| LED Digest 2647: SEO Myths |
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The LED Digest Moderated Discussion List "Effective Online Advertising, Since 1997" Data > Information > Knowledge > Wisdom http://www.AudetteMedia.com : the LED's Publisher Boutique Internet Marketing: SEO, SEM, Social Media http://www.SEOToolSet.com/training/ : the LED's Premier Sponsor Bruce Clay's Search Engine Optimization Training & Certification ================================================== List Moderator: Published by: Adam Audette LED Digest adam, led-digest.com http://www.led-digest.com .............................................. May 16, 2008 Issue no. 2647 .............................................. .....IN THIS DIGEST..... ==== CONTINUING ================= --== "Delivered" Packages not Received ==-- ~ Scott Marino "UPS's cost is higher, but reliability comes with it." ~ Fred Kelley "Surprisingly, there are ways to find the packages." ~ Tom Mahoney "My aim here is not to self-promote..." --== SEO Standards ==-- ~ Dan Thies "The myth of the search engines 'constantly changing the rules' is the only thing that *never* changes in SEO." ~ John Merrell "SEO is the result of artful experience and constantly adapting methodology." --== Ad Networks for Newbies ==-- ~ Maty Matyszak "[WMW] has taught me more about online advertising than the rest of the net put together." ~ Grant Osborne "You may only need to look at Google's Adsense." ======== CONTINUING =============================== From: Scott Marino Subject: Shipments > Every so often we have a package, sent by > USPS, which has been scanned as having been > delivered, and yet the recipient says that > they did not receive it. - Nancy Schettler, LED 2645 - http://www.led-digest.com/content/view/2060/190/ I have been retailing online for 9 years now and have shipped well over 250,000 packages. For the problem you are referring to, the USPS's delivery confirmation (not tracking) is not what most would call a robust error-proof service. Some mail carriers scan the package as they deliver them, some scan it in their truck and some scan it in postal facility before they even start their route. In the last 2 cases, there is much room for error for the package not really getting to the right location. For the overall shipping cost, including the delivery confirmation charge, they do a good job as almost all packages get there. The problem comes in when the package does not get there. As Nancy wrote, most USPS shipments end up being for the lower cost merchandise and are self-insured (meaning uninsured). I just padded the shipping a little to cover the losses and wrote the few lost ones off. I'd stall for time, because many times they would appear days later (probably the person who received the package not addressed to them finally got around to giving it to the right home). I made a business decision with my newest venture regarding shipping. When faced with how to get orders to the end customer, for me it came down to 2 carriers, UPS and USPS. I ruled out DHL for having too small a network and FedEx Ground for similar reasons. In my last company, we averaged what I would term the "problem rate" for packages. That included any communication from a customer related to shipping. For the USPS, it was around 3% of all orders. Mostly it was a "where is my package" question as many customers did not understand that delivery confirmation did not include "in-transit" scans and was only confirmation of delivery. For UPS, the problem rate was well below 1% as the in-transit scans and tracking information keeps the customer up-to-date on their shipments. UPS's cost is higher, but reliability comes with it. I made the business decision to not offer USPS as a shipping option. I looked at the cost of the time wasted with answering the same "where is my package" question and the inevitable "I didn't get my package" complaints, the self insured replacement costs and the credit card chargebacks that don't recognize USPS delivery confirmation as proof of delivery. Those hidden costs offset the savings in shipping for me to a significant degree. I only offer UPS as a shipping option. Yes, I charge a little more for it, but the complaints are almost none. In the last 15,000 packages shipped with UPS, I have had 4 totally lost packages, 6 damages and 3 mis-deliveries. UPS paid on all the claims because they were all insured. For the handful of chargebacks, I have not lost a single one as they recognized UPS's tracking as proof of delivery. It's all a matter of economics as to which works best for each business. Looking at the "other" costs like customer questions that have to be answered, the cost of replacing lost merchandise and the lost chargebacks, the USPS is less of a bargain than simply cheaper rates. With UPS, you can always ask for an incentive (discount) plan as your volume grows. I'm sure some will have different experiences, I'm only sharing mine... Regards, Scott Marino TieDyeMania.com LittleJammies.com -------- new post - same topic -------- From: Fred H. Kelley Subject: Shipments We've experienced this problem with USPS as well. Surprisingly, there are ways to find the packages. We have a canned email we send to customer whenever they email us about a missing package that shows as delivered. We ask them if another family member or person in the office may have received the package. I remember on one occasion, the customer's wife had received the package, wrapped it up, and put it under the Christmas tree without telling him. The email also asks customers to check with their leasing office or front desk if packages may be left there. We also ask customers to check with next door neighbors, especially in apartment settings, where doors or mailboxes are close together. Often, this helps locate the package. Finally, when all else fails, and when the value of a package warrants the effort, we actually call the local post office that delivered the package and explain the problem. The person you talk to will normally need the delivery address and the delivery confirmation number. They will then contact the carrier for that specific address, to see if the carrier can help figure out what happened to the package. On several occasions, this has helped us locate packages. Recently, when a package went missing, we were able to determine that the mail carrier put the package in an abandoned car in the customer's front yard because it was raining! I personally talked to the carrier, so we were able to resolve the problem quickly and satisfactorily. In all cases, we do assume that the customer is being honest, and if packages can't be located, it is our responsibility to send a replacement. We require a signature on replacements. Fred Kelley http://www.quitsmoking.com -------- new post - same topic -------- From: Tom Mahoney Subject: Shipments My aim here is not to self-promote, but you might want to take a look at http://www.merchant911.org. We're a merchant member-only (but no fee) group of 3700 merchants that have seen it all and share information. You'll also find a searchable database with over quarter million records related to fraud prevention for on-line merchants. Tom Mahoney, Founder & Director merchant911.org -------- new post - new topic -------- From: Dan Thies Subject: SEO standards > Those controlling the search engines > changes are not revealing the detailed and > fundamental workings, nor when and how they > will change. So I'm not surprised that Al > cannot find a nice clean, clear explanation > of how to do the best optimization. I think > there will always be room for confusion and > debate on the precise interaction of this > soup of constantly changing factors. - Michael Linehan, LED 2646 - http://www.led-digest.com/content/view/2061/190/ The myth of the search engines "constantly changing the rules" is the only thing that *never* changes in SEO. However, it's not as if what you need to implement on a web site is changing so quickly that it can't be written down. As I sit here, ~38 hours from the release of the 2008 edition of SEO Fast Start (still free), giving it one last read before we call it done, I am struck by how little has changed in the past seven years, for those who aren't trying to game the search engines. Other than edits for clarity, and pointing to a few new tools, there's nothing really "new" to add since last May, when the 2007 edition was published. Dan Thies http://www.seofaststart.com -------- new post - same topic -------- From: John Merrell Subject: SEO standards Regarding Al Tolman's "rant", I couldn't agree more. Reminds me of the old joke. B.S. = Well, we all know what BS is... M.S. = More of the same Ph. D. = Piled higher and deeper SEO is the result of artful experience and constantly adapting methodology. It doesn't come from book learnin', and certification would be obsolete before it was issued... John Merrell http://www.gatewayalpacas.com -------- new post - new topic -------- From: Maty Matyszak Subject: Ad networks > Can anyone suggest some great resources for > learning about ad networks? - Barrett J. Rossie I'll join what I suspect will be several others in recommending a look at webmasterworld.com. Together with LED this site has taught me more about online advertising than the rest of the net put together. It is particularly relevant since after you have read up on ad networks in general, you are probably going to want to focus your attention on one network in particular, and wmw has forums for each. Maty Matyszak www.knowyourcat.info -------- new post - same topic -------- From: Grant Osborne Subject: Ad networks You may only need to look at Google's Adsense. Take a look at PlentyofFish.com, they took an established paid-for model (dating site) and monetized it with just Adsense instead of user subscriptions. It is one of the most popular dating sites and generates large amounts of revenue (with just one employee too). Grant Osborne http://www.basenotes.net (c) Copyright 1995-2008 Orange Wheel, LLC. All Rights Reserved. ----------------------------------------------------------------- "I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life." - Abraham Lincoln |
