5th Anniversary for the Mother Of All Smartphone aka iPhone

On 29 June 2007, Apple launched the very first version of iPhone. Since then, the mobile scene has never been the same, iPhone has single handedly changed the world of mobile computing. Throughout these 5 years and the subsequent necessary handset upgrade to 3G, 3GS, 4, 4S and the upcoming 5, iPhone is still deemed as the mother of all smartphone, globally.

The vision of ex-CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs, changed the way how millions of people live their life (including myself) for the better. With his recent passing and Tim Cook taking over the helm now, Apple is going through an internal adjustment phase, this has given the competitors some breathing space and chance to hit back. Samsung's Galaxy S3 being the most talked about worthy contender now.

Anyway, what I am trying to highlight is that mobile computing like Smartphones and tablets are here to stay for the following reason:

1. It is Real-Time

2. It allows us to take the advantage  of location-based services

3. It integrates well with social media for greater reach

In my opinion, a few things that can make the mobile computing even more magical are:

1. Faster speed (with the upcoming launch of 4G networks, it will take care of the speed issue)

2. Lower cost of the handset and data services

3. More compatibility across different mobile devices

Thus, if you are involved in any form of internet marketing, do pay equal attention to the mobile marketing as well as it is a totally different ball-game with lucrative potential.

Cheers!   

  

Have You Heard Of The Social Media Day?

Social Media is becoming a very important component of overall marketing strategy in any kind of business (online or offline). In fact, it is so important nowadays that almost every website/blog you visit, there bounds to be few social sharing buttons/icons spread across the site (the main "culprit" will be non-other than Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and the more recently Pinterest).

Talking about Social Media, do you know that there is actually a day being coined as "Social Media Day"? It is an annual event launched by the authority Social Media Blog, Mashable since 2010. So, this is the third year and it happen on every 30th June of the year. The original idea of this event is to recognise the digital revolution happening right before our eyes. What it does is to invite you to join fellow social media enthusiasts by hosting or attending a Social Media Day Meetup in your area. 

For more details of Social Media Day Event, check out the links below:

Mashable Social Media Day's Official Page

Social Media Day's Facebook Fan Page

Social Media Day's Twitter Page

Social Media Day's Meetup Everywhere Page

It is a day to learn and share with the social media enthusiasts around your area (physically or virtually). So, mark your calendar and go ahead to check out any Meetup event(s) in the area.

Cheers! 

Facebook VS Google+ [Infographic]

I am sure you folks are aware by now that Social Media is getting more and more critical when comes to internet marketing. It plays a major role in Public Relation, Customer Service, and Traffics/Leads generation. More and more companies and entrepreneurs (big and small) are aggressively making their social presence in Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ etc...

Even though Google+ is not very new in the market but it is still the latest heavy weight social media comes into play. Thus, it is common that we will compare it with the existing giants like Facebook or Twitter. I managed to source for an infographic depicting the key comparison between Google+ and Facebook. So, if you are still clueless about the important differences between these two social medis, check it out below:

Cheers!

 

History Of Marketing, Social Media and Mobile Marketing [INFOGRAPHICS]

Marketing has a a very long history, to be exact, it was started way back in 1450 in a form of printed advertising. From then on, it's just natural progression and evolution to find possible ways to reach the masses. Internet made it possible and cost effective to perform the marketing strategies globally and instantly (with lower costs).

Today, I am going to share 3 informative infographics on "The History Of Marketing", "The Email Marketing And Social Media Marketing" and "Mobile Marketing" (last two are the craze at the moment and will be here to stay for many many years to come).

Enjoy...

1. The History of Marketing (this is a very LONG infographic, click on the image for the enlarged version):

2. The Email Marketing And Social Media Marketing:

3. Mobile Marketing (this is a very LONG infographic, click on the image for the enlarged version):

Cheers!

The Only Two Broad Ways Of Earning Money Online!

In the internet/Online Marketing arena, there are many ways to earn money online, in fact new methods/ways are springing up every now and then. However, if we examine it in detail, you will notice that effectively there are only 2 broad ways for earning money online.

In short, regardless of what you do in your online venture, it will fall in either or both of these ways. Don’t believe me? Read on and let me explain why…

First, let me start with the brief explanation of the two broad ways that I am referring to:

1. Earn Money from the advertisers/network providers (advertising, affiliate marketing and MLM marketing effort etc fall under this category). I know what you might be thinking, ultimately the money is still coming from the consumers right? The answer is "Yes" and "No" as there are networks (for example: TradePub) whereby it provides absolutely free content to the consumers and at the same time allow you  (as a publisher) to earn some commission out of it. 
2. Earn Money from the visitors/consumers (selling your own products, services and times fall under this category). In this way, you are getting paid directly from your visitors/consumers.

So, whether you are a professional blogger who earn online money through your blog via advertising/affiliate marketing placements or an e-entrepreneur who sell your own products/services, you venture will fall into either one of these ways. Of course, it doesn’t prevent you from getting into both the ways i.e. earning from both the advertisers/network providers and the visitors/consumers.

As most pioneer internet marketer will tell you, as internet marketers, we are here to solve problem(s). It is true but the BIG question is whose problem are we resolving? Thus, depending on which target audience (advertisers/network providers vs visitors/consumers) you are serving, you need to channel your more effort/time towards their needs. In short:

1. If you are earning money from the advertisers/network providers, you need to solve the issue of the advertisers/network providers, which is usually the sales/leads/registration etc…
2. If you are earning money from the visitors/consumers, it means that you are possessing something that the visitors/consumers don’t have/lack. For example: the knowledge, skills, time etc. Thus, you need to ensure that your product/service matches their requirements/expectation.

Do you agree with me on my viewpoint? Feel free to comment if you have any differing view.

Cheers!

P/S: Ticketamerica.com has MLB Tickets and MLB maps for the Cleveland Indians and the Colorado Rockies as well as the Detroit Tigers storied franchise. For more details, check out the links here:
cleveland indians tickets
colorado rockies tickets
detroit tigers tickets

SPECIAL: Easy Self Publishing Book Templates

If you are into internet marketing arena long enough, you will agree with me that one of the highest level of internet marketing hierarchy is to generate your very own online product and one of the online product that most internet marketers aiming at the info-product. It could be a physical book, ebook, technical guide (for professionals or hobbyist) etc.

Such publication can be used as marketing tool as well (if your ultimate goal is to sell some other physical products or services). Of course, writing a book for publishing is not an easy task but if that's your goal, I am sure you would want to spend more time in the actual writing instead of being bogged down with the formatting, the design and layout of the book. Recently, I've chanced upon a  book templates provider called Bookloops Premium Book Templates which will take away all the nitty gritty and let you focus on the actual writing itself.

At a low price of $34.95, it provides you with a wide collection of ready-to-use master templates for professional publication (every section within the template are customisable). Also, all the templates can be used for eBook or physical book publication. The master templates are in MS Word format but it can be seamlessly converted into other file types like PDF, ePUB, MOBI, Kindle, iBook and more.

Not only that, this site provides tons of valuable publishing information (like ebook security, ebook marketing etc...) which will be beneficial to you self-publishing venture.

If professional looking publication is what you are looking for in your next info-product (who doesn't?), do check out Bookloops Premium Book Templates as I am pretty sure that it will come in handy to save you time and money in your venture.

Cheers! 

How A Simple SEO Image Optimization Step Send Me 1 To 2 Thousands Traffics A Day?

Recently, I’ve made a surprise (but pleasant) discovery of how a simple SEO (Search Engine Optimization) step can made such a huge difference in the traffics to my blog. And I am talking about the difference between tens vs thousands.

There is no secret that I am a movie buff and thus I have another blog on 3D Movies. As in any movie websites or blogs, it bounds to share many images (movie posters/stills) and clips. Same thing applies to my blog (ultimate 3D Movies). Initially (Nov 2011), I just upload the media (images, video clips etc…) without any image optimization and the traffics then were just merely about 50 to 60 hits a day.

However, it changed drastically from mid-April 2012 onwards as I’ve put in place a very simple image optimization step with the images and BOOMZ, the traffics gradually gone up to 1-2 thousands hits per day (see screen below). So, what is the magical touch? I believed many of you with SEO background would have already known it. It’s non-other than typing in the relevant and keyword rich “Title Text” and “Alternate Text” (Alt Text) in the images. Yes, this is an additional effort but it sure worth your time and effort.

Of course, if you study the above statistic in greater details, you will notice two things:

1. The traffics drop subsequently and pickup again the next few days (I didn’t drill into this too much as organic search result is very dynamic and it could simply due to the reason that it’s weekend! ;-))

2. The most popular post is “Marvel’s The Avengers Assemble” which is the HOTTEST movie at the moment.

From the Google Analytic tool, I also noticed that most of the new traffics were from the Organic search result via Google Images Search (to be exact, it constitutes more than 60% of the new traffics). With this finding, I deduced that there are more and more people searching the images directly from Google Images Search. Thus, if your niche provides load of images, do make sure to apply this SEO step without fail.

In summary, following are the Image Optimization steps that I’ve applied in every image that I’ve uploaded into my blog:

1. Write the “Title Text”
 

2. Write the “Alt Text”
 

3. The description (in “Title Text” and “Alt Text”) should be relevant to your image or blog post
 

4. To include the right amount of keyword(s) in the “Title Text” and “Alt Text”

One more thing to highlight is that you might not be able to see an immediate effect to your traffics if the blog post (and its relevant images) is not a popular search topic(s) at the moment. Thus, prior to this, it would be worthwhile to search for the hottest topic(s) in your niche and write something about it. Just think about what is the “The Avengers” equivalent in your niche?.

Bonus Tip: 

If you are using Blogger, you can incorporate the “Title Text” and “Alt Text” by following the simple steps below:

1. When you click on the uploaded image, the following options appear, click on “Properties”:


2. In the pop-up box, input the relevant “Title Text” and “ALT Text” and click “OK”:

 

3. That’s it! Just follow the same steps for every image.

I know this is nothing new and most probably you’ve already applied it to your website/blog but just like to share my joy of discovering its true “value” (in traffics sense). Do you have any great tips on simple on-site SEO to share? Feel free to share them in the comment section.

Cheers!