Disqus - Latest Comments for AJ_Kohn

Re: Levels of Wealth

AJ Kohn — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 12:02:59 -0000

I feel like there should be more levels between 3 and 4.

Re: The Best Since Sliced Bread

AJ Kohn — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 14:03:47 -0000

I think the modern-day version is 'the best thing since skip intro'.

Re: The Final Chapter of My First Startup

AJ Kohn — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 19:50:13 -0000

I'm super happy for you and Geraldine.

To me, whether SparkToro is successful or not, or the fact that you finally got the payday and whatever went down at Moz, you have always been ... enough.

You are interesting, intelligent and generous.

Re: Overcoming Bias Against Bigness

AJ Kohn — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 15:03:19 -0000

This is an interesting observation. Would the New Deal and WPA happen today? Unlikely given the current political climate. But many of the projects built by this nearly 80 year old program are still in use today.

Incrementalism has its place but at times a punctuated equilibrium is needed.

Re: Provable Marketing Attribution is a Boondoggle; Trust Your Gut Instead

AJ Kohn — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 12:03:38 -0000

107% agree. It's fine if you're a massive organization with the resources and talent to develop high-level attribution. For everyone else, the juice is not worth the squeeze.

Worse, I find that the attribution systems in many places are just ... wrong. So you're actually making decisions based on incorrect data. It might make people feel better in a 'we follow the numbers' type of way, but it doesn't lead to success.

I generally try to convince people of this by asking them how they decided to go to that new restaurant in town. You drive by it one day. You Google it and see what it's about. You remember it when it comes up in one of your feeds about new restaurants. A friend checks in at it on Facebook. You message them to ask about it. You go back to the website directly and look at it again. Yelp emails you about new restaurants and this one is on the list.

It goes on an on. And you can replicate this for any type of activity. Trust me, whoever I get to do the remodel of my home will have no real way to figure out how I came to that decision. But they'll probably be active on Houzz, have a good website, good reviews and have good word-of-mouth.

Re: How to rank for head terms

AJ Kohn — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 10:04:46 -0000

I really like this piece Tom and it reflects much of what I've seen (and just wrote about) as well.

Two quick things to add. I'm relatively certain the metric for success for Google is time to long click (http://www.blindfiveyearold... and includes both of those data points you mention here.

The shuffling of search results to gain feedback reminds me of the old method of interleaving (http://www.cs.cornell.edu/~..., which seemed promising. My best guess is that a version of this exists today but uses machine learning as the engine to speed results.

Finally, thank you for the statistical bits here. One of the things I've been telling clients is that traditional signals get you to page one but engagement signals get you to the top of page one. The link correlations you tease out here (while obviously not definitive) help me to better make that case.

Re: Google Search Console Average Position Metric Broken?

AJ Kohn — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 18:56:15 -0000

It could be a bug or ... it could be something else.

http://www.blindfiveyearold...

Re: I’m Disappointed That Hillary Lost. But I’m Terrified That Trump Won.

AJ Kohn — Sun, 20 Nov 2016 06:27:55 -0000

You got me. I mean, I haven't watched that video ... since the day after the election.

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Last word.

Re: I’m Disappointed That Hillary Lost. But I’m Terrified That Trump Won.

AJ Kohn — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 20:18:25 -0000

Last word.

Re: I’m Disappointed That Hillary Lost. But I’m Terrified That Trump Won.

AJ Kohn — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 19:29:40 -0000

LOL. Lots of words doesn't equal substance. I know, trollers have to troll. You've done well. Have a nice day.

Re: I’m Disappointed That Hillary Lost. But I’m Terrified That Trump Won.

AJ Kohn — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 11:46:48 -0000

Discernment. When the perspective that there is no such thing as climate change or that vaccines cause autism is presented, discernment is in knowing these are false and should be discarded.

It is not enough to be exposed to other perspectives but that you are able to discern whether to accept or reject them. Otherwise, hey, maybe the world is flat, right?

I mention Alex Jones, Sandy Hook as a way to provide evidence that other perspectives are clearly known. That you fail to know the history of this country (as evidenced in other threads) also points to a lack of perspective and knowledge.

Hey, did you know that you didn't actually refute my argument? But why bother? You've shifted into victim mode. That's fine. Enjoy your day.

Re: I’m Disappointed That Hillary Lost. But I’m Terrified That Trump Won.

AJ Kohn — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 10:15:05 -0000

No you clearly don't understand.

Here's another source of information you should take into account.

http://www.snopes.com/hilla...

Re: I’m Disappointed That Hillary Lost. But I’m Terrified That Trump Won.

AJ Kohn — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 10:08:20 -0000

Wow. You have no idea what you're talking about then if you don't even know who Alex Jones is and what Sandy Hook is about.

Your rush to claim the moral high-ground of being more open to other perspectives doesn't make you smarter or better. If you don't bring some discernment to what you digest then having those other perspectives is irrelevant.

So lets cap this off with some actual critical thinking skills. Lets go through your 'logic' about Trump not being a misogynist because he relied on women in his campaign. So, the slave owner who relied on his black slaves to pick his crops and make a mint isn't a racist?

Re: I’m Disappointed That Hillary Lost. But I’m Terrified That Trump Won.

AJ Kohn — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 21:43:28 -0000

Scott Adams? The guy who says that everything good about America was built by men? Please! The guy is a raging misogynist who is scared that if women are given their due that he'll somehow be less of a man.

You want to put your faith behind a guy who is SO terrified of his own self worth that he has to put women down? Yeah, a real paragon of a proud American.

The rest isn't even worth addressing. Go watch some Alex Jones and tell me how Sandy Hook was fake. That's certainly not in the mainstream media.

Re: I’m Disappointed That Hillary Lost. But I’m Terrified That Trump Won.

AJ Kohn — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 12:24:32 -0000

I don't know quite what to say except I feel the same. I am gutted about this election.

The sad part for me is trying to engage with Trump supporters over the last week and finding that all too many really do find racism and xenophobia to be acceptable.

It's not always overt but it's in the way they write off the reports of hate crimes or, even more despicable, claim the over-reaction is just because we need 'safe spaces' and that we're weak.

Do these people feel a sense of pride when they belittle someone? I am just ... amazed at the gall of those not impacted by this rhetoric pushing out memes on Facebook asking for more 'clear thinking'. I'm sure the muslim woman being told she'll be set on fire if she keeps wearing her hijab admires your faux-neutrality.

To me, this is about personal responsibility - one of those things conservatives are so happy to drone on about. If you voted for Trump you are personally responsible for whatever happens as a result.

You might not have thought all these racist things would happen but this wasn't some hidden thing. You voted in spite of that. So the fear of all those people - that's on you. When lives are ruined because of this - that's on you. And I will remind them of this fact.

I am consoled knowing more people voted for Hillary than Trump. More people reject racism, misogyny and xenophobia than embrace it. And while I will work hard to be a positive force and to be the change, I'm also making sure that those who voted the other way own it.

Ugh, I didn't mean to write this much. It's hard not to get worked up. Be well. Be safe. Be fierce.

Re: Google Lowers Image Search Box In Web Search

AJ Kohn — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 15:28:00 -0000

Could be related to the appearance of thumbnails in mobile search results. You don't need an image carousel if most of the results have a thumbnail.

Re: What Are the Most Powerful, Mind-Expanding Ads You’ve Seen?

AJ Kohn — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 20:37:12 -0000

I love this ad. I wish I could give it 10 votes.

Re: What Are the Most Powerful, Mind-Expanding Ads You’ve Seen?

AJ Kohn — Sun, 28 Aug 2016 21:00:44 -0000

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Perhaps the best online ad series with a partnership between BuzzFeed and Friskies. Honestly, these don't even feel like ads.

Re: What Are the Most Powerful, Mind-Expanding Ads You’ve Seen?

AJ Kohn — Sun, 28 Aug 2016 20:56:44 -0000

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Clearly made for the Internet and with 36MM views I think it hit the mark.

Re: What Are the Most Powerful, Mind-Expanding Ads You’ve Seen?

AJ Kohn — Sun, 28 Aug 2016 20:52:55 -0000

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

I wasn't a real fan of this ad at the time but I think it was a very brave thing for Nationwide to do and probably got a vital message across to a lot of folks who needed to hear it.

Re: What Are the Most Powerful, Mind-Expanding Ads You’ve Seen?

AJ Kohn — Sun, 28 Aug 2016 20:42:18 -0000

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Sometimes the most random of things can stick in your he- eyebrows.

Re: What Are the Most Powerful, Mind-Expanding Ads You’ve Seen?

AJ Kohn — Sun, 28 Aug 2016 20:35:02 -0000

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

To me one of the first ads that taught me the lesson to show, not tell.

Re: What Are the Most Powerful, Mind-Expanding Ads You’ve Seen?

AJ Kohn — Sun, 28 Aug 2016 20:30:52 -0000

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

I like ads that I remember and this is one I can't ever forget.

Re: What Are the Most Powerful, Mind-Expanding Ads You’ve Seen?

AJ Kohn — Sun, 28 Aug 2016 20:29:06 -0000

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Perhaps the most iconic ad that kicked off the personal computer revolution.

Re: Proof That 301 Redirects To Less-Relevant Pages Are Seen As Soft 404s To Google [Case Study]

AJ Kohn — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 14:26:40 -0000

I think it's safe to say that the best option is always to 301 in a horizontal fashion, meaning that the content has to be on the same 'node' (product A to product B) and not vertical (product A to category A).

That being said there's a bunch of nuance to this in my opinion. Sometimes there are other reasons to choose a 301 versus a 404. Maybe there are a bunch of pages that are just truly dead and Google keeps crawling them. For whatever reason they often keep getting pinged no matter how many times you play whack-a-mole with them in GSC.

So a redirect can sometimes shorten the timeframe involved and get you to a clean crawl far quicker. At that point I don't care about link equity. I care about crawl efficiency. So does my 'illegal' 301 help me get there faster? I can't say for sure but ... it seems that way.

I'd also say that if you do the redirect but do so with JS messaging then the user experience actually improves. So if product A now redirects to category A with a message that product A was discontinued but that they have other similar items for them to browse ... well, isn't that a good thing? Haven't I reduced the friction for that user and landed them on the best alternative?

Even the best 404 page is likely going to chase more people away than an explanation and engaging experience right at their fingertips.

If I go to my favorite froyo store they might have a sign up that says the dutch chocolate is no longer available but the kona coffee flavor has now arrived. That's a whole lot better than having an empty froyo tap that tells me I can find other flavors elsewhere in the store.

That's not the best analogy but ... it'll do for now. Good stuff here Glenn.