Open Enterprise News

Advice for New SEO Bloggers

Jeremy Parkinson — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:23:59 +0000

If you are new to SEO blogging, you might feel slightly intimidated by the idea of writing tactically to top the search engines. While SEO blogging does have a certain advertising-tinged approach to writing, the key to success is the same as that of any other writing form – creating good content. High quality blog content is achieved through superior writing skills and a focus on topics that interest your audience.

Good bloggers are always striving to improve their writing skills, no matter how long they’ve been writing for. When starting out in blogging, you may find writing to be an excruciating process. You might struggle to meet deadlines and when you have finally finished your work, you feel dissatisfied with what you have come up with. Motivate yourself to write as much as possible. The more you practice your writing, the greater it will improve. Subscribe to blogs that you think are well-written and take note of qualities that you believe make the writing effective.

Knowing your audience is an essential part of SEO blogging. New bloggers commonly make the mistake of writing about topics that they personally find interesting without taking their audience’s interests into account. You should identify a very specific group of people as your target audience. This will allow you to address your audience in a tone of voice that makes them feel as though you are speaking directly to them. Research your audience’s interests and provide them with the type of content that they want to read.

Search engine tactics are an important part of SEO blogging, but don’t forget that readers are the ones who will be purchasing your company’s products or services. New SEO bloggers: write your blog posts to humans, not search engine machines.

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Bravo Explores the World of Branded Entertainment

Jeremy Parkinson — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:43:06 +0000

Viewers of Bravo might be seeing more advertising on the network than usual. But the channel isn’t lengthening its commercial breaks; instead, it is incorporating the marketing campaigns of sponsors into its programming. Anderson Davis, an actor/model hired by Kraft, appeared in character as Kraft marketing personality “the Zesty Guy” on a recent episode of Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live.” This is just the beginning of the network’s plan for the development of branded entertainment. Its strategy involves adding 126 marketers to its growing list of cable advertisers while increasing the amount of original programming by 15 percent for the 2013-14 season. This means that you’re sure to see plenty more examples of branded entertainment on the 17 new Bravo series planned for this season.

The incorporation of marketing campaigns into TV programs is an innovative way for networks to increase their advertising revenue without annoying their viewers with longer commercial breaks. A significant challenge for Bravo will be creating branded entertainment that manages to stay entertaining. The network’s show writers will have to integrate advertising in a way that avoids making the show feel as though it is simply an infomercial.

What are your thoughts on Bravo’s branded entertainment strategy? Is this a sound strategy for increasing revenue or will viewers be driven away?

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The Steady Decline of Console Gaming

Jeremy Parkinson — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 21:41:36 +0000

I unboxed my first console, the Nintendo 64, back in 1999. Countless hours were spent in front of the television sets of my friends’ or my own playing Super Smash Brothers, Pokemon Stadium, and Mario Kart. These games kept us company and we never asked, or could even picture, an even more advanced and better quality product. The console seemed to be the best it could ever be or ever become. In the early 2000’s, my expectations were defied by the new Nintendo Gamecube. These graphics, some of which still surprise me with their detail today, brought gaming to the next level. Complex yet intuitive controls were implemented and even more hours were spent in front of television sets. Then, once again, the video gaming world continued to advance with the Xbox360 and the PS3—two video game systems released in 2005 are still considered an industry standard almost 10 years later.

How has gaming changed in these past years? The Internet has allowed connectivity between two systems regardless of their physical proximity. The Internet has also experienced increased speed over the year, going from sharing a connection with the telephone to having no connectivity issues despite multiple connected devices. PC gaming has experienced a rise in activity because of third party applications and easy customer support. It is also constantly updated automatically, something that is more difficult to do via gaming consoles.

In realizing this problem, the major video game producers have created a graphics chip that will hopefully keep users satisfied for years to come. They have created an edge over PC gamers because they’ve designed their new systems with the user in mind. For the best video game experience, people can turn to the video game console designers. Since consoles have a reputation of selling for less than production costs, making up for losses with video game profits, hopefully enough people will buy them to sustain the companies’ console operations.

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Obamacare’s effect on low-wage workers

Jeremy Parkinson — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 20:34:16 +0000

Before Obamacare, American healthcare was out of reach for most low-income citizens. Obama implemented a new system in which government sponsored healthcare could cost anywhere from 5%-10% of a person’s total income. The average American restaurant workers’ salary comes in at a mere $21,000. Even 10% of this, $2,100, could be too much for a worker, especially a worker with a family, to afford. With other expenses: food, housing, transportation etc, it would be a strain for such a worker to pay for health insurance on top of that.

In addition to requiring that all Americans register for healthcare, starting in 2014, the administration will fine those who do not have insurance. Is it fair to punish those who cannot even afford the subsidized healthcare rates? America is one of the few industrialized countries not to provide healthcare for every citizen. Although America runs to and by the “invisible hand” of capitalism, what does that mean for its members that do not get caught up in its mighty sweep?

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The Latest Tablet Xperience… Sony’s Tablet Z

Jeremy Parkinson — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:47:01 +0000

An innovative new gadget was introduced to the tablet world at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Introducing… Sony’s Xperia Tablet Z. This 10.1” tablet replicates the straightforward, angular design aesthetic of Sony’s Xperia Z Smartphone. It’s just 6.9mm – making it the thinnest 10.1” tablet available – and weighs in at a trivial 1.09 lbs. The Tablet Z presents one of the most attractive, well-engineered models on the tablet market.

But what does the Tablet Z offer to make it stand out from the iPad and other competing tablet platforms? Well for one thing, it’s waterproof. That means you can use it in the shower or in the rain without worry. The Tablet Z’s camera features go beyond the tablet standard. The rear camera has 8 megapixels and the camera app is modeled after the interface used by Sony’s standalone digital cameras. An infrared port allows buyers to use the tablet as a universal remote. The TV SideView is an update on Sony’s guide to TV shows on cable, Netflix and other sources. Tablet Z owners can play music over a Sony.

With the Xperia Z Tablet, Sony has set its competitive sight directly on Apple’s iPad. The Tablet Z pricing options are the same as those of the iPad, placing it on a higher tier than cheaper tablets like Amazon’s Kindle Fire. Unfortunately for Sony, the Tablet Z’s operating system – Android Jelly Bean 4.1 – does not have many apps intended for large-display tablets yet. In today’s app-crazed society, this could prove to be a major obstacle for the Tablet Z’s sales. Will the Tablet Z’s sleek design and innovative features be enough for it to rival the app-plentiful iPad? What do you think?

Tags: Apple, Apps

“Bey”by got Back!

Jeremy Parkinson — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 22:43:03 +0000

It’s been a big year for the beloved vocal powerhouse, Beyoncé Knowles. She’s returning to NOLA, headlining the 2013 Essence festival. This will be Knowles’ third highly publicized performance of 2013. The Essence Music Festival, which has happened every 4th of July weekend since 1995, is the biggest celebration of African American music and culture in the United States. It is sponsored by Essence Magazine, a publication primarily geared towards African American women. Who better to headline this year’s festivities than one of the most celebrate, well regarded singers…ever? Beyoncé is known for her vocal runs, universally regarded to “Run the World”. As a symbol for African American women everywhere, Beyoncé is a great spokesperson for Essence Magazine’s message.

There was, however, some controversy behind Beyoncé’s performance of the national anthem at the inauguration. Some say it was pre-recorded—that it sounded too perfect. The evidence comes from the band accompanying Knowles. An immediate online retaliation came forward and gave evidence to support Beyoncé. Their argument came from rewatching Beyonce’s behavior as she sang the national anthem. From the way she interacted with her mic and earpiece, it was clear to some that she was indeed not lip-syncing, but it was indeed live. Either way, her performance at the superbowl more than made up for the controversy at the White House. The performance included large TV screens and even a mini Destiny’s Child reunion. Following the blackout partway through the game, Twitter was flooded with tweets jokingly suggesting that Beyoncé “turned the lights out.”

What will Beyoncé do between now and July? Hopefully she’ll take her precious daughter Blue Ivy out on a walk at the delight of Americans and gossip bloggers everywhere. Maybe she’ll start selling her own perfume, or release a CD of heavy metal turned R&B covers. Whatever she does do, we’ll still probably love her unconditionally. Shine on, you (potentially) Illuminati diamond; shine bright like a (probably) Illuminati diamond. [(Definitely) Illuminati] diamonds are forever.

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Rejoice, Google Stockholders!

Jeremy Parkinson — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:54:13 +0000

Heads are being held high in the offices of Google, Inc. as of late. Google’s stock rose 2.6% on February 1, closing at a record $775.60. This surpassed Google’s previous all-time high of $774.38, which it reached in October 2012. The company is also expected to be nearing the end of a three-year antitrust investigation led by the European Union. Google sent a list of proposals to its investigators, which is currently under review. If these proposals are similar to the compromises the company made voluntarily in the U.S., it is unlikely that they will be noticeably detrimental to its business.

Google’s stock shows no signs of slowing down either. On top of its long-running dominance as the number one search engine, the company has made successful strides into the broadband, cable, and wireless fields and currently activates one million Androids every day. Although former Google employee/current Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer’s changes to her company have earned her praise, it still seems improbable that Yahoo could pose a serious threat to Google’s control over the online advertising market anytime soon.

The main concern that analysts have expressed toward Google are with regard to its mobile business. Despite a 24% increase in the number of paid clicks through Google, the company’s mobile department has suffered due to a 6% drop in the average cost per click paid by advertisers. Advertisers aren’t willing to pay high fees for clicks over mobile devices, since mobile users have shown lower rates of being converted into purchasers than desktop users. Motorola’s mobile business suffered a $353 million loss in the fourth quarter of 2012 and Google’s chief financial officer Patrick Pichette has said that financial results are expected to be unstable “for quite a while.” These losses appear to be a rather minor hiccup in the scope of Google’s total operations, however. In the midst of a 35% decline in Apple’s shares, Google stockholders have good reason to celebrate.

Tags: Apple, Google, Yahoo

The Soda Battle of NYC

Jeremy Parkinson — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 17:45:53 +0000

New York City’s recent passing of a ban on the sale of sugary drinks in containers exceeding 16 ounces has caused uproar that has echoed far beyond the five boroughs. But the outcries are not just coming from Coca-Cola and fanatic soda drinkers. The NAACP and the Hispanic Federation have joined in support of a lawsuit by the American Beverage Association, voicing their concern over probable harm to small, minority-owned businesses as a negative byproduct of the law. The ban, which will be implemented in March, does not apply to state-regulated stores like 7-11. The NAACP and Hispanic Federation joint brief points out that this will put small, minority-owned businesses at a disadvantage to their larger competitors, who will retain the right to sell large sugary beverages.

It is evident that the obesity crisis in the U.S. is a serious issue and America needs some sort of intervention. According to The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of American adults and 17% of adolescents and children are obese. Is the New York City soda ban a necessary intervention? The NAACP and Hispanic Federation have recognized the prevalence of obesity within their communities but argue that the ban is not the right solution to this problem. The two groups advocate the development of education and community programs providing support for leading a healthy lifestyle as a better alternative. They may have a difficult time gaining New York Mayor Michael.

Bloomberg’s support behind this alternative. He has said that the city already spends $4 billion each year on medical care for overweight people and endorses the sugary drink ban as a budget-saving solution.
It seems unlikely that a solution will be reached that would satisfy every party involved. Family-owned businesses will be hurt by the upcoming ban on sugary drinks while city taxpayers would be hurt by the creation of new fitness programs in lieu of the ban, as proposed by the NAACP and Hispanic Federation. In the midst of this legal battle, it’s worth encouraging individuals to make a personal effort to monitor their diets carefully and make physical fitness a top priority.

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Fishing in the Fishbowl of Facebook: A Perspective on Third Party Apps Gone Rogue

Jeremy Parkinson — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 15:10:58 +0000

Say what you’d like about Facebook- but 10% of the world has one (a staggering statistic, especially considering that most websites only have a fraction of one percent of the world’s population or less). However, as it has spread, has it really managed to become a vacuum of the internet, one that combines all aspects of the web into one place? Not exactly. According to the New York Times, of the over 845 million users who have an account, about one-half of them are considered inactive. I am brought to think of all of the advertisers who are told this statistic and jump to buy ad space only to be disappointed by and underwhelming lack of clicks.

My inner marketer is squirming.
So, if so many people are on Facebook but not using it, then what are they doing? To put it simply, they are joining Facebook to join other sites and social networks. Take a gander at Spotify, the Holy Grail of the music world at present- with over 15 million users and a required Facebook login, it’s questionable as to how many Facebook users are only on the social networking site so they can listen to their favorite songs on Spotify. Although Spotify is also a third-party app on Facebook, it is more likely that listeners use their Facebook credentials to log into Spotify than the reverse; after all, who wants to be found on chat by their long-lost, unfortunately found childhood friend who wants to make amends with you for sticking your face in the litter box when you were five? Not I.

This is to say that as a social site, Facebook is beginning to become a social deterrent- and interestingly enough, third party apps are beginning to comply. For instance, take the many non-social apps which have claimed a following using Facebook and have moved away: the website Jingit, an up-and-coming loyalty program which allows individuals to watch short ads in exchange for money. While the site once encouraged Facebook logins and hosted itself on Facebook as a third-party app, recently it has been working to cut off all ties with Facebook, including transitioning accounts away from Facebook and onto their own system of accounts. Within the time period between the adaption of Facebook-based accounts and complete rejection of them, it had garnered a respectable following.

If other, more major sites are planning to break away from Facebook like Jingit did, expect the number of users on Facebook to readily decline; albeit, inactive users. Conversely, if websites continue to glean a following from the pool of current Facebook users, expect just the opposite to occur. Either way, this is an immense loss for Facebook, a platform of social media which is becoming just that- a platform, but for other sites to fish from their sea of users and drag some of them away.

Tags: Apps, money

Learn how to make Extra Money with the Stock Market to pay off Loans

Jeremy Parkinson — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 15:07:15 +0000

The economy isn’t doing too good these days. Inflation is through the roof, people are having a difficult time finding a job, and businesses are not hiring. Most Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, and having to shuffle their bills around paying only the ones that they must and putting off paying the others until later. Wouldn’t it be nice if you had some extra money?

It may not make you rich. There is no guarantee that investing in the stock market will put you behind the wheel of that fancy sports car that you have been eyeing. There is also every possibility that you will not wind up moving into a mansion. But the extra income that you can generate through careful investments could help you pay off some of those loans MA.

Hundreds of investors have been able to find success in the markets, and even those who do not “strike gold” can at the very least manage to supplement their income. So, how do they do it? There are several basic principles that every successful investor knows, and if you can pick them up too, you will have everything you need to make some money with the stocks:

Buy low, sell high. This is the simplest and most effective concept of the stocks that you could possibly grasp. You want to purchase stocks that have a lower price to earnings ratio than the other stocks of the same group. Buy stocks from undervalued companies that way you can ride the wave when their shares go up, and sell before they drop again.
Know about the people who run the companies that you invest in. If you want to earn money in the stocks, the companies that you invest in need to succeed, which they can only do if they are being run by qualified executives and smart minded business people. A company that is worth investing in will have a history of decent earnings, few debts, and a good flow of cash.
You don’t have to use a mutual-fund company, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to get the help of a professional. If you choose to invest through a broker, make sure that you do your homework. You don’t want to place your funds into the hands of a person who has only managed to lose money rather than double it. Before you allow your broker to invest your funds, ask him to explain the reasons he has for choosing those stocks. This is your money, here. You have a right to know where it is going.
Finally, and most importantly, keep in the know! Stay as informed as you can. Know what the consumer wants so that you will be able to anticipate where to place your funds in the markets. Pick up several financial journals, and don’t just skim through them. Really read that information to hone your skills as an investor. Watch the news to stay updated on the performance of a variety of stocks, as well as to keep up on the latest trends.

With some hard work and common sense, anybody can invest successfully—and get enough money to pay off those Loans MA.

Tags: investing, money

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