Archive for August, 2010

At Least My 729th Post

August 31, 2010

Since September 1, 2009, I have posted to this blog each and every single day except one – a day when I thought clicked “Publish” but didn’t.

I have however posted a blog post to my other blog Search Marketing Communications each and every day now since September 1, 2008 – 730 days in a row.

Within the last year and between the two blogs combined I have created over 729 blog posts in the last 365 days.

The posts weren’t all necessarily pretty or comprehensive but for the most part they each were on topic.

The concept of blogging each and every day for a year looks easy on paper but its not and it wasn’t.

During this same time period I also surpassed 10,000 Tweets.

The process of posting daily and tweeting even more regularly has yielded a level of focus and awareness that had previously eluded me.

Yahoo Bing Search Marketing Alliance Portal Live

August 30, 2010

Beginning today, Yahoo search advertisers can export their account data using their “portal” tool.

Yahoo Bing Search

Yahoo Bing Search

At least that’s what I think the Microsoft call center rep called it. She could have said export tool.

Regardless, prior to today advertisers had to export their Yahoo data by hand into their Microsoft account.

Whether the tool is called the portal or export tool – it worked on the first account I tried it on.

I fully expect to have to go into all my Microsoft accounts and hand edit any of the items that may have slipped through the cracks.

However, there is an upside to the Yahoo Bing Search Alliance – one less search marketing screen to ride.

Google Content Network Placements Demo

August 29, 2010

How to use the new AdWords interface to manage the Google Content Network more efficiently.

Definition of The Unique Selling Proposition

August 28, 2010

The most powerful unique selling proposition?

You are what your competitors aren’t.

Why This Blog Covers Everything Yet Says Nothing

August 27, 2010

Sounds kind of ridiculous doesn’t it?

Why spend the time writing a blog while saying little to nothing new?

Why spend the time writing a blog to not sell something?

Good question!

After posting here everyday for a year during 2010 – with the exception of one day; a day where I got distracted and thought I had pressed publish when I had not – my answer has been – to see what comes of it.

To my surprise, there are actually subscribers to this blog.

When I first started writing this blog it was supposed to be more personal in nature.

However, I soon realized a blog wasn’t the best channel for expressing myself.

Anyway – back to the subject: Why this blog covers everything yet says nothing.

Its because maintaining two blogs each and everyday provided the degrees of focus and discipline I knew were required for my staying current in the businesses covered here – the media, internet / web and search businesses.

The latter are by definition the fastest moving businesses on the planet and missing a day or two can mean missing both minor and major developments – news I have drawn from to develop my understanding of communications.

So while I was covering everything media, internet / web or search whether here, on my main blog SearchMarketingCommunications.com or through my Twitter account, my primary objective was to pass along the news but retain the information needed to fill any remaining holes left in the knowledge base I have built.

All the holes have since been filled.

I haven’t published my findings here because those discoveries – the knowledge gleaned – is what I will be selling in my book – For Sale by Google.

If I had put my hard earned knowledge on the web it would have been stolen, repackaged and redistributed like everything else is on the web.

As I have said in the past, the web is the world’s first perpetual motion copying machine.

I know better not to feed anything I don’t want copied into it.

Thoughts

August 26, 2010

I had two ideas today I thought were worth sharing:

1. He who mines the biggest database wins.

2. If you can’t innovate; cross-pollinate.

Burnt Out

August 24, 2010

Getting my kids back in school after a long summer, commencing a major home remodeling project and posting two blog posts each and every day for seven days shy of one year (716 posts from September 1, 2009 through today) has taken its toll.

Even though I basically did double time during the summer, double time plus the demands of parenting, remodeling and work are burning me out.

I am now trying to figure out a hack to get back to peak and optimum efficiency.

Obsession + Topic + Voice = Content

August 23, 2010

Do you agree with these guys formula for content?

Obsession +Topic + Voice  = Content

Obsession +Topic + Voice = Content

Measuring Success: Top Obstacle To Using Social Media

August 22, 2010

From a recent study via eMarketer:

The top obstacle to using social media to reach local markets is a familiar one: measuring success. But other, more mundane concerns also cause trouble. Brand marketers say it is difficult to manage information, engage users, identify influencers and keep fresh local and regional content available.

“In order for bands to effectively reach consumers across the globe, they need to heed the traditional marketing/PR maxim of thinking global and acting local,” said Michael Lazerow, CEO and Founder of Buddy Media, in a statement.

Marketers do believe the global potential is there for social media, with nearly three-quarters saying the channel would be a good way to reach existing and potential customers in local marketers—but they must learn to leverage it first.

Social Media Obstacles

Social Media Obstacles