- My presentation on Analytics was great fun (download the PPT here). I fought a bit with Brian Clifton from Google Analytics - do they really have action tracking? Last time I looked (a few months back), their segmentation tools were virtually non-existent. He's a bit of a combatitive guy (damn smart, too), but it made the session incredibly engaging. I think the SES crowd loves a good conflict.
- Rebecca and Scott made it back from Paris - they'll give that good run-down, but suffice to say, they're in one piece and haven't yet been lured to the dark side by the blackhats who paid for their trip (300 quid to take the train!)
- I couldn't make the LondonSEO party, but I really wanted to, as I missed folks like Ammon Johns & Lisa Ditlefsen (who I promised I'd see). If I wasn't so ungodly sick, I surely would have come.
- Yahoo!'s results seem to be amazingly good lately. Several folks have remarked on it, and I think it might be worth doing a side-by-side comparison.
- Matt Cutts got mobbed in the speaker room a few times - they normally have security there, but it would appear the Brits are too powerful for that. I think Matt was struggling to cope with the deluge - it looked worse than San Jose or New York. British Cuttlets are going down in my books as the most relentless; I'm impressed. It must be all that advice you see at forums suggesting that a webmaster "goes and tracks down MC at a conference." Hopefully his Dublin trip will be a bit calmer.
- As I'm sitting at the conference hall exit, sniffling into my toilet paper and feeling entirely awful, Sosh Howell, whom I've never met before asks if I'm sick. When I reply in the affirmative, he gives me some British Theraflu type medicine which really helped me catch some zzzs this afternoon. Thanks, Sosh, you're a lifesaver.
- Thomas Bindl stopped by as I was scarfing down a burger in the hotel bar (around 10pm) with some more goodies, and an invite to SES Munich. If Mystery Guest can make it, I'm in, if not, I just can't leave her alone so much - I really feel like this week was hard for both of us.
- Met one of Matt's web spam team guys, Brian White, today - as friendly as they come. He really reminded me of Detlev Johnson for some reason. We talked a bit about international domain issues and duplicate content - a question which, at this time, still doesn't have a good answer.
By: Rand Fishkin
Last Night in London
Events
The author's views are entirely his or her own (excluding the unlikely event of hypnosis) and may not always reflect the views of Moz.
I'm sick as a dog, but the people must have their blogs, and so I bring you tidbits - good ones, though.
Speak for yourself, buddy. I'm just been through quite the seomoz bender :)
Hi Rand. Your presentation is ideal for a basic audience (I am speaking on "So now you're a Web Analyst?" at the Emetrics Summit in San Francisco and so am attuned to this topic..) However, I think there are better resources available than the ones you cited in your last slide. The best one is probably Avinash Kaushik's blog, and there are a few excellent Google Analytics blogs.
I cried while watching Geraldine accept your proposal. rfs
rsteif - Thanks, I was asked to give the intro to analytics presentation, hence the basics. Good call on Avinash's blog, though.
I must agree that they are doing much better. Check out a comparison of SERPs for Viagra. Yahoo is outperforming by a mile. Looks like they are doing well with their spam filter to me!
Can't wait to see a comparison of the two here on the moz.
You should really head out to a pharmacy out there...they have much better OTC stuff in Europe than they do in the US.
And I wouldn't count on Dublin being calmer...if you think they can drink in England, wait till you see what goes on in Dublin.
If you haven't been to Germany, I would also suggest you really try and make that trip. Beautiful country and friendly people...
Hope you get well soon.....
Hello Rand,
You can track actions inside Google Analytics, but it does require some tweaking that isn't just your standard pop the five lines on and you're set. You can also see more information such as referring source on which messageboard/forum is bringing you the traffic by adding additional tracking code to your site. Like I said, quite a pain, but it is technically possible.
Jeff Lawrence
Hey Rand well done for getting through SES London - hope you're better now!
Just a note to say after the presentation I did actually find the action tracking element of Google Analytics...
https://www.google.com/support/analytics/bin/answer.py?answer=27244&query=javascript&topic=&type=
Who wouldda thought it?! I was about to dump google for some other analytics but that's just saved it for me. Just wish the information was real-time thats my only gripe.
Yeah, its sucks feeling shitty in London, such a cool city and everybody is so friendly. I'm sure I'll be seeing you around more.
I haven't felt neglected at all. If anything, the little bits of "personal" stuff helps balance out being completely overwhelmed by computer related stuff. Things like the engagement, AWOL coworkers, etc remind me that I'm dealing with actual people out there. What I'd really like to know is how others cope with getting a bit burnt out - something I'm wrestling with lately.
I don't really think so, I have enjoyed the intervals of personality. Hope you get over the sickeness Rand.
I also think Yahoo! results got better in the last couple of weeks.
No problem about not making LondonSEO, just glad to hear you're OK. We were a little worried about you, as no one saw you after the conference and your team were busy getting headhunted in Paris ;)
Ha, Brian Smith and Detlev Johnson.
You are so right.
Too funny.
Get well soon.
Oh, adding comments do not work in Safari, if you need more details, email me.
If you're using safari you'll have to disable the javascript wysiwig editor in your account settings. There's a link underneath the comment box.
That worked, thanks!
Hi Rand,
Bless you, you really didn't seem well. Don't worry I totally forgive you for not coming to the party!
I will be posting some pictures from the party on my blog later today (evilgreenmonkey drunk and Vanessa Fox knocking down the tequilas). How's that for link bait?
Anyway it was great to finally meet you Rand, and hope you feel better soon!
I can confirm that it was Tequila for DaveN and Vanessa and straight vodka for Danny Sullivan!
Great to meet you yesterday Lisa, I look forward to seeing the photos from last night.
BTW I didn't manage to get to Brighton in the end, but thanks for directing me to a tube... I was having trouble seeing at the time and my early morning adventures around Victoria and Clapham would not have been as fun in the Docklands...
I have uploaded the photos from the SEOLondon.org party now. Some great drunken photos there, househunter one of you knocking down the tequila =) So glad I stayed away from those evil shots. Also some great photos on LondonSEO site