The LED Digest
Moderated Discussion List
"Effective Online Advertising, Since 1997"
Data > Information > Knowledge > Wisdom
http://www.AudetteMedia.com : the LED's Publisher
Boutique Internet Marketing: SEO, SEM, Social Media
http://www.SEOToolSet.com/training/ : the LED's Premier Sponsor
Bruce Clay's Search Engine Optimization Training & Certification
==================================================
List Moderator: Published by:
Adam Audette LED Digest
adam, led-digest.com http://www.led-digest.com
..............................................
June 23, 2008 Issue no. 2667
..............................................
.....IN THIS DIGEST.....
====== NEW ======================
--== Yahoo Domain Scam ==--
~ Thom Reece
"The internet community should be up in
arms about this gross abuse of the system."
==== CONTINUING =================
--== Comparing SEO Offerings ==--
~ Nathan Holley
"...there's no way a single firm can do it
all anymore."
--== The New iPhone ==--
~ Al Toman
"Without AT&T, I assess that the iPhone is
rendered a worthless piece of technology..."
========= NEW =====================================
Greetings LEDer,
Sorry about the sporadic schedule of late (we took off last Friday and a
few other random issues if you noticed). So much to do, so much to do...
and it's easy to skip the LED when there are no posts. So get posting :)
I have a few items for you today:
1] Google Trends announced you can search for websites now (rather than
just big broad keyword terms): http://trends.google.com. Lisa cries
foul: http://tinyurl.com/4v7bh6 [bruceclay.com]
2] Spokesmonkeys for McCain and Obama had a debate on the 20th, using of
all things Twitter: http://tinyurl.com/6ypjh8 [alleyinsider.com]. Yes,
Twitter is useful and here to stay.
3] Apparently, Facebook and Google Maps makes it easy for British teens
to spot targets for pool crashing parties. The fad is called "dipping."
http://tinyurl.com/6nnccw [news.smh.com.au]
4] My pal David Mihm made an amazing piece of content in his "Local
Search Ranking Factors." I only wish I was in it (guess I should start
writing about local search). It's great:
http://www.davidmihm.com/local-search-ranking-factors.shtml
5] English acronym failure (it's funny):
http://failblog.org/2008/06/17/english-acronym-fail/
-adam
--------------
From: Thom Reece
Subject: Outrageous Yahoo Domains Renewal Increase...
If any of you fell for the "low cost" domain registration at Yahoo
Domains you will now see their sinister ploy...
----------------
"Important note: Beginning on July 1, 2008, Yahoo's annual domain
renewal price increases to $34.95 per year."
----------------
A few weeks ago their renewal fees were $9.95/yr. Then they jumped to
$12.95. And now they announce a whopping increase to $34.95/yr.
They waited to release this abusive price increase until after the time
limit to move thousands of domains to another registrar without first
paying Yahoo for the privilege.
The internet community should be up in arms about this gross abuse of
the system. It is not hard to understand why Yahoo is getting one of the
worst reputations on the internet for abusive behavior towards its
customers.
Where is ICAAN when we need them?
Thom Reece
www.MarketingArticleLibrary.com
============ Begin Sponsor Message ===========
-------> JULY 4TH GRAND OPENING <-------
AudetteMedia, the Internet Marketing Boutique,
opens to great fanfare on July 4, 2008.
Picnics, parades and massive fireworks
celebrations are planned all across the U.S.
Check out what's causing all the fuss:
http://www.AudetteMedia.com/services
============ End Sponsor Message =============
======== CONTINUING ===============================
From: Nathan Holley
Subject: Comparing SEO firms
Adam asked me to post something since I've been so quiet. So, here goes.
I decided to pick up on this thread started by Barry Mills:
> That's the challenge I'm throwing down -
> how do we compare one SEO to another, or
> one site to another.
- Barry S Mills, LED 2656
- http://www.led-digest.com/content/view/2071/190/
Indeed. Every site is so different. And every market. And every search
marketing firm will use a different approach.
> How do we compare one SEO to another? Well,
> do they get results? Are you happy working
> with them? Are they asking you to do things
> to your site that you do not feel
> comfortable with? Then look at the numbers.
> Naturally to compare SEO firms is more than
> just numbers.
- Richard Stubbings, LED 2657
- http://www.led-digest.com/content/view/2072/190/
Great point here Richard. A big part of any relationship - marketing or
personal or whatever - is the cultural fit. How will you work together,
what will your relationship be like. Is there synergy, etc.
I don't think it's possible to really compare SEO firms, but there is a
comparison of sorts that I've been using for years. Each shop has its
own angle and approach. You get to know them by attending conferences,
by talking with representatives from their companies, and by talking to
current and past clients of theirs. What you'll find is that each is
drastically different, even if they all sort of do the same stuff
eventually.
I don't want to name names. There are many approaches, though, and shop
X may be very aggressive and specialized at reputation management, while
shop Y may be conservative and focused on the user experience. Shop Z
might be really into link building, while shop A might focus a lot on
content strategies and syndication. There are shops almost exclusively
serving ecommerce, and there are others serving educational facilities.
It all comes down to what their specialty is, what their area of focus
is, and then deciding if there's a potential synergy there. Easier said
than done.
What I will say is this: there's no way a single firm can do it all
anymore. Well, there *might* be a way but they'd have to be tremendously
experienced. There are a handful of really experienced, proven shops
online - those I would feel comfortable taking a holistic approach with.
The others who claim to be "holistic" - forget it. Seems like they're
jumping on a bandwagon.
Best wishes,
Nathan Holley
-------- new post - new topic --------
From: Al Toman
Subject: iPhone, Not!
Here, in my part of the Country (Coastal North Carolina, USA) the iPhone
is being marketed exclusively as the AT&T phone at outlets far and few
in between. I'd have to blow a lot of 4 dollar gasoline (combustion
engines are only 36% efficient at best, therefore, the cost of a gallon
of gasoline today is more like eleven dollars and eleven cents) to even
find an AT&T phone. However, the Apple MAC aka AT&T web site
specifically states that NOT all AT&T stores stock the AT&T phone.
I guess you guys call this niche marketing!?!
Without AT&T, I assess that the iPhone is rendered a worthless piece of
technology and doesn't work well as a hammer, and I LUV to hammer :o)
Though one of my oncologist doctors wears one on his belt (because his
kids bought him one). Looks nice.
Cell phones have reached and exceeded the hands of 2.7 billion people,
http://tinyurl.com/68qe9d [studio9.ws], of which 59% is used for text
messaging, 49% for taking photos, and 20% for email.
Shopping on the cell phone is a whopping 2% (according to the article).
I mean, 2% of 2.7 billion is quite a lot! I wonder how much of that is
via the AT&T phone?
North Carolina has a 17 year old limit law. That is, if you are 13 years
old, you can't drive and "do" cell phone. Wonderful law. I wonder if
"17" is gauged by birth date or by learned social behavior ettiquette!?!
Because there a TON more people here who appear to be older then 17 who
are driving and "doing" the cell phone who are limited to 13 years old
in regards to social behavior ettiquette. I took a course in pre-med
entitled, "Animal Behavior". The chapter on the human animal was brief.
It claimed that that was beyond the scope of the book. The reality
rather, was, comparatively, protozoa, ants, ducks, and chimpanzeeeze
exhibited much better behavior.
Somehow, that all relates back to the iPhone, NOT!
Call me~!
Al Toman
studio9 web design
(c) Copyright 1995-2008 Orange Wheel, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Will is to grace as the horse is to the rider." - Saint Augustin
