Amplify your search engine marketing knowledge! Feel free to subscribe to our RSS feedand definitely comment & contribute - our comment links are 'followed' because we want to pay-it-forward for great discussions.

The Yahoo Ambassador Test is Wrong!

Published by Julian | Filed under Search Industry, PPC, Search Engines

Let me tell you a tale about Yahoo! minimum bids, Quality Score, and the Yahoo! Ambassador test…

Being the new guy here at Amplify, I have been slowly but surely working my way through the PPC certification process. Luckily, I’ve been gaining practical experience along the way. I was certified as a Google Qualified Professional in March and plunked down the $50 to take the Yahoo test last week. All went fine and I passed my certification - but I was surprised to see that I possibly got a question wrong about minimum bids! Here’s why:

Kristin received an update from Yahoo last month stating that sponsored search minimum bids are no longer fixed at $0.10, although content match minimum bids will stay at $0.10. Also stated was that higher ad quality may help advertisers receive lower minimum bids. From Yahoo:

“The amount set as your minimum bid on a keyword in Sponsored Search can vary depending on multiple factors, such as:
•The number of bidders and bid amounts in the particular keyword market
•The quality of your keywords, or their relevance to advertisers, as measured by the quality of the ads associated with them”

It would appear that Yahoo! will start using a metric like “Quality Score” that Google uses. Possibly/Probably this has to do with the fact they announced they will be running some of Google’s Adwords ads in their search results. My pure speculation is that this is the case. They have no choice but to use this metric if they want to run these ads in their searches, otherwise Google would be charging based on this metric for search but not returning based on this metric in Yahoo!.

Either way, when I took the Yahoo! Ambassador test later that week (aced it!), the information about this had not been updated as you can see in this screenshot. Somebody might want to tell them. Also, please refer to me as “The Ambassador” or “Ambassador Jules” if you see me out.

Yahoo Ambassador Test question

I’ve emailed the test administers about this, and when/if I hear back, I will make a follow-up post. Perhaps, I will get some bonus points and be a Super-Ambassador.

2 Comments (our comment links are followed) » . May 13th, 2008

Amplify Interactive Job Opening - SEM Director

Published by Ben | Filed under Amplify-Interactive

SEM Director

This position will report directly to the President, and will be directly responsible for improving services and client relationships. We are looking for an enthusiastic, knowledgeable and experienced individual to help drive the next phase of growth for Amplify Interactive. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in search marketing, and will have the unique opportunity to make a direct contribution to the success of our clients and our company.

Qualifications Include

  • 5+ years prior experience in online marketing environment. Search engine marketing background desired, but direct mail, PR and even web development & technical experience are a plus also
  • Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Computer Science, MIS, or related discipline
  • Demonstrated SEO (search engine optimization) experience. Project portfolios & documentation examples are a plus
  • Demonstrated SEM/PPC experience. Preferably certified with Google & Yahoo. Project portfolios & documentation examples are a plus.
  • Strong client/project management skills
  • Strong communication skills (verbal and written)
  • Disciplined organizational skills in all aspects of job performance with strong attention to detail
  • Personable, professional and pleasant demeanor suitable for client services role
  • Comfortable in a fast-paced, informal environment
  • EXPERT with Microsoft Office applications, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook / Entourage*
    • *Amplify Interactive is primarily a Mac environment
    • Comfortable analyzing large quantities of data using Excel
  • Experience with web analytics programs such as WebTrends, HitBox, Google Analytics, Omniture, etc
  • Experience with paid search management tools & SEO/SEM tools
  • Basic understanding of common web technologies as they relate to Web sites & search engine optimization such as Flash, HTML, CSS, JavaScript & other Web site development technologies.

Interested?
Please see the full job description, requirements and information on how to apply at our site (no phone calls please!):

http:/www.amplify-interactive.com/aboutus/careers.htm

Comment now (our comment links are followed) » . May 12th, 2008

Amplify Interactive: May ‘08 Update

Published by Ben | Filed under Amplify-Interactive, Events

Here’s the latest in what’s happening @ Amplify Interactive

Good Times

The team recently took a much-deserved afternoon off for good times out at Edgefield for some beers, some golf and some laughs. It turned out to be an absolutely beautiful day, and Christian captured it all on a recent post. You can check our flickr photostream for pics.

New Clients & Client News

Upcoming Marketing & Networking Events

We’ll be participating in or attending the following events

In Case You Missed It

Our most popular blog posts last month (see if you can spot a theme…)

I think that’s it for this update. Thanks for reading this far, and sticking with us!

2 Comments (our comment links are followed) » . May 12th, 2008

The day all of us at Amplify Interactive were all winners

Published by Christian | Filed under Amplify-Interactive

On April 25, Amplify Interactive went to the Edgefield McMenamins for half the day to get away from the office a bit, talk about company business & mostly just have a lot of fun. All of these objectives were definitely accomplished on that beautiful Friday afternoon.

After taking a quick tour from the experienced Edgefield McMenamin’s Amplify Interactive team member, the prez, we went and enjoyed some drinks & eats while talking about company business. After filling our stomachs with delicious food & spirits, it was time to hit the pitch-and-putt course.

Kristin wasn’t feeling golfing at the time… so she opted to walk around the place & snap some pics. Gotta say, she snapped some fine pics:

So the guys went onward, golf clubs, cigars & beer in hand(s), and set out to pitch-and-putt their way to Amplify Interactive 3-par champion glory. The prez, being the most experienced golfer of the bunch, dazzled with shots you wouldn’t believe. Julian, AKA Jesus AKA Inspecta Dexta, hit the green more times than anyone else (that’s what she said). And C-Block rounded it out with blowing a bet w/ the Prez and losing in a putting competition.

At the end of the day, it turned out that Ben pretty much demolished Julian & Christian on the golf course. But, looking back on that day, I’d be damned if I didn’t say that everyone at Amplify Interactive was a winner…

1 Comment (our comment links are followed) » . May 7th, 2008

Speaking about SEO with some PR types

Published by Ben | Filed under Events

I’ll be speaking at an upcoming BusinessWire event along with Kent Lewis of Anvil Media, Inc. & Sean McMahon of EngineWorks:

REACH FOR THE TOP Oregon! Learn About Search Engine Optimization (SEO) with a panel of experts

Thursday, May 15, 2008
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM (lunch included)

World Trade Center
25 SW Salmon Street
Portland, Oregon 97204

$10 for BusinessWire members, $20 for non-members.

For more info & to register:

BusinessWire’s event page

Or see the event on Upcoming

Comment now (our comment links are followed) » . May 6th, 2008