Most online businesses fall into one of three SEO buckets. Those who have no SEO strategy, those who have a poor SEO strategy and those who trust idiots to handle their SEO for them. If you have no SEO strategy then it might be worth tapping into the greatest source of free, targeted traffic in the history of commerce. If … Read More
The danger of knowing it all
Scene 1 – “been there, done that”: CEO: So what can you do for us? Me: I’ll keep it brief. We bring targeted traffic to your website. Then we make sure that more of your visitors convert. CEO: Hmmm. How do you do bring more traffic? Me: We start with Google. We make sure that your website is optimised both … Read More
The greatest copyright notice – ever
Hyperbole and a Half is as far as you can get from the bog-standard blog (blog standard?), and it’s more or less the opposite of my chosen type of reading. But it’s wonderful. It’s original, inspired, and it makes me laugh. Anyone who has ever had a completely insane dog will relate to Wild Animal (The Simple Dog Goes for a … Read More
Skype Premium? You’re probably not interested.
As a long-term user of Skype, I’ve grown to depend on it. I use it daily for video conferencing (work and family), and for making cheap international phone calls when I’m travelling. I was therefore interested to see what a Skype Premium account would offer. Nothing. I don’t have any need for group video, I already have a webcam, and … Read More
Google remarketing won’t work for you
When I was in Beijing a few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of visiting one of the markets that sells a wide range of goods at “too good to be true” prices. Here’s the script of what generally happens. I walk past a stall selling questionably-authentic designer handbags. Seller: [LOUD] Hello Sir, want to buy a designer handbag? Me: … Read More
Describe what you sell in five words
If you sell software, you probably tell people you meet that you’re a software developer or a programmer. If you tell someone who’s interested in what you sell you talk more about what it does. Today’s challenge is a simple one. Describe what you sell in five words or less.
If 1% of the world’s Excel users bought our add-in
Every few months someone sends me their business plan and asks how we might work together. Most of them are interesting. Yet every now and then the plan contains something along the following lines: Vision and optimism are essential when launching a business, but so is realism.
Back from China
I’m back, I’m tired, and I’m swamped with email. Business will resume shortly.
Me and 22,000,000 people in Beijing
Last year I was invited to speak at a Digital River conference in Shanghai. Not surprisingly, I had no idea that I was going to get trapped by an Icelandic ash cloud. Tomorrow I leave for another DR event in China, this time in Beijing. I have no idea what the banner says, but sincerely hope it has nothing to … Read More
Q: Why is Google AdWords so complicated?
A/Q: Why do you think? Everyone knows that Google make most of their money from AdWords. And anyone who uses AdWords knows that it’s a seriously powerful system. Like many powerful systems, it has a lot of options. Here’s where I get to the point. Almost every single default is in Google’s favour and not yours. A new campaign will … Read More
