The True Meaning of Search Engine Optimization

As I explain in my ebook on internet marketing, there's nothing more important in the optimization of a website than relevance. There's also probably no more important goal that "stickiness" or the ability to get a website visitor to stick around for more than a nano second. There's also probably no greater authority on this subject than Bryan Eisenberg, author of "Waiting for Your Cat to Bark: Persuading Customers When They Ignore Marketing," other books and the GrokDotCom.com blog.

For a seven minute overview of what I'm talking about, please watch this:

Search Engine Ranking Factors Clearly Illuminated

For those of us who work (either for ourselves or for clients) is pursuit of organic or natural search engine rankings for targeted keyword phrases, there is a slew of information out there about both the on-page and off-page factors that contribute to these rankings (as I explain in my internet marketing ebook: "EBiz Express: What Every Business Should Know About Internet Marketing").

I'm writing not only to make this shameless plug, but also to share a new resource that I just found that aggregates the opinions of an impressive selection of experts in order to indicate which of the various factors carry the most weight (according to these experts). As something of an expert myself, I found this interactive page to be informative and useful. Thus, I recommend to you:

SEOmoz's Google Search Engine Ranking Factors V2

Enjoy.

Google Mail Video Best Viral Video User-Generated Video Marketing I've Seen

Geez, I'm always posting about how hot the online viral video space is becoming, and wouldn't you know it, here comes Google with not only my 2nd viral video post of the night, but one that leverages user-generated content to the max. Great stuff you all, and I really mean you all. And, oh yea, nice job Google for editing it all together in such a snappy fashion. More info here: http://mail.google.com/mvideo

Seniors Nintendo Wii Bowling Video Scores as Viral Video Marketing

Here's a video that's not only entertaining and about seniors using the innovative Nintendo Wii video game, but it is also a clever form of viral video marketing which subtly promotes a senior assisted living company. Expect to see more of this kind of thing in the future. This one is unusually well done, and they save the low-key pitch for last. Appropriately putting the fun first...

3 Tips to Save Money on PPC Search Advertising

I like it when two of the authorities on web marketing who I most respect get together. I've had personal contact with both Dr. Ralph Wilson and Catherine Seda (whose most recent book How to Win Sales and Influence Spiders looks excellent... I've not read it yet). Bottom line, like me, both of these people are committed to helping small and medium size businesses succeed with their internet marketing campaigns. This video offers three solid tips that are fundamental strategies. I know from experience that each of these will help you save money with PPC search advertising:

MSN Makes Progress Toward Becoming #2 Search Engine

I'm frequently asked about how much each of the big three search engines (Google, Yahoo & MSN) contribute in terms of traffic. Google of course dominates, but as this chart shows MSN has recently made progress toward overtaking Yahoo as #2. This has caused TechCrunch to ask:

Could Microsoft Knock Off Yahoo To Become Google’s Biggest Competitor?

Online TV & Video: "social revolution" No Longer an Exaggeration

Sighting a pressing TV industry need to monetize the "massive interest in online (video) content," eMarketer.com summarized an Informa Telecoms & Media research report (which I could not find on their site) including numbers that would make almost any venture investor salivate. For example, "In the US alone, revenues are forecast to rise from $538 million in 2006 to nearly $4 billion in 2012."

"These trends are now so pronounced, that the term 'social revolution' no longer seems too much of an exaggeration," said Adam Thomas of Informa.

Personally, today, I was checking out VideoEgg.com which boasts an easy to use video upload, Flash compress, and, yes, video editing platform as well as a pretty impressive online video ad network that's focused on social networking sites.

Does anyone have a good comparison of all these new Web 2.0 video platforms?

TechCruch seems to think that SplashCast may have the ultimate player platform.

I wish it was like the Videography days when I could get paid to research and write about this stuff. Who knows, if I can find a way to monetize it, maybe I'll be doing some video clips soon. Potential channels would include internet marketing, online video, and the joy of golf. But should I do SplashCast channels, distribute via the VideoEggNetwork, BrightCove, all of the above, or what?!?

Hear Me Now: Internet Marketing Internet Radio Interview

Last Friday I was interviewed for an hour by the delightful hosts of the eMarketing Talk Show. The four-part interview, "Leveraging your Website to Grow your Business: Best Internet Marketing Practices for Small Businesses" is posted here: http://www.emarketingtalkshow.com/advertising-agencies/online-strategies.asp

I look forward to your feedback. I hope it's useful to many of you as a solid introduction to the three main types of internet marketing and more. Enjoy!

Optimizing Search Marketing: Great Keyword Insights

I'm still amazed at how many people have not yet discovered that effective, results-producing search engine marketing (and PPC, pay-per-click search engine advertising) begins with keyword research. It's really BIG TIME IMPORTANT!

And, while my favorite keyword research tool is Trellian Keyword Discovery, a friend and fellow search engine marketer forwarded me the following link which is packed with excellent insights regarding strategies for effective keyword research.

Browser-based Chat App Breaks Through Compatibility Blocks

Web content is becoming more and more modularized, and Web 2.0 is increasing efficiencies with windows within the browser window... One of the most useful applications I've seen that solves a real problem for me is Meebo.com. First of all, I'm using two IM (instant messenger) applications these days, having collegues using both AIM (via Mac's iChat) and Yahoo Messenger. This meant I needed to run two different readers. Meebo handles both IM chats within one web window/application.

And, to make things better, they also offer a widget that I can put inside a web page. I've done that now at ComBridges.com (at the bottom of the page) so that visitors can chat with me directly from my web page. This is an experiment to see if I can get prospective customers to start a conversation that may lead to them becoming a client. This sure beats $99/month for LivePerson and also offers distinct advantages over the complexity (albeit free and open source) of a application like ZaZaChat.

I'm impressed with Meebo. It works and has made my life simpler while opening up new possibilities. What more can I ask?

Self-expression vs Professional marketing communications: There's room for both

I like it when I find a commentary that takes on something that I've been thinking about. Such a piece is Dorian Sweet's column, "Amateurism: The New Gold Standard" on ClickZ.com.

With the much-hyped (including by me) rampant exposure of new media platforms like YouTube and MySpace, professional marketers may be somewhat baffled. Sweet calls the content produced by these folks (normally labeled user-generated content) "digital amateurism" and he's right. It's not advertising or marketing. "It's self-expression." Two completely different things.

But, I was surprised that he didn't mention the LonelyGirl15 professional attempt to capitalize on the social video networks. Just the same, I have my own bottom line. Not only are professional marketing communications still completely viable, especially when they include an authentic sensativity to the medium as well as the intended audience; but (all back-handed references to Marshall McLuhan aside), the message is still the message. When you have something to say and when you say it well, you can still cut through the clutter. And if you really do your job well, you can even ride new waves of viral success.

Google Still Steppin' on the Gas & Growing Fast

In case you missed the business news, Google's latest earnings report kept the search engine giant's growth curve (and stock price) rocketing upward with momentum. While other tech companies (with the exception of Apple) are challenged to keep the mo., Google is now fully 50% of the search market and climbing. They've got by far the hottest pay-per-click (PPC) advertising platform and much more. I see it daily in the search engine traffic that comes to my sites and my client's sites. Google delivers the lion's share.

And, at this point, since ComBridges works mostly with smaller companies, Google AdWords is big enough to deliver all the clicks that my clients are willing to pay for; and they are satisfied because the quality of those leads is there. As someone once said, "You've got to love it when it works."

More info on Google's growth is available all over the net, including from TechNewsWorld, Marketwatch, and TechCrunch.