Ok... normally I'm not all about reposting what's already been broadcasted throughout the Blogosphere by everybody and their momma, but I am making an exception in this case, as the news does have me a bit excited.

On Saturday, May 27th at 12:15 (Eastern Time), some of the SEO industry's greats will be battling it out against one another in a private online No Limit Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament. The tournament will take place at Party Poker.com (hosted by Quadszilla) and is open to the SEO and Blogosphere community. The buy-in is $110 and prizes will be awarded based on placement (pending on the number of participants).

Now, I'm no stranger to the felt (just check out my profile picture above). I'm an avid poker player and even host my own weekly games, but I have yet to come to terms with playing online. For some reason, the online games do not excite me, and besides, it's damn near impossible to get a "read" on the other players. "Reading" other players is one my stronger skills as a poker player, if not my strongest. Obviously not being able to sit at physical table and look upon my opponents makes "reading" very difficult to do. Nonetheless the idea of mixing my 2 passions together (SEO and Poker) has got me pretty excited.

If you're interested in playing poker with some of your favorite Bloggers and SEOs... this is your chance. Some participants include: Jim Boykin, ShoeMoney, KidDisco, and Dave Naylor. Personally I think this will be tons of fun and encourage everyone get involved. I haven't checked my schedule yet, but I can guarantee you that if it's free, I'll also be sitting at that table.

Shuffle Up and Deal!

As I sit here this afternoon with my headphones on and with the company's iPod playing a past episode of the Mr. SEO Podcast, I began to think about my new Podcast addiction. Over the past few months, I've found myself tuning into more and more SEO-related Podcasts, and in my down-time, I'm often looking for new and better programs to download.

My addiction doesn't just stay in the office... oh no. I find myself listening to SEO shows while working at home, in between watching Baseball games and other TV programs, and with the help of an FM Converter I'm listening to Podcasts as I drive to and from work.

For those of you not familiar with "Podcasts", a Podcast is, in its simplest form, a recorded radio show saved into a file that is easily downloaded (usually for FREE) and played on iPods and other MP3 players. An SEO-related Podcast is just an SEO-focused radio show.

The weird thing is... Podcasts are not even my primary source of SEO/SEM information, nor are they my secondary. Yet, I love them. I tend to monitor newsletters and Blogs to stay on my toes regarding new industry announcements. Instead, I listen to Podcasts primarily because the hosts associated with each show tend to recap everything I've already covered in reading Blogs and newsletters, but they do so in fun, humorous kind of way. Trust me, there's nothing funnier than reading a Blog that bashes fellow industry SEM Shari Thurow and her new Click Z article... that is except listening to Oilman and SEGuru do so on the hit Podcast "That's A Wrap".

Don't get me wrong. Podcasts are a great way to get SEO information, but in my case, an average Podcast is about 10% educational and 90% entertainment. Again this is only my take on things. By the time I actually listen to a Podcast, I've already learned about whatever it is the Podcasts covering from reading Blogs, articles, and newsletters. Obviously the education vs. entertainment percentage will tend to tip according to each individual listener.

In any case, if your looking for alternative ways to stay updated with the latest from the SEO industry, Podcasts are definitely worth looking into, or in this case, listening to. Here is my shortlist of the better industry-related Podcasts (or at least of those that I have found)... consider this my PodcastRoll.

- The Daily Search Cast
- The Mr. SEO Podcast
- RainMaker
- SEO Rockstars
- That's A Wrap

If you know of any other great shows, feel free to chime in. I'm always looking for new and better programs to help fill up the company's 2Gig Nano iPod.

About a year ago, Kelly Wilson, an All Web colleague, introduced me to this really neat, easy to use screen ruler tool, to which I now find myself using on daily basis. The tool is called "Screen Calipers" and it was created by an online design and development company called Iconico. Heard of it? If not, you may want to become acquainted.

Iconico is well known for their ability to create premiere tools and services for Graphic Designers and Web Developers. In fact, I've become familiar with several of their tools, such as the Iconico Color Picker, Iconico Screen Protractor, and the really cool Iconico Screen Compass... most of which offer FREE, although limited, downloadable versions.

I've used several screen-sizing tools in the past, but none were able to offer quite as much as what Iconico has been able to offer in respect to design, usability, and accuracy. Screen Calipers can be used with any program, whether its an Internet browser or a WYSIWYG graphics editor, as it floats over all applications allowing for quick and easy measurements.

I personally use this tool to measure how long or wide a specific section is on a website or when cropping a photograph/design to exact proportions. For instance, using Screen Calipers I found that this Blog's right navigation is 260 pixels wide. Knowing this, if I wanted to add any kind of picture or design element than it would need to be 260 pixels or less.

My absolute favorite element of this tool is its ability to measure not just in inches or centimeters, but in pixels, points, picas, and twips. I know, I know... what the hell is a twip right? I don't know, but Screen Calipers has it covered. In addition, to all of these options, users have the ability to create custom measuring units.

This actually reminds me of when I used to work for Wal-Mart retail. One of my many jobs was to hang signs from the ceiling using fishing line and clips that would connect to the drop ceiling. To ensure that every sign hung at the same height from the floor, I had adapted the arm measuring system. I would wrap the fishing line around my arm, starting with my hand, go around my elbow and back up to my hand again. That was 1. I believe that the correct measurement for this project was 14 arms (of course this would only apply to me).

Iconico has allowed for its users to measure in similar fashion. If your company is one of those odd companies that measures projects by office supplies, say a paper clip, than rest assure that you can do so with Screen Calipers. No more holding a paper clip up to your computer screen. Simply create a custom measurement for the length of a paper clip and you're done. (Note: I actually knew a person in High School that would measure graphic projects in paper clips. I think he tried really hard to different.)

Download your FREE version of Calipers directly from my website or purchase the full version at Iconico.

Enjoy!

I just received my copy of Rob Snell's "Starting A Yahoo! Business for Dummies" over the weekend and am happy to report that I am very satisfied with my purchase thus far.

If you missed my review a few weeks ago, I'll sum it all up for you right now:

I happened to order mine off of Wal-Mart.com, where I buy most of my books, but I do know that you can pick it up at Amazon, as well as your local Walden-Books and Borders book stores.

If you didn't follow my advice the first time when I suggested that you should pre-order this book, make sure you follow it now. Buy this book! If you're a Yahoo! Store owner and you're looking to maximize your store's design and layout capabilities, search engine visibility, and you're over-all sales/conversions... buying this book will be one of the best things you ever did.

And its only 15 bucks!

Hey all! I just wanted to take a few seconds and introduce Kid Disco's brand new SEO Blog. He published his 1st Official Post about an hour ago and I encourage you all to go over and take a look. As it looks now, this is going to be a pretty fresh and humorous Blog to follow and I for one have added it my RSS Reader. I encourage you all to do the same.

If you get a free minute, go over and introduce yourself... and be sure to tell him that Karl sent ya!

Enjoy... I know I will.

The one thing that bothers me most about being in this industry, and trust me very little actually does bother me, is when I'm chatting away with a potential client and he/she asks that one question all "real" Search Engine Marketers hate to be asked... "Can you guarantee us number 1 in Google?"

Before I dig too far into this, let me help those people not familiar with the SEO industry to understand the full complexity of this question. Asking a Search Engine Marketer if they can guarantee your company the number 1 listing in Google (for whatever keyword) is the equivalent of asking a professional baseball player if he could guarantee a home-run with every at-bat. Unless that player is Barry Bonds, and even then he'd have to be hopped up on some major steroids, the answer will ultimately always be "no". The same applies for search engine optimization.

As with the baseball example above, there are several uncontrollable factors that come into play when trying to rank a website. Granted there is much we can do to influence the rankings, but the decision of which websites rank and where will always be up to the search engines, and in this case Google.

No big deal... right? Explain why this is not possible to the client and everything will be fine. Well not exactly. The reason why I am bothered by being asked this question is because it's usually followed by... "Because I just finished speaking with a company that could and I am highly considering going with them." And thus, this is where my problem lies.

I do not have a problem with clients checking into other SEM firms, hell that's just smart business, but I do have a problem with SEM firms guaranteeing such crap as the number 1 "organic" position in Google. Everyone in this industry knows or at least should know by now that such a guarantee is complete and utter bullshit, but convincing the potential client that you're in fact speaking the truth and the other company is full-of-it is quite difficult, and in most cases impossible to do.

Well, if that company can guarantee you the #1 "Organic" position in Google, than your best bet is to go with them. But hey, no hard-feelings... I'll see you again in a few months when your website is either permanently banned from the search engines or when your pockets are near empty.

To my knowledge, there are only 2 reasons why a company could make such a guarantee. One is if the SEM company plans on using some serious "black-hat" or spam-like techniques, which will no doubt get you desirable search engine rankings for a few weeks, but eventually Google and the other engines will find it and ban your website. Or, two is if the SEM company plans on using some very non-relevant keywords with little to no competition. In most cases this would mean ranking high for keywords that no one is searching for and thus your website does not receive the traffic it needs to justify the cost of your SEO program... and you go broke!

Think about it.

I received some fax-spam the other day (you know... it's just like any other unwanted garbage that you receive expect for it comes to you via fax) and thought to give it a quick read before throwing it away.

Apparently for $330.00, the "Official Internet Registry & Optimization Bureau", "License #7234Z45" will provide me with an "annual Website Marketing & Monitoring Bundle" which just so happens to help increase my search engine exposure.

To think that I am being solicited by an apparent "SEO company" (and I use this term in quotes, cautiously, and very loosely) to provide me, a Search Engine Marketing Consultant, with SEO services is absolutely hilarious. I guess it's not as off-based and humorous as when a woman receives a "Penis Enlargement" email or when a guy receives a "breast enhancement" email, but it ranks right up there.

What I really don't understand is that the people over-there at www. Internetoptimizationbureau .com took the time to create this personalized fax by adding my name everywhere and by partially filling out the payment coupon with my information, but they didn't bother take an extra second or two to actually review my website to see what it's even about? But... what can you expect... its spam, and like all spam it's just annoying and a waste of time.

An excerpt from this fax states:

"Your payment is due for your annual Website Marketing & Monitoring Bundle. When your payment is received we will send your updated website analysis report and keyword suggestions to increase the search engine results for your website. Don't miss out on improving search engine results from the major search engines: Google, Yahoo, MSN, Ask, Lycos, AOL and more."

So, let me see if I understand this correctly. For $330 you're going to send me an "updated website analysis report"... which does what exactly?... and a list of your personal recommend keywords geared towards increasing my, an SEM, search engine visibility.

Give me a break. It's because of crap like this that I have to spend extra hours on the phone ensuring my potential clients that, regardless of their past experiences, I am not going to rip them off. Its hard enough for us real Search Engine Marketers and Search Engine Optimizers to explain the quantum physics that is Search Engine Optimization... we definitely don't need companies such as the "Official Internet Registry & Optimization Bureau" making it any more difficult.

For those of you not familiar with my actual website, Karl Ribas.com, it's about time that you get acquainted. I've definitely put in my fair share of long nights and weekend hours to make it what it is today... and quite frankly, I am very proud of what I've been able to do in such a huge industry as Search Engine Marketing. Granted, like with all websites, there's plenty of room for improvement, but trust me, I'll keep plugging away in my website's development efforts.

When I first started this website, my initial goal was to create and maintain a site that did more than just highlight my services (or All Web's for that matter). Instead, I wanted a website that would help to educate the many SEM novices out there as well as a place where veteran SEMs could take advantage of practical tools and resources. And for the most part... I've done just that.

With that, I'm happy to introduce 3 relatively new Search Engine Marketing related resources that I've personally put together in the past few months. Each of these new "tools" is geared towards educating my personal clients, as well as those who are not all that familiar with Search Engine Marketing, but would like to be.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - This is a small Search Engine Marketing FAQ page that was inspired by a client whom I happen to interact with frequently. This FAQ may not cover everything there is to know about SEM, but I did my very best to cover the basics, as well as the more important topics.

Search Engine Marketing Glossary - This glossary, also inspired by a client, breaks-down and explains the meanings behind many of the SEM industry's terminology and common lingo. This is a great reference for newbies.

Search Engine Marketing News Page - I, with All Web's technical team, have put together a "Search Engine Marketing news" page. This resource page has a script that goes out to some key-relevant locations on the web (daily) and collects/delivers the latest in SEM related news. Whether you're a SEM or simply an industry follower, you'll be able to capture all the latest industry news... in one place.

Google put advertising on the map. I don't mean this in the sense that Google was the first to make Internet advertising mainstream (actually they were probably hugely responsible for that as well), rather I mean it in a literal sense... Google literally put advertising on the map.

As I had anticipated for some time now, Google has created and recently launched a feature that will allow web-marketers the ability to place photos, logos, and possibly other advertising inside the balloons that pop up on Google maps. These balloons mark exactly where specific merchants are located, according to each relevant search, and will now allow businesses the chance to target customers based on geography.

A handful of advertisers, including Barnes & Noble and Ralph Lauren, have been testing this new Local Business Advertising system for a few weeks now. According to Google, these companies purchased several keywords such as "New York books" and "Ralph Lauren New York" which when searched allowed them an opportunity to plug a logo, website, and detailed store information, such as store hours and payment options.

With Local Business Ads, merchants bid on keywords and pay per click as they do for ads associated with Google AdWords, Google's primary advertising network. The ads show up on the maps as well as on Google's main search results page as regular text ads.

I did a quick search for "Barnes and Noble Books New York" and came across the following listing:

Notice that this search, and many others, brought up a few icons on the map. In this case I clicked on the "shopping cart" icon which generated specific information about the merchant. A given icon might be a coffee cup, a shopping bag, a car or, in the case of Ralph Lauren, a flower. When someone clicks the icon, a balloon pops up containing more information about the merchant, including a logo or photo and maybe a link to the merchant's Web site.

I spent some time messing around with this new feature and I absolutely love the fact that merchants can effectively and literally "brand" themselves on Google's mapping service. Let's face it, there's no bigger selling tool for large corporations than their own brand, whether it be their slogan or logo. The closest thing I can think of at this moment that maybe even comes close to being as big of a selling point as brand would be price, but even so there are a lot of people who'll gladly pay tons more to own a piece of the brand. We're all guilty of it.

It is for that reason I believe this new feature will succeed in building up the local search markets. Not only will merchants love the ability to plug their brand, but users will too. Users will be able to quickly scan the map and find exactly what it is they are looking for in matter of seconds. All in all... a great new feature.