SEM

Awesome. Just yesterday Google launched their new beta tool Google Insight. It's basically just an extension of Google Trends, but it provides some really valuable insight. By entering popular search terms, you can learn more about any given keyword's popularity over time, the direction it is trending towards, the seasonality of the search term, and the geography of those searching.

If all the keywords you are jockeying for in paid and organic search are falling off the radar like searches for George Bush, you're probably in the wrong business or focusing on the wrong words.

On the other hand, as Jim pointed out if you're a cat skiing operation in BC like Backcountry Snowcats, score, because bc catskiing is one of the biggest searches that includes 'cat skiing'.

But more important than all of this is that John Mccain's recent ad campaign was totally out to lunch. It said Barack Obama is the most popular celebrity in America, and shows shots of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton in the ad. Guess again. Check Google Insight for Barack vs Hilton vs McCain and you'll see that presidential campaigns aren't so 'hot' afterall. Well, Barack is catching up, and McCain is just jealous because he isn't on the list. Same goes for Harper, but who didn't see that coming?

We digress... but this is way funnier than search engine geek speak anyways. Enjoy the vids...

And the comeback...

When I talk with most marketers today about how they generate leads and fill the top of their sales funnel, most say trade shows, seminar series, email blasts to purchased lists, internal cold calling, outsourced telemarketing, and advertising. I call these methods "outbound marketing" where a marketer pushes his message out far and wide hoping that it resonates with that needle in the haystack.