June 2010

In this issue:

From the Editor:

Happy Summer! Oh, the lazy days of summer. For some of us it's a slower time at work. This is a great time to re-evaluate your marketing and make adjustments where it's needed.

When was the last time you reviewed your website? Have your business or marketing goals changed? If so, is this reflected in your website? Hmm, maybe it's time to make some updates!

If you're not getting the results you want from your Internet marketing, there could be many reasons for it. But maybe you haven't targeted the right keywords to optimize your site around. This months article gives some great insights into search behavior. Maybe this will help you think about the keywords you've targeted in your content.

As always, remember to Surf Safely - use your anti-virus and firewall's!

- Michelle

“I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." Bill Cosby

"New Insights into Search Behavior "

Want to know what's being searched for on Google over the past week? Imagine plotting on a graph what terms were being searched over the previous year, or by a specific date range?

This is where Google Insights for Search comes in. Using this very handy tool, you can find out what are trending topics in search terms, or how a particular SEO term you've been targeting is currently tracking. You can even filter according to your country or specific area to see what local Google users are searching.

For example, last week I was looking at search terms for "web design," when I noticed that "web designer" is in the top 10 related terms. Maybe I should consider using that phrase in my website.

If you own an ecommerce business, you could use this tool to anticipate spikes of interest in important holidays or events, such as Christmas or Easter. For example, if you sell sports equipment, you might consider starting a campaign around soccer's World Cup (FIFA).

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Wacky Web Week

The sincerest form of feathery flattery

This is the craziest bird I've ever seen! Can you imagine having this thing in your yard!

Listen as this Australian lyrebird imitates the many sounds of local zoo construction. It might make you listen extra-closely to the little sounds around you! Play the video

Just for Fun or Useful Links

What would you do for a fiver?

Recently I heard about a unique service that allows people to sell a service they offer, or buy an item they want, for five dollars. This sounds similar to what eBay does, until you see the listings of what people are offering.

The aptly named Fiverr features some fairly crazy suggestions: going to the movies with you, writing your business name on their forehead, sticking your logo on their bicycle and riding it every day for a month, and tweeting a message of your choice (presumably promoting your service or company) -- all for five dollars.

When I first looked I thought little of the website, but a couple of months later, the site has certainly gained in popularity, with thousands of offers and transactions having occurred.

The process I found to be simple: you sign up and offer to purchase a service; the site then sends you emails to let you know when the seller accepts the work, and the work begins or finishes.

The site takes a commission of one dollar from every sale. It may sound minimal, until you realize the volume of sales happening through the website.

What may have seemed a crazy idea at the time is certainly working for the owners, Shai Wininger and Micha Kaufman. It's another great example of innovation in a supposedly full marketplace of freelance and crowd-sourcing websites.

http://www.fiverr.com

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