My PPC hero in this quest will be my friend and ex-colleague, Gordon Choi. Check out his site if you’re into cool digital stuff.

The Twitter-sphere is currently abuzz with news about the January 2011 Google update to the toolbar PageRank update, as are sites like the Digital Point forum.

PageRank is something webmasters and SEOs often watch closely, even though Google says it is not important.

Even in October 2009 Google’s Susan Moskwa  stated:

We’ve been telling people for a long time that they shouldn’t focus on PageRank so much; many site owners seem to think it’s the most important metric for them to track, which is simply not true. We removed it because we felt it was silly to tell people not to think about it, but then to show them the data, implying that they should look at it.

So, yes, it’s pretty to look at and can be used as a tool to market your SEO efforts to the uninformed, but really, there are bigger fish to fry than PageRank such as working on improving your SEO.

Twins: double trouble

Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss (yes…actually) launched a legal battle against Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg in 2007 claiming that he had stolen the idea for Facebook from them.

Originally they walked off with a cool $65 million settlement.

Now, wanting more, they have renewed the fight and brought a SECOND lawsuit to book against the founder, having reconsidered the settlement amount and finding it to be  inadequate. Additionally, they are laying charges of securities fraud against Zuckerberg.

Sometimes they come back…

Big announcements from Google in December 2010

1. Google and Samsung partnered to bring the world the Nexus-S, an attempt to rival the Apple iPhone (currently only available to the USA and the UK) – check out the official Google Nexus-S page
2. Chrome OS - Google’s operating system that will start taking traction worldwide in the next months with the first Chrome OS-enabled devices coming out mid 2011 – and here are ten things you should know about the Chrome OS
3. The Chrome Web Store is open for business

The Nexus-S from Google and Samsung

Google Bot loves good SEO

I manage a team of 20 copywriters and it’s been quite an interesting process recruiting and training the good peeps in the fine art of SEO (search engine optimisation). I am by no means a self-proclaimed SEO guru or expert, mind you. What is great about the copy team is that everybody has a ZEAL for SEO – they just seem to love it, as do I.

So what’s important for newbies to get to grips with first?

Well, perhaps some general comments:

1. SEO is not going to give you instant traffic overnight (at least not ORGANIC search – perhaps PAID search/PPC/Google Adwords)
2. SEO is NOT rocket surgery – anyone can do basic SEO just as easily as I can mix my metaphors
3. Newbies should read, and read ALOT, about SEO (some sites listed below)
4. Noobs should become familiar with the Google Webmaster Tools site, forum and help files
5. In SEO, as with life, PLANNING is everything – do keyword research, map out the content architecture, do a wireframe, and so on…
6. Ask people who know about SEO and don’t be afraid that your questions will be seen as stupid – nobody knows everything
7. Don’t be evil – remain in Google’s good books and don’t use “short cuts” or “tricks” – SEO is plain old-fashioned hard work
8. Measure, analyse and report on as much as you can so you can see what’s working – use Google Analytics (it’s free) or some other web analytics tool
9. Use Firefox or Chrome and use an SEO plugin like SearchStatus

Oh, and here’s a great SEO starter guide written by Googlers themselves to get you on the right footing with your website.

Sites about SEO that you should have a look at

These are my personal favourites – why not suggest more below?

http://www.seomoz.org/

http://www.seobook.com/

http://searchengineland.com/

http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/

http://www.webmasterworld.com/

I’d love for y0u to give your own tips for SEO newbies by commenting below, or share your experiences and ask questions.

I’m a Sagittarius, so apparently this gives me license to become distracted easily, right? But even if I CAN hop from project to project, it IS downright frustrating.

HENCE the importance of setting reasonable, attainable and rewarding goals.

So what are my personal short term goals?

1. Become a Google Qualified Individual by studying for and passing the necessary exams offered by Google (for a mere $50): http://www.google.com/adwords/professionals/
2. Go to gym more often (yes, “body by e-commerce” is no laughing matter so it’s off to Planet Fitness at 5am each day)
3. Save up enough dosh to register for the IDM Diploma in Digital Marketing

These are my short term ambitions. What about yours?