PCG Consulting Inc
Watch This Amazing Interview With Bill Gates
By Brian Pasch
If you have been in computing since the begining of the PC area, like me, then you must watch this interview with Bill Gates. It is worth your time to get some insights into the amazing growth of Microsoft and Bill's leadership.
I hope you enjoy this video. Share your reaction(s) after watching here on DrivingSales.com.
Brian
Brian Pasch, CEO
PCG Consulting
732.672.2356
Google
PCG Consulting Inc
Watch This Amazing Interview With Bill Gates
By Brian Pasch
If you have been in computing since the begining of the PC area, like me, then you must watch this interview with Bill Gates. It is worth your time to get some insights into the amazing growth of Microsoft and Bill's leadership.
I hope you enjoy this video. Share your reaction(s) after watching here on DrivingSales.com.
Brian
Brian Pasch, CEO
PCG Consulting
732.672.2356
Google
2 Comments
Proactive Dealer Solutions
Ctrl Alt Del was a mistake... More like your OS always locking up is the mistake. It is interesting to see how as he gets older he is more open to discussing his faults. I was part of a Q&A he did online where he said many of the unflattering things others claimed about his rise with M$ was pretty accurate. Also his charity work is extremely commendable. Although I hate he drives a Prius, your rich, it's ok, show off a bit.
DrivingSales inc
This was really inspiring to watch just because of listening to how bill thinks about problems. He thinks on such a larger scale perspective, it makes some of the issues we face on a daily basis seem so trivial. Thanks for the share brian. I needed something like this today. :-)
PCG Consulting Inc
You Can Now Edit Your Facebook Posts
By Brian Pasch
How many times have you posted something to Facebook, only to see that you missed a few spelling errors?
Well it looks like Facebook has been watching my typing lately! Facebook has finally answered my prayers...and maybe yours as well.
You can now edit the text on a Facebook post by clicking on the drop-down menu, as shown in the example on the right.
Is there a downside regarding this new feature? For the most part the answer is no but of course this feature could lend to some forms of "bait-and-switch" marketing.
For now, I'm just happy that a post that had good engagement, can be edited for grammatical or spelling errors. When posts have spelling errors it does create a poor first impression, agreed?
Do you have any editing to do on your Facebook page tonight?
Brian
Brian Pasch, CEO
PCG Consulting
732.672.2356
Google
No Comments
PCG Consulting Inc
You Can Now Edit Your Facebook Posts
By Brian Pasch
How many times have you posted something to Facebook, only to see that you missed a few spelling errors?
Well it looks like Facebook has been watching my typing lately! Facebook has finally answered my prayers...and maybe yours as well.
You can now edit the text on a Facebook post by clicking on the drop-down menu, as shown in the example on the right.
Is there a downside regarding this new feature? For the most part the answer is no but of course this feature could lend to some forms of "bait-and-switch" marketing.
For now, I'm just happy that a post that had good engagement, can be edited for grammatical or spelling errors. When posts have spelling errors it does create a poor first impression, agreed?
Do you have any editing to do on your Facebook page tonight?
Brian
Brian Pasch, CEO
PCG Consulting
732.672.2356
Google
No Comments
PCG Consulting Inc
Using Google Webmaster Tools For Gaining Keyword Insights
By Brian Pasch
As Google reduces the visibility in Google Analytics to see which keywords are driving the most organic traffic, there are other ways to continue your SEO research.
One of those tools is free called Google Webmaster Tools (WMT).
Google Webmaster Tools is an invaluable resource for checking the health of a website, and is not limited to just this one example of keyword research.
I recorded a short video to review one of the ways WMT can be used to see which keywords are driving clicks to your websites and to spot areas for improvement.
Watch The Video on Search Queries in WMT
Again, this is just one way in which WMT can be used in a marketing and search strategy. If you enjoyed this post, please share this article on your social networks.
Brian
Brian Pasch, CEO
PCG Consulting
732.672.2356
Google
6 Comments
L2T Media
+Brian Thanks for the info. It was good to see that Google recently changed Search Queries data from 90 days to 1 year. Have you linked Webmaster Tools to AdWords and seen the Paid/Organic report? If not, I highly recommend checking out the data. The search query data seems to be more accurate than Webmaster Tools.
PCG Consulting Inc
Jason Thank you for the feedback and yes we have linked the accounts to gain that additional insights. For some dealers, they may not be able to link their webmaster tools accounts with Adwords of their vendor partner blocks such access. The good news is that you and I know the value of this report to help our dealers!
Wikimotive
As long as you restrict yourself to what Google allows you to do, there will be limitations. Analytics and WMT can all be exported. Google actually allows direct access to this data. You just have to ask for it. We import this data in to our own tools so we can slice the data in many different ways over different time periods which allows for much deeper insight. The other reason this is important is that you have access to all of your data for years to come, not just as far back as google wants to save it. If a dealer wants to use the free tools Google provides them, fine. But, if we're going to be valuable vendor partners, we need to provide better tools that can actually aid in making real decisions based on the best information available.
PCG Consulting Inc
Amen Tim! I agree with you totally on the need to make it easy for dealers to make "actionable" decisions based on data and not just throwing them the keys to a massive data warehouse. When we designed ROI-BOT, we also believed that storing the data each day, in our own data files, for historical analysis is the way to go in case Google changes policy.
Shopping On Online Boutique
Thanks for the information. If you can give tutorial about Google analytic and Google insight, i will very appreciate.
AutoStride
Google Authorship is DEAD http://www.affilorama.com/blog/google-authorship-is-dead-whats-missing-and-how-to-fix-it
PCG Consulting Inc
Using Google Webmaster Tools For Gaining Keyword Insights
By Brian Pasch
As Google reduces the visibility in Google Analytics to see which keywords are driving the most organic traffic, there are other ways to continue your SEO research.
One of those tools is free called Google Webmaster Tools (WMT).
Google Webmaster Tools is an invaluable resource for checking the health of a website, and is not limited to just this one example of keyword research.
I recorded a short video to review one of the ways WMT can be used to see which keywords are driving clicks to your websites and to spot areas for improvement.
Watch The Video on Search Queries in WMT
Again, this is just one way in which WMT can be used in a marketing and search strategy. If you enjoyed this post, please share this article on your social networks.
Brian
Brian Pasch, CEO
PCG Consulting
732.672.2356
Google
6 Comments
L2T Media
+Brian Thanks for the info. It was good to see that Google recently changed Search Queries data from 90 days to 1 year. Have you linked Webmaster Tools to AdWords and seen the Paid/Organic report? If not, I highly recommend checking out the data. The search query data seems to be more accurate than Webmaster Tools.
PCG Consulting Inc
Jason Thank you for the feedback and yes we have linked the accounts to gain that additional insights. For some dealers, they may not be able to link their webmaster tools accounts with Adwords of their vendor partner blocks such access. The good news is that you and I know the value of this report to help our dealers!
Wikimotive
As long as you restrict yourself to what Google allows you to do, there will be limitations. Analytics and WMT can all be exported. Google actually allows direct access to this data. You just have to ask for it. We import this data in to our own tools so we can slice the data in many different ways over different time periods which allows for much deeper insight. The other reason this is important is that you have access to all of your data for years to come, not just as far back as google wants to save it. If a dealer wants to use the free tools Google provides them, fine. But, if we're going to be valuable vendor partners, we need to provide better tools that can actually aid in making real decisions based on the best information available.
PCG Consulting Inc
Amen Tim! I agree with you totally on the need to make it easy for dealers to make "actionable" decisions based on data and not just throwing them the keys to a massive data warehouse. When we designed ROI-BOT, we also believed that storing the data each day, in our own data files, for historical analysis is the way to go in case Google changes policy.
Shopping On Online Boutique
Thanks for the information. If you can give tutorial about Google analytic and Google insight, i will very appreciate.
AutoStride
Google Authorship is DEAD http://www.affilorama.com/blog/google-authorship-is-dead-whats-missing-and-how-to-fix-it
PCG Consulting Inc
Could Google Block 100% Of Keyword Referral Traffic Signals?
By Brian Pasch
Today, a number of my automotive marketing peers found a blog post by Ralf Skirr that created some "alarm" amongst SEO strategists.
In his article "Another Blow For SEOs", Ralf stated that Google's policy to hide the specific keywords for organic referral traffic is reaching 75%, on a select group of websites.
According to Google "when SSL search is employed (e.g., if the user is signed in to a Google account, or using the Firefox search bar), Keyword will have the value (not provided)." We are now hearing that Google will be blocking data from users NOT logged into Google!
The reference website that Ralf uses in his blog post states that by Dec 2013, 100% of keywords will be blocked for certain websites. This "change" would be a significant blow for weak SEO consultants.
This prediction of 100% blocking may not hold water for automotive dealership websites, today. Could it be around the corner? Sure. I have not seen a definitive statement from Google today. Traffic patterns this week are no different from last week. So, we must wait and see what happens.
In fact, fellow SEO consultant, Tim Martell commented on my Facebook post that he has seen some dealership websites at the 60% level.
Is Automotive SEO Dead?
Of course this claim would cause a stir for automotive marketing professionals! So, I created this video to explain to the automotive industry, what I see today and what we can do in the future.
Take a minute to watch this video:
25-30+% Of Organic Traffic Is Blocked
My research shows that "not provided" traffic is on the increase, but nowhere near 100% of the organic traffic that predicted. For this Toyota dealer, 31% of there traffic was organic. Of the organic traffic, 23.6% of the keywords that generated organic traffic was blocked. 
What Can Dealers Do For Keyword Research?
So, there are a number of things that dealers can do to compensate for the Google "keyword masking" policy:
- Look at the keywords in your Adwords campaigns that get a good number of clicks and see how you rank organically for those terms.
- Look at Google Webmaster Tools for keyword opportunities where you are not in positions 1, 2, or 3.
- Look at the popular entry pages to your website that are associated with these blocked keywords.
- Invest in 3rd party keyword tools like MOZ.com
So, the end of the Automotive SEO world is not here, but the trend of blocked keywords is on the increase! We will just have to work a little harder and Google's latest moves will seperate the "SEO men" from the "SEO boys". . this job is never boring!
If you found this article and video helpful, please share it on Twitter and Facebook.
Brian
Brian Pasch, CEO
PCG Consulting
732.672.2356
1 Comment
PCG Consulting Inc
Also, Rand Fiskin has posted a video on this very topic, that if this is to come to pass, what marketing professionals can do. http://moz.com/blog/100-percent-keyword-not-provided-whiteboard-tuesday
PCG Consulting Inc
Could Google Block 100% Of Keyword Referral Traffic Signals?
By Brian Pasch
Today, a number of my automotive marketing peers found a blog post by Ralf Skirr that created some "alarm" amongst SEO strategists.
In his article "Another Blow For SEOs", Ralf stated that Google's policy to hide the specific keywords for organic referral traffic is reaching 75%, on a select group of websites.
According to Google "when SSL search is employed (e.g., if the user is signed in to a Google account, or using the Firefox search bar), Keyword will have the value (not provided)." We are now hearing that Google will be blocking data from users NOT logged into Google!
The reference website that Ralf uses in his blog post states that by Dec 2013, 100% of keywords will be blocked for certain websites. This "change" would be a significant blow for weak SEO consultants.
This prediction of 100% blocking may not hold water for automotive dealership websites, today. Could it be around the corner? Sure. I have not seen a definitive statement from Google today. Traffic patterns this week are no different from last week. So, we must wait and see what happens.
In fact, fellow SEO consultant, Tim Martell commented on my Facebook post that he has seen some dealership websites at the 60% level.
Is Automotive SEO Dead?
Of course this claim would cause a stir for automotive marketing professionals! So, I created this video to explain to the automotive industry, what I see today and what we can do in the future.
Take a minute to watch this video:
25-30+% Of Organic Traffic Is Blocked
My research shows that "not provided" traffic is on the increase, but nowhere near 100% of the organic traffic that predicted. For this Toyota dealer, 31% of there traffic was organic. Of the organic traffic, 23.6% of the keywords that generated organic traffic was blocked.
What Can Dealers Do For Keyword Research?
So, there are a number of things that dealers can do to compensate for the Google "keyword masking" policy:
- Look at the keywords in your Adwords campaigns that get a good number of clicks and see how you rank organically for those terms.
- Look at Google Webmaster Tools for keyword opportunities where you are not in positions 1, 2, or 3.
- Look at the popular entry pages to your website that are associated with these blocked keywords.
- Invest in 3rd party keyword tools like MOZ.com
So, the end of the Automotive SEO world is not here, but the trend of blocked keywords is on the increase! We will just have to work a little harder and Google's latest moves will seperate the "SEO men" from the "SEO boys". . this job is never boring!
If you found this article and video helpful, please share it on Twitter and Facebook.
Brian
Brian Pasch, CEO
PCG Consulting
732.672.2356
1 Comment
PCG Consulting Inc
Also, Rand Fiskin has posted a video on this very topic, that if this is to come to pass, what marketing professionals can do. http://moz.com/blog/100-percent-keyword-not-provided-whiteboard-tuesday
PCG Consulting Inc
Are Investments in Traditional Press Releases Dead Money?
By Brian Pasch
A few years ago, you could have attended one of my workshops and heard me recommend free press release websites as a way to get additional listing in Google search result pages (SERPS) for localized keywords and the dealership name. Some (expensive) national press release websites also provided high quality links and traffic to a business website.
With recent changes in the Google algorithm, press release websites and article directory sites, which were being abused for link generation, no longer have the "power" they once had. Yet, thousands of press releases are posted every day generating millions of dollars of annual revenue for PR firms and press release websites.
This post is not about past SEO strategies, but to ask if you think the multi-million dollar press release business model is on its way to extinction? Have social media website like Twitter and Facebook become the most effective way to get the word out for breaking news?
Should dealers and vendor companies continue to invest in nationally syndicated press releases?
Looking Back At Press Releases
In the past, if a dealership received a special OEM recognition or was a major sponsor of a local charity, a press release was normally published. The title of the press release could include the dealership's name or some catchy phrase to get attention of editors. The hope was that when an editor saw the press release, he/she might include the story in their news syndicate.
Today, the fastest way to get news around the world is a well timed Twitter tweet or a well produced YouTube video. Natural disasters or breaking news from around the world are being syndicated for free via social media.
Google+, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are today's news amplifiers and not press release websites. Most dealers do not have the national impact that a tweet from Lady Gaga has but they could have a measurable impact in their local community, with the right strategy and social media investments.
Press Release and Page One Defense
Press releases a few years ago, could be found on Google Page One when a consumer searched a dealership's name. Today when you search a dealer's name in Google, social media websites dominate Page One.
Social media websites are today's press release syndicate. As you can see in the orange box, Google+ Local is the loudest influence on a dealership's brand when a consumer searches the dealership name.
In fact, the dealership's last post on Google+ is highlighted right under their reviews, so here is another reason why posting on Google+ is important for good PR!
You can easily see how Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and review websites like DealerRater.com and Google+ can have more impact on a local brand than any $300 press release post on a third party website.
What Is Your Local Connection Strategy?
Since social media website like Twitter and Facebook are today's instant PR tool, what are you doing at your dealership to increase LOCAL connections on popular social media channels? What could happen if you had thousands of LOCAL consumers connected to your social media accounts? What reach would your YouTube videos have if 1,000 local consumers followed your feed? Of course, that feed cannot just be re-runs of your broadcast TV ads!
Businesses are just starting to document the impact of strong LOCAL social media connections on their bottom line. I will tell you this, getting local social media connections will not come from generic social media posts that every other dealer in the country is using. Same is lame! If you continue to see Facebook likes from Pakistan and obscure foreign countries to inflate social media metrics, get another social media consulting firm!
Investments in growing your local social media connections can have an immediate and long-term impact on sales and service revenue. We are also seeing that social media advertising, using hyper local offers, is a great way to accelerate local connections.
You Can Be Your Own Local Media Mogul
It's time to realize that social media has the potential to create your own virtual newspaper, radio, and TV station to your local community or to your industry. You can be the master of your PR and communication strategy without paying high media costs. You can be your own media mogul in your local market.
The decision is yours. Social media can sell cars, service, and of course can differentiate your brand. If you are still investing in "dead" PR and marketing strategies, it's time to reconsider your choices.
Brian
Brian Pasch, CEO
PCG Consulting
732.672.2356
Google
4 Comments
Consultant
I think this is a great idea on paper- however, quite impractical in the scope of a small business focused on selling cars -- I assume that's why you don't really give an actionable detail in your post. So I dug in a bit deeper and I just don't see a very active twitter community in St Augustine, FL (where your dealer example is located) While I think the concept is sound, you are deceiving readers into thinking they could actually achieve such followings as the mimic the exposure that press releases used to get a few years back. Could you show us 3 examples of your clients who have obtained dedicated and passionate followings to the point where social networks spread their messages on a regular basis? thanks
Stateline Sales LLC
Social media traffic is rapidly on it's way to eclipsing search traffic. In many verticals this is already the case. Automotive at the dealer level has a long way to go in reaching this tipping point. The method is right its the how to that needs a lot of work in our industry.. Interesting read.. http://moz.com/blog/forget-googles-games-make-social-a-primary-traffic-source
PCG Consulting Inc
Paul You are correct, the average dealer does not have investments in place in-house or with competent partners to fully leverage social media. However, it is the direction that they should be heading. We are in the early stages of social media investments at the Small Business Level but it is the direction that will yield positive local results. Training for dealership personnel is a good starting point.
Stateline Sales LLC
Like that article I referenced it can't be reinforced enough. People are going to social to do searches instead of search engines. Social sites are the destination not collateral to be optimized in search. Now dealers need to be socially and search optimized with emphasis on the former.
PCG Consulting Inc
Are Investments in Traditional Press Releases Dead Money?
By Brian Pasch
A few years ago, you could have attended one of my workshops and heard me recommend free press release websites as a way to get additional listing in Google search result pages (SERPS) for localized keywords and the dealership name. Some (expensive) national press release websites also provided high quality links and traffic to a business website.
With recent changes in the Google algorithm, press release websites and article directory sites, which were being abused for link generation, no longer have the "power" they once had. Yet, thousands of press releases are posted every day generating millions of dollars of annual revenue for PR firms and press release websites.
This post is not about past SEO strategies, but to ask if you think the multi-million dollar press release business model is on its way to extinction? Have social media website like Twitter and Facebook become the most effective way to get the word out for breaking news?
Should dealers and vendor companies continue to invest in nationally syndicated press releases?
Looking Back At Press Releases
In the past, if a dealership received a special OEM recognition or was a major sponsor of a local charity, a press release was normally published. The title of the press release could include the dealership's name or some catchy phrase to get attention of editors. The hope was that when an editor saw the press release, he/she might include the story in their news syndicate.
Today, the fastest way to get news around the world is a well timed Twitter tweet or a well produced YouTube video. Natural disasters or breaking news from around the world are being syndicated for free via social media.
Google+, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are today's news amplifiers and not press release websites. Most dealers do not have the national impact that a tweet from Lady Gaga has but they could have a measurable impact in their local community, with the right strategy and social media investments.
Press Release and Page One Defense
Press releases a few years ago, could be found on Google Page One when a consumer searched a dealership's name. Today when you search a dealer's name in Google, social media websites dominate Page One.
Social media websites are today's press release syndicate. As you can see in the orange box, Google+ Local is the loudest influence on a dealership's brand when a consumer searches the dealership name.
In fact, the dealership's last post on Google+ is highlighted right under their reviews, so here is another reason why posting on Google+ is important for good PR!
You can easily see how Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and review websites like DealerRater.com and Google+ can have more impact on a local brand than any $300 press release post on a third party website.
What Is Your Local Connection Strategy?
Since social media website like Twitter and Facebook are today's instant PR tool, what are you doing at your dealership to increase LOCAL connections on popular social media channels? What could happen if you had thousands of LOCAL consumers connected to your social media accounts? What reach would your YouTube videos have if 1,000 local consumers followed your feed? Of course, that feed cannot just be re-runs of your broadcast TV ads!
Businesses are just starting to document the impact of strong LOCAL social media connections on their bottom line. I will tell you this, getting local social media connections will not come from generic social media posts that every other dealer in the country is using. Same is lame! If you continue to see Facebook likes from Pakistan and obscure foreign countries to inflate social media metrics, get another social media consulting firm!
Investments in growing your local social media connections can have an immediate and long-term impact on sales and service revenue. We are also seeing that social media advertising, using hyper local offers, is a great way to accelerate local connections.
You Can Be Your Own Local Media Mogul
It's time to realize that social media has the potential to create your own virtual newspaper, radio, and TV station to your local community or to your industry. You can be the master of your PR and communication strategy without paying high media costs. You can be your own media mogul in your local market.
The decision is yours. Social media can sell cars, service, and of course can differentiate your brand. If you are still investing in "dead" PR and marketing strategies, it's time to reconsider your choices.
Brian
Brian Pasch, CEO
PCG Consulting
732.672.2356
Google
4 Comments
Consultant
I think this is a great idea on paper- however, quite impractical in the scope of a small business focused on selling cars -- I assume that's why you don't really give an actionable detail in your post. So I dug in a bit deeper and I just don't see a very active twitter community in St Augustine, FL (where your dealer example is located) While I think the concept is sound, you are deceiving readers into thinking they could actually achieve such followings as the mimic the exposure that press releases used to get a few years back. Could you show us 3 examples of your clients who have obtained dedicated and passionate followings to the point where social networks spread their messages on a regular basis? thanks
Stateline Sales LLC
Social media traffic is rapidly on it's way to eclipsing search traffic. In many verticals this is already the case. Automotive at the dealer level has a long way to go in reaching this tipping point. The method is right its the how to that needs a lot of work in our industry.. Interesting read.. http://moz.com/blog/forget-googles-games-make-social-a-primary-traffic-source
PCG Consulting Inc
Paul You are correct, the average dealer does not have investments in place in-house or with competent partners to fully leverage social media. However, it is the direction that they should be heading. We are in the early stages of social media investments at the Small Business Level but it is the direction that will yield positive local results. Training for dealership personnel is a good starting point.
Stateline Sales LLC
Like that article I referenced it can't be reinforced enough. People are going to social to do searches instead of search engines. Social sites are the destination not collateral to be optimized in search. Now dealers need to be socially and search optimized with emphasis on the former.
2 Comments
Matt Lowery
Proactive Dealer Solutions
Ctrl Alt Del was a mistake... More like your OS always locking up is the mistake. It is interesting to see how as he gets older he is more open to discussing his faults. I was part of a Q&A he did online where he said many of the unflattering things others claimed about his rise with M$ was pretty accurate. Also his charity work is extremely commendable. Although I hate he drives a Prius, your rich, it's ok, show off a bit.
Jared Hamilton
DrivingSales inc
This was really inspiring to watch just because of listening to how bill thinks about problems. He thinks on such a larger scale perspective, it makes some of the issues we face on a daily basis seem so trivial. Thanks for the share brian. I needed something like this today. :-)