Category: Random Thoughts

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Online Marketing Random Thoughts Search Engine Optimization

SEO is no pun anymore. How Article Headlines are no longer funny thanks to SEO – in Missoula MT :-0

In this article for the Atlantic, David Wheeler talks about how SEO is affecting headlines. (go read it. I’ll wait right here). 🙂

I enjoyed the article, but had to grin when I went back to read the headline of the article itself. It’s a mix of both humorous and Keyword rich.

But, this actually makes the case for building a good online following and not just relying on Google. People who use online media site on a regular basis don’t need to find them via a search. They come to the home page and see what’s being offered (much like the catchy headlines in the paper or magazines). They get to enjoy the headline all the same. I will say that sometimes the puns can be so esoteric they leave me working too hard to figure out if I’m even interested in the content. When this happens, you do risk the chance of turning off your readers. Also, SEO is not all about the headline. It’s important, yes. But,  if the keywords are in the title tag and article body, it should still come up. And once it’s well liked and shared a bunch (linked to for real, by real people), even more so.

Perhaps headline writers of the future will just have to up their game and figure out how to write a headline that is both keyword rich AND entertaining. Thoughts? Leave me a comment… and be sure to submit this to your favorite bookmarking site, post it to facebook, tweet a link, and stumble it.  (But only if you really want to).

-Andy

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Misc. News Online Marketing Pay Per Click Random Thoughts Search Engine Optimization Social Media

Small business workshop in Missoula Wednesday

Did you read hear about this? I’ll be there, and I would suggest you try to attend if you’re at all interested in the things I talk about here on my site.

Montana Senator John Tester will host a Small Business Opportunity Workshop in Missoula on Wednesday, February 23, 2011. The event focused on expanding small business opportunities, especially for young entrepreneurs.

The upcoming workshop will be held at the University Theater at the University Center on the campus of The University of Montana.

He’s bringing with him a top Microsoft executive who will deliver a keynote address on his experience working with the software giant, and several social media gurus who will give a presentation on how websites like Facebook and Google can help grow businesses.

The social media portion of the workshop will show attendees just how important a tool the medium can be for small businesses.

Sign up here http://tester.senate.gov/Resources/workshop.cfm

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Misc. News Random Thoughts

Ford Drops Superbowl Ad

Ford Motor Company sees spending their ad dollars on Online Ads as a better choice. The article below ends with a statement of “If sales continue to grow after the Super Bowl and the company continues its successful marketing online it will be interesting to see who else drops their Super Bowl ads.”

While Ford may be able to look back at the history of Superbowl ad performance and compare that to this year’s ad spend, there are a few problems with the idea that if Ford is successful online, others should follow. I’m not suggesting buying a Superbowl ad is or isn’t the right choice… but, like so many things, it depends on the situation. I’m a huge believer in online marketing, with the improve tracking, and demographics, and Geo-targeting… it’s a great place to look for effective advertising. But other avenues may work well to… often in combination. A great Superbowl ad, with a call to action to “like” the company on Facebook, and be entered to win….  You get the idea. Beware of thinking what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.

Here’s a link to the article about Ford, from Search Engine Watch:

Ford Drops Super Bowl Ads For Online Spends

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Random Thoughts

Leagues to start at Ranch Club

League Play Starting at The Ranch Club
League play is set to begin at The Ranch Club, the premiere family-friendly Missoula
golf community. The Greenhorns’ Club has already started, meeting every Saturday morning, offering
relaxed, league-style play for those new to the club or new to golf. Ladies’ Night is every Monday of the
season, beginning May 17. Men’s League starts on May 18 and will continue every Tuesday evening. Call
The Ranch Club Golf shop at 406-532-1000 for details.

“The beginning of league play signifies the transition from spring golf to full-on golf season,” said John
Powers who, along with his wife Colleen, owns The Ranch Club. “Even with the back-and-forth spring
weather this year, our fairways are already at mid-season color and the greens are rolling true.”

The Ranch Club continues its evolution into the first private golf community in Missoula. Non-members
will be able to play The Ranch Club course six times throughout the 2010 season with greens fees of $55
with a member (including cart) and $95 unaccompanied (cart extra). Early season rates are in effect through
May at $40 accompanied and $80 unaccompanied.

In addition to golf leagues beginning, teaching pro Mike Barnett will return to The Ranch Club at the end of
May. The popular Ladies and Junior Clinics will be offered again in 2010 beginning in June. Call the golf
shop for details. June will also mark the opening of the new, family favorite, resort-style, four-pool complex
The open-to-the-public restaurant continues to please the most discerning tastes with a unique menu that
changes seasonally and the most complete wine list in the state. Lunch is served seven days a week. Brunch
is served from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Sunday. Dinner is served Wednesday through Sunday from 5 p.m. – 10
p.m. with the last seating at 9:30 p.m. Reservations are recommended for dinner, 406-532-1019.

Living options at The Ranch Club include custom homesites and Club Lodges. The first Club Lodge is
completed and ready to welcome new owners. The Ranch Club Lodges offer finished residences, Club-
maintained grounds and complete exterior maintenance with prices beginning at $985,000. Custom
homesites at The Ranch Club begin at $97,400.

The Ranch Club is a golf community which sits on a 340-acre scenic swath of land in the Clark Fork River
Valley. Conveniently located just six miles northwest of Missoula’s city center and the main campus of The
University of Montana; The Ranch Club offers easy access to the considerable events and culture of
Missoula while still enjoying the calm of the countryside. At the center of this Missoula property is a
championship 18-hole links-style golf course designed by Les Furber. Missoula land for sale at The Ranch
Club includes custom homesites and Club Lodges. Club amenities include a Clubhouse with a fine-dining
restaurant featuring newly expanded indoor, outdoor and private dining areas, golf shop, four-pool complex,
fitness center, and members’ locker rooms. For more information about The Ranch Club, call 406-532-1000

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Random Thoughts

It went well. Thanks for your support

So I ended up speaking at the very first Missoula Ignite event. All in all it went very well. I was a little overdressed… a Hawaiian shirt would have been better. The room was super warm with all those people in there.

I was worried the audience would not be interested in my topic “how to create an effective Pay-Per-Click campaign”, but as I milled about with a “speaker” name tag on, people would ask about my topic, and when I answered, they would respond enthusiastically. So when I went up front, and was introduced, I felt pretty comfortable.

It went well, but I’ll tell ya, the 15 seconds per slide thing makes timing your words critical. I guess I was speaking faster than I rehearsed because several times I was done talking and still had time left.

Videos of all the speakers are now online at http://www.ignitemissoula.com/

Talking about Adwords was interesting to some I guess, It’s my passion, but I get it that it’s not going to save the planet.

Man oh man, some of the talks really blew me away.

  • Tim Greiser spoke about a project called AskNature.org that is the Worlds First Catalog of Biological Design Solutions. It was neat to see how we can take clues from millions of years of beta testing by Mother Earth to gain ideas to make our own world more efficient.
  • Geoff Badenoch gave me great insights into poetry, and made me regret I never got into it. His speech “Will young poets save the world”. Makes me want to introduce my kids to poetry.
  • Elke Govertsen of Mamalode, the Missoula Magazine for Moms have a fun talk titled,
    You say “mom-jeans” like it’s a bad thing…moms defy recession.
    How to harness the power.
  • A couple of personal trainers gave us some good tips on work out myths
  • We had a guy talk about how to steer a motorcycle, which as surprisingly interesting
  • Steven Sundheim introduced us to http://www.grupthinkpowered.com/ which is a platform that let’s private websites or communities have their own branded version of Grupthink.com. A local example of one in action is Squawk Missoula
  • and Karen Marsolek gave a well polished talk about re-connecting in person in this world of online communities. She must have been a theater major… her stage presence was excellent.

So all in all a great time. Check them all out at www.IgniteMissoula.com

-Andy