A quick summary of the so-called Dewey update (for the sake of those non-SEOs who find themselves on this site because they’re searching for a pink gadget or something, blpht) :

• Drastic Google SERP movements were noticed starting late February to early March.
• Rankings and indexed pages across data centers have been fluctuating.
• Various affected sites dropped their rankings (from 1st page to 6th page)
• Some have got their traffic and ranking back, some haven’t.
• While Matt Cutts asked for feedback and offered to answer inquiries, there was not a word of confirmation or denial that the was indeed an algo update.
• Forums are endless, until now.

Turns out, this whole thing may simply be a case of penalizing bad linking patterns. The case study in Google Webmaster Help Forum (which started Feb 22) showed the same symptoms — all rankings dropped to about 6 pages down, causing traffic and revenue drop. Apparently, the diagnosis for that one particular case study — and let me just say it helped a lot that Matt Cutts came out to give his two cents — revolved mostly around the bad network of paid links, reciprocal links, and links from non-related sites (in this case, porn sites).

To make the long story short (lesson learned, definitely), Google may be simply improving their way of detecting bad linking patterns (not like we’re not aware of that little detail.) Hence, the tactics that used to work for you may not work anymore. So if you’ve been hit by what you thought was a “mean” algorithm update, then you may be doing something wrong — consciously or unconsciously. Are you buying links perhaps? Or relying too much on similar sources for links? Or sponsoring Wordpress themes?

Time to clean up those link profiles. And don’t you wait to be penalized before doing something. Prevention is, after all, still always better than cure.

As for “Dewey”, I think we better put that keyword to rest for now, before innocent people start reading about a Google algorithm change when they’re looking for dewey decimal systems.

Now if only Gio would update more.. Ehem.

But I guess I can’t blame him. Before me, Search Engine Marketing was a foreign concept to him. Apparently, to his colleagues too, who were easily impressed, albeit unaware that it’s impossible for someone who’s in the Philippines to be working at Google. I mean, unless you’re Aileen Apolo, that is.

But yeeah, I know that’s the easiest way to explain things right? When you’re doing Search Engine Marketing, you’re basically kissing Google’s ass. And most people would probably understand the term “Google” more than they would recognize what a “search engine” is. Here’s me talking to my uncle from California who visited Manila last month:

Uncle George: So, Riz.. do you work in a call center?
Riz: Nope. I’m doing Search Engine Marketing.
Uncle George: *puzzled look* Uhm, what’s a search engine..?
Riz: Uhm, Google, Tito.
Uncle George: Ohhh, Google!
Riz: Yep.
Uncle George: You work at Google?
Riz: *give up*

Undeniably, one of the the most challenging things about this job is how you explain it to people who dare ask.

But that’s not the point of this post. The point is, Google, in its relatively few years of existence, has managed to define the concept of Search Engine Marketing.

Graph from Search Engine Land.

With a whopping 64% share of all internet “searchers” in 2007, Google’s, no doubt, one of the major reasons why there were rumors about a Microsoft-Yahoo merger, and the news-breaking Yahoo layoff, and the slow death of all the other struggling search engines in the web. And then there’s Ask.com’s announcement that they, too, like Yahoo, would be laying 40 people off their payroll and adopting a new strategy starting this year.

Hands down. It’s beyond comprehension how Google dominates this particular area of internet marketing life. Sometimes to the point of being.. tragic.

Valentines Day was celebrated here in the Philippines yesterday, but today, as the US celebrates Vday, Google decides to have the Google Docs interface in pink. Yayness. I love it! I hope Google keeps it an option, you know, for us pink-lovers who want to keep our Google Docs accounts in pink all year round.

Also, for this day of luuuurve, the Google doodle is quite different from the past three years’ V-day doodles. IMHO, this year’s the best one they’ve come up with so far, as far as V-day doodles are concerned. It has in its own way, an “aww”-ing effect that will make you stop for a second to think about love and life — and well, that’s what Valentines days are about anyway, right? (Okay I stop the mush nao.)

You see how gracefully Google does these little modifications for special occasions? When they do something, the rest of the world responds. :P

Hats tip to Aileen. :)

So I was thinking I’d 301 the whole site, as I don’t want to lose the priceless link network I’ve built up the whole year. Then again, I don’t know how. Stupid riiight? I mean, I call myself an SEO and I don’t know how to 301 a site. Haha, my boss better not find this one out. LOL. Don’t get me wrong, I do know about tweaking .htaccess files to perform 301-redirect — we’ve done this several times with our e-commerce sites. What I’m not sure of is how to 301 a wordpress blog.

This is not the first time that I considered 301-ing this site. Before, I was able to successfully 301 this blog from it’s original pinkseo.info/ituloy-ansulong URL, but I needed Benj’s help with that. Gah. I’m still too tamad to think about the pros and cons, and the work I have to put up with, so for now, I’ll probably just do a URL-redirect. Haha. Unless Benj comes to my rescue again or somethin’.

But yeah, I just had to say.. Pinkseo.net is officially mine. I wanted to buy the .com, but it’s already taken. Boo.

1. When it was launched, it costed $200 more than the Nikon D40. And for what? For higher resolution? Not worth it. :) Especially if you care more about your DSLR’s flash shutter speed. D40x has a much slower maximum flash shutterspeed than the D40. Like what I always say to people who ask me, I’d save the $200 excess to buy a better lens. Or a better flash, perhaps. Why don’t you go over to Kenrockwell’s review site to save me time explaining? He wrote a pretty extensive review on D40x. :) Besides, you’ll probably believe an expert photographer more than you’ll believe me. :)

2. The Nikon D40x is rumored to be faced out soon, and will be replaced by a better, more powerful Nikon D60. I’d drool over the upcoming Nikon D60, but I think about the pros and cons, and the value of my money, and I’d still probably end up choosing the classic Nikon D80. But of course, if budget is a priority, Nikon D40, IMHO, is still the best investment you can get.

I say, get a Nikon D40 (I hear it costs about P22K nalang, if you’re gona buy it from Hidalgo, Quiapo — teh ultimate photography haven here in the Philippines), and spend the rest of your money buying better lens. Don’t be deceived by the “x”. The “x” in Nikon D40x does not mean more. :)

Hi Joni. Tara na, let’s buy your camera. :P

Hi. Two Saturdays have gone by, and there are still more Saturdays to come! Have yourself listed, who knows, you could be one of the chosen few to be given a slot. :)

(Pasig, Philippines. January 2008.) In recent years, the Internet has become a potent tool for selling products or services. It has also opened employment and income-generating opportunities to many Filipinos. So much so, Internet marketing has become the latest buzzword in the online sphere.

A series of seminars aims at sharing basic information on the creative and technical aspects of Internet Marketing. The “Internet Marketing Bootcamp” will run for six consecutive weeks from January 26 to March 1, 2008. Each session will be held from 8 a.m. to 12 noon at RCC Center, Shaw Boulevard, Pasig City.

IMB, Second Batch (January 26, 2008)

Some of the country’s Internet Marketing luminaries from U.S. Auto Parts Philippines (USAP) will discuss the key concepts and strategies on this emerging field:

• Michael Joseph Villar, USAP Affiliate Marketing Manager, will give a crash course on performance-based marketing, how companies and individuals can benefit from it, as well as the challenges confronting affiliate marketing.
• Alvin Jimenez, Email Marketing Manager, will present the email marketing campaigns and their relevance.
• Rico Sta. Cruz, Creative Director, will discuss the essential principles in Web design and how to apply them to the Web.
• Jennelyn Tabora, Copy Editing Supervisor, will talk about online copywriting and its crucial role in attracting and building readership.
• Gabriel Libacao Jr. and Rhiza Sanchez, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Project Managers, will explain the basics of search engine marketing and how to convert visitors into sales and profits.
• Maia Nuguid, Senior Web Analytics Specialist, will discuss how Web analytics can help in assessing Internet marketing strategies.

Finally, Marc Hil Macalua, USAP Vice President for Marketing, will give the inspirational speech. Web Project Manager Elymar Apao will facilitate the Bootcamp sessions.

Left to right: Ely, Gabby, Rico, Alvin, Mikey, Maia, Riz
Hi, this is us. :)

The Bootcamp is sponsored by the U.S. Auto Parts Network, the premier warehouse of auto replacement and performance part brands in the United States. One of the leading players in the Internet retailing industry, U.S. Auto Parts ranks among the top 100 online retailers in the United States in 2007.

The Bootcamp is open for all professional bloggers, Internet marketing enthusiasts, or anyone who has a background in Internet marketing. Interested persons may send their updated resumés at elymar@usautoparts.net or glibacao@mbsautomotive.com. Qualified applicants will be informed via a confirmation email.

Participants are encouraged to bring their resumes as a Job Fair will closely follow each seminar.

For further details, please visit the following sites:
US Auto Parts Internet Marketing Bootcamp
US Auto Parts Job Listing

Contact Persons:
Elymar Apao
elymar@usautoparts.net

Gabriel Libacao Jr.
glibacao@mbsautomotive.com

MINE SOON!!! :)

Forget that wishlist. As of its launch date, this new pink 3rd-generation ipod nano is at the top of my list. Yaaay. :)

Remember how I once gushed about wanting to have a pink macbook? Well, here goes another dream come true for me. :)

And I didn’t have to spend $500 to have it in pink. I just shopped for pink macbook accessories, like this hot pink crystal case (P2,500)

and this pink keypad shield (P600)

And voila! My macbook — pretty in pink! :) And it’s really prettier in real life than how I imagined it from pictures I found online.

I’m really loving it and all, except that I get to have some Legally Blonde moments here and there. Like when I have to open my laptop here in the office in front of a bunch of managers clad in black and white macs who can’t help but to smile (smirk?!) at me — get the picture??! Oh well. There goes the price of.. being yourself. Boo. :P

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Here’s US Auto Parts Philippines‘ very own SEO Team, who decides to go pink today. And good grief, I was wearing pink too. What are the chances huh?? :)

No, no violence happened prior to this very rare event — they all came to work in shades of pink, in their own free will. I did, however, summoned them to take their noses off Omniture and Wordtracker and SEOBook or whatever SEO stuff they’re diggin’ in (they’re verryyyyy hardworking you see, haha), just so I can preserve the moment with my Mac’s Photo Booth.

So with much pride, here’s our *PINK (justfortoday)* SEO Team (left to right): Mito Pontillas (who, by the way, got the top spot in the first leg of Paradise Philippines keyword ranking contest woohoo!), Roane Vista, Steve Bayona, Lauren Cruz and TJ Cafuir. Kuya Gabby ain’t in the pichures because he’s not wearing pink but we all love him very much. LOL.

More pics after jump. Meanwhile, if you want to be part of this wonderful wonderful SEO Team (or any of our Internet Marketing departments), HERE IS YOUR BIG CHANCE. Or, maybe you want to take your chance at teh ultimate 50K signing bonus? Yeah. You got that one right. Go go go! :)

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