Real Advice About Improving Your Businesses Web Presence

Over the past many years I have written thoughts about so many topics. This blog started as a college blog for social media and digital marketing and then added some of the web’s best financial articles and information.

Recently, making my Tennessee based internet marketing business Titan Web Marketing Solutions thrive has been top priority. I’m proud to say that we are now working with some powerful businesses and have tackled some real challenges in web design, search engine optimization,  graphic design and social media.

This blog is about some of the critical areas of knowledge I have learned in developing a businesses local web presence. 

Please note* “NY Pie” in Nashville, TN was used for specific examples because the owners Greg and Jessica are wonderful people and were great to work with last year.

As of the end of 2012, the business of helping market businesses on the web has boomed. It is so very important to get your business on the web. At the least, it is important to understand where your business is on the web and what, if any, feedback people have provided about your business. And while this guide does not do everything, it will sure help you get started on the right path!

 

The following is a step by step guide to exactly what any business owner needs to do to start their web presence.

 

  • Step number 1   |   Build a Local Web Presence

Continue reading Real Advice About Improving Your Businesses Web Presence

The Greatest Christmas Decoration Ever? The short story behind it.

When Christmas decorating goes wrong
When Christmas decorating goes wrong

This comes from a personal friend who lives very close to me! Actually just a few neighbor hoods down. I posted about this on Friday as soon as I heard the story from a co-worker. He sent me this picture, The Greatest Christmas Decoration Ever for sure, off his Blackberry. Hilarious.

Facebook Friday Post Proof, Greatest Christmas Decoration Ever?
Facebook Friday Post Proof, Greatest Christmas Decoration Ever?

Jon went on to say that this guy had people literally screaming off the road into his drive way, tire marks and all, to save this poor guy. To there surprise, he was not real! Though, for some reason, the police disagreed and asked him to take it down. He said that he did not see the harm in it. Priceless.

Straight from the Greatest Christmas Decoration Ever creator: “Good news is that I truly out did myself this year with my Christmas decorations. The bad news is that I had to take him down after 2 days. I had more people come screaming up to my house than ever.Great stories. But two things made me take it down.

First, the cops advised me that it would cause traffic accidents as they almost wrecked when they drove by.

Second, a 55 year old lady grabbed the 75 pound ladder almost killed herself putting it against my house and didn’t realize it was fake until she climbed to the top (she was not happy). By the way, she was one of many people who attempted to do that. My yard couldn’t take it either. I have more than a few tire tracks where people literally drove up my yard.”

The old-lady probably could not hear the man NOT SAYING ANYTHING, lol! That’s horrible and too good. But only because she was not hurt! This one has to go down as one of the Greatest Christmas Decoration Ever.

Enjoy and happy holidays!

Adam Faragalli

Follow me on Facebook.com/AdamFaragalli and Twitter (AdamFaragalli)

12 of the most annoying types of Facebook users

Here are 12 of the most annoying types of Facebook users, by Brandon Griggs for CNN Tech. I have posted the list here because I thought it was so perfect! But please support CNN.com by viewing the article there.

The Let-Me-Tell-You-Every-Detail-of-My-Day Bore. “I’m waking up.” “I had Wheaties for breakfast.” “I’m bored at work.” “I’m stuck in traffic.” You’re kidding! How fascinating! No moment is too mundane for some people to broadcast unsolicited to the world. Just because you have 432 Facebook friends doesn’t mean we all want to know when you’re waiting for the bus.

The Self-Promoter. OK, so we’ve probably all posted at least once about some achievement. And sure, maybe your friends really do want to read the fascinating article you wrote about beet farming. But when almost EVERY update is a link to your blog, your poetry reading, your 10k results or your art show, you sound like a bragger or a self-centered careerist.

The Friend-Padder. The average Facebook user has 120 friends on the site. Schmoozers and social butterflies — you know, the ones who make lifelong pals on the subway — might reasonably have 300 or 400. But 1,000 “friends?” Unless you’re George Clooney or just won the lottery, no one has that many. That’s just showing off.

The Town Crier. “Michael Jackson is dead!!!” You heard it from me first! Me, and the 213,000 other people who all saw it on TMZ. These Matt Drudge wannabes are the reason many of us learn of breaking news not from TV or news sites but from online social networks. In their rush to trumpet the news, these people also spread rumors, half-truths and innuendo. No, Jeff Goldblum did not plunge to his death from a New Zealand cliff.

The TMIer. “Brad is heading to Walgreens to buy something for these pesky hemorrhoids.” Boundaries of privacy and decorum don’t seem to exist for these too-much-information updaters, who unabashedly offer up details about their sex lives, marital troubles and bodily functions. Thanks for sharing.

The Bad Grammarian. “So sad about Fara Fauset but Im so gladd its friday yippe”. Yes, I know the punctuation rules are different in the digital world. And, no, no one likes a spelling-Nazi schoolmarm. But you sound like a moron.

The Sympathy-Baiter. “Barbara is feeling sad today.” “Man, am I glad that’s over.” “Jim could really use some good news about now.” Like anglers hunting for fish, these sad sacks cast out their hooks — baited with vague tales of woe — in the hopes of landing concerned responses. Genuine bad news is one thing, but these manipulative posts are just pleas for attention.

The Lurker. The Peeping Toms of Facebook, these voyeurs are too cautious, or maybe too lazy, to update their status or write on your wall. But once in a while, you’ll be talking to them and they’ll mention something you posted, so you know they’re on your page, hiding in the shadows. It’s just a little creepy.

The Crank. These curmudgeons, like the trolls who spew hate in blog comments, never met something they couldn’t complain about. “Carl isn’t really that impressed with idiots who don’t realize how idiotic they are.” [Actual status update.] Keep spreading the love.

The Paparazzo. Ever visit your Facebook page and discover that someone’s posted a photo of you from last weekend’s party — a photo you didn’t authorize and haven’t even seen? You’d really rather not have to explain to your mom why you were leering like a drunken hyena and French-kissing a bottle of Jagermeister.

The Obscurist. “If not now then when?” “You’ll see…” “Grist for the mill.” “John is, small world.” “Dave thought he was immune, but no. No, he is not.” [Actual status updates, all.] Sorry, but you’re not being mysterious — just nonsensical.

The Chronic Inviter. “Support my cause. Sign my petition. Play Mafia Wars with me. Which ‘Star Trek’ character are you? Here are the ‘Top 5 cars I have personally owned.’ Here are ’25 Things About Me.’ Here’s a drink. What drink are you? We’re related! I took the ‘What President Are You?’ quiz and found out I’m Millard Fillmore! What president are you?”

Hilarious and very true at the same time. I have seen each of these many times and am responsible for a few myself.

Best,

Adam Faragalli

Twitter Adds a Report Spam Option

www.Twitter.com

Twitter spammers finally need to beware! Now all Twitter users have a new option, “report [username] for spam” link. When clicked, the feature alerts you that it will immediately block the user and report them to Twitter for review. In the past, Twitter has been using the “@spam” account to allow users to quickly report spam messages via direct message. The “report spam” link should make this process a bit easier and more readily apparent for users of the Web interface.

Best,

Adam Faragalli

Women Arrested for a Facebook Poke

Shannon D. Jackson of Hendersonville, Tennessee, was arrested on September 25th after she violated an “order of protection” by allegedly poking a woman on Facebook. The court order stated, “no telephoning, contacting or otherwise communicating with the petitioner.” Believe it or not, Jackson’s bond is set at $1,500. If found guilty Jackson could face up to 29 days in jail and a hefty $2,500 fine.

According to our regional newspaper, The Tennessean writes: “According to the affidavit filed in Sumner County General Sessions Court, Jackson is accused of using the “poke” option on Facebook to contact a Hendersonville woman, thus violating the terms of the order of protection…Hendersonville police have made copies of the page in which the alleged victim is shown to be “poked,” according to the affidavit.”

So what have we learned? Communication online, via Facebook, even just a poke, can lead to serious consequences if you already have a court ordered restraining order. Personally I found the story hilarious and thought I might share. Kodos to Mashable for dropping the story over the weekend.

Best,

Adam Faragalli

Google Wave- The Future of Online Communication/Collaboration

Google Wave, announced several months back at the Google I/O conference, aims to change the way people collaborate and communicate with others. According to Google, a “wave” is equal parts conversation and document, where people can communicate and work together with richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more.”
The question the developers asked if email was invented today, what would it look like and ultimately how would it work? Google Wave is the answer. If you have some time, check out the long demonstration video below of the conference back in May.

YouTube Preview Image

Here’s how it works: In Google Wave you create a wave and add people to it. Everyone on your wave can use richly formatted text, photos, gadgets, and even feeds from other sources on the web. They can insert a reply or edit the wave directly. It’s concurrent rich-text editing, where you see on your screen nearly instantly what your fellow collaborators are typing in your wave. That means Google Wave is just as well suited for quick messages as for persistent content – it allows for both collaboration and communication. You can also use “playback” to rewind the wave and see how it evolved.

Some key technologies in Google Wave include real-time collaboration tools, Natural language tools, Extending Google Wave.

I especially love the playback ability and the instant ability to see the message as it is being typed. Think about just how much time one can save when one can plan there response as someone forms their message. This is in contrast to the typing icon that currently works in most email and instant message applications. What is also great is you can turn this feature off, helpful for those of us who are not quite sure about spelling or a quick response. But these features are just bonus to an revolutionary online tool!

In the near future, there is little doubt that Google Wave will have a major impact on the way we all email and share online. If you would like to give it a shot, try your hand at requesting an invitation. I am still eargerly awaiting the official release of Google Wave, which is supposed to be coming very soon last this year! As soon as it is released I will make a new blog and let you know.

Best,

Adam Faragalli

Top 10 Web Collaboration Tools

Twine.com sent me this link this morning from LifeHacker.com about there list of Top 10 Web Collaboration Tools. As they state, these collaboration tools stand apart from the awesome platform Google Wave, announced a few months back, which I will save for another blog entry. Many of these I had never heard of but many are very helpful. I especially liked MindMeister.

MindMeister Preview Image
MindMeister Preview Image

From the developers Web site, “MindMeister brings the concept of mind mapping to the web, using its facilities for real-time collaboration to allow truly global brainstorming sessions. Users can create, manage and share mind maps online and access them anytime, from anywhere. In brainstorming mode, fellow MindMeisters from around the world (or just in different rooms) can simultaneously work on the same mind map and see each other’s changes as they happen.”

I hope you take a look at them and be sure to thank LifeHacker.com for the article, Top 10 Web Collaboration Tools.

Best,

Adam Faragalli