Category: News & Trends

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Use Windows Live Mesh 2011 to Synch Computers

I just tried out this cool Live application last week and wanted to share it with you. It is called Windows Live Mesh 2011. You can get the free Windows application by visiting this Microsoft website. I am using Live Mesh to synch my laptop and my desktop computer as well as my administrative assistant’s computer.

Originally Chris, my assistant, and I were emailing each other files that he had to work on and when he was done he was emailing them back. The problem was when I got busy, I was not sure if I had picked up his updated file and where the most recent version was my computer or his – too complicated to keep track of in our busy office.

I tried synching full folders but found out that the data was just too big for the online storage area and worried about file security. Now I synch a file called “Chris Transfer” by dragging files I want him to work on for the day and then dragging them back to their home at the end of his work week. Although I wish I could synch the full folder to make it easy, this plan is working great for now.

If you need to keep information updated on your laptop for travel or travel with less than your full file load, Live Mesh may be a good answer for you too. Check it out, it’s free.

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Google AdWords Introduces New Ad Text Rotating Options

Boy, this past week has been a busy one for Google; with a new search algorithm released and some nice new improvements for Google AdWords rolled out too. One that I find particularly helpful is the option to select to show ads that generate conversions more frequently.

Previously, the only option you had to show ad text for your ad groups was to rotate the ads (good for A/B testing) and optimize the ads. Optimize is where Google serves the ad with the highest click through more frequently and eventually only shows this one high CTR ad. Unfortunately the ad that sometimes converts the best is not always the ad that has the highest click through rate. Now Google allows you to select to show the ads that convert the best preferentially.

So, how do you set this up? Go to your campaign settings tab in your Google AdWords account. Go nearly to the bottom of the settings page and click open “Ad delivery: Ad rotation, frequency capping”. Then select from the radio buttons there: “

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How Do You Grow Your Twitter Fan Base? Watch Me

I have set up about two weeks ago a Twitter account for our spokesdog. On its own, linked from our website, and promoted in our e-newsletter, her Twitter follower base has grown to a whooping five followers. Two of which are my Twitter accounts.

I am going to teach you and you can watch my efforts, how to grow a Twitter following in the next 30 days. Remember our starting point is 5 followers.

Here are the steps I am taking and I will give you regular updates over the next 30 days.

  1. Set up an account at Social Oomph (they pay me lunch at McDonald’s if you click this link and buy). Add your Twitter account information there and then set up an auto responder and auto follow function for your account. This means if someone follows you on Twitter you automatically follow them.  Twitter is a reciprocal universe. It is not until you are big with over 1,000 followers that you should consider vetting followers or screening who you follow. You can do this on Social Oomph as well. But at this phase we want to BUILD a following fairly quickly. Don’t follow anyone yet!
  2. Now that the automation part is set up start by making sure you are logged in to your Twitter account and start doing searches of people to follow on Twitter. In most cases these people will follow you back. My guideline for new accounts is to select people in your industry or news that your particular followers will find interesting. So for Keebler, we should follow her food supplier – IAMS, her pet toy store – PetSmart, her vet – if he has a Twitter profile (he doesn’t and so really should see me!), and other pet related Twitter sites. I try to find about 75 people to follow to get going.
  3. Now sit back and watch your Twitter Feed using HootSuite or TweetDeck and interact with the people you are following. (Remember HootSuite pays me if you upgrade to Pro when you click this link – but a pittance.) Interaction is key, retweet interesting updates, ask questions, in other words have fun connecting. As you retweet and interact more people will join in the fun.

It is very important to understand that putting your Twitter icon on your website and blog are simply not enough, you must work the system for your Twitter account to grow and it takes time. You don’t want to fill your follower list with spammers, so be thoughtful about who you follow. Think about what other people want to read when they come to your Twitter home page there should be a match between your focus and who you follow.

Now watch www.Twitter.com/askkeebler to see how I am growing this account in action in the next 30 days. Oh by the way if you are on Twitter, come on follow me now help me get Keebler going!

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Google AdWords Tips

There are a few things that I want to share with you that I do to help improve performance routinely for an account. First, if it is at all humanely possible I ask the client to make sure that conversion tracking can be installed so that I can identify the keywords that are generating leads before we even start managing their account. I also ask that they install Google Analytics on their website as well.

Once I am managing their account here are a few things that I do to improve activity and conversions.

1. Week one and two I bid high on keywords to see what Google can do with the account. It is not uncommon for me to use the budget optimizer in campaign settings to allow Google to set the cost per click. I do not usually cap the cost per click amount in the settings in this initial testing phase.

2. I review the keywords that are generating clicks and conversions. I make sure that ad text is created that contains those specific keyword phrases in the exact order that they are shown in the control panel. I have found that by adding new ad text in this fashion I will stimulate additional conversion activity.

3. I routinely review the keywords from search activity both organic and paid from within the Google Analytics control panel. I don’t take a lot of time reviewing Google Analytics, but I do use it as a tool to harvest additional keywords as sometimes new ones and new directions occur in search traffic that can be used to improve activity in Google AdWords.

4. I routinely review the cost per conversion making sure that the cost is below what the client tells me he or she sells their product for. I want AdWords to be profitable and a good return on investment for the client.

5. I try to review the “all search terms” tab regularly in an account looking for new keywords to add and new negative keywords to add to an ad group or campaign to fine tune the program.

In the first four weeks of account activity I review the account every business day, as I have found that what I do in the first four weeks has significant impact on performance and the ability of Google to properly serve the account and maximize activity and conversions.

If you are looking for a Google AdWords Certified Partner who has the experience to make a difference in your lead conversions look no further and take a look at our services and prices.