With companies scrambling to find more affordable and affective ways to advertise, some organizations are reconsidering SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and less expensive types of promotion such as banner advertising. Much to their dismay, these banners are often susceptible to click fraud. If it is not bad enough that some people will click on the ad multiple times, we have to also contend with the fact that bot hits are counted as impressions. With no human eyes on the target, these bots waste advertising dollars and needless to say, have some advertisers upset.
With companies scrambling to find more affordable and affective ways to advertise, some organizations are reconsidering SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and less expensive types of promotion such as banner advertising. Much to their dismay, these banners are often susceptible to click fraud. If it is not bad enough that some people will click on the ad multiple times, we have to also contend with the fact that bot hits are counted as impressions. With no human eyes on the target, these bots waste advertising dollars and needless to say, have some advertisers upset.
Despite issues with such advertising, companies have little choice but to deal with these often ineffective ads because they simply cannot afford AdWords and alternative pay-per-click services typically fair no better. The so called "white hat" SEO alternative that seeks to attract users through on-site content and the natural listings also falls susceptible to what one would suspect is a gaming of the system. When analysis of keywords used in searches produces top listings that have little relevance to the actual search keywords, it is clear that either the "nofollow" strategy has backfired to flood the Internet with garbage content or the page has been "optimized" in a shady way.
Some sites will name "div" tags after keywords and use other source code tricks to make themselves appear relevant where they are not. Even worse, the practice of faking social signals is out of control and virtually impossible to stop through automatic filters alone. At some point, human beings must intervene to not only penalize bad sites but also promote worthy content sources that are being ignored. If Google became the first search engine to manually review the most prolific content sites that follow their guidelines but never seem to have an impact then maybe they would learn how to address these issues better. Relying on social signals and automated shortcuts will never address the cheaters that get paid to "Like" or "+1" posts. We all know how painful it can be to work hard on an article, blog post or video all to be outdone by that pretty girl painting her toenails that gets a thousand "+1s". Until search engines are willing to make this investment, the status quo will prevail and mediocrity will be the norm. Meanwhile, the "white hat" approach encouraged will continue to fail as journalistic integrity goes unrewarded and the best content sources remain isolated in a sea of "optimized" garbage.
How to Create Effective Presentations
Looking for ways to improve your presentations? Here is the lowdown on how to make your presentations more effective.
How to Choose a Conference Table
There is nothing more annoying than sitting around a table where you cannot move. Choosing the right table for your office environment can have a significant impact on your success. You certainly do not want people to feel crowded and yet too large of a table in an already small room can make it feel even smaller. People should be able to move around chairs easily and not feel crowded. That grand table that looks so impressive in the store may create quite the opposite effect in your conference room.
New Jersey's Animal Welfare Laws: A Step Forward or a Missed Opportunity?
New Jersey's recent animal welfare legislation, aimed at increasing transparency in pet sales and improving the conditions of animals, has sparked debate on its effectiveness. While the law takes a step towards better practices, critics argue that it falls short in creating a significant deterrent for unethical breeders and does not sufficiently address the plight of animals in shelters or those subjected to inhumane breeding practices.
