Search Marketing Campaigns

We all know how great Google is, they talk about it in movies, on our TV shows & you’re probably one of the people who have used the phrase – Google it!

But how can your business utilise the power of Search Marketing?

Sure, your customers can find your website when they search for the name of your company. But those people already know who you are; they’re already looking for you. If you’re lucky, they’re repeat customers. But what you really want. What you really need, are new customers to help grow your business. Creating a Search Marketing Campaign specifically utilises search engines by driving targeted traffic to your website – affordably.

This targeted traffic is no longer searching for your business name, in fact, this targeted traffic has probably never even been to your website – they’re searching Google for products & services. And that’s where the value lies.

Running a Search Marketing Campaign gives your business access to customers who never knew you existed, that are specifically searching for the products & services you offer. So this means your conversion rates and RIO are going to be substantially higher, and in comparison to other forms of media, your advertising spend is much lower, but still has a more direct impact because your customer intentionally found you and didn’t just randomly flick past you in a newspaper.

When setting up a Search Marketing Campaign, your agency should compile a detailed keyword strategy. Targeting words & phrases that are relative to your business’ products and services. Breaking up keywords and phrases into Adword Groups so you can easily customise the creative, set maximum key word bids and analyse clicks, conversions & ROI – all key things in keeping your campaign optimised for the best results.

While you can easily set up a Search Marketing Campaign your self, I’d highly recommend speaking with a Search Marketing Strategist like my self before jumping in, as Google’s Search Marketing bid tool can certainly get tricky to master the best value campaign for your business. There are also certain key word strategies and creative needs that are critical to the success of a campaign, and with the competition that can appear on popular services and key words, a cutting edge strategy can save you thousands and generate a better conversion rate for a much higher ROI.

If you only make one online marketing investment for your business this year – make it a Search Marketing Campaign. You’ll be glad you did.

Google, Yahoo, Ninemsn & Sensis all provide Search Maketing Services.

Stay tuned for advanced Search Marketing Strategies and Tips.
(Note. this article is directed at clients and business owners who are contemplating Search Marketing for their business & not Search Marketing professionals)

Microsoft to become a real Google Competitor

Since Google began its world domination, taking control of the Internet - the one thing that Microsoft was yet to conquer - Microsoft has been trying everything in it's power to claw back the ground. Unfortunately in the same time, Google spent up big, hiring only the best engineers from around the world, designed, created or acquired anything in it's path and jumped even further ahead, so much so that it's impossible for any one company to steal market share, let alone rival it.

The Google domination is a pretty scary thing (unless you are a stock holder - the $100 listing price now sitting nicely at $500+ per share in less that 2.5 years on the public register) for every normal human being. The media companies of the past were powerful for one reason.

Controlling Information.

Google surpasses this, it controls the worlds data, and seeing data is the DNA of information, Google has a power Microsoft is really shaking in it's boots about. Google is growing, the rest are shrinking from the Google Squeeze and life might just not be the same in 5 years time with the monopoly.

People, companies and protesters have spat at Microsoft for years about its monopoly, its control, its power. Sure, they have a right to this, but the scary thought is, if Google is to continue its growth and domination for the next few years it may just be the most powerful company in the world, beyond anyone's imagination. (But is that actually a bad thing?)

Information is Power.

So this gets me to my actual point! (finally)
There has been a buzz around lately about the prospect of Microsoft or Yahoo stepping up to really compete with Google. Web Pro News posted a good article here about it.

What companies could combine to form a super company to beat Google at it's own game and take the electrifying online advertising market from underneath their feet? Not an easy task the way Google invests in its self. Although they are starting to head down the path of Yahoo, who has so much content that nobody actually uses!

There is probably only one option that could take down Google. That's Microsoft after purchasing Yahoo & AOL - this forming a super company from 3 under performing companies in the online search/marketing area, all battling to get a % or 2 from each other while Google sails its motor cruiser off into the sunset.

This is the only way that Microsoft, Yahoo and AOL (struggling to stay afloat) can claw back market share and compete with Google, hoping to eventually overthrow the kingdom. This super company would be one amazingly powerful player. Good enough to beat Google at its own game.

How long before we see something like this happen? Will it ever happen? Who knows...

One thing everyone seems to believe is that the longer there is no major competitor to Google, the further into that sunset Google gets. It's simple business really, why compete with 2 other strugelling companies for a share of the measly 15% of the search/marketing industry (Google has approx 75% - if not more). When you can combine, cut costs, share technology, diversify users and provide a world leading product for less and now, this super company gets to use its power and pull Google back to earth.

Sydney NYE 2006/7 - Fireworks

Just a few days late now, so - Happy New Year!

We headed over to Bradleys Head, just under Taronga Zoo to watch the fireworks on New Years Eve, and Sydney certainly didn't disappoint. We were greeted with 2 sets of stunning firework displays, the 9pm family display and the 15minute long 2007 New Years Eve Fireworks display!

It was simply stunning, and as we sat water front looking out over Sydney Harbour, the thousands and thousands of yahts, sports cruisers and party boats we asked our selves was there a better location in the world?

I took a few happy snaps with my girlfriends camera while we were there. If anoyone requests, ill upload a whole bunch of larger shots. But as you can see from these 250px images - it was fantastic! (although nothing does it justice as to being there - or at least watching it on tv!)