Top Of The List News - 2007
In Memory
November 23, 2007 - Top Of The List resident CEO, friend, and loyal companion, Rex the Wonder Dog, was laid to rest on October 23, 2007 after suffering from canine osteoscarcoma. Loved and adored by all who knew him, Rex was truly a special dog. His loss is hard to comprehend and his eager, friendly spirit is sorely missed. Our thanks to the Cascade Hospital for Animals for their compassionate care, and also for the donation in Rex's memory to Michigan State University's College of Veterinary Medicine made by Richard L. Siegle, DVM. Rex's memory will live on forever, and he will always be at the very top of our list.
Be at the Top!
October 22, 2007 - Top Of The List will present "Be at the Top" to members and guests of AWE (Alliance of Women Entrepreneurs) at their monthly "WIN at Noontime: Women in Networking" luncheon. During this search engine marketing presentation, attendees will learn non-technical things they can do to help their company's website get attention from search engines. Educational programs over a networking lunch is just one example of the wide range of benefits and networking opportunities for women offered by AWE in the greater Grand Rapids and West Michigan area.West Michigan Shores STC enjoys "Search Engines, Wikis, and Blogs, oh my!"
April 5, 2007 - The West Michigan Shores Chapter of the Society for Technical Communications (STC) participated in an active discussion about search engines, wikis, and blogs at their April 5 meeting held at Brann's Steak House in Holland, Michigan. Technical communicators in the audience were interested in these technologies and how they affect the role of the technical communicator now and in the future. The panel included:- Gert Wallis, Director of Software Development, Open Solutions COWWW Software, who represented the topic of wikis, drawing upon experience with two different wikis at his company
- Ryan Vis, Business System Analyst for the University of Michigan, who offered insight into blogs, using his own blog You Know What Part, as well as other blogs he frequents on a consistent basis
- Beverly Mapes, owner of Top Of The List, who spoke on search engines and SEO, using her background in writing and her hands on experience at Top Of The List.
"Search Engine Optimization - What Developers should Know" is a Speaker Hit
March 15, 2007 - The West Michigan Association of Information Technology Professionals welcomed Beverly Mapes, owner of Top Of The List search engine marketing, as guest speaker to their March 15th meeting. Favorable comments from the numerous attendees were received. The presentation topic, "Search Engine Optimization - What Developers Need to Know," included something for everyone in the audience. "My goal is that everyone leaves here with something that improves their job, whether it be new SEO software they learned about, a new SEO development technique, or just a better understanding of website optimization in general," Mapes said. That goal was certainly achieved. Although the value-add of the presenter is missing, slides of the presentation are available: PDF of the Top Of the List SEO PresentationTop Of The List Website Anticipates Face Lift
February 1, 2007 - Websites are an important part of the marketing mix, and no one should know that better than Top Of The List. With that in mind, a face lift is in the works for their own site. "An important aspect of search robot ranking is age of the website," explained Pat Leonard, an SEO consultant for Top Of The List. " So to get started, we put our site up as quickly as possible and used an existing template. Now that we're growing and getting more visitors, we thought it was time to put some more effort into our own site. Michigan website developer Osmium Development, was chosen to design and code the site. "They're working very hard to create the SEO architecture that we desire," Leonard continued. "They act a little surprised at some of the odd requests we're making, but they're also becoming more aware of SEO techniques that help sites on the developer side of things." The new site is expected to go live in April, 2007.Top Of The List Joins Local First
December 27, 2006 - Grand Rapids, MI - In an effort to support our local economy, Top Of The List recently joined an organization called Local First. This organization is a nonprofit with a mission to support locally owned businesses, farms, and community groups through a variety of initatives focused on economic viability, environmental sustainability, and social responsibility.We all need each other in this world: globally, nationally, and within our own communities. Few people want to go back to the days of total self-sufficiency; we enjoy diversity, and we like to find competitive prices for the items we buy. Yet patronizing our own community merchants and service providers is often overlooked when we begin looking to spend our hard earned dollars.
Through business and consumer education, Local First helps to create an educated population who understands that they have a choice when spending their dollars. Their efforts contribute to an economically revitalized downtown, increasing the number of sustainable businesses
within West Michigan and retaining the unique character of its
neighborhoods.
Top Of The List Donates Basic SEO Package to Help the Homeless
October 27, 2006 - Grand Rapids, MI - How can a search engine marketing package benefit the homeless? Top Of the List, along with numerous other organizations, donated goods and services to the Guiding Light Mission Annual Spotlight Dinner and Silent Auction, and they did so with the knowledge that all auction proceeds will directly benefit the homeless and disadvantaged of Grand Rapids.The mission serves 3 meals a day, 7 days a week to homeless, hungry individuals in Grand Rapids. "Lunch is our most pular meal," chef Landry explained. "Sometimes we have over 200 people for lunch. And it's always more crowded in the winter." In addition to meals, the mission provides gospel meetings, temporary housing, and a more permanent housing program that includes on-the-job training for individuals that are serious about changing their lifestyle.
"We're dealing with a more difficult issue today," according to Stephen Burger, Executive Director of Gospel Rescue Missions -- the keynote speaker of the eventing. "It used to be just alcohol. Alcohol's behavior is predictible. Now we're dealing with meth, cocaine, and other drugs. Drug behavior isn't predictible."
The auction's theme, Faces of Homelessness, surrounded the silent bidding and delicious food, while a choir of men who were once homeless sang at dinner. They surely had something to sing about! The winning bid for Top Of The List's SEO package was Advertising in Motion LLC, a company that specializes in custom imprinted promotional products.
Top Of The List Owner Shares Expertise
September 6, 2006 - Grand Rapids, MI - Beverly Mapes, owner of Top Of The List search engine marketing, will share her expertise as a speaker at the Great Lakes Software Excellence Conference on October 25 and 26, 2006 in Grand Rapids Michigan. Her presentation entitled "Search Engine Optimization: What Developers Need to Know" is intended for software developers that are not familiar with SEO techniques. "Developers can set a very nice foundation for the search engine placement specialist to build upon, if they know just a few things before they start on a website," according to Ms. Mapes. "Most customers won't take the time to go back and change all the little things that could be done right from the outset, and those little things can make the difference between the first and second page of organic search results." The conference promises world-class keynotes, hands-on tutorials, and practical presentations that address real issues in software development. Developers, business analysts, testers, QA engineers, and development and project managers will find an opportunity to learn, grow, and network with other professionals at an affordable price.