Behavioral search vs. Blended search

January 13, 2009

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… Read the rest of this entry »

3 Comments | SEO, search engine technology | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Nick

Writing for SEO

June 2, 2008

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: Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by Nick

Trouser Syndrome

May 22, 2008

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… Read the rest of this entry »

1 Comment | Motivation, Real World BS, best practices | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by Nick

SEO is Easier Than Flying a Helicopter

May 1, 2008

SEO Remote Control
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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Posted by Nick

Staples of The Media Network

April 2, 2008

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

U.S. online advertising spending, by format, 2006-2010

 
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!

1 Comment | SEO, advertising, young entrepreneur | Permalink
Posted by Nick

Everything is Negotiable – Get what you want

March 27, 2008

Negotiating Nick Eubanks
Going through my usual motions yesterday, I came across an excellent post on EventureBiz.com, “Negotiating: it never hurts to ask.” In this post Lindsey writes:

Every time a new contractor would come in to do something he would ask them to also do something else (without charging any extra). Since he was willing to do this we were able to get a lot of things done for nothing that would have added up to a lot of additional money out of our pockets.

What you need to keep in mind whether it be dealing with contractors, sales people or other entrepreneurs is that you need to know what you want before you talk to them. Have a game plan ready, know where you are going to start and what compromises you are willing to make.

For our investment property, we mapped out a timeline and budget. The problem was to fix up the house the way we wanted, we would have to spend well over our budget or do the work ourselves but sacrifice our timeline.

To solve this dilemma, John talked a little with each contractor that walked through our door and got to know a little about them.

For example, he discovered the mold removal contractor had a spray texture gun he used whenever he had to patch holes in walls he tore through to get to mold.

By asking this contractor to spray a few extra areas while he had the gun out we saved a couple hundred dollars.

Lindsey reiterates one of the pillars of success that I have been stressing for a long time now, ask and you shall receive. It is absolutely unbelievable how may things you can get cheaper or a better deal on, simply by asking. Read the rest of this entry »

2 Comments | Negotiating, Real Deal, Real World BS, best practices, young entrepreneur | Permalink
Posted by Nick

Socialtraffik.com – Genuine link building strategy

March 24, 2008

Through the majesty of web 2.0, social bookmarking, and viral marketing somehow this site ended up in my lap. This site is very simple:

  • You sign up
  • Submit your site to be emailed to other users
  • Receive emails promoting other users sites
  • Visit those sites
  • The other users visit your site

Everyone Wins.  Take a look
 

Leave a Comment » | Real Deal, Real World BS, SEO, best practices, young entrepreneur | Permalink
Posted by Nick

Michael Arrington does it again.

March 20, 2008

Michael Arrington
Michael Arrington of TechCrunch has some very interesting things to say in his post More Bloggers Raising Money. Here Come The Politics. And Here Comes My Rant.

“But apart from that first 2004 investment in Weblogs, Inc., there haven’t been any sales or liquidity events to suggest these investments will be a success. And back then blogging was a cake walk. Most bloggers linked to each other constantly in a state of brotherly or sisterly love. No one was making any money or getting much attention, so for the most part people got along (with notable exceptions like engadget/gizmodo, who play to win).Those salad days are long gone. Writers suddenly want to be paid market wages, far above the $5 per post that they received two years ago. No, we’re talking a big salary, with benefits, and stock options. There went half your margins at least.

And writing good content is only half the battle. You have to figure out the complex, dynamic web of politics between bloggers and mainstream media before you post to know where to get support. And you’ll need support in the form of links from other prominent bloggers. An early push can take a post and make it a headline on TechMeme, which leads to page views and notice by sponsors. But since blogging is almost by definition a conversation between bloggers, fights tend to break out over emotional issues. Cliques develop. Can you count on them to support you down the road?”

I think this is a brilliant account of how competitive the savvy side of the blogosphere has become –> and even more-so what it is moving towards; a hierarchy of investment criteria and valuation

How will non-professional bloggers (those of us who do not do this for a living) stay afloat? Ingenuity?

1 Comment | Real Deal, Real World BS, SEO, best practices, young entrepreneur | Permalink
Posted by Nick

Real Estate Investment for the Young Entrepreneur Part II

March 19, 2008

Real Estate Success
If you read the first part to this series, Creative Financing for Young Real Estate Investment, then you already know how to “get creative,” when it comes to making money appear out of thin air for Real Estate Overhead. In this post I want to talk about valuation, but not Real Estate Valuation – instead I’m going to go into how to evaluate your investment criteria.

I am going to focus strictly on residential real estate  for right now (properties with 4 or less units) since that’s what I assume most of you will be looking into. Before you can even think about prospecting for properties you need to prospect for a geography. The best way, traditionally, to do this is to check out market trends for certain cities. Forbes published a good article in September 2007 about The Best Rental markets in the U.S. The idea of investing in a far off city is not a good one, at least not initially… You need to be around to manage and micro-manage your tenant base, as well as the property(s) .

An ideal market is one where single family homes aren’t too expensive ($100k-$180k), assuming for that price you can pick up at least a mild three bedroom. Conversely, you need to make sure that the current area receiving rents supplement more than just the mortgage! I tend to Read the rest of this entry »

1 Comment | Real Estate Investment, best practices, young entrepreneur | Permalink
Posted by Nick

Carry a “Left-Wallet”

March 17, 2008


So what is a “Left Wallet?” No, it’s not an extra wallet for your left pocket – I don’t care what you’re making that’s absurd. A “Left Wallet” is just as, if not more, important than your regular wallet. A left wallet, if you haven’t guessed from the picture is a small notebook that stays in your opposing wallet pocket for immediate and constant access. You wouldn’t go anywhere without your wallet? So don’t go anywhere without this either. Read the rest of this entry »

1 Comment | best practices, young entrepreneur | Permalink
Posted by Nick

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