Q and A: How do I get a Google+ vanity URL?

QuestionHi Kalena

I’m really enjoying using Google+ and I hope they don’t retire it like Buzz. I’ve started to cross post between my Google+, Facebook and Pinterest accounts and I’m finally getting some shares and links back to my hobby site as a result.

I’ve noticed that some people use vanity URLs for their Google+ and Facebook accounts. I finally figured out how to register a vanity URL for my Facebook page, but I can’t see the option in Google+ to create a vanity URL. Can you point me in the right direction please?

Ethan

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Hi Ethan

First up, for anyone reading who doesn’t know what a vanity URL is, let me just explain. A vanity URL is a custom URL that replaces the series of numbers traditionally used to reference an individual user account.

For example, a typical user account URL in Facebook looks something like this: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001516245179. A vanity Facebook URL looks more like http://www.facebook.com/kalena with the series of numbers replaced with a username. This makes the link more memorable and easier to share.

A typical Google+ profile URL looks like this: https://plus.google.com/112649886983103001682/posts. This is a little cumbersome and not very memorable. The bad news is that Google doesn’t actually allow the creation of vanity URLs for Google+ profiles, for security reasons. Because Google Profiles are linked to Gmail accounts, allowing users to create vanity URLs might enable spammers to work out the email addresses of millions of Google+ users.

But the good news is that there is a simple app that enables you to shorten your Google+ profile into a more memorable one. The site gplus.to allows you to enter your cumbersome Google+ profile URL and shorten it to a nick name of your choosing. So https://plus.google.com/112649886983103001682/posts becomes http://gplus.to/kalena. I’m pretty sure those are the shortened Google+ links you are seeing your friends use.

Not quite a vanity URL, but a pretty neat alternative, don’t you think?

Kalena

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Search Industry Job of the Week – Internet Marketing Assistant

Job Title: Internet Marketing Assistant
Job Reference #: Unknown
Position Type: Fulltime
Name of employer: Cyber2 Media
Location: Beverly Hills, CA
Date Posted: 27 March 2012
Position description:

The Internet Marketing Assistant will work closely with the Online Marketing Manager to maximize organic results with various search engines, implementing and executing on multiple SEO strategies for Cyber2Mediaʼs fleet of domains. The SEO Specialist will be responsible for building/acquiring high quality, relevant links to their sites and will engage in campaign tracking and management. The ideal candidate is in the early stages of their online marketing career, is a self-motivator who enjoys keeping up with industry best practices for link building, and can keep overall objectives in sight while remaining detail-oriented.

This is a full time, in-house position. Local candidates only, please.

Job Description:

  • Produce and maintain a constant stream of high quality inbound links
  • Build SEO friendly in-house link solutions
  • Perform keyword research to identify new link-building targets
  • Submissions to Directories, Blogs, Article Marketing, PR growth and Forum activities
  • Social Media and Niche Outreach
  • Content Promotion via niche contacts and social platforms
  • Track, measure & record link-building projects
  • Work closely with marketing and content departments to test different search engine
  • Marketing and link-building ideas to improve search engine optimization
  • Closely monitor and analyze link building strategies and find new opportunities
  • Maintain up-to-date, detailed competitor and market analysis using industry tools

Job Requirements:

  • Some experience with SEO Tools
  • Good analytical skills
  • Exposure to internet and searching activities, well-rounded knowledge of the Web
  • Basic writing and grammar skills needed
  • Passion to learn all about SEO and study all the latest ethical techniques
  • Has some understanding of SEO On-Page Best Practices
  • Some experience in PPC preferred (Adwords, MSN Adcenter)
  • Some experience with social media management and doing daily updates
  • Quick learner – self motivated and able to multi task on multiple projects simultaneously
  • Works well under pressure and deadlines
  • Proficient cross-departmental collaboration and communication
  • Database experience/education is a plus

To apply, please submit a short cover letter, resume, and if applicable, links to an online portfolio or links to a few online sites/projects you have worked on. Submit your applications by email to hr[at]cyber2.com, and indicate the position you are applying for in the subject line.

Salary range: Unknown
Closing date: Unknown
More info from: http://www.cyber2.com/careers/internet-marketing-assistant/
Contact: Send resumes to: hr[at]cyber2.com

For more search industry job vacancies, or to post a vacancy, visit: Search Engine College Jobs Board

Q and A: How do I get started with Google Webmaster Tools?

QuestionHello Kalena

I’ve just take over the role of Online Marketing Manager for our company but I am learning on the job. I’ve got a very basic understanding of SEO and I know AdWords ok, but my focus is really social marketing, Facebook in particular.

The person I am taking over from left suddenly and I don’t have any of her files or records, so I am basically starting from scratch. My boss has asked me to do a full site assessment by next week!

My colleague suggested I start by finding out how many of our sitemap pages we have listed in Google. Now I have heard you can do this using Google Webmaster Tools, but to be honest, I’ve never used it. I’m a bit embarrassed actually, because I know I should have been using it before now, but I’ve never really had to.

Can you recommend a tutorial online somewhere about how to use Webmaster Tools, or perhaps give me a quick overview for getting started?

Thanks
Aaron

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Hello Aaron

Your colleague has given you some good advice about Google Webmaster Tools. That is definitely the best place to start. Get your site verified in Webmaster Tools and then grab the sitemap URL for your site and upload it via the console.

In terms of a tutorial, this Beginner’s Guide to Using Google Webmaster Tools is probably your best bet. There is also Google’s own Webmaster Tools documentation to help you out.

Once you’ve got the feel for the console, you can generate lots of reports that will help you put together a full site audit for your boss. Have fun!

Kalena

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Search Industry Job of the Week – Online Campaign Manager

Job Title: Online Campaign Manager
Job Reference #: Unknown
Position Type: full time
Name of employer: Google
Location: Sydney, Australia
Date Posted: 16 March 2012
Position description:

The regional Large Customer Sales (LCS) teams partner closely with Google’s major advertising clients and agencies to develop digital solutions that build their clients’ businesses and brands. They are in a unique and exciting position to shape how marketing and business is conducted in the digital age. Google generate revenue from across their broad range of solutions, from Google AdWords, to YouTube, to Mobile, that help their customers connect instantly and seamlessly with their audiences and get the most out of the web.

The role: Online Campaign Manager, Finance

Reach for new revenue-generating heights as a Sales Googler. Businesses that partner with Google come in all shapes, sizes and market caps, and no one Google advertising solution works for all. Your knowledge of online media combined with your communication skills and analytical abilities shapes how new and existing business grow. You leverage your entrepreneurial drive to target, educate and persuade new customers to embrace Google’s latest advertising products and technologies. Using your influencing and relationship-building skills, you provide Google-caliber client service, research and market analysis. You anticipate how decisions are made, understand the details of individual campaigns and persistently explore and uncover the business needs of your key clients. Working with them, you set the vision and the strategy for how their advertising can reach thousands of users.

Responsibilities:

  • Consult & partner with advertisers and their agencies in executing their online marketing strategy.
  • Analyse changes in Financial Services consumer behaviour & search activity in order to recommend strategic Adwords and cross media solutions.
  • Monitor and analyse large amounts of online marketing and campaign performance data in order to suggest structural and editorial improvements that will optimise ad campaigns across a variety of media (including search, video, mobile and display).
  • Operate as a technical expert across Google’s range of advertising solutions.
  • Encourage advertisers to incorporate Google’s variety of ROI-oriented ad strategies and provide customer training and orientation on Google products such as Google Analytics.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • BA/BS degree. In lieu of degree, 6 years relevant work experience.
  • 3-5 years experience within the Online & Media Industry.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Strong account management and client service experience.
  • Deep knowledge Google’s core products and internal tools.
  • Very good knowledge of online media for search, display and/or social.
  • Understanding of market size; trends and challenges and existing players and competitive positioning/ business models.
  • Proven skills in analyzing large quantities of data, making recommendations and offering strategic consultation. Good knowledge of Excel and Powerpoint.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills in order to communicate within the team and internal departments / clients and to work in a fast-paced, constantly-evolving team environment.

Salary range: Unknown
Closing date: Unknown
More info from: Google Careers
Contact: Send resumes via online form: Google – Apply Now

For more search industry job vacancies, or to post a vacancy, visit Search Engine College Jobs Board.

Q and A: Where can I learn how to use all the features of Microsoft adCenter?

QuestionHi Kalena

I’ve been using Google AdWords for years and feel quite confident with the program, however it has literally taken me years to learn all the features and how to tweak things for better results and more conversions. I’ve just started using Microsoft adCenter recently and I’m finding it hard going. There just seem to be so many features I’m unfamiliar with and even getting my head around the interface is a struggle after so many years of AdWords exposure.

Do you offer a course at Search Engine College that is solely dedicated to MS adCenter?

Thanks

Sophie

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Hi Sophie

We offer two courses in Pay Per Click Marketing – a PPC Starter course and a PPC Advanced course, however while both courses do have lessons dedicated to MS adCenter, the bulk of the lessons cover all aspects of PPC marketing. If you’re looking for something more granular in terms of using MS adCenter, you should check out their adCenter Training Center which contains around 35 training videos designed to teach you all aspects of using adCenter. You can even sign up to take the Accredited Professional Exam when you’re finished.

In case you’re not already aware, Google also offers similar video training for AdWords plus detailed lesson modules via the AdWords Learning Center.

Kalena