Internet Marketing
Rise of the Small Directory Sites
We’ve had a lot to say in recent years around the coming demise of directories like Yellow, Finda, Gopher, Localist etc. These each compete head on with Google and in every instance I’ve seen, provide a tiny fraction of the leads. The stats tell me they are largely a waste of time and money as a means for any business to get new customers. In my book they only exist through the use of high pressure sales tactics and the gullibility if business owners.
Yelp Now in New Zealand
Yelp has arrived, complete with all the features available in the US. Local businesses and consumers will be the big beneficiaries. Losers include local competing directory providers like finda, localist, menus, dineout and others. The Yelp system can largely replace what most others can offer consumers looking to track down good businesses to deal with. And Yelp do it better and cheaper too. i.e. FREE.
WordPress Sites Under Bot Attack
Websites running open source software like WordPress and Joomla have had a busy week. Last Friday morning saw the emergence of some serious bots scanning the internet looking for sites with ineffective passwords and security. (Ref nextweb article).
Google Now – Web 4.0
Announced this week by Google is Google Now. Upon viewing the intro video, I immediately thought of one of my earlier posts on this site back in September 2008. It was an interview by Marketing guru Seth Godin, below. In that old interview, he outlined what he thought web 3.0 and web 4.0 would be and it seems Google is now getting close to this concept.
Auckland WordPress Group
Today we setup a local WordPress Meetup group. For those few that don’t know what a meetup group is, it’s a forum that brings people of similar interests together, physically. The meetup website helps organise and promote real events. Whether your interest is food, movies, hiking, yoga or internet marketing, there are millions of groups established around the globe – Over 50 meetups each week across Auckland alone.
2013 – A turning point for Retailers?
There’s been a lot in the news recently about local retailers complaining about unfair competition from offshore providers like Amazon etc. They don’t have to include gst. A wider choice and a lower cost in most cases. Radio NZ’s recent future of shopping discussion talked with a number of upset Wellington ‘High St’ retailers.
New Year Prediction – The Mobile Opportunity
If you look at what is happening online, the key trend is around the use of mobile phones and tablets. Prices are plummeting and usage growing at staggering rates. The uptake of these devices by consumers to access the online world is breath-taking.
WordPress 3.5 – The King Arrives
Code named Elvin, a new update to the WordPress CMS platform arrived this week with new features that make media management a lot easier and more intuitive. Most of you that read this blog know we’re a big fan of this website platform, along with millions of others.
And do you want TRAFFIC with that Website Order?
It’s a spin on the fast food industry phrase, but I think it also applies to the selling of websites. Problem is, almost no web developers or designers ever ask the question. Do you want traffic with your new website? Clients just assume traffic is part of the deal and don’t realise it’s not. I can think of a dozen good reasons why designers keep quiet about it, not the least of which is the prospect of losing the deal if SEO work is brought into the project cost…
Read more on And do you want TRAFFIC with that Website Order?…
Questions a Good Web Designer Asks
Poorly performing websites are too often due to people not asking the right questions at the beginning. For example, why not ask how much traffic or sales leads the site can expect to get? It’s not an unreasonable request today. If they claim it’s impossible, then you’re talking to the wrong developer.
All advice and opinions here are offered freely on a no-liability basis.
