Bigger Buy Button

Iteration 1: Engage Countdown

Maybe it's having class only once a week versus twice like I did in IS 279, but Iteration One really creeped up fast.  I agree with Bud though, it will be smooth.  I remember what wasn't smooth was trying to help Jeff last year organize all these html landing pages on our websites.  I know most likely that day may come so at least we have 3 solid group member versus 5!  (And you'll know what I'm talking about those of you in IS 279 in the future)

The Campaign is Underway

Our advertising for the Art Fair has begun.  As of 10:23 on Wednesday night, we've had 924 impressions and 9 clicks for a 0.97% CTR.  One of the two adds was presented 75% of the time with the other ad taking up the last 25%.  The first ad has a 1% CTR while the other has 0.9%.  There are some key words that fell to 4/10, which are now paused.  I look forward to see how tweaking the ads will affect the CTR.

Spun Bearing

As I was driving down Beck Rd, I noticed a slight hesitation in the engine followed by a very loud rattle.  While quickly losing power, I pulled off to the side of the road where the engine stalled out.  I called AAA, which towed me to the shop.  It would appear I have a spun bearing.  I'm not sure exactly what that is, other than to say the repair is more than the value of the car.  My father-in-law is going to try to find a new engine to drop in there.  The up side is I get to cruse around town in his Lincoln until the Escort is repaired.

One Computer Cable to Rule Them All?

Recently it's been announced that Intel is developing "Light Peak, an optical interconnect technology" and Apple will likely be the first to use this tech. Offering high speeds and less interference, this tech may replace many, if not all, of the cables we use today, such as USB. You can read more here.

Sean Gray

Signing our Posts

I'm going to try to get in the habit of signing my name at the bottom of all of my posts. It was pointed out a few classes ago, and I noticed it again today, that once someone comments the authors name no longer displays during our class blog reviews. I use Google Reader to follow our blogs and other news, and this is what the class blog reviews use too.

Sean Gray

ps You can find out what's upcoming in the blog reviews by searching and following Bud Gibson in Reader, or you can follow this link to the shared page.

Gearing up for Iteration 1

We're only a week away now from our first big presentation for Google Analytics. We've (hopefully) gotten the kinks out of our presentations after tonight's feedback. We'll also have another week of data from analytics running on the Organization for Bat Conservation website. Hopefully our contact, Rob Mies, is able to attend - last I spoke with him he was going to be able to make it.This presentation seems to be about showing we have a grasp of what we're going to be working on this semester, and then we can get into the meatier portions of IS 379.

Sean Gray

Google Wave

Google Wave seems to be an interesting product from Google.  Its a way to collaborate online with people.  It uses HTML 5 and is run within a browser.  It is just one example of what you can do with apps located within webpages using HTML 5.

Google News - doesn't anyone else think this is a good idea?

Over the last few years I have come to use Google News more and more for several reasons.  One, it samples the web finding the articles on a wide variety of issues.  Two, you can personalize how much news you want about each category.  Three, it doesn't have invasive, offensive, and glaring flash advertisements.  I am quite surprised there aren't any websites (at least, any that I am aware of) that do this.  Normally there are many sites that mimic a creative new site, but I haven't found Google News' match. 

5 tips for Success in Adwords

As with any business venture, it isn't good to get all of your information about a company or its services only from that company.  Therefore, I searched for information on Adwords from a source other than Google.  This article provides five key tips for benefiting from Adwords.  These tips include splitting up your campaign & ad groups, creating ads that match the keywords, & monitoring your ads.  Sounds familiar?  It would if you were in class on Monday. 

Does Adwords work?

Before we have had our own (hopeful) successes with Adwords, I perused the Internet to see who speaks Adwords praises.  Here is a link to a page on Google's site talking about various success stories including match.com & Meineke car care center's success with Adwords.  In particular, the article on Match.com says they increased conversions by 84 percent while decreasing cost-per-acquisition by 35 percent.