23rd January 2009 in Search Marketing
Adwords, Google website optimizer, paid search
In a tough economy, you may be looking for ways to enhance your Google Adwords campaign performance. There are a number of free tools available through Google to help you optimize and enhance your Adwords camp
and improve conversion response. Here are 5 free tools you should be using to improve your Google Adwords campaign.
1. A Smart Tool for Growing Keyword Insight
Great tip: Figure out what keywords you should be geographically targeting within your Adwords campaign by using Google Search Insights.
You’ve probably used keyword tools in the past but Search Insights takes your keyword analysis to a whole new level. You can you compare search volume patterns across locations. Filter your results by category and time frame and get a chart showing keyword interest over time. Zoom in on the map to see location detail. A nice way to improve your geo-targeting efforts and ensure you are focusing on the right local keywords in Adwords.
2. Get More Data by Linking your Google Adwords and Google Analytics Accounts
Be sure to link your Google Adwords account with your Google Analytics account. You’ll be able to optimize your paid search campaign more effectively by having more visibility into website performance and customized reporting. Some of the benefits of linking your Google Adwords account include:
- Access to an abundance of analytics data right within your Adwords account
- See trends like where your visitors are coming from and whether they are converting to your goals and drill down to view by campaign, ad group or keyword.
- See what engagement your visitors are having with your site and what content is most popular, again by drilling down into each campaign, adgroup or keywords.
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20th January 2009 in Social Media
obama, social media
Change has come to Whitehouse.gov – it’s called Web 2.0
Whitehouse.gov launched a facelift today, just as President Barack Obama became our nation’s 44th president.
The newly redesigned site is reminiscent of the transition site: Change.org. The site now offers the first presidential blog,along with a briefing room which will soon contain Obama’s weekly video address, photos, and slideshows.
A blog post on the site reiterates the new administration’s commitment to using new media and promises more communications in the near future:
Millions of Americans have powered President Obama’s journey to the White House, many taking advantage of the internet to play a role in shaping our country’s future. WhiteHouse.gov is just the beginning of the new administration’s efforts to expand and deepen this online engagement.
If you’re interested in grabbing the Whitehouse.gov blog feed, go here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/feed/blog
What do you think of the new site? Perhaps you’ve already forgotten the old administration, and the old site. If so, check theWayback Machine.
Contact ajohns@gracemediaconsulting.com
12th January 2009 in SEO |Social Media
SEO, social media
When it comes to improving your SEO efforts, developing a strong content strategy for social media is an important component.
Relevant, high quality content can be promoted through your social media marketing efforts and may end up making a big impact on your site ranking in search engines.
Here are 3 steps for developing an effective content strategy, leveraging social media, and building high quality links to your site for SEO.
Step 1: Create high quality, keyword-focused blog content
Developing high quality content is the most important element of your social media strategy. Begin by selecting keywords that are most relevant to your industry and to your audience. Then start creating informative blog posts for your audience using those terms.
Keep in mind the following as you begin writing:
- Be helpful and informative as you write your articles. Your readers are looking for relevant content, not a hard sales pitch.
- Don’t forget your headlines. Similar to the keyword ad text you use in paid search, your blog headline needs to grab your reader to get them to want more. Make sure your headline is relevant to the article content and don’t try to trick the reader. Here’s a great post from Copyblogger onHow to Write Magnetic Headlines.
- Almost as important to the headline is your opening paragraph. Put all key information upfront and then elaborate on the details later.
- Include links to other resources online or cite other sources of information that your reader may benefit from.
- Keep it simple. Don’t try to add a lot of irrelevant information to your content that does not serve a purpose.
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In this age of real time syndication and conversational transparency, keeping track of what is being said about you online is important.
