Common-Sense SEO

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By , July 27, 2009

Search-Engine Optimization is probably the single most profitable “marketing strategy” for most e-commerce retailers. The reason is simple: if your SEO strategy works well, you’ll draw traffic and generate sales, without paying anyone for that privilege. But every day, I find retail e-commerce sites that ignore (or fail at) this critically important strategy. That’s very sad, because in my opinion, effective SEO requires very little more than common sense. (Most other marketing strategies are also more effective if the site is optimized for search engines.) Read more »

Advice for Employers Placing Job Ads

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By , July 26, 2009

Here’s some free advice for employers advertising on Craigslist and other employment web sites.  (I’ve spent a lot of time over the past year in the “jobs” and “gigs” sections of Craigslist.org and other employment web sites — mostly seeking consulting work or employment, but sometimes seeking to hire.) Read more »

Are Real-World Bookstores Doomed?

By , July 25, 2009

July 24, 2009 — I decided this week that “real-world bookstores” really are doomed to a much smaller role in our society. Read more »

Joomla 1.5: A User’s Guide (Barry North)

By , July 24, 2009

July 24, 2009 — Last week, I researched a number of options for “content management systems” and decided to try Joomla. Read more »

Consulting for Web Publishers (Affiliates) – Not.

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By , July 23, 2009

I am often asked by web publishers to advise them (as a paid consultant) on how to monetize their sites, including earning from a variety of advertising strategies and affiliate programs.

But I’ve always said “no” to publisher-side consulting. I sure don’t want to pretend that I’m a “guru” or that I have all the answers, or a secret to success. Read more »

Should All Merchants Adopt the “New York Solution” (Advertising-Nexus Tax Laws)

By , July 9, 2009

Okay, I’m going to leap out on a ledge and suggest something that none of us (in the “affiliate marketing” community) like: Merchants should seriously consider adopting the “New York Solution” for all of their web publishers, whether located in an “Advertising-Nexus” state or not. Read more »

Vent: Employment Ad Scams

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By , June 19, 2009

Since I decided last week to quit working on my ‘datafeed project’ and instead focus on paying the bills, I’ve been browsing some employment sites, and I’ve posted my resume on Craigslist.org. I’ve done all of this before (and I’ve found some great jobs and consulting gigs through Craigslist, which I’ve also used to find a car, a treadmill, a computer — and my wife).

I’m seeing many more “employment ads” that seem to be fake, from companies that aren’t hiring but are merely seeking to promote their web businesses, or fishing for free advice. Read more »

Quick Report: Search Engine Strategies (San Jose)

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By , April 13, 2009

I spent half of my day yesterday visiting the exhibitor booths at the Search Engine Strategies conference in San Jose. My primary goal was to learn more about some of the advanced PPC search management tools, but I was also looking for anything new that might help my clients or me. Read more »

California’s Amazon Tax: AB 178, Sales Tax, and Web Publishers

By , February 28, 2009

California is considering a bill which would effectively terminate advertising by out-of-state merchants on web publications owned by Californians. Read more »

What to Call It? “Amazon Tax” or “Advertising-Nexus Tax Law”

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By , January 7, 2009

What should we (web publishers, merchants, and others in the affiliate-marketing industry) call the unconstitutional law which NY enacted (and which RI, NC, HI, CA, TN, CT, and MN are considering)? Read more »

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