Yahoo drops to 2nd : MySpace #1 Website

According to a recent Hitwise competitive intelligence study:

MySpace.com passed Yahoo! Mail in the first week of July, becoming the Number One ranked website in the USA based on visits.

Among Social Networking sites in June 2006, MySpace accounted for 79.9 percent of the total market share of visits.

This makes MySpace the fastest growing web presence, ever.


Tags: Hitwise, MySpace, Yahoo mail,

Wordless Wednesday

Success blog of the week: .::*Forever 17*::.

Please visit .::*Forever 17*::. by clicking the blog thumnail in the sidebar. Please leave a comment or two.

Here is the story of Gaby:

My name is Gaby, I'm 17 years old, and I live in Mexico. I enjoy many things in life. I love to read and write poems, you'll see some lines of my poems in my blog. I also like to daydream, I don't know if that's good or bad. I just know that I can't help it, I'm a daydreamer.

Gaby writes poetry, full of the angst of a 17 year old girl. I found it difficult to read about and to remember those times when, as teenagers, we had to pretend all was well, even if the our boyfriend had cheated on us with our best friend and we felt like dying. Instead, we would hold our head up high, swallow those troubled thoughts inside and think . . .

I'll Cry Tonight

I'll wait for the sky to turn dark,
That's when I'll take off my mask,
Pain and loneliness will fill my eyes,
And slowly erase my fake smile.

I'll cry when no one's arround,
Cause I don't want them to find out,
The weakness that lives within me,
The feeling that makes me incomplete.

I don't speak the tears of my soul,
Cause that's all they need to know,
To try their best to make the worst,
To make my nightmare, be so close.

And if there's someone who reallly cares,
It doesn't matter cause no one understands,
So they'll never hear from me,
Cause to share pain, there's no need.

So I will smile right now,
And I'll cry tonight,
Just right now, I'll seem alright,
I'll just hold my tears tight.

xoxo Gaby

God bless you, Gaby. Everything will be better and the pain of today will lessen. Revisit your past and say hello to Gaby. Tell her CyberCelt sent you.

Click and Comment Monday

On Mondays, Cat has been promoting Click & Comment Day. I am also posting this to remind you how important it is to comment on other blogs. It truly DOES increase your readership and you most often gain regulars that will visit your blog day after day.

What I encourage is for you to click my renter or a link on my blogroll. Comment on the blog and click their renter or someone on their blogroll. Then you comment on that blog and click their renter or someone on their blogroll. Do this for as many blogs as you can. Sometimes they go full circle, and you end up at the originating blog, then just look up a blog in the blogroll and start the cycle again.

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. More information at CoolAdzine for Marketers blog.

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

Search Engine Strategy : Natural or Paid Search

If you want visitors to find your site through search engines, you have two choices: paid search and natural search.

Using paid search, you may advertise using specific key phrases and track the results of these key phrases. If those key phrases do not drive provide clickthroughs to your website, then you may select other key phrases and track those.

With natural search, you must optimize your site, page by page, for a few key phrases. The question is: How do you find these key phrases? If you start with paid search, you will quickly learn which key phrases convert into traffic, leads and sales. Then you may use this data to target key words or key phrases for search engine optimization, the beginning of your natural search campaign.

Of course, whether to use paid search marketing or natural search engine optimization and natural search is your choice. For some more information on paid search and natural search, you may want to visit Apogee Search. For more information on this company, please read this post on Apogee Search Engine Marketing and this post on Apogee search SEO glossary.

Why do I like these guys? They are based in Austin, so I know the service you receive will be Texas friendly.

Tags: paid search management, pay per click, ppc advertising, ppc management agency

Success Blog : FreeGrabber

Please visit the Success Blog of the week, Free Grabber. This is a new blog, but is being updated very few hours with new goodies.This site is loaded with giveaways!

Here are just a few and only from the first page.

• Free Subscription to Kraft Food & Family Magazine
• Free Nursery picture frame magnet
• Free Puppy Pack from Pedigree

From the website:

You are here because you like FREE Stuff! You came to the right place. Nothing here is illegal, these items are from many companies offering free items. This site was created to share free stuff on the internet with everyone. Please check back often for frequent updates and let your friends know about this site.

Please visit FreeGrabber by clicking on the thumbnail above the arrow in the sidebar. If you have a WordPress account, please leave a quick comment that CyberCelt sent you. No one else can comment?!

Tags: free stuff, free samples, free products, FreeGraber

Free Automatic eBay Bidder and Reminder Tool

Do you use eBay to find those special treasures and hard-to-find items? Do you watch these items in your my eBay? How many times do you bid, thinking your maximum bid will win the auction? What happens is that somehow, someone manages to trump your bid at the very last minute and win the auction! Sniping, a title for last minute bidding is the bane of many eBay buyers.

Experienced eBay users have learned to use special sniping tools as an automatic eBay bidder to win auctions. One of these sniping tools is Buyertools Reminder, and has been used successfully in Germany for some time. Buyertools Reminder is a free, effective and secure solution to handling any number of eBay domestic accounts and most international eBay accounts as well. Buyertools Reminder is an automatic eBay bidder Data protection is a top priority for the makers of Buyertools Reminder. Your eBay login data, encoded with a secure SSL login option, is safe! Buyertools Reminder software has also been independently certified to be free of adware and spyware, will keep your personal information and statistical data safe.





The software is extremely easy to use and supports importing items from my eBay or web browser, automatic bidding, sniping a bid right before the auction ends. In fact, with the alert function, you may receive auction reminders as a free text message on your cell phone.

Tags: sniping tool, win eBay auctions, automatic eBay bidder, freeware

Terrorism has no religion

A group of non-political international scholars funded the filming of a million dollar public service anouncement (PSA) condemning the misuse of Islam by terrorists.

According to Newsweek:

A new, American-made PSA aimed at discouraging these deadly attacks is currently in production. The ad is slated to air as a 60-second spot on Iraqi television this summer.

If you wish to know more, please visit the NoTerror.info site and view Suicidal Terror, the PSA filmed in slow motion by multiple cameras of the last few moments of a suicide bomber. Warning: it is extremely graphic and is not suitable for children to view. Of course, it is not suitable that children be blown to bits by terrorists, but they are.

Terrorism has no religion:

All religions, human codes and ethics, and even our most primitive intuition regard terrorism to be villainous. True Islam also rejects and condemns terrorism.

Tags: terrorism has no religion, Suicidal Terror, noterror, public service announcement

BlogSoldiers is Back With New Owner!

Welcome John Bambenek to the blogosphere!

This week, John Bambenek, of Pentex Net, Inc. of Champaign, IL, acquired BlogSoldiers. John has hit the ground running and is offering new members bonus credits for joining and discounts on upgrades; current members also enjoy incentives such as referral bonus, 5 levels of referrals, surfing and referral contest.

Blog Soldiers is a blog-only traffic exchange offer 2:1 surf ratio, blog directory, text links, banner exchange as well as upgraded memberships. Blog soldiers has a wonderful education section that provides video instruction on adding your blog, links and banners; assigning and converting credits. Wide Awake Radio is a new talk-radio station on the site. Lots of action on the site. Blog Soldiers is back ...

If you are a member, get your blogs in rotation. If not, I would appreciate if you sign up under me. Thanks!

Tags: BlogSoldiers, blog traffic exchange, surf contest, referral contest

Creativity Blocked? Buy a Magic Potion!

This is not a joke.

ihaveanidea announced that it commissioned a white (good) witch to develop a potion to help the creative abilities of advertising professionals around the world.

According to Ignacio Oreamuno, President of ihaveanidea:

Ads around the world haven’t been that inspiring lately. I think that everyone in the industry needs a little spark—a little touch of magic. As a result, we decided to ask Heidi Reiss, a real certified witch to create a magic potion that would enhance the creative abilities of copywriters and art directors around the world.

Visit On Angels Wing for information on all of Heidi's potions. In addition to Creativity, you may be interested in Spiritual Healing, Love or Prosperity potions. If your need a little help with your libido, you can try the Erotic potion. The Creativity potion will be sold for $10 CDN and is available immediately in 2.5 ml bottles, with either an oak stand or an Organza pouch.

Tags: creativity potion, ihavenaidea, magic potion

Recycle, Reuse, AdMashup

Have a print ad that failed miserably at the intended use? Do not toss that ad, mash it up! Tweak it (mashup) and send it to Ad Mashup.

Disclaimer on site:

The ads on this site are not real. They have been altered and no longer represent the views or claims of the companies advertised. This site serves creative, experimental and educational purposes only, for sick and twisted advertising people. So don't be stupid and try to Cease and Desist me.

Tags: Ad Mashup

Online Travel Searchers Have Higher Income

Consumers conducting online travel-related searches are more likely than the norm to be from higher income households without children, and to conduct their searches from work:

• Households with an income of more than $100,000 are 10 percent more likely than average to conduct a search on travel terms, while households with an income of $75,000 - 99,000 are 3 percent more likely to do so.
• Households with one member are 7 percent more likely to conduct a search on travel terms, while households with two members are 5 percent more likely to conduct travel searches.
• In households where children are not present, consumers are 6 percent more likely to conduct a search on travel-related terms.
• Consumers in the 25-34 and 55-64 age ranges are more likely to conduct travel-related searches (2 and 4 percent, respectively).
• Consumers are 23 percent more likely conduct travel-related searches while at work.

comScore Media Metrix introduced Competitive Search Marketing Reports by examining the effectiveness of search campaigns conducted by the most-visited online travel agencies. The analysis showed that more than 50 percent of the total click-throughs to these sites were generated by sponsored ads, compared to just 11 percent across all search activity.

Among the sites analyzed, Orbitz.com and CheapTickets.com led the pack, each receiving approximately 72 percent of click-throughs from sponsored ads.


Tags: travel related searches, comScore Media Metrix, sponsored ads, higher income travelers

More on Young Guns ...

Check out worththepain.com, the website promoting entries for the 2006 Young Guns Advertising Award YGAward (see post below). The site is definitely for adults only, but it is funny. Quirky humor, but humor nonetheless.

Commiserating with the stress and the pain felt by young advertising executives, working against impossible deadlines, with deadbeat bosses and loser clients, this interactive flash movie will resonate with many a potential Young Gun.

You should turn the sound up, click the charts on the wall for helpful information and, if you think you have what it takes, be examined by the nurse. If you find it is Worth The Pain, submit your entry The Young Guns Advertising Award (YGAward).


Tags: YGAward, under 30 advertising contest, PETA, deadline 9/15, Worth the Pain

2006 Young Guns Advertising Award

Under 30, in advertising, and talented? Enter to win $20,000 and the coveted Young Gun of the Year award.

The Young Guns Advertising Award (YGAward) 2006 Creative Brief is for PETA – (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).

PETA has more than a million members and supporters, is the largest animal rights organization in the world. PETA operates under the simple principle that animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or use for entertainment. PETA focuses its attention on the four areas in which the largest numbers of animals suffer the most intensely for the longest periods of time: on factory farms, in laboratories, in the clothing trade, and in the entertainment industry.

Download the Brief (PDF) and enter before September 15.

Other prizes include:

• USD $1,000 in Apple products or 60 GB iPod with Bose iPod speaker dock.
• The winning ad will be used by PETA, and also featured for a week on the main page of PETA.org, our hugely popular and Webby award winning Web site.
• The 20 runners-up will be the focus of a big PR push and online People’s Choice Award competition.
• People's Choice winner to receive a goody bag of Pantone® products.

PETA is a great cause will provide a chance for you to showcase your work in a juried competition and possibly win some money or other prizes.

Tags: YGAward, under 30 advertising contest, PETA, deadline 9/15

Free Samples and Products Online

Success Blog of the Week is Free Samples and Products Online. Please visit the success blog by clicking the blog thumnail in the sidebar. Bookmark this one!

Below are some selections from JUST one day:

Free Product - RSI Mouse Pad with Calendar Get It Now! (Worldwide)
Free Sample - Tap Free Cutting Fluid Get It Now! (USA Only)
Free Sample - Desert Harvest Aloe Vera Capsules Get It Now! (Worldwide)
Free Sample - DAP Vinyl Adhesive Caulk Get It Now! (USA Only)
Free Sample - Calgon Perfume Sample Get It Now! (USA Only)
Free Sample - Skin Care Samples and Catalog Get It Now! (Worldwide)
Free Contest - iPOD Shuffle Enter Now! (Worldwide)
Free Contest - Back to School Ride in Style Presented by Hilary Duff Enter Now! (Canada Only)
Free Contest - La Senza $5,000 Shopping Spree Enter Now! (Canada Only)

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

Wordless Wednesday

Will not be here today, but wanted to leave y'all with a little something from Texas ...

Where Do You Go For News?

According to the latest Pew research on how news is consumed, Americans spend more time getting news from traditional sources, rather than the Internet.

The study from Pew Research Center, Online Papers Modestly Boost Newspaper Readership, revealed:

For the most part, online news has evolved as a supplemental source that is used along with traditional news media outlets. It is valued most for headlines and convenience, not detailed, in-depth reporting.

Some findings:

• The survey of just over 3200 adults, conducted from April 27 to May 22, found that those who viewed news on the Internet spent an average of 32 minutes online daily.
• Compare this to adults who spent 53 minutes watching TV news, 43 minutes listening radio news and 40 minutes reading the newspaper.
• Nearly half of all Americans spend at least 30 minutes daily viewing TV news, less than 10 percent spend that amount of time on Internet news.
• Of the 23 percent who reporting viewing news on the Internet, a minority reported visiting newspaper websites.
• Speed and convenience were cited as reasons that updates of major headlines found on MSNBC, Yahoo and CNN are preferred to in-depth coverage of the news.
• The report found that while 4 percent of adults aged 18 to 65 and older say they regularly read news-related blogs, that figure rises to nine percent among 18-to-24-year-olds.

The complete report is available online at people-press.org.

Tags: Pew Internet, news online, Internet news

Its Another Click and Comment Monday

MONDAY

Click on the guest blog in the sidebar, leave a comment. Then click their guest blog 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 here.

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

What Do You Love About Blogging?

Every woman with a blog is invited to participate in the Blogging Chicks Carnival this week.

You do not have to join BloggingChicks to participate. Try it, you will like it!

The topic this week is:
What Do You Love About Blogging?

Here is what to do TODAY!

1) Write a post on your blog about what you love about blogging.
2) Write a teaser sentence with a link to your blog.
3) Send the teaser and life link to your blog in an email today to:



Tomorrow, go to BloggingChicks and attend the carnival! Visit the blogs, read the posts, comment if you like. It is a great way to discover blogs that you would never know existed! Make friends, have fun, enjoy visits and comments on your blogs. It is an enjoyable, relaxing Sunday activity.

Tags: Blogging Chicks, Carnival, What Do You Love About Blogging?

Build a Mile in a Bridge 24,902 Miles Long

Success Blog : Tales of the Opiated Sherpa

The Success Blog of the Week is Tales of the Opiated Sherpa, which is the blog for Opiated Sherpa Productions and Opiated Sherpa Media Corp.

Clayton Corley is the Sherpa, hopefully non-opiated, from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Clayton is a prolific writer, sensitive poet, diehard hockey fan and a businessman.

Clayton has three other blogs: Scribblings of the Opiated Sherpa, The Opiated Sherpa's Hockey Pool, and Miikka Kiprusoff Has Been Devoured By Wolves. Stop by and read more of Mr. Corley's writings.

Click the thumbnail to the left and visit Tales of the Opiated Sherpa. Tell him that CyberCelt sent you.

Advergaming or Unethical Marketing? You Decide.

Advergame is a term used to describe a product-placement strategy that uses digital game-like entertainments organized around images and references to specific products. A new study by the Kaiser Family Foundation details the extent to which the largest food product advertisers on television are also creating online advertising aimed at children.

It’s Child’s Play: Advergaming and the Online Marketing of Food to Children found that 85 percent of top food brands that target children through television ads also market to children online through the use of branded websites featuring advergames.

The study analyzed the websites of 82 food brands (from Kellogg's Pop Tarts and Hershey's candy to Oreo cookies and Burger King), and found more than 500 advergames. The web properties logged OVER 12 million site visits by children ages 2 to 11 during the three-month study. Only 18 percent of the advergames were identified as advertisements.

This is just one log on the fire in the debate over the role of food advertising as one of the causes of obesity among children. You may download PDF transcript here. The webcast link is here.

Tags: advergame, advergaming, unethical advertising, online advertising, advertising to children, Kaiser Family Foundation