SEO made too simple

Danny Sullivan on Click Z has "redeemed" himself in my mind. After I cut him up in an earlier post (rightly deserved I say!) he has pointed out a few key things in his recent post:

• He has 10 years in the search biz
• He has outlined some simple SEO tips to keep in mind in a recent Click Z article.
• He has a written a ton of crap on search.

Thanks for your simple SEO tips that I didn't know already. Maybe a 10 year old mght not know these tips. "Pick keywords" - realy?? I also liked your comment that "If your site fails to make the top 10 lists, get together with those that do." All I have to say is good luck with that. Why would a great website with awesome SEO want a 2 bit competitor to cut into its search rankings?? If you have all of that experience, give us something that we can sink our teeth into.

Chad H

PS - I didn't like that Clizk Z post BTW if you weren't sure.

Technorati tags: SEO, Search Marketing, Dewey, Danny Sullivan

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Did you find the Ex-Spot? Consumer-Generated Media

Herre's a good article on Click Z about how to create a good "consumer-generated media" campaign. What is a CGM? Have look atthe article and find out how to spread the word about your business by using your customers. This is definitely something to think about - you have customers that are really enjoying the experience with your business. How can you turn these people into advocates and help the spread the message about the great work you are doing? Besides using feedback forms on your website and search as Click Z suggested, perhaps you can use blogs, third party review sites (eg: sites that you partner with), or an email a friend feature.

Do you have any other ideas on how to do this using online means?

Chad H

Technorati tags: consumer-generated media, CGM, GM, Peet's Coffee & Tea

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Making Money Blogging?

As I delve deeper and deeper into marketing I was bound to keep stumbling on some really interesting sites that have turned me upside down. On ProBlogger, Darren Rowse discusses how he has made some pretty good coin off of his blog by partnering with an e-book publisher and using affiliate marketing. Interesting stuff but does this cross the lines of what blogging should really be? The mreo we get into ad-related blogs, aren't we taking away a key component of blogging? i.e. the credibility of content that is supposed to come from the heart? I guess that is long gone.

Chad H.

Technorati tags: professional bloggers, affiliate marketing

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Blog Promotion: It Never Ends!

There's some good discussion going on the blog "Internet Marketing Blog" on how to promote your blog. Check it out!

Chad H.

Technorati tags: blog promotion, blog SEO

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Seth Godin: "You are not in charge"

Seth Godin weighs in on the world of marketers with his "5 Things Every Marketer Should Realize". It's sombre, no punches pulled approach.

Do you agree that as a marketer "You are not in charge." and that "You can't bury the truth"? I don't. If you're working at Microsoft or Google, I think that as a marketer, you are in charge as most of your marketing campaigns get eaten up by their target audience and people do care what they have to say. In addition, Microsoft does a great job at burying all the flaws that their software has and then spinning the rest. Hey Seth: The weather is nice out there - lighten up and enjoy the power that marketers now have with this thing we call the internet. I hear it's giving us a lot of control and making our jobs a hell of a lot easier.

Chad H.

Technorati tags: marketing tips, Seth Godin

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Importance of Good Subject Lines

Anne at Marketing Sherpa has pointed out yet again the importance of good email subject lines. In her most recent email, she explains the results of a study done on email subjects. In turns out that those not written in "marketingeze" (i.e. BS) did better. It alos helpoed to have the company name in them. Here's and example of good subject lines:

- Eye on Company Name Update
- Company Name Newsletter February 2006
- Invitation from Company Name
- Company Name May 2005 News Bulletin!

Here are examples of bad subject lines:

- Last Minute Gift - We Have the Answer
- Valentine's Day Salon & Spa Specials!
- Company Name Pioneers in XYZ Technology
- You asked for more...

I would add that the better you think about what your email responded would want to receive, the better your copy will be. If you think tey want to get something in the subject lien about how good your company is, think again.

Here's a good one... Anne recommends that marketers should consider "testing "boring" subject lines." These are subject lines that tell you that there is some important news that may be important to the user but not giving too much away that will result in a delete from the inbox.

Have fun testing that one out!

Chad H.

PS: Here's the full study

Technorati tags: email marketing, Marketing Sherpa

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8 Email Marketing Tips

Need to get a refresher on best practices for email marketing? Check out the article "8 Email Marketing Tips" that includes industry "notables" such as Seth Godin. There are some useful tips here for novice emarketers. Most of these are pretty basic.

Chad H.

Technorati tags: email marketing, Seth Godin

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