Microsoft has announced plans to offer a free, ad supported version of Microsoft Office 14 when the software is released next year. Stephen Elop, Microsoft Business Division president, explained the idea behind the free version of Office, which will display ads next to the workspace. “There will be ad-based revenue streams. There’s an opportunity to draw those pirate customers into … Read More
Say no to Pspam
Those of you who’ve been following my Trying to work out how to use Twitter antics will already know that I’m still not 100% convinced. Yet would it surprise you to hear that there is spam in Twitter? Probably not. But this is a different kind of spam. I call it Pspam – pointless spam. This is how it works. … Read More
The secret to 1st position in AdWords
Recently, I came across a website of a supposed “AdWords guru”. Through a screenshot on their website, they prove that they got their customer position #1 on AdWords. I am going to let you in on their secret for free. You don’t even have to sign up for our services. I am going to tell you exactly how to get … Read More
Certification and the competency of deceit
It had to happen. Google yesterday announced the launch of a new skills qualification program: “Google Analytics Individual Qualification (IQ), which allows individuals to demonstrate proficiency in Google Analytics“. SoftwarePromotions is an AdWords Qualified Company, so I don’t want to shoot myself in the foot to make my point. However, as a marketing professional, I have to tip my hat … Read More
Microsoft Testing New Search Engine
Microsoft has confirmed that it is internally testing a new Internet search engine which it has codenamed ‘Kumo’ (Japanese for ‘cloud’ or ‘spider’). At present, Kumo is being tested by Microsoft employees, but the company is hopeful that if all goes well, the search engine could be released for public use by the end of the year. In a leaked … Read More
Drinking, stealing or a bitter failure?
Seth Godin recently wrote a timely reminder about online responsibility. He describes how a friend advertising for a housekeeper Googled three of the applicants, only to discover that one was a binge drinker, one was a bitter failed artist, and the third a convicted shoplifter. He makes the point that anything and everything you do ends up on your permanent … Read More
AdWords Version 3.0?
As you’ve probably heard by now, Google are in the process of shaking up their AdWords system – inside and out. To begin with, they’re now displaying AdWords ads in their News searches. This is more than a little puzzling. First of all, you probably assumed they were already doing so, right? Secondly, you now might be wondering why they … Read More
Trying to work out how to use Twitter
On November 14th, 2008, I posted my first ever tweet: “Trying to work out how to use twitter“. 104 days later, I’m still trying to work out how to use it. But I’m getting there. I keep reading about how vital Twitter is for businesses. Having run a business for more than ten years and a Tweeter account for more … Read More
iPhone or BlackBerry?
We all enjoy convincing our peers that our gadgets/toys/business communication devices are better than theirs. Betamax vs. VHS, IE vs. Netscape, PC vs. Mac, IPAQ vs. Palm and so on. A surprising number of people are nowadays arguing the BlackBerry – iPhone debate, and if you step aside from the bulging-eyed fanatics of each, it’s actually quite interesting to watch … Read More
Good, bad and hmmm
Ever since recently rereading Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, the world appears to have polarised into good and evil. Right and wrong. Politics has become about doing what’s right, wars are declared against tyrants, and countries led by bad men are branded as evil. Businesses have grown to realise that being good not only looks good, it is good. … Read More
