South Florida Web Marketing Blog

From Google's Website…. 

What do I need to know about the updated display URL policy?

Based on feedback from both our advertisers and users, and consistent with our efforts to present relevant results, we'll no longer allow certain exceptions to our display URL policy. These include, but aren't limited to, redirects and vanity URLs. In line with our existing policy, we'll continue to require that your ad's display URL matches its destination URL (the URL of your landing page). This policy will be strictly enforced for new ads, regardless of previous exceptions. For more details about the current display URL policy, please visit

https://adwords.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=47173.

Here are some other important aspects of the policy you may want to keep in mind:

Tracking URLs

Your ads will be approved if the URL of your landing page domain matches that of your display URL domain.

For example, the following would be acceptable:

    * Display URL: www.google.com/adwords
    * Destination URL: www.trackingurl.com/google123
    * Landing page URL: www.google.com

However, this example would be unacceptable:

    * Display URL: www.google.com/adwords
    * Destination URL: www.trackingurl.com/google123
    * Landing page URL: www.trackingurl.com

Sub-Domains

The use of sub-domains and additional text within the display will continue to be acceptable, provided the top-level domain matches the URL of your landing page.

For example, the display URLs below would be acceptable for the landing page URL of http://sub.google.com/miscellaneous, as the top-level domains match:

    * sub.google.com
    * google.com/extratext
    * www.google.com/extratext

For that matter, any file from a popular software application, sent by e-mail or accessible at a website, is no longer trustworthy. Why? Data thieves are increasingly using them as snares in attacks that focus on patrons of companies and agencies that collect sensitive data, or zero in on specific individuals within certain organizations.

For the whole article: 

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/

Hulu launches free online TV, movie service
By Kenneth Li

NEW YORK — Hulu, the online video joint venture of News Corp and General Electric's NBC Universal, will make its public debut on Wednesday with programming from Time Warner's Warner Bros Television Group, Lionsgate and from sports leagues
http://www.hulu.com/

At launch, Hulu will offer full-length episodes of more than 250 TV series from current hits such as The Simpsons as well as older shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It also will offer 100 movies including The Big Lebowski and Mulholland Drive.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/

8 Useful SEO Techniques Every Webmaster Should Know
By Titus Hoskins (c) 2008

Every webmaster should have some basic understanding of these simple SEO techniques if they want to achieve Top Rankings for their site. The more you know about these Search Engine Optimization techniques; the better your web pages will fare in the different search engines, especially Google.

Optimizing your pages for the search engines should be your main priority because conquering and dominating your chosen keywords is often cited as one of the major determining factors in the success of your online site or business. You must have a rudimentary grasp of how SEO can work for you and your site.

These simple SEO Tips will help you understand the basics and help you reach your online goals.

1. Title Tag

The Title Tag is located at the top of your html page and it tells the search engines what your page is about. When you open your page in a browser these are the words at the very top of the screen. Despite its simplicity, the title tag is crucial to 'on-page optimization'; it should include your main keywords and it should be 63 characters or less if you want your title to appear in full on Google.

Many SEO experts create web pages in a three-prong approach. They place the title in:

- the title tag – on the webpage itself – and in the URL for that page

Sometimes they will just pick the main keywords from the title and place them in the anchor url instead. For example: www.yourwebsite.com/keywords.html

2. Meta Description Tag

The Meta Tag contains the description for your web page. Your description will show up in all the search engines so you have to be careful to write precisely and objectively. It should be about 140 characters or around 20 words. Make sure to include your keywords but don't spam – don't repeat your keywords more than twice – using variations is helpful.

Keep in mind, successful webmasters make their descriptions stand out from the crowd and entice the surfer to click their link. It is also the first contact with your potential visitor or prospect so make a good first impression.

3. Anchor Tag or URL

The anchor tag is used to form links within websites or from site to site. This tag should have your title or the main keywords from your page title to be the most effective.

Anchor text is also important to know – these are the underlined, clickable text or words in a link. <*A xhref="url"> anchor text <*/A>

If you want to check Google for all web pages containing your keywords in the anchor tags.

Just type into Google Search:

allinanchor:yourkeywords

4. Finding Backlinks

One of the keys to higher rankings is building quality links from relevant, related quality sites. The search engines, especially Google, count each link as a "vote" for your site or content. Many experts suggest you include your main keywords in the anchor text of these inbound links in order to rank high.

If you want to find the number of backlinks your site has.

Just type into Google Search:

link:yourURL

and it will give you the number of backlinks you have.

Google doesn't give you all your existing backlinks, so you can try Yahoo! to find a more exact number.

Just open Yahoo! and type in:   linkdomain:yourURL

5. Checking Indexed Pages

If is very important for you to know what content the search engines have indexed from your site. You can also check to see how your links are displayed and to see if any titles or descriptions are missing from your pages.

You can see how many of your pages are indexed in Google by using the site command.

Just type into Google Search:

site:yourURL

Another way to look at your pages in Google is to type in "http://yoursite" and "www.yoursite" with the quotation marks to see the exact number of listings for each.

6. Checking Google Cache

You can also check to see the Google Cache of your site by using the cache command. You will also discover when it was last retrieved.

Just type into Google Search:

cache:yourURL

7. Finding Associated Keywords

Keywords are the heart of the Internet, you must dominate the search engines for your chosen keywords if you are to succeed online. So make sure you have your main keywords in the Meta Keyword Tag on your page. Many experts suggest you place your page's main keywords in the first and last 25 words on that page.

You must also be able to find and use variations of your keywords to completely conquer your targeted niche. To find what other keywords Google has associated with your main keywords, just use the tilde ~ command to find associated phrases in Google.

Just type into Google search:

~keywords

Variations will be highlighted in bold print.

8. Finding Titled Keywords

If you want to find competing sites that have your keywords in the title just use the allintitle command.

Just type into Google search:

allintitle:yourkeywords

In summary, if used consistently, these basic SEO techniques should help improve your rankings and keep you in the picture with regards to your standings in the search engines. Your site's stats or raw traffic logs will also confirm the rise or fall of your keyword rankings. You must have complete knowledge of both your site and your keywords in the search engines, especially Google. Since Google will deliver most of your quality traffic, you must optimize for it and be aware of what is happening to your site and keywords within Google. This is yet another example where knowledge equals success.

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The author is now a full-time web marketer who regularly sells 1000's of dollars worth of affiliate products/services each day. He owns and runs numerous websites, including two sites on Internet marketing. For the latest web marketing tools try: http://www.bizwaremagic.com or http://www.marketingtoolguide.com
2008 Titus Hoskins. This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

Ask.com gets a makeover, lays off 40
 
In a dramatic about-face, Ask.com is abandoning its effort to outshine Internet search leader Google Inc. and will instead focus on a narrower market consisting of married women looking for help managing their lives.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/03/05/ask.makeover/index.html

* Based on the five major search engines including partner searches and cross-channel searches. Searches for mapping, local directory, and user-generated video sites that are not on the core domain of the five search engines are not included in the core search numbers.

** In January 2008, Time Warner Network was split into two distinct properties: AOL LLC and Time Warner Network excluding AOL, with AOL LLC representing the core search business.

Source:

http://www.comscore.com/

Do you answer these questions on your website?

When you visit another website, do find yourself wanting more information and cannot find it?

• What does the product do for me? What are it's usages?
• But does it come in another color?
• What sizes do they come in?
• Are there any guarantees?
• How is that shipped?
• How do I handle returns?
• Does it help the environment?

You may want to link to a FAQ page, or provide the information on that web page. Make the web experience a complete one. The goal is to use the website to answer most if not all the commonly asked questions without your interventon and to convert those visitors into sales.

To make it easier for visitors to decided to use your products or services, you need to answer these "Who, What, Where, When, Why and How" questions briefly and clearly. You need to decide on how "briefly" you want to make your answers, but be sure to use enough verbiage to convey a complete thought or explain your company, service or product.

As time goes on, you will add to your web pages by learning more about your customers and what they are searching for.  Then adding more content to those web pages so you can help yourself and those visitors looking for your goods or services. You will be developing clear answers to those questions while expanding your website that will result in increasing your web marketing. 

 Good Luck