Online Privacy – Fairy Tale?

Posted on February 23, 2012 by freshtraffic

Google has made its missteps in the past few months, there has been a great deal of discussion on the web about the bigger topics. The main point that typically crops up: privacy and security; especially with the latest Safari/cookie gaffe. The fact there isn’t really true privacy online not withstanding, the web isn’t a sandbox, there are options with which to keep some of your interests your own online.

Scroogle used to be a top destination for users who wished to conduct private searches. Recently it has been the target of DDoS attacks and had been throttled by Google and as such the plug has been pulled. Scroogle basically provided a proxy to conduct your searches, so that your search history would at least remain in your control. The most recent player in the privacy game, is DuckDuckGo who made their debut into the search game by comparing how Google tracks your searches, and DuckDuckGo wouldn’t. There are other search alternatives out there as well, which either encrypt your searches, do not create cookies on your computer, or store your search information on it’s servers. Google even provides its own version of encrypted search services when you visit the https version of their site.

Keeping your interests and activity online private is a difficult affair for a trained user of the web, let alone an everyday average user. Multiple forms of websites, from shopping sites to forums, use cookies to track your usage and navigation through their pages. Search engines, not just Google, save and store your search and browsing history for differing periods of time. There isn’t a entirely private way to use and browse the web, and it is an unfounded expectation to be able to.

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Growing Mistrust of Google its downfall?

Posted on February 22, 2012 by freshtraffic

When Google was taken under the leadership of Larry Page, he quickly and decisively pointed the sights of the Google machine on the social target. And in the last few months there have been a few, hiccups, with Googles changes in policy.

The most recent of the snafus to plague Google would be the problem of getting their hands caught in the cookie jar, Safari’s cookie jar to be more precise. Which has also led to a recently launched class action lawsuit against the search giant, who knows where it will end up. There’s also the ongoing discussion of the move to a single privacy policy which Google will use to govern all of it’s online properties and will enable them to more easily share information between them. Page has chosen aggressive tactics by which he hopes to lead the search giant into the social web and into streamlining Google. Recently however, there’s been a murmur of growing mis-trust against the G-machine. The real question is, is it going to be enough to make Google take notice.

With hundreds of millions of searches being conducted everyday, the majority of those running through Google, it would take a big hit to make them notice the loss. With the new privacy policy changes set to come into play very shortly, the drop in use may come in very short order.

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Best Kept SEO Secret

Posted on February 18, 2012 by freshtraffic

Brace yourself, because the biggest, crazeist, most incredible kept secrets of SEO is going to be discussed today. Are you ready to hear what it is: there are SEOs out there who don’t know what SEO is, and there are those who even think that AdWords is SEO.

Shocking I know, but it’s unfortunately true. There are hundreds of people out there, even just in Winnipeg who call themselves SEO experts. And when you sit down and speak with them, it becomes quickly apparent that they may have an idea as to what search engine optimization is. They just don’t quite have the tools, experience, or connections to make the magic happen.

Being an SEO expert is more like a blanket statement as opposed to calling yourself a professional shoe salesman for example. And even if you were an expert shoe salesman, there are still dozens of different styles of shoe which can be worn for any sort of activity, so even in as what may seem as mundane a job as shoe sales, there are intricacies. When it comes to search, there are many different aspects to the game. There are copywriters, who help you generate unique, compelling content for your website. There are people with a skill set in helping you work out site usability issues. Having a high bouce rate on your internal pages, an SEO with a knack for site usability is what you’re needing. Some have a knack for spotting trends as they happen, and some know only what they’ve read in a book or a blog.

Those are the ‘experts’ which comprise the majority of the profession. And at the top end of the spectrum you have the true search experts. We can break down your site and help clean up any messy coding or usability issues. We’ll help you work out your content, work out a clearer call to action and how best to leverage your desired key terms for your best results. And we’ve already picked out the next trending topic in your industry and are working out a strategy with you to capitalize on it. Careful you don’t end up on the wrong end of the SEO line, and end up like poor Dilbert here.

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Microsoft Labels Google As Malware

Posted on February 17, 2012 by freshtraffic

So it’s no secret that Bing and Google aren’t the best of friends, but with Microsoft behind the Bing machine, it was a shock for the web to suddenly find Google labelled as malware.

You may think it’s really not that big of a deal, but it only takes one red flag to turn many novice users away from using any service or website. The mistake has since been ironed out on Microsoft’s end, and Google is no longer labelled as a security risk. Malware is a rather generic term, basically covering any kind of code or software which either steals your private information or messes up your computer enough that you can’t really use it effectively. Unfortunately for those same novice searchers and computer users, malware has another, more inconvenient side.

It should be no surprise that scripters and hackers who work to develop malware, are also tied to the black hat side of the SEO world. Search is a multi-billion dollar a year industry, and being able to sit atop the search results for highly competitive terms for even a few days is a million dollar industry. Many times this is where you’ll find a specific type of malware usually known as ransom software. What happens is when a user clicks on the address of what they innocently think is their top results choice, instead they’re greeted with a popup message usually along the lines of “Your computer is infected – click here to protect your data!” And once that user clicks the button, they’ve been hooked. Once that back door has been opened, it is nefariously difficult to shut. It often leaves you open to backdoor access as well, which the scripter can use to steal your information, or even use your own computer to attack other unsuspecting searchers.

The first step to defending yourself is to have a proper anti-virus product, even a basic one will stop the majority of malware. The second step is to know what you’re seeing when you search. A proper website url will be www.this-is-a-real-site.com/yourresults.html, shown in green below your search results. A strong indication of a hijacked site or possible malware trap is when that address looks like so: www.possibly-malware.com/?p=23466. If you find an address which begins with a query string, there’s a good chance you’re not going to necessarily end up where you’ve hoped.

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Entering New SEO Markets

Posted on February 16, 2012 by freshtraffic

There’s a reason that search engine optimizers are always working, always reading. The internet never sleeps, is always changing and there are thousands of new sites and pages coming online every day. The same is also true of the mobile side of the search world.

When you’ve finally honed your sights on the niche markets you would like to make improvements in, there is a step which even the experts sometimes miss. Once you have your search terms, conduct a cursory search on the terms and make a note of who the top ranked players are. It may seem like basic SEO, but it’s a step often missed, and the benefits are great if you put the time into it.

One of the number one things you can learn by working your competitors site out, is it site construction, or content which has then ahead of you online. If it is site construction which has you down in the results, perhaps it’s time to take a look at your own website. You may be due for a site revamp to bring you up to web standards, which can give you an extra positive mark in search. If it’s your content that’s lacking on your landing or home pages, you’ll be able to begin pinpointing the issue as you peruse the pages of your rivals. Careful though, as tempting as it may be, scraping or copying their content is a very big nono to the search engine gods.

The basics of SEO are overlooked a great deal of the time when working your way up the results pages. Once you’ve examined the sites which are ranking better than yours, it’s time to look within. Navigation, layout, content, and even if your website is up to general web standards. Sticking to the basics of SEO, is your first step to being able to climb the results pages.

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Predicting Search Trends – The Moving Target

Posted on February 15, 2012 by freshtraffic

Valentine’s day, not really a holiday, but people are still out there shopping for that special someone. Some bought their gifts early, or if you’re the average guy you’re out there this afternoon picking up a few last minute things. But whether you’re shopping today, even if you’ve already finished your shopping, have you taken measures to capitalize onthis spending day?

It’s estimated that this year in the US they’ll be hitting the highest in the past 10 years in terms of spending. That includes everything from cards, candy, and flowers, to jewellery and ‘casual’ attire. The biggest spenders – ladies doting on their men who’ve been shopping since January and comprising more than 150% of the search volume. Men haven’t totally been out of the game however, and have even stepped up their play – jewellery and flower delivery searches have grown 10% and 20% respectively. The big step for this year though has been couples massage with 50% growth.

Now numbers are good to see and everything, but how does that break down as a business owner in the real world? On average Google handles 400 million searches per day, and during a shopping holiday like Valentine’s Day, search volumes are temporarily boosted. So if you’re in the jewellery market for example, you’d want to ramp up your SEO at least a couple of weeks before the big day, just to pump up visibility. The days do seem to fly by while you have your nose to the grindstone, but you need to observe how trends are shifting online. Being able to correctly and accurately predict the shifting trends online can mean the difference between lost income, and capitalizing on a gold mine in search.

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Online Privacy – And The Fallacy It Exists

Posted on February 10, 2012 by freshtraffic

The amount of noise being made over Googles new privacy policy, set to come into play in March, is starting to reach a fevered pitch. The most recent noise maker, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) has filed a lawsuit against the FTC in regards to said changes.

Google has come out and admitted they’re making a singular privacy policy which will encompass all of it’s online properties. Google, Gmail, Youtube, Calendar etc, instead of the dozens it currently has active. If you really wanted to take the time to do it, you could click through and read each and every one of those privacy policies, and on the whole you would find they’re all fundamentally the same. But with updating their policy to encompass all of their online services, it makes it simpler for a user to know what information is collected, how it’s collected and when. And if you’re really that paranoid, you don’t even need a Google account to use their services, nor do you need to remain signed in. It isn’t as big of an issue as it’s being made out to be, but everyone has an opinion and everyone has the right to air it.

All of the issues being brought up surrounding the new privacy policy, are somewhat reminiscent of the privacy issues that Facebook seems to have every few months. But the social network which just recently went public, is used for so much more than just data collection. Facebooks targeted ad system is a very good tool, for small businesses looking for local exposure especially, just because of how its ad delivery system works. But, because the network has also aligned itself with government agencies, your information is more accessible than you know. Thinking of smudging the numbers on your tax return? The IRS has unfettered access to search your personal accounts in case something doesn’t add up on their end. Potential employers are starting to add a field for your Facebook profile on your job application, so they can have access to see if you’re truly company material. Even credit companies are getting in on the act, and reducing, or declining credit based simply on where you live, where you shop, or where you travel. Not because of your past history, but because of who you are. And people are getting fussy with Google’s privacy policy?

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Hitting Your Mobile Target

Posted on February 9, 2012 by freshtraffic

The mobile web, it’s where the search volumes are beginning to slowly shift as smart phone and tablet use continues to grow. Estimates are almost double from just a couple of years ago for the growth of mobile search and it’s worth, somewhere north of $8 billion for 2012 was the last estimate I’ve seen floating around online.

There are a few points which you can keep in mind when it comes to maximizing your mobile potential. Make sure to include reviews and testimonials on your site, and make them readily available in mobile searches. You have only a few seconds to grab a surfers attention in the mobile market, you need to put your absolute best foot forward. Another key point to keep in the forefront of your mobile strategy, be sure to leverage attractive images of your business and it’s services. It’s the first thing that draws a users eye to a result, so making it attractive should be top priority.

Something else to keep in mind, one of the most widely watched sports events occured over this passed weekend if you missed it, the Super Bowl. It’s not exactly the most convenient thing in the world to get up out of your seat when you’re in the midst of an exciting game, and Google released some interesting information on the search metrics about the game. Out of all of the searches conducted during the Super Bowl, 41% of them were made using a mobile device. According to Google, “Super Bowl ad related searches in the US rose 200% on desktop, 970% on tablets and a whopping 2700% on smartphones.” If you think those numbers are impressive, couple that with the fact that more than 110 million people in the US alone watched the game and that’s a huge amount of potential mobile searches.

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Year of Online Marketing

Posted on February 4, 2012 by freshtraffic

Money is a great thing, it’s needed for pretty much everything you need or want in this world. There are times to save money, and there are times to spend it. With the new year still fresh, now is the time to spend on your online presence so you can make 2012 your best earning year to date.

Search engine optimization is, for some odd reason, still a largely overlooked advertising expenditure. The internet is the ultimate store front, it never rests, and is always waiting to bring customers to your doors. It takes time, patience, an understanding of your current website and traffic, and what your ultimate goals are to even begin to craft an SEO campaign to implement.

There’s no ‘one size fits all’ version of optimization, as each and every client and website has it’s own unique set of problems. When you’re in the market for SEO, you need to bear that point in mind. If you’re searching for someone truly qualified in the area, there’s a very high chance they won’t have pre-packaged services for you to choose from. There are really 2 main steps when you’re hammering out the details of your costs associated with search engine optimization. The first, and one which affects your cost, is what is it that you’re trying to achieve and what key terms are you interested in. If you’re looking to rule the SERPs on a term which returns tens of millions of pages, your contract will have a steeper cost as opposed to a more niche market. The second step is where the compromising comes into play where terms are concerned.

Working as an SEO, we see the web a bit different than other people do. I know I haven’t browsed or used the internet the same way since I’ve began. Sometimes the keyterms clients choose need some adjustment, and through discussion we decide which route to pursue. It can mean the difference of a page 1 ranking, or a difference of a few thousand dollars in the term of a contract. Our goal in the end, is to bring you all the traffic you can convert, are you ready for the 2012 rush?

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Paid Inclusions in Search?

Posted on February 2, 2012 by freshtraffic

In what seems like a lucrative and exciting idea for any local business, it was announced recently that the possibility to pay for a guaranteed listing may be possible through Google, Bing and Yahoo. On the surface it seems like a great idea, especially for smaller businesses who may not have the time to wait for organic listings to kick in. But as anyone who has been in search engine marketing for more than a few days, the web just can’t work that way.

The idea for the paid inclusions was put forward as a program which was “officially approved” and in “cooperation” with search engines. The release stated:

“Local Paid Inclusion is a Google, Yahoo and Bing contracted service and is offered as an approved official program in cooperation with those search engines.
Local Paid Inclusion promotes a local business’ profile page, like those found in Google Places, Yahoo Local and Bing Local, into a top position on the search result page for up to 30 keywords per profile page.”

The idea was simple, you could simply have your local page, and pay to have it ranked highly within the search results locally. But then, shortly after the news began to spread and be picked up, Bing, who serves Yahoo their results, threw their hat into the ring.

“Bing has no interest in paid inclusion into the local algo that artificially impacts ranking of algo results…”

And as for Google:

“We are not working on any program that enables a site to pay to increase ranking in organic search results.”

The idea that any company is going to guarantee a search result simply makes no sense, and it would be especially tricky in the local space. Local search results change, depending on your province, city and can even be influenced on the time of day.

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