Special Announcement
Mobile Marketing Conference Ticket Winners Announced
Big thanks to everyone who took part in our ticket giveaway for the IMC Mobile Marketing conference.
Your questions were fantastic and have given us — and the conference presenters — a lot of great ideas for discussion topics. You also made it very difficult to choose a winner!
So, without further ado, our free ticket winners are…
Chana Hercenberg:
As a consultant, someone who has spent time researching the industry […], I would say one of the most important issues to address for a business going mobile is how do you best design a robust and engaging money making mobile page in a small amount of space? What are the best technologies available, and what are the best tips for optimizing the space?Sudhir Bhojwani:
Are we going to see more of companies such as Blyk ad model MVNO? How big is this market really? I feel it only affects young subscribers.Tim Peter:
Simple question: Why do we think anyone will *ever* transact using a handset when they’re holding a phone in their hands? Wouldn’t it just be easier to call? Shouldn’t the emphasis be on tracking the outcome of the call itself and using *that* as the call-to-action?
Don’t forget: We’re assembling a crew of mobile marketing experts to answer not just these, but ALL of your other questions in following posts. Stay tuned!
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P.S. IMC is still offering a 20% discount for GrokDotCom readers.
Related Posts:
Written by:Robert Gorell
Win Tickets to the IMC Mobile Marketing Conference
If you’ll be in New York City on June 4th — or looking for an excuse to visit — here’s your chance.
The IMC Mobile Marketing conference, in addition to offering a 20% discount to all GrokDotCom readers (click here for details), is letting us give away three free tickets to their event.
How To Enter
All you need to do is leave a question — not a comment — below that addresses a common or interesting concern about mobile marketing.
Be specific. The more detail you give, the better our chances of giving you a clear answer.
The three most interesting questions (according to Bryan and me) win. It’s that simple!
Who Should Enter
Anyone reading this who wants to learn more about mobile marketing; especially those who read GrokDotCom often but don’t comment. We’re setting one of the free tickets aside for a first-time commenter, so don’t be shy!
Why You Should Bother
Because EVERYONE’S questions will be answered. That’s right. Even if you don’t win, we will have mobile marketing experts (from the conference and others) answer your questions. Besides, your odds of winning free tickets are pretty darn good.
How You’ll Know if You’ve Won
We will email you. We’ll also announce the winners next Monday in a new post.
Good luck, and may the best questions win!
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Editor’s Note: Happening in the same hotel, the two days prior, June 2nd and 3rd respectively, FutureNow’s Persuasive Online Copywriting and Call to Action seminars give you even more profitable excuses to visit New York. Register by Friday, May 9th and to save up to $300.
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Written by:Robert Gorell
Google Website Optimizer Opens Up, Sheds Beta
Just one year after Google [GOOG] launched Google Website Optimizer, the free A/B split and multivariate testing platform has shed its “beta” status and gone mainstream.
Formerly available only to AdWords users, Google Website Optimizer can now be accessed by anyone with a basic Google account. Even if you only have so much as a Gmail account, you can start testing your website — for free — regardless of whether you’re running a paid search campaign. (No worries, AdWords users, Website Optimizer still works seamlessly with the rest of the Google product suite.)
Companies of all sizes are getting results with Website Optimizer. And since it runs independently of your analytics program — or in sync with it, if you have Google Analytics — there’s little room for argument between departments as to whether or not your company should be testing. You should.
To find out more about Google Website Optimizer, visit their new…
- Website - Unglued from the AdWords site, you can visit Google.com/websiteoptimizer directly.
- Blog - Subscribe to websiteoptimizer.blogspot.com for product updates, case studies and ideas worth testing.
Why is FutureNow so excited about Google Website Optimizer? A few reasons:
- Authorized Consultant - FutureNow was one of the original firms to be invited to test GWO with clients, and the case studies have been remarkable so far. Is yours next?
- Writing the book on GWO - Bryan Eisenberg & John Quarto-vonTivadar, inventors of FutureNow’s patented Persuasion Architecture® methodology, have teamed up to write Always Be Testing: The Complete Guide to Google Website Optimizer, in book stores this August.
- It works! - The results speak for themselves.
Of course, knowing what to test — design elements, copy, etc. — is everything. If you’d like to start testing and you’re not sure if you need to hire a firm, here are several free resources to get started with Google Website Optimizer.
Got questions about Website Optimizer or testing in general? We’d love to hear your comments.
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Written by:Robert Gorell
Google Website Optimizer Webinar: What Should I Test?
In case you missed the live webinar or had technical difficulties while watching it last week, you can watch it on YouTube now.
The presentation is 63 minutes, and the sound on the YouTube version isn’t the best. If you prefer, you can watch it full-screen and with better sound via WebEx.
The webinar starts with an introduction to Website Optimizer by Google’s Tom Leung. Then I share some of what we have learned at FutureNow over the the past decade of optimizing websites, in order to show some of the most important things you should test. We then go into Q & A, but since there were additional questions that weren’t answered on the call, we will gladly answer them for you in the comments below.
As always, if you need help figuring out the specifics of what to test on your site, we can help.
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Written by:Bryan Eisenberg
Now Available: “The Soccer Mom Myth” by Holly Buchanan & Michele Miller
We’re very proud to announce that Holly & Michele’s new book, The Soccer Mom Myth — Today’s Female Consumer: Who She Really Is, Why She Really Buys, is now available.
The book addresses the most common mistakes in marketing to women, both online and offline, and shows us how to really understand who our female customers are. The authors then pull back the curtains for a realistic look at what women really want. Or, as they warn on The Soccer Mom Myth website, “This is not your typical dry business book. It includes politically incorrect views, some unladylike language, and tequila stories.”
The early reviews have been fantastic, and we’re looking forward to hearing what the rest of you think.
You can read sample chapters at TheSoccerMomMyth.com or order your copy today from Amazon.
Congratulations, Holly & Michele!
Related Posts:
Written by:Jeffrey Eisenberg
“What Should I Test?” Free Google + Future Now Webinar
In the past few months, we’ve received emails and comments from people who want to know the secret. They’ve read a few posts on website optimization testing, but they’re disillusioned. Their tests haven’t been effective — meanwhile, Future Now keeps yammering about how…
“Lead generation went up 5,000%!” (Tumbleweed rolls.)
“They doubled their conversion rate!” (Crickets chirp in disbelief.)*
Don’t think you can do it? Bryan Eisenberg and Google’s Tom Leung disagree. Join them for a free webinar on March 11th.
*Please Note: Case studies not boring when about your site.
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Written by:Robert Gorell
Save Hundreds Off Our Upcoming West Coast Seminars
Just a friendly reminder to West Coast readers to take advantage of the early registration discount for upcoming events in San Francisco…
Call to Action - March 27, 2008
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Call to Action is led by the incomparable Bryan Eisenberg, best-selling author and co-founder of Future Now, and is based on the Eisenberg brothers’ best-selling book, “Call to Action: Secret Formulas to Improve Online Results.” This seminar presents the principles of Persuasion Architecture and the tactics of conversion rate marketing, and will help you understand the roles of web analytics, web design, usability, social media, information architecture, and search engine optimization in the context of conversion rate marketing. Read more about this seminar. |
Persuasive Online Copywriting - March 28, 2008
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Persuasive Online Copywriting is co-led by two of our most popular writers, Holly Buchanan and Jeff Sexton. Come learn from the experts about making your copy more persuasive and speak to all of your market segments. Not only for copywriters, past attendees in this class include C-level execs, marketing directors, entrepreneurs, and others who just want to improve their online communication skills. Read more about this seminar. |
Take both and get a discount
Want a bigger bang for your buck? Be sure to check out our Early-bird Special (for early registration), the “House Combo Special” (a discount for registering for both classes), and our Group Special (a discount for multiple sign-ups).
Don’t delay! We have to limit the number of participants, so these events sell out quickly!
Call To Action Seminar - March 27, 2008
Early-bird Cost $795.00 (SAVE $100) prior to 2/29/08; $895.00 after.
Improve your conversion to increase your sites revenue potential
Register Now (link takes you to our event registration site)
Persuasive Online Copywriting Seminar - March 28, 2008
Early-bird Cost $695.00 (SAVE $100)prior to 2/29/08; $795.00 after.
Write to your customers needs to drive more results.
Register Now (link takes you to our event registration site)
Sign up for Both Seminars and Get A Discount
Early-bird Cost $1340.00 (SAVE $180) prior to 2/29/08; $1520.00 after.
Maximize the impact of increased conversion and persuasive copy.
Register for Both (link takes you to our event registration site)
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Written by:The Grok
Win a Free Copy of “The Soccer Mom Myth”
By now, most of you know about my passion and focus of extensive research: marketing to women online. Over the past several years, I’ve been so consumed by the topic that, in addition to my articles for GrokDotCom, I’ve kept up my own blog as well. Until now. I’m downsizing to one.
From now on, you can now read about all things marketing-to-women-online at GrokDotCom.com/women.
And now for the really exciting news…
Michele Miller and I have a new book coming out March 10th: The Soccer Mom Myth — Today’s Female Consumer: Who She Really Is, Why She Really Buys.
To find out more about the book (and laugh at our bad dance moves), visit us at TheSoccerMomMyth.com.
As a thank you to the frequent commenters on my posts (you know who you are), we’re giving away 10 free copies. Just reintroduce yourself in the comment field and tell the world to “Stop stereotyping your customers!” and I’ll email you to get your address so we can send you a copy.
If you’re lucky, I may even autograph it for you. 
Oh, and if you end up being commenter #11, no worries. You can always order the book from Amazon.
UPDATE 3/10: The winners have been notified. If we’ve been in touch, your copy of The Soccer Mom Myth is on its way. If you missed out on the contest, no worries, the book has officially been released today. Get yours today at Amazon.
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Written by:Holly Buchanan
GrokDotCom Wins SEMMY for Best Online Marketing Post
The results are in: GrokDotCom has won this year’s SEMMY Award for Best Online Marketing Post.
Taking the top honors, Bryan’s post on “How A Pretty Face Can Push Visitors Away” captured a whopping 46% of the vote. Holly’s “Why Testimonials Do (and Don’t) Work,” meanwhile, came in at 2nd place with 22%.
Our sincere thanks go out to Matt McGee, Stoney deGeyter, Jennifer Laycock, and the other judges of the SEMMY Awards for nominating us (twice!), and for recognizing the work of bloggers who create valuable and researched content.
Most of all, thanks to you; for voting for, subscribing to, and reading GrokDotCom. Please do keep your pretty face tuned here.
Congratulations, Bryan and Holly!
[Deep breath.]
Now that our Halle Berry moment’s out of the way… here are the winners in each SEMMY category:
Search Engine Optimization
Search Engine Ranking Factors Version 2 - Rand Fishkin, SEOmoz
Pay-Per-Click
Optimizing Paid Search & Landing Pages for TV, Radio and Print Advertising - Greg Meyers, SEM Geek
Why Google Can’t Just “Dump” PageRank - Dan Thies, SEO Fast Start
Viral Marketing
Top 6 Ideas for Incredible Viral Content - Tamar Weinberg, Techipedia
Link Building
Help! I’m New, I Need Links, What Can I Do? - Debra Mastaler, The Link Spiel
Local Search
Anatomy & Optimization Of A Local Business Profile - Chris Silver Smith, Search Engine Land
Blogs & Blogging
The Blogger’s Guide to SEO - Aaron & Giovanna Wall, SEO Book
Reputation Management
Buzz Monitoring: 26 Free Tools You Must Have - Andy Beal, Marketing Pilgrim
Small Business
Branding For Small Business And Bloggers - Steven Bradley, TheVanBlog
Social Media
The Social Media Manual: Read Before You Play - Muhammad Saleem, Search Engine Land
Web Analytics
Web Analytics Demystified - Avinash Kaushik, Occam’s Razor
Search Tech
Which Is Better For SEO: Shared or Dedicated IPs - Lisa Barone, Bruce Clay Blog
Online Marketing / General
How A Pretty Face Can Push Visitors Away - Bryan Eisenberg, GrokDotCom
LOL Funny
9 Ways To Bore The Audience at SES New York - Lisa Barone, Bruce Clay Blog
Rants
Web 2.0 & SEO: Must We Piss In Every Public Fountain? - Dan Thies, SEO Fast Start
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Written by:Robert Gorell
GrokDotCom Up for Two SEMMY Awards — Vote Now!
GrokDotCom is honored to announce that two of our posts have been selected as finalists in the first-annual SEMMY Awards — in the same category, no less.
Launched by Matt McGee of Small Business SEM, these awards are a much-appreciated nod of peer recognition from some of the smartest folks in search and customer experience marketing.
And the nominees for best post in the “Online Marketing/General” category are…
- 17 New Rules for Successful E-Commerce Websites
Rand Fishkin, SEOmoz - Why Testimonials Do (and Don’t) Work
Holly Buchanan, GrokDotCom - How A Pretty Face Can Push Visitors Away
Bryan Eisenberg, GrokDotCom - Seeing With Web Designer Eyes - 9 Evident Errors
Miriam Ellis, SEO Igloo - 58 of the World’s Greatest Offers (4-part series)
Dean Rieck, Copyblogger - 5 Things People Want to See Before the Sale
Mason Hipp, Small Fuel
Big thanks to the judge for nominating us, the other finalists for inspiring us, and our readers for, well, reading our stuff. Without you, GrokDotCom would be just another blog collecting pixel dust at the far reaches of the Googlesphere.
Bryan and Holly have some pretty stiff competition in this category, so don’t forget to vote for “Why Testimonials Do (and Don’t) Work” or “How A Pretty Face Can Push Visitors Away” if you liked them the best. The polls close January 30th, so vote now!
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Written by:Robert Gorell
