aimClear® Search Marketing Blog

Ah, competitive intelligence. It’s got to be one of the most alluring aspects of online marketing, requiring the typically upstanding online marketer to get down ‘n dirty with delicious data and illuminating insight on the competition. Yes, for a certain portion of our day, we marketers get to kick off our work shoes and lace up combat boots, loosen our ties and don green berets, as we sneak through the forests of the Interwebz in search of information we can leverage to exploit competitors’ weaknesses and pounce on areas of opportunity… in short: get a leg-up in a dog eat dog world.

Those who stuck it through Day 3 of last week’s #PubCon Vegas were in for a sweet session devoted specifically to top-shelf Competitive Intelligence Tools & Tactics. Jane Copland, Search Marketing Consultant, Ayima Search Marketing, Matt Siltala, President, Dream Systems Media and Michael Streko, Co-Founder / Owner, KnowEm LLC each took the stage and shared their favorite tips, tactics, tools and takeaways on how to spy in cyberspace with sophistication. For those unable to *cough* make it to the conference due to a late night of partying catching up on work emails, we decided to showcase the gems here for you to consume at your leisure. Read on for the full effect. Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome back to aimClear’s coverage of #PubCon Vegas 2011! After an inspiring opening keynote with Leo Laporte, the morning of Day 1 launched in warp-speed fashion towards the first round of sessions. Salon B of the lux Las Vegas Convention Center housed a special treat for those interested in the crossroads between search and social, an intersection of increasing value and significance to any serious online marketer.

Search engines are some of the granddaddies of the Internet, and social media, once (arguably) perceived as the trendy-edgy-nose-pierced-teen-punk on the block, has blossomed into a sophisticated, powerful, influential and beloved friend. Savvy to the global use (and continued growth) of social media, search engines get that they have to pay mind to social media if they want to continue to be relevant to users. If search engines recognize this, you better, too.

John Ellis,CEO and Owner, Crescent Interactive, and Michael Gray, President, Atlas Web Service joined forces to dish out tip-top tactics, techniques and best practices for making sites more SEO-friendly social media friendly. aimClear live-tweeted this session via @beebow. Read on for the full scoop. Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to aimClear’s coverage of #PubCon 2011! Ahh, PubCon – what can you say about such a veteran staple in the search marketing industry? One that draws hardcore search nerds and beloved tech rockstars in droves to the middle of the desert each year? The Center South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention is overflowing with friends, old and new, from all walks of our industry – and aimClear was front and center to kick things off.

On that note, the kickoff keynote to this year’s PubCon Las Vegas was delivered by technology broadcaster and noted online personality, Leo Laporte. Host of “The Tech Guy,” a nationally syndicated program, Leo toured the packed keynote room through how he’s grown to market TWiT, his broadcast network, without people noticing it – based on lessons learned from  TechTV, a a 24-hour cable and satellite channel that dissolved in 2004 .

aimClear live-tweeted this opening keynote via @merrymorud, @beebow, @lindsaylorraine, and @mollycryan (as the saying goes, 16 40 fingers are better than two 10 – I suck at math). Read on for the full recap. Read the rest of this entry »

Well kids, it’s that time of year again! When hardcore search nerds and beloved tech rockstars from every walk of the online marketing industry flock to America’s playground and gear up for a week of keynotes, in-depth sessions, discussion panels, mad-crazy networking events, and a little R&R along the Strip. Yes, it’s time for a true obligatory-must-attend conference: PubCon Vegas, baby.

During November 7 – 10, the Center South Hall of the lovely Las Vegas Convention will be overrun with our kind of folks ready to soak up some serious knowledge. Marty Weintraub (@aimClear), Merry Morud (@MerryMorud), Lindsay Schleisman (@lindsaylorraine), Molly Ryan (@mollycryan), and yours truly, Lauren Litwinka (@beebow) are heading west to Sin City, where we’ll represent the aimClear team in style – up at the podium and in the crowd. Marty will drop some brain-bombs during the Keyword Research, Selection and Optimization, Facebook Today, and How SMBs Can Use PR Campaigns to Grow Traffic sessions while us gals tear up the Twitersphere with live coverage comin’ atcha straight from the show.

Read on for a closer look at Marty’s panels and the sessions that are really catching our eye. Read the rest of this entry »