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Microsoft SEO Summit Recap

Jun 28, 2007 Conferences, Lectures, MSN, Search Engine Marketing

Larry Sanger, the co-founder of Wikipedia and now owner of Citizendium spoke last Friday at Microsoft’s first SEO Summit. The summit provided search engine optimization techniques geared at improving rankings on all engines and not just on live.com. It is interesting to see Microsoft internally promoting Search Engine Optimization strategies to leverage the already existing content. However, It was also a wake up call to see the amount of opportunity to implement the basic SEO techniques to some of the major web properties.

A sample search of “Mobile Devices” in MSN ranks Microsoft’s webpage on mobile devices as the number 4th position. Searching for the same keywords in Google ranks Microsoft’s webpage as the first position. This could be both a SEO issue or a search relevancy issue. It will be interesting to see what happens with the upcoming improvements of Live.

Here are my highlights of Larry Sanger’s presentation at Microsoft’s SEO Summit.

How to create more traffic using a Web 2.0 community:

• Provide useful content. If you want to succeed in an online community you must develop a readership by providing useful content.
• Viral growth is the key. In order to make your site viral you must motivate others to participate. Organize from the bottom up. Motivate people to participate. Each contributor of Wikipedia felt some ownership of the content that they help created. Writers get excited when acknowledged by the community for contributing. Senger states “the reason people like contributing to Wikipedia because it is a rush when people comment, the more egos invested the more important it seems.”

How to make a Web 2.0 community work?

• Senger’s goal in creating Citizendium is to provide the world with higher quality content. Each member is required to use real names and not use pseudonyms to establish credibility. Although Wikipedia provides plenty of information, academics deem it lacks credibility. I find it as a good “starting point,” however, I would not go as far as to submit it in the footnotes for my end of year thesis.
• The content should be “spiderable.” Having a login for your subscription based content is fine if you can find the balance between monetizing premium content and making it easily indexed and “searchable.” Your site will attract more subscribers if users can find the information they are looking for. Also if you do require a registration, make it easy and efficient.

How can one create a viral project?

Elements of a compelling project

• The content must be worthwhile and interesting. The more niche a site or potential demand the better.
• Make the process of contribution must be easy. Digg has a successful rating system. Either Digg this or don’t, thumbs up or thumbs down. This point is often overlooked. A book I recommend reading for those involved in any part of website creation is Steven Krug’s book, Don’t Make Me Think. Website usability should come first.
• Simplicity of concept. For example, Wikipedia is an encyclopedia and it is not a mash up of you tube, etc…

Make it a public project

• Free (open) content is the best way to make it viral.
• Nonprofit helps too.
• Advertising-free is another bonus.
• Make the inner workings of a design open. For example, Firefox. It is also going to be interesting to see developers working with extending the Facebook application.

Create an attractive governance system

• Provide enough rules that the game is playable, people will then be interested in tweaking the rules.
• Participants need structure. Make it clear for them to know what to do (ex. Digg, thumbs up or thumbs down)
• Again have rewards of various sorts. Bear in mind you’re setting up a community. You’re a politician; your job is complicated.

Sanger’s presentation on creating a successful Web 2.0 site are basic but often overlooked. I would have liked to have more discussion around mission of new Web 2.0 sites. Where if any does the business model come in to play? The balance of creating an online community and making a profit. How does a large organization like Microsoft leverage existing platforms, Live, MSN Spaces, Hotmail and Messenger to develop a fully engaged community?

Best regards,

Bernard R. Ablola

See you at the top!

My First Day At The New Job and Why I Need My Own Jet and Off to Chicago

Jun 18, 2007 Dan Kennedy, Marketing, Ron LeGrand

Just touching down in Cleveland.

I’ve made a major move in the past few weeks, and I haven’t been able to talk about it until now. Today, the official department announcement was made, as of July 3rd I will no longer be the Internet Marketing Manager of MPS. We’ve made a ton of progress in the last year and a half at the group, and I will miss all the great people on my team.

With that said, I’m very excited to tell you about my unofficial first day at my new job, working with one of the most successful information marketing legends in business today. Just 18 days ago I replied to an add on online and today I boarded a private jet, brainstormed with one of the sharpest marketing minds alive today, on our way to an exclusive, two day, members only - closed door mastermind event, with a room full of multimillionaire entrepreneurs and the living legend himself, Dan Kennedy. How’s that for a good start.

I don’t officially start until July 9^th, but I’m sure that after these next two days my brain will be buzzing in a million different directions and I will have notebooks full of ideas to put to work.

The event goes until Wednesday, and after that I will be right off to Chicago for the American Marketing Association (AMA) Search Engine Marketing Event - the notes of which I will be sure to post on SEMJax.org. It’s a sold out event and pretty good line up of speakers. I know Stephan Spenser won’t dissappoint, and Neil always has some good stuff to share on social media. And with another recent career change, I wonder if Vanessa Fox will be there, representing Google as planned.

Unfortunately, after flying on the private jet, my Southwest flight to Chi-town will be a big disappointing “back to reality”. It’s so nice being able to walk right on to the plane, take a seat in any one of the huge comfy leather seats, and walk right off with a car waiting at the end of the stairs to take me to my hotel.

I may or may not post notes from the inner circle event. I wouldn’t want to give away any trade secrets… shhh! But keep an eye out just in case.

Tags: Dan Kennedy, Direct Response Marketing, Kennedy Platinum Inner Circle, Ron LeGrand

StomperNet Free Trial Review - Why I Cancelled and Search Engine Marketing Resources

Jun 18, 2007 Internet Marketing, Search Engine Marketing

Scamhunter wanted my later thoughts on StomperNet. There is a pretty good review on his site of his experience in the program.

So I cancelled my subscription, and here’s why. There is a ton of great information on the site from videos, audios, active forums and instructors. The information that StomperNet provides is great for someone just starting out with an online business or Search Engine Marketing. I wish I had a resource like this 5 years ago. That being said, for someone who has been around the Internet and search engine marketing world a while may not come out of the program with that much, at least within the first 30 days. For the $1 dollar trial members, after the first 30 days, the offered a limited program for $97 per month instead of the full $800 or so per month program. Personally, I could not justify the value of the $97 per month subscription.

If you are looking to learn about search engine optimization and don’t have the $97 per month to blow, consider Aaron Wall’s SEO Book as a good start and is always up to date. I’ve had the book for sometime now and it’s rock solid information. If you don’t want to pitch out for the book just yet, his blog is filled with deep insights.

Speaking of SEO Blogs, be sure to check out SEOMoz. Rand and his team spit out blog post gold. They even to videos every Friday. They also have a premium membership, of which I’m a member, that allows you to have access to books, and resources only available to subscribers.

But Of course, if you want to spend money on your search engine marketing education, the best investment you can make is a round of beer at a conference!

BTW. If anyone is in the North Florida area and wants to talk search from me or other talented professionals in Jacksonville check out the Search Engine Marketing Association or Jacksonville, FL (SEMJAX.org).

That’s enough for now, I’m leaving on a Jet Plane. Exciting changes but more on that in a later post.

Tags: Internet Marketing, Search Marketing, SEO, Stompernet

Watch Out Seattle - Here Comes Trouble

Jun 3, 2007 Conferences, Family, Search Engine Marketing, Seattle

The Ablola Brothers are in town and up to no good!

After the delayed flights, and lost luggage, my wife and I finally touched down in the Emerald City late Wednesday night. Bernard has been a great host, showing us his neighborhood, taking us on the MS tour, and exploring the touristy spots of downtown Seattle (pictures to come). The weather here has been amazing. Luckily we missed the downpours from Tropical Storm Berry, back home.

It’s Sunday morning and the Search Marketing Expo events begin this evening, kicking off with the Search Bash sponsored by MS. The plan for the day is to explore the festival at Pikes Place Market before checking into the hotel and getting my business game face on.

See you all at SMX.

Tags: Bernard, Francis, Search Marketing Expo, Seattle, SMX, Space Needle