Search Engine Optimization Strategies

Search Engine Optimization Strategies

Today’s business world is competitive and attracting customers relies also on a strong online presence. To attract consumers to one’s Website, it remains imperative to focus on Search Engine Optimization or SEO. While some SEO mysteries remain elusive, the following article shows some of the strategies which seem conducive to attracting your target audience to your blog or Website. For many business owners, SEO has become part of their overall marketing strategy.

A serious looking woman. Image: Megan Jorgensen (Elena)

SEO generally includes writing a lot of content, filled with relevant keywords and with entries of at least three hundred words. Further, inbound links help with building higher ranking, and thus appearing at the top of Google’s search results. Inbound links are links on other Websites leading to your Website. Conversely, outbound links are links you place on your Website towards the Websites of others. Along these lines, some Websites feature a link exchange program, in which banners are exchanged. Often times, such Websites have a links page dedicated to featuring banners.

Further, a very important point to keep in mind is that SEO is dynamic, in the sense that strategies keep changing. Of course, some tips and tricks remain throughout time. For instance, sharing your content through Facebook, Google+, Pinterest and Twitter is likely to attract more visitors to your posts. Again, traffic is almost everything when it comes to Websites. In today’s world dominated by the Internet and social networking Websites, social media is prominent to say the least.

Looking in the other direction. Image: Megan Jorgensen (Elena)

Yet another term for SEO strategy is content marketing. The overwhelming competition in today’s Internet environment makes it almost impossible to rank first on keywords alone. Therefore, experts instead argue that it is better to focus on writing high-quality content. Writing a lot of content seems like a given to most, but it is not always easy. However advice on how to overcome writer’s block is abundant. Nonetheless, in today’s day and age whether you choose to call it search engine optimization or content marketing, one thing remains clear: in modern times, a strong online presence is key to a successful and lucrative business

Business Essay: Commerce and Sales

Business Essay: Commerce and Sales

Venture capital or business angels are very important to new startups. However, not all startups are likely to receive such financial capital and financing, since sophisticated, technological companies are usually prioritized. In fact, all business activities are divided into three main sectors, financing, operations and investing. A related subject, is the distribution of wealth in society. Thus, a relative minority holds the majority of financial resources. While ay political discussion is well beyond the scope of the present short paper, this is the system against which protested the protesters involved in Occupy Wall Street and We Are the 99%.

However, this is one side of the coin, the other being entrepreneurship. In free economies, such as the United States, Canada or Australia, to name a few, nothing is stopping potential entrepreneurs to found their own business. An alternative route to personal accomplishment is to invent something of value to customers and to patent it. Indeed, a study has shown that there was a relationship between patent registration and financing of firms through venture capital.

I understand – Unknown. Image: Elena

Further, as many a marketing professional would explain, a business proposition has to have value to the consumer. Furthermore, each product or service sold has its target audience. Along these lines, resources should be carefully managed and administered in such a way as to direct development, gearing it towards those customers more like to buy the goods and services. Hence, professional marketers maintain that one cannot create needs, but only shape wants.

And, of course, shaping wants should be crafted according to sales objectives. By the same token, this is one of the reasons why telemarketing often fails and why telemarketers are often perceived as annoying, to put it mildly and to say the least. Typical terms involved in the telemarketing industry (B2B, B2C or business to business and business to costumer or consumer; cold calling, leads, prospecting) make many cringe. Because if someone has absolutely no use for your product, then it will be extremely hard if not impossible sell your product to that person or to close the deal

Accounting Theory and Accounting Professionals

Accounting Theory and Accounting Professionals

Same old, safe bet – Amy Winehouse

As with most professions, accounting demands a lifelong process of honing one’s skills. While usually sufficient to land a job after graduating from university, in addition to mandatory work experience, a successful accountant will continue to participate in accounting continuing education, whether through symposia, conferences and seminars or continuing education programs; it is important to maintain one’s knowledge up to date. Perhaps the best word of advice in such a situation is not to give up.

Staircase to Heaven. Image: Elena

Certain facts may be said about all professions, not only accountants. Lifelong education and career development is important in most fields. Alternatively, many people believe that if they fail to advance, then they are receding. Why? Because other people around them are advancing. Moving forward may be achieved in many ways, but it is true that standing still when surrounding competitors are gaining ground leaves one behind even if one is staying in the same place.

Office job. Image: Elena

Accountants are very important persons in society, not only because of the accounting matters they conduct, such as filing taxes for individuals and corporations, but also for producing information for the general public, investors and shareholders. Indeed, financial accountants produce financial statements, documents without examining which it would be nearly impossible to conduct due diligence. To invest in a company, many potential investors want to know how well that company did, what are the earnings per share (EPS) and the dividends paid.

Why Study Accounting?

Accounting is a fascinating field, not only to study but also to work in. Further, successful students in accounting can choose from a multitude of career paths such as accountant, chief or senior accountant, controller or comptroller, and last but not least CFO (Chief Financial Officer). Accountants have many duties, tasks and responsibilities such as payroll cycle, calculation of profits and taxes, supervising other accounting staff, developing junior members and implementing rulebooks with GAAP or SEC regulations.

GAAP are Generally Accepted Accounting Principles published for public accounting firms. All public firms, and most private entities must adhere to GAAP regulations which are like law. Lately, Canadian GAAP is undergoing a transformation to merge with, and conform to, US GAAP. Alternatively, the SEC is the Securities and Exchange Commission regulating security trading and finance in the the United States. Naturally, to practice in the accounting or finance field one  must be certified by, and in good standing with, one of the many orders, associations or commissions regulating the corresponding professions.

Why Do People Study Finance?

Why Do People Study Finance?

A seemingly simple question, someone asked this question during class this week and it left both the Professor and some of the students somewhat perplexed. First, because why would someone enroll into a finance course when they were not even sure they wanted to study the subject? However, the question is manyfold and has some depth, even if it does not appear so at first glance. For example, some students come into finance lectures with the sole hope of learning how to become rich quick, oblivious to the endless mathematical calculations, not to mention the hordes of financial geniuses, standing in between them and their coveted prized possessions.

A Gothic lion next to Bloor Street in Toronto city. Image: Megan Jorgensen (Elena).

Additionally, finance seems like a sort of an umbrella term for everything that has to do with business, entrepreneurship, accounting, real estate, commerce, technology, investing, insurance, innovation, stock exchange and even marketing. Simply put, finance has to do with money and many people just equate the two terms in their minds. Therefore, the countless Websites on the Internet promising the reader to teach them to get rich quick and so on and so forth. Who hasn’t seen an advertisement claiming to teach or plainly make one wealthy from simply reading it? While hard to believe, and whether fraudulent or legitimate, such claims and reports also rime with finance in many people’s imaginations, whereas finance is such a large field, and so, so much more than that

Hotel Industry in Greater Sudbury, Ontario

Hotel Industry in Greater Sudbury, Ontario

No, no, no… You don’t love me and I know now… Dawn Penn

You might wonder why today’s blog post addresses such an unlikely subject matter. After all, the hotel industry in Sudbury has nothing to do with either psychology nor business students. However, my fiancé and I are planning to visit the town because his step-mother lives there. But who goes to a city without having researched it first, right? And, of course, we like to share our travel reviews with you, so here we go…

Greater Sudbury, a city in Ontario, with a population of 157,860 and an area of 3,201 km2. The town was founded because of the discovery of nickel ore in 1883. Points of interest include Science North, Dynamic Earth, Bell Park and Inco Superstack. Science North is an interactive museum, the complex is Northern Ontario most popular tourist attraction. Other tourist attractions include the Art Gallery of Sudbury and the IMAX Movie Theatre.

Photo Design. Illustration by Elena

Hotels and motels in Greater Sudbury. There are 42 hotels and motels in Sudbury, but some are unavailable. From the available hotels, there are some 26 to 32 hotels, motels and inns available to visitors. The hotel industry is a seasonal one, but most visitors in Sudbury can profit from snow/winter sports during the colder months, while mining continues throughout the year. Thus, while it is normal to find a multitude of hotels and motels in bigger cities such as Toronto, it is surprising to see how many facilities remain in Sudbury.Likewise, Dynamic Earth is another museum. The museum is owned and operated by Science North and focuses on the mining and geological historical and contemporary aspects of Greater Sudbury, Ontario. Further, Big Nickel is one if the city’s better known landmarks. For those with a penchant for gambling, there are Sudbury Downs where there are race nights. While not a full casino, the facility contains slot machines and a full bar service. Furthermore, the Anderson Farm Museum preserves historical Canadian heritage.