Keith-Hansen Archives - Page 2 of 4

Scrubs Final Episode

Friday May 8, 2009

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The ‘Scrubs’ TV finale was this week. If you never caught the show, let me turn you on to it after this run is over. Scrubs is a medical comedy set in a southern California hospital, that follows around 3 interns from their 1st day of residency through 8 years of growth and friendship.

In addition to these 3 doctors, the main cast includes the chief of medicine, a resident doctor, a long time nurse and a quirky janitor. I recommend this series for a few reasons, but namely it is a fun and funny show that has heart in a setting of loss- a hospital.

To me the show is real while remaining entertaining in its purpose of being a comedy. Have you been ignoring this great show for the last 8 years?

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New Research suggests that Pay Per Click campaigns can positively affect branding. In the words of the linked article, ‘Turns out that search lifts brand metrics, particularly when paired with other media. Better yet, post-click lift in search metrics is off the charts, perhaps finally validating my branding effectiveness ‘.

Get you name out there as a goal, while simulanteously achieving your Web Site goals- whether it be defined as sales, leads or phone call traffic. Brand awarness, especially in your targeted and/or local community can be a significant source of traffic (of all kinds, including walk-in and referral).

The article by Payperclickuniverse, adds that ‘brand lift’ occurs after the click is made, sending the searcher to your web site- according to their research. And this makes sense in our experience. How are you catering to your niche, market and locality? What differentiation is made, and how are you marketing and identifying that to you client base?

If these questions are difficult to answer- visit the one stop shop of all things internet marketing, Webconsuls.com

http://www.payperclickuniverse.com/search-engine-latest-news.php?v=more&id=3402

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Google AdWords is allowing some of its established clients view and actually use it new interface, which is in the beta stage. This new approach is designed to ‘make campaign management faster, clearer, and more intuitive’ in their words. And I must say, that while I am still getting used to it, the new interface is also prettier in a way.

Here are some other notable differences:
1. Custom Graphs on every management page
2. Single tab editing for keywords
3. Bid Editing all on the keyword tab, no longer needing a separate page
4. New Reports- search query and URL reports
5. Specific Content Management tab- for better assessment and custom bidding

It is always good to see the big search engines attempting change and progression when so much of the time complacency and ignorance are the big criticisms of a company that knows it is the biggest dog in the yard.

Has anybody else tried this new interface and found anything super useful or even found bugs to look out for?

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The Boss ME-50 is a guitar processing unit and full effects pedal. Included effects types: tone modify (EQ), compression, noise suppression, reverb, overdrive/distortion, modulation, delay, expression pedal effects– all for under $300 brand new.

Back in the late 80’s and early 90’s when this type of effects processor was first created, a much larger and heavier unit was less capable and cost about 4 times as much. This being my 3rd floor effects board in my musical career, I have some comparisons to make over time as technology has become more efficient.

‘Pound for pound’ as the saying goes, this little machine packs the greatest punch all things considered, again including price. The best aspect of it though in my opinion is its usability. It works less like a computer as past super-complex units have, and more like a touring kick-board. It’s manual setting is where it shines best by allowing its user to simply and easily access and modify any parameter without bending down and cycling through menu after menu with a guitar on his back during a gig. The external expression pedal too, is great. It is a kick on and off while the off mode doubles as a volume control.

I am really happy with the sounds I get out of this board and the quality it gives for the price. Any one can figure this board out in a day and that is revolutionary in the history of these multi-effects processors.

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Brain Age is a ‘game’ played on the hand held entertainment device by Nintendo called the DS. This game is also a tool for sharpening the mind. If you are familiar with the recently popular Wii Fit, the format for tracking the performance of your brain is the same as the Wii Fit tracks the body.

Brain Age challenges your memory, concentration and other skills by tracking a series of interactive tests daily. Some of the tests include math- write in the sign to complete the equation, 5 ? 1=6, choose the largest number in a series of moving and different sized numbers, count monetary change due from a transaction, memorize as many of 25 numbers randomly set in a 5 by 5 square given 2 minutes– are all examples that are timed.

The fun in this game is the ability to challenge yourself over a period of time. One’s scores are charted and your ability to progress over that time is what is interesting. I started this game off with a brain age of a 54 year old, and have gotten it down to 30. Keeping the mind sharp is like going to the gym, using the ‘muscle’ keeps it in shape.

How are you keeping your brain sharp?

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The 2009 Major League Baseball season is finally upon us after an extra long spring training due to the World Baseball Classic- (baseball’s version of the World Cup). The 1st game of the season is this Sunday night- Phillies vs. Braves.

Last season you will recall the national league’s Philadelphia Phillies beat the cinderella Tampa Bay Rays 4-1. Where the Rays a fluke, and who will be this year’s cinderella? If you’re not a big MLB fan you should know that unlike the other major sports, just making it to the playoffs is a significant accomplishment in only the division winners and 1 wild card advances. So a cinderella in this sport to make it to the postseason is more than just exceeding expectations.

Here are my predictions by League:

American National

West Athletics Dodgers

Central Indians Brewers

East Red Sox Mets

Wildcard White Sox Cubs

This year the Mets finally get to play in September, but the Cubs will have to wait at least another year for a title pushing it to 102 years (and counting).

World Series- Indians over Dodgers

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If you are into a new trend of watching TV online, you can expect commercials in the near future. Google is looking to expand its TV ad brokering to online sites such as YouTube. Google has been running test advertising programs for TV ads for months and hopes to creative an avenue for advertisers looking for traditional and online outlets.

It seems this will only effect the bigger businesses from the advertising standpoint. The ability and desire to create and market TV commercials, even if only online is less feasible for most middle and smaller sized budgets. From the consumer standpoint- more commercials where previously there hadn’t been. So who wins here? Google and (Google would argue), the larger advertiser.

Here is the article as reported by the Wall Street Journal: http://tech.yahoo.com/news/afp/20090327/tc_afp/usitmediatelevisionadvertisinginternetgoogleyoutube

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Yahoo Search Marketing, the Pay Per Click (PPC) division of Yahoo! Inc has been historically behind the 8-ball, or more specifically behind Google AdWords for the last 3 to 5 years of PPC advertising.

Yahoo’s argument was, we were the 1st on the scene and Google has since leap-frogged us by taking our model and improving upon it- an argument with some validity. But now 5 years down the road, Yahoo is still playing catch-up. This is even after the famous ‘Panama’ launch that was to solve everything. Not to be confused with your favorite South American canal, or a Van Halen song.

Well Yahoo has taken a small step in the right direction by now including a full ad scheduling feature. Previous to this upgrade, Yahoo’s scheduling was all of, start date- end date. Now, like Google, the PPC advertising can be scheduled to the hour, every hour of every day of the week.

For example, I want to push my Ad’s in the morning only, Monday, Wednesday and Friday but have evenings only on the weekend. You can customize and specify exactly to the 1/4 hour when your ads will run and when the won’t. The trick now is deciphering when and when not to run your ads.

Do you feel like you want to utilize this type of tool, targeting only parts of the week where you see your best results? Let us help- Webconsuls.com.

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SXSW 2009 on BitTorrent: 6 GB of Free Music

The annual festival held in Austin Texas, March 18-22, is known for is combination of both up-and-coming artists as well as those well-know acts. ‘There are three torrents for the 23rd SXSW edition which contain a record breaking 1267 MP3s’, found over at TorrentFreak

If you are a music fan of any kind, you will find something here and for free no one can complain. Even previous editions are still available if you were interested in previous years; again all for free.

Check the vid from last years SxSW & If you have already downloaded this stuff or as you go through it, I’d love to hear suggestions and promotions of music from the festival.

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Google has created another AdWords tool for finding keywords to put in a PPC account, creating more competition, bidders, which therefore raises the price in addition to other factors. This time the tool proposes that it finds relevant keywords by ‘matching (keywords) to specific pages of your website with your ad and search share’. To translate, it is trying to provide keywords not currently in the account that are best for the account as determined by looking at the whole picture- website, ads and budget.

Of course past PPC blogs on ‘helpful’ tools created by the big search engine giants have made my tone a bit cynical. These tools are created at best based off user demand, but always tailored to and quietly aimed at revenue. This is not to say that there isn’t utility and useful qualities of a tool like this one, but it is important to read between the lines.

I used the tool for the first time on a current account I manage, and found some keywords I didn’t currently use; but nothing major or shocking. Having said that, that is the way it should be. This should be a comment that I am doing my job as a Pay Per Click administrator. On the other hand, this tool may be helpful for business owners who are attempting to run the marketing themselves and have to balance the business with the marketing.

The tool can be found in the Campaign Management tab, ‘tools’ sub-tab left-hand column. Use of the tool is simple- put the web address in the search field and in another box type the essence of the topic to be explored. The parameters included in the results are keyword suggestions, monthly searches, competition as a bar graph, suggested bid and ad share.

Use this tool in addition to the Keyword Tool, but in both beware of general and expensive keywords that will not return a positive ROI.

Do you need help with Google AdWords or any PPC tools like this one? Let us know at Webconsuls.com.

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If you are a regular reader of the Webconsuls’ blog, then perhaps yesterday you saw Keith Hansen’s post about love and marriage. Keith addressed the subject of how to know when you have found “the one” and you are ready for marriage. I am happy to report that love is in the air at Webconsuls. Dick Fay and Francene Miyake were married yesterday, February 20, 2009.

Today, on behalf of the Webconsuls’ team, I would like to congratulate Dick and Fran on the occasion of their wedding. I am dedicating this post to them.

I am not sure when Dick and Fran first met, but I came to know them as a couple about 10 years ago. I actually met Dick in June 1981, when he and Dennis were both attending an ARCO executive training seminar. But it wasn’t until Dennis and I returned to California in 1997 that Dennis and Dick reconnected and eventually formed Webconsuls.

But back to the happy couple…and a wonderfully interesting couple they are. Here is what I can tell you about them:
*Dick and Fran are fiercely loyal to their alma maters, Dick to Villanova and Duke, Fran to University of Southern California (USC). (I try not to call Dick the day after a critical loss!)
*They enjoy attending USC home games.
*Fran is an avid gardener.
*Dick is an avid golfer.
*Dick enjoys photography.
*They are both great with numbers. Dick has a masters in Applied Statistics and Fran, I believe, is a CPA.
*They are inquisitive and love to read.
*They both enjoy traveling to exotic places. (Think “Following the Equator” by Mark Twain,1897)

Today as I was preparing this post I thought about finding a beautiful quotation about marriage. Mark Twain is usually a good source for meaningful observations about life. I learned that Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) married Olivia Langdon 139 years ago this month! On September 8, 1869, Twain sent the following message to Olivia:

“This 4th of February will be the mightiest day in the history of our lives, the holiest, and the most generous toward us both–for it makes of two fractional lives a whole; it gives to two purposeless lives a work, and doubles the strength of each whereby to perform it; it gives to two questioning natures a reason for living, and something to live for; it will give a new gladness to the sunshine, a new fragrance to the flower, a new beauty to the earth, a new mystery to life; and Livy it will give a new revelation to love, a new depth to sorrow, a new impulse to worship. In that day the scales will fall from our eyes and we shall look upon a new world. Speed it!”

I hope you will enjoy today’s photo album. The first photo is of Dick and Fran in Kenya 2004, taken on the equator. Photo two is of Dick and Fran on their trip to the Arctic 2006.

You will notice there is nothing technical about this blog, it is Saturday morning and love is in the air. Today is about two really nice people, Dick and Fran. Here’s to our friends, to a new gladness to the sunshine, a new fragrance to the flowers…and a new world together. Speed it, indeed!

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I was talking with a friend this week, who had just had a falling out with a long-time girlfriend and considered the relationship over for good. In short, the friend was depressed from failed relationships and the notion of settling. I insisted settling is worse than being alone- or a least that is my argument.

A recent article, from Yahoo’s ‘Dating 101’ series describes these 5 factors that make a man ready for marriage:

1. The Capacity to Love

2. Being Able to Accept Imperfection

3. He Truly Believes in Commitment

4. He’s Sure He Can Be the Man

5. He’s Tired of Playing Around

Again, these aren’t my points, but the argument made is an interesting one.

My take instead, is best paraphrased from the late and great Dr. Randy Pausch regarding knowing if you (male or female) are ready and ‘this is the one’. Pausch says, you know you have true love when ‘their (your partner’s) happiness is more important to you than your own’.

Truer words were never spoken on the subject in my experience. Please pass along your own sentiments as advice if you have some. If it helped you, it could help others in a tough situation.

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I have recently come into contact with a Phishing scheme where an owner of a Yahoo Search Marketing sponsored search account was emailed falsely as Yahoo. The account owner then logged into this fake page giving the phishing thieves access to that account. The thief then hijacks the account using someone else’s money to pay for advertising until the fraud is captured and stopped by Yahoo themselves. Whats more is that the thieves even leave the previous advertising campaign active and running so that the owner will not notice any difference until logging in to the account itself.

Similar fraudulent tactics have been widely publicized with eBay. Again, this is not Yahoo or eBay’s doing and that parent company does give all stolen funds back to the rightful owner. But the best case scenario is a major headache and time wasted researching the issue and dollars lost/refunded.

In conclusion, do not ever log-in to any account of any type using a hyper-link from an email. Always go to your normal log in page to enter in private information. I promise you will not notice a difference in the fake and real log in pages- these guys are pro’s. Save the irritation and time. It can happen to anyone not paying attention.

Here is Yahoo’s company line on the matter- http://www.ysmblog.com/blog/2008/12/12/no-phishing-here/

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Both Yahoo and Google have their own forms of ‘ad scheduling’. This means that we can choose when we want our ads to be shown and just as importantly, when we don’t want our ads to be shown– well kind of.

Google fully provides this functionality- hour by hour, day by day, even down to every 1/4 hour, when to display your ads. The campaign ‘edit status’ button has what looks like a hyperlink, which is where you can find the ad scheduling function.

Yahoo Search Marketing on the other hand, allows you to schedule a start date and an end date, which is their full and complete definition of ad scheduling. Therefore, taking your campaigns on and offline at certain hours is a manual process– log in to the account and literally turn the account offline or back online to perform the same function. This is ridiculous- Yahoo needs to step up to the plate. We are not asking for voice command here.

Both search engines have the faults and points of utility, but for this function it’s a runaway: collegiate versus kindergarten.

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This is the new single from Irish-rock band U2. Off of the album to drop March 3rd, Get On Your Boots is the 1st single. This highly anticipated record for 2009 was originally to come out in November of 08, before the band decided no songs from sessions with acclaimed producer Rick Rubin would make the cut.

Interestingly enough, this song was noted as being written lyrically about the need for women to take over power in the world, because men have completely messed things up as they stand now.

You can see this song performed at the Grammys on February 8th, or catch them live on a tour to be announced later this year. Some have called u2 concerts a ‘religious experience’, and although I don’t but into that, you are sure to see a great show.

To the music fans, what is your initial reaction to this 1st single- ‘Get On Your Boots’?

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The NBA Season is about half way through its 82 game calender – a great time to assess things before the All-Star break.

Pre-season favorites the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics were picked to return to the NBA finals by many analysts; a match up most people would be again intrigued by. And at this mid-way point these to teams represent the best from each conference, while the Cleveland Cavaliers have built a strong supporting cast around LeBron James, the San Antonio Spurs have gotten healthy and continue to play well, and the Orlando Magic have matured into an upper tier squad.

Some up-and-comers include the Portland Trail Blazers, another team where health has been a major factor and the Clippers are hot- kidding. Many basketball fans consider the New Orleans Hornets a top tier team, but their play this year has been very polarized. Chris Paul is for sure the league’s elite point guard.

Here’s how I view the ‘Power Rankings” for the true contenders:

1. Lakers (yes I’m a homer, but this is a solid pick)

2. Celtics

3. Cavaliers

4. Hornets

5. Magic

6. Spurs

Handicapping- I actually don’t see a Celtics vs. Lakers rematch. I think Lebron’s Cavaliers will take the Celtics down to meet the Lakers in what would be a interesting bill- Kobe vs LeBron. Can Kobe get his 1st without Shaq before LeBron can get any?

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The Google AdWords ‘local business ad’ is one of the forms you may choose to create for your keyword listings. If your business is localized to any extent, this is probably very helpful. To take it a step further, if your business takes ‘walk-in’ traffic and/or has a brick and mortar presence, then this functionality is a must.

If you have ever done a Google keyword search where your query included a location, you may have seen this type of ad appear. Underneath the sponsored results but before the organic results, a google map will appear with points on the map representing local results for your query. An easy example would be local pizza restaurants- a business-person is traveling and doesn’t know the area well. He or she is looking for a good pizza for dinner, but wants one in walking distant to the hotel. That person can look at the map to see the closest match and how to get there.

The ad itself as has a description for a tag line like normal PPC ads. The business web site, physical address and phone number can all be included, making this a very useful tool for businesses in a community.

Need help setting up and creating a local business ad for your Google AdWords account? Don’t even have an AdWords account? Either way Webconsuls can help, its what we do.

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If you watched the Rose Bowl (NCAA football game) this year on New Year’s Day, you may have seen the B-2 Stealth Bomber fly over during the playing of the national anthem. It is an amazing sight just to see on TV is you were lucky enough to have been watching, again before the game even actually started.

I am lucky enough to live 20 minutes from Pasadena and was able to see the 1.15 billion dollar jet in person as it flew back to its home air force base. If you ever get a chance to go to an air show or know about a flight like this you can simply watch, take it.

This amazing picture does not justice to the real life effect of watching it in flight.

If you have ever witnessed this, back me up on the awe-factor by replying with your comment.

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At the beginning of the NFL season, I made some personal picks of who would make the playoffs. These were the teams I thought would be strong and win their divisions. Well, my Superbowl pick was one ESPN analysts most disappointing team- the Jacksonville Jaguars. This was for good reason as the Jag’s offensive line was injured the majority out the season. Therefore their ground game, which is the team’s strength was never at full strength. I’ll keep my day job.

The playoffs matches up like this:
NFC
Falcons @ Cardinals
Eagles @ Vikings
Byes- Giants and Panthers

AFC
Colts @ Chargers
Ravens @ Dolphins
Byes- Titans and Steelers

To my credit, 5 of my 8 picks from the beginning of the season did make it to the post-season. The short story in my opinion for each conference is this– the AFC is defense heavy and should be decided with low scoring games, whereas the NFC will be more fun to watch with more explosive offenses.

Superbowl Prediction- Panthers over Steelers

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Category: Keith-Hansen

Scrubs Final Episode