Internet Marketing

Google Search Plus Your World (GSPYW, for short). Social media belly button lint? Or the best damned thing since chocolate? It’s a riddle. But GSPYW builds traffic a bunch of ways. The best (so far) is the ‘Plus Box’: Question is, how does Google decide which pages and profiles get that coveted spot? Also, how… Read More

SEO

When I wrote these exam questions, I have to admit, I didn’t think about publishing the answers. It seemed kind of… wrong. But then I thought about the havoc wreaked if all kids had the teachers’ answer keys (obscure Simpsons reference there). And I smiled in a way that makes my family nervous. So, the… Read More

SEO

Google Search Plus Your World builds organic search traffic, big-time. Say what you want about the evil-ness of the whole thing. It’s a huge opportunity, and you need to capitalize on it now. The background I’ve been working for several weeks, researching what seems to get your Plus profile showing up in organic search results—also… Read More

Analytics

I noticed that my original Google Analytics video tutorial is a wee bit out of date. Like, 4 years out of date. So, here’s a new basic install video:

Internet Marketing

You send an e-mail to 40,000 people, and get 1 response. Or, you run a Groupon deal that brings 1,000 new customers, who never buy from you again. Wonder why? You got everyone’s attention. They just don’t care. Now you’ve got a choice: Rend your garments, tear your hair and whine about how stupid the… Read More

Analytics

A long time ago, alchemists tried to turn lead into gold. They were pikers. Compared to digging keyword data out of the Google’s lovely (not provided) statistic, lead into gold woulda been a cinch. But I’m stubborn. So, I’ve pulled a bunch of keyword analytics data from Google Analytics, and the Search Queries report from… Read More

Random

Yesterday I wrote about how effort does not equal results. Results are always better. Great results come from testing and tweaking your own routine. You can set up a virtuous cycle: You get more efficient, and have more time to learn more about your job, which helps you be more efficient, and so on. I’ve… Read More

Internet Marketing

Most people are terrified of problem solving, whether they’re figuring out how to replace a flat tire or diagnose a problem on their blog. They see a problem, and run so fast their pants are literally flayed from their bodies. Why? Because: A failed solution = A mistake Solutions require time, which no one has… Read More

Analytics

I’d promised myself I’d stop ranting about Google’s ongoing analytics assassination. But I checked my data for this blog, today, and I’m missing 19.5% of my keyword data: Google. What. The. Hell. I know, I know: I’m supposed to use Google Webmaster Tools to look at search queries. So, I toddle over there and take… Read More

SEO

(In case you’re wondering, ‘percentile die’ let you roll any number from 1-100.) Feel free to embed this, using this code: By Conversation Marketing Explanation In most role-playing games (think Dungeons & Dragons), there are these things called random encounters. Every now and then, a die roll determines whether you get eaten by a troll,… Read More

Design & Development

Over the last three months, a bunch of folks have used my server response code tester to check whether their web sites correctly respond to broken links, correct links, etc. Per my first post about the tool, I’ve been storing the results—don’t worry, no personal data, just web site, response codes, and a grade—for a… Read More

Design & Development

If you run an internet marketing agency, you have one client you dread more than any other: Yourself. We launched a revamped Portent site several months back, then rebuilt this site a bit later. In 16 years, I think we’ve rebuilt our company site 8 or 9 times. Some lessons I’ve learned: You’re a frakking… Read More

SEO

I wrote a post, and this time lots of folks taught me good stuff. See the comments after the post for great info I’d totally forgotten on how Google calculates site performance Google, I’m very… disappointed. You may have noticed that Conversation Marketing is a wee bit more speedy now. Last week, a page on… Read More

PPC

Yesterday I gave a plain English explanation of Adwords quality score: Why it exists and how it (probably) works. Today we get to have some fun: There are soooo many ways to destroy your quality score. I’ll explain the top 7, and give a tip for improving your score at the same time. 1: The… Read More

PPC

You may bid more than anyone else for the phrase ‘rubber duckies’ in Google Adwords. But that doesn’t guarantee you a top ranking. Your quality score influences your position, too. You may, for example, be able to get a #1 Adwords ranking while bidding for the #2 spot. Bizarre, I know. But here’s how it… Read More