Mahalo, Annoying Internet Words, & Conference City Locations

Another Reason Search Engine Optimization is Important

Even if you’re not going to go out and start optimizing a bunch of Web sites, it’s still important to at least understand the principles behind search engine optimization and how the engines work. Why? Because then Michael Gray can’t out you for being clueless and linking to sites you’ve just identified as spammy. At least it was good for a laugh. Mahalo, Jason!

Seriously though, for all the business owners out there, even if you don’t think your site is in need of search engine optimization and you buy into the Jason Calacanis rule of thinking, at least consult someone who knows the basics. If not, you just look silly when you label someone as a spammer and then link to them from your precious new little baby site.

Four Letter Internet Words

Asked what words are most likely to make them "wince, shudder or want to bang [their] head on the keyboard", more than 2,000 Brits named "folksonomy", "blogosphere", "blog", "netiquette" and "blook" as their top five. "Cookie" and "wiki" helped round out the top ten. So if I were you, I wouldn’t go plugging those words into all of your Web copy. It may turn some users off and leave them with keyboard impressions on their forehead.

The poll is amusing, though I’m not exactly blown away by the results. I, too, find most of those words annoying with the exception of blog and blogosphere. I’m sure this has nothing to do with my profession but I kind of like those two. I also like cookies. They’re delicious. (Two of the boys in this office owe me sugar cookies. You know who you are.)

What Internet words get your blood boiling? Other than Mahalo.

Where Do You Want To Party?

Did I say party? I meant where do you want the next search marketing conference to take place in order to facilitate all the learning?

Lee Odden is back polling readers and asks what’s the best city for a conference? Leading the pack right now are New York, Las Vegas and San Francisco. I think New York is probably the best city in the world to do anything, but I voted for Boston. Mostly because I haven’t been there in a long time and I want someone to organize a conference there so that I can visit. Or maybe I can just get Bruce to open up Bruce Clay New England? Boss?

Anyone going to WordCamp 2007?

WordCamp 2007 takes place in San Francisco July 21-22 and will offer bloggers two days of informative sessions. Scheduled to speak are Om Malik, Loren VanFossen, Matt Cutts, Dave Winer, Liz Danzico, Matt Mullenwag and others. Tickets are only $25, so if you’re interested I’d act fast. They’re probably going to sell out.

If you have plans to attend, drop me a line or leave a comment. I’m thinking of making the trip and I could use some blogging buddies. :)

Fun Finds

David Temple posted a slideshow of fun photos from the China Search Marketing Tour. Raise your hand if you’d be surprised to see Rand in a pink poncho? Yeah, I wasn’t either. Maybe it’s because I’ve seen him dance.

The Blog Herald asks What Should Bloggers Apologize For and How and then answers its own question. Why apologize when I can just blame it on Susan? [We’ve been over this. Successes are because I’m a great editor. Mistakes are because you’re a terrible writer. –Susan] – Every day I leave this office hoping you won’t be here when I return.

Kim Krause-Berg explains how to make AJAX techniques safe for search engines so it doesn’t send your search engine optimization campaign out of control. She also mentions the CSS, AJAX, Web 2.0 and Search Engines session we both covered back in April that made our heads spin in really attractive directions.

Lisa Barone is a writer, content marketer & VP of strategy at Overit Media. She's also a very active Twitterer, much to the dismay of the rest of the world.

See Lisa's author page for links to connect on social media.