==================================================
bCentral Daily Digest
Moderated Discussion List
"Effective Online Advertising"
==================================================
List Moderator: Supported by:
Adam Audette bCentral
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
http://www.bcentral.com/
..................................................
January 2, 2002 Digest #1238
..................................................
.....IN THIS DIGEST.....
==== CONTINUING ==================
-=Quality Affiliate Programs=-
~ David Lazar
"I think [affiliate programs] will only work when you
match your site with a highly matched affiliate..."
-=Who to Use for Search Optimization?=-
~ Shari Thurow
"I think search engine visibility is truly the goal..."
-=Frequency a Word is Searched=-
~ Sandy Galvin
"We've noticed similar oddities in regard to certain
search terms on Overture and elsewhere..."
~ Steven C. Slawin
"I prefer the Wordtracker service for finding...a more
'realistic' look at search word frequency."
~ Tom Campbell
"I have a possible explanation [on 'weird'
search word statistics]..."
==== GEEK TIPS ===================
-=Reminder Software=-
~ Rinaldo Swayne
~ Julie Linhart
==== BILLBOARD ===================
-=SEO for Canadians?=-
~ Marc Lefrancois
-=Spam Filtering=-
~ Rosemarie Wise
~ Steve Donohue
==== CONTINUING ==================================
From: David Lazar <info[AT]lazworld[DOT]com>
Subject: Quality affiliate programs
> We have space on our website where we would like to
> place banner advertising... [Any good experiences] with
> any of the many affiliate programs out there...?
- John Richardson, Daily 1236
Last week John asked about affiliate programs -- I think they will
only work when you match your site with a highly matched affiliate,
even then -- if you have low traffic you will not make money. Most
affiliate programs fail for the merchant and the affiliate; with a
failing affiliate program the merchant still makes out by getting
free impressions, clicks, and branding. However, the ones that
succeed have several things in common:
1. The merchant finds affiliates that are willing to sell their
product. Amazon is an example because it has the most affiliates
and it leads all retail sites in the number of links to its site.
People like selling books.
2. 90% of the revenue is generated by 10% of the affiliates. While
it may be 80-20 for some, merchants tend to cater to the 10% that
make the sales.
3. The merchant must arm the affiliate with the necessary images
and offers to spark an interest and cause an action.
It would be my suggestion to sell a sponsorship in that space. A 1
year sponsorship should generate guaranteed revenue while you get
no promises or guarantees with the affiliate programs. If you
chose to go with an affiliate program look for one that pays you
per click, this way you are assured to get something for your space.
Thanks,
David Lazar
Lazworld.com Inc.
http://www.lazworld.com
Comment?
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
?Subject=Quality-affiliate-programs';
document.write( '' );
document.write( addy_text63446 );
document.write( '<\/a>' );
//-->\n This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
------- new post - new topic -------
From: Shari Thurow <shari[AT]grantasticdesigns[DOT]com>
Subject: Search Services
I have been following the discussion thread on search engine
optimization (SEO) and the search services with great interest. I
don't know if this group is aware of this, but some of the
contributions to this discussion have come from some of the most
respected SEO experts in the field. So even if you disagree with
their posts, I recommend saving that particular copy of the Daily
Digest because I know how well many of these people have researched
and tested their results. Tested results over time are far more
reliable than individual, personal experiences.
I wanted to comment on search engine rankings vs. traffic. Many
SEO firms place high importance on top 10 rankings, and
understandably so since many sites get considerably more traffic
when their site is at the top. However, based on my experience
(not my personal experience, my experience with all of my clients'
sites since 1995), top listings do not necessarily mean top
qualified leads or sales. Many businesses get bogus inquiries when
their sites are listed in the top 10. These bogus inquiries
usually add up to wasted time and effort. So a top 10 result is
not always the ultimate goal.
I think search engine visibility is truly the goal, delivering
regular, qualified traffic over time. That does not necessarily
mean that a site is always in the top 10. Qualified leads can come
from a position #50, and bogus inquiries can come from a #1
position. The idea is to determine the best balance.
Some sites will get the best results from being in a top 10
position. Those sites will have to work harder at building
search-engine friendly pages that their target audience responds to
since all of the search engines use popularity as an algorithm
component. Some sites will get the most qualified leads from being
in positions 11-30 because many of the bogus inquiries will be
eliminated. I have never worked on an SEO campaign where the end
results were identical. Every business is different.
What an optimization campaign allows you to do is determine the
words, layout, design -- in other words web pages -- that deliver
the best results. You will then know how to continue building and
tweaking your web site to best accommodate your target audience.
This is what I think the true value of an SEO campaign is.
Take care,
Shari Thurow, Webmaster/Marketing Director
http://www.grantasticdesigns.com/tips.html
Comment?
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
?Subject=Search-services';
document.write( '' );
document.write( addy_text78185 );
document.write( '<\/a>' );
//-->\n This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
------- new post - new topic -------
From: Sandy Galvin <sandy[AT]pla-net[DOT]net>
Subject: Search word frequency
> The Overture search term suggestion tool was
> recently recommended. I would suggest extreme
> caution in using the numbers it provides.
- Derek Andrews, Daily 1237
We've noticed similar oddities in regard to certain search terms on
Overture and elsewhere (Findwhat, Sprinks, etc.). In some cases, I
think this can be attributed to small SE affiliates that actually
try to generate fees by clicking on their own search terms.
In my experience, Overture and the others are sympathetic to
complaints about this, but it takes constant monitoring to detect,
and I've never had any of these services volunteer an instance
where I was getting illegitimate hits. Since this seems to occur on
high price terms it can be exceptionally irritating.
Sandy Galvin
http://www.barclaywoods.com
Comment?
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
?Subject=Search-word-frequency';
document.write( '' );
document.write( addy_text91708 );
document.write( '<\/a>' );
//-->\n This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
------- new post - same topic -------
From: Steve Slawin <scslawin[AT]yahoo[DOT]com>
Subject: Search word frequency
> Overture's Search Term tool claims... 1,271
> searches for the phrase "candy fundraising"...
- Deane Brengle, Daily 1237
It would seem that many of those 1,271 searches are likely due to
automated bid management software that queries Overture on a
frequent basis. A bidder with such software running on their
machine 24 hours a day for a month, set to check the bids every 40
minutes, would run up over 1,000 searches for that keyword.
I prefer the Wordtracker service ( http://www.wordtracker.com ) for
finding what I would consider a more "realistic" look at search
word frequency. As an example, I entered Deane's "candy fundraiser"
at Wordtracker and it reported 63 searches on that exact phrase and
its derivitives over the past 60 days -- much closer to the actual
result at Google.
Steven C. Slawin
Don't Overpay at Overture!
http://www.positionguardian.com
Comment?
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
?Subject=Search-word-frequency';
document.write( '' );
document.write( addy_text91708 );
document.write( '<\/a>' );
//-->\n This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
------- new post - same topic -------
From: Tom Campbell <tac[AT]10w40[DOT]com>
Subject: Search word frequency
A number of people have commented on "weird" search word
statistics. I have a possible explanation.
After studying what words people use to buy auto and truck parts, I
noticed that many of the Overture results included the term
"accessories" in high ranking word combinations. We all know that
few people write in the whole word "accessories" when looking for
much of anything.
But, if you do searches for "auto parts" on the normal Overture
search page that most people use, you'll notice that the left
column includes suggested alternate searches ("auto
accessories"). I think these are purchased keywords, or parts or
purchased phrases. I would guess that a lot of people click these
links if they don't find what they want in their search results.
My guess is that clicks on these links are also included in the
inventory reports as searches. That's how words like Auto
Accessories get high "search counts" even though people rarely type
these actual words in for searches.
Tom Campbell
Comment?
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
?Subject=Search-word-frequency';
document.write( '' );
document.write( addy_text91708 );
document.write( '<\/a>' );
//-->\n This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
==== GEEK TIPS ====================================
From: Rinaldo Swayne <rswayne440[AT]mediaone[DOT]net>
Subject: Reminder software
> Can anyone recommend good reminder software?
> I want to add a reminder service to my site for my
> customers to use.
- Carolyn Patrick, Daily 1232
Our company is currently using an excellent free reminder service
from Candor Webtech. You can see it at our website (URL below).
Candor maintains everything for you. All your visitors have to do
is select when they want to be reminded. It is even password
protected.
Options include reminder on the same day as the date selected up to
2 weeks before the selected date and reminders can be sent once
only or yearly if selected. There is a reminder help page and
reminders can be added or listed as selected.
Rinaldo Swayne
http://www.gifts4lessatswaynes.com
Comment?
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
?Subject=Reminder-software';
document.write( '' );
document.write( addy_text12322 );
document.write( '<\/a>' );
//-->\n This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
------- new post - same topic -------
From: Julie Linhart <Crazyinks[AT]aol[DOT]com>
Subject: Reminder software
Carolyn,
I too was in search of reminder software. I came across one that
is offered through Constant Contact (
http://www.constantcontact.com ). I have not used it yet as I am
waiting until my site redesign is done, but you may want to check
it out.
Julie Linhart
http://www.giftbasketboutique.com
Comment?
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
?Subject=Reminder-software';
document.write( '' );
document.write( addy_text12322 );
document.write( '<\/a>' );
//-->\n This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
==== BILLBOARD ====================================
From: Marc Lefrancois <marclefrancois[AT]videotron[DOT]ca>
Subject: SEO for Canadians
> There's a place just north of the United States called
> Canada, and we are having a terrible time understanding
> where to submit our sites.
- Victor Simone, Daily 1237
You may want to try the following:
English:
http://www.yahoo.ca (which run separately than yahoo.com)
http://www.msn.ca (could be the same, although not sure)
http://www.sympatico.ca (search engine - sympatico-lycos, but
completely different than Lycos)
http://www.canada.com
http://www.altavista.ca
French:
http://www.toile.com
Let me know if you need more ideas...
Marc Lefrancois
Comment?
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
?Subject=Canada-SEO';
document.write( '' );
document.write( addy_text92014 );
document.write( '<\/a>' );
//-->\n This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
------- new post - new topic -------
From: Rosemarie Wise <rosie[AT]tiggys.co[DOT]uk>
Subject: Spam filtering
> One company I used to host with claimed that they were
> able to filter spam... THAT is something I would pay extra
> for! Anything's better than being forced to delete 90% of
> my email.
- Carol O'Leary, Daily 1236
Regarding Carol's question about Spam filtering, then it really
depends on how things are set up. There are several steps you can
take to minimise the amount of Spam coming to your inbox.
1. Use the filters provided by the domain host to filter out the
Spam (if available). I can't say I know how this works (i.e. the
software in use and how effective it is), but I suspect they would
use the mail blacklists that are available.
2. Use SpamCop. I get SpamCop to pick up the mail from all my
mailboxes and have it process them, it will hold back the ones it
thinks I don't want to see (on a blacklist or suspect subject
lines) while allowing normal mail to get through. If any do slip
through it adds a link in the Header of each message for ease of
reporting.
3. Set your mail pre-processing rules (if available). Both my
hosts have IMail installed and it is possible to set it up so that
it can redirect (or delete) any mail that matches the rules you
specify. Having trouble with a particular spammer? Have it look
for a header or something in the message that identifies them.
I use methods 2 and 3 together, as one particular spam mailer
seemed to think I wanted daily information from 2 mailing lists
they claim to run. If I was to lift the pre-processing rules, I
suspect there would be a flood of them... but reporting them
through SpamCop, while it felt rewarding, did little good.
Rosemarie Wise
Web Site Owner's Resource
http://websiteowner.info/
Comment?
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
?Subject=Spam-filtering';
document.write( '' );
document.write( addy_text15903 );
document.write( '<\/a>' );
//-->\n This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
------- new post - same topic -------
From: Steve Donohue <sdonohue[AT]wintercamp[DOT]com>
Subject: Spam filtering
I have a big spam problem too and, since I'm unwilling to change my
email account, it's only getting worse. I fixed it by purchasing
SpamKiller ( http://www.spamkiller.com ). I've been very happy
with it. I use it for POP3, but I believe it is also MAPI
compliant. It applies a wide assortment of built-in and customized
rules to identify spam. I've been using it for two months and it's
been a godsend.
Standard disclaimer: I'm just an extremely happy customer and have
no other relationship with Spamkiller.
Steve Donohue
Comment?
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
?Subject=Spam-filtering';
document.write( '' );
document.write( addy_text15903 );
document.write( '<\/a>' );
//-->\n This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
|
Full Issues 
