Archive for December, 2009

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Bing Local Search Marketing… In Google

December 11, 2009

An email with Microsoft / App in the subject line generated the following Adwords ad from Microsoft’s Bing no less…

Bing Search Local –  Oklahoma City Mediterranean Restaurants. Reviews & Maps Of Local Restaurants

Bing Local Search Marketing in Google

Bing Local Search Marketing in Google

To both Microsoft’s and Google’s credit, the email body contained the word “Apple” which I guess could  loosely be construed to mean… “I am hungry and I want to eat Mediterranean food?!”

One problem though – in this particular case the keyword “Apple” referred to computers not fruit.

Bing Decision Engine

Bing Decision Engine

Both search media and search advertisers still have further to go before they can predictively decode and match which context determines where their keyword ads will be shown.

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Posted in Adwords, Bing Local Search Marketing, Google | Leave a Comment »

Google Dashboard Details

December 10, 2009

The Google Dashboard allows users to view and control data associated with the different products used within their Google Account.

With each Google service enabled within a Google account, users get a snapshot of what data is private or public.

My Google dashboard reveals some Google services I had forgotten I had activated like Google Tasks.

Google Tasks

Google Tasks

All Google dashboard data is private unless indicated as visible to others by the… for the lack of a better term – “three people’s heads” light blue icon like those below.

Google Dashboard Privacy

Google Dashboard Privacy

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Posted in Google Dashboard, Google Tasks, User Data | Leave a Comment »

Install Google Chrome Message Now Appearing On Macs

December 9, 2009

A faster way to browse the web?

Today when logged into my Google accounts whether in Safari or Firefox, I had the following message waiting for me.

Install Google Chrome Safari

Install Google Chrome Safari

I haven’t yet downloaded Google Chrome for my Macs but plan to give it a try.

Install Google Chrome Firefox

Install Google Chrome Firefox

I will be surprised if Google’s Chrome is more reliable than Safari or faster than Firefox.

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Posted in A Faster Way To Browse The Web, Firefox, Install Google Chrome, Safari | Leave a Comment »

Google Real Time Search Results Exclude Google Brand?

December 7, 2009

With much fanfare, Google has launched its version of real time search incorporating Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and Blog updates into their search results.

The following video shows how Google answers the “What’s happening right now?” and the “What’s happening nearby?”  questions (please forgive the Slumber Inc. soundtrack).

Entering keywords into Google and selecting Anytime produces an amalgamation of relevant news and web results while selecting Latest often produces a condensed version of the Tweet Stream.

Google Real Time Search Anytime

Google Real Time Search Anytime

Such doesn’t appear to be the case for one particular brand – Google.

Google Real Time Search Latest

Google Real Time Search Latest

Selecting “Latest” in Google’s real time search for “Google” produces not a list of Tweets containing Google but instead a ho hum list of relatively tame looking mostly Google owned sites.

Google Real Time Search Latest

Google Real Time Search Latest

Purely a coincidence?

Must be a fluke here on my computer.

Surely its one or the other.

Why otherwise would real time searches for Yahoo produce Tweets containing Yahoo but not those searches containing Google?

Yahoo Real Time Search Google Results

Yahoo Real Time Search Google Results

Does the same thing happen to you when you search for Google in their real time results?

If so, the lack of Tweets about Google in Google’s real time search results must be the result of a bug.

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Posted in Google, Google Real Time Search, Tweet Stream, Twitter, Twitter Search, Whats Happening Now | Leave a Comment »

Google Adwords Conversion Optimizer

December 6, 2009

Has your Google Adwords account had 30 conversions in the last 30 days?

If so, your Adwords account is eligible for Conversion Optimizer.

Campaigns Eligible For Conversion Optimizer

Campaigns Eligible For Conversion Optimizer

In the following video, Google shows how advertisers using Conversion Optimizer can achieve double digit % increases in conversions while paying the same or less for each conversion.

I have tried Conversion Optimizer several times but haven’t yet been able to beat my account’s existing transaction volume or average costs per conversion.

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Posted in Conversion Optimizer, Cost Per Acquisition, Google Adwords, Increase Your Profits, Multidimensional Bid Management, ROI | Leave a Comment »

Becoming A Local Expert

December 5, 2009

Alex Perriello CEO of Realogy Franchise Group shares insights into what he has found works for small business owners who are looking to have new customers seek them out along with their products and services instead of the other way around.

Perriello has found small business owners who consistently blog generate a higher level of rapport with interested prospects which in turn can lead to increased customer counts and satisfaction.

Why?

Because regularly publishing your business thoughts to a blog  both prequalifies and pre-sells your target audience (readers).

Ironically, Perriello’s message may still not be heard by the millions of small business owners who most would likely benefit from hearing his advice – those small business owners who still don’t blog let alone market online.

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Posted in Becoming A Local Expert, Blogging, Prequalifies, Presells, Small Business Owners, Target Audience | Leave a Comment »

Google Knows At Least 25,813 Things About Me

December 4, 2009

With Google announcing today they will provide personalized search results to all its users whether signed into their Google account or not, I became curious what my Google accounts’ web search histories would reveal about me.

As a rule, I haven’t ran search queries while logged into my Google account because I didn’t like Google filtering their results based on my previous search history.

Apparently, I was logged in more often than I realized because one of my Google accounts has recorded 25,813 of my searches.

Total Google Searches 25,813

Total Google Searches 25,813

How many Google searches has your Google account recorded in your Web Search History?

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Bing Down, Ballmer Pines

December 3, 2009

Ironically during the airing of Inside the Mind of Google on CNBC, Microsoft’s Bing decision engine decided to make itself unavailabe to searchers.

Bing Down

Bing Down

Checking around for blog coverage about the Bing outage, I found even more irony.

Search Engine Land’s coverage of the story was inadvertently accompanied by a display ad featuring Steve Ballmer’s upcoming keynote speech at Search Marketing Expo West in March.

Bing Is Down

Bing Is Down

Paradoxically, the ad for Ballmer asks “What’s in store for bing?”

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Posted in Bing Down, CNBC, Decision Engine, Inside the Mind of Google | Leave a Comment »

Free Small Business Commercials: I Love Local Commercials

December 2, 2009

I came across an interesting small business marketing site “I Love Local Commercials”.

Two guys – Rhett and Link – ask their site’s visitors to nominate a small business to win a free commercial produced by their company ILoveLocalCommercials.com.

So they actually don’t give away a free commercials to every small business owner who asks – the small buisness owner has to win first.

How do Rhett and Link do it?

Through sponsorship by a company called Microbilt.

I Love Local Commercials

I Love Local Commercials

The concept of giving away free commercials which is really a twist on the “register to win a prize” tactic is subtle yet innovative.

I am not sure what direct return on investment Microbilt has received from their sponsorship of ILoveLocalCommercials.com

However, Microbilt most certainly has established their brand name as a result of their sponsorship.

Rhett and Link’s work like the commercial below also appears to be effective for the medium.

A question I have for Rhett and Link is – how come they don’t advertise and sell their commercial production services as well?

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Posted in Branding, Free Commercials, I Love Local Commercials, Small Business Marketing | Leave a Comment »

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