Friday, August 29th 2008 | Short URL
As you may already know Jez and I here at Make Hay manage and coordinate the Green Girls Global and Green Guys Global blogs. On Monday we will be very happy to re-launch fresh, new and even better versions of them both.
The GGG blogs are all about editors from different parts of the world sharing their experiences, ideas and views on living a more sustainable life.
Since the beginning of Green Girls Global in November 2006 and subsequent launch of Green Guys Global exactly one year later we’ve enjoyed fantastic support from our readers and contributors. We’ve even been featured in The Times (Top 50 Eco Blogs and Anna Shepard’s Greenie Points) and Marie Claire and been voted number 2 in the People’s Choice Best Green Blogger.
So on the 1st September make sure you stop by www.greengirlsglobal.com and www.greenguysglobal.com and tell us what you think.
There will also be lots of opportunities for contributors so if you’d like to get involved let us know!
Friday, August 22nd 2008 | Short URL
Quite a lot of our Make Hay clients are bloggers so this one is especially for you.
In my view it is all the more important that green bloggers have engaged and interested visitors because the issues that you’re blogging about can make a big difference.
So here are 5 links from the blogging experts to help you along the way:
How to Create a Blog that People Want to Read
Chris Garrett
Using Titles Effectively on Blogs
Problogger
Common Mistake Bloggers Make
Business Blogging Tips
Creating Stories that Resonate
Seth Godin
Six Simple Things You can do to Enjoy Blogging More
North x East
Friday, August 15th 2008 | Short URL
One of the first questions many potential clients ask is “how to I get to number 1 in Google?”.
Well, this is a massive question. SEO is a detailed and complex subject in itself relating to technical aspects of web development, semantics and copywriting, not to mention keeping up with the changing ways that search engines track and index sites on the web.
Those of you who have worked with us before have probably, at some time or another, heard us say “content is king”. When it comes to potential clients finding you on search engines and then staying on your site when they get there your content is extremely important. This is where you have the most control of your SEO destiny.
Unless you are hiring a copywriter to do the job for you it is likely that you will write the text content for your own website. And why not? Who knows your business better than you? The skill is in taking this knowledge of your business, industry and market and creating clear, concise and relevant copy that both search engines and website visitors will like.
It sounds complicated but following certain rules will go a long way to helping you get to grips with writing in this way. Here are a few resources that you may find useful.
Rule No 1 – Don’t underestimate the importance of good content
See this Webcredible article:
“Website content – Getting it right for search engines“
Rule No 2 – Write for your audience as well as Google
See this Copyblogger article:
“Seven Copywriting Tips for a Well-Staffed Business Website“
Rule No 3 – Understand how linking affects your search engine position
See this Webcredible article:
“Advanced link building“
As I mentioned earlier there are many other things involved in having a search engine friendly website and much of that relies on the coding and way it is built. Please see our article ‘Standards Design Works!‘ for an example and do contact us if you would like to know more.
Friday, August 8th 2008 | Short URL
The latest Make Noise newsletter is out now!
Check out the August ‘08 edition ‘Grasslands, Natural Nursery and Pledging for Change‘.
If you would like to find out about all kinds of green and ethical work then why not become a Make Noise member? Joining Make Noise is completely free and all we ask you to do is help spread the word by forwarding anything you think will be of interest to a friend.
Spread the word about positive action and Make Noise!
http://www.makenoise.co.uk
Friday, August 8th 2008 | Short URL
One of our fantastic Make Mail clients Michael Norton, of 365 Act, has published a gargantuan list of networks in his August newsletter.
The list includes physical and virtual networking groups for technology and social entrepreneurs and creative people.
As Michael Says networking is a great way to get the creative juices flowing and “the two ingredients of success in changing the world are CURIOSITY and SERENDIPITY”
To find out more about Make Mail, our e-mail marketing service, visit www.makemail.co.uk
Thursday, August 7th 2008 | Short URL
Here’s the latest from a few of our clients…
Now using our Green Hosting, powered by the wind:
Natural Nursery Blog
News and updates on green products, activities and baby and family stories.
www.naturalnurseryblog.co.uk
DEA Services Wimbledon
Domestic energy assessing and home energy assessing services in Wimbledon.
www.deaserviceswimbledon.co.uk
Grasslands Trust
A national charity protecting grasslands and wildlife-rich meadows.
www.grasslands-trust.org
Pledging for Change
Affiliation and promotions for business who are seeking change.
www.pledgingforchange.org
Our lovely Green Hosting clients Pure Design will be taking part in in the Eco Fashion Show and Party in London on Tuesday 12th August at Club for Climate.
Items will be on show and available to buy from some of Pure Design’s designers and many more.
By special invitation from Pure Design you can recieve 25% off the entrance fee for the show. Download the invitation flyer to find out more.
For further details visit Pure Design’s blog and to book tickets go to www.eco-fashion.co.uk
Baby Boo Organic became one of our Green Hosting clients earlier this year. Recently I was very pleased to hear news of their international success. Here’s what they told me…
“Since the lunch of Natural and Organic range of baby bath care products, Baby Boo Organic has been inundated with calls and emails from stockists from around the world. We have had interest from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Australia, USA, Israel, Hong Kong and Singapore….Here in the UK we have had very positive feedback from two major pharmacy chains in relation to stocking the Baby Boo Organic range.
We have had 54000 hits on our website since the launch of our products in April 2008.”
Make Hay & Green Hosting clients: Get in touch and tell us your latest news. We’ll share it here on Make Hay, The Blog
Friday, August 1st 2008 | Short URL
Last Friday’s post was a little heavy and since then I’ve been having a lot of interesting conversations about the way green/ethical business is perceived and how those of us who run ‘ethical’ businesses should communicate what we do. I put the word ‘ethical’ in inverted commas because a big part of the discussions have been about what we mean when we are using certain words to describe our business and how that may be perceived – Hmmm lots of food for thought.
Anyway, that is a huge subject and I wanted to finish this week with something a bit lighter but still ask for your views.
This blog is meant for you – Make Hay clients, those interested in finding out more about us, colleagues and associates. So, tell us what you want to see here.
What would be most interesting and useful? Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Speak to us! We really want this blog to be something you want to read. Please either leave a comment below or contact us.
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