Choosing the wrong format for your membership website involves mislabeling your membership website and deciding to build it based off customer relationships instead of making it content-based.
The sheer number
Email strategy consultant Jeanne Jennings shares some important insight
We talk at lengths about the power and relevancy email plays in today’s digital world.
As a habitual activity familiar to the
The email newsletter has continually evolved, just as email service providers and rules for emailing have
In the beginning, there was not a CAN SPAM Act created by the Federal Government
Allowing users to easily unsubscribe from your email newsletter is a best practice for Mequoda System operators. Doing so helps alleviate possible spam complaints or other negative messages that could
Thoughts on ROI for Social Media Efforts
I wrote the cover story for SIPA’s November Hotline newsletter on ROI for social media efforts. What should you expect and what parameters should
Choosing the email service provider (ESP) for your business is a more difficult task than many people would think.
For instance, what do the potential ESPs have to offer your business?
Discover the membership website content model that fits your content best
In our new Membership Website Strategy free report, you will discover the nine deadly membership website mistakes and the nine
Lexicon Proves That Naming Is a Bit Scientific
In the category of there-is-a-business-for-everything, Lexicon stands tall. Founded in 1982 by David Placek, they are a firm devoted to inventing names for
There are three ways for someone to get an article you've posted in their feed. First, they're a fan and they see it when you post the article. Second, a
Sonia Simone, CMO and Co-Founder of Copyblogger Media once said, “If your reputation sucks, none of it matters. People with lousy products, crummy business practices, and shady backgrounds get found
In an ideal world, we could write one blog post and promote it the same way on every platform. Unfortunately, that's just not the case. Email subscribers sign up to
To provide the content your audience expects, there has to be compatibility
How do you envision the perfect digital magazine experience?
To start, imagine how the perfect digital magazine readers would
Enhance customer experience by asking for their opinion
Having best practices for survey functionality helps you effectively communicate with your audience.
In addition to having analytics show you the keyword phrases
Being subscriber-centric puts a focus on your level of direct interaction
What makes your customer relationships unique? Is it that your content successfully brings value to your audience so they can
Online businesses aren’t able to see up to 50% of their keyword data after a recent Google change
For years, Google has been a major partner for content publishers. Google’s mission
Tips for Your Twitter World
Today’s SIPA Twitter Chat at noon EST will focus on renewals. These weekly Chats have produced some excellent dialogue on various topics—mobile, e-learning—so we encourage you
Even with recent frustrations, Google is still the search partner content publishers turn to. Its search engine is the most comprehensive, and we like to think that its actions are
A 7-step guide to the keyword universe
The keyword universe is the core to any successful online business. If content publishers or content marketers lack a keyword universe, they are basically
The fundamental differences between web analytics, plugin analytics, and social sharing platform analytics
Radio pioneer Lee De Forest once argued that, "while theoretically and technically television may be feasible, commercially and
Take social media users and turn them into your biggest source of online traffic and audience development
Social media traffic is the easiest source of traffic there is—once you have a
The Changes Brought on by ‘Digital First’
On Thursday afternoon, I received an email from The Washington Post with a link to a story about exciting new arts and concert venues
Any large online publishing organization as one or several Managing Editors responsible for keeping the arrangement of editorial content flowing in an organized fashion. When you're managing several editors at
Any marketing campaign has the same end goal: make more money for the company. The only difference between a traditional marketing campaign and a social media campaign is that social
Don Nicholas, CEO, Mequoda Group, Hopkinton, Mass.
What was your first job out of college and how did you get into this business?
I was 27 when I graduated from college. As
Bundle first, create new products later
While most of the publishers I work with were not in the video production business five years ago, virtually all of them are today. In
Turning traditional print media into multimedia products
Traditional print publishers often have massive archives of content from back issues at their disposal. It would be a shame to let this content
How are you monitoring the sales of your products?
Knowing which products generate the most revenue helps you optimize your content strategy while dictating the future creation of new products. Especially
The right content marketing specialist will help you connect with your audience easier
How well does your editorial staff understand the topics you provide content on? In order to develop new
Research into the investing market shows how major financial institutions are creating direct relationships with website visitors
While compiling the Mequoda 500 study – a detailed look at the content models
How easy have you made it for audience members to share your content?
In all markets we’ve seen, social interaction and engagement has been a desired channel for content publishers and
The Power and (Occasional) Glory of Email Marketing
Email marketing remains a powerful tool, so powerful that it’s almost like one of those laser weapons in a James Bond film: put
The smartest business professionals utilize the tools of the digital age before making major moves. The smart operator or consumer pays due diligence to research before starting a project or
Many niche, special-interest publishers have been focusing on customer relationships for years. There’s a passion behind the content shared by publisher and consumer alike. Plus, publishers realized building relationships directly
New Thinking Puts Spotlight on nOtice
We’ve come a long way from Paul Revere’s ride for dispensing community information. But the British are still coming, at least in terms of innovative
Email and social media are two popular Internet activities – are you marrying these two behaviors together?
Depending on your audience and the type of online business you operate, you likely
Facebook’s growth is one major reason editors and content marketers have turned to the social media platform. With over 800 million members, where else could you find such a large
This is where Reputation.com’s value lies. In today’s digital world of consumer comments and reviews, single statements can ruin your credibility to people who aren’t familiar with your brand or
Adwords is a cost-effective paid marketing solution used to buy traffic on the keyword phrases your audience is searching.
Some online businesses use Adwords to strictly sell products. I’m sure you
Deaf Ears Put Google+ at Back of Line
I received an email last week from Google informing me that a SIPA member had added me “to his circles” and invited me
What Google+ will and won't do for online publishers
It's not exactly safe to say that using a Google network does anything for your SEO status. In fact, I've seen blogs
If you've been on the social media map for a while you're probably not looking to be trained on re-tweets and social media etiquette, but it's normal for even the
Do you still use a large desk calendar? They're effective at keeping you current with all of your upcoming appointments and tasks because it sits right in front of you...
If your best friend suddenly got a facelift and became a Buddhist monk, you'd still love him right? He wouldn't quite look the same, and he might act differently, but
Andy Tarczon, Founding Partner - Corporate Development, The Diffusion Group, Frisco, Texas
SIPA: What was your first job out of college and how did you get into this business?
ANDY: Wow,
While the magazine industry struggles to reinvent magazines, magazine consumers are snapping up digital magazine replica editions like hotcakes at a 24/7 IHOP
This reporter has it on good authority that
Do you know how to inventory your business assets?
Five key components go into the process of inventorying your business assets. In order to address your media business, our systems directors
Zinio is a valuable tool for digital publishers because they’ve taken the reading experience to a new level.
According to the Zinio website, “Zinio provides the ability to shop for,
The publishing environment has changed…have you?
Successful print publishers and editors possess knowledge, expertise and experiences that have helped their publications. However, the expansion of digital publishing – including the inception