Posts about General
Google SSL Search, End of Analytics?
(Photo from https://www.google.com)
Ouch! I just pinched myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.
This is a nightmare for web analysts and online marketers. Secure Google search means that we will no longer be able to see the referring information of a visitor to our website. That means no keyword information will be sent to web analytics reports! This isn’t only for Google Analytics, not even your $50,000 analytics software will be able to gather the data. Any traffic generated by SEO efforts from a SSL Google search will show up as direct traffic. It’s nearly impossible to measure the success of your marketing efforts if all SSL search traffic is recorded as direct traffic. I’m not sure if they strip out PPC data, but that should be less of an issue due to the growing reporting power of Google AdWords. (more…)
Big Omaha
(Photo by Malone & Company)
A few days ago, Jordon and I made the 500+ mile trek from Milwaukee to Omaha, Nebraska. No, we didn’t go to try and get a glimpse of Warren Buffet, nor did we go for the steaks (although we did have some great steaks). We went to hear some of the greatest entrepreneurs and innovators on the web today speak about what drives them to do what they do so well. Why would we go to Omaha of all places for this? The second annual Big Omaha conference, of course.
So, what is Big Omaha? Truthfully, leading up to the event, both Jordon and I had a hard time describing what this event was and why we were so excited to go to it. I think that the Big Omaha website puts it best, so here it is, straight from the horse’s (or, I guess in this case, cow’s?) mouth:
This event brings together the region’s best and brightest to motivate, challenge, excite and connect with one another, and in turn raise the bar on the level of work we’re producing.
AJ Bombers: p-nuts, burgers, beer, and the Wall Street Journal!
With nearly 1000 FourSquare checkins AJ Bombers (AJbombers.com) is dominating the social media game in Milwaukee. Milwaukee’s king of the burger has embraced and utilized social media like few others have, and they have received well-deserved recognition from The Wall Street Journal and CNN (1:02 into the video) because of it.
Aside from using FourSquare like a pro, they’ve got a huge following on Twitter. @AJBombers has more than 2100 followers, which is a respectable follower count for Milwaukee’s small market. The interesting stat about their Twitter usage is their use of @reply messages. According to TweetStats, 63% of Aj Bombers tweets are @replies, which is a very high percentage, and it could be off-putting to some potential followers. However, if you can cut through the heap of reply messages and actually follow them, you will be rewarded with a sense of being part of a community; and one of the best things they do is interact with the burger-loving community. Their customer engagement level is through the roof.
How to Remove Google Buzz
It’s a Tweet…It’s a Facebook Update…It’s Google Buzz!
Yes, it’s hot off of the Google presses and everyone is eating it up. Google Buzz is the best thing since…well, I don’t know. I used it for a few days to see if it added anything to my life. Google was trying to fill a void in my social media life that I didn’t know existed. The truth is, that void did not exist. Sorry, Buzz, I’m just not that into you. (more…)
The Polar Plunge
Last month as our gift to you, we asked you to decide what chilling, frightening, or embarrassing thing Andy should do. We sent the email out on December 21st, and the next day there was already a clear winner: Polar bear diving had won by a landslide with a resounding 51% of the vote. Upon reception of the results, Andy humbly walked into the office and announced “I think I’m in trouble.” (more…)
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