For-profit social marketing

Now, Twitter is offering its users bribes for advertising on a Twitter account.
 Yes, it is true. First Google buys up YouTube for big bucks, in order to earn advertising dollars.

SEO, blogging and ethical communication

Just when I was having fun with it, I am being hammered with cute young things who 'follow' me, you go to their Twitter page and you find they are porn queens. I blocked the last one immediately. Or else you find others being paid to advertise for businesses.

Now, I find that you can be paid to tweet and advertise for specific products. I just do not know. Why do I want to see more ads from cyberspace? They are coming fast and furious. Why would I assault my friends and follows with more advertising? We have spam, we have pop-ups, the ubiquitous Google ads. I religiously read on-line news and find more saturation of these markets. I am finding a low tolerance for such.

Even Retired Teachers of Ontario are sending out email asking me to support particular causes. No. I will make my own choices. Do not bribe me to sponsor an event, sending poor families to a show, especially a for-profit event.

Leading by Example: Key Developments in the First Seven Years of PIPEDA

Since the inception of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), organizations have been adapting their business practices to comply with the Act, as well as similar new provincial standards as their customers grow increasingly concerned over the protection of their personal information. Meanwhile, the privacy landscape continues to evolve. Advances in information technology and the desire among business to compete globally have meant that the privacy challenges we face today are more complex than ever before.

Legal Corner

• Legal information related to the Privacy Act
• Legal information related to the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)

Blogger beware- Google makes us stupid?

Just when I think I've read it all. I had an e-mail... me, retired teacher, blogger, senior health care & Hospice volunteer!

Jason Miller  to me

Hello, my name is Jason Miller and I am an internet marketing specialist. I was looking at websites under the keyword elementary lesson plans and came across your website http://www.jilks.com. I see that you're not ranked on the first page of Google for a elementary lesson plans search.

I'm not sure if you're aware of why you're ranked this low but more importantly how easily correctable this is.

There's no reason you can't have a top three ranking for the keyword elementary lesson plans based on your site structure and content. You have a very nice site.
[...]
I'm talking about getting you ranked for ALL your keywords. Adding new backlinks on a steady and consistent basis from high PR quality websites is what produces the rankings you are looking forhttp://www.jilks.com.

The right kind of links are very critical in getting top ranking....and I can hand deliver these quality links to you.
[...]
I didn't send this email out to very many people but I am currently reaching out to a list of your 'keyword competitors' as well. But I do favor your website because I can see your website monetizing the targeted website traffic the keyword elementary lesson plans can deliver. [Do YOU believe this?!]

I have your contact information and phone number. Is it ok if I give you a call? [NO!]
[...]

Sincerely,

Jason Miller
(480) 445-9297
www.linkstiger.com

P.S - If the tables were turned and somebody I didn't know came to me with a proposition, even one that was appealing, I would be hesitant because I would be wondering - what's the catch? What does this guy know that I don't.
[Buyer BEWARE!!!]

Now, my first instinct... Google it.
 I found experts  Spammers Still Hurting the Search Engine Optimization Industry
Who are telling us to watch out for spam. Not only is this wrong, but Bill Hartzer, recognized pro in the SEO field says,
"No wonder the SEO (Search Engine Optimization) industry has such as bad reputation. I am amazed that there are still so many SEO snake oil salesman out there spamming small businesses. Let me show you one prime example of some of the junk that people calling themselves “internet marketing specialists” and SEO specialists are spamming (sending unsolicited commercial email). "


As if I blog for money, traffic or fame! I blog for fun, to see what is going on in the world. I blog to see what people are interested in, to spread news, or to figure out if I should write a book about teaching. 


I refuse to use Google ads. They are making a fortune off of our blog ads, and our Google searches and becoming a monopoly. A US corporation making big profit off of our work and/or play. 
See also: Googleocracy or Googlearchy? (YouTube video)
Inverviews with university students and lecturers regarding the Google search engine's dominance of online research and services, whether or not Google's search methology leads to a reduction in information and cultural diversity, in other words, 'is google making us stupid'? Video also tackles such issues as censorship methods used by google and also individual usage of the search engine.


Jesse Hirsh,  "is an internet strategist, researcher, and broadcaster based in Toronto, Canada. He has a weekly nationally syndicated column on CBC radio explaining and analyzing the latest trends and developments in technology using language and examples that are meaningful and relevant to everyday life."

google ads

Recent concerns (see the CBC article) over Google ads prompted a rewrite of this post. Physicians are concerned with the quackery of it all. I don't blame them. While people may be foolish to be lulled into promises of cures, they are being victimized.

It is a big decision to put up an ad. I wrestled with it for some time. I did ponder the preponderance of ads towards seniors, in a previous blog, who may be more vulnerable. Some, of course, have social, emotional, cognitive and physical issues and are easily targeted by fast-talking folks. They market as much towards geriatrics as they to pediatrics these days. It is appalling.

When I saw a google ad for "100's of Asian Women" on someone else's blog about their life in Asia, I dumped it! It looked cheap and detracted from the site! In my opinion, it demeans a site. I loathe visiting major companies, CBC or Oprah, for example, and having to wend my way through ads.

The worst ads are the ones that take forever to load dynamic content, and slow your page. The google ads, at least, are small and succinct.

The ones on my ontarioseniors.blogspot were quite rational, the ones I noticed, but since you need a million 'clicks' to make a few cents off of it, I thought I'd delete it! You can see that despite many comments, and 1700 profile views, unless people click on the ads you do not make money.

It didn't necessarily lead people to acceptable sites, nor did they lead to reputable or local businesses. They use your blog content to attach appropriate and relevant ad content, but you just never know what they will post. Others have found that the ads don't match well and don't bring in much income.

I have dumped them. It leaves more space for my own photos and sidebars.

Why blog?

One really needs a clear picture of why one blogs. Here is a picture of where I blog: in my living room, often in the brightness of a sunny front window!

A fellow blogger, Judy in KY, says that she doesn't blog for money or recognition. She doesn't want to specialize, either. And she keeps her posts simple, without photos. (Me, I'm addicted to my digital camera & iPhoto - 10,000 photos so far!)

Judy values kindred spirits, as I do, and she tries not to get too into politics. (She also reads many other blogs, as I do, but that is another post!) I like jumping into politics, having lived in Ottawa it cannot be avoided.

I began blogging to do some daily writing, and share My Muskoka with others. I liked sharing photos and events with my children, who live in other cities, and blogging fit the bill. I have toyed with posting some of my poetry.

Then, I wrote a book, Living and Dying With Dignity. I wanted to blog to share information I learned when researching the writing of my book. After the book was published, I felt that wanted to find current research, and needed a new blog home for that. I was invited to participate on the Wellness information portal, and thought that the blog required such a transformation. My information morphed into Ontario Seniors blog. Other than this information, I have refrained from those AWFUL, annoying Google ads...

Then, I began ranting, that required this blog. There are those who keeps stats on opinions. I felt mine was an informed, valid viewpoint from a demographic that often gets short shrift!

The final piece to my puzzle is the book I want to write on teaching. I realized how little we Thank Our Teachers, and my goal, before my parents became so ill, was to write this book. I ended up writing about the health care system. Such is life!