|
|
| Page Rank Update List |
| 08.26.04 (12:00 pm) |
This is a neat page someone put together showing the time between Google PR updates .
Got two of them-thar text links in this time ;)
I'm tellin ya... IE has opened my eyes to a whole new TBlog world... coff
|
|
3 Comments
|
| |
| 14 Etailer Search Mistakes |
| 08.26.04 (10:59 am) |
14 Etailer Search Mistakes
Thursday, August 19, 2004
By Hollis Thomases, WebAdvantage.net
Another Great Article:
Search can be an etailer's best friend -- but only if you're smart about it.
Online retail sales have jumped 51 percent this year, and 79 percent of all online retailers are profitable, according to a recent survey by Shop.org and Forrester. It also says that online sales will account for 6.6 percent of total retail sales in 2004, up from 5.4 percent in 2003.
So Internet retailing is no longer a fad -- it's a fact. To profit from this increase, etailers must learn how to pull in not just new visitors but qualified, paying customers. Search engine marketing has proven to be an extremely effective means of achieving online sales growth, but not all etailers know how to properly execute their search engine marketing campaigns.
Here are the most common mistakes to avoid.
1. Not having a search marketing strategy
This may seem obvious, but all too often companies barely have a specific budget line item for search engine marketing (SEM), let alone a strategy. Is the strategy to target certain terms for high natural search engine rankings and to buy visibility for the others with pay-per-click listings? Or is it to identify high-cost pay-per-click (PPC) terms and target those for search engine optimization (SEO)? What means of measuring ad-cost-to-sales will be implemented, and is this tool an end-to-end solution? And is there a realistic timeline associated with achieving these goals? Before spending time or money, put together a solid plan.
2. Not doing a thorough job of keyword research (and forgetting to think like a searcher)
For each keyword that you identify for search engine marketing initiatives, there are probably two or three others that can deliver better, more targeted traffic. Misspellings, odd spacing, and product feature- specific variations should also be considered. And while some experts espouse a more-is-better approach to keywords, this is not always the case, especially when you're paying for all that traffic. Thorough keyword research can save money and future disappointments.
3. Not establishing performance expectations ahead of time
Sure, everyone talks about return on investment (ROI), but the reality is that there are many metrics that go into a successful ROI and not everyone has done the "back math" to know what is even realistic. And if you launch search engine marketing campaigns without establishing benchmarks -- e.g., do you really know what your max CPC could be? -- and performance expectations, how will you know if you can continue your search engine marketing efforts as is?
4. Not conducting enough testing
Setting up keyword campaigns without a testing plan is likely to result in unnecessary ad spending and poorer sales conversions than could be attained. You should be testing multiple factors: search terms, ad copy, match type, landing page content, offers, calls-to-action, etc., and there are a variety of tools that allow you to do testing: ad groups or categories in search engines, unique landing pages and page optimizer tools.
5. Not tracking
The blessing and curse of the Internet is how much measurable data can be tracked and collected. For search marketing, treat this as a blessing and use tracking to optimize your efforts and get the most ROI out of the money you spend. Most Web site traffic analytic tools still can't put a price on the head of your average user, so you'll need more sophisticated methods. Shopping cart, affiliate management and conversion software are some solutions, as are third party ad servers. Choose the solution that gives you the most usable data for your needs.
6. Not reducing the prequalification cycle
The less qualified your search engine traffic, the less likely you'll be to make sales from that traffic. Instead of trying to optimize your site for broad terms that attract a lot of visitors but not targeted buyers, focus on terms and demographics that lead to sales. Apply the same strategy when buying PPC keyword listings, and use your ad copy to help weed out unqualified buyers. Don't just rely on general search engines for qualified traffic either. Go where your buying audience shop -- on shopping comparison search engines like Shopping.com, MSN Shopping or Yahoo! Shopping, and in vertical portals like travel sites.
7. The No. 1 spot isn't always the best
Not only does the No. 1 paid listing cost more, it sometimes isn't always the best one visibility-wise. For example, in Google, the top two paid listings may be bumped up above the natural listings and this location might be overlooked by the searcher suffering from "banner blindness." Conversely, Yahoo! lays out its paid listings from Overture quite differently -- the No. 5 paid listing is actually at the top of the small right-hand boxes. Test to see what placement yields you the best results.
8. Establishing a universal max bid
Yes, it's good to have a maximum bid based on established metrics, but don't unilaterally apply that bid to all terms if certain terms are for products that yield more net profit. Terms with greater profits can afford higher max bids, so adjust your campaign accordingly.
9. Not setting up proper match types
It's easy to overlook setting up and finalizing the best match type for your PPC keywords -- match types can be confusing, tedious and seemingly unimportant. But they're not, and they can make the difference between a huge ad spend and a modest one, and ROI figures that meet your benchmarks vs. ones that don't.
10. Failing to recognize the importance of day parting
For some advertisers, it's wiser to run campaigns only at times of day or days of the week when their customers are more likely to be shopping. Doing so can help save money, improve conversions and cost less in customer acquisition. Day part controls can be implemented using software tools so that it's not a manual process.
11. Expecting the search engine to close your sale
Sure, the search engine can send you traffic, but that doesn't mean that where you send them is going to close the sale. There are so many other factors that must come into play once you get the visitor to your site: the messaging on the landing page, the offer, the calls-to-action, the quality of the graphics, product pricing (especially when compared to other sites selling similar products), shipping and handling costs, etc. If you do your job, too, search engine traffic will be much more likely to make you money.
12. Forgetting second-tier PPC engines
You don't have to rely on only Google and Overture. There are multiple second-tier PPC search engines that may also generate sales at affordable -- often times lower -- PPC costs. Don't overlook FindWhat, Kanoodle, A-Ha, Ask Jeeves, LookSmart and others.
13. Giving SEO precedence over the user experience
All too often, companies become so obsessed with garnering top natural search engine rankings that they end up converting their Web sites into something garish-looking, with non-functional navigation and no clear marketing message. The end result is that they may have great rankings but lousy sales -- don't make this mistake.
14. Not considering top-ranked Web sites as your competition
The fact is that top-ranked sites, be they in natural results or paid results, get more traffic than unranked sites. Just because you're a big brand company doesn't mean that at the moment of search, your potential customer knows that you sell what they're looking for or even that they'll remember you. They're going to go where the search engines direct them to, and therefore, those Web sites are your competitors. Treat these competitors as you would your other competitors and get to know their strengths and weaknesses.
Hollis Thomases is President, Web Advantage, Inc.
This article can be found here.
|
|
0 Comments
|
| |
| Why SEOers Target Niches - Keyword Research |
| 08.26.04 (10:48 am) |
This article nicely sums up what I've been trying to convey to clients for a long time now:
*Target Niches.*
While "mens clothing" in the previous example may be one of the most popular clothing related searches, it unfortunately has a lot of competition. If you do a search on Google, you'll find it returns over 1 million results for that phrase. While this type of phrase may gain you a lot of traffic, achieving a top ranking may prove difficult and time-consuming.
In addition, you will normally find visitors who search on very broad keyword categories purchasing less often than someone who knows exactly what they want. A good example of such a niche phrase would be "custom baseball hats." The benefit of "custom baseball hats" is that it's both a popular search phrase and it only has about 2000 pages on Google competing against it. That's much less competitive than the 1 million results returned for "mens clothing."
WordTracker calls the popularity and competition ratio the "KEI" or Keyword Effectiveness Index. The higher the KEI, the more effective the keyword will be for you.
Therefore, targeting relatively popular niche keywords has the following four advantages:
1. Niche keywords still produce a nice flow of traffic if you're
careful to pick ones that still have good popularity.
2. Niche keywords will significantly increase your chance of success.
Achieving a top ranking will be much easier with a niche keyword
phrase versus a very broad, highly popular phrase. No top ranking
can be guaranteed in an organic search engine like Google. There
are simply too many variables. Therefore, you'll greatly increase
your chances of success by choosing less competitive keyword
phrases. Work smarter, not harder as I like to say.
3. Niche keywords will save you time. While you could use various
tools and research to achieve a top ranking for "mens clothing,"
the time required to do so may not be worthwhile. Let your
competitor waste their efforts on the ultra-competitive phrases.
In the same amount of time they spend trying to achieve a single
top ranking for your industry's most popular phrase, you could
achieve top rankings on twenty other phrases.
4. Niche keywords yield more sales per visitor. That's because these
keywords are more targeted. Therefore, these prospects have a
better idea of what they want. If they find it on your site at the
right price, then your chances for a sale are much greater.
The full article can be found here:
Top 5 Tips for Choosing the Best Keywords
Most helpful read indeed.
|
|
1 Comments
|
| |
| IE vs Mozilla |
| 08.25.04 (9:48 am) |
|
Have no fear this isn't going to be a rambling on the IE vs Mozilla thing... it WILL be a short but sweet discussion on the wonderful and hidden TBlog options that us Mozilla users never see!
Did you know there's font control? Linking buttons? Colors? Pictures and a slew of other tasty options? I didn't and I bet you other Mozilla users don't know as well.
If you've been Mozilla'in it with your Tblog... open up Tblog with IE, you'll find a new exiciting world with plenty of options.
Almost makes one want to give up Mozilla..... NOT!
;)
|
|
0 Comments
|
| |
| Dozens Arrested in 'Spam' Crackdown |
| 08.25.04 (9:34 am) |
|
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. law enforcers have arrested dozens in a crackdown on "spam" e-mail, identity theft and other fraudulent online activity, a person involved in the investigation said Wednesday.
The U.S. Justice Department (news - web sites) was expected to announce details of the sweep at a press conference on Thursday. The department declined to comment before then.
Congress outlawed many forms of unsolicited bulk e-mail last year, but spam continues to swamp Internet users with unwanted pitches for pornography, questionable medicine and suspiciously low mortgage rates.
Unsolicited bulk e-mail accounted for 65 percent of all e-mail traffic, according to computer-security company Symantec Corp., up from 50 percent in July 2003.
Over the past year, fraudsters have used spam to spread computer viruses and craft fake notices from banks to trick people into giving up their credit card numbers, a tactic known as "phishing."
June saw 1,422 separate phishing attacks, up from 176 in January, according to the Anti-Phishing Working Group, a financial-services industry task force.
Internet providers like America Online have filed dozens of spam lawsuits over the past year, and the Federal Trade Commission for years has shut down marketers who send fraudulent or deceptive e-mail.
Criminal cases have been less common so far.
State prosecutors in Virginia, New York and a handful of other states have filed criminal suits against some spammers, and the Justice Department arrested four Detroit-area men for spamming activity in April.
|
|
1 Comments
|
| |
| Have ya seen my links page?? |
| 08.25.04 (9:26 am) |
Don't know if you're aware... but I have a nifty area of all my tools, tips and articles I use to help me SEO:
Search Engine Articles, Tools, Links & Resources
and I used a keyword rich link ta boot :)
I think my prob with tblog is that I'm a mozilla kinda gal and I bet this thing runs best in IE... maybe I'll check it out.
|
|
0 Comments
|
| |
| Grrr Happening again |
| 08.25.04 (9:22 am) |
It seems like I can't edit a post more than once. I was going to post the comment that was sent regarding my linking method and the same prob came up.... Anyways... here it is:
Here is that comment, when I deleted the blog entry, the comments went with it:
Tuesday 08.24.04 - 10:05 pm
I find it odd, that as a professional search engine optimizer, you're using the word "link" as the description for all the outbound links on your blog. That's the first thing that jumped out at me when I looked at your blog. As far as Google is concerned, you have a blog about links.
The power of blogging is amazing when it comes to search engines, as blogs are content-rich and Google prefers content-rich sites to e-commerce sites when it comes to awarding top spots in search engines. So, I was very amazed to see an SEO professional using non-descriptive links on a blog. I'm also equally surprised by several other things as well.
Here was my reply:
"Link" is put in there automatically, I just cut and paste the links of articles I find interesting. I started my blog as a personal area to contain all my research and musing... never knew over 1000 people a month would be looking at it and I certainly didn't mean to cause a problem for you. I don't advertise the blog, don't really hope to gain anything from it and am definetly pleased that so many people are reading it on a daily basis. A point of interest.... type in
SEO blog
at Google.
It's in my referrer logs and again, wasn't something I was trying to attain... just came out of natural content on the site :)
The best way to see how I do SEO would be to look at my company site. Not look at my personal journal :)
Have a great day,
Keli
Don't want anyone to think I'm cooking the books ;)
|
|
0 Comments
|
| |
| What's that Crazy Google up to now?? |
| 08.25.04 (9:18 am) |
NOTE:
This was an actual blog entry from a few days ago... I had someone reply to it that was distrubed that I use the word *link* instead of some keywords. I just cut and paste the articles and thats the way tblog interprets them. Simple enough. So I went in to anchor down these links with some nice keywords, give it another go. Someone the coding for the *SUBMIT/PUBLISH POST* button got included in the blog not allowing me to edit the blog since there wasn't a button on the page - grrrrrr. I could however cut and paste the material and use it here again. I thought there was some good stuff.
Looks like I got the links to work with the HTML, bypassing their link function all together:
http://www.tblog.com/templates/index.php?bid=keli&static=25913 7" title="http://www.tblog.com/templates/index.php?bid=keli&static=25913 7" target="_blank"http://www.tblog.com/template...
Excuse the *link* links... I'll try to take the extra time in the future to do this, never knew it was a prob :)
----- and back to our regularly scheduled program ----
Well they say any press is good press... even when you're well passed being Googled out. You can't read on online news source without seeing something these cats are up to.
Google trading could start tomorrow
http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0" title="http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0" target="_blank"http://media.guardian.co.uk/s...,14173,1284770,00.html
No SEC Decision on Google IPO Paperwork
http://www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040817 /APF/408170576" title="http://www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040817 /APF/408170576" target="_blank"http://www.timesdaily.com/app...
Gmail by any other name? (this is a good one.... oppps!)
http://news.com.com/Gmail" title="http://news.com.com/Gmail" target="_blank"http://news.com.com/Gmail+by+any+other+name%3F/210 0-1032_3-5309485.html?tag=nefd.top
SquawkBack Poll: Sick of Google?
http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/CNBCTV/Promos /P92018.asp" title="http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/CNBCTV/Promos /P92018.asp" target="_blank"http://moneycentral.msn.com/c...
It's not easy to tell a bid from a bet in Google's share auction
http://www.etaiwannews.com/Business/2004/08/17/1 092709435.htm" title="http://www.etaiwannews.com/Business/2004/08/17/1 092709435.htm" target="_blank"http://www.etaiwannews.com/Bu...
|
|
1 Comments
|
| |
| Yahoo Blog |
| 08.24.04 (7:39 pm) |
Found some great stuff... the people at Yahoo! have a blog filled with all kinds of cool stuff:
http://ysearchblog.com" title="http://ysearchblog.com" target="_blank"http://ysearchblog.com
I decided I better post the link before I get too absorbed.
|
|
2 Comments
|
| |
| The Top Three |
| 08.24.04 (7:20 pm) |
Yahoo reported 60 million uses of its search service, followed by Google, with 58 million uses. MSN Search came in at a distant third, with 48 million users, comScore data show.
Thats right folks...
Yahoo 60Mil
Google 58Mil
MSN 48Mil
|
|
0 Comments
|
| |
| Search optimisation makes a comeback |
| 08.24.04 (7:16 pm) |
25 August 2004
Search optimisation makes a comeback
Susie Harwood
Traditional search engine optimisation (SEO) looks set to make a comeback as the paid listings market becomes saturated and cost-per-click (CPC) rates rise.
Paid listings services like Espotting, Google and Overture have had massive growth and now account for over 40% of UK online ad spend. But traditional optimisation to improve position in natural search results has been neglected.
Jupiter Research analyst Julian Smith warned, 'CPC rates are rising rapidly and it's unlikely that response rates will rise as fast, which means returns will diminish and cost effectiveness of paid listings will reduce.'
More importantly, said Danny Sullivan, editor of Search Engine Watch, many users - as many as 70% - don't look at paid listings at all, while new software is capable of stripping out paid search ads.
'Ideally you need to be doing both paid search and traditional optimisation,' said Sullivan. 'Companies that only do one or the other are making a terrible mistake.'
Both believe traditional SEO will see a resurgence over the next couple of years. 'I think people are starting to recognise that they have to focus as much on natural search as paid search,' said Smith.
Stefan Bardega, head of digital at direct marketing agency All Response Media, agreed. 'We're already seeing the pendulum swing from paid to natural in the more mature online industries, such as gambling, where average CPCs have forced advertisers to assess their search marketing strategies.'
|
|
0 Comments
|
| |
| and the race is on... Google IPO |
| 08.19.04 (10:08 am) |
Google Shares Surge in Market Debut
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/040819/google_ipo_ 19.html" title="http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/040819/google_ipo_ 19.html" target="_blank"http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/04081...
'Googlers' scoop up piles of cash
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/yhoo/story.asp?source=blq/yhoo&sitei d=yhoo&dist=yhoo&guid=" title="http://www.marketwatch.com/news/yhoo/story.asp?source=blq/yhoo&sitei d=yhoo&dist=yhoo&guid=" target="_blank"http://www.marketwatch.com/ne...%7BE714B12B%2D97BC%2D45CC %2DA2A7%2DA8A73B6BFD35%7D
Search stocks shoot higher as Google debuts
http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/040819/tech_google _sector_1.html" title="http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/040819/tech_google _sector_1.html" target="_blank"http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/04081...
Google's Insiders Strike It Rich With IPO; Some Sell Portion of Their Stakes
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/040818/google_jack pots_3.html" title="http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/040818/google_jack pots_3.html" target="_blank"http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/04081...
A Cheaper Google: More Valuable?
The Dutch auction didn't turn out quite as planned, but the search giant's sliced valuation may just add to the stock's upside
http://yahoo.businessweek.com/technology/content/au g2004/tc20040818_3291_tc1 19.htm" title="http://yahoo.businessweek.com/technology/content/au g2004/tc20040818_3291_tc1 19.htm" target="_blank"http://yahoo.businessweek.com...
|
|
0 Comments
|
| |
| Guaranteed Top Rankings in the Search Engines |
| 08.13.04 (11:07 am) |
I don't own Google or Yahoo, therefore I don't offer any guarantees. I do guarantee to do the best I ethically can but to promise the world when I have no control over it is something I'm not about to to.
There is finally a case about this type of guarantee... gotta love it.
Internet Advancement told to refund clients
and on Danny S's site there is an ongoing thread/discusson that's pretty good.
If they didn't get their clients ranked high for their phrases they should have given the money back since they didn't meet the any guarantee! These type of SEO companies are what make the legit one look bad....
I started a thread in Jill Whalens forum. It's interesting to see what others in the industry have to say about this.
|
|
0 Comments
|
| |
| Google and IPO news |
| 08.11.04 (4:38 pm) |
Google IPO Sets Odd Precedent
http://www.wired.com/news/business/0" title="http://www.wired.com/news/business/0" target="_blank"http://www.wired.com/news/bus...,1367,64508,00.html
Google to end IPO registration Thursday
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/tech nology/2004-08-10-google_ x.htm" title="http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/tech nology/2004-08-10-google_ x.htm" target="_blank"http://www.usatoday.com/money...
What if Google fails to keep hitting home runs?
http://www.iht.com/articles/533412.html" title="http://www.iht.com/articles/533412.html" target="_blank"http://www.iht.com/articles/5...
G-Metrics Measures Google Results Across Time
http://www.researchbuzz.org/archives/001916.shtml" title="http://www.researchbuzz.org/archives/001916.shtml" target="_blank"http://www.researchbuzz.org/a...
Google PageRank Formula: Changes Over Time
http://www.seochat.com/c/a/Google/Google-Pag eRank-Formula-Changes-Ove r-Time" title="http://www.seochat.com/c/a/Google/Google-Pag eRank-Formula-Changes-Ove r-Time" target="_blank"http://www.seochat.com/c/a/Go...
|
|
0 Comments
|
| |
| Google and IPO news |
| 08.11.04 (4:32 pm) |
Google IPO Sets Odd Precedent
http://www.wired.com/news/business/0" title="http://www.wired.com/news/business/0" target="_blank"http://www.wired.com/news/bus...,1367,64508,00.html
Google to end IPO registration Thursday
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/tech nology/2004-08-10-google_ x.htm" title="http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/tech nology/2004-08-10-google_ x.htm" target="_blank"http://www.usatoday.com/money...
What if Google fails to keep hitting home runs?
http://www.iht.com/articles/533412.html" title="http://www.iht.com/articles/533412.html" target="_blank"http://www.iht.com/articles/5...
G-Metrics Measures Google Results Across Time
http://www.researchbuzz.org/archives/001916.shtml" title="http://www.researchbuzz.org/archives/001916.shtml" target="_blank"http://www.researchbuzz.org/a...
Google PageRank Formula: Changes Over Time
http://www.seochat.com/c/a/Google/Google-Pag eRank-Formula-Changes-Ove r-Time" title="http://www.seochat.com/c/a/Google/Google-Pag eRank-Formula-Changes-Ove r-Time" target="_blank"http://www.seochat.com/c/a/Go...
|
|
0 Comments
|
| |
| More Google Fun... |
| 08.09.04 (10:36 am) |
Google underwriters voice doubts on IPO
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5648662" title="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5648662" target="_blank"http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5...
Google's ad rules complex, controversial Documents reveal details about what popular search engine accepts....
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archi ve/2004/08/09/BUGAD835EP1 .DTL&type=tech" title="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archi ve/2004/08/09/BUGAD835EP1 .DTL&type=tech" target="_blank"http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin...
Google's dirty little secrets Investors may suffer from winner's curse
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archi ve/2004/08/08/INGI882I221 .DTL" title="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archi ve/2004/08/08/INGI882I221 .DTL" target="_blank"http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin...
Google Me Not
http://www.forbes.com/home_asia/free_forbes /2004/0816/102.html" title="http://www.forbes.com/home_asia/free_forbes /2004/0816/102.html" target="_blank"http://www.forbes.com/home_as...
and other industry related information...
Combating the Rising Cost of Keywords
http://www.clickz.com/experts/brand/capital /article.php/3391751" title="http://www.clickz.com/experts/brand/capital /article.php/3391751" target="_blank"http://www.clickz.com/experts...
PPC Advertising Connects to Conversion Rate
http://www.clickz.com/experts/search/result s/article.php/3391681" title="http://www.clickz.com/experts/search/result s/article.php/3391681" target="_blank"http://www.clickz.com/experts...
|
|
0 Comments
|
| |
| Google Who? |
| 08.02.04 (9:05 am) |
Google's IPO isn't hot with everyone
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/techinvestor/tec hcorporatenews/2004-08-01 -google-backlash_x.htm" title="http://www.usatoday.com/tech/techinvestor/tec hcorporatenews/2004-08-01 -google-backlash_x.htm" target="_blank"http://www.usatoday.com/tech/...
Google's Initial Public Offering Information
https://www.ipo.google.com/
Google Opens Site to Register Bidders
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0" title="http://www.eweek.com/article2/0" target="_blank"http://www.eweek.com/article2...,1759,1630090,00.asp
Before You Buy Into That I.P.O., Search 'Lemmings'
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040801 /ZNYT01/408010303/1020/NE WS04" title="http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040801 /ZNYT01/408010303/1020/NE WS04" target="_blank"http://www.heraldtribune.com/...
|
|
0 Comments
|
| |
|
|
|
