Client Blog Makes the Search Engine Marketing BIGLIST

The BIGLIST of Search Marketing Blogs is a list of top blogs in that niche compiled by TopRank Online Marketing. I’ve followed this list for a while because of the quality of its SEM and SEO blogs.

Last week I was pleasantly surprised to learn that The Whoa Factor, the blog I write for my client Whoast, Inc., made the BIGLIST. Thanks, TopRank! To me and the staff at Whoast, this is a real honor.

Whoast, Inc. is a multifaceted search engine marketing firm based in Chicago. Their specialties include professional SEO services and ppc management. They are a hard working and fun-to-be-around crew.…

Design Your Web Site for Browsers, Not Just Searchers

One of the many things I like about David Meerman Scott’s new book, The New Rules of Marketing and PR, is the way he articulates simple, obvious principles that never occured to me. Case in point–

“Amazon.com has been optimized for browsing. At a broad level, there are just two ways that people interact with Web content: they search and they browse. Most organizations optimize their sites for searching, which helps people answer their questions but doesn’t encourage them to browse. But, people also want a site to tell them something they didn’t think to ask.” (Chapter 2)

True on all counts!…

Search Engine Marketing–Size Doesn’t Matter

The February 12, 2007 BtoB magazine reports that 2006 spending on search engine marketing (SEM) reached $9.4 billion–up 62% from 2005.

That’s big.

Ad budget allocations are gravitating toward SEM and away from print magazine ads, direct mail, TV, and newspaper. Why? Carol Krol’s article concludes–

“SEMPO [Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization] projects spending for search will grow to $11.50 billion this year, $13.30 billion in 2008, and $18.60 billion by 2011, driven by strong advertiser demand, rising keyword pricing, a second wave of small-to-midsize businesses turning to search, better search technology and increased local search inventory.” (B2B magazine, February 12, 2007)

Note the mention of…

Help for Selling Online in China

At the recent Search Engine Strategies Conference in Chicago, we talked to some nice people from yo-so.com. They help companies develop Web sites for marketing in China and Hong Kong.

Considering the vast differences in culture and language, yo-so.com would figure to be an invaluable resource.

What struck me during our conversation was how routine it is becoming for American companies, even small ones, to do business in China. Yo-so certainly has SEO and SEM down to a science.

For you aspiring global entrereneurs, this (.pdf) report from The Boston Consulting Group provides insight on the Chinese market. Yo-so makes selling in China sound…

Search Engine Results Page, SERP or is it Syrup?

jorge back to talk about search engine optimization stuff. the particular topic of conversation is this silly thing called a SERP or search engine results page. these are the pages that show up on search engines after you’ve typed in a search term or phrase.

so what?

well, ranking high in the SERPs is an important element of any business or ecommerce website. or any website that is seeking traffic for that matter.

getting higher rankings is difficult, especially if you are in a saturated market or are vying for very common or generic search words or phrases.

people always ask how can someone rank high…

SEO Terms and Definitions

hey gang, jorge here again…

i put together a little page on my site with a listing of search engine optimization terms and their definitions.

this is not a complete list by any means, but it might be a good reference for some of you. if you have any suggestions for words to add, visit the page and use the contact me form and let me know. check it out:

SEO Terms and Definitions

have a happy new year.

Using Business Cartoons in Newsletters

This cartoon was created for use in a newsletter about Web analytics. Now, even the most ardent search marketing fan does not find Web analytics the most stirring of subjects. Applying a touch of humor, along with something visual, inspires newsletter readers to click-through.

When I started developing business cartoons for clients, I assumed certain businesses, like law firms, would never be interested. Not only was I wrong, I was 180-degrees wrong.

Attorneys, well aware of their stuffy image, want to humanize themselves and add a bit of comic relief to their gravely dry Web content.

Financial planners and realtors leave no stone unturned in the…

Business Blogs Break Loose in 2007

For small and midsize companies, blogs will become the online option of first resort. Here’s why.

1. Interest is skyrocketing. Business leaders I talk to in every conceivable B2B and B2C niche eagerly seek a better understanding of blogs. And the more they learn, the more they want to blog.

2. Cost. Nothing drives business decisions like an opportunity to conserve cash. For small companies and start-ups, the outlay for a traditional Web site can be burdensome or even prohibitive. In contrast, blogs require minimal capital investment, AND provide …

3. Richer, fresher content. Companies tend to launch their Web site, cross it off their “To…

How to Make E-Newsletters Work

Why are you sending out e-newsletters?

1. To attract new customers;

2. To inform existing customers;

3. To lead or support product promotions;

4. To build a community among employees;

5. To do what everybody else is doing;

6. All of the above;

7. None of the above.

Whatever your goal, the effectiveness of your newsletter depends on execution. Here are some tips.

1. Slow and steady wins the race. For most newsletters, publications once a month is plenty–more often and recipients start tuning you out; less often and they never tune you in.

2. Content is king, design is queen. To state the obvious, people are drowning in spam. Without a…

Empower Your Web Site with RSS!

In yesterday’s post we looked at a few ways to add fresh content to a business Web site. Fresh content improves a site’s organic search performance. Furthermore, fresh content enriches customer relationships and attracts more business–but only if customers read it!

Since you’ve gone to the trouble to build fresh content on your site, why not use the information for your sales and marketing advantage?

That’s where RSS, or “Really Simple Syndication” comes in. RSS allows readers to subscribe to a Web page or blog so that fresh content is delivered to them as soon as it is posted. Feeds are commonly delivered…

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