Just A Minute! Hi Reader, Whenever I build a website, I use all kinds of tools for marketing (analytics, heatmaps, click tracking), but sometimes, I add in one simple question on contact forms as well: "How did you hear about us?" The answers people give are mostly predictable: Google, Facebook, or the always-unhelpful “Online” (facepalm). But every once in a while, something surprising pops up. This week, I saw one that made me think: "Just a minute!" A user wrote: "Perplexity." Of course, I...
7 months ago • 2 min read
Just A Minute! Don't Delete This Incredibly Boring Email Hi Reader, Often, people I know (not just clients, but also friends, family, even my parents) forward me an email from GoDaddy or another domain registrar with a subject like: "Update your domain contact information" and ask: "Is this email important? Do I need to do anything?" I don't know why registrars do this: it's confusing and annoying. Okay, so I actually know why they do it... It's laid out clearly in the body of the email...
8 months ago • 2 min read
Just A Minute! What Wine Pairs Best With Kangaroo? Hi Reader, I turned 40 on Saturday. For my birthday, my wife and I went out to a fine dining establishment here in Southern Arizona. You know the kind of place: Southwestern architecture, adobe walls, dark, exposed wood beams… suffice it to say it was pricey, and I knew it would be. We sat down, ordered bread, and I got a gin and tonic while perusing the menu. It was pretty standard fare: New York Strip, Rack of Lamb, Bison fillet, and—JUST A...
8 months ago • 2 min read
Just A Minute! SEO is Dead, Say Hello to GEO! Hi Reader, "A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Mark Twain By now, I'm sure you've heard: "SEO is dead. It's all about AI now." I've heard it so many times it's making my head spin. But today, I saw something that really takes the cake: not only is this a topic of conversation around the office water cooler, but even major publications are getting in on it. From New York Magazine: SEO Is Dead....
9 months ago • 4 min read
Just A Minute! Why Do I Keep Getting Calls Asking Me To “Verify My Google Listing?” Hi Reader, If you own a business, you’ve probably gotten tons of those annoying robocalls: “Press 1 to verify your Google listing now...” They're urgent! They're scary! They're... fake! Some companies get dozens of these every month. I got one myself this morning that said: "We're having an urgent issue with your Google business listing and would like to get this fixed before the end of the day..." Sounds...
9 months ago • 2 min read
Just A Minute! I Got A $300 Bill To Renew My Domain? Hi Reader, One of the most common scams I've seen lately is the "domain listing" or "domain renewal" scam. My clients are getting letters (yes, actual paper letters) in the mail demanding $200 - $300, with big, scary phrases like "DOMAIN NAME EXPIRATION NOTICE" in bold and all caps. (Here's a photo of one, in case you want to see it.) What's the deal with that? If you have a website, you're already paying for this... right? Yes, you are....
9 months ago • 1 min read
"Just A Minute!" Short updates from me you'll actually appreciate Hi Reader, Recently, one of my hosting clients forwarded me a scary email she wasn't sure about. "I just got a legal notice saying my website is infringing on copyright. Is this legit?" I checked it out and told her it was junk (a scam, not a real threat). I also shared a link to a blog post I had written about it. She thanked me for my help, then asked a question that made me feel kind of stupid. "Wow, why am I not already...
9 months ago • 1 min read