From: google.com

In one week, I heard from two companies in the same industry. The comparison is instructive, I think.

Every month, I get a great email from Paul McGowan, founder of PS Audio. His newsletter is anticipated, personal and relevant. I signed up for it and I look forward to it.

Paul mentions his products, their reviews and their new technology. He also tells stories and acts like a real person. Because I signed up for the newsletter, I open it. Because he never abuses my trust, I trust him. If I hit reply, he writes back.

When it’s time to buy the sort of thing he sells, I won’t look around much, because I’m already sold.

I also got two identical emails (with different subject lines) from a speaker company called Thiel Audio. I never signed up to hear from this company, and judging from the email addresses they used, they harvested my address either from an attendee list at a conference at which I spoke or from an old business card.

The problem with believing that just because you have access to an address you have the right to mail is that there is no friction with email. It’s free. You can email a million people in a heartbeat, costing the recipients time (and thus money) and you not much of either. The recipient knows this, and feels exploited or cheated. It’s not fair, and so the lack of friction backfires. The very ease of interruption makes the interruption more annoying.

I get a lot of spam from non-reputable companies, but it was surprising to get this html ad via email from a company that used to have a good reputation.

My email box is where I live all day. They showed up, uninvited, and worked to sell me something even though they had no connection with me as a consumer or a blogger. That’s not brand building, it’s the opposite. Even worse, it’s undependable.

With PS Audio, Paul realizes that over time, the more months I get the newsletter, the greater the chance I’m going to trust and like and buy from him. For Thiel, the opposite is true. The more they send, the more people will get in the habit of deleting or unsubscribing. It’s not an asset, it’s a risk. It doesn’t scale, it shrinks.

No doubt, there are old-school marketers who will talk about their right to email or interrupt because it’s not against the law, or perhaps it generates short-term sales. The thing is, consumers now have rights too. The right to ignore, to distrust and to choose someone else when it comes time to spend money.

There are a hundred ways to skulk around, to collect email addresses, to write clever privacy policies or to argue about whether opt-out ("you can always unsubscribe!") is a valid way to build a brand. None of those schemes work. What works is exactly one way: making promises and then keeping them. Every person who unsubscribes or deletes or just stops reading your mail is a person lost, a negative word-of-mouth opportunity waiting to happen. 

Run an ad in traditional media or online and promise me a great newsletter, or a prize or news or even a discount if I sign up. That’s clear and honest and it works.

A spam campaign feels like a smart idea, but over time, the more you use it, the less your brand is worth. A permission campaign, on the other hand, only grows in value, until it gets big enough that you can build an entire business around it.

Earning permission is a long-term, profitable, scalable strategy that pays for itself. Think about how much better off a brand would be if it took the time to make promises, keep them and be transparent about its communications.

Read Original: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/sethsmainblog/~3/vz9Cwf8Cn-I/email-campaign-case-studies-one-good-one-bad.html

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From: feedburner.com

Who gives perks in recession? Well, Microsoft is doing that!

Microsofts SearchPerks program is running an incentive and giving away double tickets for three days!

These tickets are for every search with a maximum of 50 tickets available that can be earned each day. It is especially done to encourage the participants to do more searches on Live Search. (Jan 21, Jan 22, Jan 23)
SearchPerks is notifying members with an email that looks something like the below snapshot:

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Tag: Microsoft, SearchPerks, SEO





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Read Original: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/searchnewzlatestnews/~3/519906686/sn-4-20090122MicrosoftSearchPerksDuringRecession.html

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From: feedburner.com

Google Analytics has come up with an update on the code snippet that is placed on websites. The update is done to fix the rare display of a JavaScript message that was usually noticed by the users to sites using Google Analytics.

But why was it changed?

Adding the try and catch to the snippet removes the possibility that your visitor sees a JavaScript message that doesn’t apply to her. It’s a fairly rare occurrence because messages like these (frequently in the form of an alert box) can only appear if JavaScript messaging has been enabled on the browser. Most browsers have JavaScript messaging turned off by default, but sometimes people unintentionally turn it on. For those visitors who have enabled messaging, the try and catch will have the effect of halting any messages from the Google Analytics tracking code snippet.

<script type="text/javascript">
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? “https://ssl.” : “http://www.");
[removed](unescape("[removed][removed]"));
</script>

<script type="text/javascript">
try {
var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-50020-1");
pageTracker._trackPageview();
} catch(err) {}
</script>

You just need to log into your Google Analytics account to access your account-specific code snippet.

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Tag: Google, Javascript, SEO





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Read Original: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/searchnewzlatestnews/~3/517791506/sn-4-20090120RareJavascriptMessageFixedbyGoogle.html

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From: feedburner.com

Ionut reports of an experiment Google shows to a portion of the users. In this experiment, Googles preferences page lets you add sites that you prefer to see in results. Based on your search history, Google suggests some frequently-visited sites, but you can add any other site, Ionut says.

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Tag: Google, Sites, SEO





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Read Original: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/searchnewzlatestnews/~3/516647565/sn-4-20090119PreferredSitesGoogleExperiment.html

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From: feedburner.com

Search Engine News from around the web, including a comment on Yahoo Search Marketing adding ads and keywords to their pay per click customers.

Read Original: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/pandia/vfbc/~3/528105628/1202-on-the-yahoo-search-marketing-blunder-and-other-search-engine-news-wrap-up-jan-31.html

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From: feedburner.com

It is still difficult for search engines to exactly pinpoint your identity as a user, but by using various techniques they can learn a lot about you. Should you be worried about your privacy? Ixquick thinks so, and is no longer recording your IP address.

Read Original: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/pandia/vfbc/~3/528013277/1194-can-the-search-engines-tell-who-you-are.html

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From: google.com

Seems like a simple question, but given how much time and money we spend on it, it has a wide range of answers, many unexplored, some contradictory. I have a thoughts about education, how we use it to market ourselves and compete, and I realized that without a common place to start, it’s hard to figure out what to do.

So, a starter list. The purpose of school is to:

1. Become an informed citizen
2. Be able to read for pleasure
3. Be trained in the rudimentary skills necessary for employment
4. Do well on standardized tests
5. Homogenize society, at least a bit
6. Pasteurize out the dangerous ideas
7. Give kids something to do while parents work
8. Teach future citizens how to conform
9. Teach future consumers how to desire
10.  Build a social fabric
11. Create leaders who help us compete on a world stage
12. Generate future scientists who will advance medicine and technology
13. Learn for the sake of learning
14. Help people become interesting and productive
15. Defang the proletariat
16. Establish a floor below which a typical person is unlikely to fall
17. Find and celebrate prodigies, geniuses and the gifted
18. Make sure kids learn to exercise, eat right and avoid common health problems
19. Teach future citizens to obey authority
20. Teach future employees to do the same
21. Increase appreciation for art and culture
22. Teach creativity and problem solving
23. Minimize public spelling mistakes
24. Increase emotional intelligence
25. Decrease crime by teaching civics and ethics
26. Increase understanding of a life well lived
27. Make sure the sports teams have enough players

 If you have the email address of the school board or principals, perhaps you’ll forward this list to them (and I hope you are in communication with them regardless, since it’s a big chunk of your future and your taxes!). Should make an interesting starting point for a discussion.

Read Original: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/sethsmainblog/~3/n8BjW0gzjs4/super-bowl-laziness.html

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From: feedburner.com

I recall it was some time ago that websites were abuzz about details of Google Ocean - 3D oceanographic maps and data etc well, it seems that the service is now close to reality as details of a coming PR event in San Fran where Al Gore and others will officially welcome to teh stage Google latest offering via the Google Earth service.

According to rumors the application will enable users to see the underwater topography, search for particular spots or attractions, and navigate through the digital environment by zooming and panning.



Cnet has more details about the event and no doubt more will be surfacing soonfrom Cnet Gore is set to join Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt and Marissa Mayer, vice president of search products and user experience, at the on February 2 event at the California Academy of Sciences, San Franciscos newly rebuilt aquarium, planetarium, and natural history museum.



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Read Original: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/searchnewzlatestnews/~3/524611469/sn-4-20090127ComingSoonGoogleOcean.html

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From: feedburner.com

Keyword Discovery has added Question Phrases to its list of searchable database. With the addition of this feature, users can now enter a keyword and get a list of related questions that have been asked instead of getting the list of related keywords. The features is really alluring and easy way to get new content ideas as well.

Snapshot of Question Phrases:

Example of the list of questions related with the keyword ‘acne.’:

The tool is really important, especially for those who want to go for keyword based search results with the motto of generating new content ideas.

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Tag: Google, Keyword, SEO





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Read Original: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/searchnewzlatestnews/~3/523781407/sn-4-20090126QuestionPhrasesinKeywordDiscovery.html

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From: feedburner.com

Recently, Carol Bartz filled the slot of Yahoo’s new CEO.

And now, just after a week or so, Satish Dharmaraj, founder of Zimbra, will be leaving the company in March, according to Kara Swisher.

It will be an interesting to see as to how Bartz, with all her software minded techniques, manages this exit.

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Tag: Google, Yahoo, SEO





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Read Original: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/searchnewzlatestnews/~3/520958351/sn-4-20090123SatishDharmarajZimbraFounderLeavingYahoo.html

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From: feedburner.com

Who gives perks in recession? Well, Microsoft is doing that!

Microsofts SearchPerks program is running an incentive and giving away double tickets for three days!

These tickets are for every search with a maximum of 50 tickets available that can be earned each day. It is especially done to encourage the participants to do more searches on Live Search. (Jan 21, Jan 22, Jan 23)
SearchPerks is notifying members with an email that looks something like the below snapshot:

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Tag: Microsoft, SearchPerks, SEO





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Read Original: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/searchnewzlatestnews/~3/519906686/sn-4-20090122MicrosoftSearchPerksDuringRecession.html

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From: feedburner.com

Three of the five engines below showed no change for December, while the other two showed only 1/10th of a point worth of change.

Google
December: 63.5%
November: 63.5%
Change: 0.0

January 2008: 58.5%
Change: +5.0

Yahoo
December: 20.5%
November: 20.4%
Change: +0.1

January 2008: 22.2%
Change: -1.7

MSN
December: 8.3%
November: 8.3%
Change: 0.0

January 2008: 9.8%
Change: -1.5

ASK
December: 3.9%
November: 4.0%
Change: -0.1

January 2008: 4.5%
Change: -0.6

AOL
December: 3.8%
November: 3.8%
Change: 0.0

January 2008: 4.9%
Change: -1.1

Data scoring techniques tend to change over time making past data inaccurate. As always, information here is for entertainment purposes only.

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Tag: Google, Comscore, SEO





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Read Original: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/searchnewzlatestnews/~3/519053831/sn-4-20090121ComScoreSearchEngineMarketShareDecember2008.html

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From: feedburner.com

Google Analytics has come up with an update on the code snippet that is placed on websites. The update is done to fix the rare display of a JavaScript message that was usually noticed by the users to sites using Google Analytics.

But why was it changed?

Adding the try and catch to the snippet removes the possibility that your visitor sees a JavaScript message that doesn’t apply to her. It’s a fairly rare occurrence because messages like these (frequently in the form of an alert box) can only appear if JavaScript messaging has been enabled on the browser. Most browsers have JavaScript messaging turned off by default, but sometimes people unintentionally turn it on. For those visitors who have enabled messaging, the try and catch will have the effect of halting any messages from the Google Analytics tracking code snippet.

<script type="text/javascript">
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? “https://ssl.” : “http://www.");
[removed](unescape("[removed][removed]"));
</script>

<script type="text/javascript">
try {
var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-50020-1");
pageTracker._trackPageview();
} catch(err) {}
</script>

You just need to log into your Google Analytics account to access your account-specific code snippet.

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Tag: Google, Javascript, SEO





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Read Original: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/searchnewzlatestnews/~3/517791506/sn-4-20090120RareJavascriptMessageFixedbyGoogle.html

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From: feedburner.com

Ionut reports of an experiment Google shows to a portion of the users. In this experiment, Googles preferences page lets you add sites that you prefer to see in results. Based on your search history, Google suggests some frequently-visited sites, but you can add any other site, Ionut says.

Comments



Tag: Google, Sites, SEO





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Read Original: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/searchnewzlatestnews/~3/516647565/sn-4-20090119PreferredSitesGoogleExperiment.html

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From: searchenginewatch.com

Last year, Google launched Ad Planner as a way to help media buyers plan their advertising campaigns. Now, they’ve updated their traffic models to improve planning.

Here are the updates:

• Added Unique Visitors (cookies), a new cookie-based metric, to help you cross-check and compare metrics, similar to Google Analytics unique visitor metrics.
• Changed Unique Visitors to Unique Visitors (users) so it’s clearer that you’re reviewing estimated numbers of real world visitors.
• Placed the Unique Visitors (cookies) and Unique Visitors (users) metrics on a site’s profile page so users will have a more comprehensive view of how a specific site can support their media planning.
• Added country demographics for Australia, Brazil, Japan, and Switzerland, which brings the demographics total to ten countries
• Created Pre-defined Audiences that represent commonly used audiences. Uers can experiment with various criteria without having to manually select them.

What do you think of the update? Let us know in the comments.

Related Reading:

Google Wants Feedback on Ad Planner

Google Ad Planner Now Available to Everyone

How Will Google Ad Planner Promote Network Inventory?

Read Original: http://feeds.searchenginewatch.com/~r/sewblog/~3/527482719/090130-133441

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