Wanted to wish all of you a happy, healthy and successful new year!

I went out to buy a few dozen donuts for a little thing I am having at my house for a few friends. My wife is cooking up some foods. Something small - since you all know how much I hate to "party."

What are your plans?

Are you going to be wearing a party hat?

Whatever it is, do it safely and see you all in 2008!

Happy New Year!!!

Need some reading? Well, I refuse to do a 2007 in Review Post - it is way too common of blogs to do that. ;-) Plus I do it for anniversary blog posts instead.

Gary has the Fast Facts about New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day that can keep you busy.

Posted at 2:51 PM | Permalink | Category: Buddies | Comments (3) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Ask having crawling issues with some URLs? Google short changes Australians. Does blocking a country from accessing your site put you at risk with Google? Are link reports ordered by page importance? Matt Cutts and paid links get into a huge fight, kind of. Amit is featured on the Google AdSense blog. Sphinn's heros! Yahoo's Souders is joining Google. Google trademarks a bunch of words. Baidu's CFO dies in an accident.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Ask.com Crawler Inserting Url-Encoded Spaces in URLs Causing 404 Errors?
2. Google Inverts Australian Exchange Rate, Pays AdSense Publishers Less by Accident
3. Does One Incur Google Penalties for Blocking Entire Countries?
4. Does Google Order Link Reports by Importance Factors?
5. Matt Cutts Talks About Paid Links -- Again
6. Google AdSense Team Acknowledges Amit Agarwal
7. Three Unsung Heroes of Sphinn

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Yahoo's Chief Performance Expert, Souders, Joining Google
2. Google Trademarks Knol, Android, OpenSocial & More In 2007
3. Baidu's CFO Dies In Holiday Accident

Daily Link Finds:

This is the December 31st issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for December 31st, 2007:

• La penalizacin de la posicn 6, telendro.com.es
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, December 27, 2007, Search Engine Land
• 2007 Awards for Support and Inspiration, Cre8PC
• Aime I koliko Aesto provjeravate rejting?, SEO.hr blog
• Lots of Hot Stuff Going on Here at DotSauce Magazine!, buydomain.name
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, December 28, 2007, Search Engine Land
• SearchRank Blog Wins Nomination for Best SEO Blog of 2007, SearchRank Blog
• The 2007 Search Blog Awards: May We (& Others) Have Your Vote?, Search Engine Land
• Vote for the Search Blogs Awards of 2007, Search Engine Journal
• Vote for the Search Blogs Awards of 2007 (Loren Baker/Search Engine Journal), Techmeme
• Googleholic for December 28th 2007, Download Squad
• Wow Barry!, Andrew R H Girdwood
• Search Marketing Blog Awards Voting, AIM Clear Blog
• 7 Highly Influential SEO Experts of the Year 2007, Manish Pandey
• The 2007 Paid Links War, In Review, Search Engine Land
• Who's the King?, mediadonis

Posted at 2:29 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

Todd has an excellent idea, to write this post. How do I use or not use technology when it comes to my religion, Judaism.

There is a lot one can't do on Shabbos, so in order to be efficient with not leaving on lights or the heat, we use technology to aid us without committing a "sin" on the day of rest.

Shabbos Technology:

• Heat Programmable Thermostats to lower or increase heat at specified times
• Central A/C Programmable Thermostats
• Wall timers & Light timers
• Timer to turn on hot plate for Shabbos day (warms food)
• Shabbos switch for Alarm (so beams don't go off)
• Turn off light motion detectors
• Mechanical door locks so no key is required to carry
• Crock Pot for cholent (which is a new word added to the Oxford English Dictionary

Online Tools:

• HebCal, best online hebrew calendar system
• Mincha.com, a site that has PDFs of prayer services, great for my iPhone, when on the go.
• My Zmanim, excellent site to look up zmanim (times), since in Judaism, certain tasks need to be done by specific times, this site gives me those times.

Since I am writing this "off the cuff," I am sure I am missing a ton of things. Maybe I'll continue to add to this post as time goes on, if I remember.

Let's not forget the LED Kippah I ordered almost a year ago and never received.

Note, this is a simplified list. There are books and books on this subject. In fact, although it is forbidden to drive a car on Shabbos (for many reasons)... If you must drive for life or death reasons, there is even a proper way to drive the car on Shabbos.

Posted at 1:46 PM | Permalink | Category: Religion , iPhone | Comments (3) (0)

Starting last week, the management of my building began installing dozens of these security cameras throughout the building.

They can be found at the building entrances, the elevators, I believe on several floors.

I believe the reason they are installing them is because of some vandalism issues. It is nice to know that they are there for security issues as well. But now I feel like I am being watched and followed.

Of course, then you have those that just install the camera and it isn't really recording anything. I doubt this is the case, since I saw them wiring the thing together. But I know a lot of places just put it up for show.

The dome security cameras are fairly cheap, so why not put them up.

Posted at 1:26 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Interesting | Comments (1) (0)

It has been almost three months since we moved into our new house and the winter months are now upon us. That means, huge gas bills for heating the house. I have been worried about keeping my heating costs down since moving into the house. Looking at the results, the numbers are all over the place in terms of what temperature people leave their heat on. 21% said 72º F or more, 19% said 65º F or less, 18% said 68º F, 10% said 67º F, 10% said 69º F, 10% said 70º F, 7% said 66º F, 4% said 71º F. I have been aiming at 69º F.

To be more efficient and cost efficient, I just bought programmable thermostats. They let me set schedules for each day of the week. So I can set them to turn at 69 or down to 63 each day, four times a day. I make sure to turn the heat up an hour or so before my wife and I get home and then I make sure to lower it when we are not there. This way, if we forget to lower them manually, it is done automatically. Shabbos, a day I can't adjust the heat, I set on different schedules to automatically lower the heat and increase the heat during the times were are in the various heat zones.

I hope this investment of a hundred or so dollars on thermostats returns a positive ROI in just this winter. I opted for the Ritetemp brand simply because I had to buy five and Honeywell is way more expensive. My A/C units and alarm system are on Honeywell, but I went cheaper with the heat. The Ritetemps are guaranteed and come with a 5 year warranty. I actually feel like I am saving money right now...

Installation was fairly easy. Just two wires and four screws and two AAA batteries and it was working. Then I just programmed it and we are now set.

Posted at 11:31 AM | Permalink | Category: Homey | Comments (9) (0)

This morning, my oldest nephew put on Tefillin (תפילין) for the first time. It took place at his elementary day school, the same place I put on Tefillin for the first time. But yes, times have changed a bit since then at that school.

What is Tefillin? The picture above shows what they look like. Wikipedia has a bunch of pictures showing people wearing Tefillin. Orthodox Jewish males above the age of 13 where it every day except for Shabbos and special holidays. We wear them during morning services.

My nephew turns 13 in about a month. He will have his Bar Mitzvah when he is 13 in Israel. Yes, my trip and the SphinnCon Israel event coincide with the Bar Mitzvah for a reason. It is customary for a Jewish boy to put on Tefillin about a month prior to his Bar Mitzvah to learn how to properly wear and hold the responsibilities of the mitzvah.

In any event - they had some dunkin donuts at the end. :)

Posted at 9:58 AM | Permalink | Category: Family , Religion | Comments (2) (0)

If you want to see me beg, you have to read my Vote Search Engine Roundtable on 2007 Search Blog Awards.

In short...

I would really love for you guys to vote for the Search Engine Roundtable. To vote, click here.

A 5 vote is the best you can give, a 1 is actually less than a 5. So vote 5, if possible.

The Search Engine Roundtable is up for five different nominations. I am personally nominated at the bottom of the survey, so please vote for Barry Schwartz over there.

Also, vote for Search Engine Land, ResourceShelf, Techipiedia and Tamar Weinberg and everyone else you feel deserves it. Trust me, it is not an easy vote.

Hope my efforts pay off, I really do.

If you want to know why you should vote for us, please read this explanation. Otherwise, you can vote here.

Thank you!

Posted at 2:04 PM | Permalink | Category: Blogging | Comments (1) (0)

The first SphinnCon event is coming up in about a month. I will be hosting the first ever SphinnCon, a small SMX event, in Israel, during my Israel vacation.

We have 150 seats available in all. Thing is, if you don't register soon, you may be locked out. Again, it takes place February 5, 2008 between noon and 6pm at the Jerusalem College of Technology. If you are in the area or simply just want to meet, please register here, before it is too late.

It only costs $50 and it will be a great networking and educational experience - let alone making history by attending the first ever SphinnCon.

Again, it is my hope that SphinnCon Israel will kick off an SMX Israel in 2009. Let's make this a reality by showing interesting in the 2008 edition!

Posted at 3:42 PM | Permalink | Category: SEO Tips | Comments (1) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Google AdSense tests unit data reports. Is there a Google penalty that throws you in the sixth position? Got to interview an SEO? How do you track your keyword rankings? Walmart is reselling PPC services. Google signs a deal with Japan's biggest mobile operator. Patrick creates a Sphinn Google Gadget.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google AdSense Testing New Report: AdSense Unit Data
2. The Position 6 Google Penalty?
3. Interview Questions for SEO: What Would You Ask?
4. How Do You Keep Track of Keyword Rankings?

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Coming Soon To Walmart: Off The Shelf SEM Services?
2. Google To Sign Deal With Japan's Largest Mobile Operator, NTT DoCoMo
3. Get Your Sphinn Google Gadget

Daily Link Finds:

This is the December 27th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for December 27th, 2007:

• Google Reader shares private data, ruins Christmas (Felipe Hoffa/Felipe Hoffa's Journal), Techmeme
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, December 26, 2007, Search Engine Land
• Google Reader Shared Items: And what about the usability?, that canadian girl
• Julklapp frn Google: 6 GB i Gmail, blogg.tkj.se
• MacSurfer's Headline News, macsurfer.com
• More Link/SEO Predictions 2008, The Link Spiel
• Penalizacin posicn 6, adseok
• Web Content: Not just YOUR words and pictures, Case Western Reserve University

Posted at 2:39 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

Not sure about you, but December, every year, is when I spend the most amount of money at my company. Why? Well, RustyBrick's books close on 12/31 and we like to get all our expenses paid so that we max out our possible deductions.

This turns out to be pretty big sums of money. They include:

• Charity, lots of charity
• Estimated taxes (not sure if it even helps if I pay 15 days early but it cleans things up for me)
• Year end bonuses for full time employees
• American Express bill
• Insurance bills
• Hosting bills
• Rent
• Client gifts
• New computers and hardware
• Recruiter Fees
• Any misc bills due up to 1/31

Posted at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Category: RustyBrick | Comments (1) (0)

Debra asked me if I had any predictions for this coming year. I said, I don't do predictions.

Instead... How about you guys give me your predictions?

Comment below and let me know what you think will happen in the search world in 2008.

Thanks!

Posted at 8:43 AM | Permalink | Category: SEO Tips | Comments (8) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Gmail reaches over 6GB of storage. SEOs say happy holidays. AdSense and Webmaster Tools work on Christmas. Google Reader sharing feature has been exploited. Dot Mac files are Google friendly. Google indexes some sites in a different language. Google shows 5 holiday logos. Google's Guge case was dismissed. Happy Holidays!

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google's Gmail Reaches 6GB on Christmas
2. Happy Holiday Threads from Search Marketing Industry
3. Google AdSense & Webmaster Central Representatives Working on Christmas
4. Google Reader "Share With Friends" Feature Gets Privacy Complaints
5. .Mac Search Engine Optimization: Google Indexes .Mac Files
6. Google Thinks Your Site is in a Different Language?
7. Google's Holiday Logo: A 5-Step Logo Building Project

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google Reader Share With Friends Feature Causes Privacy Concerns
2. Chinese Court Dismisses Guge Vs. Google Case
3. Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas

Daily Link Finds:

This is the December 26th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for December 26th, 2007:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, December 24, 2007, Search Engine Land
• Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas, Search Engine Land
• Live Blogging Tips, WebProNews
• TopRank Tips: Conference Live Blogging, Online Marketing Blog
• Webmaster Support For Christmas, Search Engine Land
• 6GB of Space on GMail, Shantanu Oak
• 6GB of Space on GMail, Library Stuff
• Gmail Now offering 6 Gigs of Storage, Pinoy Tech Blog
• Gmail ya ofrece 6 GB de espacio, Google gOS
• Gmails Gives 6GB Christmas Gift to Users, reddit.com
• Internet Marketing Best Blog Posts of 2007, Techipedia
• What Flickr Stats Mean for You, Photopreneur.com

Posted at 1:05 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

I am so used to a crazy busy schedule that these next two weeks make me want to jump out of my skin.

Yesterday, I set my alarm clock to wake up at 7:30, two hours later than the norm. But I was up at 5:45 and couldn't go back to sleep. So I got up closer to 7 and go to work at 8am. 8am is crazy late for me to get to work. I left work at about 2pm yesterday, because there was nothing to do.

Like last year, I have a list of year end items to take care of. Some of those are already done, but most can't be done until January 1st, which I can do all in one day.

So I sit here, bored out of my mind. Thinking, maybe I should write a long post that might help people or maybe those people won't read it because they are enjoying their time off.

The search world and the business world are both so slow. In fact, today and yesterday were the first days I set the Facebook application to a "Freezing" status, because search news is basically ice cold now.

One more week of this... I guess I will survive.

Posted at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Category: Daily Grind | Comments (2) (0)

Yesterday, I wrote a piece named Google's Gmail Reaches 6GB on Christmas. Soon I saw it was submitted to Digg, but it seems like when it started to gain some steam, it was manually removed from the upcoming page. It has been ages since a post on seroundtable.com made it on the Digg home page, in fact, we use to be on the Digg home page often - but it has been months since that has happened. I believe Digg has blacklisted seroundtable.com, because it is unnatural for our content not to be on Digg, at least once a month.

Checking the stats this AM, I noticed Reddit sent us a ton of traffic. Over 7,000 visitors just from Reddit. It made the Reddit home page, so thank you Reddit community!

But why am I blacklisted on Digg? Did I abuse it? Who knows...

Posted at 10:07 AM | Permalink | Category: SEO Tips | Comments (4) (0)

Here are some, not all, of the holiday cards I got from various companies in the search space.

The cards above come from Ask.com, Google, Yahoo, Indeed, and Debra from Alliance Link.

All of them were personally signed except for the Google card. Yahoo's card is the most interesting, in that you can actually plant it and it will grow. Yes, really. The card is made from "seeded paper," so I can rip it up and stick it in a pot. Then it will grow over time. In fact, I already stuck the envelop in a pot.

A lot more green when compared to Yahoo's yodeling card from last year.

Happy holidays guys and thanks for the cards!

Posted at 9:55 AM | Permalink | Category: Buddies | Comments (1) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Google updated Sitelinks again! How do 302s work with search engines. Remove your phone number from Google. Microsoft hates your blog. Web 2.0 and SEO, do they mesh? Buy those nofollowed links. SEOs are shy in public. Map your videos and photos on Google Maps. Google News does elections. Wikia Search does a private beta launch.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Webmaster Tools Sitelinks Show Up in Google After Four Days?
2. Tracking 302 Redirects & SEO Progress
3. Remove Your Home Phone Number & Address From Google
4. Does Microsoft Hate Your Blog?
5. Is Web 2.0 a Good SEO Strategy?
6. Why Would You Buy Nofollow Links?
7. Why SEOs Don't Share Their Secrets

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google Invites World To Map Holiday Photos & Videos
2. Google News Adds US Elections Section
3. Search Wikia Launches In 2007 With Private Beta

Daily Link Finds:

This is the December 24th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for December 24th, 2007:

• Raven SEO Weekly Digest - Issue 7, Raven SEO Tools
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, December 21, 2007, Search Engine Land
• Weekly Rap-up of Search Engine Industry News - 12/17 - 12/21, SearchRank Blog
• The Hardest Blog Post of My Life, ViperChill
• 10 New Year Resolutions for an Internet Marketer, PDXTC
• Ding Dong! Overture Is Dead! Pay Per Click Journal, payperclickjournal.com
• Friday Recap, BruceClay.com
• If I Were Marooned in the Caribbean, AIM Clear Blog
• Noticed this week in the Search information space, SEO and Tech Daily
• RustyBrick Holiday Mini-Fridge, Schwag Addict
• Nominations for Rubber Chicken SEM Humor Award (aka the Columbo Award), Mike Blumenthal
• Google en bref - 23 décembre 2007, www.zorgloob.com

Posted at 2:22 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (1) (0) | Speak

Remember my posts on the iPhone popcorn and goldfish on my iPhone? Remember those?

Well, it is time for me to come clean. I really can't make real popcorn on my iPhone. Nor are there any real goldfish swimming around in my iPhone. I am so sorry for lying to you all. I feel ashamed and I feel like I stole from you. So it is time for me to come clean!

These are all tricks. They come from a company named HotTrix. They are basically iPod movies you download to your iPhone and then play. Here is a video demonstrating how to play these videos after you download them to your iPhone.

Steve, the CEO of HotTrix emailed me asking me if I wanted to test more tricks. Why? Well, because my video has way more views than his video. Why do I have more views? A Google search on iphone popcorn returns my video at the top:

He has many more tricks, so check them out at HotTrix today!

Posted at 11:34 AM | Permalink | Category: Apple Macs , iPhone | Comments (7) (0)

Li Evans has this great series of articles named Women of Internet Marketing at her Search Marketing Gurus site.

In her last column, she interviewed Vanessa Fox. Vanessa earned her popularity when she worked at Google to create what is now known as Google Webmaster Central. She was one of the most influential people on bridging the webmaster community and Google together. Since then, she worked at Zillow to launch some sweet projects and now she is at an entrepreneur in residence for Ignition Partners and also the Features Editor at Search Engine Land (yea I write there also).

In any event, besides for Vanessa being incredibly popular and fun to work with, she said something really cool about me in her interview. And I quote:

Q: What's a typical day like for you, since you are also an editor at Search Engine Land? A: I don't think I've had a typical day yet! I normally check in on what's going on in search in the mornings. Barry is amazing at news coverage. I don't think people realize just how hard he works at making sure he knows absolutely everything that goes on all over the web. When I have time, I pitch in on news coverage.

And...

Q: You are in charge of recasting *drum rolls*... BUFFY! *going to go with Season 3 here*, which SEO's do you cast as the following? Xander: I think Barry's a bit like Xander. As I mentioned earlier, I don't think people realize just how much he does, but his contributions add a lot. Sort of like Xander in "The Zeppo" when he managed to save the school from a bomb created by the zombie football player, Walker, Texas Ranger fans and no one ever knew.

Now honestly, you know you have watched at least two episodes of Buffy!

Thank you so much Vanessa - comments like these really make it all worth while! Those words are even more special coming from someone like you!

Posted at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Category: Blogging , Buddies | Comments (0) (0)

Every Friday night sundown to Saturday night stars up, is the Jewish Shabbos. Orthodox Jews hold the laws of Shabbos and do not do "work" on Shabbos. It gets a bit complicated, you can read an introduction to the Laws of Shabbos at Aish.com, but in short, for people like Gary and myself, it means no using computers or Treos or iPhones on Shabbos - a whole 25 hours or so.

I do this every single week, so it is not a big deal for me. But Gary has never done this, since he is not an orthodox Jew, he does not hold the same things as I do. After Gary married Lisa, I invited them to come spend a "Shabbos" with us. They took us up on the offer this weekend. It was really nice to show Gary and Lisa our Shabbos routine and customs. But it was even nicer to spend time with the both of them without the distractions of a computer.

I can't imagine how hard it is to turn everything off for 25 hours. I mean, I do it every week, but if I had to do it once when never having experienced it before - that sounds hard.

In any event... Thank you Gary and Lisa for coming - it was really special. Hope to have you guys back soon!

Posted at 8:18 AM | Permalink | Category: Buddies , Religion | Comments (4) (0)

Happy Holidays everyone! Hope you enjoy the upcoming days and weeks with your family and friends.

Personally, I should be blogging and working over these days. The search industry slows but does not stop. Plus this is a great time for me to do the year end stuff for RustyBrick.

RustyBrick did send out our holiday e-cards this Friday. Do you want to see them? If so, go to http://www.rustybrick.com/holiday07/ to load the Flash card. Note, there is a typo in the card...

The fridge? More on that over here...

Posted at 1:05 PM | Permalink | Category: RustyBrick | Comments (1) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Happy holidays from the search industry! Danny and I launched a Facebook application for search news. Can you automate Google AdWords titles? Google AdSense opens Hebrew forums. FTC clears Google DoubleClick deal. Matt Cutts on reciprocal linking. Google maps and the frightening power of Google. Help build a search association list. Yahoo China loses a big copyright case.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. '07 Holiday Season Logos & Themes From Search Industry
2. New Search News Facebook App by Danny & Me
3. Can Writing Google AdWords Ads Be Automated?
4. Google AdSense Opens Hebrew Forums
5. Google Gets Green Light from FTC for DoubleClick Acquisition
6. Reading Between the Lines: Matt Cutts on Reciprocal Linking
7. The Frightening Power of Google Maps in Search Results

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Holiday Search Engine Logos
2. Search and Interactive Marketing Associations List
3. Yahoo China Loses Case On Linking To Unlicensed Music

Daily Link Finds:

This is the December 21st issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for December 21st, 2007:

• Free Google Flip Video Camcorder --No purchase necessary, Search Engine Watch Blog
• Google Adense Scrolling Ads in Action, blog.evisibility.com
• Google Beanbag Chair, Schwag Addict
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, December 20, 2007, Search Engine Land
• A Year in Review - Ad Agencies Acquired, Marketing Pilgrim
• Buying Links for SEO, FireFlySEO
• Holiday Search Engine Logos, Search Engine Land
• Hur funkar inlnkar i Yahoo site explorer?, internetbrus.com
• Search Engine Holiday Logos 2007 - Google Doodle 13, InsideGoogle
• Search News Headlines Application For Facebook, Search Engine Land

Posted at 1:45 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

In just about five hours after Danny and I announced the Search News for Facebook application, we have 60 users signed up.

I am amazed. Tons of people are away today for the holiday week and 60 users is huge, imo. I am also very excited to finally be able to share with the search industry what Danny and I think the news will be for the day. So now you know, will it be a crazy day or slow day - based on forum post volume and news volume in the search world.

If you haven't signed up, sign up at the Search News for Facebook!

Note, a Google OpenSocial version will be done in a few weeks. I am a bit more excited for that one.

Huge thanks to Danny for pushing me to finally build this out. Thank you Andy for working OT to get this done for us. Thanks to Ronnie and RustyBrick for it also.

Posted at 1:30 PM | Permalink | Category: SEO Tips | Comments (0) (0)

Wanted to wish all of you who are celebrating the upcoming holidays a happy holidays!!!

We have a special theme live at the Search Engine Roundtable and it looks like this:

If you missed it, we had a theme up this past weekend for the Boston Tea Party:

This was the Chanukah theme:

Both Yahoo sent gifts as did Google.

Last year, SERoundtable had this theme:

You can more logos for this year's season and last year's season, how about 2005, 2004, ok last one, I promise, 2004.

Posted at 9:19 AM | Permalink | Category: Blogging | Comments (0) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Google Gadget ads are being seen. Google sent out AdSense payouts early this month. Spidering music and creating snippets is a fun chore. Google's supplemental index becomes more hidden. Google translates IMs. Live Search stopped indexing Google ads. Matt Cutts beats on Performics. Googlers love cats. Shellen joined LiveJournal. Ask Eraser is critiqued by privacy folks. Google, Yahoo and Microsoft pay big for illegal gambling ad education campaign.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google Gadgets Ads Being Spotted in UK
2. Google Sends Out AdSense Payments Early in December
3. Spidering Music & Determining Snippets: How Does Google Search Do It All?
4. Google's Supplemental Index Announcement Drives More Confusion
5. Google Translator Provides Translations in Gmail
6. Microsoft Live Search Fixes Problem with Google AdWords Ads
7. Matt Cutts Delivers Promise to Google, but Does it Have Anything to Do with Performics?
8. Are All Googlers Cat Lovers?

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Jason Shellen, former Google Reader product manager, Joins LiveJournal
2. Privacy Group Finds Flaws In AskEraser's Privacy Tool
3. Google, Yahoo & Microsoft To Pay $31.5M For Illegal Gambling Ads

Daily Link Finds:

This is the December 20th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for December 20th, 2007:

• A Few Excellent Posts of the Day, Stepforth
• Blog News Round Up - 12/19/2007, PPC Hero
• Google & Human Quality Reviews: Old News Returns, Search Engine Land
• Knol Highlights, RK Weblog
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, December 19, 2007, Search Engine Land
• In search of search engine secrets, Openads Blog
• Join Search Engine Roundtable's Facebook Fan Page, Cartoon Barry
• Listing Google Ads In Live Search (D'oh!) (Nathan Buggia/Live Search Webmaster...), Techmeme
• No More Supplemental Index From Google, Search Newz
• Yahoo! Stops Numbering Results, Search Engine Showdown

Posted at 3:10 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

Did you visit Ask.com today? If not, check it out, they have a crazy theme for the holiday season. Here is a video of it, so its archived forever.

Posted at 11:39 AM | Permalink | Category: SEO Tips | Comments (1) (0)

Facebook user? Do you like me? If not, do you at least like the Search Engine Roundtable? If so, why not join the fan page for the Search Engine Roundtable at Facebook?

How do you join? Go to: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=6977229701 and click on the Become a Fan link.

Thank you in advance!

Posted at 11:18 AM | Permalink | Category: Blogging | Comments (0) (0)

One of my best presents for the holiday season, a new goldfish. This goldfish lives on my iPhone. Take a look of it playing and eating:

Posted at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Category: Apple Macs , iPhone | Comments (6) (0)

I was messing around with my browser and I accidently clicked on a tab and pulled it down. The tab opened in a new window. A neat feature, which is useful, that I discovered by accident. Here is how I pop open a tab in my Safari browser, into a new window:

Posted at 7:51 PM | Permalink | Category: Apple Macs | Comments (0) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Google changes up the supplemental index again, webmasters take notice. More sites obtain Google Sitelinks. Yahoo hands out some holiday gifts. Live Search's link command is back offline. Google dropped RSS feeds from their index. Keep your PPC costs low. Google does better flight stats. Live Search is indexing Google AdWords ads. Google's cache went offline this morning. adCenter launched an affiliate program. Google Talk does translation.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Is Google's Supplemental Index Increasing?
2. More Sites Get Google Sitelinks Feature
3. Yahoo 2007 Holiday Gift: Laptop Case
4. Live Search Link Command Back Offline
5. Google Finally Drops RSS Feeds From Google Search Results
6. How do Businesses Keep Costs Low in a Highly Competitive PPC Market?
7. Does Google Really Have Better Flight Stats?
8. MSN Search Returns Google AdWords Listings in Natural Search Results
9. Google Cache Temporarily Goes Down
10. Microsoft adCenter Launches Affiliate Program

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Need Flight Status? Google Now Provides Tracking
2. Communication Breakdown? Try Google Talk's Interpreter
3. Microsoft Live Search Indexing & Listing Google AdWords Ads
4. Google Removes RSS Feeds From Search Results

Daily Link Finds:

This is the December 19th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for December 19th, 2007:

• 2007 Pubcon - Collection of thoughts from around the interweb, Brian Chappell
• Friday finale: Google Shopping, Scripps spin-off update, PayPal Labs offerings, Comparison Shopping Engine Strategies
• Google gets outed as selling links, Mashable is wrong, and Sphinn needs a better 404 page - TGIF SEO Links, Brian Chappell
• Nominate a red crab in the 2007 Search Blog Awards!, sebastians-pamphlets.com
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, December 18, 2007, Search Engine Land
• Live.com Maps: How to Leapfrog Your Competition, www.handsomelogic.com
• Top 10 Web SEO Blogs » Voddie, www.voddie.com
• Bescherung on the Roof, seoFM
• Google Removes RSS Feeds From Search Results, Search Engine Land
• How I Network on Friendster, Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn, Techipedia
• Paid Links - Succesful SEO Buying Paid Links Under The Radar, Black Hat SEO Diary
• Posicnate en Live con Adwords, telendro.com.es
• Search Engine Optimization Journal's Top 20 SEO Blog List, Search Engine Optimization Journal

Posted at 2:16 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

We had a snow storm (wasn't bad) this past Sunday. But the snow was very wet and then froze over at night. It wasn't one of those light snows, it was a rainy snow, which is heavy.

So I got the plow guy to do the drive way but he didn't do the walk way. I was going to do the walk way that day, but I ran out of time. Then over night, the walk way turned into ice. I need an ice pick or blow torch to loosen the ice off. One day, I guess. Good thing we don't use the front door, the garage is our main mode of entry and exit from the house.

Sunday night, I took out the garbage, to be picked up Monday morning. Ever since then, I cannot find the top of that garbage can. Typically, they take the top off and throw it on the grass. When I come home I put it back together. What must have happened was they threw it on my grass, which is all ice. It must have blown away and slid to one of my neighbors properties. From there, who knows where it is? Upsetting, I need the top!

That is how I lost my garbage top in this ice capade.

Posted at 1:33 PM | Permalink | Category: Homey , Weather | Comments (3) (0)

Today is the tenth day of the Jewish month, טבת. It is a fast day today, the fast is cleverly named, Asarah b'Tevet (עשרה בטבת) (i.e. the tenth day of Tevet (name of the month).)

We fast to remember when the first Bet HaMikdash (בית המקדש) Holy Temple was destroyed.

I have never failed to Fast since being 13 years old, and even though I am still a bit weak from being sick, I still plan on finishing out this fast. It is one of the shortest, if not the shortest, fast days we have. Why? Well, we typically fast from Sunrise to Sunset (a bit after sunset). So the fast is over at 5:15 or so EST in my area, while for summer fast days, it can go as late as after 9pm. Just a few more hours.

Posted at 1:17 PM | Permalink | Category: Religion | Comments (3) (0)

>Last night, I came home, hoping to eat something, shower and go into bed with my laptop - since I am a bit under the weather. But when I got home, the Internet wasn't working. My first Verizon FiOS internet outage!!!

So I did the normal things. Reset the router, since the Verizon router didn't show an Internet green light, I assumed it was at least at that point. Restarting didn't work. So I looked at the FiOS box, it looks something like the image at the top right of this post, but mine is a bit different. I had green lights for power and backup, but the next light was red and read "FAIL."

So I called Verizon support and to make a long story (which was fairly short), short. They said they would send someone out to me. That person came at about 11:45am today. I met him at the house, showed him the box and he did a few things. He then determined it was with the wiring. He went outside (my FiOS box is mounted inside) and followed the FiOS cables to the junction box on the telephone poll. He messed around with that box and then I saw the lights all turn green on the FiOS box.

I tested the Internet on my iPhone and we were a go.

That was my first outage.

Posted at 1:09 PM | Permalink | Category: Homey | Comments (4) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Been a bit sick, so taking a break on the summary here. Please just scan the post titles.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google Tests 2 x 2 AdSense Box Unit
2. AdSense Reports Not Sorting Properly
3. Google December '07 PageRank Update?
4. Yahoo Search Removes Numbers on Search Results
5. Share Your Social Profile On Google
6. Yahoo Search Marketing Disables Shoemoney's Account
7. Nominate Search Engine Roundtable in the 2007 Search Blogs Awards
8. Double Redirects May Take Google More Time To Pick Up On
9. Automatically Mixing Up Your Anchor Text in Link Building Campaigns
10. PageRank Zero Does Not Mean Google Penalty; Says Google (Correction)
11. Do You Google Yourself?
12. How Do You Create Profitable Campaigns with High CPCs?
13. Google Announces Video Sitemaps

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Bloglines Beta Adds Features: Save, Photo Widget & Blog View
2. Google Webmaster Tools Adds Video Sitemaps
3. Google News Improves News Source Feature
4. Google Toolbar Exploit Affects Version 4 & 5

Daily Link Finds:

This is the December 18th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for December 18th, 2007:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, December 14, 2007, Search Engine Land
• SEO Newsletter - FEATURE: The Top Six Takeaways from PubCon 2007, BruceClay.com
• Silicon Valley Blog: Millions and Millions of Search Results... Ignored, louisgray.com
• 2007 Search Blogs Awards by Search Engine Journal, SearchRank
• Blog Tag - What I do when I'm Not Working, MetaToast
• Google reconocer los subdominios como carpetas, HispaWeb Blog
• Killing Two Birds with One Stone - Knol Tackles Wikipedia and Squidoo, SEOpittfall
• My Most Popular Photos, Cshel
• Partial Google Algorithm Revealed: SEO Advice from Google Webmaster Tools, SEO Hong Kong
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, December 17, 2007, Search Engine Land
• blog seo Search Marketing Blogs, Blog Gootum.com
• SEO 101: Competitive Intelligence, Cshel

Posted at 4:05 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

Tamar, besides for loving to blog, also really loves Schwag. She is the girl who runs around the exhibit halls with huge duffles collecting tons of free Schwag.

She decided to start a blog presenting all her cool schwag. The blog name is Schwag Addict!

Great idea Tamar. It should land you some new neat schwag!

Posted at 12:36 PM | Permalink | Category: Buddies | Comments (3) (0)

Search Engine Journal has their call for nominations for the top search blogs in 2007. The Search Engine Roundtable has won many awards over the years, I cannot express how much these awards me to me personally.

The award categories are as follows, here would be my nominations:

• Best SEO Blog: SERoundtable
• Best SEM Blog: Search Engine Land
• Best SEO Plugin for Wordpress: Joost's stuff
• Best Search Agency Resource Blog: SEOmoz
• Best Link Building Blog: Link Spiel
• Best Social Media Marketing or Optimization Blog: SEOmoz, Techipedia and SEOBook
• Best Local Search Blog: ScreenWerks
• Best Video Search Blog: Not sure
• Best Mobile Search Blog: Mike Blumenthal
• Best Google Blog Not Owned by Google: Google Blogoscoped & Google Operating Systems
• Best Search Engine Corporate Blog (owned by the search engines): Google Blog
• Best Contextual Advertising Blog: Search Engine Roundtable
• Best Affiliate Marketing Blog: 5Star Affiliate & ShoeMoney
• Best Search Engine Community/Forum: Sphinn, Cre8, WMW
• Best New Search Engine of 2007: Dunno
• Best Search Engine Research Blog: SEO By The Sea
• Best Search Linkbait of 2007: Dunno
• Breakout Blog of 2007: SEOish
• Best Search Conference Coverage of 2007: Search Engine Roundtable & Bruce Clay
• Best Search Conference Coverage in Photos: Top Rank Blog
• Best Search Marketing Facebook Group: Dunno
• Most Giving Search Blogger: Barry Schwartz and Danny Sullivan
• Best Independent Search Blog (not owned by media company or marketing agency): Marketing Pilgrim
• Best Search Blog Post of 2007: Dunno

Honestly, I so hope I win the "Most Giving Search Blogger." I give my all, every single day, to blogging about search. I rarely ever miss posting less than 7 posts per day at SEL and SER. I have been doing this for over 4 years. I hope I win that. :-)

Posted at 10:18 AM | Permalink | Category: Blogging | Comments (0) (0)

Yesterday, I was home sick. Sunday night, I was up from about 11:30 until 4:30, in the bathroom - returning what I ate for dinner that night.

Honestly, I don't remember every throwing up that much in on day. As you can image, not sleeping, not having any food in my body and not being able to eat - really tired me out. I did some blogging between 7am and 9am, took a nap and then got back to working from my bed after noon time.

This morning, I am stable. I feel like I lost 50lbs yesterday. I am very weak, but I am able to sit and type. I have an in-person meeting in a couple hours, a meeting I had to cancel yesterday.

Glad I was able to get to work today.

Posted at 10:13 AM | Permalink | Category: Homey | Comments (3) (0)

Yesterday, I posted a detailed review of Flickr Stats, a new way to see incredibly detailed statistics on your Flickr images. To see them, if you have a Flickr Pro account, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/me/stats/. Here are my most popular images (note, flickr only can track traffic on Flickr, so viewing the images here, won't count as a view or metric on Flickr's side).

Most Popular by Impressions:

With 24,355 views

With 8,316 views

With 6,257 views

With 3,265 views

With 3,133 views

Most Popular by Favorites (People Who Favorite them on Flickr):

With 73 people favoring the image

With 8 people favoring the image

With 3 people favoring the image

With 2 people favoring the image

With 2 people favoring the image

Most Popular by Number of Comments at Flickr:

With 20 comments

With 5 comments

With 4 comments

With 4 comments

And we had three images tied with three comments, here they are:

Would love for other Flickr Pro users to share their most popular images. I would tag people, but I am not sure which users are Pro users and I don't have time this second to find out... So please follow suit if you are!

Posted at 1:52 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Interesting | Comments (0) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Google renames Products link to Shopping. Google launches Ad Review Center. Google provides detailed content analysis report. Are keyword rich domains ranking well in Google? Google AdWords shows business addresses. Guardian slips on on the Google Florida Update date. Google pre-launches Knol. Google released version five of the toolbar. Flickr does sweet stats! Guge sues Google. Search in Pictures is out.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google Changes "Products" Link to "Shopping" For Holidays
2. Confirmed: Google AdSense Launching "Ad Review Center"
3. Google Provides SEO Advice With Webmaster Tool's New "Content Analysis"
4. Google Ranking Domains with Keywords in Them Higher?
5. Google Displaying Exact Address Under AdWords Search Results
6. The Guardian Says the Google Florida Update Happened in 2004, Not 2003
7. Google to Launch User Generated Knowledge Base
8. Google Toolbar v5 Released, Supports Gadgets and Saving Settings Online

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Flickr Launches Stats: Detailed Overview
2. Guge Vs. Google Chinese Court Hearing Begins
3. Google AdSense To Give Publishers Access To Review Placement Targeted Ads Prior To Ad Placement
4. Google Shopping: Google Tries For Shoppers Once Again
5. Search in Pictures: Google, Ask.com & Yahoo Holiday Parties, Yahoo JetBlue Plane, Google Security Scooter

Daily Link Finds:

This is the December 14th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for December 14th, 2007:

• Announcing new graphing tools, ga.js tracking, and six new languages (Alden DeSoto/Google Analytics Blog), Techmeme
• Danny Sullivan, Mahalo
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, December 13, 2007, Search Engine Land
• Google AdSense To Give Publishers Access To Review Placement Targeted Ads Prior To Ad Placement, Search Engine Land
• Google Displaying Exact Address Under AdWords Search Results, Search Engine Roundtable
• Google Knol - Google's Play To Aggregate Knowledge Pages (Danny Sullivan/Search Engine Land), Techmeme
• Google Shopping: Google Tries For Shoppers Once Again, Search Engine Land
• Google tratar los subdominos como carpetas, adseok
• Introducing the Ad Review Center (Katie Mandel/Inside AdSense), Techmeme
• Just A Lot Of Link Ramblin' Man, The Link Spiel
• Porwnywanie danych w Google Analytics, SEMGuru.pl
• PubCon 2007 Essential Notes, SEOlogs.com
• PubCon Wrap Up - Better Late Than Never, Sugarrae
• Rolovatko v AdSense, Webtrh
• Search Insider Summit Day 1 Photos, Online Marketing Blog
• Search Marketing with Google in Mind, RedBoots Digital Rodeo
• Subdomain or Folder - What does Google like better?, Jack Humphrey

Posted at 1:48 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

Jim Lanzone, the CEO of Ask.com, is a great guy. He is fun, hard working and really smart. We used to be more chatty before he became the CEO, but now he is flying all over the place with his new responsibilities. In any event, it was great to feature a picture of him, hanging loose at the Ask.com Year End party this year.

Now, Jim, why wasn't I invited? :-)

Posted at 1:23 PM | Permalink | Category: Buddies | Comments (0) (0)

Well, the snow storm came, as expected. It wasn't all that bad, at all... There was probably 5 inches or so by the time I left work.

I brushed off my car, got in, turned it on, pressed the "snow" button and drove off. I did not get stuck at all. There was a slippery point here and there on the way home, but overall, the car drove wonderfully. Got to love the all wheel drive! My other car, well, it would be trapped for days. So I am very happy with the car decision and timing, very happy.

When I got home, I took out the shovel and began shoveling my drive way. In about an hour or more, I got 50% of the drive way clear and the walk way clear. I then spotted a plow truck and asked him to finish off the rest for $20. More importantly, I have his number and I will sign a contract with him to plow me out when it snows. Save $30 bucks by doing it myself, which will take 2 hours for the whole drive way or work for 2 hours while I pay someone else $30 to do it for me. Hmmm... How much is my time worth?

Finally, we are expecting a large snow storm this Sunday. Much bigger than last night.

Posted at 1:13 PM | Permalink | Category: Weather | Comments (4) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Yahoo News has a headline search issue. Google updated their keyword tool. AdWords Editor 5.0 is out. Joost does link analysis Firefox extension. Google Groups is undergoing a check up. Matt Cutts goes black hat. Google Local scams are increasing. Google Analytics gets upgraded. Google themes AdWords for the holidays. Google tests OneBox results on the right. Join me at the first SphinnCon Israel!

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Yahoo News INTITLE Operator Not Functioning
2. Google Updates Look of AdWords Keyword Tool
3. Confirmed: Google Releases AdWords Editor 5.0
4. SphinnCon Israel - SMX Israel Event : February 5th
5. Joost de Valk Releases Link Analysis Firefox Extension
6. Google Groups Performs Database Maintenance
7. Matt Cutts is a Black Hat
8. Google Local Scams Are Taken Seriously
9. Google Analytics Launches Comparison Features

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google Releases Updated AdWords Editor 5.0
2. Google Dresses Up Sponsored Links With Holiday Dividers Again
3. Google 2D? Google Tests Vertical Results In Right-Hand Column
4. Yahoo Adds Integrated Shortcuts For WordPress Blogs

Daily Link Finds:

This is the December 13th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for December 13th, 2007:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, December 12, 2007, Search Engine Land
• 8 Things the Search Industry Can Teach Small Businesses, Small Business SEM
• AdSense тестирует полосу прокрутки, www.searchengines.ru
• AdWords Editor 5 juwkrtce?, SEMGuru.pl
• Google выпускает AdWords Editor 5, www.searchengines.ru
• Google Dresses Up Sponsored Links With Holiday Dividers Again, Search Engine Land
• Google Once Again Running Holiday Decorations, InsideGoogle
• Link Analysis Firefox Plugin, Webometric Thoughts
• Post-PubCon Ponderings, Yahoo! Search Marketing Blog
• SMX Israel becomes SphinnCon Israel. February 2008., Multilingual Search
• The SEO Blog with attitude, SEO Chicks
• Word on the Street (Google Street View), City Pages
• Yahoo! Search Blog: That's a Wrap -- Looking Back on WebmasterWorld's Pubcon Las Vegas, Yahoo Search Blog
• לראשונה: כנס האינטרנט Sphinncon - בישראל!!!!, www.smo.co.il

Posted at 3:10 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

After hoping to start an event in Israel under the SMX brand, we decided to go with a smaller event, still under the Third Door umbrella, but named it SphinnCon Israel.

SphinnCon is basically a smaller SMX event, that is much less formal and has a shorter and more flexible agenda. Due to timing issues, we could not run a full SMX Israel event this coming year, but I hope in January 2009, we can get that going...

The Third Door umbrella, but named it SphinnCon Israel agenda is live. It takes place in Jerusalem on February 5th in the afternoon. We decided to put a fee of $50 on this event, just to make sure those that register are serious about coming. Keep in mind, we have a max capacity of 150 attendees, so register quickly so you don't miss out.

For more information on the event, check out the SphinnCon Israel page.

Hope to see you all there!!!

Posted at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Category: SEO Tips | Comments (0) (0)

Tomorrow we are suppose to have 6 to 8 inches of snow in my area. It looks like it will begin at about noon and continue until about 9pm. That means pretty bad weather for those driving home from their day at work.

I have a client flying in to meet with us. He flies in Thursday night, hope it works out well.

The weather alert says:

WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 11 PM EST THURSDAY

TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS WILL GENERALLY RANGE FROM 6 TO 8 INCHES AWAY FROM THE COAST. LOCATIONS CLOSER TO THE COAST WILL EXPERIENCE A MIXTURE OF SLEET WHICH WILL LIMIT ACCUMULATIONS TO 4 TO 6 INCHES.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW... SLEET... AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

I am actually looking forward to testing out my new car on the way home from work tomorrow. Should be fun!

Personally, I am glad the snow isn't over night - but most people, I would assume, prefer the nightly snow fall. Just hope things don't freeze over.

Posted at 5:32 PM | Permalink | Category: Weather | Comments (6) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Google wants you to scroll those AdSense ads. Stale content can't hurt your SEO that bad. AdWords Editor 5 is coming out. AdWords, AdSense and adCenter all had login issues. Sphinn's top 20 were revealed. Do you dream SEO? Google navigation bar goes global. Page ties the knot. Google tries Subscribed Links in the Universal Search layout. Google upgrades the toolbar. Google News glitches out. Today is the last day of Chanukah!

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google Testing Scrolling AdSense Ads
2. Can Stale Content Hurt a Site's Current Search Rankings?
3. Google to Release AdWords Editor 5 Today?
4. Google AdWords/AdSense & Microsoft adCenter Login Problems Resolved
5. Do You Use Sphinn? If So, You Should Meet the 20 "Power Players"
6. What Do SEOs Dream About?
7. Google's Navigational Bar Goes International
8. Search Marketing Industry Wishing Larry Page & Lucinda Southworth a Long & Happy Marriage
9. Search Industry Celebrates Holiday Season 2007

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google AdSense Gains Scroll Arrows, Lets You Slide New Ads Up
2. Google Adds Subscribed Links To Universal Search Interface
3. Google Adds Gadgets, Roaming & Bad URL Help To The Google Toolbar: Version Five Is Out
4. High-Tech Christmas Cookies? Nah, Just A Google News Glitch

Daily Link Finds:

This is the December 12th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for December 12th, 2007:

• 2007 PubCon Recap - Through the Looking Glass, The Mad Hat
• AskEraser, Yahoo Increases Support & A Facebook Upgrade, BruceClay.com
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, December 11, 2007, Search Engine Land
• Google AdSense Tests Scrolling Contextual Advertisements, Search Engine Journal
• Matt Cutts的杂七杂八的最新指示, www.chinamyhosting.com
• Will Ask.com's AskEraser Impact the Edison Algorithm and its SERPs?, Raven SEO Tools

Posted at 3:24 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

I so hate RFPs, request for proposals. Typically, if I get one, I won't respond or politely deny it. We are privileged to be able to pick our clients.

There is something about RFPs that just seem wrong. Write up a large document, send it out to 15 potential vendors to fight over and pick the last one standing. It reminds me of throwing a piece of steak to a hungry pack of dogs.

I just got a call about an RFP, I decided to ask - how did you hear of us. The person who called did not know. She said, "my boss gave me your number." So she sent me the details via email and I replied politely asked for how her boss got our number. If it comes from a client, I may respond - if not then I will tell them I am not interested.

Do you feel the same way about RFPs?

Posted at 2:58 PM | Permalink | Category: RustyBrick | Comments (4) (0)

Not much to say here, let TIME do the talking:

The iPhone changed the way we think about how mobile media devices should look, feel and perform. The design is exceptional inside and out: It's got a slick glass-and-stainless steel case and an elegant touch screen loaded with eye candy. It's an iPod and a 2-megapixel camera. Images and video clips display vertically or horizontally — they reorient themselves depending on how you hold the thing. When the phone detects a wireless network within range — your own home wi-fi set up or somebody else's — it lets you tap once to connect, and then proceed with your Web surfing, Google mapping, emailing and other activities that can otherwise be painfully slow over AT&T's cellular network — the only one, unfortunately, that carries iPhone calls.

Posted at 2:44 PM | Permalink | Category: Apple Macs , iPhone | Comments (1) (0)

When I am writing up the daily recaps, either at this blog or at Search Engine Land or at Search Engine Roundtable I like to listen to crazy quick finger music. The faster the music, the faster the beat, the faster I can crank out the recaps. The repetitiveness of the recaps are boring, but I automate most of it. So any none automated aspect, the music helps me along. A recap typically takes me just minutes.

What music do I prefer when 'capping it' out? The Extremist by Satriani!

Here is The Extremist by Joe Satriani on YouTube:

See what I mean?

Posted at 4:46 PM | Permalink | Category: Blogging , Music | Comments (2) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

I gave some tips on Yahoo Search Marketing campaign optimization. How long does it take for new links to kick in? Google fixed the AdWords diagnostic tool. What factors are important when it comes to links. Google does bomb detection. SEO mobile tips were covered by Tamar. Gmail wants your story. Ask.com gets anonymous. Google does navigation links globally. Solar panel powers Google. Matt Cutts gets interviewed by WebProNews.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Optimizing Your Yahoo Search Marketing Campaigns After Panama Migration
2. When Will New Links Impact the Search Results?
3. Google Finally Fixes AdWords Diagnostic Tool Bug, After One Month
4. AskEraser, Does it Erase Your Ask.com Search Results?
5. Experts Weigh in on Link Value Factors
6. Google to Partner with H3tec for Detection Technology
7. SEO for Mobile: Tips and Tricks
8. Google Wants Your Gmail Story

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Ask.com Launches AskEraser Giving Searches Ability To Search Anonymously
2. Google AdSense Makes A Few Small Improvements
3. Google Launches Navigational Links Worldwide
4. Google's Solar Panel Project Helps Power 402 Dishwasher Cycles Per Day
5. Google's Matt Cutts On Video About PageRank & Sub Directories

Daily Link Finds:

This is the December 11th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for December 11th, 2007:

• Google Accidently Bans Hundreds of Users from Gmail, eWealth.com
• Is That A PubCon in Your Pocket or are You Just Happy to see Me?, SEOish
• Order the fish and get lucky 5 nights in a row, Spudooli
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, December 10, 2007, Search Engine Land
• Techmeme: OPENhulu: setting Hulu's videos free? (last100), Techmeme
• Back from PubCon, Matt Cutts
• Do you every dream about SEO?, Im Not A Doctor
• Google en bref - 8 decembre 2007, Zorgloob.com
• Google es Internet, Dominios y subdominios
• Karl Ribas.com Blog: Guest Post: PubCon 2007 Recap, Karl Ribas
• Pubcon Follow Up, LinkWorth
• SEO On A Limited Budget, Brisbane SEO Blog
• Techmeme: Ask.com Puts a Bet on Privacy (Miguel Helft/New York Times), Techmeme
• That's a Wrap -- Looking Back on WebmasterWorld's Pubcon Las Vegas, Yahoo Search Blog

Posted at 4:23 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

I don't know how I hung up large pictures before I got myself a Accu Mark Gecko Grip Level made by Black & Decker from Home Depot. This weekend, I saw it at home depot and picked it up. I then went home and hung up a large mirror in my entry way.

First I measured the hanging holes on the back of the mirror as illustrated in this picture:

Then I put the leveler at the preferred height and made sure it was level. I then measured to make sure it was centered in the wall. After that, I drew lines in the holes provided in the leveler, as shown here:

Then I screwed in the screws and anchors into the wall and hung it up.

I don't know how I managed to do this before I got this leveler. This could have saved me a lot of time. No more separate rulers, no more making mistakes, etc.

Posted at 10:57 AM | Permalink | Category: Homey | Comments (6) (0)

Last week I ran a poll on which Cartoon Barry you prefer and the overwhelming majority (88%) prefer the original version.

Personally, I do to because it has the accessories (bag, kipah, RB shirt, etc.).

Here are the results from PollDaddy:

	Answer	Votes	%
	Original	38	88%
	New	5	12%
		43

Posted at 9:52 AM | Permalink | Category: Rambling | Comments (1) (0)

Gotta love these:

Posted at 9:47 AM | Permalink | Category: Apple Macs | Comments (0) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Matt Cutts explains what was meant by the Google update on how they handle sub domains. There may be some problems with the AdSense preview tool. AdSense may launch an "ad review center" soon. Google banned hundreds of Gmail users accidently. AdSense's phone verification is fixed. Yahoo supports the X-Robots tag. Google is all about pennies with AdSense. SEO Link factors have been published. Google News updates their algorithm. TechTicker is to launch soon. Google tweaked their host crowding filter.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Clarification on Sub Domains in Google: Google to Make It Harder But Not Impossible
2. Google's AdSense Preview Tool Not Showing All Ads?
3. Google AdSense to Launch "Ad Review Center"
4. Google Accidently Bans Hundreds of Users from Gmail
5. Google AdSense Fixes Seven Day Phone Verification Bug
6. Yahoo Expands X-Robots-Tag: Supports NOINDEX, NOARCHIVE, NOSNIPPET, and NOFOLLOW
7. Is Google Nickel & Diming AdSense Publishers?

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Links & SEO: The Huge Link Value Factors Survey
2. Google News Updates Algorithm: Sourcing Story Updates & Local Context To News
3. TechTicker, Yahoo's New Tech Focused Investor Portal
4. Google Tweaks "Host Crowding" Algorithm To Reduce Results From Same Domain For Search

Daily Link Finds:

This is the December 10th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for December 10th, 2007:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, December 7, 2007, Search Engine Land
• 5 Things We Didn't Know Last Week, Search Engine People
• Caruso - looking for a third career?, David Caruso revealed
• Excessive Subdomains Act Much Like Network Links, Search Engine Optimization Journal
• Friday Recap, BruceClay.com
• Google changing its Handling of Sub Domains, Domain Name News
• Google changing the way it handles Sub Domains in its Index, Google Blogoscoped
• Google to treat Sub-Domains and Sub-Folders Equally, Rock Coast Media
• Google, Subdomains, and Branding, SEO Book
• Techmeme: Google's PageRank Update Goes After Paid Links? (Barry Schwartz/Search Engine Land), Techmeme
• Webmaster World PubCon Las Vegas Dec 2007 Full Coverage!, PageTraffic Blog
• Weekly Rap-up of Search Engine Industry News - 12/3 - 12/7, SearchRank Blog
• Adsense Sends Out Christmas Gifts To Publishers, 45n5.com
• Are subdomains better for SEO than subdirectories?, Search Engine Watch Forums
• Google AdSense ya esta enviando los regalos de Navidad, Dr. Max Glaser
• Matt Cutts Says Sub-domains Soon To Be Treated Like Folders, Cre8asite Forums
• Pubcon 2007 Recap, Techipedia
• Back from PubCon, Matt Cutts
• Subdomains and subdirectories, Matt Cutts
• 301 versus 302 redirects for SEO, BusinessOnLine
• GMail Accounts Wrongly Disabled As Spammers, Search Engine Land
• Google changing its Handling of Sub Domains, Domain Discussion Board
• Google sur le point de traiter les sous-domaines comme des repertoires - Referencement et moteurs de recherche, Le blog d'Abondance
• Google Tweaks "Host Crowding" Algorithm To Reduce Results From Same Domain For Search, Search Engine Land
• My Reaction on Google's Stance on Subdomain and Subfolder Changes, SEO Hong Kong
• Pubcon & SES Recap From a Guy Who Wasn't There, Small Business SEM
• ROTTEN EXPERIMENT: NYPD tries to fool young minorities into committing crimes, Highbrid Nation
• Search Headlines & Links: December 7, 2007, Search Engine Watch Blog
• Sottodomini visti da Google non pi come domini indipendenti, Ranked.it
• Subdomain or Folder - What does Google like better?, Jack Humphrey
• Techmeme: Subdomains and subdirectories  ó  Towards the tail end of PubCon Ö (Matt Cutts/Gadgets, Google, and SEO), Techmeme
• Why I Don't Use GMail (and Other 3rd Party Email Services), SearchRank Blog

Posted at 2:51 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

This past week, I started noticing this message pop up.

"Your SMS mailbox is almost full. Please delete some messages."

So yesterday, I finally deleted some messages and then looked up the info at Apple.

Apple says you can have a max of 1,000 SMS messages. Doesn't seem like enough. I don't want to delete my SMS messages. In 5 months since I got my iPhone, I used about 1,000 SMS messages. I guess Apple is afraid someone might fill up their 8GBs with text messages?

There is a large thread at Mac Rumors about this and how many people are upset. There is a hack to download your SMS messages, but I'm not going to use that. This is a bit upsetting, to say the least.

Posted at 10:40 AM | Permalink | Category: Apple Macs , iPhone | Comments (3) (0)

Last night I got my invite to Hulu. Actually, I think a ton of people got Hulu invites last night. In any event, I got one!

So I was watching the "Husbands & Knives" edition of The Simpons, here it is embedded below:

Here is what the interface looks like to me:

Clicking on feedback gives me:

The other features are straight forward. The "Lower Lights" is neat, it basically darkens out the rest of the page and keeps the video the same contrast.

I do not have invites to give out, so don't ask them. I am invited but they don't give me invites to give out.

Posted at 9:54 AM | Permalink | Category: Music | Comments (0) (0)

I was driving to work yesterday, yes I work Sunday mornings, and I saw this car.

(1) What first caught my attention was that the car had its top down in 30 degree weather. Brrrrrr.

(2) Then I saw the interesting license plate, as you can see in the image above.

(3) Then when I passed the car, I notice a dog was buckled into the passenger seat. The dog was sitting up like a person, wearing a snow hat. Way too funny.

Posted at 9:35 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny , Motor Vehicle , Travels , Weather | Comments (4) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Google makes changes to the site exclusion process. Wikipedia getting corrupt? Tamar summarized Google changes for December. Live Search localizing results? Google may treat sub domains like folders. Lazy Google stops validating AdWords display URLs. I posted the huge conference roundup. Google explains the alternative tag. Search in pictures is out.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google Changes Site Exclusion Process: Confusing Advertisers
2. Wikipedia Corruption Discovered: Should Search Engines Respond?
3. Webmasters Report December 2007 Google SERP Changes
4. Live Search Testing Automatic Local Search Results in Australia?
5. Google to Begin Treating Subdomains as Folders: Max 2 Results Per Search
6. Google Being Lazy About Validating AdWords Display URLs?
7. Conference Coverage Recap: SES Chicago & PubCon Vegas 2007

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Search Conference Coverage 2007: SES Chicago Day Four & PubCon Vegas Day Three
2. Google Wants You To Talk About Your Images
3. Sub Domains To Be Treated As Folders By Google
4. Search in Pictures: PubCon/SES, Google Gift, Pumpkin Yang

Daily Link Finds:

This is the December 7th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for December 7th, 2007:

• One more round of links, Mind Booster Noori
• Search Conference Coverage 2007: SES Chicago Day Four , Search Engine Land
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, December 6, 2007, Search Engine Land
• Google envía el regalo navideño de 2006 a los webmasters con AdSense , google.dirson.com
• Google Rankings Changing : Result of Paid Links?, Search Engine Journal
• Bye Bye Sub Domain from the SERPS - Hello Site Links, eVisibility Insider
• Gmail not working Gmail banned - Google account banned - What to do ?, Tech For Novices
• Google manejar los subdominios como las carpetas, Dr. Max Glaser
• Google To Count Subdomains as Subdirectories, Once a day SEO
• Google to treat subdomains as folders in search, Interactive Media for Higher Education
• Google visible PageRank penalties vs. real PageRank penalties, Admin Zone Forums
• Google visible PR penalties versus real PR penalties, DigitalPoint Forums
• Link Building this Week (Dec. 7), Wiep.net
• Matt Cutts Reports Google is Changing the Way it Treats Subdomains, Lobo Links Blog
• Other Online Auction News, December 6, 2007, AuctionBytes
• pdf and google, WebProWorld
• SES Chicago, Day 4 Coverage, Search Engine Strategies
• Sub Domains To Be Treated As Folders By Google, Search Engine Land
• Top 10 stories from SES Chicago - Day 4, Search Engine Watch Blog
• Warm Hospitality & New Competition, AIM Clear Blog
• Zielt Matt Cutts eigentlich nur auf SEOs?, missfitsbiz

Posted at 1:45 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

Today marks the day of a second dead bird I found outside my office building. Here is a picture:

From the looks of the crime scene, the bird was on some major crack cocaine. Kids, listen when I tell you, stay off the crack! If not, you can be like that bird.

In any event, this is not the first time a bird died outside my window. There was a dead bird from a window accident several months ago. I am telling you, birds love my windows.

FYI - there is nothing I can do about the windows. It is an office building and I only sit by a few of them.

Posted at 12:51 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Weird | Comments (1) (0)

There are now two different cartoons of me. Which one do you like better?

Original	New

Here is a poll:

Thank you.

Posted at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Category: Rambling | Comments (13) (0)

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas - or maybe not. Tamar hooked up with David Caruso from CSI Miami in Vegas.

Well, not "hooked up" but took a picture with David Caruso.

Posted at 10:34 AM | Permalink | Category: Travels | Comments (41) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Overture is having more hiccups. Microsoft is to add an Excel add-in for adCenter. MSNBot's DNS issue is a confirmed problem. SEO companies are trying to take over someone's webmaster tools account. Telephone numbers are allowed in AdWords. Matt Cutts talks about latest PageRank hit. Page is marrying Lucy this weekend. More fingers were spotted in Google Book Search. They played the werewolf SEO game. A dead man turned up alive on Google. I posted the conference recap for yesterday.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. More Server Problems With Overture's Keyword Tool
2. PPC Advertisers Excited for the Microsoft adCenter Add-in Beta for Excel 2007
3. Microsoft Confirms Reverse DNS Bot Issue & Promises To Resolve
4. Why Would an SEO Company Want to Remove Your Access to Google Webmaster Tools?
5. Telephone Numbers Are Allowed in Google AdWords Ads
6. Google's Matt Cutts Drops Hints on PageRank Update & Scares Link Buying Panel at PubCon

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Search Conference Coverage 2007: SES Chicago Day Three & PubCon Vegas Day Two
2. Larry Page & Lucy Southworth To Marry At Branson's Necker Island
3. More Fingers Spotted In Google Book Search
4. Inaugural Werewolves Search Spam Card Game At PubCon Vegas
5. Google Finds Dead Man Living In Panama City

Daily Link Finds:

This is the December 6th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for December 6th, 2007:

• Blog Tag: When I'm not doing SEO..., Joost de Valk
• Google Sending Out Holiday AdSense/AdWords Gifts, InsideGoogle
• Google Sends Gifts to AdSense and AdWords Users, Googlified
• Images next to YPN ads now OK?, www.muks.cn
• Look Here If You're Not Following SES, Pubcon or User Experience 2007, Cre8PC
• Search Conference Coverage 2007: SES Chicago Day Three , Search Engine Land
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, December 5, 2007, Search Engine Land
• December 2007 Google SERP Changes, WebmasterWorld
• Google Misprints AdSense Checks - Mixx, www.mixx.com
• Google Weihnachtsgeschenk 2007, webmaster-verzeichnis.de
• Great Moments In Pr: Google sends inferior holiday gift to AdSense publishers, Valleywag
• If Your're Not Following the Conferences, WebProNews
• Panel de discusin sobre la compra y venta de enlaces, Dr. Max Glaser
• PubCon Coverage: Effective Domaining Strategies, Conceptualist.com
• SEM training galore at Search Engine Strategies , SEM Scholar
• SES Chicago Day 3, ContextWeb
• SES Chicago, Day 3 Coverage, Search Engine Strategies
• Thursday Linkfest, Seven Mile
• Top 10 stories from SES Chicago - Day 3, Search Engine Watch Blog
• Werewolf infects Webmaster World, everwas
• When I'm Not Doing SEO, BPWrap

Posted at 4:12 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

One of the RB'ers told me they have been using DejaClick, a Firefox extension, for automating test scenarios on the web sites.

Basically, you have the tool record your clicks and actions. You then save that to a file and you can play it again. For example, if I want to make sure my contact us form works, I can run a test scenario for it and play it over again when I want to run the test. It saves time. Here is a video that shows it in action:

So you can set this up to make sure certain features work on a site after you make coding changes. This tool will be heavily used here.

Posted at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Category: Web Development | Comments (3) (0)

I just got off the phone with a prospect calling to find out how much it would cost for a web site. I asked him to describe his business and then offered options for his web site. We ended up with a simple static site with content and pictures, plus a contact form for his site. Typically, we won't do those types of sites because they are too basic.

In any event, I gave him a ballpark price. He then told me, "You are crazy!" I paused and said, "excuse me, did you call me crazy?" I added, "I assume you didn't mean that?" He said, "you are crazy."

He then went into how he found prices listed on web sites for $200 for a site. I said, sure - a template site. Or contract the work out to a freelance person in India. You can get those prices. But these are our prices and I know many companies that charge a lot more than us.

He said again, you are crazy. I said, I am not crazy, I have been in the industry for a long time and I know. He replied, "I am in the industry also and you are crazy." I thought to myself, if he is in the industry, why not just build it yourself? But I did not say that, it wouldn't be nice. He then started yelling at me. At that point, I just hung up the phone - I don't need that.

Posted at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Category: RustyBrick | Comments (16) (0)

Remember my F The Big Three? post? Well, the site is now live at http://www.fthebigthree.com/.

As I thought, they are a social media company.

Oh, but originally, I wasn't sure what the "F" stood for in FTheBigThree, I see how it is "Forget."

Whether you are selling products or services, a well planned and executed social media campaign is a powerful strategy that will get you links, attention, conversions and traffic.

Other reasons why you should use social media in your online marketing mix:

Unlike PPC programs, social media allows you to introduce your website to large groups of people in an organic fashion.

Social communities can provide you with new visitors on top of any traffic you are already receiving from your natural search engine efforts. While you can't easily or quickly increase your natural search engine traffic, you can see massive increases in social media traffic through creative strategic marketing.

High returns.

Viral marketing utilizing community-specific strategies is complimentary of all other marketing efforts - online and offline. Social media doesn't compete with other methods of website traffic generation. Further, it fits perfectly with other campaigns that target other websites, affiliate programs and search engines.

Posted at 9:48 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Interesting | Comments (0) (0)

I told you I was bailing on the conferences this month. In hindsight, I should of gone. Why?

(1) When I go to the conference, I can avoid a lot of RustyBrick work. So I can just focus on search stuff. Being at home, makes me do both, while my support staff is away - causing more work for me. My schedule has been crazy this week.

- Up at 5:40am
- 5:40:30am checking and responding to email
- 6:00am leave to pray
- 6:30am get to office
- 6:31am reply to more email
- 6:35am do forum research and blogging while more email
- 8:00am do RSS reading for SELand
- 8:30am organize writer's budget and write at SELand
- 9:00am do RB work
...
mixing up RB work and SEL/SER work
...
posting conference coverage
...
- 4:00pm do SEL/CB recaps
...
more RB/SEL/SER work...
- 7:00pm leave office
- 7:15pm get home and turn computer back on
- 7:16pm reply to emails and check RSS feeds
...
- 7:30pm eat while checking email
...
more of the above
- 9:00pm shower
- 9:30pm work from bed
- 11:30pm turn computer off and watch some TV before falling asleep

I am tired...

(2) I am missing the fun and seeing industry buddies... I do miss you all. I missed the Inaugural Werewolves Search Spam Card Game At PubCon Vegas. Look at all the fun they had!

Andy Beal's picture...

(3) Conference rejuvenate your love for search, I may need an injection of some of that. I guess I'll wait until February.

If I was able to do it again, I would be at one of the conferences. Which one? Honestly, Vegas seems like a lot of fun from what I am reading and hearing.

Posted at 9:36 AM | Permalink | Category: SEO Tips | Comments (1) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Google starts shipping out their holiday gifts. Google misprinted many AdSense checks. Microsoft's bot validation does not validate. Posted the search coverage news last night. adCenter will launch an add-in for Excel. Flickr integrated with Flickr. German pornographic site called out Google on pornography. Google launched a new iPhone interface. Gmail and AIM are now friends. AdWords improved their target by location feature. Yahoo is doing an update, plus they support the X-Robots directive.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google 2007 Holiday Gift Arrives: 2GB USB Memory Card
2. Google Misprints AdSense Checks
3. MSNBot Reverse DNS Test Fails Requirements

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Search Conference Coverage 2007: SES Chicago Day Two & PubCon Vegas Day One
2. adCenter Add-in Beta for Excel 2007
3. Flickr Adds Picnik Web Based Image Editing Features
4. German Pornography Site Calls Google A Porn Site Too, Urges Court To Block It
5. Google Launches New iPhone Interface
6. Google Talk Meets AOL Instant Messager: Time Warner & Google Complete AIM Integration Deal
7. Google AdWords Improves Target By Location Feature With Maps
8. Yahoo Search Weather Update & Support For X-Robots Tag

Daily Link Finds:

This is the December 5th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for December 5th, 2007:

• Google indeksuje reklamy AdSense?, SEMGuru.pl
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, December 4, 2007, Search Engine Land
• Top 50 SEO Posts of the Year, www.evancarmichael.com
• BlogBridge is great for reputation monitoring, BlogBridge
• Busy, Busy, Busy : Lobo Links Blog, www.lobolinks.com
• Google AdSense va supprimer le lien "Votre publicite sur ce site", Actualites
• Google AdWords Improves Target By Location Feature With Maps, Search Engine Land
• MSN spam to continue says the Live Search Blog, sebastians-pamphlets.com
• Pilgrim's Picks for December 5, Marketing Pilgrim
• RepGuardian - December 5, 2007, RepGuardian
• Search Conference Coverage 2007: SES Chicago Day Two , Search Engine Land
• Search Headlines & Links: December 4, 2007, Search Engine Watch Blog
• SES Chicago, Day 2 Coverage, Search Engine Strategies
• PPC Blog Round-Up - 12/5/2007, PPC Hero
• Top 10 stories from SES Chicago - Day 2, Search Engine Watch Blog
• WebmasterWorld PubCon 2007 Las Vegas, blog.dimok.ru
• Yahoo Search Weather Update , Search Engine Land

Posted at 4:48 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

Shimon Sandler tagged me on When I'm NOT doing SEO...

Well, if you read my personal blog, I guess you are. You know all about what I do when I am not doing SEO.

But for a hobby, I love playing basketball. I play three times a week, when I can. I have been bad the past few weeks, missing nights because of work. But I love playing ball.

Read about some of my sports adventures in my sports category.

So now I need to tag others...People who are SEOs but not at the search conference... tough one...

- Joost De Valk
- Donna
- Kim Krause Berg

There ya go.

Posted at 10:57 AM | Permalink | Category: Buddies | Comments (3) (0)

This year at RustyBrick, we will be giving some of our clients mini fridges. They hold about 6 cans of soda and can be plugged into a wall outlet or your car power adapter. Here are pictures:

I guess this may be the first time I can say our gifts totally rock Google's holiday gift.

Posted at 8:22 AM | Permalink | Category: RustyBrick | Comments (6) (0)

So I got my new car and on my travels to NYC today, I noticed that the speedometer showed lights up when you drive faster than 78MPH.

Now, I am not saying I was driving. I just observed this and took a picture as it happened.

Speedometer under 78 MPH:

Speedometer over 78MPH:

How cool is that?

Posted at 6:54 PM | Permalink | Category: Motor Vehicle | Comments (9) (0)

Look at the cop in his cop car driving. Now look at what he is holding... A cell phone...

New York State has a Cell Phone Law that says:

What is the law on cell phone use while you operate a vehicle in NYS?

New York State has passed a law that does not allow you to use a hand-held mobile telephone while you drive. If you use a hand-held mobile telephone while you drive, except to call 911 or to contact medical, fire or police personnel about an emergency, you can receive a traffic ticket and pay a maximum fine of $100 and mandatory surcharges of $50.

This violation is not a probationary license violation, and the DMV does not assign any driver violation points.

For complete information on this traffic safety issue and a copy of the law, see Car Cell Phones at the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee web site.

So I guess he was on the phone with a fellow police officer talking about an emergency. I'll assume that.

In any event, I am a strong believer by teach by example. I just expect a NYPD cop to use a headset of some sort when chatting on his cell, even if its an emergency. I also get annoyed when I see cops turn without using a signal - no excuse for that, imo.

A larger image can be seen here.

Posted at 6:47 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Interesting | Comments (2) (0)

Tonight is the first night of Chanukah! Happy Chanukah my Jewish friends.

We have put up a special theme for the 8 days at the Search Engine Roundtable. Here is a static image of that theme for your viewing pleasure.

Happy Chanukah!

Posted at 6:44 PM | Permalink | Category: Religion | Comments (1) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Google is indexing AdSense ads. Google Translate asks for help. Matt Cutts wants Toolbar PageRank to be gone. Live Search Spam is really a cloak detection tool. Google launched AdWords Local plus box. I posted coverage of the conferences. Digg added an image tab. Ask.com and others released their top searches for 2007. AdWords launched the template center. Gmail added colors to labels. AdSense dropped the advertise on this site feature.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google is Indexing & Ranking Google AdSense Ads
2. Google Translate Asks You to "Suggest a Better Translation"
3. Matt Cutts of Google on Mission to Remove PageRank from Toolbar
4. Live Search's Spam Fake Referrals Were Cloaking Tests, Says Microsoft

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google Launches AdWords Local Plus Box
2. Live Search Conference Coverage 2007: SES Chicago Day One
3. Digg Adds Images Tab, New Taxonomy, & More
4. Jennifer Lopez Tops Ask.com's Pregnant Stars Of 2007 List
5. Google AdWords Template Center Now Live
6. Google Adds Color To Gmail Labels
7. Google AdSense To Drop "Advertise on this Site" Feature

Daily Link Finds:

This is the December 4th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for December 4th, 2007:

• Live Search Conference Coverage 2007: SES Chicago Day One, Search Engine Land
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, December 3, 2007, Search Engine Land
• Google Confirms Position on META Data, www.hallme.com
• Google Translate pregunta al usuario, www.ojobuscador.com
• der erste deutsche PodCast SEOs und Online-Marketer, seoFM
• Earnosphere Dec 1, Earners Blog
• Google en bref - 3 décembre 2007, www.zorgloob.com
• Is Google wilfully selling pagerank and paid text links?, Info Vilesilencer
• Microsoft Reports Issues With Their Live Search Cloaking Detection System Have Been Fixed, Search Engine Land
• SES Chicago 2007: Asia, Japan, China, Australia and Eastern Pacific, SEO Hong Kong
• SES Chicago, Day 1 Coverage, Search Engine Strategies
• Top 10 stories from SES Chicago - Day 1, Search Engine Watch Blog

Posted at 5:17 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

It feels so weird to be at my home base while everyone else in the SEM space is in Chicago or Vegas at a conference.

Most people I know in the industry went to PubCon Vegas. I do know plenty that went to SES Chicago.

But I couldn't pick one over the other so I stayed home.

Nah, that wasn't the reason. I am just tired of traveling, so I took December off - off from traveling.

I head to Israel in late January for SMX Israel, an event I will be running with a few Israeli SEO friends in early February (more details on that sometime this week, I hope). Then when I come back to the States from Israel, I head off to SMX West for that long conference.

I miss everyone at SES Chicago and PubCon Vegas. Tamar is there representing and yes, we got mad coverage of the conferences at the Search Engine Roundtable.

Posted at 10:55 AM | Permalink | Category: Travels | Comments (1) (0)

This Sunday morning marked the first time it snowed this season, plus the first snow fall in our new house. I actually shoveled the drive way and did not hire a plow to do it for me. I wonder how long that will last.

Here is a picture of the snow in my back yard:

It may have turned out to be a few inches by the end of the day. Nothing major but with all first snow of the season, the weather channels play it up.

But how about timing....

I got my new car a week ago today and within a week, we get our first snow. So how did it drive? It drove great. I did not slip, skid or get stuck. It drove. So no complaints are what I was looking for. I have no story to tell - which is good but bad for the blog.

Overall, good timing...

Posted at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Category: Homey , Motor Vehicle , Weather | Comments (1) (0)

Let me tell you something, Costco makes it so hard to buy from them.

I have a business account, where I signed up my brother and business partner to the account at Costco. My wife now wants access, so I tried to renew with her name as an additional card holder via mail. That didn't work.

So I had my wife go in and try to make the change of information to the account and that failed. So then I went in to Costco myself to add myself and my wife to the business account. That failed also.

Why?

They told me that Ronnie, the person on the account, has to write a letter giving me access to add additional card holders. I told them that I pay the bills and not Ronnie. In fact, I have the credit card on file with the account with me now and it has my name on it, not Ronnie. They wouldn't budge. They said they need a letter from Ronnie on company letterhead.

I argued a bit more but it didn't help.

So no Costco for me yet.

Update: Just called Costco's office and they added us. They asked for Ronnie's birthday, I told it to them. Now I will get the new cards in the mail within 7 days and we are set. Wonder why they didn't need company letterhead this time? :)

Posted at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Category: Shopping | Comments (1) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

The Search Engine Roundtable had its fourth anniversary on Sunday. Yahoo Search is undergoing an update. Google Image search is also updating and they removed a feature. Google's index count has dropped again. Google is beating up paid links again. Matt Cutts chats on PageRank. Live Search has issues with 301 redirects. Yahoo's Decker gets a raise. Yahoo released 2007 top trends. Microsoft launched their Ad Excellence program.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Does MSN Follow 301 Redirects?
2. Matt Cutts Clarifies Recent PageRank Drops & Link Buying
3. Google Declares War on Paid Links: But Why Now?
4. Google Index Count Dropping? Is Your Google Index Count Less?
5. Google Images Removes "Remove This Frame" Option?
6. Google Image Search Update: Filter a Bit Too Sensitive?
7. Yahoo Search December 2007 Update
8. Search Engine Roundtable 4th Birthday Celebration!

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google Answers More Questions On Paid Links
2. Susan Decker, Yahoo's President, Gets Raise
3. Microsoft Does Sitelinks On Live Search
4. Saddam Hussein, Britney Spears, Harry Potter & Recycling In Yahoo 2007 Top Trends
5. Microsoft Launches adCenter Accreditation: adExcellence

Daily Link Finds:

This is the December 3rd issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for December 3rd, 2007:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, November 30, 2007, Search Engine Land
• Google AdWords создает платформы кампаний, www.searchengines.ru
• Google borrar el histrico de Adsense, sigt.net
• Google продает PR7 ссылки с домена Google.com, se.nnov.ru
• Google Search Appliance Purchase Leads To Links, WebProNews
• Google Vende Links de PR 7 en su dominio Google.com, meneame.net
• SEL vs. SEW: And The Winner Is?, Small Business SEM
• Yahoo TuneUps - Dont Bother, diorex.wordpress.com
• Search Headlines & Links: November 30, 2007, Search Engine Watch Blog
• SES Chicago is attracting a crowd of bloggers and journalists, Search Engine Watch Blog
• Buying links for SEO, Paid Blog Links, Google PageRank Debate, www.hallme.com
• Dell Files Cybersquatting Lawsuit against Domain Name Companies, tcattorney.typepad.com
• Good Morning From SES Chicago 2007, AIM Clear Blog
• Google PageRank Prediction - Gelecekteki pagerankiniz, www.ingilizcepratik.net
• Hacker News, news.ycombinator.com
• Linkwars - Google not happy about paid links, SEOCompany.CA

Posted at 4:26 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

I bought my PS3 about 10 months ago. I used it maybe a couple dozen times. It was a bad bad investment, stupid purchase and in hindsight - I would not have purchased it.

But now that I have it and reselling it on eBay doesn't look good with them lowering the price for this holiday season, I had to make a decision.

I decided to recycle the gift for Chanukah. I will give it to my four nephews for them to use. They already have XBox, which I bought for them years ago. But I guess a PS3 isn't bad to have with the XBox.

So now, they will have both.

If I ever get the urge to use the PS3 or even XBox, I am just around the corner from them. So I will stop by and play. :)

Happy Chanukah!

Posted at 10:56 AM | Permalink | Category: Computers , Homey | Comments (4) (0)