Looks like a change to the Google SERPs (Search Engine Results Page) for some folks today – PPC listings have a bit more real estate at the top of the page. Certainly looks a bit funny but pushes down the top organics & makes those few top spots even more important than before!
The change has now moved the display URL under the actual adverts themselves hence stretching the size of the advertising space. The screen shots below also show how a map listing extension would be shown in these new SERPs (actually making the space even bigger).
The old & new SERPs are shown below but based on some scientific measurements (well not quite but reasonably accurate) the top ‘ads’ section has been increased by about 30% by this change.
Click screen grabs for larger images…
Yesterday’s SERP
Today’s SERP
The Changes:
- The display URL is now shown under the advert copy (rather than before it). This extends the size of the ads box
- As the display URL is now under the advert there is much more ‘white space’ over in the right hand side of the ads box – drawing the eye in
- This overall has seen an increase in the ads space of about 30%
I recently gave a short talk on Google Analytics to members of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, entitled “Actionable Insights with Google Analytics”. The slides are embedded below – if you need any additional information or were at the presentation and have any follow up questions please do not hesitate to get in touch with me.
The New Media Breakfast series proved to be another success in July with this month’s topic focussing on Facebook for business. Held in Glasgow on the 2nd of July and in Edinburgh on the 15th of July, both events had great turnouts yet again.
Organised by fatBuzz and Winning Entrepreneurs, the morning sessions included a talk from Gordon White on Facebook settings & pages and a cameo appearance of Attacat’s Joel Lumsden talking about Facebook Advertising. However, Gordon seems to have an issue with Joel – having called him Ben throughout both events!
Here are our collective notes to summarise what was discussed:
Facebook Settings & Pages by Gordon
Privacy Settings for Personal Profile
People worry about privacy but don’t bother changing their settings. Facebook’s recommended settings include making a lot of information public. However it is actually possible to really customise settings to yuor requirements. When you post status updates, you can even hide them from being seen by specific people, as well as being able to choose specific individuals who can see your updates. Gordon advised to make use of the maxim: “Don’t put anything up you wouldn’t want to appear in the papers the next morning”.
Did you know that you can specify which friends appear on your profile page? This is also possible to customise in settings.
Something to be aware of is photo sharing, pictures can be seen by anyone unless you alter your settings – it is advisable that you do make them visible to your friends or chosen friends only.
Personal Profile vs. Fan Page
IMPORTANT: It is against Facebook’s terms of service to use personal profiles for a business profile. It’s very easy for your competitors to report you and as such your account could disappear over night. Use Facebook pages instead.
It’s all free, of course. With personal profiles, you can only have upto 5,000 friends too whereas a fan page will allow you to gain much more! Also, profile pages are not fully indexed by the search engines whereas pages are more likely to be found by the likes of Google.
If you have more than 25 ‘likes’, you can ask for your own username which then gives you a nice web address for your page e.g. www.facebook.com/attacats (It works on a first come first served basis so consider it as part of a branding name grab). To set this go to www.facebook.com/username
Benefits of using a Fan Page:
- Can customise pages to add in a lot of additional info about your brand
- One tip is to specify and customise a landing page optimised to encourage “Likes” such as the fantastic fatBuzz page.
- Can embed your YouTube channel to automatically feed your videos into Facebook, and also similarly with podcasts.
- uploading videos to YouTube first then embedding your channel is a lot easier than uploading a video directly to Facebook
- can track number of views through a YouTube channal
- once you upload a video to YouTube, it automatically updates on Facebook.
- Advanced users: Use static FBML (facebook’s mark up language that is similar to html code) for more extreme customisation & create a YouTube tab. Just search in Facebook for FBML & you’ll find more details there.
- Dlvr.it application – nice application for syndicating content from say your blog to your Facebook page (or LinkedIn profile etc)
- For B2B examples see Cisco and Dell
Groups
Use groups for causes, interests or charity organisations rather than for a business. A good tip is to look for any groups already set up around your brand, as there are a lot of ‘hate’ groups on Facebook which can obviously damage brands. Check out the I hate BT group for an example. It is easy to report these groups if you do come across any problems.
Facebook Advertising by Joel
Like them or Loath them, Facebook Ads are working. It’s a market that isn’t saturated and currently it’s cheap!
How does it differ from PPC Search Marketing?
Similarities:
- Familiar ad layouts (but with a the social element of “Likes”)
- Charged on a cost per click basis (but also CPM possible but no Cost per Action model yet)
Differences
- Pictures in adverts – scope for greater creativity
- Strong demographic and location data that is generally very accurate as it is information users input themselves (rather than survey research or similar)
- Did you know that their are 80 single wanabee Ninjas in Edinburgh!?
- Can even target employees of specific companies
- Branding benefits
Can use FB ads for:
- Increasing “Likes” of a page
- Advertise an event
- Advertise apps
- Or direct response/lead generation
Can get CPM rates of £0.10 on Facebook. Compare that to the equivalent rates for advertising on the Guardian (that offers less targeting) prices at £30-40!
Getting the Most out of your Adverts
- Use a strong call to action
- Be creative – think laterally
- Keep them fresh – creative will burn out quickly
- Experiment with bidding
- Segment your account by demographics and have demographically tailored landing pages (rather than keyword)
Slide Share – Facebook Advertising
Our very own Ben Rogers will be speaking at the next New Media Breakfast events in Edinburgh and Glasgow. He will be talking about Google Analytics so that attendees can learn what it is and what to do with it. It will be aimed at those who know nothing, little or something about Analytics so everyone is welcome.
This somewhat scary person below (Attacat Tim) has a bit more to say about it.
(For the avoidance of doubt and as per almost all Analytics events, this seminar is not endorsed by Google, but hey, that means we can take a different perspective)
The Glasgow event is on Friday 4 June 2010 @ 8am at No.29 Members Club, Royal Exchange Square.
Edinburgh is on Thursday 10 June 2010 @ 8am at The Tower Restaurant, Chamber Street.
To book your place, please visit http://junenewmediabreakfast.eventbrite.com/
You could also, just for fun, confirm your attendance on Facebook… 🙂
At Attacat we’re great lovers of Macaroni Cheese. Here’s a few of our favourite lunch-time haunts in Edinburgh:
Hectors,Stockbridge, Edinburgh
Seasoned with pepper and mustard, this hearty dish is a winner in our eyes.
Good points: Nice crispy brown topping
Bad points: Doesn’t come with chips or salad but hey there’s so much there you don’t need anymore!
Tip: Don’t order a starter.
£6.25 – a sit in meal.
UPDATE: We recently visited Hectors (as we usually do once a week-ish) for lunch to enjoy this tasty dish… to then find that they have removed it from the menu – we were truly shocked and disappointed! The other food was delicious, but we really want the Macaroni Cheese back! Please help us out by joining our Facebook group!
UPDATE 9 July 2010: We won the battle! Hectors have now put “The Legendary Macaroni Cheese” back onto their menu for good! We shall no longer starve!
UPDATE 21 January 2011: Sadly since the refurbishment, Hectors have removed the Mac ‘n’ Cheese off the menu…AGAIN. But it is still a great place to eat and highly recommend the Butternut Squash Tart – massive and lovely.
Food Glorious Food, Central Edinburgh
(On Charlotte Street or Hanover Street)
Home-baked and super tasty with the occasional lump of melted cheese mixed in, this is a good takeaway option!
Good points: Fast service & enough to fill you up.
Bad points: Too far from our office (ok maybe not) no crispy topping.
Tip: Get there before 1.30pm as it’s usually gone quickly!
£3 – takeaway or sit in meal.
The Links, Meadows, Edinburgh
A surprisingly amazing experience – home baked and extra cheesy!
Good points: Some added veg thrown in – counts towards your 5-a-day!
Bad points: Service can be slow on a busy day.
Tip: Get there early to claim a seat if you’re going on a match day.
Around £5-£7 – sit in meal.
Appetite Direct, Stockbridge, Edinburgh
A tasty treat that leaves you hungry for more.
Good points: Made with sweet, juicy cherry tomatoes.
Bad points: The tub is only half full – or half empty.
Tip: Take the salad to fill up your tub – because if you don’t you’ll still be left with half a tub of mac n cheese, not a full one.
£2.95 – takeaway / sit in.
Dolce E Salato, New Town, Edinburgh
An alternative homemade version from a wee Italian Bakery.
Good points: Light, fresh and comes with a delightful italianio smile-ah!
Bad points: Not as cheesy as some may like it.
Tip: Take parmesan for a more cheesy flavour & they’ll happily do half & half if you get tempted by the gnocchi!
£4.20 – takeaway / sit in.
Chequers, Broughton, Edinburgh
Oven baked macaroni, from the sandwich bar & takeaway shop at the top of Broughton Street.
Good points: Quite filling, good texture and comes with a crispy cheese topping, which is a must if you ask me!
Bad points: Tastes a bit more like cornflour than really cheesey.
Tip: May need to add more seasoning to get more flavour than flour!
£3.00ish – takeaway.
Stockbridge Tap, Stockbridge, Edinburgh
Pub grub style mac ‘n’ cheese with a decorative edge.
Good points: Fresh home-cooking and counts towards your 5-a-day.
Bad points: No grilled cheese topping and lacking in volume (we gave this feedback).
Tip: Ask for extra cheese and if you’re starving get a side of the hand-cut chips.
£6.95 – sit-in.
If you are also a normal person (someone who loves macaroni cheese) and can suggest anywhere else in Edinburgh – please let us know below!