Archive for April, 2009

Do you publish Google AdSense ads on your website? If so, do you recall getting a recent email about the privacy changes at Google? I did and I didn’t really pay much attention to it… until today.

I was reminded today (thanks to Jennifer Slegg via Twitter) that today is that last day in which to make your website compliant with Google’s new privacy requirements for AdSense publishers. I know some of you might be saying “but I don’t have a privacy policy” and if that is you, you might want to read the Google AdSense Program Policies which have stated (at least since August of 2008) that and publisher using AdSense must have a privacy policy.

Not having this in place is just one of a host of reasons that Google could ban you or your website from the AdSense program. If you don’t have a privacy policy in place, Jennifer has a sample privacy policy that you can use on your website.

If you are not able to add the privacy policy to one of your sites, ny advice is to remove the AdSense code from that site as it is not worth the risk all of your sites for just one. When Google removes you from their program, there is no coming back (also spelled out in the guidelines).

Have a profitable day!

Well, after a lifetime of PC usage I have to say I have had it with the blue screens, virus attacks against Microsoft, and overall downtime and frustration associated with them.

Today, my lovely laptop (just rebuilt last October) suffered another “fatal error”. I have had many of my Mac friends give me a hard time over the years, but for some lame reason, I just wanted to stick with the Dell product line. This is nothing against Dell, but I am just done with Microsoft.

Like all change, it will take some time to fully decide how to proceed with this rather large change in my world. Hopefully someone from Apple will take me up on my offer to be their newest product evangelist and contact me to discuss the new machine they are sending me. I know they don’t need more product evangelists, but others might attest I am good guy to have in your corner if you want to get your brand out there. Please don’t take that as giving myself accolades; marketing and branding is just what I do.

In closing, here is my letter to Microsoft:

Dear Microsoft, I am ending our relationship. I am sorry to do this through my blog, but Mac has been wooing me (or should I say WOW-ing me) for some time now… and I am finally giving in to a better way of life.

So Mac… I am waiting for your call. And I thank you in advance.

I was talking to a prospective client a while ago and she was fixated on being number one in Google for a highly competitive keyword. It’s not that I didn’t have the ability to help her accomplish this as I have obtained countless top 10 positions in Google over the past decade. Her problem was that she didn’t have the finances to have the work done in order to make it happen.

I tried to help her by crafting an affordable proposal that would get her website found on the search engines for lesser competitive (long tail), but equally effective terms. She seemed to still be fixated on her keyword of choice. I posed the question to her about how much business she thought she would get if she were at the #1 spot. Specifically, I asked her if she was prepared to handle the amount of inquiries and customers she would receive if she was #1 for a high level and highly searched term (knowing that she was not based on the size of her company vs. those in the top 10). Her reply was something to the effect of “that would be a great problem to have.” I agree it would be a problem, but I am not sure it would be a great problem for her.

We talked a bit about her plans to grow her business and she really did not have a plan in place, which I am sure would have sent her into panic if the need arose as quickly as it would have.

There are plenty of stories of companies that have grown too fast to their detriment. There are multitude of reasons, but they all revolve around not having the resources to serve the needs of a massive influx of customers all at once. This all has to do with business planning, which is the first point of failure for most small business owners. You’ve heard the saying I am sure; “people don’t plan to fail, they just fail to plan“.

So my question is not “do you want to be #1 on Google” but rather “are you prepared for what it may look like?”

Most people did not know Google’s CEO (Eric Schmidt) was silently considering stepping down from the helm at Google. As an insider, I am privy to many industry secrets and since I didn’t have to sign a non-disclosure agreement, I figured it was ok to share what will soon be public news.

I was a bit shocked to get the call from Larry & Sergey to discuss what is one of the most sought after CEO positions in the world. I really didn’t expect to be presented with such an amazing opportunity given that I am not a Phd (or a Phd candidate) as are many among the ranks of Google’s leadership, so I was truly honored that I was considered for this esteemed position.

I had a great day visiting the Googleplex and got to meet lots of people that I had just know superficially (Matt Cutts, Marissa Mayer, Vint Cerf, etc.) – all whom I had the chance to personally interview with. They even learned what my favorite foods were (I assume via Google) and had the in-house chef prepare an amazing meal for the interview.

I have been blessed to have some amazing opportunities in this business over the past decade, but in the end, a CEO position just isn’t my thing. And of course, Google is a great company. They are immensely innovative and have served me well through my career in search engine marketing. Most people in the industry would give anything to work there, but having had the opportunity, I now know I am content with where I am in my career.

When Mr. Schmidt saw how dedicated I was to what I was doing and that I could not be swayed, he echoed those sentiments and decide he was just as content with his position as CEO.

I am not sure what is next for Schmidt or myself, but for this April Fool’s Day, I’ve got to get back to business as usual