opportunities: HARO This "Help A Reporter Out" service was mentioned by Brad Waller back in April, in LED 2618 [ http://www.led-digest.com/content/view/2033/190/ ]. It's such an excellent opportunity to be a media source that it bears mentioning again for those who missed it the first time and for new subscribers. Peter Shankman of http://helpareporter.com/ has a rather large list of sources for reporters. I'm on it and have had two occasions to pitch one of our products. Don't know if anything will come of them. More opportunities will undoubtedly come along. If you have expertise in specific areas, which all of us do, I'm certain, or if you are or can be an authority about something, get on the list. That is, if you don't mind being written about. I've seen queries from reporters from national newspapers like USA Today, national magazines, local newspapers, radio hosts, and freelance bloggers. Types of queries may range the entire human experience. Disclosure: helpareporter.com uses our software. I would eagerly be on Mr. Shankman's list of sources anyway. A reporter with your own perfect press opportunity may have a query in the very next issue. Will Bontrager http://www.willmaster.com/ -------- new post - same topic -------- From: David Strait Subject: Viral ideas If I was "especially interested" in getting lots of hype (putting aside my own personal distaste for fluff news) I would let the media do my work. Craft a press release which says this method has determined that one of the candidates has a better chance of winning based on numerology. Do a simple abstract of the "analysis", invite media to see for themselves at the site. Send it to major news outlets. Surely a hungry 'reporter' will see this as a new angle on the election, their boss will buy it, and it will splash on the cable news. Soon, a chain reaction will ensue. My apologies if I seem skeptical of modern "news" media. David Strait Strait Answers -------- new post - new topic -------- From: Peter D'Aprix Subject: Backgrounds RE Backgrounds Had to comment on this topic. In visual design circles, it has long been known that to put light text on a black background makes the text hard to read especially if it is serif. However, photos and graphics look much more brilliant against black since without the brightness of the white or light background to close the iris of the eye, the eye allows for more exposure (just like a camera lens) for what is set on black. Conversely, if the exact same photo is set on white, it appears duller and darker since the iris closes down to accommodate the bright white background and thus darkens the image in the process. So black background; bad for text - good for photos and graphic. So what of mixed images and text. There's the rub. What helps one hinders the other. It seems to me that if a site has more photos and art on the site than text, go with a dark or black background. If it is mainly text, go with white or light. Of course, then you get into "what if someone wants to print out the page?". If this is very likely, I'd go with white. Even if the page prints without a black background, a pale or white type will continue to print out that way. So like all these discussions pan out, know your market and what they want, how they react and what they are likely to do. Then make your choices. No one rule applies all the time and most have to be balanced off against others for precedence. Peter D'Aprix http://peterdaprix.com (c) Copyright 1995-2008 Orange Wheel, LLC. 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