10. The 3Rs of working with bloggers
This post looking at blogger-online PR relationships was the tenth most read blog of 2013. The blog included interviews with several popular fashion bloggers, who explained why they hate the term outreach and how the industry was guilty of a general lack of personalisation in emails.
The bloggers also outlined what makes them link back to a post and why great communication is key to getting a blogger to recommend a brand. Read the full post here.
9. Google Glass: A private eye?
Google Glass, the internet giants long anticipated debut in the wearable technology market, captured the imagination of the digital industry as a whole this year – and it was no different on our blog.
This post from July looked at the many privacy issues surrounding Googles sci-fi-esque eyewear (pictured left) and how they will effect data protection.
Read the full blog here.
8. The future of search: An ex-Google perspective
Despite only being published with just two weeks left in the calendar year this blog, which interviewed two former Google employees on what they thought the future of search marketing would look like, features in our list at number eight. Covering everything from why sites with spammy backlinks are still ranking to the biggest mistake Google has made, this was also one of the most socially shared blogs of 2013. You can read the full post here.
7. How to open a Baidu PPC account
This blog, the first in our top 10 not written in 2013, is a four-step guide to opening a Baidu PPC account. The guide detailed the required documentation for opening a PPC account on China’s dominant search engine, along with the total initial funds necessary to deposit. Read the full blog here or an updated 2013 version here.
6. Google Rhino update: Google stop being so cute!
This blog owes its presence in this list entirely to Google image search, with the included photo (right) in the article ranking number one for rhino!
The post lamented Googles penchant for naming its search algorithm updates after docile animals such as penguins and pandas, instead calling on the internet company to get tough with spammers and release a formidable Rhino update.
Read the full blog here.
5. Time series decomposition using Excel
At number five in our top 10 is Time series decomposition using Excel. This in-depth blog tackled how to explain a signal (i.e. page hits) over time and take into account a cyclical or seasonal element. The post was formatted into five steps, each explaining just how to break down a time series into constituent elements. You can read the post in full here.
4. Ecommerce opportunities in Russia
This infographic-based blog detailed the various reasons why Russia is an ecommerce market that is full of potential for UK retailers. The infographic, the first of two we have produced on the Russian market in 2013, covered just what the ecommerce opportunity in the country is, as well stats on the social media usage and buying persona of the Russian online consumer. To view the infographic click here.
3. Data analysis for SEO & PPC
At number three is the second appearance of a blog by our resident Data Analyst Adam Roberts, who was also responsible for the fifth-placed Time series decomposition using Excel. Using Excels Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) editor to create bespoke functions to manage data from SEO and PPC campaigns was the topic of this post. It included guides on how to use VBA to analyse keywords, count words and add code, along with a list of tips to consider when using VBA. Read the full blog here.
2. How to implement rich snippets
In second place in our list is How to implement rich snippets. Originally published in 2012 this blog explained just what rich snippets are – the lines of text that are displayed in a websites listing within the search engine – how to create them and then finally how to test them. The full post can be viewed here.
1. Common causes of self-referrals in Google Analytics
Coming in at number one and the most read blog of 2013 is Common causes of self-referrals in Google Analytics. Clear by some distance in the popularity stakes this post, which was penned in March 2012, shed light on one of the most frequently seen issues in Google Analytics; self-referrals. It provided 10 possible reasons why self-referrals may be being caused, including missing tracking code on pages, cookie data and resolution. You can read the blog in full here.
Insights
