It’s been a horrible 24 hours. I was in night class when my wife sent me a text to let me know that the king of pop had passed away. I couldn’t believe it – It blew my mind but then again he had a stressful life. One I wouldn’t wish on anyone let alone the three children now left without a father.

Moving forward to the title of the post.

I don’t plan to get into the politics of the legend rather the findings from the whole situation. I had a question – who is profiting from the death of him? Who is utilizing the numerous search’s and tweets? It IS possible and in fact it IS being done.

I did a quick search regarding Michael Jackson’s Death:

Michael Jackson's Death Search

{click to make bigger}

Wow…really? I couldn’t believe it so I checked out all the Sponsored Links aaaand:

Profit on Michael Jackson Death

{click to make bigger}

Regardless of the ethical issue of trying to porfit of the man’s death but let’s dig a little deeper shall we?

AdWords and Micheal Jackson's Death

{click to make bigger}

Pretty interesting isn’t it? I can only estimate at this time that the average CPC will increase over the weekend and when the autobsy results return they will be huge. Why? Well, if you know a popular pop website that runs adsense why not try to get the readers.

What are your thoughts – ethical or just business as usual?

Check out more @ Driven Media Group Blog

Marketing To Michael Jackson’s Death

Earlier today I responded to an email to a co-worker who has a side blog (LDD Blog) about how companies really need to research the searching function of the internet. It got me thinking a little more.

I’ve written about knowing your companies keywords – what is it that you are offering and build your site/content around that. Yet, we need to go a little bit deeper into that. By using Google Analytic’s – Google Webmaster – Google Local Business Center and your cPanel statistics you should know just about everything about your clients.

Google Analytics

I could write a book about the various things you can do with this to see where / how / when people are coming to your website.

- Did you tweet a specific url for a special on a product?

- Did you write a guest post at another site or were you mentioned on a different site?

- Did you Digg / Stumble! / Sphinn / etc?

How long are these people staying and how far in depth are they going. Breaking down each of these statistics only benefits you.

Google Webmaster

Another excellent tool that shouldn’t be held lightly. This will let you know the popular search terms people were finding your site and the position you were ranked in it. If you have a site about “needle nose pliers” and you’re 4th on the search for “nose pliers” – it’ll allow you look over your competition and how they’ve made 1-2-3rd place above you.

In doing all that though you need to double check a few items such as:

- How is your sitemap?

- Is your site verified?

- Does it navigate well or do you have several hundred categories and just as many sub-categories yet not that much content?

- Do you have any ‘warnings’ – 404’s // 301’s // etc?

Knowing this type of information will let you know what is working and specifically what isn’t on your site. It’s great so you don’t have to check each page – each link. That can be tedious if you’re content grows.

Google Local Business Center

Something new Google has offered is reports which can be extremely useful if you have a brick and mortar business or if people just want to know “more information” about your company. While before this they just showed basic statistics (impressions / actions) and offered “coupon” options.

Now, with reports you can find out all sorts of great items:

- Are people looking for reviews on your business?

- Are people interested in your business hours / types of payments?

- Are people looking for directions to your business?

Just a few items and once again it shows the top queries on how users came to it. I will be keeping a close on this particular feature in the coming weeks just to see how effective it can be.

cPanel Information

What does your control panel say statistically? Are users just going to one item on your site to get information or coming by accident? Is your db (database) running slow when people are doing simple search’s WITHIN your site: what ARE they searching for?

Answer these questions along with the previous data and you know now how exactly your clients are.

- How they’re coming to your site -

- What they are looking for -

- How long they are staying -

- What specially they are looking for -

Without Speaking To Them!

What say you? You’re thoughts on the subject?

Check out more @ Driven Media Group Blog

Know The Search – Know Your Clients

It’s a simple question with no simple answer. A domain name if you have figured it out just yet is the website address or referred to as an URL. A domain can say a lot about you and your products brand and/or service. It tells possible customers how you’re associated with the product.

A question that explore this question would be – would you rather buy from “Ebay.com” or “Ebay.Blogspot.com”? If you were searching for Zune software (as I’ve been doing recently) would you download the software from “Mp3Software.com” or “ZuneForum.com”?

The abvoius answer is that of straight to the point in reference domain.

When doing business online we need to make sure our domain name says something about our product/service. Is it our brand? Does it represent us? These are important questions and need to be answered before going online. When starting a business you didn’t just “pick” a business name – you developed one. The same principles come into effect when picking a domain name.

When I picked Driven Media Group LLC for my business I had an idea behind it. I knew where it was going (and still do) and looked into developing the brand that went with it. One thing I was happy about was going from “Driven Media Group” to “DrivenMG” – you google that and you’ll see nothing BUT Driven Media Group information. The point was to become a face to the name. The domain does this same thing.

So, what does your domain say about you?

Check out more @ Driven Media Group Blog

What’s In A Domain Name

Majority of people will search a business online. They want to read reviews (honest reviews – not paid ones like Belkin) to see how the companies products/services really are.

So, last week I set up a basic coupon for a brick and mortar company to test it out. Here are the screen shots I came up as I went thru the procedure.

Where Is It Going

Google Coupon

{click image for better resolution}

Before you get there you need to know how to get there and know what you might expect. Looking at the image you believe that when people search for your business they will be smacked in the face with a coupon. I mean honestly who doesn’t like coupons in today’s tough times? Right?

Would you rather do business with a company you could save 25% from or where you have to pay retail cost for the product/service?

DUH!

Okay, so we now know we want to set up a coupon for your business and the example I am using Dayton Chess Club, an actual brick and mortar business. Of course this type of business will be easier to do but nonetheless I have seen some creative coupons for internet business as well.

Moving forward after speaking with the owners of the Dayton Chess Club we came up with a simple coupon for the following month.

Setting Up The Coupon

Google Coupon Setup

{click image for better resolution}

The steps are pretty easy and pretty self explanatory. The part that I kind of got tricked up in was that I have a few businesses that I manager in my local business center so please make sure you click on the correct location.

The last thing you want is to set up a coupon for 10% off window installation on a location that sells hot dogs…whaaat?!

Hey, it can happen.

Nonetheless fill out the information and try to emphasize exactly what you’re ‘giving’ away (from free coffee to a discount on a product/service).

When you have filled out all the necessary boxes then click update ans save it.

Wait…Wait…SEARCH!

Google Coupon Finished

{click image for better resolution}

Ask my wife and when it comes to online business I want instant gratification. I want a response instantly. If I don’t get it I can become a bear to be around. I’ve gotten better but nonetheless after you’ve input all the information and you think the coupon will show up instantaneously – stop the expectations. While it might show as being approved and you’re all set Google still needs to go through and updates its servers.

So give it some time – if you need to do a coupon quickly then forget it. I’ve read thru the Google forums that it can take up to a week for a coupon to appear. I decided after searching all night for it to give it a rest and checked for thing this morning.

The Coupon Is There, Right?

Searching For The Coupon

{click image for better resolution}

Don’t be like me and expect to see the coupon on the first result when your business comes up. That’s not the way it was set up.

In reality a future (possible) customer will be click on “More Information” to find out…well, more information on your business to see everything from what people are saying about you to what kind of products and or services you offer.

So, don’t automatically assume, as I did, first thing this morning when I searched for the business and didn’t see the coupon.

From when you click on “More Information” it is here that you will hopefully see the fruits of your labor.

My Coupon Is Alive

My Coupon!!!

{click image for better resolution}

After you geek out and try to high five your computer screen (Hey! I know I’m not the only one…right?) examine how people are viewing the information.

Does it look right – does the headline capture your attention? The last thing you want to do is go back and delete the coupon and start all over.

That’s one of the good things about the set up of the coupon it gives you an actual read out of what the coupon will look like. Yet, if you are anything like me you might not believe that until it’s actually live and people are calling you up asking about the coupon (it does happen so be ready)

So, how does the coupon look when it’s all said and done?

Ah I’m so glad you asked because now all someone has to do is actually click on the coupon link and….

The Final Result

The Result of Hard Work

{click image for better resolution}

Done – Done – Done!

Test it out for your own business and check out the results. I will be looking over the Dayton Chess Club to see how many people use the coupon before it expires.

Don’t forget to push the coupon out on your site as well – I’ll cover this in a future post later this week.

Let me know how it works for you and your business. I’m always eager to hear how well (or at all) works out in these tough times.

Check out more @ Driven Media Group Blog

How To Use Google Coupons On Local Business Center

Back in October I wrote a post on how to put your business on all the top mapping sites (google maps, yahoo, msn, mapquest) and since then I am amazed of how effective it has been. I did it for myself and the Dayton Chess Club (brick and morter business) and as you can see the results are ‘great‘ but could be better (I don’t like to settle).

Here is a quick screen shot of searching for the company.

Results with Maps

{click image for better resolution}

This is excellent for brick and morter businesses. You can input the hours open and all the contact information you want.

Yet, why do it? The easiest response would be again, why not? Don’t you want people to get a hold your business? The first thing people are doing today is search your business and what happens when this is the first result? Great things!

Now onto the back end of things.

How well is it REALLY working?

{click image for better resolution}

So, you took the time to put your company “on the map” and now you want to see the results. Well, here you go. You’re getting “good” impressions and minimal views but then again people could just be clicking directly on the url (www.daytonchessclub.com) instead of the “more info” related link. Which is fine but we want to encourage this though so we would look just below on the Google Local Business Center and what do we see?

Google Local Business Center Options

{click image for better resolution}

From here you can create FREE coupons and FREE products/events on Google Base (which I’ll be covering later).

Now, if you have the dough then you could create an adword campaign but then again why pay first when you have all these FREE options?

Check out more @ Driven Media Group Blog

From Google Maps to Company Coupons

If you haven’t created a profile for yourself on Google then I suggest you stop reading now and do so immediately. Seriously, this could be the one thing that shows you in the light that you WANT to be in.

Go to Google and search your name and see what the results are. A few years ago I would do that for myself and I think I found myself on page 5 from my Myspace page that I have no longer really maintain. Do it now and I’m in some way related to the top 10 results ranging from LinkedIn – Facebook – Twitter and most importantly my personal blog/main site.

The greatest thing though is setting up a profile WITH Google (mine can be seen at http://www.google.com/profiles/nathan.driver) which would show:

Get Your Google On

{click image for better resolution}

So, why set up yet ANOTHER profile online? The question should be WHY NOT?! This is done thru the most popular search engine out there and they over specific profile names and links to your sites. Add in the effect of linking from your site (blog) back to the profile (such as I’m doing in this very article) and you have a back-linking. The correspondence will only enhance your rankings in the Google.

So, don’t ask WHY you should be doing this rather look at all the pro’s that you can benefit from utilizing it. It’s your decision on how you want Google to see you – I prefer to myself and my brand (company) in the good light.

I’ve actually had friends find me this way because they haven’t joined Facebook or LinkedIn just yet…I still don’t know why. Nonetheless the power behind it can be great if used properly so my question to you all: what do you want Google to say about you?

Check out more @ Driven Media Group Blog

What Does Google Say About You

I’ve been reviewing Google Adwords: Keyword Tool and while I brought it up before when reviewing the time frame for launching a campaign it’s time to get to specifics on keywords.

Putting up a site (for the example we’ll keep with the “chess” niche) and littering with nothing BUT top adwords in that particular category won’t sprint you to the top of the results.  The game plan is to start small (specific) and work your way to the big time (general).

Get As Specific As Possible

In our example we are using a chess niche site. So, some great examples of specific targeted keywords would be:

hand carved wooden chess set pieces

wooden hand carved chess set pieces

wooden chess set pieces hand carved

now while the top ’searches’ are for “wooden chess set” there are a few out there looking for the specifics and whose site comes up first? That’s right YOURS!

Lose A Word At A Time

Now, after a few weeks (heck I’d say 60 days) of allowing Google crawl your site and indexing your words start pinpointing the specific keywords. Go from the above mentioned to leaving out “hand“.

Do not remove the keywords you already have in-place. That last thing you want to do is possible be removed from that search string (what people are searching for) and your no longer there.

Do this each month and soon you’ll be down to “wooden chess set” and you’ll be ranking in no time.

Using Specific Keywords

In this image I made sure to bring up the ‘lowest’ (i.e. not enough data) for search volume.

What do that mean to you?

It means to Google that those specific keywords aren’t that important enough to be tracked by them…yet.

The first one is “youtube chess” – put in the search and you get 2.4 million results.  Getting a little more specific like “youtube chess openings” and it drops down to 58,000. Getting a little MORE specific like “top youtube chess openings” it’s down to 45,800. Let’s try one more – “top 10 youtube chess openings” gives us 33,400

So, from 2.4 million to 33,400 – not bad uh?

Try your hand at it and let me know how it works out.

Check out more @ Driven Media Group Blog

Beating Your Competition In Specific Keywords

Okay, so yesterday we went over how to find out who exactly your PAID competition was so the next step is reviewing their site and listing off pro’s and con’s as to when development for your own comes into play.

Here is the first one:

Review Your Competition

{click image for better resolution}

Now, I’m only reviewing the ‘top fold’ (that is what you first see when you come to the website). First off the images grab your attention a little TOO big (for my taste). That’s not the biggest problem with the site however. There is no CALL-TO-ACTION on their main page.

A call-to-action tells views to “Buy Here” or a “Click Here” or even a “Purchase Here“. Customers need their hands held as much as possible BUT not being talked down to. It’s not hard but yet so many companies fail to do this.

Apparently they are having a Spring Sale but it’s not even highlighted that well. People want to see “SALE” that’s where retail stores excel in. The contact information is barely legible on the top right corner. The menu bar is basically non-existent. Speaking of which the text under the main navigation – you can’t read it – why even have it there.

Ok – that was the con’s (if you haven’t noticed) now allow me to go into what I think they got going for themselves. Their logo is the top left which is the first thing people see. That is great for branding purposes. Now, while the “Mcafee Secure” image is small it is a GREAT thing that shows possible customers that when they do shop online they will be protected.

On to example two:

Checking Out The Competition

{click image for better resolution}

Wow, what a big difference. A lot more cleaner and crisp layout. Call to action buttons (left menu bar) are fantastic. I know you can’t tell but the large item of the chess pieces and board are actually a featured content meaning there are several images that scroll through. I’m a fan of these for information and e-zine sites but not sure about a shopping one really. Nonetheless they used the top fold really good making sure that the featured content scroller did not overlap.

While they do have a cleaner look I wonder if the white space could’ve been used better. I have to scroll down the site to see anything about the security of purchasing online from them. People need to be aware that when they buy from you online they are doing so with peace of mind.

My question to you all – which one would you buy from website #1 or #2 – why?

Check out more @ Driven Media Group Blog

Reviewing Your Competitions Website

Online competition can prove to be healthy or it can hurt you. It is you who determines which ones happens. Yesterday I wrote about the “WHEN” of marketing/advertising a product – today is going to be focused on competition – part of the “WHO” portion while the other part is based on possible customers.

Search Results for "Chess Set"

This is done simple by searching for something you might be providing. As I did yesterday I’ll be going with “Chess Set” since that is the area I’m going to break into in the coming months. As you can see they have quite an extensive list of results: 1.78 million along with the paid advertisers.

{click image for better resolution}

Right now I’m going to focus on the ‘paid’ portion because customers are automatically going to see them first. They are at the top after all, right?

Sponsored Links for "Chess Set"

So, by going to ’sponsored links’ it brings us to this. Holy cow – that’s a lot of paid advertisers right? I didn’t say it would be easy now, did I?

{click image for better resolution}

While a 150 results might seem like a lot the focus is on the first few pages because on all respect just like ‘organic results’ i.e. non-paid results – people don’t go past the first 2nd or 3rd page. So from here the next step is to examine the top 36 results.

The best way to do this is by going to each of their site and reviewing their layout and making notes. Where are they excelling and where are their pitfalls. Go through the order process and ask yourself if it feels ’secure’. Is the site offering anything else for you or is just a shopping cart? What about the colors and the usability of it?

These are all questions that need to be asked for your competition so that when its your turn you can excel on all points of interest.

Tomorrow I will be going through some of these sponsored sites and showing you exactly what I mean in detail and please feel free to let me know if I’m wrong on any points.

Check out more @ Driven Media Group Blog

Knowing Your Paid Competition

Basic question and the easiest answer is ‘all the time‘ yet that’s not always the case. As I’m working on developing a new niche site that will hopefully takeover the ‘chess’ niche I did some preliminary resource.

Using Google Adwords I wanted to know when exactly the best time frame was to publish the site and then from there I would be able to say 60-90 days prior to that. I say that so that Google/Yahoo/MSN/etc will have time to index the site and market it proberly.

Chess Boards - AdWords Keyword Tracker

I found something interesting that I hope you all do to. If you look at the image you will that majority of the search’s are done around December. One guess why – Christmas! If you know someone who knows a chess player the only time they are looking for ‘chess boards’ are right around the time they would purchase one. Hence the result of December being the highest volume occurred in.

{click image for better resolution}

From there you have to make sure your product isn’t just being searched by users (or computers) in India or some foreign country you can’t ship to due to high shipping cost. So, by going to Google Insights you would be able to track down the information you need that correlated with the AdWords Keyword Tracker.

Chess Set - Google Insight

While the “keyword” changed from “chess board” to “chess set” you still see the same information correlated with the high volume. You could even take this information and apply it to marketing towards social media networks. For a quick example – setting up to advertise on Facebook now to display end of November early December, same goes towards other social networks.

{click image for better resolution}

From there you could start pushing the product ‘hard’ in the various mediums but 60-90 days prior have the site index for those specific keywords/phrases.

Google gives you the tools to let you know “when” your product should be marketed but the question is will you be ready?

Check out more @ Driven Media Group Blog

When Is The Best Time To Market Your Product