sherwood's blog

Online ad spending hits record in 2005

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 23:04:47 -0700

CNET reported the IAB's 2005 statistics for online spending. U.S. spending rose 30% to $12.5 billion, of which paid search advertising accounted for $5.1 billion.

Other reports highlighted specific industries to watch in 2006:

DMnews.com reports that 75 percent of industrial manufacturing companies will increase their online marketing budgets in 2006. 65% believe that search marketing will be one of the most effective marketing tactics over the next three years, bracketed by websites (78%) and e-mail marketing (55%).
JupiterResearch projected that web advertising budgets would see the greatest increases in the automotive, media and financial-services sectors.
The Wall Street Journal reported that consumer packaged-goods companies are finally buying into online marketing strategies, after years of hesitation. Kraft will double its number of online-ad campaigns in 2006, motivated in part by a three-month study with MSN which showed an 8% increase in purchases by consumers who had seen online ads, versus those who hadn't.

When is SEO content "good enough?"

Tue, 28 Mar 2006 16:10:57 -0800

There is a natural curiousity that arises when planning an SEO campaign - what'll it take? How far do we have to push this to get results? This question comes up often during the copywriting phase, because good content isn't cheap, and can't be automated.

Searchers need the whole story - on every page

Thu, 26 Jan 2006 13:57:11 -0800

In most cases, websites are designed with the home page as the starting point, guiding users down through their structures, and providing them with ever more detail about the topic being discussed. Often, when a user arrives at the page they were looking for, that page will contains some very specific information.

Inkjet printers are web browsers, too

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 21:59:34 -0700

A website is not solely defined by what you view in your desktop web browser. There are several other ways that a user can access your site.

Relating web design to print and TV campaigns

Thu, 26 Jan 2006 14:09:35 -0800

Website design, like any other medium, involves a set of features, tools, and constraints that one has to contend with. When taking a campaign from one medium to another, there are adaptations that have to be made.

Paid search dominates, but Nielsen raises a red flag

Thu, 26 Jan 2006 16:10:40 -0800

A new SEMPO study reports that the bulk of search marketing spending goes to paid search, while only 11 percent is dedicated to natural search.