Google will be all over this post.

Why do Search Engines crave fresh content? Yahoo, Google and the likes want to give you
what you are searching for, so you will return there for your next search.

Then, who knows, maybe one day a week you will click on a sponsored ad and the SE will make some money.

But how determined are they? The last time I checked, […]

By |December 6th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, Search Engine Academy, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Google will be all over this post.

Was the Toronto SEO Workshop worth it?

According to the students – now graduates – of the Certified SEO Basic Essentials and Advanced SEO Workshops held in Oakville last month, big time.

Barry and I had a great time with the students who really dug in and participated in the class and the group projects

Joining us were John Alexander, co-founder of the Search Engine Academy, who […]

By |December 5th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, Search Engine Academy, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Was the Toronto SEO Workshop worth it?

SEO Workshop boasts John Alexander as special expert SEO instructor

Just in! John Alexander, Search Engine Academy co-founder, will be joining SEO Expert Instructors Barry Byers & Greg Mate for 2 days of the Advanced 3-Day SEO Workshop November 14 & 15 2007 in Oakville (Toronto, Ontario).

Nov 12-13 is the 2-Day SEO Basic Essentials Workshop. Nov 14-16 is the Advanced 3-Day SEO Workshop. The 5-Day All Inclusive SEO […]

By |October 31st, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, Search Engine Academy, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on SEO Workshop boasts John Alexander as special expert SEO instructor

US May 2007 Searches | Google’s Relentless Domination

According to Hitwise, Google continued to dominate May 2007 percentage of US searches.

Google 65.13%
Yahoo 20.89%
MSN 8.40%
Ask […]

By |June 20th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on US May 2007 Searches | Google’s Relentless Domination

Advertising works, well sometimes.

Yahoo Inc. is about to start a new ad campaign using comedy, that will run on traditional and online media, according to NewFactor.com

“Last year Yahoo outspent Google by 72%, $353 million in advertising vs. Google’s $205 million, according to TNS Media Intelligence.” Theresa Howard wrrote.

Even after spending $98 million more in advertising “…Yahoo’s first-quarter ad revenue was $1.6 billion, […]

By |May 1st, 2007|Categories: Articles, Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Advertising works, well sometimes.

Yahoo! says Real Media, worth real money – real quick

In October Yahoo purchased 20% of the 4-year-old company, Right Media, for $40 million.

Yesterday Terry Semel, Chairman and CEO of Yahoo Inc announced they have agreed to purchase the remaining 80% for another $680 million.

Semel’s post Democracy and the online ad states “… I believe has the potential to dramatically enhance Internet advertising. We hope to revolutionize the way […]

By |April 30th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Yahoo! says Real Media, worth real money – real quick

ComScore February Search Results

Google up slightly in market share while Yahoo , MSN, ASK  and AOL remain the same. 

Google: 48.1%
Yahoo: 28.1%
Microsoft Live: 10.5%
Ask: 5.0%
AOL: 4.9%
Search engine land charts out the past 12 months for comparison.

By |March 23rd, 2007|Categories: SEM, SEO||Comments Off on ComScore February Search Results

Local Search | Entrepreneur.com’s Top 15 Sites

Entrepreneur.com has an interesting article on local search and 15 ways to promote your site locally.

Google AdWords
Yahoo! Local Listings
CitySearch
Ask.com’s AskCity
AOL’s CityGuide
Craigslist
MerchantCircle.com
Dotster
Local.com
Froogle Local
ReachLocal
RegisterLocal
TrueLocal
YellowPages.com
Web.com’s MyEzClicks program

You can follow the links to review each of the sites.

By |March 21st, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Local Search | Entrepreneur.com’s Top 15 Sites

Link Building | Google Upgrading Linking Info

Link building is an important part of SEO. Google has announced that they are providing valuable linking information to webmasters. Google’s webmaster central blog indicates that Google is now giving you the full phrase that people are using to link to your site.

Log in to your web master tools and use the improved tool to make sure your inbound links […]

By |March 20th, 2007|Categories: SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Link Building | Google Upgrading Linking Info

Cracking Google’s Algorithm?

Computerworld published an article regarding some interesting comments from Matt Cutts. The article mentions Matt and some freely offered clues, “such as placing keywords in the title, headings and even the URL, and keeping related words close together.” Hint (LSI).

Keywords in the title, description, headings and url are a standard practice.

LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) is a fantastic tool […]

By |March 19th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Cracking Google’s Algorithm?

Google Protecting Search Users

A Google blog entry indicates that Google will make their user records anonymous after 18-24 months.

Taking steps to protect the privacy of their users, Google intends to begin the process in the next few months.

You can choose to have your records retained for personalized search.

By |March 15th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Google Protecting Search Users

Letting Search Engines Find Your Pages

I love this comment on Matt Cutts’ blog. Matt is talking about viral marketing and the tactics used by a website to spread the word.

“The buzz built pretty organically. USB drives were left in bathrooms at conferences and messages were hidden in conference T-shirts. It’s much better to let people find you than to push too hard to get […]

By |March 14th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Letting Search Engines Find Your Pages

Google Wake Up Call | Indexing Your Search Results

Matt Cutts’ blog indicates that Google is taking a serious look at search results within results.

Search results can be infuriating when you click on a top results only to find yourselves  once again looking at a results page.

Yes, you may wind up on a camera vendor’s site if you searched for a camera but now the search begins again for the […]

By |March 13th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Google Wake Up Call | Indexing Your Search Results

SEO Resources Updated on SearchEngineAcademy.ca

If you are a new SEO, you may not yet have realised the amount of work involved in planning, implementing and maintaining an effective internet marketing campaign.

I’ve often heard people say with every step it seems to lead to more work, more research.

So in an attempt to make life a little easier for you, we are amassing resources to […]

By |March 12th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, Search Engine Academy, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on SEO Resources Updated on SearchEngineAcademy.ca

Online Yellow Pages & Search Marketing

Superpages.com announced today that they are introducing a new ranking model for their pay for performance product. The new model will begin in April, 2007.

Ads will be ranked by bid amount and wait for it…..relevance. Google, MSN have been using relevance for some time now and Yahoo! followed suit a month or so ago.

Makes me wonder when Google will buy […]

By |March 2nd, 2007|Categories: SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Online Yellow Pages & Search Marketing

Managing Your Contextual PPC Ad Buys Can Be Tricky

In my post February 21st post PPC Gone Bad, RCMP Hangs With Wrong Crowd l wrote about the potential for complications with contextual PPC ads.

Not only can they be be tricky to manage, but also the click through ratio tends to be low.

Enter Quigo Technologies Inc.

Unlike Google AdWords and Yahoo! where advertisers have no idea and little control over […]

By |March 1st, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Managing Your Contextual PPC Ad Buys Can Be Tricky

MSN Canada Launched AdCenter – it’s Paid Search (PPC) Platform – Today

Canada is the fifth country in which AdCenter has been launched. They honed the product first in France and Singapore, followed by the U.S. and U.K. last year.

Barry and I (along with 300? others) attended the launch at an event in Toronto this afternoon. I am just back to Montreal in time to squeak in this post before midnight.

David […]

By |February 28th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on MSN Canada Launched AdCenter – it’s Paid Search (PPC) Platform – Today

PPC Gone Bad, RCMP Hangs With Wrong Crowd

At yesterday’s (very successful) SEO 101 Basics Seminars we delivered for some of Yahoo! Search Marketing Canada’s client’s (more on this in another post soon) Barry told of delicate situations that can arise if your PPC ad winds up on a page with negatively related content.

The example he used was a Travel Agent’s PPC ad being on a page […]

By |February 21st, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, Search Engine Academy, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on PPC Gone Bad, RCMP Hangs With Wrong Crowd

SEO/SEM Education

A great article in The Australian , regarding the about to be released IBM report, Navigating The Media Devide, warns about the divide between new and old media. (Once you click on the link, you have to scroll down to read the article.)

What does this have to do with SEO?

Educating your staff on SEO and SEM before you start an in-house program makes all the difference.  […]

By |February 19th, 2007|Categories: SEM, SEO, SEO Workshop / Seminar News||Comments Off on SEO/SEM Education

Google Earth Gets Overlay Search Feature

I have been following the Kelsey Group for years but mostly checking out their research on yellow pages advertising. Like the rest of us, they are now well into search.  Here is some interesting info they have provided for local search:

Online maps, in combination with local search engines, have become very popular in recent years, giving people a way to discover […]

By |February 16th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Google Earth Gets Overlay Search Feature

The NoFollow Tag & The Vulcan Theory of SEO

In a Google blog entry in January, Google indicated that it would remove the linking value on NoFollow links. Now  SearchEngineJournal gives us 13 reasons why NoFollow tags suck. 

Before trying any seo techniques, ask yourself if you are following the Vulcan theory of SEO.

Is what I am about to do logical for the growth of my business or am I trying […]

By |February 15th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on The NoFollow Tag & The Vulcan Theory of SEO

Sempo’s New Search Engine Marketing Report

Search Engine Marketing Professionals’ (SEMPO) recent survey indicates that Google’s AdWords program is used by 96% of pay per click advertisers. Yahoo! Search Marketing is not far behind at 86%. Microsoft came in with a surprising  68% thanks to their new adCenter program. More info at Sempo’s website.

By |February 13th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Sempo’s New Search Engine Marketing Report

Small Business Advertising Competitive Analysis

A Piper Jaffray & Co. report indicates that the average Cost Per Action (CPA) for search was $8.50, much lower than the CPA for the Yellow Pages advertising ($20), online display ads ($50) and direct mail ($70).

Great statistical information you can use when discussing a complete marketing program with local clients.

By |February 12th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Small Business Advertising Competitive Analysis

Becoming An Industry Expert

We often talk about becoming an industry expert. 

This week, Jason Calacanis ripped into seo with several derogatory statements about the industry in general. Whether you agree or disagree, besides the wrath of the seo world, you can bet that his controversial remarks earned him dozens of links to his site .

On the flip side, you have Danny Sullivan who responded […]

By |February 12th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Becoming An Industry Expert

Search Marketing Growing at The Expense of Print Advertising?

Outsell, Inc. has released a report that seems to indicate that we are reaching the end of an era: they project broadcast and print ad spending will decrease in 2007. Key findings of their survey of 1010 advertising professionals include:

*Search marketing is the fastest growing online medium: advertisers plan to increase search engine advertising spend by 39% (though Outsell […]

By |February 11th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Search Marketing Growing at The Expense of Print Advertising?

Google Pushes Ahead With Personalization

We have been discussing personalization for a couple of years but now Google is stepping up the process. You can check out their blog for more details.

By |February 10th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Google Pushes Ahead With Personalization

Yahoo! Pipes

 

Yahoo! released Yahoo! Pipes and it is an terrific tool especially for a non techie like me. Instead of receiving a dozen feeds on any topic, seo for example, you are able to set up a pipe that will aggregate all seo feeds into one feed. Very cool!

Here is a quote from Yahoo! and a link for more information.

“Pipes […]

By |February 9th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Yahoo! Pipes

Wikia Taking A Run At Google?

An Article on Informationweek.com by K.C.Jones indicates that Wikipedia founder, Jimmy Wales, hopes to launch Search Wiki in a few months. The new search engine will be “built by the masses” and use a traditional ad revenue model.

By |February 9th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Wikia Taking A Run At Google?

MSN Adcenter | All Kinds of Fun Stuff

MSN Adcenter labs provides some interesting and fun tools you can use in your search engine marketing program.

By |February 8th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, Search Engine Academy, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on MSN Adcenter | All Kinds of Fun Stuff

Great Local Search Information

Scott Smith is providing valuable local search information this week with interviews of twenty industry leaders. A must read for you local search  maniacs.

By |February 7th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Great Local Search Information

Google’s New Link Reporting Tools

Google’s official webmaster blog now recommends using Google webmaster tools to view a much larger sample of links to your pages.

You have to verify your own site but it is an easy process.

By |February 6th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Google’s New Link Reporting Tools

Yahoo! Launches New Ranking Model

Yahoo! launched their new ranking model designed to improve user results through higher quality search ads.

Top spots won’t go to the highest bidder any longer. A combination of click through rate and bid amount will determine positioning.

 

By |February 5th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Yahoo! Launches New Ranking Model

Should You Submit Your Site To Search Engines?

There are many ways for search engines to “find” your web site.

Manual submission is a frequently used method, but considering the fact that over 90% of submissions to search engines is spam, why would you choose that route?

Put on the search engine’s shoes for a moment. Wouldn’t you consider everything spam, and put the onus on the submitted sites […]

By |February 2nd, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Should You Submit Your Site To Search Engines?

Yahoo! Canada : Sponsors Search Engine Academy Toronto Seminars

Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Wednesday, January 31 2007

Last night at a Yahoo! Canada event in Toronto, Yahoo! Search Marketing Canada announced (along with their new YSM – Panama – platform in Canada) that they are sponsoring two Search Engine Academy seminars.

The 3 hour seminars – a morning and afternoon session – will be held in Toronto in mid February.

Yahoo […]

By |February 1st, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, Search Engine Academy, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Yahoo! Canada : Sponsors Search Engine Academy Toronto Seminars

Link Building Strategies

I don’t know about you but whenever I hear the term link building, I envision a mysterious practice that only the top level SEOs can provide.

The fact is that link building is simply a process that anyone can do. All you need is a plan that includes article marketing, directory submissions, press releases and fresh content for your site […]

By |January 30th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Link Building Strategies

Pay Per Click Advertising – Google, Yahoo! and MSN

Need help getting started with pay per click advertising? Here are links to sign-up pages to the big 3 search engines.

Google Adwords

Yahoo! Search Marketing

MSN

By |January 26th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Pay Per Click Advertising – Google, Yahoo! and MSN

Comscore December Search Results

The more things change….

Google and Yahoo! gained market share in December compared to November searches while MSN lost ground.
Engine Searches Market Share Up / Down
Overall 6.7 billion
Google 3.2 billion   47.3% […]

By |January 25th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Comscore December Search Results

What Is Search Engine Optimization All about?

Here is a new article on the basics of search engine optimization. The article includes several options to get you started.

By |January 24th, 2007|Categories: SEM, SEO||Comments Off on What Is Search Engine Optimization All about?

The Benefits of Search Engine Marketing

Levels The Playing Field – Always wanted to take on the big boys/girls?  Any business can use Pay Per Click (PPC) and be set up in 15 minutes or in a few days, depending on the search engine. It’s easy to set up and just as simple to turn off.

Control – Yes, for all you control freaks out there, […]

By |January 23rd, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on The Benefits of Search Engine Marketing

Fantastic Opportunity For New SEO Clients

Think about it; what more could you ask for?

Yellowpages.com’s list of their top 10 category searches for December provides you with an abundance of local clients you should be hitting on.
Restaurants
Hotels
Pizza
Florist
Dentist
Post Office
Banks
Hospitals
Physicians
Movie Theaters

Search Yellowpages.com for a heading of your choice.
Print out the first results page.
Check out the advertiser’s website to see if he needs seo help.

I just searched dentists […]

By |January 22nd, 2007|Categories: SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Fantastic Opportunity For New SEO Clients

Toronto Search Engine Optimization Training Course Dates Confirmed

We are excited to announce (and demand dictates) that the next Search Engine Academy Toronto SEO Training Courses will be held from March 26-30 2007 in Oakville (Toronto) Ontario.

Remember, seating is limited to 25 students, our last SEO Course was Sold Out, to avoid disappointment register early.

These classes are Workshops not seminars. You will work hands-on, in the class […]

By |January 19th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, Search Engine Academy, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Toronto Search Engine Optimization Training Course Dates Confirmed

SEO Jobs: They are out there! So you should be in here…

Just before the New Year a head-hunter representing one of Canada’s major ad agencies called me looking for 15 of our Search Engine Academy SEO Workshop graduates to work in Montreal.

Already this year, another firm told us they are having a hard time to find qualified individuals to work in Toronto.

As suppliers of High Quality Search Engine Optimization and […]

By |January 18th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, Search Engine Academy, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on SEO Jobs: They are out there! So you should be in here…

The Convergence of Media

If you are still hesitating about attending our next workshop; Get With The Program!

SEO is not going anywhere. In fact , I believe all media will eventually be search driven. Media companies who want to remain at the forefront of their industries will embrace search in all its formats. They will need your SEO skills.

SEO may very well play […]

By |January 16th, 2007|Categories: Articles, Internet Marketing, Search Engine Academy, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on The Convergence of Media

Blogging Power

Here is another example of blogging power provided by a recent student. His blog is focused on  selling intangibles (like SEO). He uses a wordpress free blog to get his message out.

By |January 15th, 2007|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||1 Comment

Do They Want Fresh Coffee or Cold Coffee?

This time of year you want Fresh Hot Coffee – well in Montreal anyway…a hot sunny July day is another story and that seems far far away.

What about the visitors to your site?

Many of us SEOs know this…
You must offer them new, fresh, and if you can HOT content. Do you expect them to come back to time […]

By |December 8th, 2006|Categories: Articles, Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||1 Comment

“No food tastes as good as thin feels”

How’s that for a catchy title?!

There’s tons of talk, and article after article, about the importance that articles play in Internet or Search Engine Marketing. And it is just that. Very important.

But isn’t it equally important to have your articles read?! None other than Robin Nobles, of Search Engine Workshops, thinks so and recently wrote “Article […]

By |December 1st, 2006|Categories: Articles, Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on “No food tastes as good as thin feels”

November SEO Workshop in Toronto gets top rankings!

Well we had a great time at the November SEO Workshop in Oakville (Toronto)!

Based on the feedback we’ve had, the students found the wealth of information they learned powerful and relevant. They enjoyed the learning experience too.

For those of you who attended, we thank you, it was a pleasure meeting you in person and working with you for the […]

By |November 30th, 2006|Categories: Internet Marketing, Search Engine Academy, SEM, SEO||1 Comment

Google SiteMaps Unites The Big Three!

Google, MSN and Yahoo! agree to work together on SiteMaps!

The big three announced SiteMaps.org, where you can review the latest SiteMaps version and instructions for adhering to it. CBRonline has the whole story.

By |November 17th, 2006|Categories: Internet Marketing, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Google SiteMaps Unites The Big Three!

Advanced SEO Workshop Day 1: The Morning Break Has Just Ended

Today the Advanced students joined those who just participated in the 2-Day Basic Essentials SEO Workshop. Among them is a whole row from WSI!

Earlier this morning John Alexander showed the group the secrets to finding incredibly hot keywords using Word Tracker.

The group is now working on their laptops to identify keywords of their own…can you say “new revenue stream?”

By |November 15th, 2006|Categories: Internet Marketing, Search Engine Academy, SEM, SEO||Comments Off on Advanced SEO Workshop Day 1: The Morning Break Has Just Ended