june 2008

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4 Tactics for Geo-Targeting Your Local Search Marketing Campaigns with AdWords (Case Study: U-Save Car Rental in Myrtle Beach, SC) by Brian Carter of Fuel Interactive (http://www.fuelinteractive.com/blog) and AdWordsMan.com (http://www.adwordsman.com) SMX Local/Mobile (http://searchmarketingexpo.com/east/) in San Francisco at the end of July. (And I’m hoping to get out and do some comedy with the San Francisco Comedy College peeps too!) At SMX Local, I’m planning to talk about the part of local search we do best at Fuel Interactive, and that's Local search marketing with AdWords. Because of how much search traffic goes through Google, AdWords is a smart place to prioritize your local search marketing efforts. And believe it or not, there are at least four ways to do geotargeting in AdWords. I'll discuss those below using one of our clients, U-Save Car Rental, as an example. The 4 Ways to Geotarget Local Search with AdWords 1. Geotarget at the campaign level 2....

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Google, Ooogle, Schmoogle... as usual, lots of the big G in the newsThe latest news from the Search Marketing Room (http://friendfeed.com/rooms/sem)at FriendFeedTop 10 Online Retailers by Conversion Rate - May 2008 (http://www.marketingcharts.com/direct/top-10-online-retailers-by-conversion-rate-may-2008-5026/?camp=rssfeed&src=mc&type=textlink) - Marketing ChartsWeb Analytics - Behavioral Segmentation (http://semphonic.blogs.com/semangel/2008/06/web-analytics-.html) - SEMphonicGoogle's Cutts: Good directions drive traffic to your website (http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/services/2008-06-22-google-search-engine-optimization_N.htm) - USA Today; submitted by Maikel González (http://friendfeed.com/maikelgonzalez) Stats, Reality and Google's New Tool (http://anzman.blogspot.com/2008/06/stats-reality-and-googles-new-tool.html) - SEO and Tech Daily; submitted by Charlie Anzman (http://friendfeed.com/charlieanzman) Google The Moral Compass Of The US Justice System? (http://searchengineland.com/080624-084724.php) - Search Engine LandThe 5 Business Models of SEO - Pros Cons, Discover the One For You (http://www.winningtheweb.com/5-business-models-seo.php) - Winning the WebGoogle started using its Monopolistic Powers? Do No Evil? (http://webanalysis.blogspot.com/2008/06/google-starting-using-its-monopolistic.html) - Web AnalysisMr. Google, Tear Down This Google Trends Wall! (http://searchengineland.com/080624-121440.php) - Search Engine LandSources: Microsoft And Yahoo Talks Back On (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/24/sources-microsoft-and-yahoo-talks-back-on/) - TechCrunchDetailed Screen Shots of Google's...

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Have you voted yet?If you haven’t taken the time to vote on the ‘SEO Superlatives (http://www.chris-hooley.com/2008/06/25/seo-superlatives-poll-is-officially-open/)’ contest over on Chris Hooley’s site… be sure to hop on over and take part. But please don’t get serious or whiny about peeps that are missing… it was all just for some fun. You might even find yours truly in a few categories (ha ha ha ha...sigh).... Go Vote Now! (http://www.chris-hooley.com/2008/06/25/seo-superlatives-poll-is-officially-open/)

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Microsoft on link spam; using temporal trackingA recent Microsoft search patent came out for a system which detects spam websites by looking at the changes in link information on a given page/set of pages over time. We recently covered some potential ways of going about this with some analysis of Google in ‘Detecting web spam from changes to links of websites (http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1=20080147669.PGNR.&OS=DN/20080147669RS=DN/20080147669) FiledDecember 14, 2006 : Published June 19, 2008As we know from the last excursion, link activity over time can unlock potential spam signals for search engines to use. This can be done by looking at a variety of features of the associated link information. As with any analysis the system uses a probabilistic model to judge what is and is not considered to be a spammy link profile.This is also not limited to inbound links, but to outbound links as well (because a link profile is more than...

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The story of a Serial Blogger - by Paul StevenTis' time for a story. Set in a far, far away land. So, snuggle up get cosy and I'll tell you how being a serial blogger has been the most financially rewarding move I have ever made. Y'see, a long time ago I started life as a simple SEO guy, forever cultivating my digital patch, watching in earnest as my well cared for search positions took root and sprouted into high ranking websites. Life was good but hard work as mine wasn't the only prized garden in the competition. When a stranger came callingThen one day I received a phone call from a stranger not-from-these-parts asking if I had ever contemplated running his companies weblog on a paid-per-post service. I had partaken in the art of blogging on my own site but never taken it seriously as a written work. Because...

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Latest Search News From the Search Marketing Room (http://friendfeed.com/rooms/sem) on FriendFeed SES Toronto: SEO Don’ts, Myths and Scams (http://www.toprankblog.com/2008/06/ses-toronto-seo-donts-myths-and-scams/) - TopRankGoogle Trends Comes To Web Sites: Trends For Web Sites (http://searchengineland.com/080620-131900.php) - Search Engine LandXML Sitemaps: The Most Overrated SEO Tactic Ever (http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/xml-sitemaps-the-most-overrated-seo-tactic-ever/1193/) - Small Business SEMFaces and Landmarks: Two Steps Towards Smarter Image Searches (http://www.semclubhouse.com/faces-and-landmarks-two-steps-towards-smarter-image-searches/) - SEM ClubHouse (sub by SpostareDuro (http://friendfeed.com/spostareduro) )5 Great (Free) Web Analytics Tools You Might Not Know About Yet (http://www.webanalyticsworld.net/2008/06/5-great-free-web-analytics-tools-you.html) - Web Analytics WorldLanding Page Testing: How Much Is Too Much? (http://searchengineland.com/080618-082427.php) - Search Engine Land Compete: Google Keeps Stomping The Others In Search Traffic (http://searchengineland.com/080617-173543.php) - SEL Donna's big list of Search Bloggers (http://www.seo-scoop.com/2008/06/17/search-bloggers/) - SEO Scoop Linkbait Crashes New Google TruthRank Algorithm, Saves the World (http://schmearch.com/blog/google/linkbait-crashes-new-google-truthrank-algorithm-saves-the-world/#) Schmearch - (sub by Brian Carter (http://friendfeed.com/briancarter) ) From the Learn SEO Room (http://friendfeed.com/rooms/learnseo) on FriendFeedGoogle Defends Bad Link Theory - Competitors Can't Hurt You (http://www.seroundtable.com/archives/017446.html)...

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A tale of blogging from a wandering web GypsyAfter many hours, 360+ posts, nearly 1000 comments (not including spam – he he) and countless thousands of visitors from more than 100 countries - we have hit another landmark on the trail. Two years of wandering, rambling and ranting! “I write one page of masterpiece to ninety one pages of shit, I try to put the shit in the wastebasket.” - - HemingwayTo mark it, why not take the opportunity to highlight some of what makes this my second home… care to ride along? What gives with the domain name?To start with let’s get the easy stuff out of the way; WTF is with the domain name HuoMah.com??? I realized quickly how peeps might be struggling with the name when I heard Danny once attempt it on WebMaster Radio as… HooooMaaa …. with an inquisical WTF? tempered tone -...

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5 reasons why you should be using Plurk - by Samir BalwaniLately, there's been a lot of buzz about a new Twitter competitor called Plurk (http://www.plurk.com/). In my opinion this new micro-blogging platform has taken the conversation to a whole new level. But along with all the talk about how great Plurk is, people have begun to question its usefulness. In response, I've compiled a list of reasons why Plurk should be an integral part of every Internet Marketer's toolbox. Branding:A smart Plurker will use this platform as a way to effectively strengthen their brand. Just by watching avatars and names pass by on my timeline, I've grown to recognize newer brands.Want to maximize this effect? Use an avatar you want people to remember, or the one you use everywhere else. Also, don't forget that at 40.00 Karma you're able to change your Plurk Name. My suggestion is to...

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A week's worth of Search Marketing goodiness From the Search Engine Marketing Room on Friend Feed (http://friendfeed.com/rooms/learnseo)Quick Dirty Guide to Copyrighting Your Content (http://www.bruceclay.com/blog/archives/2008/06/quick_dirty_gui.html) - Bruce Clay Top 10 Talents of the Rock Star Analytics Expert (http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2006/06/top-ten-signs-you-are-a-great-analyst.html) - Avinash KaushikSEO Consultant or SEO Services? (http://www.seodesignsolutions.com/blog/seo-services/seo-consultant-or-seo-services/) - SEO Design SolutionsGoogle Result Offers You to Skip Intro (http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2008-06-10-n16.html) - BlogscopedAre You Losing Your Shirt Because You're Wearing the Wrong Shirt? (http://www.fuelinteractive.com/blog/2008/06/search-marketing-business-are.cfm#)- Brian CarterTop 10 Search Terms in 10 Categories, May 2008 (http://www.clickz.com/showPage.html?page=3629866) - ClickZ4 Hidden Benefits to Monetizing via Google AdSense (http://www.seobook.com/4-hidden-benefits-monetizing-google-adsense) - SEO BookThe Big Picture -- Well-Rounded SEM for SMBs, Part 2 (http://searchenginewatch.com/showPage.html?page=3629858) - Search Engine Watch AdWords 911: The 4 Step Emergency Fix for Dying AdWords Accounts (http://www.fuelinteractive.com/blog/2008/06/adwords-911-4-step-emergency-fix-for-dying-adwords-accounts.cfm) - Brian CarterAre You Ready for Web Analytics 2.0? (http://doteduguru.com/id245-introducing-web-analytics-2-0.html) - Doted Guru Is black hat SEO advanced enough to be called advanced SEO? (http://seo-theory.com/wordpress/2008/06/09/is-black-hat-seo-advanced-enough-to-be-called-advanced-seo/) -...

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Seriously.. it's F&@cking funny

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A Monday morning rant I love Google as much as the next guy or maybe more than most… Not only the search engine and many apps and services I play with, but I also enjoy how the engineers think (Patent hound (http://www.huomah.com/search-engines/algorithm-matters/)here ya know)… but the whole link FUD has finally started to irk me. I have yet to write about the ‘nofollow’ fiasco… today it changes. Are we simply a gutless bunch of weenies under the spell of the mighty G? Methinks it’s true. Matt McGee is a guy I enjoy reading and have respected for some time … and still do. BUT this morning I noticed a post of his (http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/what-my-advertisers-are-saying/1180/) that was thanking some advertisers and highlighting some of there posts. He not only nofollowed the links to some of their recent posts, but felt he had to state that they were nofollowed. Good lord, is this what we’ve...

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Some thoughts on my days in the Plurk-o-verseWeren’t we just talking about trademarks, standards and linkbait? …. Naaww.… this week there's a new buzz - Plurk (http://www.plurk.com/). As one person (http://www.plurk.com/user/SearchStudent) alluded to, half jokingly, its twitter on meth essentially. Granted many new services that come out experience some initial geek surge, but even this Gypsy (http://plurk.com/redeemByURL?from_uid=12094&check=-383134343&s=1) was on about FriendFeed (and it’s Rooms) recently – this one is different. gave help (http://www.plurk.com/user/MichDdot)and others that made tools for the community (http://www.plurk.com/user/twistermc) to benefit from. Once rolling it is interesting to not only interact but add flavour with images and graphics… You can also start private groups called *cliques* that help one segment their messages once your friend lists get longer.Some GoodiesOk, you can get round one of the community – How to post (http://reviewshowtos.com/how-to/social/plurk/plurking-help-the-complete-plurk-how-to-guide-for-plurkers-old-and-plurks-noobs-to/2008/06/04/)You can also get the FireFox extension (http://www.twistermc.com/blog/2008/06/04/plurk)Or get hooked up to the...

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My un-official wanderings ordered from the chaos WTF? The ol Switcherooo (http://sphinn.com/story/50020) – I do think folks hardly read things sometimes. Case and point is this post about KPI’s of SEO which really is nothing really about KPI’s for SEO… and people actually ‘Sphunn’ it..... then it get's interesting... Then Mochito got jiggy and changed not only the title, but avatar. Goes to show a slightly different angle can always be the prudent trail to follow. “...very true, a KPI is something you can measure, but i honestly could not find a better word to describe what i meant, so i 'broadened' the definition. Call it 'writer's freedom' or just plain bad english” …fair enough, gave a Sphinn just for the flexibility… welcome aboard mate! How NOT to make friends on Sphinn (http://sphinn.com/story/49687#c43601)– Loved the comment, “next post on this blog: How to Become an SEO Pariah in 5 posts...

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Some links of interest for the last week from my FriendFeed Rooms and the land of patents. If you know of some other great posts I have missed, be sure to join our rooms and post to yer heart's content and it might just show up here next week! Search Engine Marketing – from the SEM Room (http://friendfeed.com/rooms/sem) Get free links on Search Engine Watch (http://www.seomoz.org/ugc/get-free-links-on-search-engine-watch) – SEOmoz8 Arguments Against Sculpting PageRank™ with Nofollow (http://www.audettemedia.com/blog/arguments-against-nofollow) – Audette MediaImproved Google SEO Documentation (http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/improved-seo-documentation-galore/) – Matt CuttsTime Warner Cable tests metered Internet service (http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN0335796120080603?feedType=RSS feedName=internetNews) – ReutersYahoo!, Google, Microsoft Clarify robots.txt Support (http://searchengineland.com/080603-121100.php)More from microsoft on Page Segmentation (http://www.seobythesea.com/?p=1082) – SEO by the SeaGoogle SERP-rot, Paid Links, Spam Classification (http://www.seobook.com/google-serp-rot-paid-links-spam-classification) – Aaron WallThe Top 100 Alternative Search Engines June (http://altsearchengines.com/2008/06/02/the-top-100-alternative-search-engines-june-2008/) – Alt Search EnginesSEM Boot Camp - Alphabet Soup and PPC (http://www.emarketingperformance.com/:/2075/search-marketing/sem-boot-camp-alphabet-soup-and-ppc/) – eMarketing PerformanceSEO Defence: Why Defending Your Position...

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Prophecy or Conspiracy theory? Well here I was strolling through my day and to my surprise, it all may be meaningless in a few years. I Stumbled across a fairly frightening view of where the future of the internet is headed. The video below describes the internet of the future as a subscription model much like cable/satellite television where you pay to access different sites in packages and further fees apply when you want to go outside of those access points. Here’s the video – from Ning.com (http://ipower.ning.com/netneutrality)

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SEO Jeweller gives some pearls of wisdomGuest post from Steve GerencserWhen the web was young, back in the dark ages of dial-up and Mosaic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosaic_%28web_browser%29), the big stat was hits . Everyone had a counter on their home page, and everyone sold, or tried to sell, advertising based on the number of hits on their site. It was soon discovered that hits are a worthless metric. A hit is simply a request made of the server, so a page with 100 images on it generated at least 101 hits every time it was loaded. And the counters on most home pages could easily be padded by hitting the page refresh over and over. Fortunately advertisers and webmasters learned quickly that when counting traffic there are only two numbers that matter, visitors and unique visitors. Both types are valuable for different reasons, and a website that can grow to a...

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Welcome to the Wild Kingdom I was taking a few pics of some of my critters the other day and thought to update my ‘Critter Corner (/personal/animals/)’ section.Kaya – my ball python Kaya has been growing since my last post (/personal/animals/kaya-the-snake.html)when he was just a baby. Since then he has grown into a few new sizes of vivarium and is now over 40” long. He is easily the most friendly of my critters and will spend endless hours snuggled up with me watching TV… or when I am on the 'puter - he’s the best! (just have to watch he doesn't eat my mouse - he he)