After reading the news headlines last week about the acquisition of Aardvark by Google, I went straight to Vark.com to find out exactly what Aardvark is and why Google would want to purchase it for millions of dollars.

Turns out, Aardvark is a pretty cool way to find answers to almost any question that needs a better answer than what Google or Yahoo can give. Think of it as a “real-person search engine” where your questions are answered by another Aardvark user instead of a search engine result based on algorithms and keywords. When you set up a profile to ask a question, you also put in your interests and areas of expertise so you can answer questions from other users. Whenever someone asks a question about books, marketing, or social media, Aardvark IMs me via AIM and checks to see if I am busy and can answer a question. Most of the time I say yes, and most of the time, I can answer the question without having to do any research. However, if you can’t, no pressure. Simply say ‘pass’ and Aardvark will ask someone else. You can also answer questions on the website instead of instant messenger; but being on my computer all day I find it a fun distraction to be asked questions (I usually get 2-3 questions a day).

Besides a fun, unique way to ask questions, Aardvark has seems to have a tight-knit community of users and has a fun ‘About Us’ page that includes photos of happy hours and comfy couches, definitely making me want to work there. And I’m sure with their new parent company paying their bills, many more people will be looking for a job at Aardvark.

If you want to try it, visit Vark.com

I’m sure you’ve seen those teeth whitening or flat stomach weight loss ads on google advertising– they are everywhere. However, thanks to Google’s new initiative to ban any advertising that sells misleading products or could be considered as spam advertising, these types of ads will soon be a distant memory.  Hopefully now we will no longer have to see a flabby stomach on our sidebar as we’re reading a blog or yellow teeth asking us if we have the same!

A great explanation and summary of the new policy can be found at The Big Money: Google Does Non-Evil Thing: Bans White Teeth, Flat Stomachs.

You’ve spent countless hours trying to create a business that you want the world to know about. You’ve hired the best SEM firm in town, ran PPC advertising, and created back links to entice people to visit your site. You’re hoping that with more visitors, you’ll get to that coveted position of the first search page of search results on Google.com.

However, all of your hard work, sweat, tears, and dollars are riding on Google to present your business in a way that is professional and fair…and unfortunately, Google doesn’t seem to be getting the message.

From PDQ to pdq: Capitalization Issues

Your name is Paul David Quentin, a name that has been passed down through your family for years. You bear the name proudly and you want your business to bear the name as well. Unfortunately, there are several other businesses with the same initials, so what do you do? You use all capital letters in order to differentiate between yourself and the other businesses. Problem is Google Maps doesn’t like business names in all caps.

There are several instances in which business have registered their names with Google Maps in order to bring in more business, but when they go in search of the business name, the name has been reduced to lowercase letters. Why? Google Maps flags business names that use all capital letters and makes them all lowercase letters.

What does this mean for your business? People tend to overlook businesses written in lowercase letters because of the idea that lowercase means less important. Of course, this isn’t the case, but many businesses still fall victim to this misconception.

What used to be a proud family name has been reduced to a bland line of letters that no one seems to notice despite the amount of time and energy you’ve poured into it.

From McDonalds to Mcdonalds to McDonald’s: Lettering Inconsistency

Another problem with Google Maps is that it can’t seem to decide what to do with business names that have capital letters in the middle. McDonalds turns into mcdonalds or Mcdonald’s. McAfee turns into mcafee or Mcafee. Honestly, will an entire line of lowercase letters grab your attention on a page littered with business names and information? It’s doubtful.

Problems that Make a Business Suffer

So how does the inconsistencies in Google Maps cause problems for business listings? In order for their business names to appear as it does in advertisements, letter heads and other business literature, businesses have had to literally change their names. Example: PDQ turned into pdq on Google Maps, so the owner changed the name on the Google Maps listing to P.D.Q. in order to keep the lettering from turning into a blob of uninteresting blah.

So is Google Maps dealing with the present issues? Not in the foreseeable future- but businesses can adapt by changing the spelling of their names, adding spaces between letters or not using the Google Maps service at all.

This post was written by Danica Sorber, owner of DSorber Media Works.

A lot of Search Engine Marketing “Experts” will say that a blog is perfect for getting those much-needed keywords onto your website that will help you rank higher and better in search engine organic results. The problem with that is, search engines aren’t actually “reading” your content. They are simply scanning it. And eventually, when you have an actual real person that visits your website, they will read your “content” and realize what a hack you are. They will not pass your content on nor will they visit your website again. This means that all the effort and time you spent writing blog entires stuffed with keywords and anchor text that had nothing important to say may have gotten visitors to your website, but it didn’t keep them there. It didn’t help push people to spread what you have to say via Twitter, Facebook, or email.

When it comes down to it, writing thoughtful, well-written blog entries are the best way to attract steady, relevant users to your website. Sure, they may not have all the “desired” search terms or keywords that you’re hoping to rank for, but it WILL show visitors and potential customers your expertise and make them interested in what you have to say.

In many ways, it’s harder to write for the search engines than it is for real people. Trying to fit in the word “costume” when only “costumes” seems to make sense can be a real challenge and lead to awkward sentences that will repel readers. Writing out your natural thoughts about a subject and teaching others what you have to say seems to roll off the tongue (or off the fingers, in computer-speak) much easier than any well-structured search engine blog post ever could.

–

Image courtesy of Caitlinator on Flickr.