The economy is in a rut because of Big Risk – beyond just the subprime housing market. First, it was Big Finance – AIG and company. Second it was Big Media – the NYTimes and friends. Third, it was Big Auto – GM and gang. It’s quite plausible that the next victims will be Big Advertising – WPP et al.
SEO Haters: Misconceptions and Misinformation
The following is a Guest Post from Melanie Nathan. There is a harsh wind blowing through our industry. We all feel it. and if we don’t, perhaps we’ve got our heads in the sand. The truth is SEOs are, for the most part, loathed. As a transparent and somewhat public SEO I personally receive at least one piece of hate … [Continue reading SEO Haters: Misconceptions and Misinformation]
First Guest Post
I’ll be having my first guest post today from Melanie Nathan, I’m reaching out to other folks this week. Let me know what you think in the comments or in private.
KISS SEO – Keep it Simple Stupid
The following is a Guest Post from Michael Martin. When performing SEO its best to first implement the KISS strategy, Keep It Simple S….. Forget about the old school keyword density equations, being completely W3C compliant, creating X amount of content, pages or acquiring X amount of links. KISS SEO would include, but not limited to: Unique TITLE tag for each … [Continue reading KISS SEO – Keep it Simple Stupid]
Five Search Queries to Find Sponsorship Link Opportunities
And regardless of the fact that they are paid, Google doesn’t seem to mind them so long as they are on-topic and coming from a reputable website. As the title suggests, this “link buy” comes in the form of sponsoring an event or website. The trick is to find sponsorship opportunities that are in your corner of the web (read: on-topic).
Are You in Violation of Google’s Double Serving Policy? You Just Might Be!
The following is a Guest Post from Amber Benedict. A client of mine emailed me in a panic, saying two of their affiliate PPC sites have been “tagged” by Google Adwords for violation of the Google double serving policy. “Tagged” meaning that Google is planning to take down my clients’ paid ads for violation of the policy. The Google double … [Continue reading Are You in Violation of Google’s Double Serving Policy? You Just Might Be!]
Why Old School Real Estate Brands are Losing to New Web 2.0 Innovators
The following is a Guest Post from Joe Hall. The internet is changing the real estate industry on a daily basis. And, not surprisingly, it’s the Web 2.0 innovators that are leading the revolution. Of course this isn’t the first time that new media gurus have redefined an industry. However, this time around old school brands are being left in … [Continue reading Why Old School Real Estate Brands are Losing to New Web 2.0 Innovators]
Blogher, Pro-Woman or Anti-Man?
The following is a Guest Post from Brandy Eddings. Last school year while at recess my daughter approached a group of boys playing kickball. She asked if she could join, the boy holding the ball told her “only boys can play”. My daughter’s response was “then why are they letting you play” she grabbed the ball and ran onto the … [Continue reading Blogher, Pro-Woman or Anti-Man?]
Singing In The Rain
or “How To Be Creative In 4 Steps” Ever pay attention to the affiliate network ads that pervade the blogs-on-blogging-and-marketing blogosphere? If you have, then you know that they’re all interchangeable. Every network promises you “better payouts and unique offers.”
The Corrupted Screenwriter
The following is a guest post by a friend of mine, he’s a screen writer by trade and not an internet marketer. But I have exposed him to enough of the SEO world that it’s made a difference … mg So I was at a Hollywood party tonight. A good buddy of mine is finally tucking his tail between his … [Continue reading The Corrupted Screenwriter]
Google FINALLY Admits That GWO Could F*** Up Your Rankings
Google’s official line on their Google Website Optimizer (GWO) A/B testing tool was that using it would not make your site trip a cloaking filter (since essentially A/B or MVT testing shows different versions of the same page to different people). They claimed it was SEO-safe in other words. BULL****.
7 Tips To Make Training Your Web Team Merry
Training is easily perceived as a chore by inhouse web teams, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are 7 easily-implemented tips to make training fun and get your staff’s buy-in.
Is Your Schlock Writing Dismembering Infants?
Schlock writing is bad. Schlock writing is bad because it is uninteresting. By uninteresting, I mean that writing in a schlocky manner is generic. Schlock writing is styleless and schlock is flat.
When To Pay Top Dollar for Copy
It took Leo Tolstoy six years to craft the 460,000-word War and Peace. A cheap copywriting service could churn out as many words for your website for just $9,200 (at 2 cents a word) over the course of a few weeks. Added to this, standards of literacy and attention spans on the web are plummeting. We’re all illiterate More than … [Continue reading When To Pay Top Dollar for Copy]
Outsourcing Content Creation Vs. Hiring in House
One of the first considerations for a web site owner is how to get the content you need at fair prices. Most serious web site developers have little to no time to create the most important aspect of a web site – the content. Outsourcing content creation to a company has many advantages. However, hiring in house writers can give … [Continue reading Outsourcing Content Creation Vs. Hiring in House]
No More Link Begging: 4 Engagement Methods for Content-Based Link Building
Link begging is the practice of identifying link prospects, usually through competitor backlink analysis, and then contacting each one of those sites and begging for a link. Link begging typically ignores the original context of the link, as well as the probable motivation of the linker. Not only that, it’s potentially destructive to an organization’s industry relationships and the link … [Continue reading No More Link Begging: 4 Engagement Methods for Content-Based Link Building]
How Do You Measure ‘IT’?
I’ve been doing SEO for a few years, with specific focus on social media and ways businesses can find their audience, their prospects and make money out of utilizing social media to generate leads. What I am still troubled to see, maybe because I live and breathe this industry, is that social media still seems a place where businesses fail.
You’re All Wrong! Paid Links From Offtopic Sites Do Count
“Paid links from off topic sites get devalued and flagged.” A common claim by otherwise savvy SEOs such as Ross Hudgens. Ross, would you take three links from the Wall Street Journal if its reporters write about internet marketing? Would you buy those links?
Badges & Widgets Can Take Your Rankings to the Top!
SEOmoz has mentioned it before in their link building videos that badges and widgets are a great way to get links, but can they really help you get to the top for very competitive terms? I believe so and have some proof to demonstrate it. Most badges I have seen are some type of image that is hyperlinked to the … [Continue reading Badges & Widgets Can Take Your Rankings to the Top!]
Repeat Business: There’s More of You to Love
Are you familiar with the following concept? It is much easier and more cost effective to sell to existing customers than it is to acquirer a new one. Which one would you rather have? Sell 50 items to 5 people or 50 items to 50 people. When you are designing and tweaking your marketing campaigns, be sure to include your … [Continue reading Repeat Business: There’s More of You to Love]