During the past week, we’ve been super busy!

A great addition to our Whole Hog Blog family is the not-for-profit website and blog for ALS of Nevada. The entire state of Nevada coverage for ALS patients and their caregivers is provided by just three individuals (and an outstanding Board of Directors). Two people cover the state, with another fine individual up in the Reno area providing assistance to those in need suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease.

We’d like to ask you to please visit the site, comment on the blog, and help get their traffic and alexa rankings rolling.

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We’ve also added a blog to My Wizard Ads, an ezine advertising information blog. “Diane’s” first true business online after a several year stint as a publisher herself (weird talking about myself in the third, or would that be fourth (?) person). Day in and day out I field questions for not just the new but veteran internet marketer. Ezine advertising gives people the freedom to use other people’s lists as contact points to announce and promote the businesses and programs they join online.

Again, a visit to that new blog and your comments would be greatly appreciated, too.

Both of these new additions have do-follow linking, so your trip gains you that valued backlink in the process.

Enjoy!

Yesterday I promised you a truly eye-opening and heartwarming story for this post, but first my recap (rant) of what went down last night during the Vice Presidential debate. As we gathered our pizza boxes and drinks and settled down with an atmosphere not unlike the Super Bowl, here’s my conclusions:

First off, my understanding ever since grade school (no earlier, ever since the first time your parents asked you a direct question), you answer the question. Only kids and people with something to hide dodge a direct question. Frankly, even in marketing, it’s best to say, “I do not know, but I will find out the answer for you!” then to pretend you are either answering it or worse yet saying, “I don’t want to answer that question, instead I want to talk about…”

I wasn’t expecting rocket science from Palin, (more…)

Today is one of those unusual posts, and I owe it to our local newspaper. Not the big city-wide one, but the little Green Valley Home News.

I began reading their article in the Arts & Style section only because it talks about a game I personally enjoy (but haven’t played for years)… Scrabble. Now bear with me, because this post does have a point, and you won’t want to miss it.

Here’s the interesting facts about Scrabble and why this has anything to do with the title of this post “Keyword Research.”

First, a bit of background.

Scrabble is the #1 best selling game in the world. Over 100 million sets have been sold worldwide with one to two million sets sold every year in the United States alone. Scrabble can be found in one out of every three households in America. It was developed by an out-of-work architect named Alfred Mosher Butts during the Great Depression.

When Butts first invented the game he called it “Lexico.” Lexico never caught on so he next tried “Criss-Cross Words.” Yep, you guessed it. No one was flocking to buy this new game with this new name either.

Butts went back to the drawing board (no pun intended) and after revamping his rules a bit, he and his partner, James Brunot, renamed the game “Scrabble.” They trademarked that name in 1914.

Well, as shown above, we know how well Scrabble is doing, to this very day.

Keywords! Ah, very important. With some choices, nothing, while the right ones pull in the money hand over fist!

To further emphasis “what’s in a name” (or keyword phrases in your content or title or domain name), the story of Scrabble continues.

In the early 1950s, while on vacation, the president of Macy’s Department store discovered the game. Of course, the next logical step was a huge influx of orders from Macy’s to Hasboro. Stocking the game became a must-do on Macy’s shelves nationwide.

In fact, to this day, television versions of Scrabble exist, and even online versions of the game can be found. In addition, Scrabble clubs and Scrabble competitions form all over the country on a weekly basis.

Oh, and as if that isn’t enough, Facebook users can enjoy the Scrabulous application on their Facebook websites.

So think your choice of keywords isn’t that important? Think again!

What’s in your name? Did you think it through? Are you thinking it through? Best take a lot of time with both your market research and your keyword phrase research.

It could mean the difference between a “Lexico” or “Scrabble” website or blog for yourself.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?? Scott informs me that perhaps the idea of keyword research for this is a tad confusing, and suggests perhaps “branding.” However, I stick by my original association. Without proper keywords one would never develop the proper brand name. They most certainly go hand in hand, but “Scrabble” did not become a “brand” until the keyword was known by many.

What do you think?? Please comment!

In today’s news, Google, Inc., has concerns about Microsofts proposed $42 billion acquisition of Yahoo and not for the reasons you would think. Google realizes there is more to this deal as it pertains to the worldwide internet search market. If Yahoo and Microsoft merge it would only account for 16% of the search engine market (which is no comparision for the 62% that Google holds). Google, Inc., opposition to the acquisition lays in the fact that Microsoft may try to incorporate the advanced online services Yahoo has developed into their Windows operating system setup; guiding new PC owners towards the services such as email and instant messaging. This move could stifle the innovations of other companies including Google.

Although Yahoo is currently reviewing the offer with their Board, most analysts believe there is little choice with its stock price near a 4 year low. The fact that Microsoft bid 62% above the market value of Yahoo indicates to some that this is a hostile bid. Most analysts doubt any other company will be able to top Microsoft’s offer.If Yahoo accepts, then both the U.S. and Europe antitrust regulators will need to review and approve the proposal, a process that could take up to a year. During that time Google may be able to setup plans for counteractive measures and better prepare for the merger.

Well that concludes our Tech News today so make sure to bookmark our site as we continually post new information.