Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO) chair Dana Todd will ring the opening NASDAQ bell on Cyber Monday, December 1. We hope Search Marketing industry would get further role in enterprises’ plans. Congratulations to all SEM professionals!

Technorati Tags: NASDAQ, SEMPO

When conducting keyword research on steel market in Vietnam I found out a strangely irrelevant result of sponsored link on Google AdWords. It is a shop selling some fashion clothing and accessories for teens. Of course Google AdWords had removed its position since almost no CTR received. Be careful when setup your PPC campaign or you can lose your reputation.
Click for larger image.

Technorati Tags: AdWords, Keyword, Pay per click

When we tried to check the results of a keyword “máy tính” (computer) on Google.com.vn, the sponsored links showed a URL of the leading chip maker Intel.com.vn but the landing page lead to a local computer makers. VTB is a local electronics assembler known for its subprime TV sets. By adding to the Display URL in Google AdWords dashboard, they tried to make Internet searchers think of Intel association so that the click through rate could be higher. However if VTB did not have a special partnership relationship with Intel the action could destroy its image and PR endeavor and potential customers might dislike. Conversion rate is much more important than pure click through.
Click the image to enlarge.

Technorati Tags: AdWords, Click-through rate, conversion, Google

Some months ago local media bombarded article stating that Vietnamese people were most interested in Sex based on Google Trends. However we just tried the Google Insights for Search with some keywords relating to Sex and found out some interesting figures:

For Sex keyword: Vietnam is the second after Pakistan in volume of search, but plus Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India made South Asia on top, North Africa is the second group.

Update: 21st September down to 4th position

For Porn: no clear winner but Bangladesh is till the runner-up

With Nude keyword: all top five positions went to South Asian countries with Pakistan and Bangladesh shared the top.

Tried a combination of video + sex: Cambodia took the crown, but Bangladesh is the second again plus two other South Asian (India, Sri Lanka)

From these results we can say that Vietnamese people are far behind South Asian people in searching Sex related keywords. Bangladesh is truly the top country that its people most interested in sex matters using search service from Google. Maybe Vietnamese Internet users are not as sophisticated as South Asians in using keywords.

Technorati Tags: Google, Google Trends, Insights, sex, Trends, Vietnam

I came across a Digg clone site in Vietnamese with celebrity gossip and entertainment news using Pligg CMS, The featured post is about beautiful girls and bikini along with Google Adsense showing a dating site and ……. Vinacapital, the leading investment bank and asset management fund in Vietnam. Google Adsense is a contextual ad network with relevant keyword mechanism. How investment banking matches up with bikini? Or the guys who lead the PPC campaign at Vinacapital was watching Fashion TV while picking keywords for the campaign?
Click below for larger picture.

Technorati Tags: Vinacapital

The Web has been developing so fast with billions of new pages everyday. Googlers just celebrated the 1 trillion mark. We are talking to VNNIC and search services to find out how big the Web in Vietnamese. As a drop in the ocean how can others find you out with your products and services? SEO, SEM and other digital marketing services could be the answers.

Technorati Tags: Google

Presidential campaigns in the US are much different from the last election with much ad dollars spending online. Live debate from CNN is not a decisive option in the campaign manager’s plan. US citizens could watch candidates’ promise on YouTube and other video sites instead of turning on TV while still interact with others. According to Federal Election Commission, Obama team spent more than 70 percent of online budget to Google paid search. A bit money was placed directly into general news site with CPM-based display ads. Over 90 percent is for search marketing with Yahoo, Right Media, Microsoft after Google’ lion share. It seems that the Internet savvy teams of the Presidential Candidates understand the power of SEM better than management of many US corporates. Back to Vietnam, it is a good opportunity for local companies to learn using this new powerful weapon in competition with foreign corporations. With limited budget Vietnamese companies could not burn costly dollars on traditional media that will not bring good ROI. Spending online wisely could put you ahead of the game.

Technorati Tags: Google, Obama