Resources
Search Engine Optimization Resources
Building Brand Awareness With SEO How can you use SEO to build brand awareness, both on and offline? This presentation explains how, providing relevant case studies and effective take-away strategies that you can use to build your brand. - April 10th, 2008
SEO: 3 Things You Must Know SEO, or search engine optimization, has become an essential part of any successful online presence. In fact, approximately 80% of all web traffic now starts at a search engine. In this article, Ivy Hastings of Fusionbox provides a crash course introduction for beginners to SEO and how it works. A must read for anyone new to the online marketing space. - January 25th, 2008
Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) Changes SEO How has Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) changed SEO? LSI is a system that allows search engines to identify word relationships within page content, just like a human being would do. Thus, LSI grants related words within page content a higher importance and organic rank, while lowering the value of pages that only contain specific keywords and lack related terms. The phrase relationships they identify between words are a major determinant of organic search engine positioning. - November 15th, 2007
Is Your Website an Asset or Liability for Users & SEO? Is your website helping you or hurting you? In this survey, Nick Yorchak of Fusionbox provides a checklist of points that determine whether your website is an asset or a liability to your company and your online presence. Issues concerning SEO, design, performance, content, links and usability are all dissected and analyzed. Outlining the Fusionbox strategic web design process, this article provides the essential framework required for a successful search-engine-friendly website that provides an exceptional user experience and impacts your bottom line. - December 6th, 2007
Writing for the Web So you want to write your own website copy do you? Remember that writing for the web is very different than writing a brochure, sales letter, or print ad. Start by reading your current website copy. Is it written for the web and online audiences? Is it engaging? In this article, Ivy Hastings of Fusionbox reviews the principles of writing for the web, breaking down the "rules" and offering suggestions to improve your copy while improving the usability and reach of your website. - December 18th, 2007
SEO Strategies: Optimize Online Press Releases In a fiercely competitive online atmosphere, press releases can be a valuable resource for increasing your company's overall visibility, but only if they're optimized effectively. In this article, Nick Yorchak of Fusionbox explains why this tactic is no longer just about publicizing your latest news. Instead, it's about creating visibility through multiple channels that allow you to connect through content, reaching those audience segments that are relevant to your company and purpose. When optimized correctly, online press releases can boost search engine rankings for SEO, drive targeted traffic, build brand awareness, and even help save money on Pay-Per-Click (PPC) campaigns. Despite these numerous benefits, however, many companies continue to use unoptimized press releases that don't work as well as they could. - January 14, 2008
SEO Myths Dispelled: Flash Video What effect does Flash have on SEO? We've all visited websites that utilize Flash video. Recently, the use of Flash has grown in popularity thanks to its ability to add interactivity to websites. While the inclusion of Flash no doubt enriches the user experience, search engine optimizers (SEOs) have long been wary of the use of Flash due to the fact that it's supposedly unindexable by the search engines. In this article, Fusionbox's SEO expert Nick Yorchak explains that Flash has changed dramatically from what it once was. New developments have made Flash content visible to search engines, allowing companies to derive SEO benefits from Flash content that was once invisible. - January 14, 2008
How to SEO for Universal & Blended Search Success Have you noticed the change in the way search engines are presenting results to users? Whether you call it "Universal Search" or "Blended Search," it has officially arrived, and it will no doubt change the way search engine and Internet marketing strategies are created, developed, and implemented. Search engine results pages (SERPs) now display a range of content in addition to text links. So far, this expanded search interface has grown to include videos, maps, photos, blogs, news, local, and even audio results. In this article, Nick Yorchak of Fusionbox explains how you can prepare your web presence to leverage blended search in your online marketing efforts. - January 14, 2008
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Search Engine Marketing Resources
Search Engine Marketing for SMB Presentation How can small businesses utilize SEM effectively to drive targeted traffic and build an online presence? Fusionbox's Ivy Hastings explores the in's and out's of search engine marketing for small businesses in this presentation given at Regis University in August. - November 14th, 2007
SEM Tools and Resources Guide Are you confused about where to start for SEM? Where can you find reliable data and analytic tools? Contains links to helpful SEM tools and resources, all of which are free to use. It's everything you need in your search engine marketing toolbox, conveniently packaged so you can get started today. - November 14th, 2007
Fusionbox SEM Strategic Process What's missing from your SEM campaign? This outline of Fusionbox's results-proven search engine marketing strategic process includes ten critical steps you can't ignore if you want your SEM campaign to be implemented and utilized effectively.- November 15th, 2007
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Links & Tools
Denver Business Journal - Fusionbox Builds Sites to be Found How did Fusionbox become the premier interactive agency in Denver? According to the Denver Business Journal, we earned our reputation by "building sites to be found" on search engines. This featured article from the DBJ deatils the Fusionbox web design process, exploring how search-engine-friendly websites are created around a foundation of optimized code and content that ensures lasting high organic positioning for our clients. - November 29th, 2007
Denver Business Journal - Fusionbox Emerges From Dust of Dot-Bomb Rubble Back in 2000 when the dot-com bubble burst, Fusionbox founder Alexander Groth had the revelation that led to the birth of Fusionbox. Today, we're a leading Denver interactive agency and one of the fastest growing companies in the Colorado. In this article, the Denver Business Journal charts the evolution of Fusionbox and illustrates the philosophy behind our growth and success. - December 6th, 2007
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Blogs
A Complete Guide to SEO-Friendly Blogging Ready to start blogging? Already have but aren't seeing any results? Nick Yorchak of Fusionbox outlines the in's and out's of SEO-friendly blogging and content creation. Read up and make your blog work harder for you. - May 28th, 2008
10 Ways Blogging Can Help Your Business Recent studies have shown that almost 90% of companies are currently blogging or plan to start in the near future. How can blogging help build your online presence, and what benefits does it offer? Nick Yorchak of Fusionbox looks at 10 different ways blogging can make a difference for your company while giving simple instructions that will allow you to harness the power of the blog. - November 20th, 2007
Beware the Flog Are you wary of the flog? Many blog readers today have to be as the number of fake blogs (flogs) has risen. Fusionbox's Ivy Hastings explains that many interactive agencies are using this shady tactic in an attempt to generate positive PR, but more often than not, the results are the opposite. Read this article for more information on flogs and what you need to know to avoid them. Hastings even provides some additional suggestions on more reputable tactics to boost your viral marketing efforts. - December 13th, 2007
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Web Design & Development
How To Choose A Web Design & Development Company With so many options when it comes to choosing a web design or development company, how can you be sure you're making the right choice? Ivy Hastings of Fusionbox provides a step-by-step approach to picking the company that's right for you. Every successful company knows that a website is an essential marketing tool, so make sure the one you select is the ideal partner. - November 14th, 2007
Building an Effective Web Development Team So you've been tasked with redesigning your company's outdated website. Now what? In this article, Ivy Hastings of Fusionbox relates her experience in this area while providing a framework for a web-based dream team. She reminds us to start by doing ourselves a big favor and building a complete team before any redesign begins. Each component of the web-based dream team is covered within the context of how their contributions matter to the final product. By filling these critical roles with the right people, you'll create a successful online foundation while saving yourself a number headaches later on down the line. On the other hand, you'll also enjoy a positive return on investment (ROI) while leaving nothing to chance. - December 13th, 2007
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Web Usability
Creating "Sticky" Sites for B2B Companies What are "sticky" sites and how can you create them for your B2B clients? Ivy Hastings of Fusionbox explores strategies for creating these "sticky" sites that attract frequent return visitors and compel users to spend more time interacting with your content. - November 15th, 2007
Usability - The Thirty Second Rule Is your website breaking the 30 second rule of Usability? Ivy Hastings, a usability consultant with Fusionbox, explains the three key questions a user must be able to answer within the first thirty seconds of viewing your website: Who are you? What do you do? What should I (the user) do next? If your users can't answer these questions, they'll hit the back button and be gone forever. So make sure you're conscious of usability and how it relates to the success of your web presence. If you're breaking this cardinal rule, it may be a good time to reconsider your web strategy. - December 13th, 2007
Designing for Usability: Best Practices As an online marketing professional, you've heard the term "usability" tossed around more than you'd care to admit. By now, you've realized that the usability of your website is important, maybe even paramount. But what does "usability" mean and where do you start? Usability begins with an in-depth knowledge of your target audience and their motivations, purposes, and goals. This centers around excellent planning and user-centered design. Here are some important best practices to consider when creating a usable web design.
Ten Ways to Instantly Improve Your Usability Does your website adhere to usability best practices? Whether it's an e-commerce site, an online tool, or just your company's corporate site, smart marketers know that website usability is key to the success of any online presence. In this article, Ivy Hastings of Fusionbox provides ten very easy ways to make an immediate improvement on the usability of your site.
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