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Posts Tagged ‘clickingmad’

Google increases results from single website

Saturday, August 21st, 2010

I received this today from Google.

“Today we’ve launched a change to our ranking algorithm that will make it much easier for users to find a large number of results from a single site. For queries that indicate a strong user interest in a particular domain, like [exhibitions at amnh], we’ll now show more results from the relevant site:

Prior to today’s change, only two results from www.amnh.org would have appeared for this query. Now, we determine that the user is likely interested in the Museum of Natural History’s website, so seven results from the amnh.org domain appear. Since the user is looking for exhibitions at the museum, it’s far more likely that they’ll find what they’re looking for, faster. The last few results for this query are from other sites, preserving some diversity in the results.

We’re always reassessing our ranking and user interface, making hundreds of changes each year. We expect today’s improvement will help users find deeper results from a single site, while still providing diversity on the results page.

Written by Samarth Keshava, Software Engineer”

I am not sure why they said this today. Google has been showing multiple results from the same site for about 2 years! Maybe they have only just realised. Lol.

Some Google Adwords Myths.

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

I note some useful information released today by Google they wanted to put matters straight. I thought you might find it interesting.

“There’s lots of misinformation floating around the web about the way AdWords works, and our AdWords support teams get to hear most of it. Since many of the same issues seem to keep popping up again and again, we thought we’d run a blog series to help you separate the myths from the facts. We’ve tried to capture the most persistent of them here, but remember, if you ever have any AdWords questions, you can always pop over to the AdWords Help Center or AdWords Help Forum for an answer.

Myth # 1: Spending money on Google AdWords will influence my website’s ranking in Google’s free search results.

Fact: Google AdWords and Google’s free search results are entirely independent of one another. Spending money on AdWords won’t impact your ranking in Google’s free search results. Similarly, cancelling your AdWords account won’t lead to your website being banned from Google’s search results. If you’d like to learn more about what does go into ranking your website in Google search results, check out Google Webmaster Central.

Myth # 2: Google AdWords has declined my credit card.

Fact: Google itself doesn’t actually decline credit cards. The decline usually takes place at your bank, your card-issuing institution, or its payment processor.

If your credit card gets declined, your first step should be to check and make sure you’ve filled out the Billing Preferences page correctly. Some common mistakes include:
Missing or invalid credit card number or security code
Missing or invalid expiration date
Missing or invalid billing address and/or telephone number
Once you’ve gotten that squared away, make sure that there aren’t any problems with your card itself. Be on the lookout for issues with your:
Credit limit
Maximum amount per debit
Number of possible debits within a certain period
If any of these are too low for your AdWords account, contact your bank or card-issuing institution. You should also be sure that your card allows for online debits and automatic debits.

Myth # 3: Your conversion rate can impact your quality score

Fact: The conversion rate of your ads does not affect your quality score. Some advertisers using AdWords conversion tracking mistakenly believe that they should set an easy conversion event on their landing pages to artificially boost their conversion rates. In reality, this won’t have any effect on their quality score and will simply make it harder to measure the true value of their AdWords investment.

Myth # 4: The AdWords keyword tool suggests keywords to use

Fact: The keyword tool doesn’t make any kind of recommendations about which keywords you should be using. The keyword tool just analyzes related queries that might be of benefit to you and displays them. It’s up to you to decide which keywords you want to include in your account.

You should always assess the tool’s results in the context of your advertising goals. When you do so, the keyword tool can be a helpful way of finding new, meaningful keywords, including potentially profitable ones you aren’t currently using and those that you might have excluded as negative keywords in order to protect your click-through-rate.

Myth # 5: Upper and lower case letters in AdWords keywords matter

Fact: The AdWords system doesn’t distinguish between uppercase and lowercase letters.
“NYC” is the same as “nyc”
“Android Phone” is the same as “android phone”
For the sake of simplicity, we recommend that you enter all of your keywords as lowercase letters.”

This is an excerpt from Google itself who is generally pretty open about the various systems that run it’s operation.

There is more on Google own Adwords blog. Click on this link:

Turning website design business down

Friday, March 12th, 2010

Why would I advise a client not to have a new website?

Its pretty unusual to be honest but not unheard of.

Today I went to see a bicycle shop who wanted to sell online. Their website the moment is very small, done by a friend, and looks pretty drab to be honest. So, they called us in to give them some ideas.

The first thing I noticed was that their current website does not reflect the either the size or the level of skill these guys possess in their field. Frankly they have a great shop, an Aladdins’ cave of everything bike. From toddler bikes right through “normal” road and mountain bikes through to £4000 downhill specials and every accessory and spare part you could think of. I have never seen so many bicycle pedals on display!

So, the first thing they asked for was to have an ecommerce website. I told them how much they would need to spend to ensure that the design and functionality gave the right impression to a buyer, i.e. high quality design, smooth transaction, related items cross selling, special offers and I also advised them that they would need to update their website very often to ensure that buyers were encouraged to return. Together with regular email offers and incentives they would be sure of not only attracting buyers, but also keeping them flocking back.

They were somewhat surprised by the price tag.

Having an ecommerce website is not a cheap option, not if you want it to work. Why waste money on something that won’t work? Cheap and nasty ecommerce websites are a real turn off to a potential web customer.

I actually suggested that the best way they could sell immediately would be to use Ebay and get a shop going in there.

The main thing they needed to do was to sort out their existing website. So my best advice was, a nice new website with a Content Management System, updating regularly after the free training we provide and then this all wrapped up in a design that truly reflected the business they are successfully running.

Another happy customer. Even if I did say, don’t buy it! I thank you.
S

New Website Design for a world renowned photographer – Tom Mackie

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010
a design concept for Tom Mackie the Internationally renowned photographer

a design concept for Tom Mackie the Internationally renowned photographer

If you have ever wondered who took the photos that retailers such as Ikea display in their framed picture areas, then it may well be this guy. Tom Mackie is a landscape photographer of international fame. We had discussions with Tom some months ago about building him a new website that would allow businesses to buy his prints directly from him and – if they pay the price – have him sign them as well.
After lengthy discussions with Tom it appears that most of his work involves lots and lots of boring travelling to get that one illusive shot, that we ALL want on our wall. (And I thought it was all glamour!) Watch this space for more announcements on this exciting new website from the master landscape photographer that is… Tom Mackie.
Shaun.

New Staff at Clickingmad – Darren and Mark say Hi!

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

Darren and Mark joined the Clickingmad crew in December 2009, their remit as newbie’s has been to learn as much as they can before we release them into the unsuspecting West Midlands Business market.

Since joining they have been telemarketing new clients to arrange appointments with companies for me (Shaun) to go and discuss their website requirements.

Here is what they had to say for themselves…

Mark Ainsworth, enjoying himself far too much talking about website design.

Mark Ainsworth, enjoying himself far too much talking about website design.

 

Hi my name is Mark and I have really enjoyed my time at Clickingmad so far. It really quite amazing how much I am learning in this fast moving and exciting environment. I make lots of calls to West Midlands, Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire businesses encouraging them to see Clickingmad if they are considering redeveloping their website, or wish to promote it into Google for example. The training I have received from the team at Clickingmad has been great, but even with their years of experience they are keen to tell me that they are always learning as the web moves so fast.
I really hope to be out there in the business community very soon, so watch out for me at your next networking event pestering you silly to talk to me. Talk to you soon!

  

 

 

Darren looking particlularly smart and cool in his lovely yellow tie!

Darren looking particlularly smart and cool in his lovely yellow tie!

 

Hello, my name is Darren Mitchell and I joined along with Mark in December 2009. What a whirlwind this has been, not one day is the same and not one conversation has been repeated! Frankly I am amazed at what we have learned in such a short period of time. I am told (by he who knows) that you could spend 5 years learning about the web, but then you would be 5 years out of date. Never in my working life so far have I come across such a fast moving environment.

Of course I still try and make time for coffee and even really nice Lavazza filter coffee if our esteemed leader remembers to pick some up. (pretty please Shaun!) Seriously though, this is a great job and I can’t wait to get out there and meet the real businessmen and women for whom we can make a real difference in their business by utilising the web properly. I will be attending networking events and hopefully I will get the chance to talk to you about how we can help, till then… cheerio!

 

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I have to say that the lads have done really well so far in learning all about the web. I am very proud of them, even if they make me appointments with a 30 miles drive in between and don’t even allow me to stop and grab a sandwich! You wait till it’s their turn!
Welcome to the crew guys. Shaun.

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