(Quit checking her out! I’m on the clock here)

If I had 2 minutes to sell you on Search Engine Marketing:

1) I would play the 90-second video from the Google Adwords home page – Google’s Pay Per Click Sponsored Search Engine Marketing Platform

and with the remaining 20 seconds I would:

2) then I would send you to the Google Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide and tell you to read it when on your own. (Google “SEO”, click on the Google Webmaster link, then click on the link in the box towards the top of the Google Webmaster page).

3) Reference you to the post I wrote on Golden Tech’s Internet Marketing / Web Design Blog discussing PPC Marketing

And there would still be time left over for you to by me a Gumballhead

And our working relationship would be off to a tantalizing start.

How would you sell Search Engine Marketing in Two minutes or less?

(Photo Credit:  Tattoed Yarn via Flickr)

Popularity: 23% [?]

I’m sitting here in my friend’s office at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. The first class I taught went suprisingly well. Of course I broadcasted the event on UStream but didn’t record it. Mistakes to be corrected tomorrow. I was also happy to see I had so many asking questions, staying attentive, and stopping by after the session.

A radio show just finished up and we’re waiting for the director of the show to stop by and discuss what more we can do to his site. I like the site, like the content, but already have a list in mind.

Anyway, while catching up on blogs I came across one HubSpot just posted regarding the Edelman trust barometer survey of 2010 which polled the trust people have in traditional media markets and marketing methods. The numbers were compared to the results gained in 2008.

What it showed was, across the board, that half as many people trust their news sources as compared to 2008. Even word of mouth plummeted to 25%. Here’s a link to the Edelman 2010 Trust Survey regarding media / marketing outlets.

Of course the running joke would be, “If those trust numbers are so low, would anyone trust the survey?” But assuming they might, the question would be:

How to Get People to Trust You Using Inbound Marketing 2010

I ask the question because for the most part I’m not sure about the answer. I’m looking forward to testing it out, but I have a few theories I’d love to get y’alls advice too.

Things I’m Going to Focus to Maintain Trust

1) We Are Family – continue to focus on Trust. Continuing to add links from where I get sources when the article calls for a source and then explain in the notes why the source is important. Marketing is all about fraternization and positioning. Keep the fraternity partying and don’t haze the newbies.

2) Run with Friends - As Brogan & Smith’s Trust Agents would indicate, I will continue to highlight why I publically acknowledge my friends when I acknowledge them.

3) Be the first – Trust in society usually starts again when someone lends a hand. There’s a power that stems from being the first to trust, to take the leap of faith. And if someone tries to bite that hand, their’s justification for beating them back into the depths of hell from whence it came.

4) Candid – My friends are often upset by my “freedom of information act,” when it comes to their stories. I don’t keep their secrets unless they officially call them a secret. I try to do this when marketing as well. I’m not one for hiding the warts. I’m one for lasering them off in public – usually while on ustream or something

5) Smile - These times suck a**. Might as well admit to it. Blues it. Identify it. Know that them days are gonna get better.

Trust in the day and know today will help tomorrow.

What approaches are y’all gonna take in this trust-less environment?

(photo credit by Open Your Heart via Flickr)

Popularity: 19% [?]

Blue Ice 1.17.2010

Originally uploaded by Notley

My 99 week plan was cut short by 89 weeks, and that’s alright by me. I had a week of work where I felt more refreshed at the end of the week than when I started the week.

That’s a good sign.

I was also afraid being unplugged from the inbound marketing industry for 10 weeks was going to leave me behind. It only took a few days to catch up.

It’s because I didn’t have to relearn it all.

And that leads me into today. In a bit I’m taking a trip down to Columba, Missouri to teach a couple classes on SEO and Journalism at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. It’ll be fun and exciting. I’m looking foward to seeing where these sect of students are in relation to SEO.

At this point, mots speakers would have their own powerpoint deck so they can throw it on SlideShare.

I’m not a fan of the approach, especially not in a college setting.

What I’m going to do instead is give them something they can use. Most of these students will start blogging – if they aren’t already – and the demand for web copy far exceeds the need for journalists. So, instead of giving them a self-promotional presentation, I’m going to use the Google Search Engine Optimization Start Guide during my presentation. It’s a PDF. They can download and use it.

And let them know where my life is know.

And then ustream it so my buddy – their teacher – can use it to test them later.

Looking’ forward to watching a Missouri sundown tonight. Can’t wait to get in the car and go. It looks like I won’t be making my Fort Myers, Margaritaville return trip so this will have to do for now.

How many of you have read the Google SEO Starter Guide?

Popularity: 36% [?]

In about an hour I get to go my first #NWITweetup as a free agent. The last few I’ve gone under the banner of the employer. Luckily a few things seem to be going my way in my plight to be my own employer. Hopefully those things pan out a little better in the coming days. Too bad they aren’t solidified enough so I can tell me friends at the event.

A little nervous, a little excited about the event. Today was the first day where I didn’t wake up enveloped in a panic. Phantom pains are waining. I’m sure they’re never go away. I still look up at a clock and if it reads just before 7:30pm, I go into a panic as if I still Valet Park cars at the boat and the cruise is about to launch.

I teased my ex-fiance today about showing love instead of sucking up and now I got this song stuck in my head.

I just tried to make it apply to my day and, strangely enough, it has.

Must be the season.

All the same, if you’re going to the NWI Tweetup, I hope to see you there.

Date: November 17, 2009

City: Valparaiso, IN

Location: Pestos Italian Restaurant

Time: 7:00 PM CST

Popularity: 10% [?]

I’ve spent the last 90 minutes obsessing over a 2.0 concept just because Chris Brogan wrote a post titled, “Content is Not King.”

“I hate him sometimes,” lied Finn.

The intent of the post was to reinforce the human aspect of social media – putting the “social” back into Social Media. As he put it, “Content is currency. You’re the king.”

I am a fan of the idea. Not just ’cause some would call me a Broganite (reading his posts make up for me not going to church enough ), but because the purity of his ideals are the standards for which we should strive.

And, “yes,” I’m still the same idealist I was at Denominational University.

That being said, content is and always will be our king in the 2.0 space, especially when graphics and video are included within the term. How do I know content will always be king? Well, I just tried to tell y’all my reasoning using telepathy but y’all didn’t receive it in this post (except @ktatgenhorst). Or y’all are ignoring me. So, I had to put content in this medium to tell you or you’d never hear it.

As I commented on the post, content is one’s essence in action. It comes through via our message. Our message goes through a medium. In this case, blogs, tweets, 2.0 tools, email and the like…

Content is essence in all aspects of life, from a 2.0 world to a metaphysical endeavor.

Content is our substance, no matter how we convey it. If you don’t embrace your essence, you become enslaved to it.

There was more because the post made me rethink everything. Find me tomorrow as I talk about who i think the kings of 2.0 really are.

Popularity: 16% [?]