Google Ad Planner - Initial Impressions
July 6, 2008
We received our beta invitation to the Google Ad Planner and quickly gave it a test run. Our first impression? Intuitive, fast and easy. Once again, Google shows that while they are an engineering and advertising driven company, they know how to design and interface that keeps us productive (not frustrated). That leads to a fast learning curve and an increase in usage.
What are Families Looking for Online? A Compete.com Pro Review and Example
July 4, 2008
We’ve been testing Compete.com’s new pro search analytics. Among the more interesting functions is the ability to see the top search words for behavioral interests. We took a look at family interest and were surprised at the results. While they may not represent all family interests, as the topics lean toward online activities for children, they do show a solid trend in the popularity of children’s online entertainment brands.
Recommended Search Engine Optimization Reading for Communications Professionals
July 4, 2008
A strong basic understanding of SEO is an increasingly important skill set for communications professionals. Whether marketing material or an article, writing something that is properly optimized for search engines is critical to having the right audience find the content. Here is a list of suggested pages and web sections to read from seomoz.org:
- http://www.seomoz.org/article/beginners-guide-to-search-engine-optimization
- http://www.seomoz.org/blog/my-personal-opinion-90-of-the-rankings-equation-lies-in-these-4-factors
- http://www.seomoz.org/article/search-ranking-factors
Here are some tools to try to get an idea for using SEO tools in day to day work:
- Keyword data from Wordtracker and Overture (Yahoo! Search Marketing)
- Term targeting from SEO Moz http://www.seomoz.org/term-target shows how well a page uses a keyword (such as the keyword people use to find information).
- How well a page is optimized for search - http://www.seomoz.org/page-strength
- Google’s keyword suggestion tool - https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal
- Compete’s keyword suggestion tool based on a web site or user interest area - www.compete.com (sign up for the pro version)
Web to be #2 ad medium. So what.
June 11, 2008
IDC reported a few weeks ago on the growth of web ads. Just another day. But then MediaPosts Center for Media Research headlines it as “Web #2 Ad Medium in Five Years” comparing the Web, as IDC did, to TV and newspapers. Only direct marketing would stay ahead of Web advertising. But this is a false metric.
Should Marketing or PR Run SEO?
June 8, 2008
Comscore released data that should make packaged goods public relations teams and marketing teams work a little more closely on Web strategy. What did Comscore find? That people were doing online searches and going to web sites for product information. The study found a majority of U.S. consumers visited at least one package-goods web site during the three months ended in April, with search driving a substantial proportion of those visits. Shocking? Not really. But you wouldn’t know it from most Web search engine marketing and PR strategies. Read more
