You want answers?
I think I’m entitled to them.

You want answers?
I want the truth!

You can’t handle the truth!

Chris Sherman from Search Engine Land just revealed 14 strategic truths about search marketing that are imperative for success.

1. You must set goals.
2. SEO is an ongoing process.
3. Competition is nasty, brutal, and long.
4. The long tail is your friend.
5. Both paid and natural SEM are crucial.
6. Strive to balance paid and natural results.
7. Tools simplify everything.
8. Being #1 isn’t everything.
9. Beware the brand trap.
10. Customers hear their language, not yours.
11. SEM complements other marketing efforts.
12. Traditional marketing complements SEM.
13. Searchers are desperate to reach you.
14. Let their fingers do the talking.

In conclusion, Chris Sherman suggests that search should be considered as an integral component of an overall marketing campaign. In addition, be prepared to spend time and money but have patience because search marketing really pays off.

Search Marketing Now offers free webcasts covering topics about search engine optimization, paid search advertising and search marketing in general. If you haven’t tuned in already, register now.

In a series of calculated steps, Marchex launched more than 100,000 local websites, providing more than one billion pages of local content today. Previously, Marchex was better known for their massive domain name portfolio including more than 200,000 domains and 96% of all ZIP Code areas nationwide, such as www.90210.com.

The newly launched sites feature more than 15 million business listings across all major yellow pages categories including tens of thousands of vertical, local and local-vertical websites.

Wow! Marchex must have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express, drank a V8 and had their Wheaties this morning.

Local search just got a swift kick in the ass.

Apparently, Blue Hat SEO is the only website on the Internet that is completely dedicated to the art of Advanced SEO. I mean, how else do you wrap your head around the idea of generating $25,000 USD (recurring) in 141 seconds?

Last week in my rss reader, Eli from Blue Hat SEO said he needed to get a “few quick announcements” out of the way. He wanted to do something that “directly makes people money and helps them become more successful“. Turns out Eli is offering a premium SEO whizbang tool that will do a-b-c and get you x-y-z for “pennies compared to what people actually get”. Oh, and you’ll need to act quickly if you want in on the action. Eli is only going to allow 100 250 members.

T-Minus 22 Hours. Over the weekend, Eli indicates the tool will be released in 22 hours along with a little surprise. “Tomorrow is the day we show the industry what real tools are”, he says.

Monday morning at approximately 9am PST Eli announces the tool is open for business.

This morning I read the tool sold out, in 2 minutes and 21 seconds no less. As Eli puts it, the “launch went crazy good”.

Moral of the story?

Competition in the search engine optimization sphere is fierce and it’s only getting more competitive. Everybody is looking for that edge and more than willing to pony up $100 bucks a month to get it. It also suggests that in addition to solidifying his “advanced SEO” claim to fame, Eli’s clearly demonstrated his marketing worthiness. Blue Hat Marketing anyone?

p.s. Just for kicks, I’m going to use Eli’s QUIT tool to seed this article.

Shortly after listening to Microsoft Adcenter Live on the ShoeMoney aka Net Income Radio Show, I came across the following offer code: 4CGXQSWGS58MCMD4

Please note that the offer is valid only through June 30, 2007 (midnight PST) while supplies last and for new advertisers only. In addition, the offer suggests you visit startadcenter.com/steve to get started but the URL doesn’t exist. Just thought I’d mention that.

Update: The link works now.

Today, while much of the search marketing community is rambling on about the preliminary antitrust investigation into Google or their latest acquisition, John Chow plops a free money making ebook in your lap.

Don’t get me wrong. Just because the man is giving away a free ebook, doesn’t mean he’s the next affiliate idol. John Chow rocks for several reasons. Here are just a few:

1. He ranks number one for the competitive keyword phrase make money online.
2. He tells you straight up how much money he makes online.
3. He tells you exactly where to get it.
4. He gives away free stuff.
5. He can be downright evil.

The free ebook is just the icing on the cake. Thanks John!