December 5, 2009
December 4, 2009
Google Webmaster Tools Site Performance
What’s the downside to using your own domain and WordPress’ domain mapping service?
A website that is slower than 100% of all other websites.
From Google’s new Webmaster Tools Site Performance tool:
On average, pages in your site take 38.3 seconds to load (updated on Dec 3, 2009). This is slower than 100% of sites. The chart below shows how your site’s average page load time has changed over the last few months. For your reference, it also shows the 20th percentile value across all sites, separating slow and fast load times.
Google Webmaster Tools Site Performance
So much for free value.
Unbelievable….
December 3, 2009
Google Adwords Coupons Limit One Per Customer
I have discovered at least two instances where Google Adwords coupons are not redeemable.
1. The coupons are limited to one per Google Adwords customer.
Signup Offer Limited To One Per Customer
2. Accounts older than two weeks old are too old to redeem coupons for Google Adwords.
Account To Old To Redeem Adwords Coupon
December 2, 2009
Why Google Local Business Center Languishes
Disincentives outweigh incentives for Google to improve their free business listing product – the Local Business Center (LBC).
Although Google may have a responsibility to publish correct, up to date business listing data, the publishing of comprehensive free business listing data is diametrically opposed to its business purpose – locating and then selling access to organized business information via sponsored links.
If Google took all of the work out of being locatable via search, why would businesses then pay Google to be found?
December 1, 2009
Google Adwords Support Interaction Feedback Survey
I called the Google Adwords support telephone number recently to try and get some answers regarding the renewal of my Google Advertising Professional certificate.
I called Google ( 1-866-2Google) because I couldn’t locate the link for signing up for the Advertising Professionals exam within My Client Center.
After the call, I received by email the first Google Adwords related “Support Interaction Feedback” survey I can recall getting after having called Adwords support.
I was pleased to learn Google cares enough about what their customers think that they now go so far as to ask us what type of experience we had with Adwords.
Such was not always the case.
The Adwords Support email:
Dear Advertiser,
Thank you for contacting us about your query 544910863.
We are eager to hear about your AdWords experience.
Please take a minute to answer this short survey about your satisfaction
with AdWords support:
GoogleRatings.com
We value your thoughts.
Sincerely,
The Google AdWords team
* Find out more about GoogleRatings.com at ….
Please note that this survey is confidential.
What is GoogleRatings.com?
GoogleRatings.com is a domain used by Google for conducting customer and user surveys. We rely on feedback collected through these surveys to improve our products.
The Google Adwords support survey asks six simple yet powerful customer service questions:
Was the advice or information you received -
Timely, Specific, Easy to understand, Respectful, Relevant and Complete?
Google Adwords Support Interaction Feedback
Coincidentally, my upcoming book addresses six similar communication metrics.
November 30, 2009
Find Locations For Flu Shots in Google Maps
Google recently launched a flu shot locator, which uses Google Maps to show searchers nearby locations offering seasonal and/or H1N1 flu vaccine.
Google users can find this information on a standalone page as well as in Google search results when searching for terms like [flu], [flu shot], [h1n1 shot] and [flu vaccine]. The flu onebox also includes tips on staying healthy from Flu.gov.
Google Maps Flu Shot Locator
November 29, 2009
Bye Lake House, For The Time Being…
I have returned to the city from our lake house and this view after celebrating our fourth family Thanksgiving together at the lake.
Lakehouse Thanksgiving View
This early afternoon picture is just one of the many different perspectives that occur each day at the same location within each season.
November 28, 2009
Cyber Monday?
Cyber Monday is the first Monday after Thanksgiving when Americans return to work and begin their online shopping.
Black Friday vs. CyberMonday
Cyber Monday is supposed to be the online equivalent of Black Friday.
If Google Trends last thirty days search traffic is an accurate indicator of demand, Cyber Monday 2009 might instead be called Red Cyber Monday.
November 27, 2009
WPP + Google Marketing Research Program
The Internet, World Wide Web and Google were borne out of research programs.
Recognizing the value basic research can produce, WPP and Google have launched a marketing research program in conjunction with major universities to fund academic research in the field of online marketing.
Having spent the last ten years researching the field of online marketing while also personally applying, testing, proving and disproving my findings, I was excited to learn what academia may have discovered.
I was pleasantly surprised to learn the WPP Google Marketing Research program winners appear to have begun fielding some of the general questions I have been contemplating over the last four years while fleshing out and writing my book – For Sale By Google.
After listening to the WPP + Google award winners’ responses, I am satisfied with the progress my own personal Google Marketing Research program ie., my upcoming book For Sale By Google has already achieved by comparison.
November 26, 2009
Why Are Newspapers Failing?
Because the audience for news is no longer a captive audience.
Captive Audience
