aimClear Search Marketing Blog

In SEO, serving up “authentic” and usable content designed to demystify product offerings, remove conversion barriers, and support customer needs is most important.

We encourage our clients to represent their products’ true value with honesty, well branded style and important keywords. We try to keep our hands-off the integrity of the messaging as much as possible. However, here’s a sordid tale of happy, holistic and hands-off SEO gone to hell on a broomstick. Read the rest of this entry »

In our search marketing agency, the toughest standard operating procedure protocol we’ve defined and implemented is the “Goals & Scope Document” we attach to each client’s contract.We’ve found it critical to empower each aimClear employee to self-determine, within reason, if an incoming job request is included in a given client’s scope, will be done as a favor, or needs a new job ticket. We’ve fostered an environment where our people seek executive collaboration to make these calls only when necessary. Without defining such procedures, owning a search marketing agency can be a an unpaid scope creep money pit. Read the rest of this entry »

I am an avid social media community member. I am also a search marketing professional, profoundly grateful to friends, associates, clients. With achievement and mistakes, I’ve always been proud of my avatars. I’m also well aware of the technical and tactical gaming activities that some “aggressive” gray and black hat SEM technicians employ to push ROI for clients. Read the rest of this entry »

This morning, in a post over @ SearchEngineWatch Blog, you’ll find my set-up coining the phrase “IT fiedom.” Here’s the frightening back-story.

1: The It Manager handles hundreds of thousands of PPC dollars, is in charge of SEO (organic optimization) and has a three person staff who don’t have job titles, can’t explain what they do, and double as Microsoft Word Install-artists on 347 company computers that break. They do whatever they do between stints on the help desk and make paper brochures in Microsoft Publisher and PhotoShop. Read the rest of this entry »

Last week SEMPDX, online home of Portland Oregon’s search marketing community, announced the commencement of ticket sales for their March 10th “Searchfest” event. I’m honored by the invitation to speak at a conference graced by such SEM Luminaries as Rand Fishkin and Matt McGee. I’ll step to the speakers’ podium for a presentation regarding reputation management and the “dark side” of social media marketing.

Also speaking at the session is Janet Johnson, a respected businesswoman-blogger who is well-known to the Portland business community. Today, SEMPDX announced that they’re accepting pitches to speak with Janet and I in Portland. Here’s the link for submission procedure and rules. The deadline is 1/24/08. Read the rest of this entry »

Those of us old enough (or studied politically) know that this headline invokes John F. Kennedy’s immortal Inaugural Address- January 20th 1961. His words ring true today with astounding clarity and resonate throughout the fabric of society as an entitled generation of global citizens selfishly asks, “what’s in it for ME?” Nowhere is this clearer than in social media circles, where an ishy minority of self-centered users muddy the waters for the authentic. Read the rest of this entry »

Our clients ask us about Flash all the time. For years Flash has been the stuff of web design joy and pain, causing frustration for search marketing folks. Those who design and brand absolutely love Flash’s web 2.0 animation, video, and rich media feel. 

SEM types traditionally have avoided Flash for critical organic optimization applications. The technology’s quirky propensity to be indexed (or not by) search engines has led to creative back door methods, sparking dialog and discourse as to whether certain techniques are evil cloaking tactics. Read the rest of this entry »

Originally the Duluth Public Library, The Carnegie Building is monumental in it’s grand neo-classic design and venerable Presence on the Duluth, MN skyline. Constructed in 1901 & 1902, after a generous gift to the city by Andrew Carnegie, the 5 story high 40′ diameter rotunda has been meticulously restored to it’s stunning gold-leaf & oak grace by a consortium of personally-invested family owners.

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First day on the job as CBS Affiliate Creative Director, General Manager & friend Terry Hurly offered advice which has served well for 15 years. “Marty, when you send memos, do interviews, or otherwise deal with media or your employees, give OTHERS credit-sometimes even if you did it.” He continued, use the words “us,” “we,” “our” and not “I,” “me,” or “my.”

Years later, as the aimClear growth plan gestated, a dear Friend Dan Thralow sent over Jim Collins’s famous book “Good to Great.” Truly great leaders (level 5) share a number of mostly-common traits. One of them is crediting others (looking out the window) for success and taking responsibility (looking in the mirror) for failures. External factors contributing to success could include luck, excellent team members, & market trends.

Failure often stems from lack of a coherent game plan, inviting the wrong team members onto the bus, & not facing brutal truths. Tactic or trap, writing from the self-center person can be an intentional grammatical style book decision. Read the rest of this entry »

Happy New Year to you & yours from the aimClear family. We wish you peace, prosperity, & joy in 2008. We’re off to ring in the new year Duluth, Minnesota style. Cheers!