Using Google Places to Maximize Ad Performance in Google AdWords
In this article, paid search expert Christine Churchill explains how local PPC advertisers can get an extra "show map" line to appear in their ads by linking to data in their Google Places accounts. It'll help boost click-throughs at no extra cost.

The Emergence of the Synaptic Web with Mike Grehan (4:05)
In this video interview, legendary search guru Mike Grehan discusses another way of looking at the linkage of the Internet, a concept that he calls the Synaptic Web. Like the brain's neural network, the social web allows people to link together, form consensus, and find solutions.

Recent Articles on Internet Marketing for July 27th
Here are a few recent articles and resources I found this week that might interest you.

Building a Backlink Profile of Your Competitors
In this article, linking expert Eric Enge explains the two benefits of creating a profile of backlinks to your competitor's website. First, you can request from the same webmasters a link to your site. Second, you can discover site categories that might have an interest in your type of site.

How to Measure the Web's Effect on Offline Sales with Chris Kerns (7:24)
In this video interview Web analytics expert Chris Kerns explains various ways to track the effect of the web on a company's offline sales. He surveys methods that (1) track coupons, (2) ask customers in post-sale surveys, and (3) listen in on social media.

Recent Articles on Internet Marketing for July 20th
Here are a few recent articles and resources I found last week that might interest you.

How to Promote and Syndicate Your Local Business Listings
Local business listings on Google Places don't rank high unless they have citations from third party data providers or from mentions on webpages across the Internet. In part 4 of a series, Local Internet marketing expert Dev Basu explains how to obtain these citations.

Configuring Tags Correctly in Google Analytics with Caleb Whitmore
In this video interview web analytics expert Caleb Whitmore explains the importance of getting the JavaScript tags correct on your site so they'll feed accurate data to Google Analytics. Errors in these tags lead to inaccurate data in your reports.

Recent Articles on Internet Marketing for July 13th
Here are a few recent articles and resources I've found last week that might interest you.

Free Blogs vs. Hosting Your Own Blog: Pros and Cons
 In this article, social media expert Lorrie Thomas explains how to make the decision of hosting a blog on your own domain or using a free blogging service.  She discusses the pros and cons of each option to help you make the best choice for your organization.

What Your Web Designer Needs to Know about Your Business with Sandra Niehaus (4:10)
In this video interview, conversion expert Sandra Niehaus discusses vital elements that your website designer needs to understand about your business -- your business goal, your audience, and the goal of the particular element the designer is assigned to.

Recent Articles on Internet Marketing for July 6
Here are a few recent articles and resources I've found last week that might interest you.

Can You Pass this Short Quiz on Being Persuasive?
In this article conversion expert Todd Follansbee provides a 5-question quick quiz to see how well you understand key persuasion principles. Then he explains each of the answers, citing psychological research regarding principles that motivate people to act. He concludes each explanation with how it applies to your website design and approach.

How to Leverage the 'Long Tail' of Search with Eric Enge (8:13)
In this video interview, SEO expert Eric Enge first explains the meaning and importance of optimizing for multi-word, "long tail" search terms. Then he describes a technique his firm has used to produce for clients webpages optimized for long tail terms.

Recent Articles on Internet Marketing for June 29th
Here are a few recent articles and resources I've found last week that might interest you.

5 Ways to Power Up the Appeal of Your Web Content
In this article web context expert Nick Usborne offers helpful tips that can help the topics of your new webpages be perceived as much more attractive. This is the smart way to leverage your time -- and some you haven't thought of yourself!

How to Set Your Content Free with Andy Beal (6:09)
In this video interview, marketing consultant Andy Beal explains how you can promote your site by hosting images, videos, and PowerPoint slides on various sharing sites.

Recent Articles on Internet Marketing for June 22nd
Here are a few recent articles and resources I've found last week that might interest you.

If You Ignore Customers' Questions, You'll Kill the Sale
Sales people who ignore questions kill most of their sales. Your website is killing sales right now as you're reading this. In this article, expert copywriter Jeff Sexton explains how to identify key customer questions and provide a solution on your site that will increase conversions.

Components of Good Direct Response Landing Pages with Tim Ash (6:30)
In this video interview, landing page expert Tim Ash discusses the three major components of a direct-response landing page and how to arrange them in a clear visual hierarchy. He develops two separate areas of the page: an 'action block' and a right-hand column that provides assurances to customers.

Recent Articles on Internet Marketing for June 15th
Here are a few recent articles and resources I've found last week that might interest you.

8 Steps to Building an Optimized Local Business Listing
Local search optimization expert Dev Basu explains the 8 steps involved in providing maximum optimization -- and great search engine results visibility -- for local businesses seeking to marketing on the Internet. What he explains can be implemented by the majority of small business owners who are determined. Particularly helpful are sections on business category selection and uploading images and videos.

How Your Graphic Designer Can Hurt Your Conversion Rate, with Tim Ash (7:05)
In this sometime crazy video interview -- subtitled "Shoot our graphic designer in the head to improve conversions" --  landing page conversion expert Tim Ash explains how graphic designers often get in the way of the conversion on a landing page project. He offers three suggestions to help designers learn how to submit their creativity so that they can work with the conversion process to maximize sales.

Recent Articles on Internet Marketing for June 8th
Here are a few recent articles and resources I've found last week that might interest you.

Advanced SEO Techniques that Drive More Traffic
In this article, SEO expert Wil Reynolds describes three techniques to take your SEO campaigns to the next level. He explains ways to (1) identify and improve high traffic webpages, (2) maximize natural search traffic from 'long tail' keywords, and (3) spot hot trends to build content around. He illustrates use of free tools such as Google Analytics, Google Suggest, Google Insights for Search, and SEObook Rank Checker.

How to Conduct a Simple User Test with Jakob Nielsen (7:12)
In this video interview, usability pioneer Jakob Nielsen explains how to conduct a simple user test. He explains how just five user tests can yield a great deal of insight and offers tips on how to conduct such a usability test. Then he share pros and cons about the online tool UserTesting.com

Recent Articles on Internet Marketing for June 1st
Here are a few recent articles and resources I've found this week that might interest you.

How to Get More Views for Your On-Site Video
In this article, usability and conversion expert Todd Follansbee explains six best practices that will help videos on your set be viewed more often. He also shows examples of poor ways to encourage visitor participation.

How to Get the Most from Goals in Google Analytics with Caleb Whitmore (7:27)
In this video interview, web analytics expert Caleb Whitmore explains a number of ways you can learn about visitors to your website through setting up appropriate 'goals,' a technical term in Google Analytics. What you learn can then help you improve your site. He suggests appropriate goals for both e-commerce and non-ecommerce sites.

Recent Articles on Internet Marketing for May 25th
Here are a few recent articles and resources I've found this week that might interest you.

The Psychology of Linking
In this article, SEO and linking expert Eric Enge explains how some linkers became stingy about linking in fear of 'leaking' PageRank. To get relevant links, says Enge, you need to understand site owners' varying motivations for linking, as well as designing your site to attract links. He discusses some of the elements that attract potential linkers.

How to Write an Effective E-mail Subject Line with Jeff Sexton (5:16)
In this video interview, copywriting and conversion expert Jeff Sexton offers some tips on writing e-mail subject lines that get the click-through. He explains how to increase click-throughs using various types of hooks as well as Robert Cialdini's '6 weapons of influence.' He discusses how to test subject lines for best results.

Recent Articles on Internet Marketing for May 18th
Here are a few recent articles and resources I've found this week that might interest you.

The 8 Worst SEO Mistakes Companies Make When They Redesign
In this article web analytics expert Robbin Steif outlines the chief SEO problems companies face when they redesign. These include: changing domains, neglecting redirects, duplicate content, Flash sites, discarding articles, ugly URLs, loss of title tag control, and moving too quickly.

How Mobile Marketing Can Help Small Businesses with Jakob Nielsen (8:14)
In this video interview, usability pioneer Jakob Nielsen discusses how marketing to mobile devices is a very fast growing marketing, which has now come into its own, with even greater growth projected. Any local business can benefit from mobile site optimization.

Programs I Use on My Website. Part 2. Content Management Systems (CMS)
In this article Dr. Wilson discusses various Content Management Systems (CMS) that can be used as the underlying software for modern websites. He recommends CMS Builder and Site Build It!, and offers additional comments on WordPress and Joomla.

The #1 Secret of Successful Businesses with Bryan Eisenberg (4:50)
In this video interview conversion expert Bryan Eisenberg speaks from his own passion about the importance of companies learning how to execute and get things done.

Programs I Use on My Website. Part 1. Basics
This article is the first in a series of articles in which Dr. Ralph Wilson, editor of Web Marketing Today, describes the various programs that run his four websites. In the article he discusses web design programs, server side includes (SSIs), CSS, JavaScript Programs, and search programs.

Secrets of Top Converting E-Commerce Websites with Bryan Eisenberg (5:18)
In this video interview, conversion expert Bryan Eisenberg discusses three of the secrets behind top-converting e-commerce websites: (1) communicating your unique value or campaign proposition, (2) making decisions based on analytics data, and (3) leveraging the voice of the customer.

Spam, Spam Bots, and Double Opt-in E-mail Lists
In this article, Dr. Ralph Wilson discusses why attacks by spam bots that subscribe bogus e-mail addresses to lists have caused him to use a double opt-in (or confirmed opt-in) system, rather than a single opt-in system for his e-mail lists -- even though this keeps his lists from growing as rapidly.