Search Engine Grease

New Website

2011-05-10T16:34:00.000-07:00

Just relaunched my personal blog. I decided to give myself a link from this old blog so here goes.

Ben Briggs

Phoenix Arizona Limousine Service

2009-11-20T14:27:00.000-08:00

Check out AZ Sedan's new website Avondale Limousine Service

New Blogs

2009-11-07T10:28:00.000-08:00

I'm now involved in maintaining a number of blogs. Check them out!

New Motorcycle Videos

Best Snowmobile Videos

Edmonton Real Estate

Search Engine Marketing Doctor

Personal Blog

Portland Heating and Cooling

2009-09-17T16:46:00.000-07:00

Rex Heating and Cooling has launched their new website Portland Heating and Cooling.

Check it out and let me know what you think! View Website

I've updated my homepage Ben Briggs.com so let me know what you think of the new design.

If you liked the last post about on page optimization, then you are probably alone, but that's ok. This week I promise a brief treatise on the importance of off page optimization, aka link building. So stay tuned, and stay classy San Diego.

Google Placement

2009-08-31T21:38:00.001-07:00

In my last post I discussed some of the basics of "on page optimization". Here I will delve a bit deeper into both the mechanics and the benefits of proper HTML content regarding google placement. If you are unfamiliar with HTML you could learn it here or just contact me and I'll handle the details.

For us Google geeks who are still reading, the googlebot likes html. It's simple, straightforward and descriptive. Writing html content into your title, h1-3 tags, and sparingly in your body text, helps Google decide that your content is relevant to the keywords which occupy this valuable web real estate. This relevancy factor is important for both natural and paid search. Meta data, while not to be ignored, has become secondary regarding google placement.

Simple A/B testing proves that the Google quality score for a landing page, will always increase when the keywords on which one is advertising are found in the aforementioned html tags. When running paid search one quickly learns that sites which earn high quality scores achieve higher positions on Google at less cost than their poorer scoring competitors.

Anyone who builds a simple html website targeting uncompetitive keywords on Google will see the effect of this simple on page optimization tactic on natural search. While content and a sound linking strategy are critical to success in competitive organic search markets, even simple websites, with little to no Page Rank Can easily appear in the search engine for highly specific terms.

With billions of people searching Google every day, it has never been more important to appear on Google when your customers are searching for your products. Global Market Exposure offers guaranteed exposure on Google. We have the expertise to determine exactly what people type in when they are at the point of purchase. With advanced tactics like rotating ad text, and landing page optimization, we handle all aspects of successfully generating new business on Google so our clients can focus on running their business.

Check out our new website. Google Placement

Simple free steps to improve your website

2009-08-11T21:36:00.000-07:00

I've put together a bit of information here about title and meta tags which someone may find useful, if he is interested in increasing his google ranking on a specific search or lowering his per click costs on a given keyword. Interested parties should read on.

Title Tag

The title of a website. Whatever you place in the title tag section of your website will appear in the top of a users browser while he is on your site. Since most of us completely ignore that text, your title's real importance is the fact that Google uses the text you place here as an important part of where your website will appear in Google search. Your title tag is also displayed on the first page of Google when your listing is displayed organically. For Google advertisers title tags are even more important. It is possible to obtain higher positioning with lower per click costs if one's title tags are more relevant than those of their competitors.

Forward thinking business owners will use these important pieces of web real estate only for exact searches which their customers are typing into Google. All Global Market Exposure websites come standard with fully Google Compliant Title and Meta Data. Contact our web team to learn about how we can build a state of the art, fully Google compliant website, with an integrated, on-line conversion tracking system.

Meta Tags

This data does not appear when a normal website visitor looks at the site, but it is an important part of how search engines find websites. Having the correct terms, in the correct format in your Meta Keywords file may help the search engine find your website more relevant on a particular search, therefore increasing your ranking.

The meta description tag contains the text that will be displayed by the search engine when that page appears in Google search results. This tag should be written in a way that helps Google searches come to the site, and should not be overly keyword laden, or awkwardly worded.

Global Market Exposure

2009-06-20T13:39:00.001-07:00

Search Engine Grease has teamed up with Global Market Exposure. Check out the new products available at http://www.google-placement.com Global Market Exposure serves their clients with personalized, professional campaigns which are targeted to meet your business objectives.

Check out the All New SearchEngineGrease.info

2009-04-28T21:33:00.000-07:00

At Search Engine Grease we are glad to announce the launch of our brand new website SearchEngineGrease.info Visit us early and often!

Why does it cost money to be on Google?

2009-04-16T21:32:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking a bit about one question that I hear a lot. Many people who have had a website for years, and have been found on the first page for important searches in the past are finding themselves pushed further into the dreaded abyss of the backpages. The reason for this phenomena is pretty straightforward.

The secret is out. People make buying decisions based on what they find in Google search results. Lots of people. Pretty much everybody. In fact 72% of Americans who search the Internet search Google. 31.88% of global Internet users visited Google.com Yesterday! They'll be there tommorow too. With this in mind no business owner in his right mind can say "I'd like to avoid showing up on Google when people search for what I sell".

I know how to win the attention of your customers when they are interested in making a purchasing decision. Who cares how many hits his website gets? As a business owner you care about sales revenue. Google Adwords is the biggest step forward in measureable, results driven advertising since the coupon. Our speciality is putting your business website in front of only those Google searchers who are likely to make a purchase. Our experts can show you how to track your target market from Google search to sales receipt, to loyal customer. If you'd like to learn more about how Google Advertising can provide measurable results for your business contact us!

The Rise and Fall of the Directory Site

2009-03-05T20:11:00.000-08:00

The fact is that as more competitors enter many markets the directory sites are consistently being pushed into the back pages for important Google Searches. Take for instance the Google Search "Illinois Deer Hunting". I would imagine that the ten Illinois deer hunting outfitters who paid to be on Huntingtop10.com would like to see it show up when people perform that search but right now it doesn't even rank in the top 100.

In Real Estate sites like Homes.com Realtor.com and others commonly see a large volume of visitors. But does a large number of visitors really translate into a large number of sales? The short answer is absolutely not. Directory sites get their visitors the same way all other websites do. Search. No matter how great your website is, people are not going to type in your domain name. All of the available data proves that the best way to get paying customers onto your website is to appear when they are actively searching for what you sell.

Conversely, If you prominently place text on the first page of Google which appeals exclusively to people who are interested in making a purchasing decision in the near future, the rate at which website users will convert into paying customers improves dramatically. The fact is that price sensitive buyers spend exponentially more time shopping than do high value customers. Where the middle income customer will spend hour upon hour searching for days or even weeks at a time, the millionaire will think to himself, "I'd like to go bear hunting in British Columbia". Then from the comfort of his hot tub picks up his IPhone and types BC Bear Hunting into Google. He looks at a few of the options presented, makes a phone call or two and books his trip.

If your target market is the customer who spends only 2 or 3 thousand dollars per year on travel, paying a small fee to appear on a directory site maybe turn out to be a worthwhile expenditure. If your target market is the big spender who enjoys exotic vacations, then your business needs individual exposure when people search for what you sell that only Paid Search can provide.

When there were only 100 websites that had the words Illinois Deer Hunting on them it was easy to put your website in front of people who searched for Illinois Deer Hunting without paying Google. Right now 187,000 websites appear in a search for Illinois Deer Hunting. Google went from an innovative but untested Internet widget, to a proven advertising venue that, when used properly, will provide measurable results for your business.

Direct Supplier Booking vs Online Travel Agency

2009-03-04T18:34:00.000-08:00

In December 2008, PhoCusWright, the travel industry’s research authority and annual presenter of The PhoCusWright Conference released a study that identifies the most popular type of online booking methods used by today’s traveler.

As you can see from the graph below Business travelers and vacationers tend to book with direct suppliers rather than through online travel agencies. This information matches perfectly with the data that I am getting from my web analytics. The fact is that wealthy travelers want to get exactly what they are looking for. Because of this they tend to book directly with the hotel/resort/outfitter, rather than going to Expedia, Priceline, or a directory site.

All of the available data seems to point to the fact that buyers who are looking for common vacation travel, or are very price sensitive are more likely to use online travel agencies like priceline, expedia, etc. Conversely people who travel often prefer to work directly with the supplier of the recreation activity. Our proprietary data shows that people who purchase luxury trips spend less time researching prices and more time deciding whether or not a particular travel destination will suit their desires.

Century 21 Chooses Measureable Results

2009-03-01T20:56:00.000-08:00

In a January 14, 2009 AdAge article, Beverly Thorne, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Century 21, stated, "In years past Century 21 Real Estate has spent up to half of its advertising budget on television marketing. However, C21 will now focus the vast majority of that money to its online efforts in 2009." Mrs. Thorne explained that online advertising, especially Search Engine Marketing, has the ablilty to directly target consumers interested in making a purchasing decision in the near term as the main factor in pulling the TV ads.

Ok, so you know you need to shift your ad spend online, but now what? With SEO, SEM, PPC, Email Marketing, Auto Responders, Blogging, Social Media Marketing, and a whirlwind of options how can anyone sort out where to allocate resources that are already spread thin?

We make it easy. Why spend hours trying to figure out what your customers are typing in? Our Adwords Qualified Individuals know how to put your business in front of people who are actively searching for your services.

Cable News

2009-02-19T23:09:00.000-08:00

I'm a little bit ashamed to admit it but I do ship off a small portion of my hard earned money to Comcast every month. I can't say I feel good about having done so very often. I had the TV on while I was working a bit earlier and saw that Fox News was interviewing Bill Clinton. Every word that came out of the reporters mouth was a leading question about what is wrong with our current President's plan to lead us out of these tough times. It's everywhere, the negativity.

With all the negativity I was encountering I got worried about the stock market. A quick Google of Dow Jones Industrial Average, and sure enough the market was down again today. Maybe if they would talk about the new Eco-friendly insulation company, or the cutting edge dam building technology, even Canadian oil sand is a better story than all is lost, the end is upon us. Maybe if they did a feature story about a new innovative business every night people would watch the news, get on their computer and buy stock instead of running in circles screaming SELL! SELL! SELL! Sell it All NOW Before it's Too Late!!

Well for those of us who didn't cash in on the sub-prime mortgage scam, and are still waiting for the mail-man to bring that 7 figure economic stimulus check, I guess we'll just have to keep getting up in the morning and working hard to serve our clients.

Warren Buffet Says it's time to buy!

Click the link and search for Warren Buffet.

Measureable Results in Weeks not Years.

2009-02-16T19:28:00.000-08:00

In their book The Ultimate Guide to Google Adwords authors Marshall and Todd propose the following pecking order of ads which clearly go from most to least measurable.

1. Google Paid Search
2. Search Engine Optimization (targeted only to terms which are proven money makers though Paid Search.
3. Other PPC Yahoo, MSN, etc..
4. E-mail Marketing
5. Affiliates
6. Banner Ads
7. Press releases (a guerilla SEO tactic)
8. Direct Mail
9. Print

Paid search will tell us how well customers are responding to our message immediately. Changes can be made so we aren't stuck with the same terrible looking magazine ad that our customers hate because that's the one they decided to print. Especially in this market, I believe that business owners should only allocate scarce resources to solutions which will provide measurable results for their business.

The market is doing better than you think.

2009-02-16T18:03:00.000-08:00

Despite all the doom and gloom in the media Paul La Monica at CNN Money has stepped up and highlighted some of the positive things that are going on in the market. Check out his complete article at CNN Money.

In an overall down market the fundamentally sound technology firms like Amazon, Google, and EMC are becoming more valuable. Especially in this market, I believe that business owners should only allocate scarce resources to solutions which will provide measurable results for their business.

30yr Fixed at %3.875

2009-02-12T21:08:00.000-08:00

Many new home builders are advertising extremely low rates to induce buying activity and reduce unsold inventory. Here are some rates currently being offered:

Centex Homes %4.25
Toll Brothers %3.99
Arbor Homes %3.875
All of these are on a 30 yr fixed

I wonder if there is any commission to be earned by helping people who may be on the fence about buying a new home take advantage of these programs. If you are reading this and you have an idea about how to cash in on these rates please send me an e-mail. If you check out the search "New Homes in X" you are probably going to see 11 boring Sponsored Links that look exactly alike. Give me a shout and let's see if we can't earn a few dollars adding some spice to the new home search market.

info@searchenginegrease.info

Consumer Magazines' Newsstand Sales Plunge 11%

2009-02-09T21:10:00.000-08:00

Are you still advertising in Magazines? As people nationwide tighten their belts it seems magazines are one of the first things to get axed. With the vast wealth of information that is available freely on-line people are buying fewer magazines and spending less time reading them. The great thing about using Paid Search on Google is that you can see exactly how many interested buyers you are reaching for each dollar spent. If you need help shifting your ad spend on-line contact me. Tell me a little bit about your business so we can find a way to efficiently reach your target market.
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Nobody Clicks on Sponsored Links

2009-01-29T00:34:00.000-08:00

A study from Cornell University supports our proprietary data showing that when people are interested in making a purchasing decision they can be led to click on a Sponsored Link. The key is to place text which appeals only to those interested buyers prominently on the first page of Google. The San Francisco Search Data firms Enquiro and Did-It were involved in another experiment showing similar results.

Take a look at this click map from the San Francisco study. As you can see if you want to win the attention of your customers, you need to be at the top. Even the top of the right hand side performs better than most organic positions.

Do you want to put your business where interested buyers can find it? If you have tried advertising on Google before, but didn't see a good ROI drop me a line. I'd be happy to show you how to get the exposure your business needs without breaking the bank.

Hello Cruel Blogosphere

2009-01-28T08:05:00.000-08:00

Welcome,

Blogging huh? If you'd have told me 7 years ago I'd be sitting in my living room tapping out my first blog entry now I'd have said, "You're crazy!" Yet here I am, blogging away.
So a little about me and what to expect from this blog. I enjoy jazz music. I love the camping, hiking, and mountain biking that living in the Pac NW offers. With Intel, Nike, and all of the other large innovative firms in town it has become a real center for innovation.
I am a search marketer. Basically I work with small and medium sized business owners to help them find affordable and targeted ways to reach new customers through Google, Social Media, and other avenues when necessary.
This will serve as a place for me to post information that is relevant to search marketing, and my hope is that over time it will become a good resource for my clients. I hope you enjoy Search Engine Grease, the official Blog of SearchEngineGrease.info.