Archive for March, 2008

As I am sure you all know Google clearly states, by virtue of their actions if nothing else, that bartering for links is fine as long as no money changes hands (and if there are no editorial discrimination issues etc). Using the data that Google has the ability to collect using Webmaster Central and Google Analytics they would quite easily I imagine be able to sniff out what links a site has purchased and take whatever action they please to that site be it drop the pagerank (shutters) or drop your paid words X positions per infringement which I imagine would be sufficient to stop a lot of link buying/selling.

Problem is then how do you get someone with a decent pagerank - or two million people with a less decent pagerank - to actually want to link to your website, publish your media release or your fascinating article on how global warming has affected the hibernation in the local squirrel community?

If you can’t add any value to that person’s website like value to their visitors or just to make them look smart by linking to your site, and honestly how many of us own one of those domains is your only option to pay up and risk the ultimate punishment from the mighty G or be left behind?

There are options if you must buy/sell links - for example you can have the links disguised as AdSense Ads as shown in this SEO Blog or you can request that the link purchase is wrapped within a guest blog post or that fascinating article about the hibernation in the local squirrel community.

Whichever option you go with I would recommend that you watch your step - especially if you use Webmaster Central and Google Analytics. Things will change in the near future, just make sure your SEO efforts are not relying to heavily on these purchased links, it might even be an idea to leave the link building (not buying) to a BDM to whom I think that job belongs anyway.

Best regards from the cradle of Google,
Andreas

Search Marketing Expo (SMX) Sydney destined to be this year’s ‘must attend’ interactive and search engine marketing event of 2008 is taking place this April in Sydney. The SMX is replacing the highly acclaimed Australian Search Summit and is a partnership between Search Strategies and US based Third Door Media, the team that created the world’s first search marketing conference in ‘99 and has since produced more than 50 major events.

The SMX Sydney program features two keynotes from Marissa Mayer, Google’s Vice President for Search Products & User Experience who will be discussing the dramatic changes we have experienced in relation to Google’s Universal Search, Google Maps and Google Streetview in a keynote discussion with SearchEngineLand.com editor-in-chief Danny Sullivan and Barry Smyth, Principal of Search Strategies.

The second day of the event will see Danny Sullivan take the stage once more to discuss “Search 3.0, Search 4.0 and Beyond” where he will touch on the implications of blended search (search 3.0), personalized search (search 4.0) and what’s next for search and search marketing technology.

The event takes place at the Luna Park on April 10-11. Click here to register or to learn more about the event.

According to an article in the Australian marketing magazine AdNews , the Australian online display advertising market is changing. ABN Amro estimate that NineMSN’s share of revenue has decreased from 32% in 2005 to 24% in 2007. However, the challengers such as Fairfax Digital and News Digital Media has seen their share of revenue to increase respectively from 14% to 17% and 8% to 13% over the same period of time.

Lee Stephen, CEO of Aegis Media attributes this loss to a slow move  toward more innovative ad units and a delayed start with social media networks., which resulted in NineMSN to miss out on ‘mass community’ such as MySpace and Facebook.

On the other hand, Fairfax Digital and News Digital Media have made a quicker move by providing premium ad units and capturing more revenues from agencies.

Here is a look at the Top SEO firms based on organic optimization services in Australia for March 2008. Rankings are from topseos.com.

Rankings Australia (March, 2008)

Organic Optimization

1. trainSEM

2. Hot Chilli Media

3. PositionMEonline.

4. ineedhits.com Pty Ltd

5. Glass Onion

6. Net Starter

7. Cogentis Pty Ltd

8. SEO Sydney

9. Sydney FX Pty Ltd

10. Core Digital Media

Ad Tech is Australia’s number 1 interactive event. It takes place every year in Sydney and gathers all the leading players in the Australian digital industry under one roof.

Ad Tech Sydney also host some interesting conferences on topics related to online marketing. This year key speakers include Tony Faure (head of MSN ), Jack Matthew (CEO Faifax Digital) and many more.

In 2008 AdTech takes place on the 12th and 13th of March at the Hilton in Sydney CBD. Click here to register for the event or get more information