Yearly Archives: 2009

Analytics

I’m speaking at Pubcon tomorrow in the Real-World Content Creation Tactics session. I’m going to focus on how you avoid destroying copy with SEO, and how to do great analytics-centric SEO. If you know me, you know I rehearse, in part, by writing. So here you go – a preview of tomorrow’s talk. “Write good… Read More

SEO

Access to real, accurate, useful, transparent query data. For all snake oil sellers to shag off. For all people who say all SEO is snake oil to shag off. A Google webmaster tools API that actually lets me read data. A real competitor to Google. Not that I don’t like Google, but c’mon. PageRank forever… Read More

Internet Marketing

I’m sitting here watching CSI (ironic, since I’m going to Las Vegas tomorrow for Pubcon). What makes this show so damned compelling? The sneak peek plus a dose of authenticity. The sneak peek builds the connection You have a job, a career, or a business. You love it, but you do the same stuff every… Read More

Random

This guest post is from Sarah Edwards, a writer and SEO at the Creare Group. You have to check out their SEO Song. It’s like marketing combined with American Bandstand. With so many search engine optimisation companies around, it can be difficult to know which ones are protecting your best interests. It’s important to know… Read More

Random

Yep, my least favorite marketing term finally gets its own list. Aside from my occasional outpouring of hatred. Truth is, though, whatever you want to call it, social media is teaching us how marketing should work, and how it’s always worked. Here’s a list of my thoughts on the subject: 1. It’s just media. Listen… Read More

PPC

Dear Yahoo, While I admit that I was pretty annoyed with the Google session based keyword searches, I have to say that Yahoo has them beat. Ever since they advanced “advanced” matching that’s been taking over in PPC accounts, keywords that used to see 3,000 impressions in a month are now seeing 3,000 within a… Read More

Random

After a few years in marketing, it’s hard to say any of these without blushing. The louder we say it, the more you can depend on the fact that we’re lying: We care about your business. Typically said as the customer service department shoves something splintery into whatever orifice you forgot to seal shut. Made… Read More

Random

Update: RFPs Suck now out in paperback 11.30.09: RFPs Suck is now out in paperback, folks. Recent events have only proven to me that Tom’s formula really works. If nothing else, you can read his book to screen for RFPs you should – or shouldn’t – respond to. RFPs are like a colonoscopy: Someone you… Read More

Internet Marketing

Sound Transit is soliciting comments and ideas to improve their web site. I’ve long seen this site as a blight upon all public transit, so I did a special edition video review. Note that I am having a crappy week, and it’s only Monday, so any harshness is totally 100% authentic: For God’s sake, guys,… Read More

Internet Marketing

Yo, realtors: You guys rock. You help people make the biggest purchase of their lives. But you don’t understand marketing. Or at least it seems that way. Here are a few tips: Don’t send me canned e-mails with the same content that every other realtor is sending me. It does nothing for me, or you.… Read More

Random

The submissions are in, the judges (well, judge) has decided. The winners of a free 10Things web site review are: Cherryloop.com, because they bought a copy of my book. LaurelCrown.com, because Laurence’s post made me laugh. Alex Hardy, even though he spells ‘favorite’ funny. I’ll contact each of you no later than Tuesday to set… Read More

Internet Marketing

This weekend, my wife and I bought a flat-screen, LCD TV set. Hard to believe, but Ian Lurie, ubergeek, has never owned a TV larger than 36″, and hasn’t bought a TV since 2002. We got it home, did all the hookup stuff. Turned on the TV. And our jaws dropped. It is impossible to… Read More

Internet Marketing

I’m on a panel in about 2 hours at REBlogworld. The panel I’m on will discuss the relationship between branding and social media. So I’ve been thinking a lot about the intersection of brands and social media. Here’s the thing: Your brand is not your logo. Your brand has always been: Action. The actions you… Read More

Random

The nice folks at Wordcamp.tv recorded my presentation at WordCamp Seattle 2009. You can watch it right here: Or in larger size here. Note how I skillfully conceal myself behind a concrete post at least 3 times in the presentation. I thought that was pretty damned clever. PS: I’m in Las Vegas for Blogworld until… Read More

Analytics

This post assumes you’re a Feedburner user. If you’re not, here’s the short version: Feedburner gives you a bunch of free tools to enhance your site’s RSS feed. You can read more and get set up (for free) here. Everyone brags about their Feedburner subscriber numbers. Too bad those don’t really tell you squat. The… Read More