It seems like every time I turn around I'm getting an e-mail, a Facebook friend request, an IM ping, a Twitter @reply or an invitation to connect with someone on a seemingly endless number of social media and networking outlets. Some people reach out their virtual hands very well. Others...not so much. Some are curt and rude. Others are obnoxious or creepy.Let's face it, while connecting with like-minded people and making friends may be among our many motivations to engage in social … [Read more...]
Charles Preston’s Verified SEO = Verifiable Failure
March 26, 2010 By
A new "service" marketed as Verified SEO has been making waves throughout the SEO/SEM industry today. Though I doubt they are the waves its founder, Charles Preston - a self-described "SEO Expert" - had been hoping for. Claiming to have been a search marketing professional since 1999, Mr. Preston has found his reputation and previous anonymity in industry circles coming under fire from search marketing veterans and douchebaggary outers far & wide. Why, you might ask, would the industry be so … [Read more...]
Local Search and Behavioral Targeting
March 24, 2010 By
As offline means of marketing become less and less effective, the need for an online presence is more and more imperative - and this couldn’t be more meaningful for local business. In a recent study by TMP Directional Marketing titled “Local Search Marketing: Targeting Consumers in a Diverse Media Landscape” they found that the marketplace is more consumer driven and media diverse than ever before, indicating that it’s crucial to understand your customer base, and communicate with them … [Read more...]
When Loyal Customers Feel Wronged
March 1, 2010 By
When I published my "Best Buy's Reputation Management Nightmare" post, Darren Slatten (a.k.a. SEO Mofo) left a brief comment about his horrific customer service experience with Best Buy. At that time he offered to share the letter he wrote to Best Buy regarding his experience so I could post it for my readers.Are you kidding? OF COURSE I'd like to post it! So here it is. In all it's level-headed glory...which, for those of you who know Darren, is a bit shocking, to say the least! I admire … [Read more...]
Best Buy's Reputation Management Nightmare
February 19, 2010 By
Businesses often tout their commitments to great customer service. Sometimes they succeed in their endeavors and sometimes they fail. Okay, more often than not, they fail...and these days the bigger the business, the more prevalent stories of customer service nightmares seem to be. Think about it. If you sell 100 TVs, it's pretty easy to make those 100 people happy. If you sell 10,000 TVs, chances are someone in that group of 10,000 is going to have an issue of some sort. Maybe the TV … [Read more...]
Does Your Website Have Direction and Purpose?
December 15, 2009 By
Lewis Carroll once said, "If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there." The same is true for your website. Lacking direction and purpose is one of the most common problems that face small businesses who want an online presence. Countless times I've talked with prospects and I ask them, "What do you hope to achieve with your website?" More often than not, they just stare at me confused. It's almost like they didn't realize they needed to have a purpose. So let me give … [Read more...]
A Personal Update
October 14, 2009 By
Yesterday a wrote a post on updating everyone on what's been going on with me. Since it isn't search marketing or business related, I published it on my personal blog. If you're interested in reading it, you can find it here: Yesterday I Turned 33 Thanks to everyone who has expressed concern and offered support. I appreciate it! … [Read more...]
Cheap Web Hosting That Doesn’t Suck
August 19, 2009 By
Finding cheap web hosting that doesn't suck is sometimes easier said than done. When I launched my first blog, I had no idea where to begin. I did some Google searches, I asked some blogger pals, and I checked out the hosts that WordPress recommended. In the end, I pinned the proverbial tail on my virtual donkey, going on about my business hoping I'd made a relatively decent choice. Since then, I've been thrilled with the shared web hosting provided by midPhase. … [Read more...]
