This is my last post on travel tips and lessons I learned from my 17 day trip to India. I had only Google Chrome installed on my smartphone. I had removed the Samsung browser before I left the office to streamline my applications. Here’s why you need more than just Chrome on your smartphone.
In Amsterdam, I could not get on the airport’s free Wi-Fi. Even though I had a VPN app, Chrome would not open the second screen which would allow me to accept the terms and so I could not use Wi-Fi. Google decided that it simply did not like the security of the connection and so decided for me to lock down my access. Thanks Google. 🙁
To solve the problem, I downloaded Firefox for my smartphone later in my trip. Firefox let’s you be in charge of your own security and so it allowed me to login and accept terms on my return trip through Amsterdam. Then I could be connected to the free airport Wi-Fi and then allow me to choose to turn on my secure VPN app to surf, email, and work securely. You’ve just got to love the flexibility of Firefox!
The lesson learned is don’t depend solely on Google products and Google apps when you travel. Google can lock your access down, choose not to show Wi-Fi login screens, and in general restrict your Google.com, AdWords, and Gmail access. Make sure you have an alternative browser and secure VPN app to get online and stay secure when you travel.
Traveling to India for pleasure and trying to check in with the office and stay secure was a challenge. Here are some lessons I learned from my last trip.
First, make sure you have two browsers installed on your laptop. One for use and one for backup. I found that Google and Google Chrome sometimes did not like an insecure connection and would lock me out of all Google properties.
I downloaded Opera as a browser half way through my trip when I found out that it had an integrated VPN. NordVPN, a standalone subscription services, which I thought I would use for secure access on my laptop, before my travel was crashed my Wi-Fi repeatedly and the software had to be removed before I left my office for my trip.
Limping along with my smartphone I was able to securely do some work. Using Opera as my browser for my laptop finally allowed me to work securely even over unsecured hotel Wi-Fi and even on networks that Google locked me out of using Chrome. To enable the integrated VPN, open Opera, go to menu on the left, then settings, then privacy and security and then tick to enable VPN.
Before I found Opera’s integrated browser VPN my smartphone was the most secure way for me to be in touch and even do work while in India. But it is hard to really do work on a smartphone. You can download Opera for your own laptop and next trip by visiting this link to the Opera.com site.
I’ve just returned from personal travel to India and wanted to share with you a few tips I learned along the way. There’s no need to be tethered to a charging station at the airport or miss an important call or suffer from a dead camera battery. Portable power packs are more practical and better than ever at keeping you charged anytime, anywhere!
My husband bought an Anker PowerCore 20000 with Quick Charge 3.0, 20000mAh Power Pack Portable Charger with Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0, for Samsung and iPhones from Amazon before our trip and it was worth its weight in gold!
This portable power pack fits in my purse and charges two devices at a time and only needs a recharge after several days use. I was able to charge smartphones and even my camera all while on the go. Just make sure that when you travel you put the power pack in your carry on as it should not go into packed luggage.
What I liked most was we were able to use the powered up charger on the go for about 3 or four days straight without having to charge up the power pack up again. Sometimes at hotels we simply charged with the power pack and not even a wall charger.
I am not being paid for this review, just wanted to share a cool travel tool with you that has really worked for me.
As a Google Partner specializing in AdWords, I want to share several key benefits with you as to why working with a Google Partner in AdWords is important.
Google Tests Us Yearly
Each year I have to recertify with Google to keep my Partner status. I take the AdWords Fundamental Exam every year and every other year I also take the AdWords Advanced Search Exam. These are not “gimme” tests. I study over 30 hours for each professional certification examination and am tested on over 1,000 pages of features in AdWords as well as account management techniques.
These exams are hard. They are comprehensive, and studying the materials is a key to staying up-to-date on AdWords features and their use. I personally feel that I benefit tremendously from these intensive refreshers and so do my clients.
Google Evaluates Our Account Management Practices
As a Google Partner, Google monitors activity in my MCC (My Client Center) account. The MCC is where all my firm’s client accounts are linked, to allow me one login to manage all accounts. Google reviews how frequently I am in client accounts, the benefit of the changes I make to account performance and the features I am are using for each account.
Google Evaluates What I Do for Clients and How I Market Our Services
As part of initially establishing my firm as a Google Partner, Google had a third party review all my reports to clients, my marketing materials, and how I marketed Google Products to clients. Google means business when they share their name with firm and allow Google Partner Status. As a Google Partner I am held to a higher standard than others who sell similar services. There are 5,000 Google Partners worldwide.
If you want peace of mind that your AdWords account manager is skilled to provide quality services, Google has done the vetting for you before awarding Google Partner status.
The Benefits of Using McCord Web Services as Your Account Manager
I have been an AdWords account manager for over 10 years. From a depth of experience, I understand how to leverage activity on AdWords to drive traffic, increase exposure but most importantly to generate leads for your AdWords program.
Routine management of your account includes a review two or three times a week based on what I am testing or evaluating. During each review I look to boost click activity, conversions, and the click through rate by refining keywords, adding negative keywords, reviewing actual search queries and reviewing and refining ad text. Additionally I review and add new features as they are available, troubleshoot performance problems, and give advice on landing page and website improvements. I am always keeping an eye on performance and the cost per conversion for your program.
With advanced knowledge of the AdWords system, years of account management experience, I have been able to guide manyAdWords programs to success and boost inquiries through AdWords.
I have personally love the challenge of working in AdWords and live and breathe AdWords.
I work hard to be accessible to you and to offer honest advice and recommendations for Google AdWords as well as for content back on your website to lead visitors into contacting you with a program or service inquiry through our monthly strategy phone calls.
If you are ready for us to manage your AdWords program, know that our fees are affordable, our communication is proactive, and we are seriously focused on exceeding your expectations in all we do.
Google My Business verification should not be so hard! For owners of a single business verification is a snap – complete your profile, ask for a letter to be mailed to you, confirm the PIN number Google sends to you. But if you are an owner of multiple businesses that you run out of separate offices, brace yourself for the run around from Google when you try to verify a second business.
Just this last week, a supervisor at Google My Business finally told me that Google would never verify my client’s second account. We had been working diligently since October 11th to provide all the information and documentation pictures the Google staff said it needed for review. I have to say I was nearly foaming from the mouth when I heard that final response!
It is unthinkable that Google has such vague standards when it comes to business verification; rules that are not in step with small businesses located in the USA. Additionally, add a language difficulty , as the staff appears to all be located in India, and the difficulty grows exponentially.
Ridiculousness at Its Best
I was told to supply a photo of both suite doors and signage on each but as there was a wall between the two, Google did not like the image. I could not knock down a wall in order to provide the photo.
I was told to take a picture of exterior signage for the business, but as the client is in an office condo park, no businesses have exterior signage unless they own a whole floor. Another fail!
I was told to take a picture of the reception desk with the large company sign behind the receptionist. Okay let’s get real, this was a small business, they have an office, but not a glitzy reception area and no need for an inside sign, they know who they are! A fail again.
Finally, I was told that the font on the second business sign did not match the font on the sign on the first business. Wow, that was an eye opener!
Then I was told that due to the history of requests and images sent as we tried to give Google what they wanted for over a two month period, that they did not believe the client ran two businesses. So, the history of what I had sent to Google based on the account reps requests totally worked against the client.
Nothing should be this difficult to resolve, but it’s Google! Understand that on Google My Business verifications, Google does run the world.
If you are a do-it-yourself AdWords account manager for your own business, and have never hired a professional manager, here are some things that you may be missing out on using that will boost performance.
Extensions
I frequently see that a diy (do it yourself) AdWords manager does not understand the power of using extensions. Most frequently callouts and location extensions are not being used. Sitelinks may not be tailored to the ad group, and phone extensions are set up to not use Google Forwarding and recording calls as conversions.
Bidding Strategies
More frequently than not, I see manual bidding used in self-managed AdWords account. Using automated bidding you may see up to a 30% boost in traffic. Using CPA bidding or cost per acquisition bidding you may see a drop in clicks but as much as a 20% increase in conversions.
Ad Text
Most frequently I see that account owners who are managing their own AdWords accounts are not using dynamic keyword insertion in ad text. Using dynamic keyword insertion increases conversions. When ads are A/B tested with and without dynamic keyword insertion, those that insert the keywords always out perform the other ads.
If you have been managing your own AdWords account and frequently think that AdWords is not performing or is simply too expensive, it is time to get professional help.
With over 10 year of professional AdWords account management experience, McCord Web Services is the resource you need to whip your AdWords account into shape and have it start performing for you.