Google 2010-Experiments and Changes
2010 was a very interesting year for Google. Here are several examples:
Google Adwords Changes 2010- Good made a change in the way in which it handles display URLS for their Google Adwords platform. Before, you could create an ad linking to a blog using this type of URL - http://name.blogspot.com. But because the blogsphere has grown they now require the display URL to reflect the specific blog reached upon clicking the ad.
Google outlines its Display URL guidelines here. They include:
1. The display url must actually reflect the domain of your landing page so they know where they will be when they click on your link.
2. Display url within each ad group must have the same domain.
3. Display url cannot be used as another line of ad text.
4. Your display url must include your extension. (.biz, .com, etc.)
5. If your destintion url is too long, then use your home page url.
Google Fast Flip - I must say, I was really under a rock with this one. This is where Google let's you "flip" through news articles on the web, just like a handheld magazine. The Fast Flip is at the bottom of Google News and it has some quality publications. For example, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Huffington Post, Popular Science, Reuters, U.S. News and WOrd Report.
Even though people like the idea, there are still some issues that have to be worked out before avid news readers will accept Fast Flip.
The criticisms:
1. It doesn't flip pages, but slides them across the screen, making news hard to access, not easier.
2. Some are wondering if any of the Adsense units on the site will make newspapers any money.
3. Many feel the iPhone version of Fast Flip is useless. Unlike the desktop you can't read anything because the text is too small. Clicking zoom doesn't help either because it won't fit on the iPhone screen size and be actually readable. It seems Google expects you to pan around the page to read the text.
There is still hope, since Fast Flip holds a Google Labs status, which means that it has not transitioned out to being classified as a full-fledged feature of Google News. Will it make it out of the Google labs phase? Time will tell.
These are only two examples, in the next posts, I go through some other changes and experiments.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Monday, January 03, 2011
Affiliate Marketing in the New Year
Affiliate Marketing in the New Year
If you're new to affiliate marketing, you may not be fully aware of the changes that affiliate marketing has seen. I've been on the Internet for a little over 5 years and I've seen some subtle changes in the affiliate marketing business. These changes are due mainly through government intervention.
When the FTC put rules into affect for bloggers, it also affected affiliate marketers. Let me explain:
1) The FTC states that if a marketer gives a product to a blogger to review for free, the blogger must disclose that he/she is reviewing the product and has been compensated in some form.
This rule can affect an affiliate marketer, because if they purchase the product because of your online review, you are being compensated.
2) Word-of-mouth campaigns. Sometimes a company will ask an individual to send out emails to friends, and in return they will receive something of value.
3) Testimonial-I've used testimonials when I have used the product and liked it. However, you will have to state if your testimonial is "not typical" for most consumers.
Sometimes people use testimonials. However, some may have not used the product and their reviews are totally hyped selling. This caused some people to be scammed or greatly disappointed with what they bought. But with new rules in place, this game can find both the advertiser and the individual who is hyping the product a lot poorer.
4) Expert Endorsement must be from an expert. Anybody can attach expert to their credits, but in the eyes of the FTC the expert needs to have special knowledge that qualifies him or her to make that expert distinction.
The FTC knows the online community rather well. I'm sure they assumed some people will ignore their rules so with the rules come the penalties. And they can be steep if they are ignored, especially if you're given a first warning.
After the first warning, you can be fined $11,000 for each infraction. This fine can be levied against the advertiser and the blogger.
That last bold sentence above tells you about the affiliate marketing business. It has been forced to grow up. If the advertiser, the blogger, or the affiliate marketer does not play by the rules of business, expect the penalties.
Why is this happening? The 21st century is now seeing more and more people going to the Internet to buy and to be social. By imposing rules, it protects the consumer from advertiser and/or affiliate marketer that does not want to play by fair rules of business.
These rules should not be feared but should be applauded. Why? I my eyes affiliate marketing is becoming more legitimate through this simple government intervention.
Will there be more twist and turns in the new year? Maybe. Let's think about this. With the states hurting for revenue, I am wondering if more states will jump to the Internet for revenue by way of state sales tax. Now, if the majority of the states begin this practice, Amazon will be hard pressed to try and stop doing business with people from those states. They would lose more revenue than they would gain.
To conclude, I found the old year, and the changes on the Internet, rather interesting. But with the new year upon us, I do not believe for a minute that my work environment, the Internet, will remain static, but will see more changes. What do you think?
If you're new to affiliate marketing, you may not be fully aware of the changes that affiliate marketing has seen. I've been on the Internet for a little over 5 years and I've seen some subtle changes in the affiliate marketing business. These changes are due mainly through government intervention.
When the FTC put rules into affect for bloggers, it also affected affiliate marketers. Let me explain:
1) The FTC states that if a marketer gives a product to a blogger to review for free, the blogger must disclose that he/she is reviewing the product and has been compensated in some form.
This rule can affect an affiliate marketer, because if they purchase the product because of your online review, you are being compensated.
2) Word-of-mouth campaigns. Sometimes a company will ask an individual to send out emails to friends, and in return they will receive something of value.
3) Testimonial-I've used testimonials when I have used the product and liked it. However, you will have to state if your testimonial is "not typical" for most consumers.
Sometimes people use testimonials. However, some may have not used the product and their reviews are totally hyped selling. This caused some people to be scammed or greatly disappointed with what they bought. But with new rules in place, this game can find both the advertiser and the individual who is hyping the product a lot poorer.
4) Expert Endorsement must be from an expert. Anybody can attach expert to their credits, but in the eyes of the FTC the expert needs to have special knowledge that qualifies him or her to make that expert distinction.
The FTC knows the online community rather well. I'm sure they assumed some people will ignore their rules so with the rules come the penalties. And they can be steep if they are ignored, especially if you're given a first warning.
After the first warning, you can be fined $11,000 for each infraction. This fine can be levied against the advertiser and the blogger.
That last bold sentence above tells you about the affiliate marketing business. It has been forced to grow up. If the advertiser, the blogger, or the affiliate marketer does not play by the rules of business, expect the penalties.
Why is this happening? The 21st century is now seeing more and more people going to the Internet to buy and to be social. By imposing rules, it protects the consumer from advertiser and/or affiliate marketer that does not want to play by fair rules of business.
These rules should not be feared but should be applauded. Why? I my eyes affiliate marketing is becoming more legitimate through this simple government intervention.
Will there be more twist and turns in the new year? Maybe. Let's think about this. With the states hurting for revenue, I am wondering if more states will jump to the Internet for revenue by way of state sales tax. Now, if the majority of the states begin this practice, Amazon will be hard pressed to try and stop doing business with people from those states. They would lose more revenue than they would gain.
To conclude, I found the old year, and the changes on the Internet, rather interesting. But with the new year upon us, I do not believe for a minute that my work environment, the Internet, will remain static, but will see more changes. What do you think?
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