Google recently activated the AdWords Radio advertising program. Now AdWords advertisers can purchase radio advertising across the USA in the same auction style bidding manner of the regular AdWords system.

The new system has some very cool features too. You can select stations by geography, demographics or music type. So for example if you want to find a station that does R&B and targets mostly 20-35 year olds, the Google AdWords Radio system can pick it out for you.

You can also upload your own existing radio ads or Google has a list of specialists who can help you. Current reports from users indicate they are getting some great exposure for some really low prices. Of course, as competition heats up in the bidding process, I'm sure we can expect prices to rise. But for the early bird, now might be the time to get into the system and take advantage of it.

You can also specify certain dates and times you would like if you're on a time schedule. You won't bid for these, instead you'll pay a specific and no doubt higher fee.

If you're interested, check it out here. Another really cool feature of the system is that Google will supply you with a local or toll free redirect number to put in your ads. This way, you can track phone calls much like you would hits to your website. Talk about trackability! If you combine that with a unique landing URL for your radio commercial you can measure your ROI on your campaing in a much more exact way.

As my background is not only in search engine optimization and search engine marketing, but also includes significant traditional marketing including media ad buying, I can easily see how this system will start to bridge the gap between Internet marketers, SEO's, SEM's and the like across to traditional marketers. The creation of a truly trackable marketing campaign that includes radio is a significant step forward. Finally, Marketing Directors can sit in the board room and actually defend their ad purchasing with real numbers, instead of estimates and generalizations.

Of course, my only problem with the system is that I live in Calgary, Canada and currently Google AdWords Radio only provides stations in the US. Hopefully this system will expand out to the north here soon!

Labels: google adwords, google radio, search engine optimization, Search Engines

Well, that was interesting news. Microsoft wants to buy Yahoo. Considering MSN's complete lack of market share in the search engine space it's not totally surprising that the would want to buy the #2 rated Yahoo. With Yahoo's paid inclusion scheme meaning their "organic" search engine results are now being altered invisibly with advertising, they're a perfect match for the poor results of MSN's Live Search.

Of course, Yahoo is the number one website in the world hands down. So there are more factors than just search, but the real bucks online is in advertising. Naturally I'm more curious as to the search engine optimization ramifications that might come up. I guess we'll see but in my mind crappy search plus paid inclusion strategies does not equal beating Google.

Of course if Microsoft wants a piece of the online advertising pie, they need to do something. They should have made a pass at Google instead.

Labels: search engine optimization, Search Engines

I've just uploaded an Email Marketing Article and a Internet Marketing and Press Releases article in the other articles section.

The main Search Engine Optimization Article has also been updated with new information.

If you have any questions about these topics feel free to get in touch or leave a comment on this board.

The Calgary weather is finally warming up so I may spend more time on my bike but I will get back to anyone who contacts me.

Thanks everyone!
Dan

Labels: calgary, email marketing, search engine optimization, Search Engines

Well, I spend a lot of my day researching search engine optimization, search engine marketing, analytics and all sorts of related things.

Once in a while, even I get surprised.


Ask.com (formally askjeeves.com)is advertising in the London tube. Check out this picture.

I think Ask.com is just being bitter, I mean c'mon. At least Google SEEMS to do most things fairly. And really, why would Ask be worried about it, everyone has access to everything on the Internet, including them. If they were better at indexing, maybe they would be more popular with users.

But they aren't. Google is currently providing what is seen by the vast majority of the population as the most relevant search results. Shockingly, most people use Google.

Go figure.

As a dedicated SEO guy, I've spent a lot of time getting to know the in's and outs of Google and other search engines. While I don't always agree with everything they do, I have to admit Google seems to be doing the best job so far.

So why the smear campaign Ask.com? Here's a thought. Make a better search engine and compete with them, instead of trying to get politicians to regulate something which can't be regulated anyway.

Ah good times indeed.

Labels: search engine optimization, Search Engines, SEO