Predictions for 2007

It’s customary every year for people to write predictions for the coming year.
I’m going to be no exception.
Below in no particular order of importance - are my predictions for the internet world in general, with a specific emphasis on the SEO/SEM industry:
1. Vista uptake with be slower than predicted
Microsoft thinks Vista will see rapid acceptance, […]

Simple reputation management

Brian Turner is a common name - aside from a few minor writers with the same name, there’a a celebrity TV chef in the UK who shares it also.
Therefore ranking - or not - for my own name has never seemed a big issue.
However, today I found in my logs for Platinax that someone had […]

Ecommerce merchants should allow for partial orders!

On December 1st I ordered some lingerie for my girlfriend for Christmas.
The store was found simply using Google for a keyword search.
My order placed, I then sent an email telling them it was intended to be a set of Christmas gifts and that the sale was conditional for getting the items delivered for Christmas.
Now it’s […]

Bye bye Brian’s Business Blog

Platinax is currently undergoing redevelopment, and with that it’s time to say bye bye to Brian’s Business Blog.
The key reason?
It’s a crap blog.
I read various other blogs online, and the good ones are:
*fresh!
*informative!
*interesting!
I’ve managed to fail on all 3 here.
I have some excuse, though - since the last Platinax redevelopment I found myself separating the […]

Another reason why MSN Search is failing

I casually use MSN Search - now Live.com search - for two main reasons:
Firstly, I report ranking positions for clients on MSN.
Secondly, I think the potential integration of MSN search with Windows users offers an exciting opportunitity for Microsoft to gain new users of its search business.
But…Microsoft are setting up unnecessary barriers for users.
The user […]

Who reads Guy Kawasaki?

Graywolf asks if Guy Kawasaki needs branding help.
Main reason is the change of name.
Originally it was “Guy Kawasaki’s blog”.
Then it was “Signum sine tinnitus-by Guy Kawasaki”.
Now it’s “How to change the world”?
That has a social conscience/spirituality philosophy about it - not a VC blog.
Plus the constant change in identity kills branding.
Simply put, Guy […]

Taking pride in clients

I know a lot of SEO people have gravitated away from having clients to running their own sphere of businesses.
I have to admit, though - I do like working with people, and I do like working with my clients. I feel a real sense of joy when we set targets and succeed in meeting them.
I […]

When companies listen to the internet

The Cluetrain Manifesto makes one thing clear - the internet empowers communication, and it’s up to business to listen. The days of dictating consumer opinion is over.
The interesting point to watch for is how many companies are listening.
I’ve had a couple of incidents recently where I’ve been contacted by a company responding to comments I’ve […]

Taking internet marketing offline

Often as a SEO/Internet Marketer the focus remains directly on - the internet.
Recently, however, I’ve been changing my promotional focus to - offline.
Point being, the internet has become such an integral part of life for many people, that by generating conversations offline, it translates into conversations - and links - online.
One way to do this […]

In business, attitude is everything

I recently posted a somewhat short and trite article on Platinax called How to Succeed in Business.
Point 7 raises the issue of attitude, and I’ve got to admit I’ve been very acutely aware of this as late.
I recently moved house - bought my first property. The size of the mortgage is scary. So is the […]

Traditional print publishing is dying

I was at FantasyCon a couple of weekends ago, and got to meet up and chat with writers such as Neil Gaiman, Raymond E. Fiest, Ramsey Campbell, Amanda Hemmingway, and Storm Constantine.
One of the most interesting conversations I had was with some very charming marketing staff from HarperCollins.
In conversation we mentioned Amazon, and that HarperCollins […]

What to do with a PR7 website?

So Peter was right - Platinax is now PageRank 7.
I’m surprised - firstly because there’s no special link building program in play to try and increase the site’s PR value, and secondly, because I don’t think the site has done anything particular to warrant a PR7.
A couple of years ago I would have been overjoyed […]

When marketing is too aggressive

Cancellations are a valuable sales lead.
Apparently, that’s the message in the AOL Retention manual:

If you stop and think about it, every Member that calls in to cancel their account is a hot lead. Most other sales jobs require you to create your own leads, but in the Retention Queue the leads come to you! Be […]

Keeping organised in business

When you start up your first business, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
After all, you need to develop and build up a customer/client base and focus on that.
But if you do so while pushing aside basic issues of organisation and administration, then this will simply cost you time and money later.
I speak from experience, of course. […]

Facing bad publicity from a malicious user

So I had a disgruntled ex member of one of my forums turn into a malicious user.
Just been pointed out to me that he’s starting up a smear campaign against Tech Watch and Britecorp.
And he’s threatening to escalate it.
At this point there are two options available:

Allow this guy to escalate his hate campaign, and try […]

Business means professionalism

I advertised for a webmastering service at DigitalPoint tonight.
Someone responded to offer their services.
The problem is, I’d already offered this same person similar work recently, but they had simply walked away from the project without telling me.
That small act of unprofessionalism just lost them a longer term contract.
We all forget things and overlook things, but […]

How to kill a sale quickly with your website

So I’m looking at a major ecommerce site redevelopment - it’s probably too big for me, so I ask for recommendations.
I call Rand in Seattle, and mentions a couple of people.
I check out one in London.
It’s a webdesign and development company. Only they’ve got some kind of spyware-esque link ads running all through their […]

Communities as the future of the internet

Ever since I set up my first attempt at an online community in 2001, I’ve seen online communities - focussed on forums - as a key to internet development.
I’ve repeatedly recommend that clients set up forums - either just for support, or else as a marketing tool in itself.
Why?
Firstly, it helps increase visibility.
If you […]

Big business still clueless about identity theft

Telephone call:
Hello - I’m a total stranger - what’s your home address, post code and date of birth?
Ask what the phone call is about:

I’m sorry, we can’t give that information out.

Yes, this is the way that some businesses contact their customers.
I first got these from my old friend, British Telecom.
If you don’t pay […]

Google: The Calm Before the Storm

The dynamicism of the internet is invigorating. It’s also frightening. It’s like a living sea of data.
The problem is founding a business model on the internet that doesn’t simply float - but one that remains afloat among the various tides and storm surges of technical progress.
For a company selling SEO services, this means surviving the […]