Inbound marketing (or content marketing) is the new SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

Google's continuous updates to its ranking algorithm is changing everyday the nature of the SEO business.

Today's SEO business must make more relevant strategic content creation and distribution through blogging, social media, email and media relations.

Modern link building looks like inbound marketing.

• The 2009 Google Caffeine Update meant content on the web would be indexed faster, and websites with frequently updated content would outrank static ones.
   
• The 2011 Google Panda Update involved cracking down on websites full of machine-generated, duplicated, keyword-stuffed or low-quality content.
   
• The 2012 Google Penguin Update penalized sites with large volumes of inbound links from untrustworthy websites, such as links farms.

On the HTML5 vs. iOS/Android apps' debate where are you?

In many areas HTML5 apps are ahead, and their cross-platform potential will make them reign over native apps on the long term.

In addition to their cross-platform deployment costs, there is the update speed and distribution control factor.

However, if you are seeking monetization –selling apps online–, graphically-rich user interfaces and data presentations, then you need native app stores –Apple's App Store and Google Play.

Business Insider is analyzing the issue.

Are your company still spending money in interruption advertising, cold calls, trade shows and direct marketing?

This video explains in the first minute and a half why that kind of traditional advertising is not effective anymore.

HubSpot, the firm that produced these two videos, is promoting its inbound marketing software, which is a good solution. 
 

My friend Marc Halpert is a LinkedIn branding and positioning trainer. He teaches how to use properly LinkedIn as a social networking tool.

Here is a short excerpt video of Marc teaching Connecticut business owners to leverage LinkedIn.

Surely you will learn a thing or two!

Following with the responsive design series, here is a straightforward testing-tool that you should keep at hand, Responsi.

It allows to see how your responsive designs holds up.

Responsi provides drag-to-resize viewport and several standard device 'pre-sets'.

Another good tool is Screenfly.

           
It seems clear that in order to generate leads, you need to expand your presence in the social mediasphere.

Successful companies understand that they must be present and engage on social platforms.

See how 101 firms have mastered their skills in social media marketing.

HubSpot have launched a great free ebook: "101 Companies Rocking Social Media Marketing".

Get it here.

In a time where tuition costs are rising, and technology is quickly disrupting major industries, many entrepreneurs are wondering why innovation hasn't driven down the cost.

The Gates Foundation is investing heavily in education technology. It recently announced that it has invested $100 million in startup inBloom, a service that helps teachers tailor lessons to individual students.  

Pope Francis is blowing up the Twittersphere.

The Argentine-born Pope has tweeted only three times since election.

Leader of the global world and social media star.

Very exciting times!

We are developing a couple of online stores for two international companies, and we realize while browsing around that many product pages are built without the consumer in mind.

Naturally, it results in high abandonment rates and user frustration.

On the contrary, companies with optimized product pages experience favorable conversion metrics and better visitors' engagement.

"Who are the best?" –one of my clients asks.

Well, according to Website Magazine the best ones are:

1. Nordstrom
2. Wal-Mart
3. Victoria's Secret
4. Toys "R" Us
5. Ulta

I would also add at least these ones: Apple, Macy´s, Best Buy and Zappos.

Music Tube is a free iOS app to listen and watch music videos from YouTube.

Search by genre, create playlists to continuously listen music and see top lists.

It is a great alternative to digital subscription services like Spotify Premium or Pandora. 

YouTube has opened up its new design for channels to all users. So far it was available only as limited beta.

It is called YouTube One Channel.

Users can include a big header on the top of their channels. Also, they can organize their channel videos and player better.

To upgrade to the new look, go to youtube.com/onechannel.

When you are in the middle of a sale cycle, what is the probability to close the deal?

My friend John Harmon, managing director of Adulant Consulting Services, conducted this week in Stamford, Connecticut, a workshop about how to be successful in direct sales.

One of the inspiring ideas he expressed was about prospect management. See above's slide.

And remember, never consider a deal close until you have a signed order!
 

The conclave to elect the next pope will begin in Rome this Tuesday, the 12th of March.

What a better way to follow the election of the successor for Benedict XVI that using an app?

• Be among the first to see the white smoke rise –watch the live video feed from St. Peter's Square.
   
• Learn about the cardinals in the conclave –115 electors, and 1 future pope.
   
• Read the official documents instating, defining, and amending the conclave's process.
   
• Follow key Catholic sources and authorities.
   
• See what Twitter has to say about the conclave.

Here you are two apps I recommend to keep you up to date on papal election. They are available for both iOS and Android.

• Conclave
  
  
• The Pope App
  
  
  

Responsive Web design is changing the way websites are developed.

As I said in the last post, this technology is terrific for lots of things, but it demands a thoughtful approach to the user experience.

There are several guiding principles as you design (or redesign) responsive websites while using techniques and tools to move navigation, images, text and elements based on each device.

I found this one.

(One final note: when you have complex mobile applications is better to opt for a mobile compliant website as it provides greater control.)

Suddenly, everyone in the web design industry are talking about "responsive architecture".

Question is obvious: should I move my website there?

Yes, you should. Basically, because it eliminates the need for a different design and development phase for each new gadget on the market.

Responsive web design is the approach that suggests that design and development should respond to the user's behavior and environment based on screen size, platform and orientation. As the user switches from their laptop to iPad, the website should automatically switch to accommodate for resolution, image size and scripting abilities.

Technically, the practice consists of a mix of flexible grids and layouts, images and an intelligent use of CSS media queries.

Sometimes the simple ideas are the best ones.

Snapchat is a communication platform built as an app that lets people send messages that disappear after they are viewed.

More than 60 million photos or messages are sent each day through this app. It has attracted over 3.5 million users.

The app's appeal is that sharing moments cannot live forever on the Internet –better if they self-destruct.

This Los Angeles-based start up recently raised $13.5 million in venture financing, although it does not currently generate any revenue.

Its founders envision a future where the company could partner with brands or advertisers that want to show certain Snapchat users a glimpse of a new device, a preview of a new movie, a sneak peak of an upcoming line of clothing or a coupon that expires soon.

(Read the story in the NYT)
 

Many companies are looking for freelance or contract employees of all sorts.

According to Freelancer.com, which lists more than a million freelance projects on its site, the most in-demand freelance services are: data entry, academic writing, Excel projects, data processing, Web search and Facebook-based jobs.

Don't think freelancing isn't a business. It can be built a whole company around providing freelance services.

At Freelancer.com hourly rates start at $30 an hour and strech into the hundreds.

For unemployed young people in countries in deep recession like Spain –where I was born– is an opportunity.

Here is a dark reality that companies -especially the big ones– hide: often their products don't work.

Why? They don't test their applications or software carefully enough.

Apps, e-commerce, m-commerce, websites are must-haves for any business, but are plenty of errors.

One of the great ideas for 2013 is testing business, according to .net magazine. There is room in this market for growth.

One company, soasta.com, is an example of it. It offers cloud testing services for clients.

At a musical songs-filled ceremony, Hollywood's Academy Awards gave its top honor to Ben Affleck's "Argo". "Les Miserables" joined "Argo" in taking three awards. "Life of Pi" won four trophies, and Tarantino's "Django Unchained" was honored with two. 

A must-see moment?

Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway –awarded for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Fantine– lead a performance from the cast of Les Miserables. The actors were joined by their co-stars Russel Crow, Amanda Seyfried, Eddid Redmayne, Samantha Barks, Aaron Tveit, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Helena Bonham Carter.

Watch the Les Miserables segment at the 5:45 mark in the video above.

As everyone else I have my favourites for the Oscar's night: Les Miserables and Argo.

In my view Les Miserables is one of the greatest films ever made. An absolutely masterpiece. Amazing actors and acting, script, screenwriting, filmography, photography, music performance (the recording was live!), soundtrack, dressing, make up... It reaches perfection.

You will regret if you miss it. I saw it twice, bought the soundtrack in iTunes and will buy the BlueRay.

However, before you watch it, please do your homework and read about Victor Hugo's novel –Wikipedia is a good start. It is key to know in advance the significance of each scene in order to understand the musical numbers.


 

What business idea is best for you?

.net magazine has created an interesting of Business Idea Generator.

You answer 21 "yes" or "no" questions and they tell you the top five business ideas that might work for you.

Get started here.

Don't expect Silicon Valley-style ideas, but restaurants, retail stores, franchise business, catering/entertainment and similar.

Or this is at least what I got in the quiz.

Weeks ago I suggested to do a Facebook cleanse. Now it is time for Apps cleanse.

At last count, I had 200+ apps on my iPhone and iPad. As everyone else I download new apps constantly. I recommend many too. However, I probably use about 15 regularly.

• Apple recently said that there were 775,000 applications available on its virtual store. 
   
• A study by Nielsen found that the average number of applications per smartphone was rising, but the amount of time people spent using apps had not change much.
   
• Onavo, a company that helps people monitor their data use, estimates that only about 1,000 applications have at least 50,000 users in the U.S.
   
• Less than half the people who download an app use it more than once, says Onavo

The New York Times says that many people suffer an app overload.

As I wrote, digital leadership means making choices about how to most efficiently use your digital tools.
 

"In technology, either you cannibalize yourself or someone else is going to do it."

I get this quote from EBay's CEO John Donaho. I would add: this is the nature of innovation.

In an interview with Charlie Rose in Bloomberg Businessweek, Mr. Donahoe explains that instead of facing resistance EBay takes the tough medicine and labels a turnaround. It allows to focus on fixing the fundamentals of the businesses.

"I worry about disruption every day, That's what spurs you to do innovation. The big change we're seeing with PayPal is driven by mobile devices. They've blurred, if not obliterated, the lines between online and offline, between what used to be called e-commerce and what's now called retail. Customers feel they have a mall in their hands now...".
 

Want to have a cartoon version of yourself in seconds?

iMadeFace is a must have iOS app. It transforms your face in minutes –whether it captures your likeness is another issue.

Don't replace your LinkedIn photo for your avatar, but, hey, have some fun


Apparently this is me!

         
Quick thought about the importance of becoming digitally literate which I expressed in a recent consultancy for a business leader.

It is projected three billion people connected to the Internet by the end of 2015, and four billion by the end of 2020. It is said that by 2015 there will be approximately 15 billion connected devices in the world.

(However, what we don't know wheter Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin or any one of the other 500 popular social networks will be around in few years. Social media networks are in their infancy.)

So, in this Information Age question is what businesses and professionals must do either to prosper or survive.

The world of communication is 100 percent digital. And it is clear to me that becoming digitally skillful is a priority to become competitive and employable.

Right now any hiring manager in the connected world checks you out on Google, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter before considering you for a position. Make no mistake, this reality will only increse.