5 Methods to Track Offline Conversions – and Plug Huge Marketing Budget Leaks.

One of the most difficult challenges is tracking paid search performance via telephone calls for the small business. While a few will spring for a new 800 number or IVR system to get some of that information and train phone staff in its use, many cannot due to the workaday reality. Often the busy office environment means metrics go out the window in favor of just getting the order out, so the company continues to guess.

SMX Local / Mobile – Wrap Up Session – High Points

A terrific brain trust of folks answered great questions that I’ve tried to aggregate into an organized list you may find very helpful. Enjoy! The Q/A was especially helpful and added a lot to the session. Moderators: Chris Sherman, Executive Editor, Search Engine Land Greg Sterling, Founding Principal, Sterling Market Intelligence TIP: See the end…

SMX Local / Mobile – Show me the money!

Show Me the Money! So there are Billions out there. But who’s making money now. How will SEMs place bets now to ensure their success? Show me the money! Moderator: Greg Sterling Speakers: Ian White, CEO, Urban Mapping Shawn Riegsecker, Chairman & CEO, Centro Justin Sanger, CEO, LocalLaunch Alfred Chow, Head, Yellowbook   Lots of…

Microsoft Adcenter follows Google’s Lead in Optimizing Campaigns for “free.”

It seems everyone’s bending over backwards to optimize my pay-per-click campaigns for free these days. Google did it a couple of weeks ago, and now Microsoft Adcenter has chimed in. Can the PPC campaigns really offer good value to customers without conflict-of-interest becoming a problem? Or is it a “when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail” issue?