Local based SEO refers to one of two things - either the Google Local Business Center (LBC) or geo-targeted searches. For example, if I searched for "raleigh auto mechanics" I'd see the LBC results with the addresses/phone numbers for 10 local mechanics somewhere on the first page of search results - and I'd also see regular web pages as well.
Many of those sites will be other directories like the YellowPages.com or SuperPages.com and so forth - which isn't what I'm interested in, because if I was just looking for those types of listings, why not just click on the Google LBC results with the map right there?
What I might be looking for though is a national chain store finder, or a local guy's website that details the services he offers, costs, hours, etc. These are going to show up in the regular search results. And for Joe the Raleigh Mechanic, that's about the extent of what he can do on the web (after he puts his site in the LBC too). But if it's Joe's Nationwide Mechanic Company, now we've got to rethink the strategy.
I've posted on local business SEO before, but yesterday while doing analysis for a client I noticed something new: drop down menus on the homepage for popular/large geographical locales.
Usually these "find a location" links either involve you entering your ZIP (which Google can't do) or having some obtuse map tucked away on some inner pages of the site. While a "enter your ZIP to find the nearest WHATEVER" button might be a little more direct (and possibly quicker) - it's not the best practice from an SEO standpoint. Then again, hiding your locations from users AND search engines isn't a great idea either.
Now, the drop down doesn't guarantee that the national company shows up in the LBC, or even the top 10 results for the search - in this instance they showed up #10 for one keyword and #14 for another (with the "raleigh" modifier). If you had a map on your homepage, you'd probably see similar results if you had links to all the same locations (though text works better than images).
Obviously, it helps a lot to have links to your Raleigh location(s) directly off your home page - and I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of chains start moving in this direction. I know I'll be advising another one of my clients to do this on our conference call tomorrow.
thoughts of a white collar girl next door
- Danielle
- Hi, I'm Danielle (a writer, digital marketer, casual runner, and whatever other labels you want to pick and choose from). I have a sneaking suspicion that it'll be a while until I publish my first best seller, so in the meantime, here are my thoughts on everything.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Where do old websites go to die?
Recently I've stumbled upon a couple of golf websites, GolfHoles.com and ExoticGolfPutters.com. From an aesthetic standpoint, both of these sites look like they're circa Microsoft Frontpage 1999-2001, though the latter looks vaguely reminiscent of.... the movie Alien? I mean, neon green text on a black background? Seriously?
But I digress - I mention these sites not to criticize these small, single man operations, but rather to point out how the web is changing (or has already changed). Now, I'm not going to wax poetic about how great life on 14.4kbps dial up internet connections was because it wasn't. But back then, people were amazed by the idea of connecting with other people. Whether it was a car part, a line of code for a program, a tip to help with your golf swing - there was a web community (and even a website ring) that was focused on even specific niches (such as car models, code languages, etc.)
Now most of the sites you find along these topics are monetized sites run by a group of guys who figured out how to turn their hobbies into a second income OR a company that does the exact same thing. Neither of these options is inherently worse than the "for the love of the game" option - and doesn't imply a better/worse user experience either.
BUT it does mean that instead of connecting with an individual - you're now connecting with an organization/company - and that is a very different conversation.
But I digress - I mention these sites not to criticize these small, single man operations, but rather to point out how the web is changing (or has already changed). Now, I'm not going to wax poetic about how great life on 14.4kbps dial up internet connections was because it wasn't. But back then, people were amazed by the idea of connecting with other people. Whether it was a car part, a line of code for a program, a tip to help with your golf swing - there was a web community (and even a website ring) that was focused on even specific niches (such as car models, code languages, etc.)
Now most of the sites you find along these topics are monetized sites run by a group of guys who figured out how to turn their hobbies into a second income OR a company that does the exact same thing. Neither of these options is inherently worse than the "for the love of the game" option - and doesn't imply a better/worse user experience either.
BUT it does mean that instead of connecting with an individual - you're now connecting with an organization/company - and that is a very different conversation.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Tiger Woods Timeline
In honor of the exact match URLs post I did yesterday - I purchased the .com website Tiger Woods Timeline.
The keyword volume tools I use suggest that it's a pretty popular search term (probably more so during golf season, but oh well). By building out the site with a bunch of content related to Tiger Woods career and the rest of his life (which is pretty easy to find, I'll just need to rewrite a lot of it) I think that I may be able to capture some of that search traffic.
It'll be an interesting experiment to say the least.
The keyword volume tools I use suggest that it's a pretty popular search term (probably more so during golf season, but oh well). By building out the site with a bunch of content related to Tiger Woods career and the rest of his life (which is pretty easy to find, I'll just need to rewrite a lot of it) I think that I may be able to capture some of that search traffic.
It'll be an interesting experiment to say the least.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Exact Match URLs
The other day I wrote about localized SEO - and there's another point I'd like to expand upon here. This may not apply to all markets, as NewYorkGroceryDelivery.com is going to have a lot more competition than say, OntarioGroceryDelivery.com, but if you're trying to rank for the term "New York Grocery Delivery" - you'll have a leg up on on BigAppleDirect.com (or whatever some generic grocery delivery company in NYC is called).
That is because you have an exact match URL. So if I'm trying to dominate the Ontario, California water treatment services market and I'm trying to compete with a company like Culligan in the Ontario, CA market http://culligan.com/local-dealer/ca/ontario/ (notice the URL does feature the location and feed off the water treatment power of the Culligan.com domain) - I'd be better off with something like OntarioWaterTreatment.com or whatever - however, that could get tedious as maybe I'm selling water softeners, water filters, or delivering those 5 gallon bottles of water that you see in so many offices. In that case, something along the lines of "OntarioWater.com" might do - because then I can have separate pages for OntarioWater.com/Filters etc. that'll still match the keywords in the URL - though they won't necessarily be exact matches.
For local SEO - this is definitely a leg up. Even for national SEO, depending on the market, it can also be a big advantage. If I Google "lawn mowers" - by the second page you'll notice what is essentially a parked domain (an inactive one that is just used for traffic purposes) - lawnmowers.com. This site outranks millions of other pages, including Troybilt, Husqvarna, Lowe's, Home Depot, and others - simply because it has an exact match on the URL. Granted, it doesn't outrank Honda, John Deere, or Toro - but those three companies are all actively implementing SEO campaigns as well.
That is because you have an exact match URL. So if I'm trying to dominate the Ontario, California water treatment services market and I'm trying to compete with a company like Culligan in the Ontario, CA market http://culligan.com/local-dealer/ca/ontario/ (notice the URL does feature the location and feed off the water treatment power of the Culligan.com domain) - I'd be better off with something like OntarioWaterTreatment.com or whatever - however, that could get tedious as maybe I'm selling water softeners, water filters, or delivering those 5 gallon bottles of water that you see in so many offices. In that case, something along the lines of "OntarioWater.com" might do - because then I can have separate pages for OntarioWater.com/Filters etc. that'll still match the keywords in the URL - though they won't necessarily be exact matches.
For local SEO - this is definitely a leg up. Even for national SEO, depending on the market, it can also be a big advantage. If I Google "lawn mowers" - by the second page you'll notice what is essentially a parked domain (an inactive one that is just used for traffic purposes) - lawnmowers.com. This site outranks millions of other pages, including Troybilt, Husqvarna, Lowe's, Home Depot, and others - simply because it has an exact match on the URL. Granted, it doesn't outrank Honda, John Deere, or Toro - but those three companies are all actively implementing SEO campaigns as well.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Why Chris Anderson Is Right
Recently Chris Anderson (Editor of Wired Magazine) has been making the rounds in the various news sources - I saw him on the Colbert Report, heard him interviewed on NPR's Marketplace, and then read another interview with him in Spiegel. Most of this press has to do with his new book - 'Free' - that basically says that the price of online content will be (and is being) driven to zero.
That doesn't mean that it'll be completely free - just that there will be free and paid versions. For example, on a streaming video site you could pay a monthly membership to avoid commercial interruptions, or watch the same video for free with a commercial intro (or even breaks at certain points within the show). I agree wholeheartedly with this notion.
However, in his Spiegel interview Anderson mentions that 'media will become a hobby.' This seems a little asinine at first glance because well, the news is the news! Trusted source of journalism, accuracy, hard hitting investigative reporting, etc! In many cases, this will likely still be true (then again, TMZ.com did break the news that Michael Jackson was dead - hours before the news networks would later confirm it). Does this mean that TMZ is as accurate? Well, in this case, yes. In all cases? Doubtful.
In another example is the recent Yahoo-Microsoft deal, which the NY Times wrote about today. However, as early as last Friday, some sources were reporting that the deal was basically done. Yesterday, it became clear that the deal was official and would be announced. Of course, the actual announcement only came today - so is the NYTimes really 'behind the time' or are they just waiting until they can 'officially' report the news (after everyone else is already aware of it?).
Because I follow other search people on Twitter, I found out about this news relatively early in the cycle (and snickered at the people trying to jump on the news bandwagon later - c'mon, if we're all working in search, you should've known about this a little sooner than today people). And Anderson mentions that the people he follows on Twitter (within his industry/interests) are the same type of people who will socially link stories to their friends/followers that he'll also trust as well.
So for announcements like this, I think the news is dead as the go to source. I still think that they'll be a good place for insight and analysis on some issues that very few are qualified to address (ie - international politics, etc.) - but the question is - how many people truly care about that kind of news?
That doesn't mean that it'll be completely free - just that there will be free and paid versions. For example, on a streaming video site you could pay a monthly membership to avoid commercial interruptions, or watch the same video for free with a commercial intro (or even breaks at certain points within the show). I agree wholeheartedly with this notion.
However, in his Spiegel interview Anderson mentions that 'media will become a hobby.' This seems a little asinine at first glance because well, the news is the news! Trusted source of journalism, accuracy, hard hitting investigative reporting, etc! In many cases, this will likely still be true (then again, TMZ.com did break the news that Michael Jackson was dead - hours before the news networks would later confirm it). Does this mean that TMZ is as accurate? Well, in this case, yes. In all cases? Doubtful.
In another example is the recent Yahoo-Microsoft deal, which the NY Times wrote about today. However, as early as last Friday, some sources were reporting that the deal was basically done. Yesterday, it became clear that the deal was official and would be announced. Of course, the actual announcement only came today - so is the NYTimes really 'behind the time' or are they just waiting until they can 'officially' report the news (after everyone else is already aware of it?).
Because I follow other search people on Twitter, I found out about this news relatively early in the cycle (and snickered at the people trying to jump on the news bandwagon later - c'mon, if we're all working in search, you should've known about this a little sooner than today people). And Anderson mentions that the people he follows on Twitter (within his industry/interests) are the same type of people who will socially link stories to their friends/followers that he'll also trust as well.
So for announcements like this, I think the news is dead as the go to source. I still think that they'll be a good place for insight and analysis on some issues that very few are qualified to address (ie - international politics, etc.) - but the question is - how many people truly care about that kind of news?
Think Globally, Buy Locally
When I buy stuff off the internet, and I buy things off the net very rarely - well, actually, most of the stuff I buy is groceries and gasoline, the occasional movie ticket, and going out to eat/drink with friends - but I digress.
When I buy stuff off the internet, I'm looking for a good deal - whether it's a DVD box set, renewing my Xbox Live membership, or buying a new lens for my digital camera - on a product I don't need immediately (I haven't even watched all the DVDs I already own).
When I buy something in person, I'm looking for instant gratification. I want it now. I need new running shoes, probably 100 miles ago, so I want them now because I don't want to break my routine.
Of course, having lived in the same area for the past 8-9 years - I'm pretty familiar with where I should go to buy new running shoes. So let's pretend I move somewhere random, like Lemon Grove, California or somewhere a little less random, like Houston. Now I have no idea.
Rather than search for 'running shoes' (where I am going to get a bunch of national results - which would be fine if I knew exactly what pair/size shoe to buy) I'll search for a term like, 'running shoes houston' - which will pull up a list of local stores with the local business results map and some other websites (usually for stores selling running shoes in Houston).
However, let's take this one step further. If I'm a national chain (with at least one store in Houston) I want to be on that list. But I also want to be on the list for Las Vegas as well. Now, depending on the number of stores I have - I may be able to do this on a city by city basis - but that's going to end up becoming a very tedious process if I have say, more than 1,000 stores (which a lot of chains do).
How do I approach the task then? Should I buy 1,000 domains? (eg - houstonstore.com, lasvegasstore.com, chicagostore.com, etc)? Or maybe I should just make sure that each store location has it's own page on my corporate website and is listed in all the pertinent local directories (yellowpages, etc.) so that we should up in the Google LBC?
The answer is, there is no single strategy that's best. You have to consider what you're trying to rank for, how strong your brand (and website) is nationally, and how tough the competition is locally. Good luck ranking for 'coffee shop' in New York City - but ranking for 'coffee shop' in Rural, Ohio should be a bit easier.
When I buy stuff off the internet, I'm looking for a good deal - whether it's a DVD box set, renewing my Xbox Live membership, or buying a new lens for my digital camera - on a product I don't need immediately (I haven't even watched all the DVDs I already own).
When I buy something in person, I'm looking for instant gratification. I want it now. I need new running shoes, probably 100 miles ago, so I want them now because I don't want to break my routine.
Of course, having lived in the same area for the past 8-9 years - I'm pretty familiar with where I should go to buy new running shoes. So let's pretend I move somewhere random, like Lemon Grove, California or somewhere a little less random, like Houston. Now I have no idea.
Rather than search for 'running shoes' (where I am going to get a bunch of national results - which would be fine if I knew exactly what pair/size shoe to buy) I'll search for a term like, 'running shoes houston' - which will pull up a list of local stores with the local business results map and some other websites (usually for stores selling running shoes in Houston).
However, let's take this one step further. If I'm a national chain (with at least one store in Houston) I want to be on that list. But I also want to be on the list for Las Vegas as well. Now, depending on the number of stores I have - I may be able to do this on a city by city basis - but that's going to end up becoming a very tedious process if I have say, more than 1,000 stores (which a lot of chains do).
How do I approach the task then? Should I buy 1,000 domains? (eg - houstonstore.com, lasvegasstore.com, chicagostore.com, etc)? Or maybe I should just make sure that each store location has it's own page on my corporate website and is listed in all the pertinent local directories (yellowpages, etc.) so that we should up in the Google LBC?
The answer is, there is no single strategy that's best. You have to consider what you're trying to rank for, how strong your brand (and website) is nationally, and how tough the competition is locally. Good luck ranking for 'coffee shop' in New York City - but ranking for 'coffee shop' in Rural, Ohio should be a bit easier.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Interactive Marketing, or, BOOM goes the dynamite
These days, I get a bit of my information/analysis about marketing, and interactive marketing in particular, via my Twitter account (twitter.com/loosebricks) and today I received an update that the new Forrester Research 5-year interactive marketing forecast is available.
Long story short, it looks as though "advertising is going to change forever" (of course, people have been saying for the last 20-30 years that soccer will catch on in the United States, and that has yet to happen). But I do believe that a lot more interaction and customer engagement is going to take place online.
The full report can be read here but if you don't have $1,999 to plunk down on it, try reading an introduction to the report by Forrest Research VP Josh Bernoff. The big idea is that "overall advertising budgets will decline. Yep. With dollars moving out of traditional media toward less expensive and more efficient interactive tools, marketers will actually need less money to accomplish their current advertising goals."
Look at the auto industry for example. They've pulled out of (or severely reduced) their spends on just about every form of advertising. And their brilliant new idea? Sell the cars on eBay. I just can't wait to take my first virtual test drive!
Long story short, it looks as though "advertising is going to change forever" (of course, people have been saying for the last 20-30 years that soccer will catch on in the United States, and that has yet to happen). But I do believe that a lot more interaction and customer engagement is going to take place online.
The full report can be read here but if you don't have $1,999 to plunk down on it, try reading an introduction to the report by Forrest Research VP Josh Bernoff. The big idea is that "overall advertising budgets will decline. Yep. With dollars moving out of traditional media toward less expensive and more efficient interactive tools, marketers will actually need less money to accomplish their current advertising goals."
Look at the auto industry for example. They've pulled out of (or severely reduced) their spends on just about every form of advertising. And their brilliant new idea? Sell the cars on eBay. I just can't wait to take my first virtual test drive!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
SEO v. Marketing
So not too long ago I ran into a couple of former marketing guys who now run a marketing/branding consulting company. I started talking to them about SEO and they joked about whether or not I was a black hat SEO guy (I'm not). But essentially what they came to say, and what I agreed with, is that SEO for the sake of manipulating rankings is worthless because it doesn't really form a connection with the users. Engaging content, awesome products, and authentic experiences do (iPods/iPhones/Blackberry, GI Joes/Transformers/LEGO, Nintendo, GooseBumps/HardyBoys/Nancy Drew/Harry Potter, etc.).
Here's a good blog post by some marketing whiz that says this a lot better than I could.
I found that link from the blog of another digital marketing whiz, Dave Churbuck (who does the digital marketing for LENOVO). He has some great stuff, but I'll let you find it yourself.
The moral of the story is, one shouldn't be thinking of SEO only in terms of ranks & traffic - but what it actually does for the user, which is help them connect with something that they want/need/will come to love.
Here's a good blog post by some marketing whiz that says this a lot better than I could.
I found that link from the blog of another digital marketing whiz, Dave Churbuck (who does the digital marketing for LENOVO). He has some great stuff, but I'll let you find it yourself.
The moral of the story is, one shouldn't be thinking of SEO only in terms of ranks & traffic - but what it actually does for the user, which is help them connect with something that they want/need/will come to love.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
SEO Campaigns
So my last post was about the basics of SEO - and now this post will cover how to create an SEO campaign:
Read this: http://www.best-seo-blog.com/2009/06/seo-strategy-document-how-to-write-an-seo-strategy/
'Nuff said.
Read this: http://www.best-seo-blog.com/2009/06/seo-strategy-document-how-to-write-an-seo-strategy/
'Nuff said.
SEO
The first work related post of ... the blog.
The basics of SEO are:
Accessibility (or site architecture) - can search engines crawl the site well, is everything as close to the first page as possible, is everything on the site unique. Good site architecture is a good first step in SEO as it makes the site easier for the search engines and users.
Quality content - Does the content provide some sort of value to the user? Does new content provide additional value? Does it attract links naturally? How can I improve upon the content? What differentiates my content from that of my competitors? This is basically marketing/branding/product development for those of you business minded individuals.
Link Building - What pages need links to rank better? Where can I find good quality, authority links? Can I optimize these links? Can I create additional link bait?
Those are the three main points of SEO - coupled with keyword research and targeting (that's basically knowing your audience and targeting your site to those people). What keywords can you target (and actually achieve rankings for)? If someone clicks on your site, are they going to have an authentic experience or are you just trying to capitalize on the traffic and leave them wanting?
Then of course, you need to track and report all this data. How is your linkage growing? Is your content working? How well? What can you improve upon? How is your site architecture holding up (is it getting your entire site indexed?). Etc.
This is my job. Joy.
The basics of SEO are:
Accessibility (or site architecture) - can search engines crawl the site well, is everything as close to the first page as possible, is everything on the site unique. Good site architecture is a good first step in SEO as it makes the site easier for the search engines and users.
Quality content - Does the content provide some sort of value to the user? Does new content provide additional value? Does it attract links naturally? How can I improve upon the content? What differentiates my content from that of my competitors? This is basically marketing/branding/product development for those of you business minded individuals.
Link Building - What pages need links to rank better? Where can I find good quality, authority links? Can I optimize these links? Can I create additional link bait?
Those are the three main points of SEO - coupled with keyword research and targeting (that's basically knowing your audience and targeting your site to those people). What keywords can you target (and actually achieve rankings for)? If someone clicks on your site, are they going to have an authentic experience or are you just trying to capitalize on the traffic and leave them wanting?
Then of course, you need to track and report all this data. How is your linkage growing? Is your content working? How well? What can you improve upon? How is your site architecture holding up (is it getting your entire site indexed?). Etc.
This is my job. Joy.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Matchmaker matchmaker, make me a ... ?
So I signed up for Match.com last night. I had (and have) been using the free service, OkCupid, but I think that Match might have a couple of advantages or benefits over OkCupid, despite its costs (it's $108 total for the premium account for 6 months, or $102 if you get the second tier account, or you can pay something like $35 for one month or something a little more than $18 but less than $35 per month for 3 months).
Though the cost can be seen as a potential drawback - I actually see this as a good thing for a couple of reasons:
I'm sure there are other perks that I haven't noticed just yet - but I'm ready to get back in the dating game so I'm hoping that I can meet some interesting people, and sooner rather than later would be nice.
And if I don't meet anyone in 6 months, I can get another 6 months free. But I'm not so sure that this is a guarantee for my benefit, or a subtle way of telling me that if I can't find someone in 6 months, it's because I suck.
Though the cost can be seen as a potential drawback - I actually see this as a good thing for a couple of reasons:
- It means that the person must have at least a little money to spend on this, so there's no freeloaders or people without jobs.
- People with money are generally employable - which means that other people (and not cats) also like this person.
- They're interested in actually pursuing a relationship with someone they meet online (unless they don't mind throwing money away) whereas on a free site, you tend to find a lot of flakes who aren't necessarily as sure about putting a foot in the water of online dating.
I'm sure there are other perks that I haven't noticed just yet - but I'm ready to get back in the dating game so I'm hoping that I can meet some interesting people, and sooner rather than later would be nice.
And if I don't meet anyone in 6 months, I can get another 6 months free. But I'm not so sure that this is a guarantee for my benefit, or a subtle way of telling me that if I can't find someone in 6 months, it's because I suck.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
The Future of Search
Unless you live under a rock, or are addicted to the crack rock, chances are, you've seen and/or heard of the new Microsoft Search Engine, BING. Oh wait, I mean "decision engine." That being said, Bing is essentially exactly the same as the old Microsoft Search Engine(s) - just rebranded. Sure, it has a couple new cool features - like being able to preview videos in the video search (and sometimes bypass filters at work) - or being able to see when the price of plane tickets will go down (which is nice, if you have a very flexible travel schedule - but it won't tell you the cheapest ticket to find today).
And then just this week, a new "decision engine" was launched by one of the co-founders of Flickr, and this "decision engine" is called Hunch. This particular decision engine works basically like a quiz engine - yes, just like those annoying quizzes you see on Facebook or signed up for on OKCupid.com three years ago. Though Hunch has some potentially more useful capabilities, I'm sure it'll be dumbed down just like Twitter.
But what decisions ultimately come down to is the data available. When you buy a car, it's not (at least I hope it's not) because a website told you - this is the best car. Rather, it's because you were able to compare the specs of the car you chose to other similarly priced cars (after you've figured out your car budget) and determined that you like this one's safety, reliability, fuel economy, number of cup holders, engine power, and aesthetics.
Or when choosing an MBA program, it isn't because a website said - this is the best MBA program for you. It's because you spoke to alumni, current students, researched career placement/advancement, looked at starting salaries of graduates, courses offered, other opportunities offered, name recognition, and so forth.
Perhaps when all of this data is compiled into one place, then you'll be able to use a "decision engine" - but even if all this data is put into one place - ultimately, how different is an Accord v. a Camry, or Harvard v. Yale? It just comes down to emotion, and no computer is going to be able to help you make that decision. You'll have to rely on the best decision engine available to you - your brain.
And then just this week, a new "decision engine" was launched by one of the co-founders of Flickr, and this "decision engine" is called Hunch. This particular decision engine works basically like a quiz engine - yes, just like those annoying quizzes you see on Facebook or signed up for on OKCupid.com three years ago. Though Hunch has some potentially more useful capabilities, I'm sure it'll be dumbed down just like Twitter.
But what decisions ultimately come down to is the data available. When you buy a car, it's not (at least I hope it's not) because a website told you - this is the best car. Rather, it's because you were able to compare the specs of the car you chose to other similarly priced cars (after you've figured out your car budget) and determined that you like this one's safety, reliability, fuel economy, number of cup holders, engine power, and aesthetics.
Or when choosing an MBA program, it isn't because a website said - this is the best MBA program for you. It's because you spoke to alumni, current students, researched career placement/advancement, looked at starting salaries of graduates, courses offered, other opportunities offered, name recognition, and so forth.
Perhaps when all of this data is compiled into one place, then you'll be able to use a "decision engine" - but even if all this data is put into one place - ultimately, how different is an Accord v. a Camry, or Harvard v. Yale? It just comes down to emotion, and no computer is going to be able to help you make that decision. You'll have to rely on the best decision engine available to you - your brain.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Exciting Time in Sports
So, the past week (and the upcoming one) are an exciting period in sports. Yes, I know that college basketball has now been over for a little more than two months, and that college football and the NFL won't start for another two and a half - but the summer isn't necessarily a complete dead zone (a la Verizon) for sports fanatics.
This past week had probably the 2nd best hockey game I've ever seen, with a thrilling Stanley Cup Final Game 7 between the Penguins and the Red Wings. For those of you wondering, the best game ever was the Miracle on Ice, the thrilling 1980 medal round game between the USA and the communist USSR hockey juggernaut.
Then there were the NBA Finals, which was the 4th NBA title for Kobe Bryant (though one could make the argument he should have been co-MVP with Gasol) - which even though the Lakers won the series 4-1, change a few plays and the two teams are still playing with the Magic up 3-2. It would've been better had the Cavs made the finals, but that's because I'm a homer for all Cleveland franchises.
The MLB draft took place - and the Cleveland Indians landed my fellow Tar Heel Alex White, which I'm super stoked about because the Indians could always use more pitching (though right now, I think they could use more of anything they can get their hands on). Dustin Ackley, now the UNC record holder in career hits, went #2 overall to Seattle - so it was pretty cool to see two Tar heels go in the first 15 picks.
And then finally, this week, we have the US Open. While one can't expect for their to be the same level of drama as last year's - it should be a pretty exciting event to watch. Will Tiger resume his major form? Or will Phil rally around his wife's cancer and play the tournament of his life? Or perhaps someone completely different (but not Sergio, because he can't win for shit) will emerge victorious from the field (perhaps Rocco Mediate gets his, one year later?). Regardless, I'll be following the PGA leaderboard all weekend long.
This past week had probably the 2nd best hockey game I've ever seen, with a thrilling Stanley Cup Final Game 7 between the Penguins and the Red Wings. For those of you wondering, the best game ever was the Miracle on Ice, the thrilling 1980 medal round game between the USA and the communist USSR hockey juggernaut.
Then there were the NBA Finals, which was the 4th NBA title for Kobe Bryant (though one could make the argument he should have been co-MVP with Gasol) - which even though the Lakers won the series 4-1, change a few plays and the two teams are still playing with the Magic up 3-2. It would've been better had the Cavs made the finals, but that's because I'm a homer for all Cleveland franchises.
The MLB draft took place - and the Cleveland Indians landed my fellow Tar Heel Alex White, which I'm super stoked about because the Indians could always use more pitching (though right now, I think they could use more of anything they can get their hands on). Dustin Ackley, now the UNC record holder in career hits, went #2 overall to Seattle - so it was pretty cool to see two Tar heels go in the first 15 picks.
And then finally, this week, we have the US Open. While one can't expect for their to be the same level of drama as last year's - it should be a pretty exciting event to watch. Will Tiger resume his major form? Or will Phil rally around his wife's cancer and play the tournament of his life? Or perhaps someone completely different (but not Sergio, because he can't win for shit) will emerge victorious from the field (perhaps Rocco Mediate gets his, one year later?). Regardless, I'll be following the PGA leaderboard all weekend long.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Whine and Cheese
I am sick and tired of people who don't understand basic principles of business attempting to attach their own thoughts of what business "should" or "should not" be to the internet, a product, a brand, or anythingelseinthefuckingworld.
Recently, I've read a lot of complaints comparing SEO consultants or "Social Media Gurus/Experts/Etc." to SNAKE OIL SALESMEN.
Having grown up in the South, I understand the negative attributes associated with the so-called snake oil salesman. However, because I was raised by a pair of intelligent parents, I also possess the ability to discern when I'm being blatantly lied to.
There is a proverb used by Obi Wan Kenobi in STAR WARS, and probably elsewhere, that goes: "Who is more foolish: the fool, or the fool who follows him?"
The point is: if you can't tell when you're talking to a snake oil salesman, then kudos to him for every jar of snake oil that he sells you. Sure, maybe *his* ethics are questionable, but if you travel around a little bit, you'll discover that there are plenty of people who are more than happy to rip you off if you're willing to let them (even if they are offering you a legitimate/necessary service).
Yes, it'd be nice if we lived in a world full of unicorns and rainbows and sunshine and sprinkles - but we don't. There are people who will try to take advantage of the ... less than savvy - and if you're one of them - whose fault is that? Certainly not theirs.
Recently, I've read a lot of complaints comparing SEO consultants or "Social Media Gurus/Experts/Etc." to SNAKE OIL SALESMEN.
Having grown up in the South, I understand the negative attributes associated with the so-called snake oil salesman. However, because I was raised by a pair of intelligent parents, I also possess the ability to discern when I'm being blatantly lied to.
There is a proverb used by Obi Wan Kenobi in STAR WARS, and probably elsewhere, that goes: "Who is more foolish: the fool, or the fool who follows him?"
The point is: if you can't tell when you're talking to a snake oil salesman, then kudos to him for every jar of snake oil that he sells you. Sure, maybe *his* ethics are questionable, but if you travel around a little bit, you'll discover that there are plenty of people who are more than happy to rip you off if you're willing to let them (even if they are offering you a legitimate/necessary service).
Yes, it'd be nice if we lived in a world full of unicorns and rainbows and sunshine and sprinkles - but we don't. There are people who will try to take advantage of the ... less than savvy - and if you're one of them - whose fault is that? Certainly not theirs.
Friday, May 29, 2009
How Will We Tip Strippers?
So I regularly read the Freakonomics Blog (It's one of two, the other being the irreverent MCM + KJD) and there was an interesting post about the future of cash money, or rather, a future without it. The article doesn't really say much, except for another diatribe against the penny (I'm with them there) and then points to an article in Wired about where money is going.
I should note that I recently lost my debit card for the first time in my life. Without cash, what would I do? (Of course, getting cash without my ATM card is a pain anyway). I still have my credit card, but I like using cash for getting the bartender's attention ASAP (Franklin is a flashy mofo) so I don't see the bills going anywhere just yet. Maybe we should cut out all the coinage though.
I should note that I recently lost my debit card for the first time in my life. Without cash, what would I do? (Of course, getting cash without my ATM card is a pain anyway). I still have my credit card, but I like using cash for getting the bartender's attention ASAP (Franklin is a flashy mofo) so I don't see the bills going anywhere just yet. Maybe we should cut out all the coinage though.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Everyone Loves Raleigh
Apparently enough to make it the #1 relocation destination in the United States. Raleigh beat out Austin (TX) at #2, and Charlotte (ha!) came in #3. Charlotte is kind of a surprise given the collapse of the banking industry, but maybe some people decided they could get a great deal on some foreclosed suburban ex-finance guy's home?
You can read the whole Forbes article here (to see the actual top 10 list, you'll have to click on the "In Depth" link after the first or second paragraph).
Coincidentally, I sort of hate Raleigh - which is why I still live in Chapel Hill.
You can read the whole Forbes article here (to see the actual top 10 list, you'll have to click on the "In Depth" link after the first or second paragraph).
Coincidentally, I sort of hate Raleigh - which is why I still live in Chapel Hill.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Business Cards
I just can't seem to regularly update this blog! But here's what my new business card is going to look like. The company I work for, El Toro Interactive, has an obvious bull theme. Thus, we could've gone with either bull riding or bull fighting. The artwork for bull fighting is much better (I actually have a real bull fighting poster that I picked up in Grau du Roi, France hanging in my home) - so we decided to use that for our business card. We're heading to a conference in Seattle in a few weeks, and we wanted a card that would really stick out from the rest of the industry (and within the internet/interactive industries, there's quite a bit of creativity) and leave an impression.
If you think that card is awesome, wait until you see our new company t-shirts.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
The shit is going to hit the fan again
Yesterday afteroon on the radio I heard a commercial for a local company, 'Triangle Pool and Whatever' - 'Raleigh economists say that the economy is going to make a rebound this summer, so now is the time to buy a new pool or spa. Pay nothing now! No interest for XYZ months!'
I had to laugh, because I figured that the whole, buy on credit, pay later phase was kind of nipped in the butt by the economic recession.
I get that the pool company needs to make its money, but where's my pool payment plan if I lose my job?
I had to laugh, because I figured that the whole, buy on credit, pay later phase was kind of nipped in the butt by the economic recession.
I get that the pool company needs to make its money, but where's my pool payment plan if I lose my job?
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
MBA Update
So I decided to defer admission to South Carolina for a year to work on business ventures (and to set myself up a bit better financially to take at least two years off). I may reapply to some of the other schools I was rejected from (which means retaking the GMAT and taking some math courses to improve the quantitative aspect of my applications) and apply to a few new schools as well.
My interest in marketing has grown substantially (I no longer want to completely abandon the field) and I think focusing on that (as I know quite a bit more about online marketing) aspect of my business school applications might help strengthen my candidacy. I'm also a lot more interested in e-commerce, as I've worked more closely with our clients in that respect. (I know Simon has a pretty solid e-commerce program too).
Of course, if my start up actually takes off, I may never need business school (but I'm not holding my breath). Until then, I'll try to add more posts here regularly - about the progress on my book, perhaps some editorial pieces, and other stuff to try to get more people here reading and commenting (thanks to those of you who have, by the way!).
My interest in marketing has grown substantially (I no longer want to completely abandon the field) and I think focusing on that (as I know quite a bit more about online marketing) aspect of my business school applications might help strengthen my candidacy. I'm also a lot more interested in e-commerce, as I've worked more closely with our clients in that respect. (I know Simon has a pretty solid e-commerce program too).
Of course, if my start up actually takes off, I may never need business school (but I'm not holding my breath). Until then, I'll try to add more posts here regularly - about the progress on my book, perhaps some editorial pieces, and other stuff to try to get more people here reading and commenting (thanks to those of you who have, by the way!).
Tiger Woods
A number of years ago, as a bright-faced, take-on-the-world college freshman, I wanted to write an editorial piece entitled: "Why Tiger Woods should be hit by a bus" for my college newspaper.
I never ended up finishing that piece, not only because my editor was a little more pragmatic than me and wouldn't have let it been published anyway but because I would have felt even worse if Tiger Woods was actually hit by a bus (and wielding cosmic powers like that would've gone straight to my head).
My point was that (and still is to some extent), that enough with "the hype." There was so much press surrounding Tiger in 2002/2003 (and before, and after) and I was tired of hearing it all. Great. Tiger was winning EVERYTHING. Fantastic. In a sport that I didn't really care about at the time (and for the most part, still don't).
Tiger Woods was the Harry Potter of golf. Especially if you grew up in golf country like I did. Other sports have superstars, but Tiger Woods was the lone supernova of the golf world. Just like Harry Potter was there for a few years (now supplanted by the Twilight series).
Now that I am older, wiser, and more sober than I was during my college years - I realize that Tiger Woods and Harry Potter have their purposes in life. Harry Potter, whether or not you like the book or the hype, has probably led to numerous kids who've fallen in love with reading and books because of the book series. Though you can complain about *what* these people are reading, you can't really complain about anything that leads to kids reading.
Likewise with Tiger, you could have complained (as I did) that he wins everything and makes the sport uninteresting to follow. But now I watch him play (when I never had before) because I want to see him dominate the sport. And if he doesn't win, it means that someone else rose to the challenge - someone else whose golf career I can take an interest in (such as Rocco Mediate).
After last year's epic victory on ONE GOOD KNEE - it's hard root against Tiger. Of course, I feel bad for every kid out there whose dad thinks his son is going to be the next Tiger, but some kid(s) out there might come close. Hopefully they won't have to grow up with the same hype though.
I never ended up finishing that piece, not only because my editor was a little more pragmatic than me and wouldn't have let it been published anyway but because I would have felt even worse if Tiger Woods was actually hit by a bus (and wielding cosmic powers like that would've gone straight to my head).
My point was that (and still is to some extent), that enough with "the hype." There was so much press surrounding Tiger in 2002/2003 (and before, and after) and I was tired of hearing it all. Great. Tiger was winning EVERYTHING. Fantastic. In a sport that I didn't really care about at the time (and for the most part, still don't).
Tiger Woods was the Harry Potter of golf. Especially if you grew up in golf country like I did. Other sports have superstars, but Tiger Woods was the lone supernova of the golf world. Just like Harry Potter was there for a few years (now supplanted by the Twilight series).
Now that I am older, wiser, and more sober than I was during my college years - I realize that Tiger Woods and Harry Potter have their purposes in life. Harry Potter, whether or not you like the book or the hype, has probably led to numerous kids who've fallen in love with reading and books because of the book series. Though you can complain about *what* these people are reading, you can't really complain about anything that leads to kids reading.
Likewise with Tiger, you could have complained (as I did) that he wins everything and makes the sport uninteresting to follow. But now I watch him play (when I never had before) because I want to see him dominate the sport. And if he doesn't win, it means that someone else rose to the challenge - someone else whose golf career I can take an interest in (such as Rocco Mediate).
After last year's epic victory on ONE GOOD KNEE - it's hard root against Tiger. Of course, I feel bad for every kid out there whose dad thinks his son is going to be the next Tiger, but some kid(s) out there might come close. Hopefully they won't have to grow up with the same hype though.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Simon Says?
So I thought I was done with the MBA application process (and to a large extent, I still do think I am done) but then I received an email this past weekend from the Dean of the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester.
Now, I know this wasn't intended as a personal note - he probably cut/paste the same message to anyone who had started an online application but hadn't finished said application. Actually, he probably didn't even have to do that! Some sort of email program probably did it automagically.
But I figured, hey, if the Dean at least *acts* interested, it has to be worth looking into. He encouraged me to apply (and I received an application fee waiver earlier, so I wouldn't be spending anything more than the time on the application) and mentioned a lot of the notable alums from their "Early Leaders" program - and it was quite an impressive list. (I have yet to see any such list from USC).
He's supposed to put me in touch with some alums/current students as well as the admissions department. Of course, having already been accepted into an MBA program, I think I'll feel a lot less pressure if I go through another application process. I'd also appreciate an honest assessment from the school's admissions department on my chances of being accepted - but I don't know how plausible that is. My GMAT is on the low end of the average score spectrum (the low end of the the middle 80%) and my GPA is right at the bottom of the class average. Granted, I write kick ass essays, and will have good recommendations (but everyone has good rec's) - so outside of scores and statements, it'd be the interview and how I present myself.
I'm just waiting to hear back from them now (though the Dean did send me two follow up emails later in the day after my response, so at least I know he is interested afterward).
Now, I know this wasn't intended as a personal note - he probably cut/paste the same message to anyone who had started an online application but hadn't finished said application. Actually, he probably didn't even have to do that! Some sort of email program probably did it automagically.
But I figured, hey, if the Dean at least *acts* interested, it has to be worth looking into. He encouraged me to apply (and I received an application fee waiver earlier, so I wouldn't be spending anything more than the time on the application) and mentioned a lot of the notable alums from their "Early Leaders" program - and it was quite an impressive list. (I have yet to see any such list from USC).
He's supposed to put me in touch with some alums/current students as well as the admissions department. Of course, having already been accepted into an MBA program, I think I'll feel a lot less pressure if I go through another application process. I'd also appreciate an honest assessment from the school's admissions department on my chances of being accepted - but I don't know how plausible that is. My GMAT is on the low end of the average score spectrum (the low end of the the middle 80%) and my GPA is right at the bottom of the class average. Granted, I write kick ass essays, and will have good recommendations (but everyone has good rec's) - so outside of scores and statements, it'd be the interview and how I present myself.
I'm just waiting to hear back from them now (though the Dean did send me two follow up emails later in the day after my response, so at least I know he is interested afterward).
Thursday, February 19, 2009
USC Update
So, the University of South Carolina IMBA program begins in FIVE MONTHS!!! Those aren't really exclamation points of excitement as much as bewilderment. I have so much to do to prepare. Fill out forms (FAFSA, academic common market, change of address), terminate my lease, transfer my utilities (or cancel them), find a new place to live in Columbia, etc.
I might need another suit too, since I just have the one right now... alas, I'm not looking particularly forward to the suit wearing.
I'm also trying to get my own side business running that I can maintain easily while a student. I'm thinking if I get this off the ground I can pay my way through school (and even come out with some savings!)
I've been reading a lot lately - but I think I might have to put the books on the backburner because I don't think I'm going to have much time to work on mine once I start class.
I might need another suit too, since I just have the one right now... alas, I'm not looking particularly forward to the suit wearing.
I'm also trying to get my own side business running that I can maintain easily while a student. I'm thinking if I get this off the ground I can pay my way through school (and even come out with some savings!)
I've been reading a lot lately - but I think I might have to put the books on the backburner because I don't think I'm going to have much time to work on mine once I start class.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
MBA Updates
Ok - so SMU said no, but USC (the University of South Carolina) said yes - which means, Columbia here I come! I'm debating between pursuing the Chinese track (which requires an additional year of study abroad, which could be fun, but the Chinese language is also a more difficult) or the Spanish track (I already have some Spanish background, and it will certainly continue to be useful within the United States and Latin America).
Additionally, USC is ranked higher (in the recent Financial Times survey) than both SMU *and* Notre Dame (Colorado isn't even listed). It was also ranked as the #2 international business MBA program IN THE WORLD. So it's not like South Carolina isn't a good program. Sure, it could probably benefit from a couple changes here and there, but with the added bonus of receiving in-state tuition via the Academic Common Market, there's probably not going to be a better deal for me.
Additionally, USC is ranked higher (in the recent Financial Times survey) than both SMU *and* Notre Dame (Colorado isn't even listed). It was also ranked as the #2 international business MBA program IN THE WORLD. So it's not like South Carolina isn't a good program. Sure, it could probably benefit from a couple changes here and there, but with the added bonus of receiving in-state tuition via the Academic Common Market, there's probably not going to be a better deal for me.
Monday, January 19, 2009
MBA Monday
"Dear Dan,
Thank you for your interest in Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management. Your application was thoroughly reviewed by the Admissions Committee, and a decision was made based on the relative strength and quality of your credentials in comparison to this year's applicant pool.
We regret to inform you that we are unable to offer you a place in the Class of 2011."
A very polite way of saying no.
It also turns out that South Carolina has no set date for informing applicants (after checking on their website) so I sent a brief note to my interviewer asking for a general idea of when I could expect a decision. About 45 minutes later I received an email from someone in the Office of Career Management asking to arrange a phone interview. She said this is a common practice for applicants with 'limited' work experience. I suppose this is good because it means that my application is still being considered.
I'm preparing an outline of what to talk about so that I'm ready for any questions about my career to date (such as 'job hopping'), career goals (short term, long term, etc.), and my application in general. I will ace this interview tomorrow at 1:30 PM.
I also need to send a follow-up note to Southern Methodist University as well andclarify some issues with my application.
Thank you for your interest in Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management. Your application was thoroughly reviewed by the Admissions Committee, and a decision was made based on the relative strength and quality of your credentials in comparison to this year's applicant pool.
We regret to inform you that we are unable to offer you a place in the Class of 2011."
A very polite way of saying no.
It also turns out that South Carolina has no set date for informing applicants (after checking on their website) so I sent a brief note to my interviewer asking for a general idea of when I could expect a decision. About 45 minutes later I received an email from someone in the Office of Career Management asking to arrange a phone interview. She said this is a common practice for applicants with 'limited' work experience. I suppose this is good because it means that my application is still being considered.
I'm preparing an outline of what to talk about so that I'm ready for any questions about my career to date (such as 'job hopping'), career goals (short term, long term, etc.), and my application in general. I will ace this interview tomorrow at 1:30 PM.
I also need to send a follow-up note to Southern Methodist University as well andclarify some issues with my application.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
The waiting game...
So today I hear back from Vanderbilt and South Carolina regarding whether or not I get accepted... I'm hoping for some good news, and I'll probably be refreshing my email inbox every two minutes until I receive my notification letters. Work productivity will probably be pretty low today...
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
SMU
So I visited Dallas yesterday to interview at Southern Methodist University's (SMU) Cox School of Business. I was actually quite impressed with the campus and the people. Everyone was very friendly, I don't think I walked past a single person who didn't say hello. Of course, I was wearing my suit (and no one else save the professor was) so I probably stuck out as a prospective student (that and the fact that the program is sort of small, so everyone knows everyone).
I really enjoyed the class I sat in on, and was once again able to answer (correctly) a question that the professor posed to the class (which hopefully makes me stick out at least to the student ambassador, though I hope that the professor was so taken by my mad skills that he walked up to the admissions director and was like, 'let that kid in').
What impressed me the most though was the students involvement in other services that the program provides, such as their "Business Leadership Center" where students can take seminars on all sorts of subjects - to either get a taste of a potential class to enroll in, to supplement their own coursework, or just to get titles such as "Dean's Circle" on their resume. SMU also has the American Airlines Global Leadership Program (AAGLP) where they pay just about all your expenses (sorry, bar tab not included) and send you abroad for two weeks after your first year (to Europe, India, China, or Latin America) to learn about businesses working in those countries (or from those countries). It's a graduate requirement, which I think is pretty interesting (most schools have no required international component). Also, the Dallas area is apparently very much behind SMU and a lot of executives serve as mentors for the MBA students, which is pretty helpful when you're trying to build a business network.
I could definitely see myself at SMU.
I really enjoyed the class I sat in on, and was once again able to answer (correctly) a question that the professor posed to the class (which hopefully makes me stick out at least to the student ambassador, though I hope that the professor was so taken by my mad skills that he walked up to the admissions director and was like, 'let that kid in').
What impressed me the most though was the students involvement in other services that the program provides, such as their "Business Leadership Center" where students can take seminars on all sorts of subjects - to either get a taste of a potential class to enroll in, to supplement their own coursework, or just to get titles such as "Dean's Circle" on their resume. SMU also has the American Airlines Global Leadership Program (AAGLP) where they pay just about all your expenses (sorry, bar tab not included) and send you abroad for two weeks after your first year (to Europe, India, China, or Latin America) to learn about businesses working in those countries (or from those countries). It's a graduate requirement, which I think is pretty interesting (most schools have no required international component). Also, the Dallas area is apparently very much behind SMU and a lot of executives serve as mentors for the MBA students, which is pretty helpful when you're trying to build a business network.
I could definitely see myself at SMU.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Waitlisted!?
WTF mates!?
So I received my admissions decision from the University of Colorado's Leeds School of Business MBA program. This time [thankfully] I wasn't denied [rejected outright] by the admissions committee. I was told that my application was "not as competitive as the current batch of candidates they are currently admitting" on the basis of my quantitative skills (GMAT score and collegiate math scores). They suggested I retake the GMAT or enroll in a finite math class ... ugh.
My hopes are that the three schools remaining all take me (hehe) or at least a few of them do, leaving me with a choice. I think the equation would look like:
Acceptance Letters from Vanderbilt + SMU + South Carolina != Attending Colorado even if Accepted.
So I received my admissions decision from the University of Colorado's Leeds School of Business MBA program. This time [thankfully] I wasn't denied [rejected outright] by the admissions committee. I was told that my application was "not as competitive as the current batch of candidates they are currently admitting" on the basis of my quantitative skills (GMAT score and collegiate math scores). They suggested I retake the GMAT or enroll in a finite math class ... ugh.
My hopes are that the three schools remaining all take me (hehe) or at least a few of them do, leaving me with a choice. I think the equation would look like:
Acceptance Letters from Vanderbilt + SMU + South Carolina != Attending Colorado even if Accepted.
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