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Startup Spark:

It seems just about every day lately, someone is emailing me to request a link swap.

And I have to say to all of you: STOP!

I understand why you think swapping links will help you in your quest to be number one on the search engines. (It doesn’t… just read Rebecca Murtagh’s info on what makes Google’s search engine tick.)

When link swaps started, websites exchanged links with other websites that were complimentary to provide a useful resource for their own visitors. Nowadays, many webmasters will swap links with any site that will agree, or any automated link swap page. These reciprocal links are easily detected by the search algorithms and discounted as such. Trading links doesn’t show the same vote for the quality of your site as a link that isn’t reciprocated.

Then there’s another question: But folks, what’s in it for me? You get featured on a highly-ranked blog and Startup Spark gets… what? If you really want me to consider linking -or better yet - writing about you: you need to earn it.

And that takes savvy PR - not page rank - but public relations.

Tags: entrerpeneur, google, link swapping, marketing, page rank, PR, public relations, Rebecca Murtagh, SEO, small-business, website

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Startup Spark:

When Barack Obama announced Joe Biden as his VP candidate, CNN showed a very interesting waging system, where users could invest in which person was going to get the nod - all with fake dollars. (Biden wasn’t the first pick by those investing, BTW).

But I just found out that there’s something similar online for startups called Startup Exchange.

The premise is simple: you get 100,000 virtual dollars, buy and sell startup stocks, and try to earn money. It’s created by TradeVibes.

If you are tired of losing real money on the real stock market, and care to see what the next big startup might be, check out Startup Exchange.

Tags: entrepreneur, invest in a startup, startup game, stock market

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Startup Spark:

Another issue of Be Heard!, the free weekly ezine, is available.  In this issue, check out the new programs and new prices at Penny Pinching Publicity, find out how to pitch to social media, and get contacts at Coastal Living.

Check it out here.

Tags: Be Heard Solutions, Be Heard! ezine, Cherry Communications, Coastal Living, Penny Pinching Publicity, Shannon Cherry, Social Media

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Startup Spark:

In this week’s Monday Media Marketing Minute, we’re starting a series for the next few weeks on using social media to get publicity.

This week, why social media is a great PR tool.

And it’s served up in less time than it takes to have one of your interns get you a chai tea latte!

Tags: free advertising, marketing, Monday Media Marketing Minute, PR, Publicity, Social Media

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