So it all hit me the other day, we’ve got a whole system of economics is just paper and plastic.  Money used to be trees, we cut them down, make paper, print a design on them with green and black ink, then we move them into piles, send them to banks and lo and behold, we have money.  You used to go to work, then you get paid in money.  Then it was by check, and now I don’t even see a check, the “money” is wired to my account and then I “wire” it out through online billpay.

So what does all of this mean?  I’m not so concerned with money anymore.  I’m concerned with people, with activities and actions, with society and with social ethics and moreys.  We’ve got to stop thinking about “how can I screw the system to my benefit!”  “How can I go into mountains of debt, just to keep up with the Joneses?”  “How can I get it all now, and pay for it later.”

Thankfully, I think we’ve started to move away from that thinking, we’ll be back, but at least for a generation now we’ll get back to saving, thinking for the future, spending wisely and not overspending out futures.  That’s my plan.  Everything else will settle down after a while.

So anyone with a website and Google Analytics is aware that Google made some major changes in the past two weeks.  For my sites, March 6th 2010 to be exact.

What does the new Google layout mean?
Well, depends if you’re just a content user of Google or if you are running websites that rely on regular traffic from that search engine.  For example, one of my websites has over 15,000 images indexed in Google Image Search, and starting on May 6th, a 90%+ drop in traffic from images.google.com has been reported!  YIKES! (huh, Google’s dropped me to 9,600 inxeded now!)

The New Google Layout – Why Does Google Look different?  May 8th – Tracy Edenloft

New Google Layout - May 2010

Why New Google SERPs Might mean More traffic for you.  May 7 – webproworld.com

Google Referrals Way Down Since the SERP LayOut Change? May 9 – webmasterworld.com

By now, everyone around the world should be seeing the new look and feel for Google.  It’s Google’s way of keeping up I guess.

The interface has a similar front-page with the same old search box that it’s always had.  However, now when you get your listing, while you still have the top-bar that you’re used to (web video images maps …) now you have a new (and very colorful) menu system on the left.  (everything, images, video, news, maps, etc…).  Huh, how about that?  It’s just a repeat of what’s at top, just very colorful.

Critique
What’s wrong with this?  Nothing, if you’re into natural search and not into clicking on ads.  What I see is similar to when a kid first learns how to highlight a book.  When everything is highlighted, then nothing stands out.  It used to be that the Google Adwords stood out from the rest of the organic listings, and they certainly stood out on the page.  Not so much anymore.  Now everything is equally blended.

What’s the result?
One of my campaigns is showing well under 30% of the clicks that it usually sees.  I used to have to cap each campaign, otherwise the clicks would keep coming, not so for the last two weeks.  Most days the cost is well under half of my daily budget.  This has to be costing Google a fortune if other people are experiencing what I am.  We’re getting half the clicks (less actuall) and spending half the monry.  Plus, the clicks coming in are less well qualified and are converting much less than they did even two weeks ago.

Summary?
Google did WAY too much, WAY too fast and will leave online marketers searching quickly for ways to boost their trafic rankings.  This may be non-Google advertising, organic SEO campaigns, social media, etc.  Maybe this might settle down after people get used to these changes, I guess time will tell.

This is something I’ve wanted to write about for a while, it’s not even all that long of a post today, as the concept is really something that I’ve been struggling with and I think many of you are as well.

When a job needs to be done around your house, on your car, to your landscaping, etc.  Do you do the job yourself or do you hire a contractor?  The question really isn’t necessarily one of laziness, time, money and all of that.  There are a lot of things to consider including your overall schedule.

What does it cost in money?
We’re talking about getting a retaining wall build for flowers in the front yard.  We live on a corner lot, so it’s really quite a big undertaking as it would go across one entire lenth of the house, turn the corner and then go across the other length as well.  I paced it off at nearly 150 feet. 

That’s a lot of work, and while it’s mostly flat we’re talking about excavating the old dirt (and finding a place to put it), making certain that it’s flat, packing that down and putting down the crushed rock buffer, making certain it’s all lined up, etc.  It’s not rocket science, but it will take a lot of work to get it right.  Do I want to do that?  — More importantly, what will it cost me vs. other work that I can do?