Ah, youth. 13 years ago I started my company with a spare room in my house, a credit card (limit: $1500) and a computer (Pentium 75 mhz, Windows 95). I was out of my ##@!)(@#$*!@@ mind. If I’d known then what I know now, would I have gone into this business? I don’t know. But… Read More

Internet Marketing

5 lessons religion can teach internet marketers: Have a tall steeple (or something similar). Make sure folks can find you when they’re ready. Discoverability is the name of the game. Tell a good story. Have a compelling narrative about your brand. That way, when folks arrive they’ll want to stay. Practice what you preach. Cough.… Read More

It’s somewhat official: Google’s making another major algorithm update. You can read the geeky details on Search Engine Land. I have a few tips for surviving the experience: Turn off your computer and walk away for a week. Find those left over percocets and pop a few. Failing that, go to the Google server at… Read More

Analytics

Cool new feature I just spotted in Google Analytics. The ability to graph data by week or month: You can even graph revenue by hour: Don’t know about you, but I’ve been wanting something like this for quite a while. No more migraines from grouping data… A Book Worth Reading:

I’ve just written and recorded lesson 1 of a new internet marketing training course and would greatly appreciate feedback. So, here’s the entire lesson, no registration or payment required: Lesson 1: Internet Marketing Basics & Conversation Marketing [HTML version] Lesson 1: Internet Marketing Basics & Conversation Marketing [Podcast Version] Biggest questions on my mind: Would… Read More

My Internet Marketing List of last week got one heck of a response – 22,000 unique visitors in 3 days. Even though most of you losers didn’t subscribe to my RSS feed, it gave my limp, damp ego a nice boost. In the interest of beating a good idea to death, I bring you the… Read More

Internet Marketing

No, we’re not. Yes, CNET just cut 10% of their workforce. And we’re seeing far too much of that lately. But before I go outside and commit hari kari with a USB thumb drive, let’s get a little perspective. CNET’s problems are a valuable lesson in internet marketing, but don’t run for the hills just… Read More

Analytics

Google Analytics now has their nifty benchmarking feature all set up. If you’re running Google Analytics you can see how your site traffic compares to others. First, here’s how you set it up, and why you should: Open Your Kimono, Just a Little First, you have to give Google access to your analytics data. “OH… Read More

Internet Marketing

Internet marketing is about lots of little things, not one big one. This list is half-list, half-procedure. If you go down these items in order it might give you a decent internet marketing plan for the next few months. If you have others, post ’em as comments: If you have a Flash introduction on your… Read More

I was listening to Joseph Jaffe’s most recent podcast and one concept blew me away: Old-style marketing was about interruption. No news flash there. But Jaffe’s statement that marketing is now about discoverability really resonates: You must be present at the customers’ convenience and request, not screaming at them 24/7. You must answer their questions… Read More

Analytics

Friday, someone told me it’s hard to convince folks they need to use multivariate testing in their internet marketing campaigns. Once my mouth closed, I decided to write this post. What Multivariate Testing Is If you already know, you can skip down to why you need it, below. I can’t define it without twisting my… Read More

Internet Marketing

Sometimes I forget to remind folks: I wrote an internet marketing book. It only costs $19.95. Yes, you can read it online for free. But for less than $20 you get the feel of crisp, recycled paper and the smell of printer’s ink. And the warm fuzzy feeling that you helped keep Conversation Marketing afloat.… Read More

When you go to a conference and present, you have a responsibility to give accurate advice or admit you can’t. That’s called professional responsibility. Especially in a relatively new field like search engine optimization. I really enjoyed SEMPDX, and recommend it to everyone. All of the presentations were great. With one exception. What Went Wrong… Read More

Random

OK Rand, it’s time to join the Mac-erati. Danny Sullivan bought a Mac. Now it’s your turn. Here’s why: The Mac is stylish. It’ll go with your keen fashion sense. It’s a better computer (doh, I wasn’t going to say that). You’ll be able to drive Danny crazy by refusing to put stickers on your… Read More

SEO

All 3 major search engines now have local search results, and they mix them right into the normal ranking pages. That’s wreaked havoc with many businesses that previously had the top spot for something like ‘seattle internet marketing’ (ahem) but suddenly found themselves buried underneath a map and a list of local companies: In this… Read More