Tag - sem

Where is Google?

What is becoming of Google?

In recent weeks, Google policies have begun taking on different characteristics.  While these characteristics are still in keeping with their stated terms of use, they are coming across as uncaring and condescending to the very people that keep them in such a powerful role. Google has powered itself into a leading position with it's free applications, strong search engine, and history of good service.hidden links
  • While no one ever really knew how to work the algorithm completely, there was enough information released so that those willing to work would have a reward.
  • The free applications and universal documents offered by Google made it an easy choice when considering where to go for free, work related utilities.
  • Up until recently, their service was understandable, good intentioned, and at least reachable through the chat board.
The days of the last bullet appear to be gone completely. Below I'll share with you why I see the end coming for a company that has based it's business model around online advertising. I recently had a client working on his own to place ads on Google AdWords. He had made the mistake of using a GoDaddy-Website Tonight build to begin this campaign.  Google rejected this initial build because of the "landing page requirement"... as they should have.  The Website builders offered by hosting companies are usually based only in the visual and don't have the required portions needed for proper keyword relevance. Where he messed up was trying to fix this.  He thought it was a mistake on his part(other than using Godaddy) and continued to try to make the account work.  At no point would customer service contact him, so he did the unthinkable... He created another account... and another... and another... Those of you familiar with Google AdWord policies are now either laughing or empathetic and scratching your heads.  This is a major violation to the AdWords policy.  The problem is that for a novice, this wouldn't be known or considered.  "Google's getting money, all's good, right?" I've since rebuilt his website for American Crawlspaces Corp. And made multiple attempts on his behalf to contact Google.  There's been no reply.  The Chat option for AdWords has disappeared in the last week.(Had nothing to do with him, but just proves what's going on lately). I'm not sure if Google is low on employees because of the down economy, or if there is some greater reason that they've virtually cut off their customers; either way, the implications are dire for a customer.  Customer care and understanding is prime to any business format and setting.  This client was likely to spend over $5000.00 every month for basic ad space and would have continued service with Google for an extended period of time. The loss of revenue from this one client is obviously not going to break Google, but think of its implications on a larger and more broad spectrum.  As businesses are tossed by Google, one by one, the search engine will become known as a decision maker for which businesses succeed and which ones fail.  This is an enormous amount of power, that if handled irresponsibly, can lead to a lot of buyers remorse.  The forums at Google are already flooded by people making attempts to register this complaint to the search engine giant.  Here is just one example.  People are trying to become compliant with the requirements of the Terms of Service, but with no response or assistance available from the support members.  Even the forums are maintained by volunteers who are good enough to share their experience with the public.  Barely ever do you encounter an actual Google member within the thread who is willing to impart some form of assistance(this thread was an exception to the rule). Because of the recent disruptions and continuing lack of support, I'm now referring my clients to purchase ads only through Bing and Yahoo.  While some of you may think this absurd, there is a method to my madness.  Bing and Yahoo combine to have the same reach as Google, they both have less expensive ad space and they have customer support.  While it may seem trivial, client support is needed for a full and strong working relationship between advertiser and ad service. It can only be hoped that Google will see where they are causing serious harm to small businesses and where they are thinning the heard at the worst of times.  With businesses struggling as much as they are now, it places an added pressure that the strongest search engine refuses to offer support to the virgining businesses that may not know how to play by the rules.  At this moment, they could have more of an impact on an economic recovery than Congress or the President could even hope for.  With more competing business able to produce work driven employment, a recovery could actually be spurred by Google.  The jury is out at this time on what fate will be held in the search engine wars, but for now, it would seem that Google is willing to give up this market share to Yahoo and Bing.   Added support would ensure for the truly "democratic" title that Google continues to propagate, and ensure that it remains the top search engine.

UPDATE!!!

After a lot of searching.  I found a chat link that is active for the Google Adwords team. Go here.  It worked today 2-24-2010 This was the most needed link, and I didn't find it on Google's site, but at least it was found.
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Local Business Comments

Recently, there was a disagreement in practice of how to properly utilize Google Maps for Local Business.   This disagreement stemmed from an unfortunate practice that is making the service less and less reliable.  For some time now, businesses in general have been leaving their own string of positive statements on the optional commenting spaces.  hidden linksThis is problematic in quite a few ways,and can lead to a negative response from those in web design, SEO, and the general public. While looking through the site index of our business listing, I came across several negative remarks that were coming from a group of people who were also commenting positively about a similar business within the local area.  As a web designer, I always make it a point to not speak negatively of our competitors, and in most cases, I'll not comments at all on their business unless they are the very best in the field. After reading a few of the comments, it was apparent that they were coming from someone associated with the business and from the same individual.  This persons business had roughly 20 "positive" comments about their business, but had not made the effort to ensure that they weren't noticeably written by the same individual.  Inevitably, another web designer began making fun of the scenario. This is where the self serving positive comment become a nightmare for multiple businesses.  For reasons unknown, this business owner began raging against his competitors, Naper Design included.  Since we focus on both Web Design and SEO, he assumed that all of the joking statements must be coming from our team.  Admittedly, we did have a few clients who were less than kind with their responses to his form of deception, but he only took this to mean that we were involved.  His response was to post this laundry list of negative statements about our company to the point that he'd committed slander and defamation of character. The situation was resolved with the assurance of our strong legal teams ability to sue him,  and the comments were removed within just a few minutes(proving they had been written all by him).  He still maintains a large list of fake comments on his page, and assuredly, others will likely continue to make light of the shady business practice. I referred to it as "shady business practice". I did son because that's exactly what it is.  When afforded the chance to have clients give feedback, both positive and negative, some businesses will immediately begin writing comment after comment about their own business to appear more user friendly.  While this is not one of the more hanus actions a business can commit,  it is one of deception and can be easily dtected by those reading the responses. If the comments are written in the same style and manner, if they are written in a way that shows the same character, and if they are in the same vernacular, it becomes obvious to the reader that they have been forged by one single individual. While this situation has been resolved, multiple businesses have sustained damage to their credibility and are working hard to repair the damages made by these actions.  As a web designer, credibility is something that has to be earned, not self stamped within a comment field.  If found to be untrue or being decptive in ones actions, a web design company can lose all of its business and clients from just such an action. I don't wish for this competing business to go under and hope for their recuperation after these recent events, but I do hope that they learn to not make such blatant attempts at manipulating the system.  The web design community may be competitive, but that doesn't prevent us from being both civil and cooperative.
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Some SEO Companies Aren’t Protecting Their Own

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Feeling lost in the crowd?
Are you getting ripped off by your SEO and SEM Provider?hidden links Have you found yourself paying an exorbitant amount for SEO only to find that the company you've hired to handle your optimization is working for your competition as well? Has this left you feeling lost in the crowd of your fellow competitors? If you've never considered this, you should.  Many SEO and SEM groups will cater to a specific market without regard to their actual clients.   From even the most basic perspective, this is counterproductive.  If you are trying to get higher in the ranks than your opponent(and they trying to get higher than you), ho wins with you both competing at the same optimization vendor?... That's Right! The vendor wins twice! With both of you paying for his services, the effective outcome is for both clients to dole out more money and resources than needed and have a virtual stalemate as a result.  Unfortunately, this is one of the main reasons people are left with a bitter taste in their mouths about SEO. I'm writing this post today in response to a SPAM comment left on our site.  It read "why not handle your own SEO before telling others about it?'.   I did some further research of the IP and found that it was written by an individual upset with the progress we've made with one of his former clients page rank.  I can understand that there may be some frustration with a competing group giving better results to his former client, but I don't think he understands why. At Naper Design, we have chosen to only handle One Customer, Per Industry, Per Location. We have only one Dentist in Naperville that we impart SEO for, There is only on Interior Designer in the Naperville area that we are employed by.  Yes, this does limit our clientele, but the reward is worth it.  Not only are we relieved of the burden of apposing clients, our portfolio shows a dedicated practice to a satisfied client. Like all sales, marketing, and business, everything comes down to a simple questions:
  • Will I provide the best quality service to a long term and valued client, or will I grab a mass of clients I don't care about and give them sub-par results?
When we began Naper Design, it started as a community oriented and group development project.  We never knew we were going to make a company out of an organization of people who enjoy working with others.  Now that we find ourselves competing with organizations in a higher level, we may decide to perch at the level we have obtained.  While that limits our ability at growth, we don't have to become the scoundrels that pit client against client for a financial windfall. We cannot emphasize enough the need to ensure that your SEO group have your best interest at heart.  If you find that you are only paying to the same group as your competition, one of you might wish to move to a different vendor.  Otherwise, both of you are likely to lose. Now that this rambling is complete, I'm quite anxious to see the angered SPAM from my own competitors.  I may actually let their post through this time.
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Some SEO Companies Aren’t Protecting Their Own

s7
Feeling lost in the crowd?
Are you getting ripped off by your SEO and SEM Provider?hidden links Have you found yourself paying an exorbitant amount for SEO only to find that the company you've hired to handle your optimization is working for your competition as well? Has this left you feeling lost in the crowd of your fellow competitors? If you've never considered this, you should.  Many SEO and SEM groups will cater to a specific market without regard to their actual clients.   From even the most basic perspective, this is counterproductive.  If you are trying to get higher in the ranks than your opponent(and they trying to get higher than you), ho wins with you both competing at the same optimization vendor?... That's Right! The vendor wins twice! With both of you paying for his services, the effective outcome is for both clients to dole out more money and resources than needed and have a virtual stalemate as a result.  Unfortunately, this is one of the main reasons people are left with a bitter taste in their mouths about SEO. I'm writing this post today in response to a SPAM comment left on our site.  It read "why not handle your own SEO before telling others about it?'.   I did some further research of the IP and found that it was written by an individual upset with the progress we've made with one of his former clients page rank.  I can understand that there may be some frustration with a competing group giving better results to his former client, but I don't think he understands why. At Naper Design, we have chosen to only handle One Customer, Per Industry, Per Location. We have only one Dentist in Naperville that we impart SEO for, There is only on Interior Designer in the Naperville area that we are employed by.  Yes, this does limit our clientele, but the reward is worth it.  Not only are we relieved of the burden of apposing clients, our portfolio shows a dedicated practice to a satisfied client. Like all sales, marketing, and business, everything comes down to a simple questions:
  • Will I provide the best quality service to a long term and valued client, or will I grab a mass of clients I don't care about and give them sub-par results?
When we began Naper Design, it started as a community oriented and group development project.  We never knew we were going to make a company out of an organization of people who enjoy working with others.  Now that we find ourselves competing with organizations in a higher level, we may decide to perch at the level we have obtained.  While that limits our ability at growth, we don't have to become the scoundrels that pit client against client for a financial windfall. We cannot emphasize enough the need to ensure that your SEO group have your best interest at heart.  If you find that you are only paying to the same group as your competition, one of you might wish to move to a different vendor.  Otherwise, both of you are likely to lose. Now that this rambling is complete, I'm quite anxious to see the angered SPAM from my own competitors.  I may actually let their post through this time.
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Is an SEO Blog Worth it

Again, I'm reposting from a respected site.  Since this is a design, business, and SEO blog site, this post is pertinent for both our purposes as wel  as our clients.  I'd like to give special thanks to Skitzzo at SEO for such an interesting and valid view of this subject.hidden links "When I first heard about search engine optimization, I was given a set of CD’s and tasked with learning how to bring traffic to a website from the search engines. While those CD’s helped educate me in the basics, it wasn’t until I stumbled across an SEO forum that I really started to learn the methods and tactics that produced results. Since that time, SEO blogs have become increasingly popular as the default place to learn the discipline. However, as search engines takes a more and more active roll in the community and SEO bloggers continue to publicly discuss previously untapped link sources, little known but effective methods, and conversations held in private, I’ve found myself asking a recurring question:" Is SEO blogging worth it? That question may seem obsurd, especially since it’s being posed on an SEO blog, but I think it’s an important question. Obviously blogging allows us to communicate with others in the same industry or profession. It allows us to share our knowledge with newcomers (as I said, this is essentially how I learned what has become my profession). And for some SEO bloggers, it attracts clients. seo-blog Unfortunately, all of those benefits are not without their costs. Every time a blogger posts about a new place to obtain a free clean link, or reports a site selling links, or demonstrates how one of the search engines is being gamed, they are making every other SEOs job that much harder. The link source closes the loop hole, or the links are devalued by the search engines. The site selling links receives a penalty and the buyers lose value. The site being used to illustrate the point loses rankings, loses authority, or loses it’s competitive edge. The next time you come across a great source of free links, wouldn’t you be better served by using that information to improve your site’s or your client’s site’s rankings? Sure blogging it might bring you some attention and maybe even some links, but will a few extra subscribers benefit you as much as increased rankings would? Do you really get enough business from your blog that it would be more valuable to expose that link source than to use it to improve the quality of service you’re providing to your current clients? I realize many of these types of posts are written with the best of intentions, to achieve all of the benefits we mentioned earlier, but many times that’s not the end result. In this age of social media, interactive SEO courses, and cheaper and more frequent confrences or events, do we really need SEO blogs to achieve the benefits we’re seeking? Someone once told me that with every decision I need to ask myself whether or not the juice would be worth the squeeze. So I ask you, all you SEO bloggers out there, is SEO blogging really worth it?
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Searching For An SEO Group

With millions of competitors vying for the same spot, businesses want to2512148775_61fa58b4b3_m know if it is possible to get top placement using Organic SEO Service. hidden links SEO generally refers to “natural” or “organic” SEO—meaning someone looking for a dentist in San Francisco types in “Dentist San Francisco” and finds several listings on the left side of the page. This is considered the most coveted place to be for several reasons: 1. The majority of search engine users (as many as 75% by some estimates) ignores the sponsored ad listings and only trusts the unbiased Organic Search Results. 2. A business listed in the sponsored listings is paying to be there—as much as $5 or $10 or$25 per click—and there is no guarantee those clicks are from legitimate customers. 3. By contrast, a natural result can be clicked on unlimited times by unlimited numbers of users at no cost to the site owner. 4. A high natural ranking means that site is really popular (at least that is the implication) and people like to be part of the most popular anything. So top natural listings attract 80% of people searching, and cost nothing to be clicked, while sponsored advertisers compete for the remaining 20% and pay for every click—whether the new lead is qualified and ready to buy, or a six year old playing with her mother’s computer. Natural is naturally the place to be. But how does a business get there? Begin with these thoughts: "Size Does Matter and Bigger is Not Always Better" A large company can completely lose track of the small businesses because their eyes are set strongly for taking up large contracts.   The larger businesses are also far mre likely to overprice and charge for unneeded services.  Pay-Per-Clicks are still more likely in the larger companies than the smaller groups that work local and small businesses.  When searching, it is always advisable to choose a local group that doesn't have a load to heavy to handle.  If they are overburdened, it's very likely that some of their clients are going to fall through the cracks. If you have ever tried SEO and gotten poor results, you might conclude it is a waste of time and money to even try.  You may have even spent a massive amount of capital on building a site, on;y to realize that the method used was not adequate for your business model.  SEO is not the same for every website or business.  Many SEO companies tend to try the same tricks for every client, regardless of their individual needs. Of the thousands of SEO companies, you can bet that not all can really deliver meaningful results. And what is meaningful in a business sense? First page placement on relevant keywords is critical. The majority of users never go to page 3, and of those that do, almost none make it past page 4 or 5. So improvement from page 50 to page 5 might look good on an SEO progress report, but it means almost nothing in increased business results. Page one is the grail, but if promised by a company that is not there themselves, it's likely a scam. So how does a business owner separate the myth from the grail? When selecting an SEO company here are some key questions to ask: 1. How long have you been in business? 2. What is your guarantee? (Listen for page one is usually a dead giveaway for a scam!) 3. What is the SEO campaign plan for the site? 4. Will you be shown how to improve and maintain your own score after the promotion period?(this one is crucial.  Do you wish to be elevated to a point of maintenance, or to be trapped and addicted to the cost of their services?) Locating an SEO company is easy. Search “(your location)SEO ”.   Check the natural results. If the SEO Company is ranked well you know you have one that has been around a while.
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Ten Great Ways to Crush Creativity

Normally, we don't augment other peoples post to place on our site, but today there is an interesting posting on how our best intentions can cause our websites to suffer. hidden links I think this posting could be applied to any form of artistic or business and marketing plan.  We'd like to see what our audience thinks of this article posted on  lifehack.org . I hope you leave feedback on what thoughts you may  have.  A link to the source site will be placed at the bottom of the posting.... Now for the featured post written by Paul Sloane egg Leaders have more power than they realize. They can patiently create a climate of creativity or they can crush it in a series of subtle comments and gestures. Their actions send powerful signals. Their responses to suggestions and ideas are deciphered by staff as encouragement or rejection. If you want to crush creativity in your organization and eliminate all the unnecessary bother of innovation then here are ten steps that are guaranteed to succeed.

1. Criticize

When you hear a new idea criticize it. Show how smart you are by pointing out some of the weaknesses and flaws which will hold it back. The more experienced you are, the easier it is to find fault with other people’s ideas. Decca Records turned down the Beatles, IBM rejected the photocopying idea which launched Xerox, DEC turned down the spreadsheet and various major publishers turned down the first Harry Potter novel. The same thing is happening in most organizations today. New ideas tend to be partly-formed so it is easy to reject them as ‘bad’. They diverge from the narrow focus that we have for the business so we discard them. Furthermore, every time somebody comes to you with an idea which you criticize, it discourages the person from wasting your time with more suggestions. It sends a message that new ideas are not welcome and that anyone who volunteers them is risking criticism or ridicule. This is a sure fire way to crush the creative spirit in your staff.

2. Ban brainstorms

Treat brainstorming as old-fashioned and passé. All that brainstorms do is throw up lots of new ideas that then have to be rejected. If your organization is not holding frequent brainstorm sessions to find creative solutions then you are not wasting time on new ideas. Instead you are sending a message to staff that their input is not required. If people insist on brainstorm meetings then make them long, rambling and unfocused with lots of criticism of radical ideas.

3. Hoard problems

The CEO and senior team should shoulder the responsibility for solving all the company’s major problems. Strategic issues are too complicated and high-level for the ordinary staff. After all, if people at the grass-roots knew the strategic challenges the organization faces then they would feel insecure and threatened. Don’t involve staff in serious issues, don’t tell them the big picture and above all don’t challenge them to come up with solutions.

4. Focus on efficiency not innovation

Focus solely on making the current business model work better. If we concentrate on making the current system work better then we will not waste time on looking for different systems. The current business model is the one that you helped develop and it is obviously the best one for the business. After all, if the makers of horse drawn carriages had improved quality they could have stopped automobiles taking their markets. The same principle applied with makers of slide rules, LP records, typewriters and gas lights.

5. Overwork

Establish a culture of long hours and hard work. Encourage the belief that hard work alone will solve the problem. We do not need to find a different way of solving a problem – rather we must just work harder at the old way of doing things. Make sure that the working day has no time for learning, fun, lateral thinking, wild ideas or testing of new initiatives.

6. Adhere to the plan

Plan in great detail and then do not deviate from the plan regardless of circumstances. ‘We cannot try that idea because it is not in the plan and we have no budget for it.’ Keep to the vision that was in the plan and ignore fads like market changes and customer fashions – they will pass.

7. Punish mistakes

If someone tries an entrepreneurial idea that fails then blame and retribution must follow. Reward success and punish failure. That way we will reinforce the existing way of doing things and discourage dangerous experiments.

8. Don’t look outside

We understand our business better than outsiders. After all we have been working in it for years. Other industries are fundamentally different and just because something works there does not mean it will work here. Consultants are generally over-priced and tell you things you could have figured out anyway. We need to find the solutions inside the business by working harder.

9. Promote people like you from within

Promoting from within is a good sign. It helps retain people and they can see a reward for loyalty and hard work. It means we don’t get polluted with heretical ideas from outside. Also if the CEO promotes people like him then he can achieve consistency and succession. It is best to find managers who agree with the CEO and praise him for his acumen and foresight.

10. Don’t waste money on training

Talent cannot be taught. It is it a rare thing possessed by a handful of gifted individuals. So why waste money trying to turn ducks into swans? Hire our kind of people and let them learn our system. Work them hard, keep them focused on our business model and do not allow them to fool around with crazy experiments. Workshops, budgets and time allocated to creativity and innovation are all wasteful extravagances. We know what we need to succeed so let’s just get on with it. Ten Great Ways to Crush Creativity
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