I remember the very first time I discovered how to make a website rank on page one of the search engines. It was 2005ish and I was selling online business profile pages for the yellow pages company I worked for. These profile pages were simple, template pages that allowed for the business to post its NAP and a business description, but otherwise they weren’t very robust. Anyway, a friend of mine figured out how to alter the title tag to [...]
This video is pretty long. At an hour and twenty minutes, it is filled with statistics about review sites, how consumers are influenced by reviews and what reviews - both good and bad - can do for your business. I also highlight a strategy that will help you acquire more reviews. Plus, there are some clever examples of reviews in the real world that are pretty educational and often kinda fun. If online reputation management is important to you, I [...]
I recently had the privilege of speaking to the at AZIMA (Arizona Internet Marketing Association) about Search Engine Marketing and Targeted Display. With several years in SEM and a couple of years studying and working closely with Targeted Display, it was felt that I might have a unique perspective on two digital strategies that are normally in competition with one another. Enjoy "SEM and Targeted Display. Two worlds collide. And the results are awesome." Complete transcript: MODERATOR: Okay. Well, tonight we have with [...]
Google is the king of search. Right? I think most people would agree with that statement. What if I told you that Google may be the king of search, but may not be the king of search data? Consider the following. Unlike Yahoo’s “life engine” or other sites that want you to spend a lot of time on their site, Google’s whole job is to get you to click a link and go away. Based on my unofficial survey, asking this [...]
If you haven't already, please read How Google Set Standards That Other Online Advertising Channels Can't Live Up To, before proceeding. This article is really a follow up to that one. Okay, you're back (or still here because you've already read that one) so... if we can't measure digital advertising based on the click, then what? In the article I mention increased store traffic, increased phone calls and increased sales. But come on, it's 2014. Surely there are some better [...]
Landing pages make perfect sense for PPC campaigns. A user Googles his need. Your text ad answering his need appears. He clicks it and goes to a special page you've built just for him. Awesome for two reasons: One, it's a good user experience. The landing page is usually more relevant to the user's specific query than your more generic home page. Two, you can track the leads all the way from the search through to the landing page and [...]
My good friends at The American Rental Association recently asked my opinion on the value and importance of mobile apps.
American’s are consuming more internet content than ever before, with some sources stating that the average adult is spending over five hours per day online. (eMarketer) This surge in internet use is due in part to the large number of mobile devices that are being used. Today’s web surfers have access to their favorite web sites, social media updates, online reviews, internet radio stations and more in the palm of their hands nearly twenty-four/seven. Thanks to this constant connectivity, there [...]
My career has taken me away from link building of late. To be honest, I was happy to get away from it. Pandas and Penguins and Hummingbirds were stressing me out on a daily basis. Heck, I had hair before link building! Even today, when people ask about buying or building links, I try my best to persuade them to simply do good marketing, asking them, "If Google didn't exist, would you want that link? Would you pursue that tactic?" [...]
I take it for granted now, but I still remember the wonder and excitement I experienced when I first discovered Pandora Radio. The idea that I could create my very own radio station, customized to the kind of music that I liked… that was brand new territory not that long ago. For anyone who is unfamiliar with how Pandora works, it’s actually very cool. You “seed” a radio station by starting with one song or one artist. From there, Pandora [...]
