Behavioral search vs. Blended search

13 Jan

blended-search-seo2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I’m sure almost anyone reading this blog already knows, 2009 marks a major benchmark in search engine technology advancement. As of 2009 google (other major search providers of course following suit) has begun to display search results differently then it has in the past. After insight from a test group, behavioral search is already in the works.  

Google is making another change, so what?

 They constantly refine their search algorithm to make the most “relevant” search results display for each query, so what’s the big deal if they simply make ANOTHER change?

This change impacts all the work that many companies, teams, and individuals have poured blood, sweat, and tears into; SEO the way it has come to exist up until this point. I know what you’re thinking, “what is he talking about – when I search for something I am still finding what I can, reasonably perceive, is the most relevant results.” Yes, but… Those results are going to become increasingly altered to fit into what the search engine believes is the most relevant search result for YOU!

Great right? Sure, but…

What does this mean for companies who have grinded their teeth and pulled out hair (not to mention probably spent a butt load of money) to make sure their website comes up in the top results when you, Joe Shmoe, searches for diamonds… Continue reading →

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Writing for SEO

2 Jun

Search Engine Optimization
Content creation is one of the hardest parts about creating a good, comprehensive site. Content is king has been a mantra in the internet world for years now, and still is. So how does one go about creating viable valuable content that is optimized for search engines and social bookmarking sites like Digg, Reddit, and Del.icio.us?

The trick is to create the content first – get your ideas across as clearly as you can. This can often times be the hardest part, writing succinct content that is understandable and comprehensible. Once you have conveyed your point and edited edited edited, then go back and work in some keywords that are relevant to the context at hand.

For example, if you are writing a post about laying out office space for maximum useable space and aesthetic appeal – work in keywords such as space planning, interior design, efficient utilization, etc. The idea is not to keyword stuff, but to explain in more literal obvious terms what it is you’re referring to.

SEO is a tricky bastard, the rules are relatively simple: Continue reading →

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Trouser Syndrome

22 May

Nick Eubanks 23Run

Trouser syndrome is a malicious spiral that starts once you start slacking… it is a term I’ve given to the perpetual nature of procrastination. I myself have experienced this tragic ailment just this past month. If you look at the post before this one, it is dated three weeks ago…

There is just no excuse for this.

All of the typical lame responses immediately come to mind:

  1. I’ve been too busy
  2. I have not had anything useful/insightful to write about
  3. I keep forgetting
  4. I’ve been meaning to
  5. I’ll do it later… (this could be the worst sign of the syndrome)

The very first item on this list is the only conceivable good excuse, except let us not forget – it is still just that, an excuse. I apologize for not writing any fresh content for 3 weeks. I even have some great topics that I’m excited to post about; Long-tailed keywords, baby-steps to small business success, timely invoicing, and when-needed small business outsourcing. These posts are coming, and soon I promise!

So…

Why haven’t I posted in 3 weeks? I have had some personal issues to deal with to be honest (moving, situation changes, and other projects that have required more than the usual amount of my time) the real truth of the matter is that the truly influential factor that has affected my recent activity here at 23Run is me.

When elements of your life outside of work take your mind (and worse spirit) out of your day-to-day successes (daily goals, i.e. posting to your informational blog) this is when it is in-fact most important that you stick to your guns…

You simply cannot let the slack build up. When you build up enough slack it is just like wearing pants that are getting continuously longer – you are forced to drag more weight around, not to mention there is now more surface area for more problems. In the literal sense more slack dragging on the ground gathers more unwanted items – you can see how I can relate this to life problems that build up when you procrastinate.

How do you get out of this funk? Some would say to take some time off – self reflect…

NO! Bad idea. You have already been taking time-off, that’s why you are in your current situation. Instead, try this – start doing something…

That’s right, start something – Put your head down and Do Work!

Do you have an idea/concept you have wanted to kick-start for a while? Or have you thought about re-vamping an existing project? A website? A blog? A customer relationship? Business cards? That client you engaged and never followed up with? The client you lost?

If you want to start (or at least look into) any of the above mentioned thoughts, this is what I am willing to offer… Continue reading →

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SEO is Easier Than Flying a Helicopter

1 May

I was reading Guide to Learning Search Engine Optimization on Work.com, I like to check up on popular SEO “guides” that come out to see what they have to say…

This one is really solid too, which is of course expected since Aaron Wall had a hand in it. The guide stresses that SEO isn’t some crazy technical process – and that any motivated individual can accomplish their SEO goals (maybe not right away – but eventually)

I stumbled onto the guide during my daily visit to Aaron Wall’s blog while reading “How Much is a #1 Google Ranking Worth?“

-SIDEBAR- Aaron’s post about google has so much research in it (as expected) that I was immediately motivated to write this post. The information is available out there – just like you can find instructions on how to fly a helicopter – the reason i make the comparison is the similarity on the kind of information. You  can find theory and instruction, but until you start putting it into practice you don’t truly learn what works and what doesn’t, and having a guiding hand certainly helps (especially with Helicopters).

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Staples of The Media Network

2 Apr

*Statistical information obtained from “B2B Magazine: Interactive Marketing Guide 2008″

Change in Search Marketing Spending Planned for this year by U.S. Search Marketing Executives

No Change = 28%
Increase = 65%
Decrease = 7%

Viewing Email
64% of key decision-makers view e-mail on their Blackberrys or other mobile devices
69% of at-work users usually use their e-mail in preview panes
59% of online consumers routinely block images

Time-of-day Trends
The highest open rates during Q2 2007 were Wednesday (27%), Monday (26%), and Thursday (26%). The highest click-through rates were both Wednesday and Thursday (5%).
11a.m. and 4p.m. scored the highest marks for business-hour open rates (30%) and click-through rates (5%)
Click-through rates were between 4% and 5% during the workday, peaking at 7% at both 9 p.m. and 4 a.m.

SPAM Trends
79% of e-mail recipients said that if they don’t recognize a sender, they sometimes mark messages as spam.
20% of e-mail recipients said they use a spam button as a way to unsubscribe from messages or newsletters they’ve signed up for in the past.

Market Share Trends
Paid search is expected to total $15.5 billion in 2008, up 31.9% over last year
Source: eMarketer, January 2007More than 10 billion searches were conducted in the U.S. in January. Here is the breakdown of market share:
Google: 58.5%
Yahoo: 22.2%
Microsoft: 9.8%
AOL: 4.9%
Ask: 4.5%

Search Revenue
Worldwide search revenue will reach $30.5 billion this year, up from $26.2 billion last year
Search revenue will grow at an annual rate of 28% over the next four years, reaching $60.0 billion by 2011
Source: JPMorgan Chase Outlook Report, January 2008

Search is here to stay – and is growing by leaps and bounds; learn as much as possible!

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