Hidden Text – It’s All About the Intent

I’ve always had a problem with the hard fast rule of “don’t use hidden text.” Even though it is technically against search engines guidelines, there are valid reasons to hide text. Sites that are developed completely in Flash, pages that are graphic heavy and web designers who want complete control over font styles are just a few examples. Whether for one of these reasons or possibly something not quite so ethical, webmasters have always been warned by both search engines and white hat search marketers that is is risqué. “Go ahead and do it but do so at your own risk.”

Can Your Business Survive Online Without Google?

Can Your Business Survive Online Without Google?

Most web site marketers wouldn’t even consider such a question especially where Google can at times send 50% if not more of a web site’s traffic. How about if you take Yahoo!, MSN and Ask out of the equation as well? Would your business have a chance of attracting traffic and succeeding if these engines were to send you zilch traffic?

U.S. Based Search Marketing Company Steals Content and Spams Web Forums

An individual who apparently works for a search marketing firm based in the United States, has stolen copy that I originally wrote and posted it not once, but multiple times on various web forums. I wrote to them about this in an attempt to get them to either remove the posts or modify them so that my original copy does not appear, however they have ignored my request.

WebmasterWorld and SEO Class Partner Together for “PubCon SEO Class”

WebmasterWorld who produces the PubCon conferences and SEO Class, a newly formed organization providing intimate training experiences in search marketing, are partnering together to produce PubCon SEO Class, coined as a premium Internet marketing training program. These two-day programs will be limited to less than 50 participants and focus on midrange to advanced SEM/SEO curriculum.

Ask Relaunches and Goes 3D

Ask Relaunches and Goes 3D

Ask has made some pretty significant changes over the last year and a half. First they got rid of the butler and now they have gone 3D. This new three dimensional version not only includes a major overhaul of the home page as well as the way search results appear, they have also added a laundry list of new features and resources.

Microsoft To Build a New Search Engine – Yawn

TechCrunch is reporting that Microsoft has gathered a team of twenty or more “rock star” developers who’ve been tasked at building their next generation search engine. Few other details are provided with the exception that the engine would be “horizontal” and will be very cool. My reaction – yawn.

Responding To and Following Up on RFPs (Request For Proposals)

Responding To and Following Up on RFPs (Request For Proposals)

Receiving several RFQs each week not only requires a significant amount of time to respond to them in a timely manner, but requires a strategic follow-up plan to ensure that we give ourselves the best opportunity to secure the new business. I thought I’d write up a post on how we initially respond to them and our process of follow-up.

The Google Acquisition Report Card

Joe Sinkwitz from the Pay Loan Affiliate Blog has put together a “report card” on Google’s acquisition progress over the years. Not only does he list the date, the company and the type of product or service Google acquired, he scores each acquisition as good, bad or mixed.

Elisabeth Osmeloski Leaves Search Engine Watch, Begins New Venture

Sad news out of Search Engine Watch – Elisabeth Osmeloski is leaving her position as Editor to start a new venture with Zonder.com, a vacation rentals company. Zonder is a venture capital funded start-up, based in Salt Lake City where Elisabeth calls home. She will become Director of Online Media for the company.