Zulu Digital | Social Networking | Developing your Brand

If you are an avid follower of Zulu, whether it be through Twitter, LinkedIn connections or Facebook, you may well have come across news several weeks ago, specifically discussing the changes made by Google, to it's ranking algorithm. If you were unaware of the changes made, - let us fill you in!

Many within the industry, us included, feel that the recent changes place more emphasis on large, well-established brands. Whilst Google's Matt Cutts has consistently deflected attention away from talk of brands (why would he admit to it?), the proof tends to lie in the SERPs, and we have seen numerous changes against a few generic keyword terms which we target for a selection of our clients.

Needless to say, we are keen to work to improve the online brands of our clients in order to conform to the recently altered algorithm. We believe that our social media channels play a significant role in this process.

Zulu has, over recent months, redeveloped it's online marketing strategy to capitalise upon the various developments within the social media, Web 2.0 environment. LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, offer so many opportunities which we feel, must be included in any comprehensive Internet Marketing strategy.

LinkedIn is clearly a front runner. Being a network which specifically targets business to business communications. It offers a valuable interface with people you may never have had the chance to meet without it. A particularly useful feature, in our opinion, is that of LinkedIn Answers. Within this section of the network, individuals are able to pose questions to the industry experts also using the service. We have, over recent months, really enjoyed getting to know the ins and outs of LinkedIn, particularly being able to provide such users with our thoughts and knowledge of Search Marketing and Blogging - which seem to have been rather well received! As a result of this, we are starting to build up a reputation within these sectors which we are quite proud of!

The benefits of Twitter are perhaps, in some ways, a little outweighed by those offered by LinkedIn. Whilst LinkedIn offers the ability to communicate with people you do not know, your updates on Twitter are only sent to those whom are following you. Therefore, whilst we have seen a slight increase in the number of visitors to our site, we do not expect an increase in business directly achieved through Twitter (as our list of followers tend to extend as far as our industry sector, and not any further). We are aiming to continually develop our online brand, getting the Zulu name out further into the world of web!

I think its important to understand that by using social media to improve your brand, you may not necessarily witness a significant increase in business/conversions. You are however, more likely to cast a wider net, reaching out to more people and making them more aware of your existence, and hence, improve your chances of those people turning to you in the future. I believe that the real benefit however, is that the Search Engines are able to see that you have an active and thorough online branding strategy, and you are only increasing your chances of falling into the 'Brand' category which Google in particular, seems to favour.

Author - Tom

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