Google Plans on Updating Their Ranking System

Whenever the leader in a particular industry does something different or new the world takes notice. In terms of search engines, I think we can all agree that Google is that leader, so when they announce that they are going to change the way they are currently doing things, people start to get nervous.

I have attached an article from the business 2 community website that basically says instead of trying to figure out what the "tricks" it will take to keep your site highly ranked just keep doing the right things to keep your site relevant and fresh. That's the best way to stay ahead of the curve, or whatever curveball Google throws at you



Google to Update Ranking again

NEWS FROM . . . MELINDA KATZ

QUEENS BOROUGH PRESIDENT

120-55 Queens Boulevard Press Contact:  Michael Scholl

Kew Gardens, New York 11424                           (718) 286-2640 (office) (646)257-0316 (cell)

No. 25-14

FOR RELEASE:  Tuesday, March 25, 2014

 MEDIA ADVISORY: BOROUGH PRESIDENT KATZ,

 ASSEMBLY MEMBER MARKEY              

AND THE WORLD’S FAIR ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE

TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING SLATE OF EVENTS

                                        MARKING ANNIVERSARIES OF 1939 AND 1964 WORLD’S FAIRS

Queens Borough President Melinda Katz and state Assembly Member Margaret Markey, the co-chairs of the World’s Fair Anniversary Committee, will host a press conference on Friday, March 28 at 11:30 a.m. to announce the scheduling of a six-month series of events to celebrate the 50^th and 75^th anniversaries of the 1964 and 1939 World’s Fairs, which were held in what is now Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens.

The press conference will take place in Flushing Meadows Corona Park at the Unisphere, the huge globe erected for the 1964 World’s Fair that has since become a cultural icon known worldwide as a symbol of Queens.

Among the events to be announced on Friday will be an opening ceremony at the New York State Pavilion at 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday, April 22. That date will be exactly 50 years to the day after the 1964’s World Fair opened to the public.

This year’s opening ceremony will be followed by a rare opportunity for the public to tour the New York State Pavilion. The tours will take place between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22.

     Another event to be announced Friday will be NYC Parks’ “World’s Fair Anniversary Festival,” a day of great food, great rides, live entertainment, World’s Fair memorabilia and more that will be co-sponsored by the Queens Borough President’s Office and held in Flushing Meadows Corona Park on Sunday, May 18.

A variety of Queens cultural institutions will also be holding World’s Fair Anniversary events this year that will be part of the schedule of festivities to be released at Friday’s press conference.

     Also to be released Friday will be a brochure on World’s Fair Anniversary events produced by the Queens Tourism Council, a division of the Queens Economic Development Corporation and a member of the World’s Fair Anniversary Committee. In addition, the Queens Tourism Council will unveil a website Friday offering up-to-date information on World’s Fair Anniversary events.

Borough President Katz and Assembly Member Markey are hosting the press conference in their capacities as co-chairs of the World’s Fair Anniversary Committee, an umbrella group that includes elected officials, the City’s Parks Department, the Queens Tourism Council and the participating cultural organizations that will be hosting World’s Fair Anniversary events. Katz and Markey will offer remarks during the press conference along with representatives from NYC Parks, NYC and Company and other members of the World’s Fair Anniversary Committee.

     The additional organizations represented on the World’s Fair Anniversary Committee include theFlushing Meadows-Corona Park Conservancy, the Louis Armstrong House Museum, the Museum of the Moving Image, the New York Daily News, the New York Hall of Science, the New York Mets, the Noguchi Museum, the Port Authority of NY & NJ, theQueens Botanical Garden, the Queens Chamber of Commerce, Queens College, the Queens Historical Society,the Queens Museum, the Queens Theatre and the United States Tennis Association.

WHAT: A press conference announcing a slate of events marking the anniversaries of 1939 and 1964 World’s Fairs

WHEN:Friday, March 28 at 11:30 a.m.

WHERE:The Unisphere at Flushing Meadows Corona Park

Parking for the press will be available in the parking lots of the Queens Museum, just steps away from the Unisphere

In case of inclement weather, the press conference will be held in the lobby of the Queens Museumon the same date and time.

Total Hearing Care is having a Special Hearing Workshop

Total Hearing Care is having a Special Hearing Workshop at 855 Richmond Ave., Suite 101 in Staten Island on April 10^th & 11^th. Participants will receive a free hearing screening and a demonstration of the latest hearing aid technology presented by one of Total Hearing Care’s certified staff members. The general public is invited. To make your reservation, please call the April office at 718-635-0396 today. Elizabeth W. Cook, M.A., FAAA, Chief Audiologist, NJ Hearing Aid Supervising Dispenser Lic.

Writing Effective Ad Copy for Your PPC Campaign

One of the main components of our digital solutions packages is a SEM campaign. As you probably know, Search Engime Marketing or SEM is one of the most effective ways to get your company in that coveted "first page". But in order to keep your company on that first page you have a campaign that produces clicks. Most search engines will start to penalize you if your ad consistently appears in a search but is never clicked on. They will consider your ad irrelevant or ineffective and punish it by limiting its appearances thus . The reason being is they want users to continue using their search engine, so therefore the user experience is a big factor in your ranking. If your ad is irrelevant then its not going to show up anymore, even if your bidding higher for your keywords.

Here is a great article from the Business 2 Community website on how to write effective ad copy:


How to Compose Effective Ad Word Copy


If all of this seems confusing to you or if your business needs help with creating a SEM campaign call the Daily News Digital Solution representatives at 212-210-1929 or email me at cdonovan@nydailynews.com

How Can Mobile SEO help my non mobile/local business

Rand Fishkin takes on the topic of Mobile SEO for non mobile and small businesses and gives some great tips on how to compete in the mobile SEO world. He even points out that his own site is not fully mobile friendly and gives you the reasons why MOZ does not have a full mobile optimized experience.

The question to you, small business owner is, can you continue to compete on the open market with a site that is not mobile friendly for long? The first fact Rand Fishkin reveals here is that mobile is ready to outpace desktop searches by the end of the year. He makes the case for this in revealing why mobile searches are so prevalent and its pretty solid. Think of your customer like this:
-are they chained to a desk or are they un-tethered and out in the world?

Here is the best way to look at your site, be the consumer. Get your mobile phone or tablet out and search for the product or services you sell, where do you rank? When you click through to your site whats your mobile experience?

If you are unsatisfied with the results the Daily News digital solutions team can help you get to where you need to be both on mobile and desktop. Call us anytime for a free consultation at 212-210-1929

Here is the whiteboard presntation with video:

Moz Blog on Mobile SEO

It’s In Queens! (March 20 to March 26)

It’s In Queens! (March 20 to March 26)

The world famous Cirque du Soleil rolls into Queens this week to present Amaluna until May 11. This is a tremendous show, full of breath-taking acrobatics, routines, music and costumes. But the borough offers other, equally exciting activities during this period, too, including “rocking gospel,” film festivals, art openings, theater and even a bear hunt. Here’s the rundown.

March 20, Opening of Cirque du Soleil’s Amaluna, 8 pm (runs until May 11 at various times). This circus show takes the audience to a mysterious island governed by goddesses and guided by moon cycles. Citi Field, 123-01 Roosevelt Ave, Flushing, www.cirquedusoleil.com.

March 20, D.B. Rielly, 9 pm. Award-winning musician D.B. Rielly performs a wide-range of Americana music, including Roots, Zydeco, Blues, and Alt-Country. He promises an “instantaneous cure for all afflictions.” Free. Rèst Âü Ránt, 30-01 35^th Ave., LIC, www.rarbarlic.com.

March 20, Samba Lessons, 7 pm. Dance instruction for all ages and all levels with renowned instructor Paul Ru Bao of Farrington Ballroom Dance School. After an hour lesson there is an hour of open dance. $10 single class/$45 for five classes. Skip the class and join open dance at 8 pm for $5. QT, 14 United Nations Ave. S., Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, www.queenstheatre.org.

March 21, Nuala Documentary, 7:30 pm. Nuala O’Faolain’s memoir shocked Ireland with revelations of her sexual history and bizarre upbringing. She was an enthusiastic heterosexual whose most lasting relationship was with a radical lesbian activist and a feminist who adored her neglectful father. She transfixed Ireland again when, ravaged by cancer, she turned to radio to talk frankly about her impending death. Evening includes a Q&A with the movie’s director. $11/$6 students, seniors, unemployed, New York Irish Center, 10-40 Jackson Ave., LIC, www.newyorkirishcenter.org.

March 21, In-Between the Lines: A Performance & Writing Workshop, 7 pm. Queens Council on the Arts’ 3rd Space presents a writing workshop hosted by The In-Between People, a local performance collective. $5. QCA, 37-11 35th Ave., Astoria, www.queenscouncilarts.org.

March 21, Requiem for a Dream, 7 pm. The Museum of the Moving Image is hosting Indie to Epic: The Films of Darren Aronofsky. Based on the eponymous novel by Hubert Selby Jr., Requiem for a Dream follows a young couple’s downward spiral into heroin abuse amid a search for the key to their dreams. Includes a preview of Aronofsky’s latest film, Noah. MMI, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria, www.movingimage.us.

March 21, Jim Campbell’s Evocative Low-Resolution Work, museum hours (runs until June 15). The Museum of the Moving Image presents the first solo museum exhibition in NYC of the work of Jim Campbell, the San Francisco-based artist best known for his evocative low resolution works. A tech innovator, he integrates and manipulates computers and custom electronics into visually arresting artworks. On March 22 at 2 pm, MMI presents a public conversation with Campbell and curator Steve Dietz. Free with admission. MMI, 36-01 35^th Ave., Astoria, www.movingimage.us.

March 21, An Evening of Durang: 2 Short Plays by Christopher Durang, 4 pm (March 22, 7 pm; March 23, 3 pm; March 25, noon). The York College Theatre performs two of Durang’s short comedies for an evening of deranged laughter. In Dentity Crisis, Jane collides head-on with her father, brother, grandfather, her mother’s lover and her psychiatrist. In The Actor’s Nightmare, Durang’s hapless characters move in and out of plays by Noel Coward, Beckett, Shakespeare and Robert Bolt’s A Man for All Seasons to keep the actors frantic and the audience in stitches. $10/$7 students.  94-45 Guy R. Brewer Blvd., Jamaica, www.york.cuny.edu.

March 22, Rockin’ Gospel by Vince Anderson & Friends, 7 pm. Reverend Vince Anderson plays “rocking gospel,” soul and jazz to get audiences grooving in their seats. Free, but donations accepted. Sunnyside Reformed Church, 48-03 Skillman Ave., Sunnyside, 718-426-5997.

March 22, Pi, 4:30 pm; and The Fountain, 7 pm. The Museum of the Moving Image is hosting Indie to Epic: The Films of Darren Aronofsky. Pi, Aronofsky’s debut, is a sci-fi thriller, exploring tenets of number theory and spirituality from the perspective of an obsessive and nihilistic mathematical genius. Blending elements of fantasy, romance, and science fiction, The Fountain depicts men’s tumultuous quests for eternal love. A conquistador in Mayan country searches for the tree of life to free his captive queen; a medical researcher looks for a botanical cure to save his dying wife; a space traveler moves toward a dying star that is wrapped in a nebula. Includes preview of Aronofsky’s latest film, Noah. MMI, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria, www.movingimage.us.

March 22, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, 2:15 pm (workshop at 1 pm). Michael Rosen’s award-winning children’s book comes to life on stage, telling an intrepid tale of a father, his three children and their dog in search of a bear. $12/$10 members/$8 children/$6 member children. Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., www.flushingtownhall.org.

March 22, Hands-on History: Weaving History, noon. Weave cloth and paper. Free. King Manor Museum, 150-03 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica, www.kingmanor.org.

March 22, Wildlife Photography, 1 pm. Learn how to take nature photos with the Queens Botanical Garden as the backdrop. Experienced nature photographer Shari Romar offers examples and advice on light and composition. All are welcome. Participants must bring their own camera. $10/$18 for two workshops. Advance registration and payment required at education@queensbotanical.org or 718-886-3800, x 230. QBG, 43-50 Main St., Flushing, www.queensbotanical.org.

March 22, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, 8 pm. These double platinum Swing chart toppers celebrate the Rat Pack’s music in a 1960’s era-inspired Las Vegas show. $35. Queensborough Performing Arts Center, 222-05 56th Ave., Bayside, www.visitqpac.org.

March 22, People+Education+Art+Community+Engagement, 6 pm. An evening of art, poetry, music, dance and a lecture on murals celebrating the opening of a show by Gabino Abraham Castelán, a socially engaged artist committed to connecting the local community to art, artists, and organizations. Space Art Gallery, 29-09 39th Ave., LIC, www.spacegallerylic.com.

March 22, The World of Tomorrow, 1:30 pm. Learn about the 1939 World’s Fair, which encouraged visitors to take a look at the future. Free. Greater Astoria Historical Society, Quinn Building, 35-20 Bway., 4th Fl., LIC, www.astorialic.org.

March 23, The Wrestler, 4:30 pm; Black Swan, 7 pm. The Museum of the Moving Image is hosting Indie to Epic: The Films of Darren Aronofsky. The Wrestler is a breathtaking comeback for Mickey Rourke, who plays a washed up 1980s wrestling star. In Black Swan, Natalie Portman plays a dancer who eventually caves to pressure from her retired ballerina mother, demanding artistic director, and the jealousy and deceit from her competition in the company. Includes a preview of Aronofsky’s latest film, Noah. MMI, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria, www.movingimage.us.

March 23, Toying With Science, 1 pm & 3 pm. Combining circus skills, mime, original music, and audience involvement, Garry and his audience delve into the imaginations of scientists. $14 or purchase a Family Series Flex Pass for $100 (10 tickets to use however you want.) Queens Theatre, 14 United Nations Ave. S., Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, www.queenstheatre.org.

March 23, MARCH for the Earth, 10 am and 1 pm (weather permitting). Celebrate the vernal equinox (historical Earth Day) by joining community groups for a day of volunteering and unity at Queens Botanical Garden, followed by a festive march to the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Unisphere. Free, but registration required at rforlenza@queensbotanical.org. QBG, 43-50 Main St., Flushing, www.queensbotanical.org.

March 23, Sundial Craft Workshop, 1 pm (while supplies last). Make your own sundial pendant from recycled materials. Free. Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing, www.queensbotanical.org.

March 24, The Blue Note Sound, 6 pm. The Epistrophy Ensemble celebrates 75 years of Blue Note Records. York College Performing Arts Center, 94-45 Guy R. Brewer Blvd., Jamaica, www.york.cuny.edu.

March 24, Happy Birthday, Forgotten New York, 7 pm. The often imitated and never duplicated Forgotten New York website is a godsend to those interested in NYC history. Webmaster Kevin Walsh celebrates 15 years with a PowerPoint presentation of some of FNY’s greatest hits and cake. Free. Greater Astoria Historical Society, Quinn Building, 35-20 Bway., 4th Fl., LIC, www.astorialic.org.

March 25, Tuesday Morning Music Club of Douglaston, 11 am. Pianist Reed Tetzloff plays compositions by Debussy and Beethoven. Guitarist Edmund Nicodemi plays James Cohn’s works for guitar. Sopranos Carol Nicodemi and Betina Hershey Russo sing. Douglaston Community Church, 39-15, Douglaston Pkwy., 516-466-4034.

The “It’s In Queens” column is produced by the Queens Tourism Council with the hope that readers will enjoy the borough’s wonderful attractions. More info at www.itsinqueens.com.

Yahoo Partners with Yelp, YIKES?

In the never ending game called "How do we catch up to Google?" Yahoo! has taken up with online review site Yelp!

You can read more on the partnership here at the Wall Street Journal :

Yahoo to partner with Yelp article

I bring this up now because I have heard people refer to Yelp as "trusted content' and I guess like beauty, that is in the eye of the beholder. I think we have all had a bad meal at a well reviewed by Yelp restaurant and similarly I have had a great experience at places that had an overall unfavorable Yelp score. So if a powerhouse like Yahoo is going to partner with a Yelp for content this should send a huge sign out to small and medium sized businesses that they had better be on top of their online reputation management. 

These review sites are no longer looked at as the opinions of anonymous untrustworthy individuals, but as reliable content sought after by huge search engines! This is a game changer in the world of reputation management. For a long time businesses have been able to control the content and the message they want potential customers to see by placing ads in certain media and limiting any damaging information by keeping it in house. Now, the power is slowly shifting to the consumer and if you're not careful the message your potential customers are getting may not be the one you want. 

The Daily News has realized the need to provide reputation management to small and medium businesses. These are the types of places that might have not have the resources to defend themselves but might be damaged the most by a poor online review. We can help you navigate the online waters of reputation management and make sure that you are listed correctly on review sites and directories across the web.

Call us anytime for a free consultation at 212-210-1929

Woodside on the Move at Donovan's Pub

Woodside on the Move is a fantastic community organization that serves the people of Woodside Queens and beyond. They assist with affordable housing initiatives, they put on street fairs and support economic initiatives for residents and businesses and they have been doing this work for over 36 years. 

Woodside on the Move Website

Its a great cause and a great restaurant to celebrate the occasion. Donovan's Pub located at 57-24 Roosevelt Avenue in Woodside has been a neighborhood institution and was recently named one of America's best Irish pubs. 

21 Best Irish Pubs in America

Their burgers have long been legendary amongst native New Yorkers and tourists alike and they pour one of the best pints of Guinness . Go see for yourself and support a great cause on Thursday March 13th 

Doonovan's Pub Website

Advertisers: Do You Know How to Use Google?

I am attaching a spectacular infographic from Jeff Bullas' blog that explains the way the Google ad words auction works. The process is broken down and simplified for us to understand it, but yuo must remember these calculations are taking place in a fraction of a second.

The bottom line with Google advertising is that it looks so easy to do everyone tries it but few ever master it. That's why the Daily News has partnered with Google to be a Premier partner. We offer expert advice and insight into your campaign is always just an email or call away. Your account is personally handled by our analysts.

So take a look at this post and if your still confused, give us a call  


INFOGRAPHIC: How To Advertise on Google

Special Hearing Workshop

Total Hearing Care is having a Special Hearing Workshop at 855 Richmond Ave., Suite 101 in Staten Island on March 13^th & 14^th. Participants will receive a free hearing screening and a demonstration of the latest hearing aid technology presented by one of Total Hearing Care’s certified staff members. The general public is invited. To make your reservation, please call the Staten Island office at 718-635-0396 today. Elizabeth W. Cook, M.A., FAAA, Chief Audiologist, NJ Hearing Aid Supervising Dispenser Lic.#697

Designing and Developing Your Website

I came across this Social Media Today article about designing and developing your website and i have attached it to the bottom of this post, I encourage you to take the time to read it because it makes some great points.

My point in reposting the article is to show my clients and the people that I do business with how much goes is to designing and more importantly running a good website. It takes time, effort and knowledge to create and maintain a website that a business can be proud of. I run across a ton of businesses who "have a guy" or have a niece or nephew who is working on their website. It seems like its an endless process that leaves the company with a presence on the web, which they know they need, but not the type of presence that will lead to sales or new customers.

The problem with a half done, often ignored website, is that usually is the first impression your making on a potential customer. Once they see a site that looks unprofessional they will begin to make assumptions about the business themselves and they are not good ones.

I will leave you with this thought, you may not feel like your website is getting you any business and therefore its not worth your time and budget but how much business is your unfinished website costing you?

Please feel free to contact me for a website evaluation, the NY Daily News offers a digital solutions division that has the time and manpower to help you

Social Media Today Article

Guest Blogger Michelle Kawka on Professional Headshots

Here is the scenario:
You have the right product or service for the right customer at the right time, but since this potential customer has never met you they do a little "cyber snooping", meaning they are going to look up your available online profiles. If you have set up your profile on Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter or any of the other social networking sites, ask yourself this question: What does my profile pic say about me?

We asked our friend, professional photographer, Michelle Kawka that question and she referred us to an informative blog post she had on the matter. It is worth the read and it is worth reacting to if you are in the business of making connections, virtually or in person.:

Michelle Kawka Blog on Headshots

If you dont realize how important Linkedin has become in the business network arena, check out this post from the San Francisco Gate:

Linkedin Article

Queens Chamber of Commerce St. Patrick's Day Luncheon March 14th

The Daily News is proud to support the Queens Chamber of Commerce in all of their endeavors. The next big event will be their St. Patrick's Day Luncheon taking place on Friday March 14th at Terrace on the Park. There will some great traditional Irish foods as well as some stellar entertainment

Queens Chamber of Commerce