Online Marketing Consultant.

Are adverts the new online tip jar? Seth Godin thinks so. Apparently if we read something online that we like we should say thank you by clicking on an ad.

On his blog Seth says…

“If you like what you’re reading, click an ad to say thanks.”

In the view that the company or blogger will pocket your click cost from the advertiser.

But LEON Bailey Green says…

“If you like what you’re reading, keep coming back. And click on an advert IF you like it.”

So what are the effects of the visitor, webmaster and advertiser?

Read my article ‘How else can Google ascertain relevancy?’ on E-Consultancy.

This week on my Drapers blog you can read my views on whether newspapers are taking online fashion revenue seriously.

This is round two of marketing the L’Oreal brand to black women, who spend three times more on beauty products than their white counterparts – and with a growing black middle class on both sides of the Atlantic, it’s a target group not to be ignored.

Any number of entities could have been the target of vitriol after the release of the advert; Beyonce, the creative director of the advert or even the magazines which published it could have taken the hatred, but L’Oreal picked up this unfortunate tab.

Newspaper websites have come a long way.

There was a time when they were merely token presences, but they all now seem to be adhering to the ‘the more content the better’ motto. (see Jemima Kiss article on Mirror.co.uk revamp).

This week on E-Consultancy I asked the question ‘Is the role of the SEO dead and should PRs own natural search?’.

This week on my Drapers blog you can read my views on celebrity fashion brands analysing online conversations.

There’s been much talk in meedja circles about UKTV’s rebrands for three of its main channels, UKTV Gold (GOLD), UKTV Gold+1 (Watch) and UKTV Drama (Alibi), but little mention of how the brands will work online.

All three channels quite rightfully have unique identities, although I do think UKTV should have stuck to the formula of having an overall brand feel so viewers know the channels belong to the same family.

I say that with my online marketing head on as that strategy would have allowed UKTV to offer a marketable web presence which houses content to complements the programmes, video on demand and community features.

1. You’re website’s been dropped by Google (BMW)
2. You’ve dropped in rankings (GoCompare)
3. A uncomplimentary website is bidding on paid search for your brand name
4. A competitor is bidding on paid search for your brand name
5. A bad news story ranks for your brand name (British Airways)

This week on my Drapers blog you can read my views on protecting brand image online.

Orange is now encouraging people to find their website by typing ‘I Am’ into search engines instead of advertising www.orange.co.uk.

At first I thought it was quite clever and innovative, but I am surprised that the only Orange presence for a search on ‘I am’ is in the sponsored listings.

Self styled commercially focused search engine marketing agency Maven Metrics was set up last year by Lucie Follet.

I caught up with Lucie to get her thoughts on the search marketing industry, why she has set up automotive parts websites and her plans for new bottled water company Sip’s online marketing campaign.

Maven Metrics is described as being commercially focused. How do you think this approach makes Maven Metrics different to other search marketing agencies?

The main difference with us is that we have worked in other, highly commercial and competitive environments – specifically non-marketing, ‘non meedja’ industries. In my own case, I worked in Investment Banking as a Japan equity sales/analyst until 2002 and also operate my own niche websites which I use as a test bed for hands-on work for any tips or advice I find in blogs and forums.

This combination of being commercial and hands-on is unusual and not always found in larger agencies. It’s not uncommon to find individuals working in SEO and especially web analytics who are so hung up on terms such as ‘conversion rate’ or ‘measuring engagement’ or the anthropological nature of blog networks that they have forgotten the commercial purpose to the website and how this relates to the bottom line – it has become totally abstract and a mere blip on an excel sheet.

I personally find this quite alarming.

This week on my Drapers blog you can read my views on how Primark should communicate its ethical standards online.

Buying glasses from a high street optician is a thing of the past for me, I always buy online. If you haven’t yet made the switch here are ten top reasons why you should buy from Glasses Direct!

1. Price
Why pay high street optician prices when you can get glasses for as little as £15? Designer glasses can cost hundreds of pounds, but start from £45 on Glasses Direct.

2. Choice
There’s a pair of glasses to suit EVERYONE on Glasses Direct. There’s never been so much choice.

3. Leisure
You can take all of the time you need to decide which pair of glasses is right for you. Browse in the comfort of your own home, rather than a crowded high street store.

Last week I was forwarded an email with various “mashups” of Cadbury and Nestle brands.