Click and Comment Monday

Click on my renter in the sidebar, leave a comment. Then click their renter and comment. If the blog you reach does not have a renter, click on a link in the blogroll or just StumbleUpon one. More information at CoolAdzine for Marketers blog.

Tags: click and comment Monday, visit blogs and leave comments, StumbleUpon

Gasoline Prices Affecting our Buying Habits

BIGresearch's June Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey (CIA) found that consumers are having to make serious choices to offset the rising cost of gas. Over 75 percent of nearly 7,500 respondents agreed that fluctuating gas prices have impacted their spending. While that may come as no surprise, the survey results raise a major red flag for business and retail.

According to the BIGresearch July Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey over 60 percent of truck owners are making fewer shopping trips, shopping closer to home, using more coupons, and conducting more comparative shopping using the Internet as well as newspaper ads and circulars. Gary Drenik, president and CEO of BIGresearch stated:

In fact, those who own trucks have deferred major purchases (35 percent), reduced dining out (55 percent) and decreased vacation and travel (58 percent) just to be able to fill their gas tanks.

Not surprisingly, owners of cars and hybrids are not changing their buying or driving habits. When asked what price per gallon gasoline would have to reach before they would change their driving habits, 44 percent of owners of cars and hybrids said their driving habits would not change, regardless of price and 57 percent said that fluctuating gas prices have had no major impact on their spending.

If gas prices continue to soar, small cars could be the biggest thing going for the automotive industry. However, if people continue to have to make sacrifices in order to drive, retailers, entertainment and other industries will have to work harder and market smarter to capture ever-shrinking consumer dollars.

Tags: consumer spending, high gas prices, flunctuating gas prices affect consumer spending, BIGresearch CIA survey

Increasing Threat of Click Fraud

According to the latest Click Fraud Index (CFI) from Click Forensics, the average click fraud rate for the second quarter of 2006 was over 14 percent.

The average click fraud rate for keywords or key phrasess with bids of over $2 per click rose above 20 percent. Outsell estimates click fraud is a $1.3 billion problem affecting publishers, advertisers and search engines.

A quick search on Google for adsense fraud results in over 11 pages of results. The more generic term click fraud results in over 10 pages. It is probably the number one problem of Pay Per Click (PPC) Search Engine Marketing (SEM).

Recently, there are several programs set up for the stated purpose of getting clicks to your ads and you will be wise to steer away from them. It is illegal, dishonest and will get your site banned from advertising sites. You may also be sued by search engines.

Tags: click fraud, adsense, paid to click

Carnival of the Blogging Chicks

Visit the Carnival of Favorite Things at Blogging Chicks! Next weeks Carnival is open to all blogging chicks, whether registered or not. Visit to find out details!

Success Blog : My Bubble Life

Welcome to the Success Blog of the week : My Bubble Life. This fellow Texan has developed a graphic organizer to help us to focus on what is important to us.

Choices are the currency that converts the present into the future. We no longer have the luxury of managing our time as there will always be more things to do than time available. Instead, the information age is about managing our focus.

Please click the thumbnail on the left and view My Bubble Life. While you are visiting, please journey along to his planner site and two other blogs.

Amazon to Start Digital Movie and TV Downloads

Amazon.com is preparing to launch an ad-free TV show and movie video download service in August. Amazon's reputation for ease of use could help it capture the video-download market, much as iTunes did with its simplicity of downloads in the music market.

Amazon.com is wisely taking on digital-video download services such such as MovieLink and CinemaNow, leaving Apple and Microsoft to battle over domination of the music download business. Viewers are willing to pay for advertising free digital TV and movie downloads, so this may change the face of advertising supported free digital TV and movite downloads.

According to AdAge:

Amazon's service will require users to install software on their computers to allow them to buy videos a la carte, likely as part of a download-to-own model, or subscribe to them, like a digital version of Netflix's rental model.

Tags: Amazon.com, digital TV and movie downloads, advertising free downloads, Ad Age

Success Blog : The Garbage Man

This week we have a very special success blog, The Garbage Man, written by Deuce. Deuce also has the blog, Free Samples and Products Online, our success blog last week.

Deuce is a sanitation engineer, also known as The Garbage Man, and he has many great stories to tell, like this one about girls and found money:

From my experience so far, people in the most part are friendly, and often give us things like drinks, snacks, and ocassionally money. Its incredible the things people throw away, including money... at least $20 to $30 just thrown away because someone did not want to take the time to roll it.

I am very glad there is a payoff to this job that is hot and extremely physically taxing. Deuce does not seem to mind. He has a wonderful attitude about his job. He is also whimsical and funny:

... I have to wear gloves all day, so im left with a farmers tan, and white hands (very sexy). I might have to take up going to the tanning beds to try and even it out a bit.

Maybe he can split the cost of a tanning bed with a lifeguard or someone who has tan lines in other places-LOL!

Please visit his blog and read what you can do to make his day a little easier, a little more rewarding, and a lot more fun! Tell him CyberCelt sent you.

Tags: Success Blog, The Garbage Man, found money, recycling

Apogee Search Engine Marketing

Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is confusing to even the most seasoned Internet marketers. One problem with Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising is that you do not always receive the information you need to improve your results.

Each search engine presents data on your campaign in a different way, so how are you supposed to determine if your search engine marketing campaign is effective? To be successful, you must know if a specific advertisement increased click throughs, leads, conversions or calls.

You need statistics to help you to improve or to rework your latest advertising. Apogee Search Engine Marketing in Austin provides a much needed SEM management service to Internet marketers. They also offer Natural Search Engine Optimization and have free resources you may use or download on their website.

Agogee Search Engine Marketing in Austin--visit their website today.

Tags: Search Engine Marketing , Search Engine Optimization, Apogee Search Engine Marketing Company, Search Marketing in Austin

Click and Comment Monday All Day Today

Click and Comment Monday is a day to click, to read, and to comment on other blogs you may not normally view in your daily surfing. C&C Monday is a an idea started by Cat. Cat has all the images for C&C Monday as well as a Mr. Linkie. The concept is to increase readership, make new blogging friends, and to strengthen the bonds between similar blogs. Click and Comment Monday will bring you more readers, subscribers and comments.

~ how it works ~

Click and comment on my renter, Free Samples and Products Online. Then click on his renter and comment, then click on their renter and comment. If there is no renter, then click a site on a blog roll or a blog link. Do this at least 5 times, more if you have the time.

~ possible payoff ~

If you are participating, please leave me a comment and your Blog Explosion user name. You just might receive a few credits from CyberCelt as a big THANK YOU!

Tags: click and comment Monday, visit blogs and leave comments, StumbleUpon

Free Web Pages Served For You by Google

Above is a screenshot of a webpage I designed and published in about 20 minutes using Google Page Creator. This is a free service offered by Google. Your pages are hosted on Google servers (100 Mb storage).

So, if you want to add other pages to your blog or to your website and do not want to burn your monthly allocation of bandwidth, this might be a quick solution.


Tags: Google Page Creator, free web creator, free 100 Mb storage

Success Blog : Free Samples and Products Online

This weeks Success Blog is Free Samples and Products Online. Below are the selections from one day:

• Free Sample - Tyvek wristbands Get It Now! (USA and Canada)
• Free Sample - KODAK Inkjet Photo Paper Get It Now! (Worldwide)
• Free Sample - Nescafé Sampler Get It Now! (USA Only)
• Free Sample - Coffee Sample Get It Now! (USA Only)
• Free Sample - Toothpaste Sample Aquafresh Get It Now! (USA Only)
• Free Sample - Tag Body Spray Get It Now! (USA Only)
• Free Sample - Degree Ultra Clear Deoderant Get It Now! (USA Only)
• Free Sample - Herbal Tea Sample Get It Now! (Worldwide)
• Free Sample - Nautica Voyage Fragrance For Men Get It Now! (USA Only)

Tag Body Spray for my son, Herbal Tea Sample for me and sample-sized deodorant, coffee and toothpaste for use when traveling. What a DEAL!

According to Deuce:

This site is updated very often with 100% free offers I find online for free samples, free products, and coupons for free items. All offers are mailed to you 100% free.

Please visit Free Samples and Products Online and tell Deuce that CyberCelt sent you.

Tags: free samples, free products, Free Samples and Products Online blog

Your Chance to Learn About Podcasting

If you do not know about podcasts, this virtual conference is for you. If you are involved with podcasting, this virtual conference is for you. If you offer services or sponsorship to podcasts, this virtual conference is for you.

Meet, interact and network with women from around the world interested in Podcasting July 14 to July 16, 2006.

Visit the International Podcasting Expo 2006 website.

Podcasting Seminars and Events

• Women's Seminars and Topics
• Speed Networking Events
• Women's Shopping Boutique
• Business Opportunities for Women

Download a brochure on the Women's International Podcasting Expo

Attend three free seminars and browse the Exhibitor Halls and talk with the exhibitors or purchase a seminar admission ticket ($25 through PayPal or use credit card) to attend any or all seminars and become eligible to win MP3 players, CDs, commercials, RSS services, training and more ..

You might as well sign up now. There are free portions and paid seminars. $25 will get you all the way in. Its a tax-deduction as well.

You might be a pod head...


if you talk to your webcam daily

practice diction into your microphone

feel an obsession to post everything in film clips or audio clips

So, are you ....?

Tags: podcasting, Women's International Podcasting Expo, women networking, free seminars

So You Think You Can Dance?

The dance sensation that swept the nation has returned for a second season!

The audition tour has already blown through New York, Charleston, Chicago and Los Angeles and is moving on to Las Vegas. Keep up with your latest favorite!

Fox makes it easy!

• view FOXCAST recaps
• discuss dancers on the forum
• read recaps of your favorite shows
• use your cell phone for view information

So You Think You Can Dance?

http://www.fox.com/dance

Good News for Advocates of Behavioral Targeting

According to Jupiter Research (Effective Targeting, Vision Report, June 7, 2006), advertisers for products with long purchase cycles, such as automobiles, are using behavioral targeting with great success. Those advertisers who added behavioral targeting to their campaign mix claimed to be 17 percent more satisfied with their digital marketing programs than traditional marketers.

Definitions of Behavioral Targeting in report include:

Extended content targeting - advertiser is targeting someone who has looked at a particular type of content as defined by both the advertisers and the publisher. Then they target an ad to that person when they have moved to different content.

Purchase intent targeting - advertiser is looking for someone engaged in the buying cycle as demonstrated by researching a product or talking about buying.

If you would like more information on Behavioral Targeting, please view One Answer to Problem of Behavioral Targeting, a post on CoolAdzine for Marketers.


Tags: Behavorial Targeting, Jupiter Research, extended content targeting, purchase intent targeting, behavioral segments

iCall - Free VoIP 2.0

iCall News: June 22, 2006 - Announcing free incoming calls
Now you can receive calls for free! Just give your friends and family your extension and let them pick a local phone number from our list of access numbers. Callers simply enter your extension and are connected directly to the iCall client on your computer!

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iCall is perfect for everyone - from college students away from home to someone living in Europe wanting to call a relative in the US. iCall features sophisticated new technology which uses your existing broadband Internet connection (cable, DSL or wireless) and your PC to plug you directly in to the regular telephone network.

Benefits of iCall

• Free outgoing calls to the US and Canada - 100% free.
• Free incoming calls from anywhere in the world - free inbound access numbers in almost every US area code where you friend may click your extension.
  
• Free personalized voicemail - Everyone should have voicemail.
• Advertisers subsidize your long-distance.

Bonuses of iCall

iCall is giving away a free iPod every day. To be eligible, you must do the following:

• Create an iCall account
• Download and setup the iCall client on your computer
• Call the user "freeipod" daily to enter into drawing for free iPod
  

Refer 5 others to iCall and you will be entered into a daily drawing for $100.

Visit the iCall website: http://www.icall.com

Tags: icall.com, free VoIP 2.0, US free telephone, Canada free telephone, inbound international calling, advertising supported telephone service

YouTube : It is Not Just for Kids

comScore Metrix reported YouTube grew from 58,000 unique visitors in August 2005 to more than 12 million unique visitors in May 2006.

Another startling fact, verfied by Neilsen/NetRatings, is that almost one-half of YouTube users are between the ages of 35 and 64 years old. This means parents and grandparents are using YouTube as well as the younger crowd on MySpace.

The next step for YouTube will be monetizing the service by placing ads amongst the videos. YouTube will also become a major player in social networking. Recently added networking features enable users to create a profile and link to friends to share messages and videos.

Tags: YouTube, blogger, social networking, advertising

Bold move on part of ESPN will encourage user generated content

John Zaccario, VP-digital media sales and marketing at ESPN, said "We want to make the sports fan the center of ESPN's universe."

Strong words for a bold move into new territory of social networking for sports fans. The major demographic, males 18-34 years old, will be courted and feted until they are totally engaged.

Features of ESPN's Sports Nation (to be launched Fall 2006)

• User Generated Content encouraged
  
• tools for fans to create online profiles
• users contribute to and comment on sports blogs
• favorite lists
  
• Custom Sponsorships
  
• advertising for community-driven elements of website
• be THE official beer/soap/underwear for a well-known team
  
• Monday Night Surround - taking Monday night to next level of engagement
  
• scouting reports
• team news
• networking with other fans
  
• Opposing team fans engage in battles for fan supremacy
• trivia
• contests
• debates
• betting (moderated)
  
• Broadband Expansion
• Scream, ESPN's new broadband player
  
• ESPN 360 handled 40,000 simultaneous streams of World Cup play

If you read this far, here is a Gazoo for you.

Tags: ESPN, sports social networking, user generated content, engagement, interaction

God Bless USA - Happy Independence Day

You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism. ~Erma Bombeck~

Success Blog of the Week: Scribblings of the Opiated Sherpa

The Success Blog of the Week is Scribblings of the Opiated Sherpa, owned by Clayton Corley from Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

According to Wikipedia, sherpa are "highly regarded as experts in mountaineering and their local terrain, as well as having good physical endurance and resilience to high altitude conditions." The same source defines opiated as being under the influence of " the alkaloids found in opium, an extract from the seed pods of the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.)."

The Scribblings of the Opiated Sherpa is the archive of Clayton's poetry since he was 1997, when he was 16. Despite the title, the poetry is quite good and not at all what I would expect from a an opiated sherpa. My favorite poem is Capital Girl , written July 12, 2001.

Capital Girl

She is my capital girl...
SheÂ’s on the other end of the line...
When I want her on the other side of the room.

She has already spoken volumes...
Of life, love and everything in between...
Between the ‘whatever and the what not.

As she speaks to me...
I can feel pages of my very own book...
Begin to open up...
For all the world to read.

I keep pages of my book...
Folded in my pocket...
For that eventual meeting...
With my capital girl.

She already knows what is on those pages...
But it is something that is better to have...
Then to have thought about...
Or talked about.

Being as far away as she is...
She somehow has managed to be...
Special.

ItÂ’s amazing how the mind wraps around...
The goodness of someone else...
Around and around...
‘til the heart has seen all the boundaries.

She continues to amaze...
As looks inside her...
And I poke my head around...
To take a little peek.

She has a simple grace...
That slides along the path...
Not leaving a footprint in the snow...
No one even knows I have…

That capital girl.

As well as being a sensitive poet, Clayton is a prolific writer and a diehard hockey fan. He has three other blogs: Tales of the Opiated Sherpa, The Opiated Sherpa's Hockey Pool, and Miikka Kiprusoff Has Been Devoured By Wolves. Stop by and read more of the writings of an opiated sherpa. Tell him that CyberCelt sent you.