Whether you monitor your keywords by searching for them on Google, using Google Search Console or a tool like Moz, most of us keep an eye on our website’s rankings in Google’s results. Whether we should do so is another matter. Why? Because there are too many ways to get it wrong. It’s pointless to monitor the wrong keywords. And it’s mistaken to … Read More
Selling the uncomfortable to denial
If you sell haemorrhoid treatments, you have a number of problems. Problem 1: Despite haemorrhoids being incredibly common, no-one likes to admit that they have them. Even to themselves. Problem 2: Haemorrhoids really aren’t amusing, yet they’re somehow funny to talk about. Problem 3: Haemorrhoids are associated with a very intimate part of the body, whose main function is to emit poo. Problem 4: Haemorrhoids are often associated with old … Read More
Google declare war on desktop software (for now)
Don’t skim this post. It may affect you – if not today or tomorrow, then at some point. If you sell desktop software through AdWords, you need to be aware of Google’s new stance against your business. Google recently unveiled a new AdWords policy on desktop software, “Unsupported content: free desktop software”. “The AdWords policy on unsupported content will change in April 2015. … Read More
Your AdWords Account – How well is it working?
Each month, your credit card is charged by Google for all the AdWords clicks you’ve received. Each month, you question yourself whether it’s worthwhile, yet there’s a good chance that you’re never able to come to a satisfying conclusion. Google provide some tools for measuring success, such as conversion tracking. But realistically you know that it’s little more than an … Read More
A usefully-sensible guide to mobile and SEO
Google have recently made mobile more important for SEO. Here’s what to do about it. Note: I’ve tried to keep this as brief as possible, but I recommend that you read the whole thing. Skimming may result in a less-than-optimal experience! STEP 1: Don’t panic. You may think that you have the only website that isn’t ready for mobile, but you’re wrong. More … Read More
You may not have to be that much better
Why do Google keep updating Analytics on an ongoing basis? It’s not just about keeping up with new technology, and it certainly goes a lot further than cosmetic changes. So why do they invest an immense number of developer hours into something that is not only free, but has almost no competition? It’s all about tiers. Every market has different levels … Read More
SEO in 2015 – why you need to care
If your business is healthy, you can always find plenty of reasons to leave SEO on your to-do-list for perpetuity. After all, SEO is technical, complicated, time-consuming and potentially dangerous. The SEO industry is full of self-proclaimed gurus whose lack of knowledge can be deadly. There’s the terrifying fact that even if you dabble in SEO in the most gentle … Read More
Google are going to kill conversion tracking – here’s why
If you’re spending on AdWords (or other online ads) then you’re probably paying close attention to conversion rates. Doing so is understandable but flawed. And it may be hurting you and also Google. At risk of oversimplifying how conversion tracking works, a person clicks on your ad, a cookie is placed in their browser, and when they buy your product, this registers as a conversion. Voilà. … Read More
Be quiet and let your data talk
Have you ever got carried away with a bad or impractical idea? In the cold light of day, vision and dreams are poor substitutes for facts. It can be painful. Many times this is down to the massive gap that lies between a dream and a plan. One simple and effective way to transform such ideas is to get rid of words and phrases like think, believe, … Read More
Content in context (all about that words, ’bout that words)
Most people have some expectations of what awaits them when they arrive on a website. On our own site, for example, we primarily provide services related to AdWords and SEO. When I look at the keywords that bring people to our content, there are of course some words and phrases that are less targeted than others, but the majority are relevant to what we … Read More