The first step is to create an AdCenter account, if you haven’t already. AdCenter will take you through the usual sign-up process, credit card information and so on. Once you are set up and on the main dashboard, click “create campaign.” The usual process of creating campaigns comes first, meaning name the campaign, choose your budget, enter time zone, etc.

One important aspect to note when using AdCenter is that there are two steps that must be completed. First, you must choose the area you want to target. Second, you must complete the ad group distribution field. Targeting, which allows you to advertise to any specific age and gender, is when you choose the area you plan to send ads to. Ad group distribution factors include the platform where your ads will appear and the language in which your ads will be written.

Now it’s time to target!

So, do you want your ads to one specific area? Or do you want your ads for the entire region? Once you decide on whether you want to target one specific area or distribute to an entire area speaking a specific language, you can follow through with the rest of the process of creating an ad campaign.

After you have finished creating the ad campaign, double check to make sure that everything is correct and in order. After you are satisfied with your ad copy, budget, keywords, and target audience, you select finish. One key point to remember about ad groups is that once you click finish, the ad group is final. If you’ve made a mistake, you must delete the ad group and create a new one.

And that’s it! It’s as simple as that. Now you can target audiences all over the world from your own computer. Remember, in Hotmail is Still Hot we discussed the new features that AdCenter has implemented to create a more effective overall ad campaign experience. Utilize those features for an overall satisfactory advertising experience. So get out there and start targeting! Advertise to those international users and watch your revenue shoot through the roof!

AdCenter sounds effective but if you prefer assistance when creating ad campaigns and targeting international users? Our SEM team is stacked with AdCenter experts, so give us a call today if you would like some help targeting your international audience.

But do you want to know the next best thing about MSN and Hotmail? MSN, Windows Live Mail, and Hotmail e-mail are all supported via content-based advertising through AdCenter. Through content advertising, your ads are not only showing on two powerful search engines (Bing and Yahoo!), but in the MSN e-mail pages as well. The content ads through AdCenter appear in the Hotmail e-mail pages, just as ads appear at the top and right side bar in Gmail. One thing to keep in mind with Hotmail advertising is that most of the ads are for insurance, telephone services, and technology. So, if you are involved any of these industries, your advertisement has a high chance of appearing to the e-mailers.  However, if you type something into the Hotmail search bar, a related service should appear for the search query. Take my Hotmail account for example.

When I entered “telephone” in the Hotmail search bar, an advertisement for U.S. Cellular appears on the right hand side of the screen.

This screenshot from my Hotmail account shows a U.S. Cellular display advertisement in accordance with my “telephone” search query.

So, why should we care about advertising through AdCenter? Because Hotmail is enhancing their advertisements to create a better user experience as opposed to increasing ad revenue.  As you can see from the screenshot above, the U.S. Cellular advertisement is offering a deal. In short,  Microsoft wants to create a great product, not just publish ads. So, this may hurt your ad revenue in the short term, but in the long term the publicity could be outstanding for your business. MSN is going head-to-head with Google whose Gmail bombards you with advertisements that focus solely on the sale, not the user experience.  With Hotmail, the deals show the user that their advertisements are aligned with the users’ interests, and all users want to know that they are being considered as actual human beings, and not just profit for a company.

But that is not all! AdCenter has also applied new updates to their services so SEM teams can better manage their advertising campaigns.

Some of the changes to AdCenter, according to Microsoft Advertising, include:

• Improved Ad Targeting
  • Can now target to tablets and smartphones
• Improved Impression Share Volume
• Impression share lost to budget
• Impression share lost to rank
• Impression share lost to other factors

AdCenter is stepping up their game, and they are making it easier for SEM teams to manage their accounts while providing more insight into user behavior.

We should never forget that MSN and Hotmail are still hot throughout the world. Although Hotmail and MSN are not the most popular platforms in the United States, MSN still has 45.5 million users throughout the nation.  Luckily, here at BFO, we have an SEM team of AdCenter and AdWords experts. If you would like some insight and guidance into the world of International SEM and these advertising platforms, give us a call today!

I went to Belgium in December and learned some fascinating facts to use for my International SEO white paper; almost every person I met in Belgium uses an MSN account. When I went to Amsterdam and congregated with three Brazilians for two days, I found out that they all use MSN as well. Now I am not sure why Brazil and Belgium use MSN, but they do. And if anyone wants to consider International SEO, they may want to discover what the main search engine and e-mail platform is in the targeted country, because there is a high chance is it MSN.

But it isn’t just Hotmail that is being used. Windows Live Messenger is still the number one platform in the world for chat. In fact, 300 people in 76 countries and 48 languages use Messenger every month. The top messenger users are:

• 48% of all Internet users in Canada
• 65% of all Internet users in Brazil
• 39% of all Internet users in the UK

So how does MSN continue to be used throughout the world, yet not as much in the United States? According to MSN Messenger Tips, MSN Messenger is “partnering with around 74 other social networks like Facebook and Twitter.”   So although Google and Yahoo are some of our top search engines and messaging systems, MSN is still the top used service.

When you compare the MSN statistics to the Visualize Yahoo! map, you can see that most of Yahoo’s! activity in the United States is far more active than overseas. Granted, people overseas are still sending Yahoo! Mail, but not as many. And according to Hitwise.com,  in the Top Ten visited U.S. websites for the week ending on 1/28/2012, Yahoo! Mail comes in 4^th place, Gmail in 8^th place, and Hotmail in 10^th place. So although Hotmail isn’t as popular in the United States, it still holds a place as the largest e-mail platform used. According to Yahoo! in 2011, “Hotmail is the biggest webmail provider with over 330 million unique users.” So Hotmail, now referred to as Windows Live Hotmail, is the leading e-mail platform.

It’s amazing what you learn when you travel. And maybe that is the main beauty of travelling. Seeing how other cultures interact with one another and how they function, while enjoying their déclassé, but most of all, taking something away from the experience that could contribute to your work back home. So, what I learned is that if you want to target international users, you must consider the fact that several other countries still use the MSN platform.

To see what we can do for your International Strategy, check out our International Marketing page.

Pinterest allows users to create separate boards for different categories. So, if you are a retailer of female outfits, you could really hit it big with Pinterest by posting photos of the “going out” clothing, and the “casual” clothing, and of course, the shoes. Because it’s so easy to manage these different boards, it acts as another website for your business. The only difference with Pinterest is that you could reach customers who may have no idea that you exist.  Imagine if you are a retailer for products for homes or commercial businesses. You could “pin” your products into different categories for all to see because you cannot create a “pin” unless you have uploaded an image. It’s all about being seen, so make sure that you have flattering photos of your products.

One feature of Pinterest is a button that can be installed in browsers so users can “pin” any photo from any website. Similar to StumbleUpon, any image (if appropriate) from any site can be “pinned”. Here are some extra tips to consider when creating a Pinterest page for your business.

• “Pin” other products and images, not just your products
• Keep the page simple
• Promote your page through Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter
• Create a theme to “pin” daily like crafts or landscapes (to encourage followers to check your page every day)
• Follow the popular and influential “pinners”

Pinterest can work for your business for many reasons, but the most important reason to note is that you can link your images back to their source. So, if you have some photos of your products and you want those fellow “pinners” out there to find your webpage, they can through your “pin”. The more people “re-pin” your images, the more successful your page will be. Remember! Always “pin” other content so users can see you as a serious “pinner” and not just a company that wants more publicity. Users can always tell.

Not only is Google refusing to clarify how many of those “active” users are actually interacting on Google+, but they are also registering users for Google+, for the most part, without their knowledge. Since November, anyone who has registered for any Google service is automatically registered for a Google+ page. Of course, you can always disable your Google+ page, but most users don’t realize that they are signed up for an account. You cannot even decline registering for a Google+ page. The only way to avoid signing up for a Google+ page is by closing the browser after you register and before providing profile information for the desired service, then opening a new browser and signing in to your new Google account. To sum up, it’s almost impossible to not register for a Google+ page.

Google+ may be an effective social networking site for businesses, because it allows businesses to interact with readers and publish content, but this social networking site may not be as popular as Google makes it seem. Google tells us that there are 90 million users, but is it really ethical to claim to have 90 million users, yet not release the information about how many of those users are active? And is it really ethical to register users for the social site when they want to use another service? I guess some find this okay, like Google, but we will see what happens with Google+ in the upcoming months. Who knows? Maybe users will become irritated with registering for a social networking site they know little about. Or maybe users will love it. Only time will tell.

What is Tout?

Tout is a video blogging site that allows users to upload their recorded videos to Facebook, Twitter, and Tout page. Users can also send the videos to their e-mail contacts. And Tout isn’t just for those who love shooting videos or for celebrities who want to share their personal lives with their followers. It’s actually a great way for business owners to communicate with clients and attract new customers.

Tout for Business

Tout is compatible with all browsers, as well as Gmail accounts, so it is easy to manage outgoing mail. According to Tout.com, it “coordinates and streamlines your e-mails with templates, tracking, and scheduling.” So, when you send an e-mail, you no longer have to wonder if the recipient has read it or not, because Tout’s e-mail tracking tells you.

Another benefit of Tout is that you can create templates for those mass e-mails you send out. For instance, say you have a standard e-mail that you must send, and although the e-mails are sent to different recipients, the message is the same. Tout is here to help! Tout allows you to create templates so your message is saved, and all you have to do is personalize each e-mail for the recipient. No longer must you cut and paste, or retype everything, because now you can create e-mail templates.

Tout even allows you to schedule e-mails. Similar to Hootsuite (in the aspect that you can draft tweets and schedule them to appear at different times) Tout enables you to schedule when your e-mails are sent to the recipient. This way, your e-mails arrive at a reasonable time for your recipients.

Aside from these three productive benefits of Tout, the business Tout system includes:

• Automatic updates to your CRM
• The ability to share templates with co-workers
• Mobile applications (After you download Tout to your desktop, it syncs to your mobile device)

Tout is a becoming a new business management system, so those who manage accounts through e-mail should consider using this service. Of course, these services come at a price, but they may be worth the money spent.

Tout is one of those sites that’s combining personal with professional as well as combining social media with video. And if this site catches on, we may no longer see people tweeting. We may no longer need to read what others think or see because Tout encourages us to video our thoughts and lives, and share them with the online world. However, it’s not just the video that is revolutionizing the social media world, but it’s the professional tools, which help those who manage accounts through e-mail, that will popularize this site. In my opinion, the businesses half is the main advantage of Tout. Our world revolves around online communication, and Tout makes it easier for us to manage our work, as well as share our play.

Users on StumbleUpon share content and links with their connections, and their connections provide feedback via “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” to the postings.  In order to “like” or “dislike” a post, StumbleUpon requires users to download a toolbar that contains the “like” button, as well as a post button and a search bar. Even more intriguing, this mandatory toolbar enables you to “like” any page on the web so you can share any webpage with your circle of connections.

What is StumbleUpon?

StumbleUpon is perfect for any hobby and any interest. If you have anything you want to share, StumbleUpon is where to post.  StumbleUpon will help you find blogs, websites, images, and videos that interest you most, and advanced internet users have discovered the beauties of this emerging social site. Shopping, business, and social type websites are the top functioning sites for StumbleUpon, and those who are a part of the StumbleUpon community search to find the businesses they want to visit. So now customers can find your business through StumbleUpon, and not just through Google Places or Yelp.

Use StumbleUpon to Your Advantage!

In order to create the best profile for positive exposure, you must:

• Provide as much personal information as possible
• People can see who you really are, marking you as an individual amongst the other users
• Join groups and communities that interest you most
• You can connect with other users who share the same passions, which can lead to personal and professional networking
• Choose keywords wisely
• Users want to know what your page and content are about, so you should provide that information with the most intriguing, yet descriptive keywords possible

One last bit of advice for aspiring StumbleUpon-ers: do not repeatedly post your own content. When you only post your own content, people see you as a desperate blogger and not an active member of the StumbleUpon community. Also, the more interesting content you post, that is not your own, establishes your success on this site. Other users will have more respect, and more interest, in your page if you share captivating and unique content.

StumbleUpon allows users to like every webpage they come across, as well as interact with others who share the same hobbies and interests. The best part about StumbleUpon is that it can increase the visibility of your brand name gradually, and not in spurts. StumbleUpon is great for bloggers, marketers, and anyone who has interests in pretty much anything. We can expect to see this site becoming more popular as the months, and years, go by.

Over the next three posts, we will be discussing these three social outlets in detail. This post focuses on the rising micro blogging site Tumblr, which has approximately 33,313,876 active users.

What is Tumblr?

Tumblr is a micro blogging website that has taken off in the online community. According to Website Magazine, Tumblr surpassed WordPress in page views and revenues, and large names like NPR and the Rolling Stone created Tumblr blogs to increase their website traffic. Tumblrs’ audience is diverse. The average age of Tumblr users ranges anywhere from 18 to 49, and about 51% of the users are male.

Tumblr has grown 218% from June 2010 to June 2011, while other sites like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn combined only grew a total of 108%. Tumblr’s large growth rate is partially because it caters to both native and international audiences. In fact, Tumblr supports seven foreign languages including Italian, French, Japanese, German, Turkish, Spanish, Russian, and of course, English. Another reason bloggers prefer Tumblr? Because it has its own Help Robot. You simply type your question to the Help Robot, and he provides you with an answer. This Help feature is perfect for those beginner bloggers.

So why do micro bloggers love Tumblr? Tumblr allows users to post whatever they want. Of course, some people may be slightly crude with their Tumblr pages by posting nude photos and inappropriate art. But these bloggers use Tumblr because there is no flagging. You can literally post what you want to post. Tumblr also encourages bloggers to interact with one another. You can follow bloggers and whenever those you follow blog, it appears on your homepage.  Tumblr is perfect for trial and error blogs as well. So expect several newcomers on the Tumblr pages.

One amazing feature about Tumblr is that they organize Tumblr Meetups around the world including London, Australia, and many other countries abroad. These Meetups are for Tumblr users who want to physically interact with other active users in their area. For example, on August 8, 2012, there will be a Tumblr Meetup at the Bean in Millennium Park for all Chicago users interested. Tumblr also has Meetups for people within certain industries, like Fashion. These Meetups provide users with networking opportunities for personal and professional growth. Although Tumblr does not host the Meetups for liability reasons, they provide Meetup leaders with welcome kits for the guests, leaving the leader in charge of the gathering.

Because Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus dominate the social media space, most business owners forget about Tumblr. However, Tumblr is creeping in and is growing in popularity each month. Tumblr is perfect for attracting new audiences and for interacting with others who share similar interests. Twitter and Facebook are the popular sites, but that doesn’t mean they will reign forever. Maybe in a few years, it’ll be all about Tumblr and its social Meetups.

• Users don’t tolerate long loading times. In most cases, users will leave your webpage if it takes more than 30 seconds to load. One way to avoid long loading time is to remove URL redirect links. URL redirect links are more noticeable on mobile devices as opposed to desktops, and mobile devices take longer to process each new webpage. To the user, the page appears blank after several seconds, which means they leave the page. Don’t make mobile users wait because they expect to retrieve information quickly.
• Users don’t like content crowding either. Too much content on your mobile webpage makes it difficult for users to find information. Pages load quicker when you reduce the content. Also, always provide your users with the option of mobile website or standard website. If a user has the patience, they can use your standard website. However, if they are searching for specific information, they will use your mobile website.
• Don’t use your standard site as your mobile site. It takes too long to load and users expect speed and efficiency. Although we know that mobile devices are small and take longer to load, users expect mobile searches to be parallel to desktop efficiency and speed.

• Mobile users love shopping from their devices. “In just two years, the number of Americans saying they would use their mobile device to shop on Cyber Monday has nearly tripled from just 3.6 million (3.8%) in 2009 to 17.8 million (14.5%) in 2011. Even compared to figures from last year, the number of people using their mobile devices on Cyber Monday has more than doubled (2010 – 7.3 million and 6.9%).”[1]

Mobile searches are increasing, and you can’t miss out on these potential customers! If you need to use a redirect link, make sure you only use one. Mobile browsers are too small for all that your site has to offer, so make your mobile webpage appealing! Make mobile users want to view your standard webpage when they get home, or near a computer. Include important content and call-to-actions on your mobile webpage, and leave the rest of your content and URL redirects to the standard webpage. Customers expect speed; you must give it to them!

Want to learn more about mobile searching? Download our Mobile Advertising White Paper today.

There are plenty of advertisements for tablets this holiday season, and as we know, there will be several of these handy devices wrapped in beautiful paper and ribbons. We should start optimizing and marketing for tablets because their popularity level is at an all time high!

I remember the days when laptops were a rarity. When I was in High School, they were popular, but my school had about ten laptops for students to rent out (in case they had no computer access at home). And honestly, I graduated from high school in 2006. So, not that long ago. But when you look at the schools today, iPads and tablets are replacing laptops and books. Books! Students no longer need to lug around novels and textbooks. Instead, they carry a tablet. Although I am a big fan of books, and I will probably never buy a Kindle (simply because I like turning the pages and underlining sentences, and of course, that book smell), I am not the least bit surprised that tablets will soon conquer the education realm. In fact, Apple says that about 1,000 grammar schools are striving to provide tablets for each student to use throughout the day. Grammar schools want to use tablets, which mean that these midsized laptops, oversized phones are on the rise! And it’s about time to optimize for the ever-growing tablet population.

Do you think advertisers are actively personalizing content for mobile and tablet devices or are they missing an incredible opportunity to convert? We want to know what you think. Feel free to comment!

Tablets are the new smartphones, and more people are purchasing from their tablets each day. In fact, mobile revenue is less than desktop revenue, which is less than tablet revenue. This new purchasing trend means one thing. Tablets are the new fad. According to an article from Smallbiz Technology, about 77% of all mobile traffic comes from tablets, and the peak time for tablet use is around 10 p.m.  Tablets are more portable than laptops, and their popularity continues to grow by the second. Pretty soon, students may forget how to carry a backpack, and, sadly, may even forget that book smell. But at least this tablet craze is great for marketing! So, instead of continually throwing money into mobile advertising, make sure you spread the wealth between desktop, mobile and tablet advertising. Tablets are converting, and we don’t want to miss our current and potential customers by ignoring their rising fascination with tablets.

For more information on tablet and mobile advertising, download our white paper at http://befoundonline.com/whitepaper/future-mobile-advertising