By Tarah Heupel | July 22, 2010
When it comes to Search Engine Optimization (SEO), many business owners don’t understand how it works or how to use it – so this week we brought in the big guns to help demystify the process.
The SEO Expert
Woessner, SEO Guru
We had the pleasure of bringing in renowned SEO expert (and one-time RSA intern) Stephen Woessner from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse to host public workshops and meet with our staff.
Stephen kicked off the week with a seminar for small business owners, sponsored by RSA and AAF Black Hills. More than 40 people turned out to learn Stephen’s 15 simple steps to SEO, and we’ve heard some great feedback from attendees who took home a step-by-step plan for optimizing their sites.
For those of you who missed out, you’re probably wondering what big secrets Stephen revealed. We can’t give you all the details, but Stephen’s book is a great resource for business owners who want to take a stab at doing it themselves. Want to try to do SEO yourself? Here’s what you should know. …Read more »
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By Kyle McCabe | July 14, 2010
In a brilliant and entertaining blend of traditional advertising and social media, Old Spice simply nails it here. With a traditional TV spot posted on Youtube, they simply monitored comments on the video, as well as on Facebook and Twitter, and then shot and posted video responses to some of them.
Simply amazing. This has got to be the first time in a long time any advertising, by itself, has made me want to purchase a product!
And they’re still doing it. Prepare to waste your afternoon…
By Kyle McCabe | July 7, 2010
A while ago I wrote about the idea of being “transparent” or “authentic” in the social web. My theory is that full transparency is actually over-disclosure (and therefore undesirable), and authenticity just means don’t be fake (rather than meaning “show yourself without any sort of filter,” as the word might imply).
This theory applies to social business (use of social media for an organization) as well.
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Transparency in Business
No single person is obligated to tell anyone anything (outside the legal sphere), but good communication demands a certain level of honesty. …Read more »
By Kyle McCabe | July 1, 2010
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The Black Hills Home Builders Association recently help a seminar for its members and invited RSA to come speak to them about social media for business. It was a great time with a small, intimate group, and we fielded quite a few questions. Here are a few of those questions, including our answers.
What is Twitter?
I’ve written about Twitter here a couple times. In short, it’s a networking tool, a way to engage in conversation with people around the globe. It may be new technology, but it’s still just people talking. Sign up for an account and post, 140 characters at a time, about things that matter to you and the people you wish to interact with, whether they be customers, prospects, colleagues or friends.
Try using Twitter’s search feature to find people talking about topics of interest, and begin to engage them. Keep in mind every “tweet” is an invitation to engage – people want to hear from you! …Read more »
By Tarah Heupel | June 28, 2010
We are excited to announce the winners of our first Good Ad, Bad Ad Facebook contest! Congrats to Jackie and Gina, who posted ads deemed the best and worst of the bunch by our esteemed panel of judges (our Search Engine Marketing department, clearly).
Good Ad: Jackie won the prize with the latest commercial in the “Search Overload” campaign from Bing:
We can relate – and now our office is jamming out to Freak Nasty’s “Da Dip.”
Bad Ad: Gina caught our attention with something very, very bad to win the Bad Ad prize:
Okay, it’s not exactly an ad, but close enough. Read more about this British Airways faux pas, which appeared in an internal staff magazine with an article about mobile boarding. Whether it was a mistake or a prank gone awry, that’s one heck of a PR mess.
Congrats again to our winners, and thanks to everyone for playing. Be on the lookout for more contests in the future!
By Vincent Tyson | June 10, 2010
Toyota, apparently one of the most popular brands in America, and indeed one of the largest car makers in the world, seems to have a little PR problem. KOTA TV recently interviewed our CEO, Robert Sharp, asking him what his opinion on the whole debacle was. Robert has been quite open with all of us here about his view of the saga which has devastated the car maker’s finances, after having to recall millions of its cars and SUVs as well as its luxury brand Lexus which shares the parts bin with its bigger brother.
So what was Robert’s take? Well let’s start with honesty – it’s clear Toyota knew there was a problem early on, and with such a stronghold in the car market they should have reacted far sooner, leaving owners and potential customers in no doubt that their interests would be protected by this giant of manufacturing. Instead, it hesitated, confusing the media with mixed messages, many being perceived as dishonest, misleading and unprofessional. It seems that even those at the top of Toyota were not sure of how to react, and after several deaths, insurance industry investigations and lawsuit filings, they finally (kind of) admitted liability. …Read more »
By Vincent Tyson | June 8, 2010
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The last time I wrote a blog for RSA I discussed the joys and pitfalls of the customer service experience, and promised to return with an update on the window issue. Well I am pleased to say the glass was finally replaced and they did it on time! Wow – some good news.
Now I have another story that addresses customer service and its huge importance in today’s world.
Customer Service Failure
This customer service story involves Sears. The situation has angered me so much that I was forced to employ measures that I had never used before. …Read more »
By Tarah Heupel | June 3, 2010
Summer usually brings a few of our favorite things – like sunshine, days at the lake, hiking and grilling. This summer also brings the RSA office a few jackrabbits. Not the little fluffy ones that munch on your garden (put down the BB gun!), but rather three lovely summer interns from South Dakota State University.
Kandi Moulder – Account Management, SEM
Kandi
“I may not believe in myself, but I believe in what I’m doing.” – Jimmy Page
Kandi is a senior at SDSU in Brookings majoring in advertising with a minor in art. She originally hails from Jeffers, a small town in Southern Minnesota. She’s not kidding when she says small; there were more people living in her dorm hall at SDSU than in her hometown.
Kandi is a bit of an art addict. Spending the summer without her art supplies – or her cat, Kitty – is going to be tough. She made her first trip to Art Alley a few weeks ago and fell in love. She plans to make it down there a few more times this summer. …Read more »
By Tarah Heupel | June 1, 2010
By now you’ve probably heard that RSA is holding a contest this month. It’s ridiculously easy to play and come June 30, you could walk away with $50 in your pocket. Interested? Yeah, we thought so. Read on for all the official rules/details, then head over to our Facebook page to enter.
For years we’ve been playing a little game we like to call Good Ad, Bad Ad. Each month we get together and look through a plethora of fantastic and horrible ads. Some make us laugh, some make us cry, some make us literally spit out our coffee. It’s a great time – and starting today, you can play along. …Read more »
By Aubrey Watts | May 28, 2010
What’s better than playing Pacman on Google during the work day? Playing our Facebook contest of course! And guess what, there’s even a prize (a good one, we swear)!
OM NOM NOM NOM
What’s this I hear about a contest?
Throughout the month of June RSA will be hosting an exciting new contest on Facebook. Anyone can enter and anyone can win. Although we can’t tell you all the details right now, stay tuned and watch for the big announcement on June 1.
Like us…or we will hunt you down
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to get details on how to participate.
