SMX Advanced 2007 – Impressive! (And thanks to all who’ve welcomed a first timer!)

To anyone at the show right now reading over this….. thanks for making a first-timer feel so welcome – it’s been awesome. I’ve met some folks who not only were very approachable but ready and enthusiastic about conversations with a first-timer. I definitely try not to be the “interruption guy” but have managed to at least chat with some who I’ve wanted to meet for a long time and had extended conversation with many who I respect in the industry.

Details

On-The-Fly Google Adwords: Part 1 of 3 – the Ads

It’s important that you design your advertising “funnel” to retain the confidence of the searcher from first click through ordering. I thought I’d show you a few tricks that have proven themselves over the years, starting with the most basic – the Google Keyword Insertion method, then talking about Dynamic Landing pages, and ultimately specialized product linkages from ads.

Details

A nice mention in the Wall Street Journal

I thought it was really nice to get a mention by Elizabeth Holmes in her article “Going Online Isn’t a ‘Must’ Move For All Entrepreneurs in the Wall Street Journal last week. I believe that many companies definitely jump in the wrong end of the pool sometimes.

Details

Seth Godin’s List of Quitters

Seth Godin, my favorite author by far, just published a list of quitters (people who have quit one path and shifted to another, and found even more success) that includes people you’ll recognize, such as Jeff Foxworthy, Tom Peters, Bill Gates, me. What? Read more inside….

Details

Franchise Brand Compliance – The Lifeblood of Successful Franchise Marketing

There are two types of franchises. Brand franchises and Business Model Franchises. When you buy a business model franchise, you are saying that you believe in their mode of operation. But more and more franchisees are doing a pick-and-choose approach to the franchises models, and I think it’s damaging entire franchise systems. Franchises aren’t designed for the independent-minded. They depend on a by-the-book execution of a business plan, adherence to time-tested systems and a willingness to follow directions.

Details

Google Quality Score and Landing Page Testing

Changes in Googles Adwords algorithm have had a major impact in the ability to use this tool for affordable testing of highly focused landing pages. There is a correlation in my experience between volume of content and cost of bids. So “pure” landing page design “labs” have really become a challenge of late. What was…

Details

Down and Out – Of Google That Is

Rustybrick at SEOroundtable has drawn attention to a very interesting thread which should make those in charge of client webservers prick up their ears. I encounter resistance from some clients when I suggest a hosting change once I see they’re using a cut-rate provider. DNS changes, server switch-overs, and broken 404 pages are all major…

Details

Pitching The Media – Make it Easy, Make it Clear

David Meerman Scott recently posted a very well thought out post “How to Pitch the Media” which rang true as I purged at least 10 unsolictied pitches for irrelevant stories from my inbox for Business Lexington this morning. The pitches were ridiculous – general, poorly written, disorganized, and time consuming to read. Honestly, I just…

Details

12 Things to Remember When Building A Franchise Portal

If you’re tasked with building a portal for a franchise, where franchisees will share ideas and information through online collaboration tools, here are five tips to make your deployment smooth and effective. It doesn’t matter which platform you’re using, or if you’re building it from scratch, a franchise portal can be one of the most…

Details

Web Design Wisdom from a 3rd Grade Musician

My 3rd grade daughter offered some good advice the other day when I asked her about school. She’s learning (mastered) to play the recorder in music class. I asked her what she found to be the hardest thing to play and she told me this advice: “The hardest thing about playing the recorder in music…

Details

Google Adsense for Billboards Someday?

I’ve been impressed with the improvements lately in digital billboards. They’re very bright and are begining to rival their rolled-on competitors in daylight. Of course at night they have no rival. Lamar has a video out showing off their technology, and it’s pretty impressive. The Outdoor Advertising Association of America estimates there are 500 digital…

Details

The Twelve Patents of Christmas

And now, brought to you by Google Patents… I present a new twist … (music, please) On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me…… Twelve drummers drumming, (US Patent 361606)Eleven pipers piping, (US Patent 3151517)Ten lords a-leaping, ( US Patent 1513338 ) …(helmet recommended)Nine ladies dancing, (US patent 1374840) …(can you…

Details

Is a blog worth it? Ask Google!

Starting in around 2002, I began suggesting to Kentucky companies that they find a blogger to serve as their voice in the blogosphere. I also wrote about it, twice, as have every major business journal available, but it seems few around me have given it much effort. A couple of my clients wanted to send…

Details

Perceptions Are Everything

There are several consumer concepts that drive the success of every SEM activity I do. 1) Perceived Value. 2) Perceived Ease of Use. 3) Perceived Future Peril When a visitor searches for an item, and they see a search result or a sponsored link, they run through these concepts in a fraction of a second.…

Details

Sticks and Stones…but domain names can hurt you

Every week I see it, an individual and a company facing off – or one business toe-to-toe with another – over domain names. And it always happens when one or another of them are faced with pressures of site deadlines, launch dates, or other critical in-house problems. The pressures makes everyone grumpy, and what otherwise…

Details