Eddie Childs: Professional Writer & Editor, Social Media Specialist

09/03/2020

“... even a rudimentary knowledge of marketing (from those text books that we no longer read) would tell us that strategy should be combined with creativity for optimum effect.”

Marketing theory is a constant battle between opposing viewpoints, but an open mind and accurate data set will show you usually need to adopt both perspectives.

08/29/2020

“Regulatory pressure, a contentious relationship with Google, and the maturation of Apple’s Siri and iCloud are presenting an opportunity for Apple to create and launch a search engine. There are several signs right now that indicate Apple may be doing just that.”

Changes in Spotlight Search on iOS and iPadOS 14 beta, a significant update to its Applebot support page, and an increase in crawling from AppleBot signify that Apple may be launching a search engine soon.

08/16/2020

Facebook’s new online events tool “is currently a free product that enables ‘businesses, creators, educators and media publishers’ to set up paid events or classes online and keep 100% of the revenue themselves — except on iOS, where event hosts must give up the 30% ‘App-Store tax,’ as Facebook called it.”

The new all-in-one tool will be free for at least a year, the company says.

08/12/2020

This particular principle of online reputation management can be as personal as it is frustrating. And it’s a question we get from our agency’s clients all the time. Excellent post by Greg Gifford.

Fake reviews from people you know weren't customers are frustrating. In this week's video, I share the secret for responding the right way so that the reviews won't hurt your reputation.

08/03/2020

Google is expanding its GLSA program to encompass professional services (lawyers, financial planners and realtors); currenly in testing for San Diego and Houston.

After successful test, the program goes into general availability.

07/26/2020

TL;DR - Facebook says the posts with the most reach are the most popular and most highly viewed; not the posts with the most visible
engagement (likes, shares, etc.). Engagement posts, notably, are not considered “optimized ad spend” for purposes of Facebook partnerships, while posts optimized for reach are.

Facebook’s Head of News Feed shares some surprising insights about top performing content on the platform.

07/23/2020

Google says you can’t optimize for Discover like you can Search. But Google recently acknowledged that Discover factors in E-A-T so... draw your own conclusions.

Google has updated the help document on Google Discover. It has been almost completely revamped but one of the more interesting areas of the update is the section added to E-A-T. I mean, we know Goo

12/15/2017

... As opposed to “dumb search,” which apparently is what Microsoft thinks we’re all doing currently.

None of the features or changes is disruptive, but they collectively point to the fact that search evolution is accelerating.

10/06/2017

On high traffic days, costs could soar as high as double the budget you have set.

Google made a significant change to how AdWords budgets can be used, and advertisers are not the least bit happy.

10/01/2017

Forgetting about the technical part of SEO can be a serious mistake.

Learning how to set up robots.txt and meta robots tags is paramount to success in technical SEO. This short guide will help you implement them correctly.

09/26/2017

Ouch, Bing. That’s gotta hurt.

After serving Bing web search results in iOS and Mac for a few years, Apple has just switched the results back to Google, its original search partner.

09/16/2017

Think your PPC ad copy doesn't matter? Think again. http://bit.ly/2x4hnbF

It's true. Most ads suck. Here are 7 ad copy tests will help your ads suck less by increasing CTR, improving quality score, and growing conversions.

09/14/2017

Rumors of backlinking's demise have been greatly exaggerated...

A link study done three years in a row shows how links continue to be a powerful ranking signal and will likely remain that way.

09/13/2017

User experience and SEO are anything but mutually exclusive terms.

Discover how your business can combine the benefits of SEO and UX to improve your online presence, drive qualified traffic, and increase sales.

06/03/2017

"The novelty of being able to use natural language to communicate with your device is going to change the world." http://bit.ly/2qM731n

This is a huge topic that has been on my mind for the last 12-24 months. It goes back to the advice I constantly give to my community, which is to watch what I do, not what I say. Podcasting and the rise of Alexa voice is here today. For the past 24-36 months, brands …

05/02/2017

Google has announced Similar Audiences are rolling out for Search and Shopping campaigns in AdWords.

Similar audiences gives advertisers the ability to target customers based on whether or not they’ve searched for the same things as previous site visitors.
”Imagine you’re marketing a hotel in Ha...

08/27/2016

It bears repeating that change in the marketing industry is constant, and without some vigilance, you’re going to get left behind.

A number of major changes that happened toward the end of June and in early July. Digital marketing experts are only now seeing the full breadth and scope.

08/04/2016

It's a rebrief kind of day... http://gph.is/1R1xcRo

http://gph.is/1R1xcRo

03/13/2016

By all indications, this new feature has the potential to completely change local search.

Google confirmed on Monday that it’s testing an unnamed feature that will allow local businesses to promote original content in local search results.

02/26/2016

Our Reaction to Facebook’s New “Reactions” http://bit.ly/1TzY1P9

This morning, Facebook dove deep into our emotions with the release of the platform’s new feature, “Reactions” — an emotive evolution of the “like” button we all know and love. Instead of the one-dimensional engagement of clicking “like” on a post no matter how it makes you feel, you’ll now have the…

02/23/2016

"A great enough writer seems to be born with knowledge. But he really is not; he has only been born with the ability to learn in a quicker ratio to the passage of time than other men and without conscious application, and with an intelligence to accept or reject what is already presented as knowledge."

Marcia Riefer Johnston explores how Hemingway and Charles Poore's views shaped her efforts as a business communicator

02/17/2016

Facebook is Set to Become a Local Search Juggernaut in 2016 (and Why You Should Care!)

Read on to learn more about Facebook’s powerful new local search capabilities and how home services companies can use them to their advantage.

02/16/2016

See, Think, Do: A Content, Marketing, Measurement Business Framework

Most business leaders focus narrowly on the value of digital. Learn how to evolve your strategy to deliver customer joy, reduce churn, and increase profit.

01/13/2016

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04/16/2015

Seth Godin on the future of branded content: "You need editors, not brand managers" http://bit.ly/1DP7PuC

We sat down with Seth Godin, the godfather of modern marketing, to get his take on the present and future of content marketing.

04/10/2015

Here's another one I wrote for my company's blog. If keyword rankings are your primary metric of Web success, then you're doing it wrong.

Keyword rankings are important, but they aren’t really a metric of success unless you can pair them with search volume and high-quality content.

03/13/2015

Written by yours truly -> "Google will Expand 'Mobile-Friendliness' as a Ranking Signal on April 21st"

In a move that SEO industry observers are calling “Mobilegeddon” or the “Mobile SEO-Pocalypse,” Google announced last month that mobile-friendliness will soon become a major ranking signal.

01/16/2014

Everyone seems to have a different opinion on the necessity (or non-necessity) of the Oxford Comma. Here are my thoughts on its usage in my latest post for CopyPress.

Wherein the author risks the hatred of millions by suggesting a pragmatic approach to the Oxford Comma.

10/30/2013

I learned most of these lessons about being a professional freelance writer the hard way. Read them over and benefit from my mistakes if you're considering starting your own freelancing career.

On the surface, working for yourself as a professional freelancer seems like a pretty sweet gig. You don't have to answer to a boss, and you have the ostensible advantage of determining your own destiny. But all is not candy canes and lolly pops in the land of freelancing, as you will short

10/01/2013

This article, written by yours truly, is about why it's a waste of time to fret over "originality" when we should really be worried about doing something authentic and unique.

As writers, we're always beating our collective heads against the wall to be original. In fact, just about every writer I know is obsessed with being "original." Well, I say to hell with originality. I just want my writing to be interesting. If you're really concerned about

09/25/2013

I wrote this interview for Technorati recently. It's about Clarizen, which introduced a revolutionary update to its workflow automation software in the last week or two

Up until now, the connection between unstructured communication and structured processes has been missing and each function has been operating in silos.

08/06/2013

Here are a few bad writing habits that I see practically every day. Avoid them, and your content will be ten times more professional looking than most of the stuff on the Internet.

You might not have logged the 10,000 hours it takes to be a true expert writer, but you certainly don't want to look like an amateur. Avoid these 9 things to look pro.

05/29/2013

I'm always dealing with Writer's Block, so I wrote this blog for CopyPress with some tips getting out of your writing funk. Some of this advice might seem a little basic, but sometimes you have to go back to the fundamentals to get the ideas flowing.

So you sit down to check out your latest assignment. Everything looks good, and you accept it. Then you realize the ideas just aren't flowing. You're deep in the grips of creative anemia and the minutes are ticking away for your deadline. What should you do? In the world of content mark

04/11/2013

Wrote this for the CopyPress Community Blog recently. Let me know what you think.

Although Mike Judge’s classic satirical comedy, Office Space, only broke even when it premiered in 1999, the movie quickly gained a cult following. At the time, the film struck a chord with an entire generation of cubicle dwellers who felt deeply alienated by their bleak, repetitive work environme

04/03/2013

Good article on how to evaluate and enhance your own writing abilities.

Evaluating or criticizing your own writing skills is among one of the most effective ways to improve your literary talents. This helps you understand where you're going wrong or what you can do better, making it easier to implement changes within your writing style. If you're seeking ways