Alan Rothstein

11 Search Marketing Books You Should Read

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Rothstein) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:33:00 +0000

It is amazing how many good Internet Marketing books come from Sybex. Here are 11 Internet Marketing books, most of them I have read from front to back. A couple of them are to be released in the next few months.

Landing Page Optimization Need to optimize your landing pages? Don't know what to test? This book offers an exhaustive list of optimization variables to make your landing pages successful.

Advanced Web Metrics with Google Analytics Did you read Web Analytics: An hour a day but need more advanced success metrics to optimize your SEM campaigns? Get the advanced web analytics secrets and get a competitive advantage with this book. Also available by Sybex is the Yahoo! Search Analytics book.

Always be Testing: The Complete Guide to Google Website Optimizer Google Website Optimizer is a free tool offered by Google to optimize your website and test multiple variables (e.g. colors, buttons, copy, images, etc) to see what your target market is persuaded by. Coffee is for closers so Always be Testing and making your SEM more successful.

Email Marketing: An Hour a Day A great introduction to email marketing and spam filters. This book also gets you ready to build your email campaign from scratch like a professional. If you don't want to spend your money on companies like Constant Contact (or maybe in conjunction with them) get the secrets of the email marketing professionals in this book.

YouTube and Video Marketing: An Hour a Day

Multichannel Marketing How does online marketing overlap? Does one online channel affect another? This book opens your eyes to the other marketing professionals minds and shows you how to work with your fellow colleagues. Are you a brand manager? Learn the ins and outs of brand metrics and how marketing metrics from multiple channels work together to help you succeed.

Radically Transparent Are you looking for reputation management or online social networking ideas? Create a plan of action for your online reputation whether it be reactive or proactive. Get a jump on the competition and be prepared if something goes terribly wrong. This is great reputation insurance.

Social Media: An Hour a Day Need a complete guide to social media? Ready to embrace social media and need to know what it all works together? This book is great for all skill levels from beginner to expert. Social media is an emerging market, get involved before your competitors do.

I already have my pre-order on Web Analytics 2.0: The Art of Online Accountability and Science of Customer Centricity, it releases on October 26, 2009

A couple other books I might pick up are Twitter Marketing: An Hour a Day and Facebook Marketing: An Hour a Day.

By the way, you can get a great deal on these books both new and used on Amazon.

Follow Google on Twitter

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Rothstein) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:59:00 +0000

Like lots of you, Google has been drawn into Twitter this year. After all, Google is all about frequent updates, and there's lots happening around Google that they want to share with you. Here's a list of the current Google profiles on Twitter.

twitter.com/Google - our central account
twitter.com/Blogger - for Blogger fans
twitter.com/GoogleCalendar - user tips & updates
twitter.com/GoogleImages - news, tips, tricks on our visual image search
twitter.com/GoogleNews - latest headlines via Google News
twitter.com/GoogleReader - from our feed reader team
twitter.com/iGoogle - news & notes from Google's personalized homepage
twitter.com/GoogleStudents - news of interest to students using Google
twitter.com/YouTube - for YouTube fans
twitter.com/YouTubeES - en Espanol
twitter.com/GoogleAtWork - solutions for IT and workplace productivity

Geo-related
twitter.com/SketchUp - Google SketchUp news
twitter.com/3DWH - SketchUp's 3D Warehouse
twitter.com/Modelyourtown - 3D modeling to build your favorite places
twitter.com/EarthOutreach - Earth & Maps tools for nonprofits & orgs
twitter.com/GoogleMaps - uses, tips, mashups
twitter.com/GoogleSkyMap -Android app for the night sky

Ads-related
twitter.com/AdSense - for online publishers
twitter.com/AdWordsHelper - looking out for AdWords questions and tech issues
twitter.com/AdWordsProSarah - Google Guide for AdWords Help Forum
twitter.com/GoogleAnalytics - insights for website effectiveness
twitter.com/GoogleAdBuilder - re building display ads
twitter.com/GoogleRetail - for retail advertisers
twitter.com/TechnologyUK - for U.K. tech advertisers
twitter.com/InsideAdWordsDE - for German AdWords customers
twitter.com/GoogleAgencyDE - for German ad agencies
twitter.com/AdSensePT - info for Portuguese-language publishers
twitter.com/AdWordsRussia - AdWords news & tips in Russian
twitter.com/DentroDeAdWords - Spanish updates from the Inside AdWords blog
twitter.com/AdWordsAPI - AdWords API tips

Developer & technical
twitter.com/GoogleResearch - from our research scientists
twitter.com/GoogleWMC - Google Webmaster Central
twitter.com/GoogleCode - latest updates for Google developer products
twitter.com/GoogleData - Data APIs provide a standard protocol for reading and writing web data
twitter.com/app_engine - web apps run on Google infrastructure
twitter.com/DataLiberation - our initiative for complete import/export of all data
twitter.com/GoogleMapsAPI - about using Google Maps embedded in websites
twitter.com/GoogleIO - Google's largest annual developer event

Culture, People
twitter.com/googletalks - notes from our @Google speaker series
twitter.com/googlejobs - the voice of Google recruiters

Country or Region
twitter.com/googlearabia - news from the Google Arabia Blog*
twitter.com/googledownunder - Google activities in Australia & New Zealand
twitter.com/GoogleDE - Google in Germany
twitter.com/GoogleKorea - News & notes in Korean*
twitter.com/GoogleLatAm - Latin America (en Espanol)
twitter.com/GooglePolicyIt - Notes on Google policy issues in Italy

Get updates to this Google Twitter list here.

Twitter is Caliente: Twitter Directories for Promotion

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Rothstein) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:51:00 +0000

Want to promote your Twitter profile in Twitter Directories? Here are the top Twitter Directories to add your Twitter profile:

WeFollow - A creation from Kevin Rose, the Digg guy, with the use of Twitter Directory tags to segment Twitter users. WeFollow is heavy on the celebrities.

Twellow - The yellow pages of Twitter Directory Listings. A search directory of people by area of expertise, profession or other attribute listed in personal profiles on Twitter.

Twitter Directory 2000 - A premium Twitter directory that only lists Twitter users with at least 2,000 followers and has been updated within the last 30 days.

JustTweetIt - Just Tweet It is a user directory for Twitter organized by genre to allow for users to easily find other Twitter users to connect with.

TweetFind - Live Twitter Directory to Find Twitter Users and Twitter Businesses.

The Twitter Matrix Has Gotten Me

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Rothstein) — Fri, 08 May 2009 23:50:00 +0000

I recently have been bitten by the Twitter bug. I really enjoy the simplicity of the interface. Twitter offers a really competitive landscape for those that like to compete and try to get the most followers. Twitter also offers a way for people to stay in contact with one another on the day to day happenings in their life.

If you want to follow me on Twitter I am semFunny, enjoy!

California Tax Refund Status

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Rothstein) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 16:40:00 +0000

Did you know that you can check to see when your California Tax Refund was authorized and when you should get it in the mail or in your bank account? Visit the California refund status center for a date when your tax refund was authorized.

No IOUs from the California State Tax Board
If you have already filed your tax return you should get an authorization date shortly. If you have not filed your tax return, the news states you will be authorized within 2 to 3 weeks after your return is approved. The sooner you get your California State Tax Return filed, the sooner you will get your money. Especially if California runs out of money again.

2009 Retail Industry Stores Closing

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Rothstein) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 05:27:00 +0000

2009 Retail Industry Stores Closing, Including Chains Going Out of Business (updated 3-8-09):

567 Circuit City

461 KB Toys

300 Starbucks

287 Goody's

175 Van Heusen

163 Ann Taylor (by 2010)

125 Pier One

118 Office Depot

115 Zale Corporation

111 Rex Electronics

100 Gap, Inc.

98 Club Libby Lu (Saks)

60 American Greetings

50 Supervalu

50 New York & Co. (over the next five years)

48 Home Depot (Expo, YardBIRDS, Design Center, HDBath)

40 Ruby Tuesday

35 Famous Footwear (Brown Shoe Co.)

30 S&K Famous Brands Inc.

28 Yankee Candle

26 Cost Plus

25 Chico's FAS

25 ZGallerie

24 Blue Tulip Gift Shops

24 Sears

20 Oneida Ltd.

19 Snyder's Drug Stores, Inc.

15 Tim Horton's

13 OfficeMax

12 Bealls

12 Kira Plastinina

12 Stein Mart

11 Better Bedding Shops, Inc.

11 Filene's

11 Jimmy'Z (Aeropostale)

11 Macy's

11 Pamida

10 Bruno's

10 Bassett Home Furnishings

10 P.F. Chang's Pei Wei Restaurants

10 U.S. Cellular

8 Dillard's

8 Dominos

7 Sweetbay Supermarkets

6 Rex Appliance & Electronics

5 Basha's Supermarket

5 Borders

5 Dillards

4 Applebees

4 Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops

4 Lucky Grocery Stores

3 Albertson's

3 Good's Furniture & Flooring

3 Lane Bryant

3 P&C Food Markets

3 Virgin Records

2 L'Oreal Paris

2 Storables

1 Fresh Market

1 Jewel-Osco

1 Sony PlayStation Store

1 Sony Style Store

1 Victoria's Secret

What's a Crackberry? Internet Slang Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Rothstein) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 01:55:00 +0000

With new technology and social networks comes new slang words.

Twitterer or Tweeter - Someone that uses Twitter.com to keep in touch with friends. Are you a Tweeter?

Twuet - Having sent a Tweet recently to a friend. LOL {Used in a sentence} "Did you just twuet?"

Crackberry - Are you addicted to your BlackBerry? Then it's your Crackberry.

Rim-Shout - Sending a shout out to all your friends on your Rim Blackberry.

Linkedin - Are you part of your inner circle of business professionals, then you are Linkedin!

Bitchmeme - Group dialogue on a single topic, often kicked off by one blogger’s rant.

Yelper - Someone that is part of the Yelp! community.

Yelping - Leaving a review on Yelp! for a community business or professional.

Any other funny slang words. Rim-Shout-out!

Las Vegas: The House Doesn't Always Win!

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Rothstein) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:56:00 +0000

Las Vegas is no stranger to the failing economy. If you have been to Las Vegas you have undoubtedly found yourself at a Station Casino. The reasonable room rates and low table minimums have made a large dent in many a wallets. But this time the house doesn't win, and it didn't take a pack of MIT graduates playing 21. Who needs Las Vegas when you can gamble with your job and paycheck in this economy.

Station Casinos. (Privately owned, about 14,000 employees). Las Vegas has already been creamed by a biblical real-estate bust, and now it may face the loss of its home-grown gambling joints, too. Station - which runs 15 casinos off the strip that cater to locals - recently failed to make a key interest payment, which is often one of the last steps before a Chapter 11 filing. For once, the house seems likely to lose.

15 Companies That Might Not See 2009

Donald Trump, "You're Fired!" The Atlantic City mob has put a hit out on gambling in 2009. Who has money to gamble, let alone pay their mortgage? One of Trump's Casinos already filed for bankruptcy in the last two years, this might be the end of the Trump Entertainment Resort dynasty.

Trump Entertainment Resorts Holdings. (TRMP; about 9,500 employees; stock down 94%). The casino company made famous by The Donald has received several extensions on interest payments, while it tries to sell at least one of its Atlantic City properties and pay down a stack of debt. But with casino buyers scarce, competition circling, and gamblers nursing their losses from the recession, Trump Entertainment may face long odds of skirting bankruptcy.

Green Initiatives & Red Economies Don't Always Mix

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Rothstein) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:24:00 +0000

Being green in a down economy isn't always that easy. Yes you want to conserve energy, use less water, use mass transit to get to work, but green products aren't always the least expensive alternative. Shopped at specialty stores and gourmet food store lately? Yeah they offer healthy and eco-friendly alternatives to many cheap products and foods but specialty usually means expensive.

Business As Usual, As Green As Possible

Especially in this down economy you still may need to print reports for clients, keep lights on so workers can get their jobs done (without a lot of optomitrist appointments with employees complaining about strained eyes), and run massive servers to keep computers going.

Ask yourself this, if you can either choose to go out of business and layoff thousands "or" be the greenest company on the planet, which one would you choose? Point made. Be green, but be smart.

Virtual Media: Unemployment's Solution

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Rothstein) — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 21:03:00 +0000

Many loose their jobs as the financial industry falls and the brick-and-mortar retail world crumbles. What are the jobless to do? A growing industry is virtual media. The Internet is taking away jobs from brick-and-mortars but the appetite for Internet media is growing exponentially.

Amateur Media Goes Mainstream
With the influx of amateur news at Current.tv and Internet episodes on YouTube, TV viewers want millions of choices for entertaining content and news that is not satisfied by current Dish and Cable TV providers. People from different countries are moving around the world and their media content isn't.

This means you can produce your own content and support it with advertising, thanks to the Internet. Choose a topic you are interested in and produce news, episodes, or infomercials. For now it can be a side job to make some money until you find a new job. In a year or so you will be able to access any content anywhere with your mobile device, laptop, or desktop computer. Use a special box, like the one from Roku, and you can watch this content on your home's TV.

A Web Cam and a Dream
Unemployment is a problem but the solution is learning new talents to supply the demand. In this case it takes a web cam or camcorder and a good idea for Internet content. Add advertising and you have a great part-time job.

Heelys: Atkins Favorite Shoes

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Rothstein) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 06:20:00 +0000

Our kids spend their days playing video games. They get up for a Yuh Huh packed with sugar. As they begin the journey to the refrigerator they start rolling?!? What is this? Who is the genius that put wheels on kids shoes, Atkins? Let's just strap them to the couch, put a video game controller in their hand and hook up an I.V. of Yuh Huh with a donut on the side for good measure.

Everywhere I go now I see kids rolling to and fro. In malls, at restaurants, and in public libraries. No walking or running anymore, just rolling on little wheels in their shoes called Heelys Shoes. Any parent that buys these Heely shoes for their kids is taking years of their life. But they are really fun! Ridiculous!

Nintendo Wii
Fortunately Nintendo has always understood that parents want to get their kids active. Remember the running pad for Track and Field? Now we have the Nintendo Wii and a bunch of games to keep our kids active. Get in the game with some Wii Bowling or Wii Tennis. Or play a wide range of Nintendo Wii games and stay Wii Fit.

Do your kid a favor on their next birthday and buy them a Nintendo Wii instead of those ridiculous rolling shoes.

Super Bowl Ads: A Captive Audience

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Rothstein) — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 19:29:00 +0000

With the Super Bowl on the heals of the NFL Divisional Playoffs, I sit in a sports bar getting ready for a good old football time. Many times people have access to a TV remote and can change the channel during commercials or use Tivo to delay the game and skip over commercials. What about all those NFL fans that are away from home, in bars, at a friend's house, or watching on their mobile device? A captive audience for football fun and super bowl ads. Reuters reports that a 30-second 2009 Super Bowl Ad will run you $3 million.

Super Bowl Ads of the Past
Everyone remembers the Go Daddy girl commercial in 2005. It single handedly
launched Go Daddy as the premiere web host on the Internet. This commercial made Go Daddy a household name and they didn't stop from their. Every year since they capitalize on the success of the 2005 Super Bowl Ad with another just as funny.

Super Bowl Ads for 2009
Of course we will see another Go Daddy ad with "Danica get's steamy." Hyundai will join the elite with a Super Bowl Ad to promote the Genesis Coupe. One notorious Super Bowl advertiser, Fedex, will be opting out of the $3 million ad. What funny Super Bowl ad will take their place?

The newest trend in Super Bowl ads is a 3D ad to promote DreamWorks' movie trailer for Monsters and Aliens and a Sobe ad to be named later. Over 125 million 3D glass were distributed for this monumental event. You can save your 3D glasses and watch My Bloody Valentine or break out your copy of Rad Racer for the original Nintendo NES.

Get your engines started and get ready for this race.

Check out a collage of 2008 Super Bowl Ads:

Dear Diary: Brick-and-Mortar Bubble Bursts

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Rothstein) — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 03:30:00 +0000

We all remember 2000-2001 when anyone and everyone started a website, got funded for a new web venture, and money was being thrown around the stock market on Internet IPOs. The Internet finally came of age but the teen years were tough. We realized that it is not just good enough to be on the Internet but we had to actually make money (really?).

Jack and Jill Went Up The Hill
The best of the bunch survived the crunch and the rest came tumbling down. Now the Internet can vote, drink hard alcohol, and stay up all night without a curfew. Unfortunately, brick-and-mortar got old and stogy, and is now.

Circuit City Came Tumbling Down
Just when you thought that brand was king, down with Circuit City. Big brands have ruled the retail world for over 100 years. Macy’s closes 10 stores, Mervyn’s liquidates and disappears, and many other big brands are laying off employees and closing up shop. Did you know that Internet retail sales were up 4% in 2008, from 2007? Shocking, who could have seen that trend coming? Lower overhead, less labor costs, open 24/7/365, and the ability to be anywhere and everywhere around the world; someone was asleep at the wheel!

Status Quo is Status No
The lesson is not just about the brand but about diversification. Status quo is status no. “Everyone else is doing it,” they say. “I want a piece of that pie.” Well the pie is in short supply. Maybe Marie Antoinette had it right, “Let them eat cake.” Stay ahead of the curve, try to conserve, or get what you deserve. Now wave bye-bye to those big old stogy guys and say hello to Web 2.0.

YellowPages.com - Stop Calling Me, Please?

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Rothstein) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:19:00 +0000

Guess what? Yep, I got another message from YellowPages.com on my voice mail yesterday, I stopped counting at 30 so I don't know how many times they have called me to date. They want to sell me paid advertising because I signed up for a free listing. This time I wrote down the reps name and number and called him back. I said, "What can I say to you today that will make you never call me again." This guy is a machine, it didn't even phase him. He went into his sales pitch.

If you don't have a number to call YellowPages.com and complain about getting excessive cold calls from their sales force call this number and ask for this sales rep:

Michael Marshall
(314) 588-2995
or toll free at (800) 723-9552 x85267

Give him my regards and remind him not to call me when you get him on the phone. Good luck with YellowPages.com. Free listing, it was anything but a free listing.

United States Postal Service - Obsolete?

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Rothstein) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:53:00 +0000

As I walked past my neighborhood post office, I saw a man that looked like a deer in the headlights. He was holding a Netflix DVD in one hand and was standing in front of a row of five USPS mailboxes. With a confused look on his face he turns to me and says, "Which one is for letters?" I graciously say, "All of them." He says with a big sigh of relief, "Thanks, your a life saver."

So I ask you, when was the last time you mailed a letter at the post office? Barring my obsession with Netflix movies, which now I download and watch on my computer, I don't remember the last time I sent a letter. Oh, well last week I sent in my car registration, however you may agree that the USPS system is now obsolete for personal use.

With email, instant software downloads, and online bill pay; what we have used in the past for sending letters may have become obsolete. The USPS needs to shift their focus to packages and retail business delivery. This is a trend that will cause an increase in taxes, as we have seen recently, to fill the gap from the money we pay for postage to the United States Postal Service.

The trend will be toward more instant software and video game downloads, online payment of bills, instant messaging, and company collaboration in the virtual world. No more snail mail, Best Buy video games, and ATMs. Not to mention that being "green" is better for the environment.

All of this said, you will see a shift in purchase behavior over the next 18 months from in-person, in-store purchases to purchases from the comfort of your own home. Log on, research, click, buy, download.

YellowPages.com, The Final Chapter (Hopefully)

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Rothstein) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:11:00 +0000

Last Friday I called the number that was given on the "pre-recorded" message trying to up-sell me into paying for placement in the YellowPages.com network of local websites. By the way the pre-recorded message says, "We wanted to make sure you get what you really came to YellowPages.com." What I really came for was a "free listing."

So I had already removed my listing from YellowPages.com and still was receiving one call a day (now from an automated recording). I called up last Friday and got a message saying, "Thanks for calling YellowPages.com someone will be right with you, etc." Two minutes later I get a message that says no one is available to talk with me and that I can leave a message to have someone call me back. Then a pause and a quick message, "Please be patient their may be a long pause before you can leave a message." Hmmm?

Long story short, I leave a message with my name and phone number (trying to speak as plainly and slowly as possible so they get the information), then I say, "I have received over 20 calls in the past month, Please Stop Calling Me, Thank You." And I hung up. So far seven days have passed. No calls from YellowPages.com, however I am not stupid enough to think that they are not going to call me in the future (or another third-party that YellowPages.com sells my information to).

I don't know how many times I need to say it but don't apply for a free listing with YellowPages.com unless you are ready to get call after call asking whether you want to upgrade to a paid listing, and they will not take "NO" for an answer.

YellowPages.com, The Saga Continues

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Rothstein) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 02:33:00 +0000

So today, you guessed it, I got a call from a sales rep at YellowPages.com with a message that got cut off before he got to the end of the call and didn't leave a phone number so I could call him back and tell him to stop calling me.

I understand that someone applies for a free listing at YellowPages.com and they want to up-sell you to the paid search portion of the website. I get that but I got over 12 calls in a matter of two weeks from 5 different representatives from YellowPages.com. Sure I am in the Search Engine Marketing industry and I may have contacts with other local search marketers that could use YellowPages.com. Stop calling me, this is just like Dell Hell. I submitted a listing to SuperPages.com and no sales calls.

While I am on the topic, please go out and use SuperPages.com, but please whatever you do don't apply for a free listing with YellowPages.com. All you will get is sales call after sales call. Even if you return the calls and tell them you are not interested, more and more calls.

Stop Calling Me YellowPages.com! Please, stop!

YellowPages.com: No Free Lunch (or Listings)

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Rothstein) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:21:00 +0000

After researching local directories I came upon YellowPages.com. They offer a free listing to local businesses, so I submitted my name and information. I think to myself, great a free listing in YellowPages.com in my local area.

No Free Lunches (or Listings)

The day after I submitted my "free" listing I get a voice message from a YellowPages.com salesperson. Ok they want to thank me for applying for a free listing (I delete the message and move on). The second day, I get another voice message from a salesperson. Day 3, a voice message from a different salesperson. Day 4, you guessed it a voice message from a salesperson. Day 5, oh my, another voice message from a YellowPages.com salesperson.

Day 6, I finally pick up the phone when a YellowPages.com salesperson calls me. I answer the phone and get an angry salesperson saying, "Are you Alan Rothstein." Yahda, Yahda, Yahda, is this your primary business phone. I say, "No this is a supplemental business phone, etc." Needless to say I get a lot of weird, specific questions about my business practices and why I don't want to use YellowPages.com for more than just a free listing. I finally cut the conversation short and the YellowPages.com salesperson finally thanks me and hangs up.

Day 7, finally no voice message from YellowPages.com. Was the free listing worth the hassle and multiple voice messages on my phone? Well, the listing was definitely not "free." Submit your "free" listing to YellowPages.com at your own discretion.

UPDATE - Day 10, YellowPages.com calls to say that my listing is incomplete and that I need to call to rectify the situation. Day 10.9 I deleted my listing on YellowPages.com.

YellowPages.com Stop Calling Me!

Change is Good, Except When it is Bad

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Rothstein) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:21:00 +0000

Remember when Coca Cola changed their recipe to be more like Pepsi, and created New Coke? Then everyone stopped buying Coca Cola because it was different, even though studies said people preferred the taste of New Coke?

Mashable, my all-time favorite blog recently had a make-over, new logo, and new slogan. I have to assume that the information they are offerings is still the same (or the same themes), however Mashable has revised their blog layout. Yes, they took away the soft pink and blue colors and replaced them with a more neutral color layout, but something is just not right.

What is wrong with the new layout? The advertisements used to pop and now they blend into the background (maybe that is a good thing). The fonts are different, the color scheme is different and the background is much lighter. Everything on the page just blends and nothing really stands out, except the photos of the bloggers. Those photos are ridiculous looking.

I guess my point is, change is good except when it is bad. Keeping a blog fresh and new is good. However, you can have the best ideas in the world but it is all about the execution. It hurts my eyes to look at the Mashable website. Will I still continue to read it? That remains to be seen. By the way I like both Coca Cola and Pepsi. Like fine wine different soda goes good with different meals.

8 Google Blogs for Search Marketing Professionals

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Rothstein) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:20:00 +0000

Google has blogs on almost all of their products. Here are a few Google blogs that Search Marketers can read and get a jump on the competition.

1) The Official Google Blog Insights into Google products, services, and algorithm.

2) The Official Google Webmaster Tools Blog Insights and information about Google Webmaster Tools.

3) The Official Google Video Blog - Showcasing cool new videos from across the web and keeping you current with the latest news from Google Video.

4) The Official Google Analytics Blog - The latest news, tips, and resources straight from the Google Analytics team.

5) The Official Google Base Blog - The latest news, tips, and resources straight from the Google Base team.

6) Official Google Mobile Blog - News and views from the Google mobile team.

7) The Official Google.org Blog - News and notes from Google's philanthropic arm.

8) The Official Google Checkout Blog News for sellers using Google Checkout.

7 Advanced Google Tools For Internet Marketers

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Rothstein) — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 04:56:00 +0000

Search professional or business analytics that is responsible for Internet marketing and search strategy? The following are 7 advanced Google tools that will help you be a better marketer:

1) Google Analytics - shows you how search rank correlates with conversions and revenue for every keyword you buy or rank on in natural search results.

2) Google Analytics URL Builder - Building URLs for Google Analytics so you can keep track of campaign source, medium, term, content, and name.

3) Google Local Business Center - Help customers find your business on Google Maps.

4) Google Webmaster Tools - Improve your site's visibility in Google search results, diagnose problems on your site, discover your link and query traffic, and share information about your site with Google.

5) Google Website Optimizer - Google's newest tools to test copy, layout, images, and buttons to convert the best.

6) Scholarly Papers Written by Googlers - A partial list of publications by people after joining Google about Algorithms and Theory and more.

7) Google Insights for Search - Compare search volume patterns across regions, categories, and time frames.

2009 Search Trends: Like BK, Have It Your Way

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Rothstein) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 03:46:00 +0000

If you are used to walking into Burger King and having it your way than you are going to like the 2009 trends in news search and content consumption.

Eight years ago MSNBC and many other 24 hour news TV channels got a much needed boost in viewership, launching them into what we now know as "news all day, every day." Four years ago bloggers and online news portals got the boost they needed to go mainstream with the shear amount of political news readers that shut down servers left and right for online news website including CNN.com and The Onion.

What is in store for late 2008 and 2009?

Live streaming news, lets you keep up-to-date with the presidential election (and shortly after everyday news). Internet television is in it's infancy and many of us are watching movies and television shows on demand with services like NetFlix and Hulu.com. Websites offering live streaming news mashups will help you keep track of your news (and have it your way).

How about those that aren't iPhone enabled?

Personalized news search, think RSS feeds, widgets, and personalized home pages. How can you capitalize on this future trend? Content consumers will get used to building their personalized home page with iGoogle, chocked full of RSS feeds and widgets. Help customize their content consumption and news habits with your own RSS feeds, widgets, and iGoogle gallery submissions.

As social bookmarking begins it's decline and users become less satisfied with traditional online news sources, what will reign supreme this election year 2008? Bet it sets the standard for news consumption for the next four years.

10 Google Tools For SEO Professionals

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Rothstein) — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 23:44:00 +0000

As a Search Engine Optimization professional you can always use a few good Google tools. Here are 10 Google tools for SEO professionals, that will actually help you optimize websites.

1) Google YouTube Video Channel - Google updates their official YouTube channel on a daily basis with product demos, guest speakers, webcasts, and more. Get Google news and information from the source.

2) The Official Google Blog - "Insights from Googlers into our products, technology, and the Google culture."

3) Matt Cutts Official Blog - Learn from Matt Cutts about gadgets, google, and SEO. Some very informative information about Google, the Google algorithm, and SEO for more prominent search rankings.

4) Google Developers YouTube Video Channel - Are you a web developer? Want to get some information and news directly from Google developers? Watch videos about coding, learn about Android, and set by the CampFire with Googlers.

5) Google Webmaster Central Blog - "Official news on crawling and indexing sites for the Google index."

6) Google Dance Tool - Ping three different Google data centers and see if Google is updating their search algorithm.

7) Google Maps for Enterprise - Web-based mapping technologies to internal websites for any organization to use.

8) Google Mini - Access to relevant and secure searches across intranets, file servers, and business applications.

9) Google Ad Planner - A free Media Planning Tool to help refine your online advertising.

10) Google Search Appliance - Integrated hardware and software product is designed to give businesses the productivity-enhancing power of Google search.

37 Google Tools to Enjoy the Internet

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Rothstein) — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 04:27:00 +0000

Google SketchUp - 3D software tool for intelligent drawing.

Google Pack - A free collection of software for your computer.

Google's Blogger - Free and easy blog creation and hosting.

Google Web Accelerator - Speeds up your computer for searching on the web.

Google Docs - Free web-based word processor and spreadsheet, for online collaboration.

Google Maps - Driving directions, interactive maps, business search, local search results.

Google News - News aggregate and news search engine.

Google Video - Search and watch millions of videos from all over the Internet.

Google Groups - Search over 700 million Usenet postings and speak with Google experts in a Q and A style forum.

Google Earth - Maps and satellite images for regional search.

Google Image Search - Search for photos aggregated from the Internet.

Google Toolbar - Add extra functionality to Internet Explorer and Firefox.

Google Book Search - Search a collection of digitized books from old to new.

Google Scholar - search scholarly literature across many disciplines and sources, books, abstracts, and articles.

Google Code - Official weblog about Google development projects.

Google Finance - a broad range of information about stocks, mutual funds, public and private companies.

Google Translate - Free online language translation service to translate text and web pages.

Google Desktop Download - Sidebar for your desktop with a news widget and feed reader widget. Customize with the Google Widget Gallery.

Google Mobile - Google's mobile search and product offerings.

Google Gmail- A free email services and email hosting.

Google Labs - Showcase of your favorite Google ideas.

Google Store - Get all your Google gear, apparel, and accessories.

Google Checkout - Complete online checkout and shopping cart software solution.

Google Health - Medical records online organization software.

iGoogle - Create a personalized landing page from your Internet experience.

Google Notebook - collect information as you browse the internet on your web notebook.

Google Patent Search - Search for patents easily and quickly, the full text of US Patents.

Google Product Search - Product search aggregate for products to buy.

Google Calendar - Organize and share your events with family and friends.

Knol - Google's platform to share what you know.

Orkut - Google's social network platform to keep in touch with friends and meet new people.

Picassa - Find, edit and share your photos online

Google Reader - Get all your blogs and news feeds aggregated in one place.

Google Sites - Create your own free website or group wiki.

Google Talk - Instant Message or call your friends from your computer.

Google Directory - A DMOZ mirror site.

YouTube - Just when Google Video isn't enough.

Analytics is the Key To Search Success

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Rothstein) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:45:00 +0000

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, did it make a noise? This is a very well known argument but illustrates my point about analytics. If you don’t see how many people are looking at your website, where they are located, the website that referred them and the conversion funnel that your readers took; than you can’t make any informed decisions about optimization or paid search strategy.

Free Analytics Packages

If you don’t have a lot of money (or you do have a lot of money) and need to keep track of your websites analytics register with Google Analytics and Google Webmaster Tools. With easy website verification and pixel placement, you can start tracking the traffic to your website.

Paid Search Analytics

It is very important to keep track of paid search traffic so you know what source is referring the most amount of traffic and conversions. By knowing exactly where your conversions are coming from you can make informed decisions about fund allocations. Set a Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) goal to guide you in your paid search strategy.
Finally, don’t let someone else keep track of your data and have exclusive rights, make sure you have access to your own analytics for future strategy. Having a full years worth of data can help you make better strategic decisions rather than starting from scratch.