If I have on suggestion for PubCon for next year, it's "fix the food!" I just skipped lunch rather than waste it like I did yesterday by throwing it away. Ugh.
Some disappointment yesterday-the session I was most looking forward to (yesterday), on creating great headlines, was canceled. Brian Clark, where are you? I see you posted to Copy Blogger today- but you have made me very sad by not appearing to speak.
Second, I think my biggest chore when I get back will be managing up, and convincing upper management (and my direct manager) to buy in more to SEO. So far, we've gone about it very haphazardly, with "direction" from SEO superstars iProspect. However, to me, they treat us as thugh we know nothing- and we're stillworking on SEO and SEM concepts that worked last year- there has been no evolving. Which, as I said in my post Tuesday, is one of the most important things in SEO/SEM.
And, Chanel, you are starting to drive me a bit crazy. Screws holding chains straps to PSTs should not just randomly fall out. Luckily, I have jury-rigged my bag and it should work for the rest of the week, but come on??? Between that, and the crystal that has fallen out of my CC logo earrings, I am a bit exasperated. And in Vegas, of all places???
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
GOOOOOOOOOO Pubcon!!
So I arrived in Vegas last night about 6:30 local time, had just enough time at the baggage claim to start convincing myself that my suitcase was lost and I was going to be wearing jeans and a gray teeshirt all week, and finally made it over to the Wynn. My darling husband is not happy that I upgraded our room to an executive suite (he apparently does not see the value in each of us having our own bathroom for an extra $50 a night) but after making me spend a week at Disney with a three-year-old, he can suck it up.
The theme for Pubcon this year seems to be "Evolve, evolve, evolve!" Social networking sites are changing the face of search, as are the new ideas in the search engines. Did you know that sooner rather than later, you'll be served up search results based on the type of search you normally do? If you search for java, you could get development results, tropical island results, or coffee results, based on your usually search habits. Also look for context-based search results, that will try to translate what you're looking for based on the way you type in your keyword.
Chanel at the Wynn is not as friendly as it was last year, but there are some fantastic bags! There is a lovely tote of snakeskin covered with charms- I have no idea what it's called, and no idea how much it is, and I'm afraid to ask. But it is GORGEOUS.
In any case, this is my first pubcon update, and it's straight from the Pubcon "How to be an efective SEO within your organization" session. Looking forward to the rest of it.
The theme for Pubcon this year seems to be "Evolve, evolve, evolve!" Social networking sites are changing the face of search, as are the new ideas in the search engines. Did you know that sooner rather than later, you'll be served up search results based on the type of search you normally do? If you search for java, you could get development results, tropical island results, or coffee results, based on your usually search habits. Also look for context-based search results, that will try to translate what you're looking for based on the way you type in your keyword.
Chanel at the Wynn is not as friendly as it was last year, but there are some fantastic bags! There is a lovely tote of snakeskin covered with charms- I have no idea what it's called, and no idea how much it is, and I'm afraid to ask. But it is GORGEOUS.
In any case, this is my first pubcon update, and it's straight from the Pubcon "How to be an efective SEO within your organization" session. Looking forward to the rest of it.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Back to the world of mommies...
Sometimes, you need to be around people who understand.
I participate in a several forums pretty regularly, but one I'd gotten away from, and probably shouldn't have, is babycenter. It's amazing how much you can bond over children- this site saved my sanity many times while I was pregnant and after I had my daughter. And now that my husband and I are working on the second one, I think I need to go back.
What other forums do I frequent, you ask? Well, like I said, they're pretty random.
To start, I'm an admin on RX-8 Club. Yes, I have an RX-8- it's now 5 years old, but it was one of the first in the US when they were released back in 2003.
I also participate regularly on The Purse Forum- an excellent group of ladies who have not only fed my addiction, but helped me realize my dreams (I'm so cheesy) of owning Chanel handbags.
And don't forget the World of Warcraft board- talk about an addiction. And speaking of WoW, did I mention the fiasco that was the Blizzon ticket purchasing this year? Yikes! Here's the screen many of us found ourselves looking at most of the day.
Somehow, my darling husband managed to get through, however, and we'll be heading to Anaheim in October for this momentous event!
And on a related note, there's always my guild forum, Draco Dormiens.
So that's where I spend my time now- with the recently re-addded babycenter. Looking forward to it guys!
I participate in a several forums pretty regularly, but one I'd gotten away from, and probably shouldn't have, is babycenter. It's amazing how much you can bond over children- this site saved my sanity many times while I was pregnant and after I had my daughter. And now that my husband and I are working on the second one, I think I need to go back.
What other forums do I frequent, you ask? Well, like I said, they're pretty random.
To start, I'm an admin on RX-8 Club. Yes, I have an RX-8- it's now 5 years old, but it was one of the first in the US when they were released back in 2003.
I also participate regularly on The Purse Forum- an excellent group of ladies who have not only fed my addiction, but helped me realize my dreams (I'm so cheesy) of owning Chanel handbags.
And don't forget the World of Warcraft board- talk about an addiction. And speaking of WoW, did I mention the fiasco that was the Blizzon ticket purchasing this year? Yikes! Here's the screen many of us found ourselves looking at most of the day.
Somehow, my darling husband managed to get through, however, and we'll be heading to Anaheim in October for this momentous event!
And on a related note, there's always my guild forum, Draco Dormiens.
So that's where I spend my time now- with the recently re-addded babycenter. Looking forward to it guys!
Monday, August 25, 2008
SEO vs Great Web Pages
A friend brought up an interesting point the other day. Why is it that we (normal people with websites, companies, etc) have to work so hard to get the search engine's attention? Shouldn't they be working harder to find out what's more relevant to people and find US? Not forcing us to optimize our sites to match their ideas of what makes a site relevant?
And I agree with my friend. In a perfect world, search engines would find our sites based on actual relevancy- not on how well we create content tailored to be snatched out of cyberspace. In a perfect world, my 3-year-old would not scream "MOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMYYYYYYYY!!!!!" 5 seconds after I've put her to bed, either. Unfortunately, this world is not perfect, much to my sadness. And so I'll continue to do the best for my company that I can, and continue to optimize as best I can.
I'd like to reiterate again that SEO is not rocket science, as some incredibly insightful person once noted. It's links. It's relevant content that actually relates to the purpose of the website. It's making real use of your meta data. But it's not rocket science. I find it amusing that there are so many high-level SEO companies out there to "help" those of us who lack SEO skills. It's not hard, people! If you'd just stick with it and try to learn something, you won't have to spend so much money hiring the "experts."
As I've mentioned, once again this year I'll be heading to Pubcon for several days of SEO immersion talk. I have a feeling, that with my company, it will be the equivalent of beating my head into a wall, but I can always hope, right? This year I'm excited that I'll be able to maybe blog from Pubcon a bit- at least, until my husband appears, and snatches the wireless broadband connection from me.
And I agree with my friend. In a perfect world, search engines would find our sites based on actual relevancy- not on how well we create content tailored to be snatched out of cyberspace. In a perfect world, my 3-year-old would not scream "MOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMYYYYYYYY!!!!!" 5 seconds after I've put her to bed, either. Unfortunately, this world is not perfect, much to my sadness. And so I'll continue to do the best for my company that I can, and continue to optimize as best I can.
I'd like to reiterate again that SEO is not rocket science, as some incredibly insightful person once noted. It's links. It's relevant content that actually relates to the purpose of the website. It's making real use of your meta data. But it's not rocket science. I find it amusing that there are so many high-level SEO companies out there to "help" those of us who lack SEO skills. It's not hard, people! If you'd just stick with it and try to learn something, you won't have to spend so much money hiring the "experts."
As I've mentioned, once again this year I'll be heading to Pubcon for several days of SEO immersion talk. I have a feeling, that with my company, it will be the equivalent of beating my head into a wall, but I can always hope, right? This year I'm excited that I'll be able to maybe blog from Pubcon a bit- at least, until my husband appears, and snatches the wireless broadband connection from me.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Here I go again...
With another purse.
I am not the kind of girl who you'd expect to carry Chanel. I wear jeans and sneakers if at all possible. I don't like snobby people, and I have no use for clothes that are uncomfortable. But I cannot resist luxury handbags. And since this is my personal blog, and I don't really expect anyone to read it but me(but it's kind of exciting to think someone might, haha!), I can brag if I want to.
On to other news...
SEO, oh SEO- you drive me insane. It stands to reason that people will type in what they think is the best term for whatever they are looking for, in a search engine (did that make any sense??). But what happens when you work for a big corporation, and the search term has legal implications you don't want to touch? Do you optimize for it without using it in the content, and hope for the best? Do you choose another similar keyword, and optimize for that? I'm not completely sure, but I've got legal checking to see if we can even use the "bad keyword" in our meta tags. My hope is that we will change to the new keyword- as that will allow us to concentrate on that keyword, and not dilute the campaign.
In any case, I'm not going to worry too much about the above. Instead, I'm going to concentrate on my upcoming trips to Disney World and Blizzcon. Yes, my husband and were one of the lucky ones in the great Blizzcon Failoc Debacle of 2008. So while most people are sitting at home, raiding Hyjal and moping, my husband and I will be snug in our room at the Anaheim Marriott, or happily frolicing on the demos of Diablo III, Starcraft, and WoTLK, or driving our rented Pontiac Solstice up the Pacific Coast Highway.
I can't wait.
I am not the kind of girl who you'd expect to carry Chanel. I wear jeans and sneakers if at all possible. I don't like snobby people, and I have no use for clothes that are uncomfortable. But I cannot resist luxury handbags. And since this is my personal blog, and I don't really expect anyone to read it but me(but it's kind of exciting to think someone might, haha!), I can brag if I want to.
On to other news...
SEO, oh SEO- you drive me insane. It stands to reason that people will type in what they think is the best term for whatever they are looking for, in a search engine (did that make any sense??). But what happens when you work for a big corporation, and the search term has legal implications you don't want to touch? Do you optimize for it without using it in the content, and hope for the best? Do you choose another similar keyword, and optimize for that? I'm not completely sure, but I've got legal checking to see if we can even use the "bad keyword" in our meta tags. My hope is that we will change to the new keyword- as that will allow us to concentrate on that keyword, and not dilute the campaign.
In any case, I'm not going to worry too much about the above. Instead, I'm going to concentrate on my upcoming trips to Disney World and Blizzcon. Yes, my husband and were one of the lucky ones in the great Blizzcon Failoc Debacle of 2008. So while most people are sitting at home, raiding Hyjal and moping, my husband and I will be snug in our room at the Anaheim Marriott, or happily frolicing on the demos of Diablo III, Starcraft, and WoTLK, or driving our rented Pontiac Solstice up the Pacific Coast Highway.
I can't wait.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Keyword targeting vs. keyword spamming
Unless you misuse them.
Some key (get it?? haha!) things to remember- do not spam them in your site. How do you know if you're keyword spamming? If your content sounds awkward or forced because you've got too many instances of a keyword (or keywords), you may be keyword spamming and need to rethink your keyword strategy. Sometimes, it's as simple as rewriting. But sometimes, you may need to consider other options.
What other options? My current favorite is creating a landing page targeting specific keywords. Your landing pages can work as your homepage, even, and look similar- but the content needs to be targeted specifically to your keyword. If you have the time and manpower, create your content for each landing page specifically about that keyword. Don't just create the same content with interchangeable keywords.
And above all, put your keywords into your meta data in the title tag! Put them in the keywords and description too, but know they won't have as much pull from these- it's just a good habit to get into.
An no, no more handbags for me for now. As much as I want some that I've seen recently, I must dig myself out of this hole I've fallen into before I can consider any more. Instead, I need to start work on planning a 3-year-old's birthday party. Fun!!
And if anyone has any suggestions on how to convince a suddenly recalcitrant preschooler that potties at school and anywhere other than home are okay to use, I'm wide open to them.
Some key (get it?? haha!) things to remember- do not spam them in your site. How do you know if you're keyword spamming? If your content sounds awkward or forced because you've got too many instances of a keyword (or keywords), you may be keyword spamming and need to rethink your keyword strategy. Sometimes, it's as simple as rewriting. But sometimes, you may need to consider other options.
What other options? My current favorite is creating a landing page targeting specific keywords. Your landing pages can work as your homepage, even, and look similar- but the content needs to be targeted specifically to your keyword. If you have the time and manpower, create your content for each landing page specifically about that keyword. Don't just create the same content with interchangeable keywords.
And above all, put your keywords into your meta data in the title tag! Put them in the keywords and description too, but know they won't have as much pull from these- it's just a good habit to get into.
An no, no more handbags for me for now. As much as I want some that I've seen recently, I must dig myself out of this hole I've fallen into before I can consider any more. Instead, I need to start work on planning a 3-year-old's birthday party. Fun!!
And if anyone has any suggestions on how to convince a suddenly recalcitrant preschooler that potties at school and anywhere other than home are okay to use, I'm wide open to them.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
PubCon is a go!
But first, the new Chanel:
A big thank you to everyone at tPf for their help in tracking it down and ruining me for life on handbags.
Anyway, I learned something new over the past few weeks. You can make a search engine see a page as a dictionary- so if you have a glossary list on your site, use dl (definition list) tags.
And, like I said, PubCon(hosted by Webmaster World) is a go- I was able to get permission for and sign up last week. now I'm just waiting to see what hotel they've chosen. I'm really hoping for the Wynn again. But if not, I'll just have to apply the cost of whatever hotel it'll be at to my room at the Wynn, as I don't think I'll ever stay anywhere else in Vegas again.
A big thank you to everyone at tPf for their help in tracking it down and ruining me for life on handbags.
Anyway, I learned something new over the past few weeks. You can make a search engine see a page as a dictionary- so if you have a glossary list on your site, use dl (definition list) tags.
And, like I said, PubCon(hosted by Webmaster World) is a go- I was able to get permission for and sign up last week. now I'm just waiting to see what hotel they've chosen. I'm really hoping for the Wynn again. But if not, I'll just have to apply the cost of whatever hotel it'll be at to my room at the Wynn, as I don't think I'll ever stay anywhere else in Vegas again.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Almost forgot
Tonight is the first visit to Chuck E Cheese. Nothing like a creepy fake mouse suit to inspire a writer.
My beautiful new bag should be here tomorrow- and it's all I can do to sit still and quit wiggling.
I'm starting to ramp up on the SEO again- planning on attending PubCon again this year. last year was great fun, even though I am not big on the networking- I just don't like people that much. But Vegas is fun, and I learned a ton. But it should be fun again, and a nice break from the normalcy of my job.
My beautiful new bag should be here tomorrow- and it's all I can do to sit still and quit wiggling.
I'm starting to ramp up on the SEO again- planning on attending PubCon again this year. last year was great fun, even though I am not big on the networking- I just don't like people that much. But Vegas is fun, and I learned a ton. But it should be fun again, and a nice break from the normalcy of my job.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
waiting, waiting.
It's on the way, so I can calm down now. My poor husband. Little does he realize, once you've gone Chanel, you can never go back.
So, now, let's concentrate on buying Microsoft Office, stopping the snacking, and actually making myself useful at work.
SEO is still a big deal for me, but so are banner ads (thanks Jennie, you've made my life much easier). Writing banner ads is one of the hardest, but most fun types of online writing in my opinion. How do you get someone to respond to a medium that is widely regarded as hated- and better yet, get click-throughs that aren't just the reader going to send your company hate-mail from their website?
And do you really know if a banner ad is successful? Should it be measured in click-throughs? Or brand awareness? How would you even measure brand awareness?
These are questions I'm still trying to find the answer too. I'm inclined to believe banner ads are more useful as brand awareness, especially if you don't have them linked to a landing page (as my company does not). Let me know if you have any thoughts on this.
I see blogger does not like the phrase "click throughs." Tough. I can't really think of a better way to describe it.
So, now, let's concentrate on buying Microsoft Office, stopping the snacking, and actually making myself useful at work.
SEO is still a big deal for me, but so are banner ads (thanks Jennie, you've made my life much easier). Writing banner ads is one of the hardest, but most fun types of online writing in my opinion. How do you get someone to respond to a medium that is widely regarded as hated- and better yet, get click-throughs that aren't just the reader going to send your company hate-mail from their website?
And do you really know if a banner ad is successful? Should it be measured in click-throughs? Or brand awareness? How would you even measure brand awareness?
These are questions I'm still trying to find the answer too. I'm inclined to believe banner ads are more useful as brand awareness, especially if you don't have them linked to a landing page (as my company does not). Let me know if you have any thoughts on this.
I see blogger does not like the phrase "click throughs." Tough. I can't really think of a better way to describe it.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Holding patterns...
I'm waiting on confirmation that the insanely expensive purse I am buying has successfully been charged to my credit card.
Why an insanely expensive purse, you ask?
Because it's purple. Because it's a purse that I've dreamed of since I was in high school and first starting to read Cosmo, Sassy, Marie Claire, Glamour, and all the other girlish advice/fashion magazines. Because everyone needs a classic Chanel flap in at least one color (working on the goes-with-anything black flap as well).
Office is still eluding me. I need to order it now, or else I will have a problem when my class starts next week.
The writing is getting closer and closer. I can feel it...maybe it will be inspired by a beautiful purple purse that should arrive on Friday.
Why an insanely expensive purse, you ask?
Because it's purple. Because it's a purse that I've dreamed of since I was in high school and first starting to read Cosmo, Sassy, Marie Claire, Glamour, and all the other girlish advice/fashion magazines. Because everyone needs a classic Chanel flap in at least one color (working on the goes-with-anything black flap as well).
Office is still eluding me. I need to order it now, or else I will have a problem when my class starts next week.
The writing is getting closer and closer. I can feel it...maybe it will be inspired by a beautiful purple purse that should arrive on Friday.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
So I'm sitting here watching Kai Lan...
With a 2-year old, contemplating the verrrrrrry expensive purse I just bought, and wondering if I'll do anything productive today. Considering I'm also already playing WoW at 9am, I'm guessing this is a lazy day.
Have I bought Office yet? Nope. Need to get off my butt and get a move on.
but, I have been thinking a bit more about what too write. And thinking about it definitely better than NOT thinking about it.
Have I bought Office yet? Nope. Need to get off my butt and get a move on.
but, I have been thinking a bit more about what too write. And thinking about it definitely better than NOT thinking about it.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Still no Office 2007
Yes, 2 posts in two days! You are reading correctly! Now go order Office 2007.
Most recent project:
www.postedwithlove.com
Cute- go "post your love" for free!
Most recent project:
www.postedwithlove.com
Cute- go "post your love" for free!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Hey dumbass...
A little reminder to myself:
If some idiot on a computer game can take a "break" from it to work on her self-published "writing projects" (which suck) then so can you, damnit. You get PAID to write! Write something for yourself! Anything! You've got a brand-new computer, and the fact that you have been too lazy to order Office 2007 is not an excuse. In fact, go order Office now- you need it for your class.
Also,
STOP EATING CRAP AND MAKING EXCUSES
And update this dratted blog more often.
Write your uncle a letter.
And your aunt.
And you really should pull out of Gruul tonight and get some sleep (but I already know that's a lost cause).
If some idiot on a computer game can take a "break" from it to work on her self-published "writing projects" (which suck) then so can you, damnit. You get PAID to write! Write something for yourself! Anything! You've got a brand-new computer, and the fact that you have been too lazy to order Office 2007 is not an excuse. In fact, go order Office now- you need it for your class.
Also,
STOP EATING CRAP AND MAKING EXCUSES
And update this dratted blog more often.
Write your uncle a letter.
And your aunt.
And you really should pull out of Gruul tonight and get some sleep (but I already know that's a lost cause).
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