Favorite Posts of the Week - Chicago Style

Tomorrow morning I’m headed to Chicago for a mostly pleasure mini-vacation, although I hope to meet up with Zach Von Felten from SEM Visibility for some search marketing geek talk. It turns out his work is close to my hotel.

It seems fitting to dedicate this blog post to great blog posts from people in the Chicagoland area.

First, legal marketing expert Larry Bodine writes on how to get new business from online social networks. It focuses on LinkedIn, an e-book from Jill Konrath, and how to use LinkedIn correctly.

Larry probably doesn’t know who the heck I am, but during my stay at FindLaw I had a couple client conference calls with him. I was thinking that he was a competitor, but the calls turned out great and there was a lot of synergy. The sites turned out fantastic!

I’ve always wanted to meet Brad Geddes (aka eWhisper). I haven’t but he provides a great post regarding SEO not being free traffic, the traffic itself, and a great table that shows the pros and cons of conversions, traffic, and conversions from a variety of channels, both on and offline.

I couldn’t find contact info on this one, but a blog post from the legal search marketing blog writes on how to create mini sites regarding legal practice area. From an SEO standpoint, it might be harder to do well with newer niche sites like this, but if social media comes to play, I can definitely see it working.

Net Neutrality - Here’s How You Can Show Support

I’ve written about net neutrality a couple times and I can’t stress the importance of it enough, especially for small businesses. Big telco and cable execs would love to be able to restrict Web access to sites that would benefit their pocketbooks while disrupt pocketbooks for small businesses and those who market online. Here’s a way for you to help.

Check out this ClickZ article regarding net neutrality and next week’s hearings. Then, you can sign a petition to support net neutrality.

Net Neutrality - Will it Influence Your Vote?

The presidential campaign is definitely a popular topic these days. One debate I haven’t seen regards net neutrality. It’s certainly a topic that I’m considering in the voting process. Google gives their own guide on net neutrality.

Fundamentally, net neutrality is about equal access to the Internet. In our view, the broadband carriers should not be permitted to use their market power to discriminate against competing applications or content.

Here’s the long Wikipedia entry regarding it.

Bretton Jones also provided his input on Search Engine Guide almost two years ago.

What do politicians think? Here you go.

Any thoughts?

Hypermiling in the Winter

Almost a year after reading a couple posts regarding hypermiling from Ed Kohler, I finally decided to give it a try. Basically, hypermiling is using different tactics to increase your MPG.

In 2002, I wound up buying a smaller Mazda. It’s practical, has a few cool features and boasted at least somewhat decent gas mileage. That was a plus. It turns out W was up to something.

The end result was pretty cool. I drove 275 miles (half highway and half city streets) using a little under 9 gallons. That wound up being just under 31 MPG.

Considering over half of the miles were driven in below-zero weather, I was pretty happy with the 6-year old Mazda. I doubt a new Prius would do all that much better. A few thoughts…

Having a stick shift probably helps. It makes it easy to keep the RPMs down.

Hypermiling does not mean you have to drive like you live in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood… don’t-cha know.

You can even speed quite a bit, then coast in neutral for blocks down the slightest hill without going below the speed limit.

Portland/Park avenue between Minneapolis and Bloomington is a great opportunity for all this. The lights synchronize well. Another good route is Olson Memorial Hwy between Minneapolis and Golden Valley. This worked well for me since these are both routes I regularly drive.

Keeping the maximum tire pressure is also recommended and I never did check that out. That’s something to think about next time I fill up.

Minnesota Winter Picture Story

Once upon a time there was a slightly chilly winter day.

Paul Douglas says wear your hat and mittens.

Why is there so much steam from all the buildings?

My friends Matt, Greg, and myself decided to go to Welch Village for the day.

People sure don’t like to ski or snowboard when it’s chilly. There were no lift lines.

We had the hills to ourselves. My snowboard has a monkey on it.

Matt and myself got icicles on our face masks.

They said the guy who made the half pipe doesn’t work there anymore.

Greg is warm in the chalet. My icicles are melting.

Welch Village thanks us.

The end.

PS - Akhil wanted to join us because he misses chilly weather, but he lives in Texas now.

Favorite Posts of the Week: Target at Times Square, Yahoo PPC, and Network Solutions Domain Hijacking

It’s only partly a Minnesota theme this time. What can I say?

First, Target (picture courtesy of this Flickr photo of a 20 x 20 ad at Times Square):

Jason DeRusha covered the story as this snow angel ad winds up being dedicated to promote winter active wear. Some didn’t see this as a snow angel, but more of a girl’s crotch on Target’s bullseye at Times Square.

Amy Jussel and Lisa Ray from Parents for Ethical Marketing (from the Twin Cites) definitely have something to say. My first impression wasn’t that it was a “spread eagle” pose, but can definitely understand that others took it that way.

This is a debate in itself, but Ed Kohler gives some good input regarding this. It’s a very informative post, yet provides so much laughter it will make you cry (scroll down to see his own Target ads).

———–

PPC Advertising - the Yahoo Search Marketing blog provides the three biggest mistakes regarding using their search marketing (PPC) platform. The three mistakes they list are:

1) The Rank Amateur Error
2) The Traffic Report Error
3) The 24/7 Sales Pitch Error

The bottom line is to track your conversions and to make sure your site is worthy of it.

————

Thinking of checking out domains to buy? Don’t do it with Network Solutions.

Bill Hartzer shows how Network Solutions automatically registers domains after you search for one to buy. Then, they get to sell it to you for a premium. Pretty sweet.

Example, I just checked out pauljahnsucks.com at Network Solutions:

I’ll check the same availability on GoDaddy now:

Go figure. 30 seconds later, it’s now unavailable.

Me Use Big Words

There’s a reason for the above picture, really.

It’s a picture of the Hertz Music Hall at Central Washington University. Back in the day, I knew it all too well.

Hertz Hall is the place I took the majority of college classes, one being Music History taught by (now retired) Professor Eric Roth. After reviewing an essay/report, he singled me out in front of the class stating something like this:

“Paul, if you plan to graduate college, you should really improve your writing skills.”

It was years ago, it was embarrassing, but I absolutely thank Dr. Roth. I’m not a professional writer, but like to think the skills have improved since then.

With that said, Dean from Speaking Freely writes a post labeled Never Use a Large Word when a Diminutive (small) One Will Suffice. Example: “fabricated” = “lied”.

I’m looking at a client document for the FT job I presented this morning. It includes words such as “utilized”, “purchase”, and “query”. I’m thinking “use”, “buy”, and “question” may have been better words.

Barb, or anyone else, any thoughts?

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

A big thanks to the localmn blog readers out there and a warm Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

It’s been quite a few years since a lot of snow has been in Minnesota for Christmas, which makes it extra special. Travel has been a bit difficult, but it’s worth it.

For an early Christmas, I did get to meet my precious and newest nephew, Carver. He’s only a month old, but he does have a wonderful blog. He’s now in competition with Alana Marie for the world’s youngest blogger.

Speaking of family, there will be more news of green office products coming up soon.

For Christmas Eve, I’m secretly hoping that we’re going to have some sweet…

… inside family joke. We think Cartman is funny.

Thanks again to all!

Happy Thanksgiving! Now Go Play some Hockey

 

Posting has been light as of late, and I wanted to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving!

For those in the Twin Cities, you can also work off that turkey tryptophan by playing hockey at the Xcel Center on Saturday afternoon, November 24th, no matter what your skill level is. Really!!! It’s cheap, too!

Barbara Garn from JMS Hockey got a bunch of ice time this Saturday at the Xcel Energy Center, home of the MN Wild!

You can find different skate times depending on your level. The upper levels are filling up fast, but there is still good room available for beginners.

I’m not sure of the requirements and maybe Barbara will weigh in. I do know that it’s an hour of a fun, no check scrimmage and you need to wear full gear. Payment is just through Google Checkout, so with a gmail address you’re all set.

This is perfect for beginners and intermediates, or for those with gear sitting in the closet who haven’t laced ‘em up for years.

Chris, do you play? I was thinking you did but wasn’t sure.

A Closer Look at the Inaugural Houston Inline Marathon

This weekend I got a closer look to see how these inline marathons are put together and have the hugest respect to those who put them on!

Justin McMurtry did a fantastic job coordinating the inaugural Houston Inline Marathon from the registration, zoning auto traffic, cool pre-race expo at the Last Concert Cafe, and putting together a great race-day event, and more. This isn’t easy at all.

What I really liked is in addition to the pro racers, there were a number of Houston rec skaters, a couple of them were even on quads. Good times! Since we rec skaters started early, most of us got to finish the race, and watch and take pictures of the pro racers crossing the finish.

Kudos to Jeff Glaze and Jenifer Joseph of Premier Sports for the chip timing, and what you did for the event was great. It was cool to meet both of you! Equally cool was a brief, live impromptu microphone chat that Heather Lacayo gave me after the race! I felt giddy.

I hope to have a Flickr set up soon for the event, hopefully by Wednesday evening when I’m back in Mpls.

Nicole St. Martin will be happy and grossed out to know that Akhil, David Host, and myself ate some sweet calamari rings and tenticles tonight in Dallas.