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Friday, July 29, 2005
What is your Domain Name Worth?
If you’re not sure that a good domain name is worth more than the ten or fifteen bucks that most domain registration companies are asking – just try and find a good one.
If your company happens to be called Bertie’s Bendable Breadstick’s…well, lucky you. You’re unlikely to become involved in any domain name wars anytime soon. But if you’re a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, good luck finding a name anything like it. I don’t want to speculate what a little gem like that is worth – it will be in the thousands for sure.
Getitappraised.com will appraise your domain name and allocate a monetary value.
S. Denise Hoyle, CEO of the company, had over a decade of experience in the real estate market when she started applying her skills to domain name appraisal – a logical connection if you consider that your domain name is literally your cyberspace real estate.
Why would you want to know what your domain name is worth?
Well, for starters, you may want to sell it one day. Would you rather get $50 for it, or $10,000? Believe it or not, domain name trading is big business.
And what makes a domain name worth money? Popularity would top the list. It all boils down to supply and demand. But some domain names have some very desirable characteristics. Short ones are more popular than longs ones. Ones that are not a garbled mix of dashes, numbers and letters are bound to hold more appeal. Names that are spelled the way the sound and can therefore be found by people who hear them mentioned on the radio, for example, will attract more searchers and therefore carry more gold. Brand names are like 10ct diamonds for marketers. The list is endless.
It may not really be worth your while coughing up the dollars for an appraisal for a name you already have and plan to keep forever – but next time you purchase a domain name, it’s just one more thing to consider.
posted by Carolyn Price at 2:45 PM
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Inside Google AdWords
Any marketer who utilizes Pay-Per-Click campaigns in their marketing program should know about Google AdWords. AdWords is Google’s PPC tool, where advertisers pay a certain PPC amount to be found in the sponsored listings in Google’s search results.
I recently found out that the Google AdWords Team has started a new blog. Titled “Inside AdWordsâ€, this blog was started by the team in order to help users of AdWords with any problem they may have. As this is a professional blog, Google does not allow for someone to add his or her own post. Instead, individuals with questions about AdWords are able to send an email to the Google AdWords Team. Qualified questions will then be posted on the site by the team.
However, the Google AdWords Team is not just using this new blog to answer questions. In addition, individuals will be able to read on up-to-date information about AdWords improvements, news, and tips as well.
If you’re one of the marketers like me who have trouble understanding some of Google’s terms and explanations and how it works in general, this will be a great resource to check out. Anyone who is an avid user of AdWords like me will surely agree.
To see more, visit the “Inside AdWords†blog.
~ Tien N. Nguyen
posted by David at 5:05 PM
Monday, July 25, 2005
Apples to Watermelons
Web Watch. Hit Box. SurfAid. Epiphany. There are dozens of different Web analytics out there, each with their own unique benefits and downfalls. Each marketing company has their own preference, because, for whatever reason, one particular product seems to work best for them. At ADI, for example, we recommend Web Watch to our clients because we feel the data returned is the most accurate and relevant. Read more about the purpose of Web analytics and our view on them in Julie’s blog: Why do you need to track your Web site? and Gina’s follow-up: Why do I need Web Watch?
The particular Web analytics vendor a company chooses doesn’t make a dramatic difference, so long as the correct people can interpret the data accurately. This is where the problem arises; because, each system seems to measure different types of data, including or discluding certain factors. One system may measure clicks, another visitors, while still another counts the number of page views. Some systems have time frames on repeat visits, while others count each visit, regardless of time in between.
The person viewing the data for a Web site must be knowledgeable about the Web analytics system they are using so they can accurately assess the status of their traffic. Moreover, when comparing data from two different vendors, say between your company and a competitor, one must keep in mind the difference in definitions of the metrics. The trouble is, there are no standard data metrics; so, one cannot really compare data from two systems that use different terms or filters because it will cause false results.
Luckily, marketing gurus are not the only ones who have noticed this problem. Numerous Web analytics companies have joined to form the Web Analytics Association (WAA). One of the primary goals of WAA is creating standards for terminology and definitions, which they will encourage all Web analytics companies to adopt. In an article in B2B magazine, the chairman of the WAA recognized the consistency problem saying:
"I was just at a Web analytics conference and the one complaint I heard over and over was from people who tried reconciling their Google and Overture analytics with their own site Web analytics. They never can because everyone uses different pieces of information. This makes their jobs as marketers more difficult. Even from vendor to vendor, people use different metrics. There's no apples to apples."
No, unfortunately, there is not currently any apples to apples. It’s more like apples to oranges. Or sometimes even apples to watermelons. But, if the WAA succeeds in their goal, then there soon could be an easier way to compare data between Web analytics systems.
~Christine Chamberlain
posted by David at 5:30 PM
Friday, July 22, 2005
Google Makes Changes to AdWords
As always we are staying on top of the ever-changing world of Google -
Tien recently told us of Google's patent filing;
Gina told us about Microsoft's suit against Google;
Carolyn told us about Google's SMS service;
And, last month, Tien wrapped up all the reasons we should love Google!
Today, I'm here to tell you about changes Google is making to AdWords, its Pay-Per-Click product. The new policy, which will be implemented in the beginning of August, is intended to create a cleaner interface for users, increase the diversity of merchants represented in the links, and reduce duplicate ads, all while recognizing the important benefits affiliate marketers bring to the table, said Salar Kamangar, director of product management at Google said in Kevin Lee's article on ClickZ.
Essentially, this will have the most impact on affiliates - as they are the ones most likely to have duplicate ads. The article explains that the problem, as Google sees it, arises when multiple affiliates of a merchant bid on a keyword, leading to multiple similar ads pointing to the same merchant. To counter this, for each search query, Google will no longer display multiple ads that link to the same destination page.
To me, this is just another way Google is trying to make sure its results stay relevant to users. This is why we don't follow any "quick tricks" or "spammy techniques" that might get you instant visibility. Google usually catches on and disallows this behavior.
posted by David at 1:30 PM
Thursday, July 21, 2005
GO Armstrong!
I’m the type of person that does not enjoy watching sports that often. The only sport that I have any desire to watch would be football. And even with football, I am not an avid fan. I only watch the various games to cheer on my home team, the Philadelphia Eagles.
And up until now, I had very little clue of what the Tour de France was. All I knew of the sport was that a large number of athletes bike through Western Europe for three weeks.
Yet, one athlete was able to catch my attention within the last year or so. Yes, you all know who he is. Of course, it’s Lance Armstrong. Before last year, I had NO clue who this person was. Then I kept hearing about a Tour de France biker who overcame cancer and won numerous Tour de Frances consecutively.
During the time between the 2004 Tour de France and this year’s, I had a chance to learn a little bit more about Lance. It seems that Armstrong had successfully overcome cancer. Not only that, this man has won six consecutive Tour de Frances, and is on his way to winning his seventh one before he retires. He also started the LiveStrong charity, which was a huge success.
As one can see, I have not learned THAT much about the man. Yet, it is enough for me to cheer for him. Although he is the obvious favorite, who can’t help but root for Lance?
Even though the Tour de France is a punishing race that has taken its tolls on many riders, I’m sure Lance is going to win. As of today, he is in the lead by more than two minutes. With this lead, it looks like a good chance of Armstrong achieving his goals and winning his 7th Tour. Whatever the outcome, I’ll be rooting for Lance all the way!
For the most up-to-date news on the Tour de France and Lance Armstrong, you can check out FoxSports.com.
~ Tien N. Nguyen
posted by David at 9:04 AM
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Google & Microsoft Battle in the Courtroom
The competition between Google and Microsoft has moved to the courtroom. Microsoft is suing Google for poaching one of its executives who also happens to be a technology expert.
Microsoft is claiming that Dr Kai-Fu Lee is in violation of his confidentiality and non-competition agreements he signed in 1998. In sum, Microsoft is trying to protect its intellectual property. Since the two companies are rivals on many levels search and email included, Microsoft takes this very seriously.
Click here to read the article written by Andrew Ellson, Times Online.
posted by Gina at 4:42 PM
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Life outside the Comfort Zone
We awake every morning and prepare to go to work. We know the routine so well we could do it blindfolded. If you’re like me you probably try and vary the routine a bit, and genuinely appreciate some of the moments. I eke every bit of pleasure I can out of my daily commute. It takes me through rolling green meadows full of cows, sheep...and three donkeys. My constant challenge is to see if I can pick out the three donkeys from the other animals without having a head-on collision.
But in spite of making the best of your daily routine, it’s easy to end up wondering, “Is this it – is this my life? Will it ever be different?â€
If you were in for a big change, what event might occur that would trigger the turning point? Winning the lottery? Having a baby?
I’ll share the story of my South African friend, Lyn, who was catapulted out of her daily routine into a life so different most of us probably couldn’t relate to it. The incident that turned her life around – the murder of one of her two precious sons – is not what I want to discuss here, but rather the inspiring story that followed.
I wondered what sort of life Lyn would transition into once the initial horror had subsided, given that she was a true wild child of the sixties. A wanton, untamed, free spirit who chose to ignore society’s regulations and obligations and follow her soul.
What she did was both interesting and admirable, and I am willing to admit that when I read her emails – sent from all over the world – I sometimes feel a tad envious. After 18 months of grieving with her family, Lyn hit the road!
She set off for a farm in Tel Aviv and spent a few months “working the soil†and exploring Israel, then headed for Jordan where she settled for a while in Jerash – a desert city where 30% of the people live below the poverty line. Jerash is one of the largest and most well-preserved sites of Roman architecture in the world outside Italy and attracts thousands of visitors from around the world. Lyn describes it as “much more impressive than Delphi in Greece - or anything that I have ever seen in Italyâ€. She describes a chariot race where “bag pipers welcomed us to the amphitheatre playing Verdi’s Aida, dressed in Arab clothing with bagpipes under their arms - evidently a tradition left over from English occupation. It was exhilarating!â€
Eventually she moved on to Petra – a Roman style Buddhist-type city carved into the sandstone in a spectacular desert. Here she merged with the locals – descendants of the Nabataeans – and stayed in an old Arab village, waking every morning to “a breath-taking view of nothing – just never-ending miles of desertâ€.
Her travels included Bangkok, “choking on fumes of carbon dioxide, the asphalt highways never sleep, smogging up the atmosphere, blue smoke choking the trees, waterways clogged like arteries blocked with thousands of plastic bags, and the stench is something horribleâ€, and a small village in Thailand called Kuchinarai, where she worked as an English teacher for three months and lived in an “old teak house on stilts with no windows, only holes in the walls and many mosquitoes, squat toilets, a cold shower, and a wooden type of platform to cook on below the house. But all around me is a teak forest and the most exotic flowers, banana trees, mango trees, huge ferns birds, snakes, geckos – surely I am in heavenâ€
In Kuchinarai Lyn bought a small motorbike where she traveled to the local market each day and observed the sale of local delicacies – stink bugs, frogs, tadpoles, fried grasshoppers, termite eggs, and the biggest treat – live maggots. Being a buxom, blonde, attractive, 50-something woman, Lyn never failed to attract attention among the tiny, dark-haired locals, many of who were literally tree-dwellers. In fact, the site of a “farang†was so unusual in the village that many of the children bolted out of her class in fear on her first day as an English teacher.
Now in Jerusalem, Lyn talks often of living, once again, in a land of conflict and danger, but her words about the Holy land are always positive: “If any nation in the world understands the suffering of loss it is indeed this one – and people of this extra-ordinary place. It is spring and the flowers are everywhere. Purple wild hollyhocks, white, red, and violet with a profusion of yellow flowers, bushes, and berries… everywhere you look. The fruit trees, the orange blossoms, grapefruit, and lemon trees are bursting with color wherever you look and the land is lush and green. The perfume of the place is enough to intoxicate. Once again, I am in heavenâ€
So, dare we wish to be rocked right out of our comfort zones into life adventure? Or do we find too much comfort in the day-to-dayness of life to risk an awesome life-altering experience? Perhaps the decision is best taken out of our hands – but I do know for sure, I don’t want to look back one day and find that I have lived a small life.
posted by Carolyn Price at 4:17 PM
Monday, July 18, 2005
Happy Harry Potter Day!
On our way to Barnes & Nobles on Friday night, my friend declared that there should be a new holiday added to our calendars: Harry Potter day. We, like millions of fans worldwide, were heading to a Potter party at the local bookstore, filled with crafts, games, and, yes, people in wizard robes.
The sixth installment of the fantastically popular series about a teenage wizard, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, was released to its adoring audience at midnight on Friday night. Book sales skyrocketed, especially online. Amazon.com, whose 10th Anniversary ironically coincided with the release, announced last week that Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince broke its predescesor’s record with 1.4 million copies preordered (The Order of the Phoenix received 1.3 million advance orders), making it their best new product release ever.
This made me wonder what else made the list of all-time bestsellers on Amazon.com, the world’s leader in e-commerce. The answer was easy to find, as the global site has added a new section to its vast Web site, in honor of the 10th Anniversary Celebration: a Hall of Fame. Featured are the top 25 authors, musicians, and DVDs sold on Amazon.com since its very beginning on July 16, 1995.
It is no surprise to find that J.K. Rowling is the top-selling author, considering Harry Potter's wide popularity, but some of the other results may surprise you. Second on the list was Spencer Johnson, author of Who Moved my Cheese?, a book about dealing with change. Rounding out the top five were romance-writer Nora Roberts, the controversial Dan Brown, and the lovable Dr. Seuss. See if your favorite author made the list.
On the music side, exports from the UK seem to be the favorite, as the Beatles take the number one spot and U2 grabs number two. Nora Jones is a surprise at number three, and Diana Krall and the late Eva Cassidy complete the top five. Find out who else made the cut.
It’s not hard to see which movie trilogy is the favorite for online-buyers, as the top three spots are taken by The Lord of the Rings. The complete Star Wars trilogy only gets one spot, however, at number four while the first of The Matrix movies take the number five spot. See what other movies are must-sees.
~Christine Chamberlain
posted by David at 3:12 PM
Friday, July 15, 2005
The Google Patent: Information Retrieval Based on Historical Data
As you might have heard in recent SEO news, Google has recently applied for a patent on its search engine algorithm. The specific title of this patent is “Information Retrieval Based on Historical Dataâ€, patent application #20050071741. Now for anyone who has not had a chance to look at this patent application, it is a 63-point document detailing the process that Google takes, or will take, to generate its natural results.
While reading through the document, it was clear to me that Google had something great on its hands. With its patent application, one can see that Google is taking many steps to provide the most relevant search results to its end users. When ranking results for search terms, Google plans or is already taking into consideration numerous factors that will allow for the most relevant results. This is resounding news for individuals who use Google for their everyday searching.
Not only does this patent application show that Google is trying to improve its services for users, it also shows that Google is taking a major step in cracking down on site spamming. With Google’s algorithm for searching, it will make it almost impossible for Internet spammers to succeed.
Although Google’s algorithm intends to serve a good purpose, it does have its bad side. For many new legitimate Web sites that start up, Google will make it hard for them to show up on its search results. This is due to the fact that Google will consider any new site a spam site until it has been around for a set amount of time. With this - Google’s aging delay - new sites will be automatically thrown into Google’s “sandboxâ€. The “sandbox†is where new sites and sites deemed spam end up. Sandbox sites will have relatively low rankings on most Google search results. For new sites, this is where they will stay until Google deems them eligible to be ranked higher.
In general, anyone who is legitimately setting up a site can only do one thing. Do it the proper way and wait until you’re not “sandboxed†anymore. It might take longer to appear on Google. However, it’s better than getting banned, penalized, or “sandboxed†for a longer period of time by Google because you felt the need to rush.
For more information on Google’s patent, here are other key articles:
•Insight Into Google’s Patent: Jill Whalen Reports
•Google Patent Study
•Google Patent Analysis
~ Tien N. Nguyen
posted by David at 2:45 PM
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Will anyone ever understand how people search?
Searching, as I have said in past blogs Inside a Searcher's Mind & What is your Search ID?, is a very unique behavior. So unique in fact, that marketers have said it’s nearly impossible to understand. But what if marketers could get a little inside information. Would it help us make intelligent marketing decisions in regards to search? I think so, and so does Harris Interactive.
Harris Interactive conducted a recent study to give us marketers some insight on user preferences and behavior. Its study, along with other past studies, helps us understand what people are searching for, where they search for it and are searchers really that loyal?
So, what are they searching for? According to the study and the latest Search Engine Watch article by Chris Sherman, people searched for the following:
* 88% said they were researching specific topics—specifically, information about hobbies.
* 61% of women were more likely to search for health and medical information than men at 35%
* 28% researching specific topics are looking for job or career information
Other common things people use search for include:
* Getting directions/maps - 75%
* Looking for news - 64%
* Shopping - 51%
* Looking for entertainment web sites - 47%
Now, one of the most asked questions, do people use different search engines to search different things? According to Chirs, it breaks down like this:
* For Ask Jeeves and MSN users, searching for health information is the most popular reason for researching a specific topic.
* Google users, by contrast, like to look for news and current event information. Google users also tend to use search for business or professional research more than other search engine users.
Lastly, the ever-debated Google loyalists. Are they really that loyal? According to the study, only 13% seem to stay loyal and less % are loyal to other search engines.
As we say at ADI, don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Although we become more intelligent with regard to search, no one will ever completly understand or predict how, why and where people search. So be intelligent. Put only the best and fresh content on your site. Make the most informed decisions you can make, and be patient. Search changes tremendously. Searchers becomoe more imformed, search engines become more efficent. It's a matter of adapting and keeping up with the current search trends.
Click here to read the press release for Harris Interactive’s study.
posted by Gina at 4:01 PM
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Surfing the Web
The Internet has become a viable tool for people in this day and age.
Individuals are turning to the Internet more and more for their needs rather than looking elsewhere. When on the Net, users can do anything from shopping to getting directions to looking for specific information.
As time goes by, Internet traffic is increasing as more people are using it. With so much traffic that could be potential market interests, Web sites need to rethink how they are marketing themselves.
I have come across countless sites that are poorly designed and loosely structured. Many companies have Web sites just to have an Internet presence. However, there is no positive side to having a Web site built this way. For quality traffic, a Web site must have an attractive design, relevant content, and be optimized for search engines.
First of all, there has to be an eye-catching design. Any individual who sees a poor design will automatically think about the professionalism of the company itself. First impressions are everything on the Net.
Secondly, there has to be relevant content. If a Web site has nothing that their target audience wants or needs, this will greatly affect its performance as a viable marketing machine.
Lastly, EVERY Web site needs to be optimized for search engines. Countless people use search engines to help them find what they need. Without search engine optimization, search engines will not be able to properly find a specific Web site.
Read past blogs on the subjects:
• Is your website meeting the needs of the fastest growing age group online?
• Keeping your website’s look and feel fresh
• See your Web site through the eyes of a Search Engine crawler
~ Tien N. Nguyen
posted by David at 11:06 AM
Monday, July 11, 2005
Slimy... Yet Satisfying
Not too long ago, every time I went to check my Yahoo! Email account, three spry dolphins would come bounding across my screen to land in an ad for Disney Cruise Line. I thought it was odd, but, in an age when every Web page has pop-ups, banners, and the like, I was able to ignore my fishy friends. Then, I noticed that on Yahoo!’s homepage, a colony of bats swooped across my page from the Batman Begins ad. Realizing that Yahoo! was trying to tell me something about a current trend in Internet advertising, I decided to do a little research.
Apparently, ads such as dolphins and bats flying across the screen are referred to as floating ads and have actually been around for a while. Because these ads block the text on the page, they are a particular nuisance to users. Additionally, many times floating ads do not contain a close button- a mortal sin as far as pop-ups are concerned. To view an example of one such ad, visit Eyeblaster.com.
Users have become outraged by this new intrusion from Internet advertisers. Personally, I prefer these floating ads over regular pop-ups, as long as they are not too long or obtrusive, because generally they are more entertaining. As Carolyn pointed out in her blog on Internet humor, Internet advertisements are severely lacking humor, unlike television commercials. Most people will agree that silly or funny commercials are much more memorable than more boring, informative commercials.
One would assume that the same would hold true on the Internet. I certainly would remember a dog dragging a television set across my screen (as in the above ad on Eyeblaster.com) much better than I ever would remember a pop-up about the same subject, since I generally close them without a second glance. Unfortunately, most people don’t agree with my view on floating ads; therefore, most new pop-up blockers have filters that thwart these annoying (albeit entertaining) ads.
All in all, these types of ads may be more effective than pop-ups in a small percentage of cases, but for the most part, floating ads have the opposite effect of Internet advertising on users, irritating more than entertaining. For other types of nuisance ads to avoid, read Gina’s blog: Advertising Don’ts.
For further information on floating ads, read this article on Web advertising on How Stuff Works or view SearchCRM.com’s definition.
~Christine Chamberlain
posted by David at 12:45 PM
Friday, July 08, 2005
Revisiting Cookies
Cookies have been around for a long time now. Some of us figured out what they were, and some never did. Some of us accept them, some of us don’t, and many of us have stopped caring.
But one brief visit to your cookie cache will reveal that cookies are alive and well, and you may very well have over a thousand of them on your computer as we speak. Now that the cookie folder has been moved into a more accessible region (in Windows XP) and we no longer need a techie from the computer department to “clear the cache†for us, cookie buildup can be easily controlled – if you remember to do it.
It was only after clearing out 1200 cookies recently that I realized how handy they can be. My first visit back to a Amazon.com left me feeling slightly put out as I realized that Amazon.com no longer knew who I was. When you visit Amazon and are greeted by name, that’s no magic trick. That’s a cookie you picked up the first time you visited Amazon. It recognized you when you came back and popped up to say hello!
But can you imagine my horror when I visited a Web site I had NEVER been to before and was greeted by name? And it wasn’t even a serious Web site – it was a fun Web site that figures out what your name would be if you were a pirate. Turns out…they are affiliated with Amazon. That’s cookies for you.
So, are cookies good guys or bad guys?
Well, they can be either. They are small pieces of information written to the hard drive of an Internet user when he or she visits a Web site that offers cookies. They were developed for the exact reason I mentioned above – so we could revisit Web sites and not have to keep signing in each time.
It wasn’t long before people figured out that if they could plonk information on our computers so easily, then they could do it more often and for different reasons. For example, a Web site can track your movement from page to page, even measuring how long you stayed there. And that’s very handy for the owner of the Web site because it helps them figure out how to build a more effective Web site for you.
And that’s ok, particularly for someone with nothing to hide. But we all have a line of privacy that we don’t want anyone to cross – not even a cookie. And that’s where the “cookie controversy†began. People objected to the invasion of privacy. Companies responded by making cookie acceptance optional. We responded by filtering them out. They responded by denying some Web site functionality to us if our cookies were “turned offâ€.
Cookies were accused of being “spywareâ€, which essentially they are. But mostly they are “good†spyware. The current status of cookies are that they are a nuisance that most of us can’t live without so we allow them on our computers but secretly hope they are not doing anything vicious.
Whatever the case, I think it’s probably time most of us revisited cookies and reassessed our treatment of them. Visit Cookie Central – where you’ll be greeted with a message from Scott McNealy of Sun Microsystems that says “You have zero privacy anyway†– and do a bit of homework.
There is still no simple answer to “How should I deal with cookies?â€, but at very least, be informed about them so you know what you’re saying yes or no to.
posted by Carolyn Price at 9:18 AM
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Spying On the Competition, Possible or Impossible?
Spying on your competition? Everyone wants to do it. Everyone asks about it. Our typical answer to clients who ask about spying on the competition is “It is impossible to know all the keywords you are found for, much less what your competitors are found for.â€
While I was reading the latest Search Engine Guide Newsletter I came across an article entitled Expand Your SEM Campaign with GoogSpy.†I clicked through to read, and 'lo and behold this article is about a tool called GoogSpy. GoogSpy can spy on what keyword phrases the competition is being found for both in the natural listings and Google AdWords sponsored listings.
I am not an expert on the tool yet, but it seems pretty useful. Type in the keyword phrase you are curious about. (Tip: It seems to work better with a broad phrase) It will then return a list of more specific keywords and as well as a list of the competition found for that term. You can then click on either a company or a search term.
If you choose to click on a company you can view a list of keyword phrases they are found for in the natural listings as well as the keyword phrases they are paying for in Google AdWords. In addition, GoogSpy also gives the top 25 competitors for that phrase. Fascinating!
Conversely, if you click on a keyword phrase you can see which competitors are paying for it in Google AdWords and which ones appear in the natural listings.
I don’t believe this is the ultimate solution to spying on the competition, but it does at least make it possible.
posted by Gina at 5:32 PM
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
A Hero in Cuffs
I came across this article on the Web this morning.
In San Marcos, Texas on Sunday afternoon, Abed Duamni had just finished eating at a local restaurant. Shortly after, Duamni decided to take a swim in the San Marcos River next to the restaurant. Although this part of the river was off-limits due to dangerous currents, Duamni stated that he did not notice any signs indicating so.
After several jumps into the water, Duamni was unfortunate enough to be caught by the currents. Disobeying direct orders from authorities to clear the area for emergency personnel, local man Dave Newman quickly jumped into the water and swam Duamni to shore across from the restaurant.
Following the rescue, Newman was ordered by Texas State University police, which owned that part of the river and surrounding land, to come back to the shore by the restaurant. After doing so, Newman was promptly arrested.
The police report stated that Newman was arrested for interfering with public duties. There was no mention to the fact that Newman had disobeyed police orders to save a drowning man.
Can you believe this story? I sure didn’t at first. I understand why the police ordered Newman to clear the area. Nevertheless, he did save the drowning man. Rescuing someone’s life is an act that should be rewarded, not punished. Although Newman did not listen to authorities, his actions clearly outweigh his disobedience, I would think!
For more on this story, read the full article at the Houston Chronicle.
~ Tien N. Nguyen
posted by David at 4:56 PM
Friday, July 01, 2005
Taking Down Goliath with Search Engine Optimization
In the world of commerce today, there are many big businesses towering over the small guys everywhere. Yet, there are rare cases of when a small business steps up to be David.
Fortunately, I have found such a rare case while reading through various blogs on the Web.
This case took place in Fairhaven, a historic town in Northwestern Washington State, around November 2004. Gene and Connie Shannon own and operate Fairhaven Village Inn, located in the middle of this quaint little town that overlooks the Olympic Mountains and the Straits.
This inn needed a way to attract more visitors to their establishment. Being a small business, the owners of the inn opted to put efforts into building a Web site rather than advertise in online travel agencies in order to save money. Nonetheless, one major online travel agency actually listed the couple’s establishment for free.
However, it’s not what you think. In this listing, the agency always listed Fairhaven Village Inn as having no vacancies. As you can see, this is was a problem. The larger problem, however, was that the online travel agency that listed this inn always showed up ahead on the search engine. Thus, by the time a potential customer gets to the inn’s site, he or she doesn’t bother, figuring it’s booked already.
Mr. Shannon had attempted to ask the travel agency to remove his establishment from the listing, but to no avail. However, the Shannons simply could not afford a battle in court.
So, they decided to fight back the only way they could, through clever search engine marketing. They knew they had to become more visible on search engines, to the point where they can show up fairly high for all relevant search terms.
Two months in their search engine optimization campaign, it was reported that the Inn’s Web site rose from not being found to being in the top 10 for their relevant search phrases, and even #1 in some engines.
And although this David cannot utterly defeat Goliath, it can sure put up a good fight.
This just goes to show everyone how powerful search engine marketing can be. With the right director, a search engine optimization campaign can meet and even surpass expected goals. So for any Web site that needs an edge, implement a search engine optimization campaign. It could be just the thing to get more traffic flowing!
Well, I hope everyone enjoyed the story. To read more on this, click here for the full story.
~ Tien N. Nguyen
posted by David at 2:36 PM
