Convert or Die Blog by Darwin Hall

Interesting information about Yahoo’s spending habits.

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… Rank: wait… Traffic: wait… Price: wait… C: wait…

Google

I started seeing Google indexing flash text in it’s proper context; just like any indexable document. Since Google seems to always be in constant performance improvement (mad scientist) mode.  We have seen many additions to Google’s  functionality and user interface.  TheGoogle Filing System caffeine updates and the natural progression to indexing all useful content (Flash vector graphics, as well as semantic decoding of video and sound) is part of a much larger initiative to improve human communication. Google and others are working to improve life for the world; Let’s make the web faster.

Not only is Google working with the FCC to utilize “white space” for better Internet connections, but they are also working to make energy usage more efficient; Checkout Google PowerMeter.

Are you feeling the paradigm shift? Checkout Epic Googlezon Theory video.

PubCon is the mecca of all search engine marketing events world wide. After being in the SEM field for a while you begin to expect a little repetitive information when attending SEM conferences. But I have to say that PubCon was the best conference I’ve ever been to. Plus the fact that it’s in Vegas added to the vibe. If you decide to attend only one search engine marketing event next year, you will definitely want to go and hang with the PubCon folks. It doesn’t get any better.

BlendTec's George Wright shows their blenders are more than just hype. It blended this rake in 5 seconds flat.

Me an Bill Hunt. (Wrote the Enterprise SEM bible - Search Engine Marketing Inc.)

Here I am hanging with Alex, Damien and Noam - A few of the world's best web marketers. I also had the pleasure of hangin with Matt and Chris (picture not available)

I’d like to give a shout out to some of the good folks I met at PubCon Vegas

• Christoph C. Cemper - Cemper.com Internet Marketing Services
• Todd Keup - Magnifisites Web & Graphic Design
• Aris Vrakas - eRubix Online Marketing & SEO
• Etala Ivkovic - Dragon Search Search Engine marketing services
• Jeffrey Marek - LinkWorth Search Engine Marketing
• Damien Anderson - Oki-ni.com
• Wil Reynolds - Seer Interactive Serach Engine Optimzation Agency
• Peter De Rosa - Web Marketer Halogen Software
• James Cucchiara - Stylin Online T-Shirts
• Christian Vuong - WPromote Online Advertising
• Bill Hunt - Global Strategies Serach Marketing Consultancy
• Marta Phillips - Sun Grubbies Sun Protective Clothing
• Noam Judah - Top Rankings Search Engine Optimisation

Certain things receive minimal credit with me. If I’m e-mailed a chain letter entitled, “Forward this to 3 other people so you’ll have a good day”, or something like that. I will simply ignore it. Why You ask why?! Well, because I’m not superstitious.

I feel the same when someone sends me an article in an attempt to make a point. For instance, told a client their websites navigation was broken. And their directory structure was a tragedy. As far as usability goes, broken thought architecture from beginning to end. Very few links on the site navigation traveled to information relative to the visitor’s root wants. Close to 65% of traffic from the front page bounced. To make things worst the average page view was seven. Which tells me right away that targeted search traffic is having a hard time finding what it wants.

My recommendation was to utilize an solid site structure. Unfortunately this recommendation was met with resistance from their web department.

Because my recommendation was data-driven using sound SEO techniques and 11 years experience driving targeted traffic I don’t think they could find a valid augment to counter the facts. So what did they do? They emailed the stakeholders an article about how Web Redesign is a bad strategy.

In any case, the article was not against redesign in general. It was referring to is when current sites process development responsible for the unoptimized state.

Being Critical

But on a brighter note, the beautiful thing about being a web marketer is having the opportunity to tap into my natural tendencies to be critical about the formation of data into information. My goal is never make assumptions about what will and will not work online. Instead allow the data to tell the story.

The Internet God’s will honor your obedience.

Never count the cost for success, but make it a point to revel in the glory of victory.*Convert traffic or Die trying* ~Darwin Hall - 2008