Patricio Robles

European Commission wants software protections

When it comes to software, should consumers be entitled to the same protections they receive when purchasing physical products?

If two European Commission Commissioners have their way, consumers will.

by Patricio Robles 11 May 2009 09:45am 2 comments

Social media is about the steak, not the sizzle

When you read a news story about social media or come across a job posting for a 'social media expert', chances are the tools of social media will be front and center.

Twitter, Facebook, MySpace. If you had no exposure to social media, you'd probably assume that these popular services were the end all and be all of social media.

by Patricio Robles 11 May 2009 11:10am 6 comments

Google's Chrome ad: worst television ad ever?

This weekend, Google did something it (to the best of my knowledge) has never done before: it started promoting one of its products using a television ad.

That product is Google's browser, Chrome.

by Patricio Robles 11 May 2009 09:15am 25 comments

Twitter may become a search engine after all

In my opinion, Twitter, in its current form, isn't a search engine. The idea that Twitter could be a threat to Google is overblown.

But that doesn't mean that Twitter can't become a search engine. That scenario is looking more likely.

by Patricio Robles 08 May 2009 09:00am 5 comments

Website security as SEO

If you're putting together a list of all the components of a successful SEO strategy, there's a decent chance website security probably isn't on it.

After all, how is website security going to boost your placement in the SERPs?

by Patricio Robles 08 May 2009 11:32am 8 comments

There are a lot of good reasons to believe that the internet is the future of the content business. From the woes of the traditional media to the evident power of internet distribution, I think it's hard to argue that the internet isn't going to play a prominent role in the future of content. It already is.

But that doesn't mean that online content is easy.

by Patricio Robles 08 May 2009 10:40am 2 comments

Link building: less can be more

Link building is one of the most important elements of a viable SEO strategy. Yet it's also one of the most difficult and time-consuming.

Many people make the mistake of assuming that acquiring lots of inbound links is a goal and some even go so far as to buy links in bulk (a no-no) in the hopes that it will offer a shortcut.

by Patricio Robles 07 May 2009 16:24pm 4 comments

10 tips for choosing the right ad network or ad rep firm

Chances are that if you're a small to medium-sized publisher that is ad-supported, you're relying on an ad network or ad rep firm to move your ad inventory.

There's a lot to like and dislike about ad networks and rep firms but for most publishers, they're a necessity. Choosing the right one can mean the difference between success and disappointment.

by Patricio Robles 07 May 2009 11:20am 2 comments

Will Google's global AdWords trademark policy changes cost brands millions?

Google has announced a major change to its global trademark policy. Effective in June, the search giant will permit the use of trademarks as keywords as part of AdWords campaigns in many countries around the world.

Previously, Google was much more restrictive; a permissive policy was the exception and applied only to a handful of countries, including the US, Canada and the UK, where it began allowing the use of trademarks as keywords in 2008.

by Patricio Robles 06 May 2009 16:59pm 1 comment

Q&A: Sam Decker, CMO of Bazaarvoice

Make no doubt about it, social commerce is a reality online. From online reviews to cutting-edge social media experiments, user-generated content is playing an increasingly important role amongst businesses that sell and market online.

Bazaarvoice is a provider of social commerce technology and services. We spoke with Sam Decker, the company's Chief Marketing Officer, about the state of the market and how companies can make use of user-generated content to benefit their businesses.

by Patricio Robles 08 May 2009 10:00am 0 comments