Happy Saturday everyone! Some of you may have been wondering what happened to your regular Tuesday delivery of our newsletter. We've found that it's a little easier for our partners, clients and friends to read through the material when it's not so hectic at work. Saturday afternoon seemed a good a time as any but let us know your thoughts on this if you like.

We've included a couple new features in our newsletter in an effort to continually provide you useful information. These new features are Partner Focus - which includes some information on both strategic and technology partners of ours, Around L.A. - which provides some useful links to what's happening around our community this month, and we've also thrown in an inspiring quote - because hey, why not. A little inspiration never hurt anybody.

Though our SteadyCloud small business cloud computing offering is in full effect. The website is still under development as we're refining it's ease of use for new visitors. A press release will anounce it's unveiling in the next month or so.

Have any ideas on useful content we can include? You can send us feedback from the contact page or you can email me, Dustin Hall, directly at marketing@velocityns.com. Thank you!


 Recent Tech News           

Google's Panda Update:
Is Your Site Taking a Hit?

Do you focus on SEO as part of your lead generation strategy? The odds are high that with the latest Panda updates from Google, their new algorithms are knocking you down a peg or two...or 10. What the heck is happening here?!

The New Change:

A Backlink Builder’s Nightmare

While Google reveals only limited information about their methods, what is revealed seems to affect almost every business that’s been aggressively using SEO methods to maintain online presence in their market. While the jury is out on just how deep the new algorithms go, one thing is clear: You can no longer build links for the sake of building links! Quality is king now. Again, because this change is so new and it takes time for experts to “successfully” analyze what’s going on, this is merely a prematurely proposed solution for your website woes.

The Possible Solution:
De-optimization, Are You Crazy?

De-optimization. Why would anybody in their right mind do such a thing? Well, for starters many websites and SEO “gurus” have historically taken advantage of Google’s algorithmic weaknesses. That’s the goal isn’t it? Not anymore. Due to keyword stuffing and ridiculously useless content geared toward pleasing Google’s bots and not site visitors, Google has unleashed this vicious Panda upon our sites.

Here’s what you now need to focus on:

Informative & Pertinent Content – write your website’s content to reflect what visitors may want to read. If the content is great and related to that site's or page's message, the crucial keywords you need should come naturally. Well, for the most part. Just don’t try too hard. Keep your body keywords around 3-5 and don’t over-optimize your H1 headers or have multiple H1 headers.

Solid Links from Reputable Sources – this one is easy. Getting backlinks from linkbuildersRus.com or collegepartychicks.com is not going to help your law firm, financial services or other non-related business gain any rankings (or clients for that matter).

Keep things simple. Write content that people, not robots would want to read. Pursue linking to other sites like you’d pursue local partner relationships and you should escape clutches of this crazy Panda. But not before he gets a few nibbles in.

Team Member: Joe Reava
Role: Systems Engineer
Hobbies: Vollyball, Soccor, Reading and Training 

  Joe is an IT graduate from Central Michigan University. He has dedicated years to automation, project management, lab work and onsite support and monitoring.  He especially enjoys working face to face with our clients on projects.  When Joe is not slaving away behind the computer, he is usually found pursuing his NASM certification, training in Muay Thai, reading fiction or playing beach volleyball.

 Client Spotlight       

C3 Jian, Inc.
Founded: 2005
Web: http://www.c3-jian.com/
Info: C3 Jian is a Los Angeles-based biotechnology company focused on improving oral health through the development and commercialization of novel products based on our proprietary cell signaling platform technology.  Our innovative technology platform has led to the discovery of lead compounds that selectively diagnose and treat the cause of dental caries (cavities) as well as disorders of mineralization.

Team Member: Mark Simpson
Role: Helpdesk Manager
Hobbies: Spending time with his family

  Mark has worked in an I.T. and Customer Support capacity with companies such as Sprint, Overture.com and Yahoo.com, providing enterprise-level I.T. support on a global scale. He has spent much of his career melding his genuine desire to help others with his technical aptitude to resolve problems. Mark is a native Texan and graduate of the University of Texas at Austin.

Gotcha Covered

Founded: 1996
Web: http://www.gotchacoveredusa.com
Info: Gotcha Covered was launched when Lisa Bernath bought one of those new-fangled memory foam pillows sweeping the nation. When she couldn’t find a pillowcase to fit, she designed one herself. Lisa knew that there must be other people out there who were having the same problem, and convinced (begged) her childhood friend, Margalit Grunberger, to go into business with her. Together, they started the first odd-sized pillowcase company. With prototypes in hand, they pitched their odd idea to a national back care retailer. The managers were thrilled that someone had finally made the decision to fill their customers’ needs. The original idea propelled them into a niche business, marking the company as THE odd-sized bedding specialists. Gotcha Covered has blossomed and now offers luxurious high-end sheets, premium mattress & pillow protectors, bedskirts, pillowcases for visco pillows, duvet covers, blankets and more.  Their line of products can be found at retailers nationwide as well as hotels and B&Bs.