Google pooped
September 8, 2010 by ian
A lone bird (apparently bomber-sized) gives its opinion of Google Street View:…
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10 (almost) ironclad arguments for SEO
SEO. What's the deal? Why do marketing VPs, IT teams and CFO's flee, screaming, at the mere mention of search engine optimization? I have no answers. However, I do have a few points - data-driven or otherwise - that I've used to sell... Read More »
Defensive design cost-benefit analysis, courtesy of Wells Fargo
The short version: Learn to use the TRIM() command in whatever programming language you're using, so you remove spaces that some poor soul accidentally includes in a data they enter via web form. The TRIM() command Every programming language has some version of... Read More »
Video sitemaps can cleanse your soul
This post expands on one of the ten blogging tips I presented at the SEOMOZ pro seminar yesterday. I'll be writing about the others over the next few weeks, and will tie them all together when they're done. I'm not a video guy.... Read More »
Fresh from the blog:
10 (almost) ironclad arguments for SEO
September 7, 2010 by ian
SEO. What's the deal? Why do marketing VPs, IT teams and CFO's flee, screaming, at the mere mention of search engine optimization? I have no answers. However, I do have a few points - data-driven or otherwise - that I've used to sell SEO in the past. I've tested extensively, and I can tell you that these all work far better than threatening to give your client a lederhosen wedgie. 85% of people who click on a search result click on the organic search result. The only way to rank in the organic results is SEO. 100% of searchers click…
Conversation Marketing is looking for sponsors
September 4, 2010 by ian
I've been trying advertising through BuySellAds.com - it's been very effective. But I'd like to switch to a sponsorship structure, instead. It gives a lot more value for the sponsor, and it frankly lets me earn a bit more money. It's also a morale boost. I put about 15 hours/week into Conversation Marketing, minimum. Getting even a smidge of revenue soothes my capitalist soul. If you want to sponsor this blog, here's what you'll get: 125 x 125 banner placement on the right. Mention in a weekly 'thank you' blog post. A 'thank you' in any screen cast videos I…
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Defensive design cost-benefit analysis, courtesy of Wells Fargo
September 3, 2010 by ian
The short version: Learn to use the TRIM() command in whatever programming language you're using, so you remove spaces that some poor soul accidentally includes in a data they enter via web form. The TRIM() command Every programming language has some version of the TRIM() command. TRIM() removes leading and trailing spaces from any alphanumeric string. So, if you type ' blah blah blah ', TRIM(' blah blah blah ') ends up being 'blah blah blah'. Use that any time you're processing data from a web form. It's good defensive design. And, as it turns out, it costs a whopping…
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5 reasons to go to the SEOMOZ Pro Seminar next year
September 1, 2010 by ian
I presented yesterday at the SEOMOZ Pro Seminar. I had the incredible misfortune of going right after Rand Fishkin, aka SEO Rockstar, aka He of the Fashionable Wardrobe. But it was still a blast. It was one of a bunch of great moments at my first Mozinar. I heartily recommend it to anyone looking to really learn SEO. Here's why: You'll learn real stuff. Every presenter comes on stage with executable to-do's and examples. I've never attended a training seminar that delivered as much hard information in a short timespan. I learned new stuff. I'm not saying that to somehow…
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Video sitemaps can cleanse your soul
September 1, 2010 by ian
This post expands on one of the ten blogging tips I presented at the SEOMOZ pro seminar yesterday. I'll be writing about the others over the next few weeks, and will tie them all together when they're done. I'm not a video guy. I know I use screencasts a lot, but the idea of having to watch myself on screen is about as itch-inducing as sleeping in a pile of rotting vegetables. But, video has its place. First, getting a video to rank for a given phrase is a hell of a lot easier than getting a page to rank.…
Monday, I could be dead: Marked for speedy deletion
August 27, 2010 by ian
It's true. As egos go, mine is a bit small, damp and non-resilient. So, when I search for my own name on the web, it's mostly to see who's writing mean things about me and making ready to defend myself. Years ago, I set up a page on Wikipedia, so that someone I knew in 7th grade couldn't come along and write about how, at that age, I looked like ET with a wig. Imagine my surprise, then, to find out that I'd been marked for death speedy deletion: Note that I check in on my Wikipedia account about once…
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Internet marketing due diligence: Checking the plan
August 26, 2010 by ian
I've heard it sooo many times: "But I didn't know!!!!" That comes shrieking forth shortly after this chain of events: CEO hires a Guru to develop their web marketing plan. Guru comes in, collects check and nods sagely while saying stuff "Engage your audience". Guru writes down a plan with steps like "Get good links". CEO hands plan to marketing department. Marketing department, afraid to tell the CEO she's an idiot, executes the plan, which also happens to execute most of the company, too. A year later, CEO has no marketing budget left, a lot of unhappy customers and zero…
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Great marketing is honest. Not fair.
August 24, 2010 by ian
Lisa Barone's post today about a tax on business bloggers, and the squawking and flapping that ensued thereafter, got me thinking about 'fair' versus 'honest'. Especially in the world of marketing. In marketing, 'fair' doesn't exist I find that when folks start talking about 'fair', what they mean is 'fair for me and mine.' Or maybe 'easy'. 'Fair' is relative: I'm a cyclist. I drive a Toyota Prius. So raising gas prices to $5/gallon and doubling the size of bicycle lanes seems perfectly fair to me. You, on the other hand, are getting ready to let loose a tirade of…
Google algorithm change - big brand bias?
August 20, 2010 by ian
Google just announced a change to their algorithm: They're now going to show more pages from a single domain for certain queries. You're tempted to run out into the street, strip naked with sheer joy and yell OMG all our troubles are over reputation management now a cinch!!! Wrooooong. Stay inside. Keep yer clothes on. Google's webmaster blogging team is as detailed as ever (cough). They use the query 'exhibitions at amnh' as their example, and sure enough, that turns up 7 results from from amnh.org: That may seem like a sign that you'll dominate page 1 of the rankings…
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