Almost everyone you speak to seems to be in the process of a website redesign.  
They are recognizing website-of-old a.k.a. “brochureware,” just won’t due in today’s dynamic marketplace. 

A short read by Phil Edelstein appeared in a recent issue of Website Magazine.  One of the most important take-aways you will glean from the column is the importance of not destroying the rankings you already have with the major search engines by essentially deleting your old site completely.  Specific website pages that already garner good rankings for your targeted keywords should be maintained on your server in the background with redirects attached to them bringing the visitors to your corresponding pages contained in the new site.  This will ensure that you do not essentially lose the seniority you have already earned with Google, Bing and Yahoo.

To read the Phil Edelstein’s full article and for more tips click here.

The world of social is media is growing in size and complexity. How can you best make it work for you?

Boardroom Communications develops and executes social media strategies for its clients From what we have learned, we think these are important rules to follow:

1. Decide what you want from social media: information, product awareness, customer feedback, news media coverage? Some combination of the above? You will not know where to look or where to share your information online until you have a goal.
2. Post online where your customers are. If they spend their time on MySpace listening to bands, build a page for your audio messages. If they browse Photobucket or Flickr for photos, make sure your pictures are there, too.
3. Value quality over quantity. Facebook says it has more than 400 million members. Yes, but how many of them are your customers or potential customers? If you sell swimsuits, you may want to spend your time and money promoting your company on social sites for fashion and travel.
4. Value your time, too. You do not have to read every news story, blog post and comment. Filter content so that you get the best information in the shortest period of time.
5. Network through Facebook and Linkedin. You will find your customers – and your competition – there. These social media make it easier to learn what people are thinking and talking about.
6. Increase your presence through LinkedIn, Facebook and other social media. It’s easy to connect the RSS feed from your blog to your LinkedIn profile. The more places your appear, the most active you are in reaching customers.
7. Subscribe to RSS feeds. It’s easy through Gmail and other Web services. You’ll receive constant updates about what people and companies that influence your business are saying and doing. Their comments can be grist for your blog posts, Tweets and Facebook updates.
8. Schedule your Tweets so that you do not forget them. With interruptions from phone calls and e-mails, it’s easy to overlook your Twitter account. And don’t forget to comment on other people’s Tweets. Show that you pay attention.
9. Work efficiently. Online services such as TwitterFeed, HootSuite and Ping.fm allow you to post updates across multiple sites with one (or even no) clicks. TubeMogul.com will post videos across multiple sites with one upload.
10. Don’t censor the conversation. Social media give customers control over what it said about your business and brand. Take the criticism with the compliments and learn from both.

Don Silver, COO Boardroom Communications, a leading Florida public relations and online marketing agency, recently adopted the Brown family from Legal Aid Service of Broward County’s Adopt a Family Program. The single mother of two teenage daughters presented a wish list to Legal Aid and Silver provided them with most if not all of their requests.

Silver and his son Alex paid the Browns a visit to deliver new dining room chairs, computer printer and supplies, movie gift certificates, and Amazon.com gift cards.

All had a great time opening the gifts and getting to know one-another.

Silver is the outgoing Chairman of Legal Aid Service of Broward County/Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida Executive Council. For more information on becoming involved in Legal Aid Services as a volunteer or to become of the NEXT “younger” professionals group, please contact Don at donsil@boardroompr.com.