The Pros and Cons of Paid Search Marketing

Using search engine marketing (SEM) methods such as pay-per-click (PPC) or paid inclusion can be very effective in terms of increasing traffic to your website and widening your customer base. But you have to be aware of the best times to employ these strategies, and if you are considering going down this route it may be a good idea to hire a web marketing company to advise you on the latest methods – otherwise you may be spending money with very little reward.

So when should you use SEM, and what should you avoid?

On the plus side, paid search marketing is a highly targeted method with corresponding low wastage. Because the traffic driven to your website will be those with the right match types in terms of keywords or Google Adwords, your ads only appear when potential customers are searching for products in your particular area, and therefore have a high purchase intent. Logically, then, if your website has a very specific or niche product to sell, pay-per-click may be the right marketing option for you. Traffic volumes with PPC are also more predictable and easier to manage than with search engine optimisation methods (SEO).

Pay-per-click listings can also give you the advantage of speed, since they can appear within a few hours. Contrast this with SEO, which has a much longer lead time. If you are selling a product within a particular time-frame (perhaps for Halloween, for example), then you will want to make the most of the time you have so in this case PPC could be appropriate in terms of overall cost benefits. On the other hand, if your product is more of a slow-burner then SEO may work just as well, if not better, in building up your brand. Basically, you need to decide which approach will be best for the product or service you have.

One of the major disadvantages of pay-per-click marketing is actually born from its strengths. Because it is such an efficient way for companies to achieve high rankings and drive customers to their websites, there is a correspondingly high level of competition. Pay-per-click is based on competitive bids and for some sectors this can lead to alarming levels of inflation. Basically, this can be a prohibitively expensive business if you don’t know when to employ it effectively, or when the placement costs will begin to outweigh the benefits. If you are at all unsure about this, consult a search marketing company who will be able to give you a realistic idea of your potential return on investment, and whether PPC is right for your company.

Because of the potential for inflated PPC prices, sadly this method can often favour larger brands which have a bigger budget and more effective infrastructure in place for managing competition or bigger campaigns, for example. If you are a start-up, it may be a good idea to build up your brand first before embarking on paid search marketing.

How to Hire a Food Consultant

Many restaurant owners are so busy managing the day-to-day business of their restaurant that they don’t always have time for the details. At some time – whether it is because profits are failing, costs are inflating or time is short – most restaurant owners will feel the need to bring in a food consultant. You may think from the name that these experts are just focused on menu creation, but in fact they can advise on issues such as food costings, sourcing, interior design or even financial assistance, giving restaurants the help they need, when they most need it.

However, as with any service you will have to pay for a food consultant so make sure the person or company you are hiring has the right expertise and a proven track record of success. Here are some of the points to bear in mind when beginning your search:

Do your research: Identify the area in which you most need help, and what you hope the outcome to be. Some food consultants will specialise in certain areas, so if you are, for example, looking to reduce costs on your food sourcing you may want to look for a company with particular success or contacts in this area. You may find several companies who meet your criteria. If so, the first thing to do for each of these is look into their background and check out their references.

Make a shortlist: Make a list of the best consultants your research has uncovered, and then make an appointment to discuss your needs with each one. It’s important to do this, as a one-on-one conversation is a great way to find out whether a potential consultant really understands your business and what you hope to achieve.

Written proposal: Before making your decision, you should also ask for a written proposal from each candidate so you can go away and carefully consider which suggested strategy would work best for you. The best food consultant is one who will understand that every restaurant is unique and will tailor their strategy accordingly, rather than presenting you with a one-size-fits-all proposal.

What can you afford? A food consultant will either charge at a fixed cost or by the hours taken to complete the service. Working out with your consultant beforehand how long the work is likely to take will help you keep costs to a minimum. But don’t hire somebody solely because they are cheap – remember that an experienced and reputable service provider is justified in charging a little more for what you get in return. The idea is to keep your spend as low as possible without compromising on quality.

How Changing Your Nightwear Can Change Your Life For The Better

Night time is your time. It’s a time when you want switch off from the cares of the day and relax completely.  So you need to feel comfortable. And feeling comfortable begins with choosing the right women’s nightwear for you. 

There’s some really sensational women’s nightwear around at the moment: from intimately sensual nighties and gowns to snugly-soft pyjamas. So whatever mood you want to invoke at bedtime, there’s bound to be nightwear that’s just right for you.

Many women pay great attention to the clothes they wear at work. Sure that’s important. Yet for some reason, while women are conscious of wanting to look their best in social or business situations, their nightwear often gets overlooked or neglected.

Which is a pity, because investing in the right nightwear can make a huge difference to your quality of sleep, which in turn makes a big difference to the way you feel and perform throughout the day. Sleeping well means not only getting the right amount of sleep in terms of hours, but also the right quality of sleep too.

Did you realise (and most people don’t) that wearing nightwear which is ill-fitting or uncomfortable can be detrimental to getting a sound night’s sleep? If you’re one of the thousands of people who toss and turn and generally don’t feel comfortable in bed, it’s worth considering that what you choose to sleep in could be to blame.

As well as the functionality aspects of comfort and fit, great nightwear that reflects your personality can do wonders for your love life. Many women report that buying new nightwear has put the spark back into their relationship! They also say they like to have a selection of nightwear pieces to suit varying moods and occasions. After all, you might not want to wear your best nightwear all the time.

Making these additions to your wardrobe needn’t be expensive. And besides, it’s money well spent.
Taking an hour or so out of your busy schedule to browse the Internet and find the right women’s nightwear for you could be one of the soundest investments you’ll make all year. Getting a great night’s sleep will give you a real psychological edge, boost your energy levels, make you happier and benefit your overall health. With the added bonus that you’ll get more done every day and the quality of your work will be better too.

Choosing the right women’s nightwear can bring about a whole host of ‘lifestyle’ benefits you might never have considered before. But you’ll be glad you did.

Discover The Benefits Of The New Generation Of Super-Stylish Thermal Underwear

The latest generation of thermal underwear will keep you warm and comfortable all year long, whatever you’re up to – and you won’t have to compromise on style either.

Once the preserve of winter sports enthusiasts, thermal underwear is becoming increasingly popular as casual and hobby wear. It’s perfect for those ‘crisp’ months between autumn and winter that bring with them cooler mornings and evenings. It’s also wonderful for lounging around in at weekends over a leisurely breakfast with the Sunday papers.

So when it comes to choosing your thermal underwear, should you opt for natural or synthetic materials? These days the boundaries are becoming increasingly blurred and it’s no longer a straight choice between the two production methods. Cotton or wool are still the most common fibres used to make natural thermals. Cotton has been used in textile production for thousands of years. It’s breathable, soft and comfortable and readily available, which makes it inexpensive. It is widely used to line thermal gloves as well.

While cotton thermals may be comfortable, they tend to trap moisture against the skin. Therefore they are not suitable for sports and outdoor pursuits where sweat and moisture needs to be ‘wicked’ away from your skin. Wool thermals, on the other hand, are ideal for wicking away moisture, while keeping the warmth in. So they are perfect for hiking, camping and fishing as well as more strenuous outdoor sports like ski-ing and rock climbing.

Synthetic thermal underwear provides the best of all worlds. Really it’s a mixture of man-made and natural fibres and though it might provide a slightly more expensive option, the quality of these garments is unsurpassed.
So what types of thermal underwear should the active man or woman have in their wardrobe?  For men, the short-sleeve vest and long-sleeve vest holds universal appeal. But there is also the option of a v-neck vest, and trunks as an alternative to long johns.

In line with rising demand, the options for women are now better than ever:-  short-sleeve and long-sleeve vests; sleeveless vests; v-neck camisoles; shorts and leggings. Whether you’re keeping warm on the way to work, or taking part in competitive sport, there’s now some great lines in women’s thermal underwear waiting to be discovered.

Thermal underwear is the ‘must-have’ garment this autumn and winter. Saying that, its ‘temperature-balancing’ qualities means it’s handy for spring and summer too. If you haven’t yet discovered the benefits of wearing thermal underwear, maybe it’s time to take a fresh look. Thermal underwear has many advantages, as well as keeping you warm and comfy (or cool and comfy) all year round.

Jumbo Jigsaw Puzzles Provide Hours Of Fun And Entertainment – Are You Up For The Challenge?

Jumbo jigsaw puzzles are just the thing for family get-togethers. Just picture a group of you gathered around the dining table pitting your wits to solve a 1000-piece jigsaw challenge. Whether you like cityscapes, country scenes, architecture, gardens, sports, fine art, or something a little lighter, you’re bound to be impressed by the huge variety of jumbo jigsaw puzzles available – particularly when you choose to shop online.

There are some really ingenious contemporary artists around at the moment. People like Graham Thompson, Jan van Haasteren and Tom duBois, all of whom produce intricate and often humorous jumbo jigsaw puzzles of between 1000 and 3000 pieces. These are puzzles with unique visual appeal and plenty going on in every scene. You’ll find them a joy to work on.

And have you seen the Wasgij range of mystery puzzles? Not only do you have the challenge of completing the puzzle itself, but also of revealing the solution to a ‘teaser’ or mystery that will be unveiled once the puzzle is concluded. A puzzle within a puzzle if you like.

Jumbo jigsaw puzzles are perfect for taking on holiday, particularly if there’s a group of you. Jigsaws provide hours of fun and banter. Plus you never knew doing a jigsaw puzzle could get so competitive! The range of jigsaw storage boards and portable jigsaw carriers available on the market today makes it easy to complete your jigsaw in stages, then keep it safely packed away until next time.

All you jumbo jigsaw puzzle lovers will adore Ravensburger jigsaw puzzles' range of jumbo puzzles which each averages 1000-3000 pieces. Not tough enough for you? Okay then, for the real jigsaw enthusiasts among you, how about Ravenburger’s ‘Tiger’ puzzle. It’s a 5000-piece whopper of a jigsaw which depicts one central image of a majestic tiger in water, surrounded by 10 different images of this beautiful animal. It’s the ultimate challenge for any true jigsaw fan and the perfect gift for any ‘big cat’ lover.‘

Once completed, this exquisite jumbo jigsaw puzzle measures 153 cm x 101 cm. It’s surely something you won’t want to dismantle. That’s why many fans of jumbo jigsaw puzzles are choosing to display their finished masterpieces on their walls. Housed in a complementary frame, ‘Tiger’ would certainly grace any room.
So why not check out the latest ranges of jumbo jigsaw puzzles online. They guarantee hours of laughter and interaction for you, your family and friends. And with such imaginative and exciting concepts to choose from, you won’t want to wait for a rainy day to get started.

Why Attend a Search Marketing Conference?

For those who have never participated in such an event, search marketing conferences give attendees the chance to tap into the knowledge of some of the leading experts in SEO, paid search marketing, social media and mobile searches, amongst other subjects. These events are not just for those seeking to make marketing their career – they can also be invaluable for companies looking to research the latest and more effective ways to drive traffic to their website and increase their search engine visibility. Those who are already established in the sector, such as search marketing companies, can also stand to gain.

So how do search marketing conferences benefit their various groups of attendees?

Building contacts: First and foremost, if are looking to make marketing your career then it’s about contacts all the way. Whilst these events will of course provide you invaluable insights into the latest search marketing methodologies out there, the most important thing for you at this stage is that search marketing conferences are a gold mine of potential contacts from all over the world – whether they are possible business partners or clients. Nowhere else will you get such as high concentrate of people all focused on the same goal: to improve search engine rankings.

Pools of talent:  Furthermore, whilst you may be attending a conference in order to further your knowledge in your chosen career, long-established search marketing companies might also use the opportunity of an industry-focused event to scout for new talent. Networking takes many forms, and some of the bigger events will of course attract corresponding levels of talented people just waiting to be headhunted.

Keeping up with the competition: Any search marketing conference will feature a detailed programme of sessions featuring expert speakers focusing on the latest trends or most successful current strategies in search marketing. Whether you are a new player on the block or an established expert, this is such a fast-moving sector that unless you keep pace with the latest tricks of the trade you will quickly find yourself trailing behind your competitors.

Give your company a boost: Many of the attendees at these conferences are not marketing experts by any means, but are instead company owners or representatives looking to improve the visibility of their website’s search engine ranking. If you number amongst this group, these conferences will give you valuable opportunities to assess the potential services and search marketing companies for hire (and there are many of these, not all of them reputable). Furthermore, many events today will include the chance to have your website assessed by a free ‘website doctor’ panel, which will dissect your approach and tell you where you need to make changes.

Top Tips For Hosting a Successful Party

Nobody wants their event to be the one people remember for all the wrong reasons. How many times have you heard about a party: ‘There was no atmosphere whatsoever’, or ‘the food was dull’ or ‘the music was terrible’?

If you are organising a particularly important event and you don’t want it consigned to the grim dustbin of parties that went bad, here are some tips to help you get started:

Budgeting: What can you afford? Most party planners, especially if they need to feed their guests, have to weigh up how many people they can realistically afford to invite and feed whilst still having enough guests to create a vibrant atmosphere. If food is important, it may be that you can spend less on decorations, for example, to keep you in budget. Start by working out exactly how much you have to spend and then making a list of your priorities in order
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Plan ahead: If you are hosting a large event and are going to hire caterers, event planners or food consultants, you need to contact them several months in advance in order to get the best use of their services. Food consultants can be particularly invaluable if you have a lot of other elements, such as decor or entertainment, to organise as they can take this important but often stressful task off your hands. Also, encourage your guests to confirm well in advance to avoid being let down by too many no-shows.

The right place: Once you have worked out how many people you intend to invite, you need to hunt out a suitable venue. You may love the idea of a large, imposing space, but if you guest list is not huge you will end up with a party severely devoid of atmosphere. Imagine small groups of guests eyeing each other from opposite ends of the room: this is something you want to avoid. On the other hand, you don’t want the placed crammed to a level where discomfort or indeed panic takes over, so choose wisely.

Know your guests: Some parties are supposed to be sober affairs, some more raucous but most of them lie somewhere in-between. Your job as the party organiser is to consider the people you are inviting and try to ensure they have fun. If it’s a wedding party you may get a mix of old and young people so you have to choose decor, entertainment and food that will appeal to everyone. And remember, what you would enjoy is not necessarily what everybody else would enjoy.

Contingencies: Lastly, have you identified the areas in which your party might go wrong? For example, if you’re planning to hold it outside do you have an alternative in place in case it rains? If you’ve hired a band or a DJ, what will you do if they cancel? Look again at the list of key priorities you made at the start of the planning stage and make sure you have a Plan B for each one. This is the way to help minimise last-minute panics. You want to enjoy the party as well, not arrive on the day a tightly-wound ball of stress, wishing you had never embarked upon such a scheme.