Website Magazine's May, 2010 issue is now available online at WebsiteMagazine.com (review the contents here). As always, it's chock full of insightful, useful content that's not to be missed. Below is the May Editor's Letter to give you a glimpse inside.
 

The practice of search engine optimization (SEO) has served Web professionals well over the past decade. But there is a new darling in the Web world and she goes by the name of social media. She is sexy, alluring and draws the attention of hundreds of millions of admirers. But should you shun SEO entirely and make a full switch to social? Maybe. But you will need to bring along all of the SEO techniques and tactics you’ve learned and mastered over the years to make social media really work for your enterprise. And you won’t be alone when you get there.

Forrester is predicting a significant rise in Internet marketing by those in the B2B space. In fact, it’s predicting spending will almost double over the next five years — from $2.3 billion in 2009 to $4.8 billion in 2014. Much of that will be invested in social media marketing. So, taking the medium seriously will greatly benefit your business. Those Web enterprises and entrepreneurs that understand the balance between SEO and social media will be those receiving the most traffic from search engines and social networks, and exposure from those that make the greatest impact on business — the consumer.

The feature story in Website Magazine’s May issue, “SEO in a Social Media World” offers a practical glimpse into the techniques and tactics Web enterprises can employ today to improve search engine positioning and attract new users through social media, simultaneously.

Once again, an incredible lineup of articles and information briefs from some of the Web’s leading minds fills this issue. In addition to our stellar contributor columns (Tim Ash and Conversion Cache, and Dante Monteverde’s SEO Corner), this month’s absolute must-read list includes Michelle Wicmandy on Press Release Distribution, Ken Lyons on Outdated SEO Tactics, and Lars Johansson on Assessing Editorial Impact with Google Analytics. Other articles not to miss include E-commerce Software in Action, Managing Site Redesigns and the first article from our new Associate Editor, Linc Wonham, on The True Cost of Hosting.

Enjoy this issue of Website Magazine and remember to share your stories of ’Net success online at WebsiteMagazine.com.

-Peter Prestipino, Editor-in-Chief