LoL Worthy Reciprocal Linking Request Emails

September 28, 2007 — jellymeli

This was probably one of the funniest reciprocal link request emails I have seen in my time. Now I’ve seen ones pretty close on the LoL factor, but this one made my Friday evening a pleasant one:

Fellow Plumber and Business Owner

My name is Al Vanden Heuvel, Colorado Master Plumber, and I run the web
site WaterChoices:

I’m not sure if you know about reciprocal linking. That’s an internet term
describing how Google and all other search engines see that like minded
websites are connected to each other through a hidden code. A code that
only the search engines can see.

It is my intention to link to about 2000 plumbing websites to my site and
I recently found your site (website URL) and am very
interested in exchanging links with you.

There is no cost for this and reciprocal linking will benefit both of us
by raising our search rankings and generating more traffic to both of our
sites. I have already added your site to my website and you can view it
here:

http://www.waterchoices.com/linkmachine/resources/resources.html

In return, please have your webmaster add my link to your site as
follows:

Title: WaterChoices
URL: https://www.waterchoices.com/
Description: Water treatment products and plumbing referral system.

If you cannot find your link on my site or you need to change the
information you can do it manually at
http://www.waterchoices.com/linkmachine/resources/exchange_links.html -

Looking forward to a positive reply,

Al Vanden Heuvel, Colorado Master Plumber

PS. This link exchange is beneficial for both of us and you might want to
take a look my website to see the other benefits it has for you!

Posted in Search Engine Brain Dump. Tags: , , . 1 Comment »

Does Google want 100% accuracy?

September 26, 2007 — jellymeli

I had this discussion with a peer way back a few years ago at one of my old jobs. Does Google want 100% accuracy in the ad’s that they are displaying?

My answer, as well as his, was No. I wish he had a different answer so I had something to debate, but we both agreed on the fact that Google does not want to have 100% accurate results.
Why? Because Google wants to profit. By leaving a margin of in-accuracy in both organic and sponsored results, we must go back to Google for a second try. A second trip = more possibilities that we will click on an ad.

As users become more wise about Sponsored ad’s, they begin to stop clicking on them. Plus users know that sponsored ad’s are normally in-accurate to their search (especially if the search is specific). Now Google is trying to figure out ways to stick ad’s in there without the user knowing so much. They are also trying to give higher precedence to ad’s that are trustworthy and already rank well for the terms. Double exposure for the client, plus more of a chance the visitor will see a recognizable company and click on it. It also means the visitor will see more than 1 large company, and will possibly click back for a second opinion on the same subject.

Oh Google… you are growing too wise for your own good.

Posted in PPC, Search Engine Brain Dump. Tags: , , . 1 Comment »

The future of SEO

September 26, 2007 — jellymeli

I look into my little crystal ball, and I can predict all that SEO will have to offer in the future.

1. Search results per demographic area
2. Search results per user preferences
3. Search results per age range

Now more than ever, Google is looking at who their user is to best serve quality results. We have seen major fluctuations in what is appearing on page 1 of Google, but it’s all happening so they can understand who we are. Let’s face it, we feed Google all the juice it needs to better who they are, thus giving us better results.

Who are you as a person plays a roll in what type of results you are looking for, especially when it comes to broad terms. We will scale back to simple searches, opposed to long tail keywords, and will be granted with what we want.

A user will then be able to search for “art” and then be granted with their preferences. Of course it takes time for a search engine to understand you as a person, in the long term its going to be beneficial for both the user and online businesses.

This will then boil down to the website as it is seen by the search engines. SEO professionals will need to focus more on user behavior than getting ‘high traffic’ keywords to rank. By understanding user psychology, we will be able to niche our websites to be strong lead generators.

Time after time, I have asked clients to explain to me their niche. Your niche is your driving force and it’s what sets you out from the rest. Once search engines understand their users, and you understand your users, you will be driven quality traffic from your target audience.

Us SEO folks should already be taking a deep look at who the target audience is, but many of us get caught up in traffic and rankings. If you agree with me and my outlook on the future of SEO, it is time to get into the game with a little more passion and search to discover the ties between your clients and theirs.

Posted in Search Engine Brain Dump. Tags: , , . 1 Comment »

Baby Boomers Dead = MSN Search Dead

September 20, 2007 — jellymeli

We all know that MSN is not only a search engine, but an internet provider as well. In fact MSN has over 9 million subscribers. Regardless of this statistic, nearly all of us can agree that MSN stinks when it comes to their search engine.

Since Alexa ranks MSN as being #2 in their traffic rank statistics, it made me wonder a bit why this was.

MSN relates to business men/woman, along with retirees across the US. Since MSN has nearly 9 million subscribers, those with MSN as a pre-set search engine in their browser are more than likely to use the tool not knowing another alternative.

Studies have also shown that users who find search results from MSN for high priced items turn into leads better than from any other search engine. But is that because the users of MSN are the blue hairs or retirees?

When baby boomers start kicking the can, I predict that the MSN search engine user base is going to depreciate. This generations internet users are much more wise than those that started when MSN first hit the shelves. If Bill Gates doesn’t start moving in on this project fast and making it something huge, I have a feeling it will fall flat on it’s face within the next few years.

Posted in Search Engine Brain Dump. No Comments »

Google’s Content Network is a JOKE

September 6, 2007 — jellymeli

When we were finally able to see where our Ad’s were being displayed with Google Adwords “content network,” I quickly turned it off.

You must be kidding Google. Having inflated impressions with a low click through rate is to be expected if you are apart of this lovely “network” Google kindly provided us with. I understand that Google is all for making profit (then again, who isn’t?) and this is one of the easiest ways they get change from online advertisers using their PPC services, but the content network is absolutely a joke.

Google is obviously a good judge of relating content to specific keywords. Am I right? Then why oh why do they think one of my clients who specialize in Plumber Advertising services, relates to a photo found on frindster.com?

Here are some lovely websites I found a PLUMBING ADVERTISING website displayed on:

Comicbookresources.com
Cheathappens.com
Adsoftheworld.com
Freedirectory.biz (listed under transportation mind you)
Friendster.com (on several photos and journal pages)

Now tell me, by being apart of this content network, what am I gaining? Absolutely nothing in my opinion. We get to pick who we want to delete out of our network, which is a plus. I turned off the entire network regardless. I shouldn’t have to monitor something that closely with such a small amount of return. A majority of these websites should not belong in a content network relating to my website. Having an opt out feature, but no opt in, doesn’t give me much to work with.

Let me put a spin on this real fast. As junky as I find the content network, I did find one client that could benefit from it’s junkyness with close monitoring. One of my clients with a niche on equity repositioning that can benefit from its selection. See, he can target websites that relate to mortgage, and post an Ad about why you shouldn’t pay off your mortgage. Basically, he can use the content network to pick off clients from those looking to do the opposite. This website’s content network was only slightly better than the above mentioned, but it was worth the effort. Why? Higher conversions.

So, a majority of the time, Google’s content network is a piece. Others, you can really benefit. It really depends. However, improvements on the network itself need to be made for it to be fully utilized.

Posted in PPC. 1 Comment »

SEO = Most Frustrating Job Ever

September 5, 2007 — jellymeli

<vent>

Being an SEO specialist takes plenty of time, and loads of effort. We all must agree with that. SEO is also the most frustrating job out there. Why? Because it requires patience. Patience my dear friend.

Here are the two most frustrating aspects about SEO:

1. You can’t promise the client a thing.

2. You can’t see your changes instantly.

When I was involved in web design, I could flip to one screen, back to another, make some edits, and see my changes live. I honestly cannot think of any other job you can have where your results are not instant.

I guess that’s where research comes in. SEO = research. Every SEO specialist in some way shape or form is a researcher on the quest to find out the formula that works for each of their individual clients. Just when you find it, good ol Google decides to switch up the game and there you go fluctuating again.

As much fun as this sounds, sometimes I just get so frustrated at the fact my job does not give me instant gratification. Today for instance:

I made some major changes to a clients website 2 days ago. Today, decent dip in rankings. All I say to myself is “shit” and I close that report. I will give it a few weeks to mellow out and find its middle ground. It’s just frustrating!

</vent>

Posted in SEO as a career. 1 Comment »