Tip 1: Find out what tactics SEO firms are using (if they don’t disclose their SEO techniques, best to walk away).
Tip 2: Study the SEO company’s client list (are their customers reputable?).
Tip 3: Contact the clients (ask about their experiences and if they’d use them again).
Tip 4: Check out their results (if they’re not producing for themselves or existing clients, chances are they won’t produce for you).
Tip 5: The golden rule - no one can guarantee number one spot on Google, Yahoo or MSN. If an SEO firm makes this claim, be very wary.
- Rick Sloboda, Senior Web Copywriter at Webcopyplus. Read more at: http://www.cmswire.com/cms/web-publishing/web-publishing-the-dark-side-of-seo-001602.php
Sunday, August 26, 2007
UK Paid Search Market to Surpass 2 Billion Pounds in '07
UK spending on search engine marketing (SEM) will increase 58% this year to 2.22 billion pounds, forecasts E-consultancy. pointing out that although the anticipated growth rate would be down from 65% in 2006, the market has plenty of room for future growth.
The paid search market alone will near 2 billion pounds this year - some 1.97 billion pounds - up 56% from 2006, the E-consultancy report estimates, according to MarketingCharts.
However, for the first time, spending on organic search will grow more quickly, increasing 68% - to 252 million pounds, or 11% of the SEM market, it said. The estimate includes payments to agencies, as well as investment in client-side staff to manage SEO and implement changes.
In a survey earlier this year, the firm found that two-thirds of marketers said they would be increasing their budgets in the next 12 months for both paid search (65%) and search engine optimization (64%).
- Find out more at: http://www.mediabuyerplanner.com/2007/08/23/uk-paid-search-market-to-surpass-2-billion-pounds-in-07/
The paid search market alone will near 2 billion pounds this year - some 1.97 billion pounds - up 56% from 2006, the E-consultancy report estimates, according to MarketingCharts.
However, for the first time, spending on organic search will grow more quickly, increasing 68% - to 252 million pounds, or 11% of the SEM market, it said. The estimate includes payments to agencies, as well as investment in client-side staff to manage SEO and implement changes.
In a survey earlier this year, the firm found that two-thirds of marketers said they would be increasing their budgets in the next 12 months for both paid search (65%) and search engine optimization (64%).
- Find out more at: http://www.mediabuyerplanner.com/2007/08/23/uk-paid-search-market-to-surpass-2-billion-pounds-in-07/
Most Important Tip on AdWords' New Top Placement Formula
The key change to the new AdWords' top placement formula is how Google considers price. Like the formula used for ranking ads alongside Google search results, the top ad placement formula now considers an ad's maximum CPC.
Beginning 22/08/2007, the actual CPC you pay for an ad in a top spot will continue to be determined by the auction, but subject to a minimum price. The minimum price is based on the quality of your ad and is the minimum amount required for your ad to achieve top placement above Google search results. As always, your actual CPC will be discounted and the higher your ad’s quality, the less you will pay.
Here is the most important tip to keep your costs down and your performance high:
Review your account for maximum CPCs that are higher than the maximum amount you're willing to pay.
- All according to official Google AdWords blog. Read more at Inside AdWords: Improved top ad placement formula now in effect.
Beginning 22/08/2007, the actual CPC you pay for an ad in a top spot will continue to be determined by the auction, but subject to a minimum price. The minimum price is based on the quality of your ad and is the minimum amount required for your ad to achieve top placement above Google search results. As always, your actual CPC will be discounted and the higher your ad’s quality, the less you will pay.
Here is the most important tip to keep your costs down and your performance high:
Review your account for maximum CPCs that are higher than the maximum amount you're willing to pay.
- All according to official Google AdWords blog. Read more at Inside AdWords: Improved top ad placement formula now in effect.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
YouTube Ads Get Mixed Reviews
Online marketing execs might be pleased with YouTube's new "overlay" ads, but it's not clear that viewers feel likewise.
In fact, judging from comments on YouTube's blog, users are quite perturbed by the ads, for which marketers are reportedly paying $20 per thousand impressions. Some complain that the ads, which appear on the bottom fifth of the page, cut off other viewers' written comments, while others are asking how to opt out of the ads. Some have simply announced they intend to abandon the site.
While there's no proof that the people who write in to YouTube's blog are representative of the site's 50-plus million monthly visitors, it certainly seems plausible that many users aren't happy to see ads suddenly appearing on a portion of their screens.
For now, YouTube is limiting the ads to official content partners, in hopes that it won't be accused of profiting from copyrighted material. Otherwise, the company could potentially lose the "safe harbor" protections of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. That law generally protects Internet companies that host copyrighted content as long as they remove it upon request. Companies lose that protection, however, if they directly profit from the material. Courts still have to determine what constitutes a direct profit, but selling ads at $20 CPMs sounds like it could qualify -- which means that a great deal of material on the site will remain ad-free for the near future.
- Wendy Davis
In fact, judging from comments on YouTube's blog, users are quite perturbed by the ads, for which marketers are reportedly paying $20 per thousand impressions. Some complain that the ads, which appear on the bottom fifth of the page, cut off other viewers' written comments, while others are asking how to opt out of the ads. Some have simply announced they intend to abandon the site.
While there's no proof that the people who write in to YouTube's blog are representative of the site's 50-plus million monthly visitors, it certainly seems plausible that many users aren't happy to see ads suddenly appearing on a portion of their screens.
For now, YouTube is limiting the ads to official content partners, in hopes that it won't be accused of profiting from copyrighted material. Otherwise, the company could potentially lose the "safe harbor" protections of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. That law generally protects Internet companies that host copyrighted content as long as they remove it upon request. Companies lose that protection, however, if they directly profit from the material. Courts still have to determine what constitutes a direct profit, but selling ads at $20 CPMs sounds like it could qualify -- which means that a great deal of material on the site will remain ad-free for the near future.
- Wendy Davis
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