February 2007
SEO & SMM - Rush Hour Episode 4
Written by Cameron Olthuis on February 28, 2007 | 2 comments
This week Rand Fishkin from SEOmoz joined Neil and I to discuss SMM and SEO. In addition to talking about the latest news from the social media world they also talked about Rand's MySuperProposal, using irrelevant content for linkbaiting campaigns, and reaching global audiences with social media.
Netscape's anti-spam efforts are working
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 28, 2007 | 6 comments
A little while ago Neil Patel covered an article I had written about how users were abusing Netscape's site-mail feature to spam other members for votes. A few weeks after that Netscape tweaked their site-mail feature to see if it would prevent system abuse. Here are my findings after a month of the feature being in place.
Questions for Rand Fishkin?
Written by Cameron Olthuis on February 27, 2007 | 10 comments
Tomorrow Rand Fishkin of SEOmoz will join Neil and me on the Rush Hour podcast. Rand is one of the most knowledgeable guys when it comes to SEO and has been on the forefront of the social media marketing scene. We're looking forward to picking his brain and I'm sure he'll have a lot of good things to say about the different ways to use social media in concert with SEO.
The quest for the perfect online ad
Written by Neil Patel on February 27, 2007 | 10 comments
Paul Slogan from Business 2.0 recently wrote a great article on the quest for the perfect online ad. He discusses how although Google is the king of search, users only spend 5% of their time searching. With users spending 95% of their time on the Internet engaged in non-search related activities, how can you target them? I don't think there is an answer, but here is how I would go about creating the perfect ad.
The Bury Brigade Exists, and Here's My Proof
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 27, 2007 | 40 comments
We've heard about a purported 'Bury Brigade' on Digg time and again, with sketchy pieces of evidence here and there but no concrete proof. Until now.
Thoughts: Why Digg Didn't Add a 'Pictures' Section
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 27, 2007 | 31 comments
Digg augmented the pre-existing categories on the site today with 'Microsoft' and 'US Elections 2008'. Conspicuously missing from the mix is the much vocally demanded 'Pictures' category. Here's a look at why this may be the case, and how it may ultimately be implemented.
Why You Need to Pod-vertise
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 26, 2007 | 7 comments
Podcasts are one of the most under-appreciated medium for advertising. Let me briefly explain why you too should Pod-vertise!
Digg Marred by Racism, Sexism
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 25, 2007 | 35 comments
Digg has purportedly made some strides when it comes to battling spam on the site and in conjunction with that, has unbanned several sites. While the battle against spammers is seeing some success, racism and sexism still prevail.
The Perfect Digg Bait
Written by Neil Patel on February 25, 2007 | 6 comments
The other day I was browsing the Digg homepage and noticed something really weird. It seems Craigslist made the homepage for an article that was about "why geeks and nerds make the best boyfriends" and to top it off it did really well.
Showcase your "Best" to Social Media Traffic
Written by Ryan Fujiu on February 24, 2007 | 4 comments
To some, traffic from reaching the front page of Digg, Netscape, Reddit or Del.icio.us is the proverbial Holy Grail. But getting the traffic to your site is just the first step in a good Social Media Marketing campaign.
Digg Lets Banned Domains Back In
Written by Neil Patel on February 23, 2007 | 49 comments
It seems Digg has unbanned a list of sites by letting them back in. From what I have noticed here are the sites that have been allowed back in.
Microsoft Employs the Smartest Strategy Yet (Against Digg)
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 22, 2007 | 11 comments
Since its launch in 2004, Digg has seen strong and largely unstoppable growth. While there has been no dearth of competitors and imitators, none have been able to upset Digg's lead in the social media space and in its goal towards democratizing the web. Out of all this competition, who would've thought that Microsoft would come up with the best strategy against Digg (perhaps even inadvertently)?
Learning to StumbleUpon - Rush Hour Episode 3
Written by Cameron Olthuis on February 21, 2007 | 17 comments
This week we focused on StumbleUpon, everything from what StumbleUpon is to tips on using it to drive targeted traffic to your site. Learn why you should become an active member in the StumbleUpon community and how to get the most out of StumbleUpon and the traffic that it can bring.
How Efficient is Digg?
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 21, 2007 | 18 comments
You would imagine that given the limited venture capital budgets of social media sites like Digg.com, they would be scrutinizing every cost-saving measure to ensure that they are operating at maximum efficiency. A few recent post on Digg show that this may not be true.
Early Notice: Social Media Conference Later This Year
Written by Neil Patel on February 20, 2007 | 4 comments
Search Marketing Expo, Danny Sullivan's new conference series, and Pronet Advertising are going to be hosting a social media conference in New York on October 16th and 17th. We know this announcement comes a little early, but we just wanted to give an early notice, so you could mark your calendars and join in on the fun!
The Future of Digg at FOWA
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 20, 2007 |
The first words from the Future of Web Apps summit going on in London are in and are quite interesting.
MyBlogLog Co-Author Spamming
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 20, 2007 | 5 comments
I received an email a few days ago requesting me to become a co-author on Blogmemes Belgium MyBlogLog community. Thinking that I had received the invitation by mistake, I decided to ignore it. However, a post by Danny points out that these invitations aren't being sent out by mistake at all.
Spamming Digg through Instant Messenger
Written by Neil Patel on February 20, 2007 | 8 comments
Have you ever submitted a story to a social site like Digg and then messaged a few of your friends through AIM and told them to vote for it? There is nothing wrong with this but they probably know what you are up to, here's why.
The Virality of Bad Commercials
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 19, 2007 | 7 comments
We have heard over and over again about the importance of a good and well targeted advertisement, but rarely do we hear the case for a ridiculously bad ad.
Everyone's Got an Accent
Written by Neil Patel on February 18, 2007 | 3 comments
If you think about it everyone in this world has an accent, it might be one that you are used to or it could be one that you have never heard before. The great thing about accents is that they can be funny which means that they can help create a memorable commercial.
Go a Little Crazy!
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 17, 2007 | 6 comments
Sometimes, what makes other people visit your content are the most unexpected and completely crazy things you do.
Of Sponsorships and Freebies
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 16, 2007 | 5 comments
Sponsorship really is a very tricky business. Every time a corporate entity tries to sponsor a smaller entity, the communities participating or monitoring either entity will be up in arms. The problem is the somewhat incorrect perception people have that if you are sponsoring someone or give them a freebie, from your perspective that you are trying to influence their opinion, and from the receiver's perspective that they have "sold out" and become shills.
5 Sure-Fire Social Media Headline Formulas That Work
Written by Neil Patel on February 16, 2007 | 8 comments
Although content is important when you are trying to leverage social media sites like Netscape or Digg, the story title used for the submission maybe as important if not more important. Here are a few types of titles that I have found to be effective.
The Digg Mob Claims Another Victim
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 15, 2007 | 12 comments
Yahoo revealed yesterday that they were going to start using a Digg-style voting system in the suggestion section for their numerous services. Problem is, the mob at Digg didn't take too kindly to the idea.
Hallmark Misses Out On Valentines
Written by Neil Patel on February 14, 2007 | 3 comments
During every special event there is always someone who gains a lot of backward links by capitalizing on it. During Christmas it was OfficeMax with their Elf Yourself game and during Valentines you would think it would be a greeting card site / company such as Hallmark. But if you take a close look at these E-Card sites you will notice that they are losing out on thousands if not millions of backward links.
Rush Hour Episode 2: Neil and Cameron are joined by Brian Clark from Copyblogger
Written by Cameron Olthuis on February 14, 2007 | 3 comments
For this episode of Rush Hour we were joined by Brian Clark from Copyblogger to talk about copywriting and the role it plays in blogging and social media marketing. Brian did a wonderful job answering some of our questions as well as listener questions about what works and why. This show is definitely one that you'll want to listen to closely and reference often as there are some great nuggets of information.
What the Google Decision Means for Social Media
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 14, 2007 | 8 comments
A Belgian court ruled yesterday that it was illegal for Google to reproduce extracts from various Belgian newspapers on its Google News website. As worrisome as the decision may be for Google, it could potentially have far reaching implications for socially driven media in general.
Hyperbole Works
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 13, 2007 | 7 comments
A few days ago Electronic Gaming Monthly published an interview with Sony Computer Entertainment America's president, Jack Tretton, who had some remarks that make you scratch your head (to say the least).
Copyblogger on Rush Hour
Written by Cameron Olthuis on February 13, 2007 |
Brian Clark from Copyblogger fame will be joining Neil and myself for the second episode of Rush Hour tomorrow. We will be discussing the role that copywriting plays in social media and viral marketing campaigns: writing good content, headlines, descriptions, calls to action and more.
Narcissism and the Pursuit of Freebies
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 13, 2007 | 4 comments
Every community based site is a little narcissistic; some are more so than others. And pandering to the narcissistic tendencies of these sites can is increasingly becoming a common way for marketers to connect with the members that constitute these communities.
Adding a Photography Section on Digg
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 12, 2007 |
It is becoming increasingly apparent that Digg is in dire need of a photography category on the site.
Solving the Content Uniqueness and Integrity Problem in Social Media
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 12, 2007 | 4 comments
There are two problems that can compromise content on socially driven media sites. The first and more prevalent one is the problem of duplicate content. The second and less prevalent but more worrisome is the problem of content integrity and spam.
TailoredMusic.com: The next URL to be banned from Digg
Written by Cameron Olthuis on February 12, 2007 | 6 comments
I was alerted to TailoredMusic this morning from Mashable's post about their diggbait song titled "A Love Song for Digg". While this song might actually work because it's targeted towards the Digg audience I don't think any of their other songs are Digg material.
50% Off ReviewMe
Written by Neil Patel on February 12, 2007 | 2 comments
This month we are offering a special at ReviewMe where all reviews are 50% off. The best part about this deal is that 100% of the payout goes to the blogger. So if you haven't tried out Review Me yet, now is the perfect time.
Neil Patel, The Wizard of Buzz
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 11, 2007 | 7 comments
Our very own Neil Patel was profiled on the Wall Street Journal today for his influence in Social Media, primarily on Digg.com.
Social Media Sensationalism
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 10, 2007 | 6 comments
Ask anyone and the first thing they will tell you about socially driven sites like Digg is that the key to getting on the front page is to have good content. While that is true, others will argue that other elements such as interesting titles and descriptions can be just as important.
Painful Marketing
Written by Neil Patel on February 10, 2007 | 4 comments
Have you ever had something painful happen to you or seen someone in such great pain that you could feel it? Whatever that painful moment might have been the chances are you will never forget about it. For this reason pain can be an effective marketing ploy.
A Good Example of Targeted Marketing
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 9, 2007 | 3 comments
The following picture of an advertisement in Harlem is an excellent example of targeted marketing.
Open Challenge to Jason Calacanis
Written by Neil Patel on February 8, 2007 | 59 comments
It seems a lot of commotion has been created due to a post that Muhammad did on Why Socially Driven Sites Hate SEOs. Jason Calacanis picked up the story and did a whole rant on why he thinks SEO is bullshit...
An Objective Look at the Changes at Digg
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 8, 2007 | 3 comments
About a week ago Digg made several important changes to the site, which have generated much commentary in the days that followed. The announcement that got the most attention, perhaps unreasonably so, was the Digg Team's decision to remove the Top Diggers list from the site.
Two Ways to Market Yourself on MyBlogLog
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 7, 2007 | 17 comments
MyBlogLog is an essential social networking tool for bloggers to get in touch with their readers as well as other bloggers. The site "enables you to take advantage of your existing presence on the Web and ties it into communities of like-minded readers and authors to add context to the conversations in which you take part." The potential for you to market yourself through the site, though, reaches beyond that.
Rush Hour Episode 1: Neil & Cameron talk with Todd Malicoat about Digg
Written by Cameron Olthuis on February 7, 2007 | 4 comments
Today we did our first ever episode of Rush Hour, our new podacst on Webmaster Radio. Todd Malicoat from Stuntdubl joined us and we mostly talked about Digg, the ethics behind paying Diggers for submissions and why SEOs get a bad rep from the Digg community. We also answered some questions from our readers about targeting different social networks for the best results.
Why Socially Driven Sites Hate SEOs
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 6, 2007 | 43 comments
If you look at the list of domains banned by the socially driven news and content behemoth Digg.com, you will find that a majority of them are SEO-related sites. While many people think that Digg has an irrational vendetta against these sites, it's not entirely irrational, rather it's simply driven by a mentality of generalizing.
What 15 Days on Digg Can Do For You
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 6, 2007 | 7 comments
It's not often that we come across such a perfect case study of what consistent social media traffic can do for your site in terms of site rank, traffic, and exposure. The case study is the rise of Knuttz.net.
Measuring the ROI from Social Media Marketing
Written by Neil Patel on February 5, 2007 | 13 comments
In most cases, the decisions that businesses make are based on the return on investment (ROI) they provide. If you spend $10,000 on a marketing campaign you expect to make enough sales to cover your costs as well as have a few bucks left over. It seems that with social media marketing people are saying that there is no ROI when there actually is.
Rush Hour: Our new podcast
Written by Cameron Olthuis on February 5, 2007 | 12 comments
Neil and I have a new radio show on Webmaster Radio called Rush Hour that will air on Wednesdays at 1PM PST / 4PM EST. The show will focus on social media and social media marketing.
Marketing through online communities
Written by Ryan Fujiu on February 4, 2007 | 2 comments
The explosion of web communities has caught the eye of even the most traditional businessmen. The possible benefits of corporate participation in communities have executives chomping at the bit to enter these markets. However, there are inherent risks that can wreak havoc on public relations and brand image if the wrong strategy is pursued.
Big Things Come In Small Packages
Written by Neil Patel on February 3, 2007 | 4 comments
Have you ever heard the saying big things come in small packages? Honda has a great commercial that represents exactly how big things come in small packages.
Getting On Digg Is Federleezee
Written by Neil Patel on February 2, 2007 | 5 comments
People are trying all kinds of methods to make the Digg homepage but it seems that Kevin Federline has just beaten them all to the punch. Today, a story about Mr. Federline being offered a job at Taco Bell made the homepage and it did extremely with well over 1000 diggs. Here are a few things we all can learn about Digg from Kevin
Getting On Netscape's Home Page
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 2, 2007 | 2 comments
A few days ago Neil reported on an article that I had written about how a few users were abusing Netscape.com's site-mail feature to get their content promoted to the home page. While the feature on its own is a great idea, the abuse made it almost unbearable to use. Netscape has announced what appears to be a first step towards combating this problem.
Latest Digg Payola Exposed!
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 1, 2007 | 24 comments
Thanks to my friend and top Digg user #6 Karim Yergaliyev (supernova17), we bring to you the latest edition of 'Digg Payola Exposed!'
WTF Happened to Technorati?
Written by Muhammad Saleem on February 1, 2007 | 3 comments
2 Days ago the whole Blogosphere was abuzz with news, information, and commentary on Technorati latest new feature called Technorati WTF. Then yesterday, all of a sudden the feature was no where to be found. Now, the feature is live again. WTF Technorati?
