Doug’s Mouthpiece – Droug.co.uk

Harry Potter

Fun written by Doug Scott

One for the kids in you

Click here

Doug as a child

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Drug Cartels – oh sorry Travel Cartels and google adwords bidding

Google, Online Stuff for Saddos written by Doug Scott

Isn’t this illegal?

Straight from Travolution:

A number of UK travel companies would consider “gentleman’s agreements” to prevent escalating keyword costs as a result of Google’s decision to scrap trademark protection.

Travolution has learned that discussions have already taken place between major travel companies from a variety of sectors after Google reversed a long-standing policy to protect bidding on company brand names.

Some travel companies are also seeking legal advice in a bid to ensure rivals and other travel agencies do not exploit the switch.

It is feared that a sudden open playing field will produce an extremely costly bidding war between major players in the industry.

As a result, it is believed that informal discussions have taken place behind the scenes between rival companies to agree not to bid on one another’s brand names.

Other senior executives across the industry contacted by Travolution have confirmed they would be interested in an informal arrangement to prevent escalating keyword costs.

Travolution reported last week that one leading UK travel brand estimated that 25% of its current PPC budget might be needed to protect its brand name in Google search.

Another major company executive suggested a similar figure this week if the widely expected “feeding frenzy” takes place.

One senior figure told Travolution: “There is a desire for this to not to get completely out of hand and therefore it makes sense for like-minded companies to come to some agreement.”

It is widely feared that a similar situation to that which occurred in the US in 2004 will take place in the UK when the trademark ban is lifted in early-May.

“There was so much money blown in those first few weeks it was incredible. We do not want to be in that situation again,” an executive who worked in the US at the time said this week.

A Google spokesman said: “Brands have always been able to come to an agreement amongst themselves and this new policy does not change that position.”

How will it effect our little old travel agency?

Doug not bidding

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Write in Wikipedia and change history

Interesting stuff, Online Stuff for Saddos written by Doug Scott

Who made the comment?

History is written by the victor

Hitler

Churchil

Stalin

Ceasar

Jimmy Wales

Now many people may ask who Jimmy Wales is, well he is the founder of Wikipedia, who changed his own biography. If you wish to change history get onto Wikipedia and start changing the facts, over time your info will get mixed into Wikipedia’s real truth.

Wikipedia – “the ministry of truth” 1984, George Orwell

DEATHPEDIA

Doug still telling the truth

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Karl Rove – the puppet master – where has he gone?

Politics written by Doug Scott

They say behind every good man is a woman. However, for George Bush, it was Karl Rove who pulls his strings.

Since Rove’s resignation in August 2007, Bush has been without his right hand man. Once called a ‘boy genius’ by the U.S. president, Rove successfully masterminded Bush’s political career.

As possibly the world’s most powerful advisor, Karl Rove has a colourful political career which spans over thirty years. Perhaps is style is best illustrated by the events of 1970. As a teenager, Rove turned up to volunteer for the election campaign of Alan Dixon who was running for the post of Illinois state treasurer. Entering and leaving the campaign’s Chicago headquarters quickly, no one took much notice of the bespectacled teen.

They certainly didn’t think of associating innocent-looking Rove with a thousand invitations, printed on official stationery which were handed out in the city’s homeless shelters and red-light district that promised “free beer, free food, girls and a good time for nothing.”

While Dixon was able to play down the event and still secure his elected post, Rove has outshone him by far. Despite only a high school education, Rove has managed to progress to the White House. While he may not have a title as impressive as the president, he holds a role much more powerful, for he is, without a doubt, Bush’s puppet master.

Rove has overseen the transformation of George W. Bush from a hard-drinking politician’s son into U.S. president. And for any of us who have heard Bush’s speeches which are the fodder of late night talk show hosts, that is a mean feat.

While many election campaign coordinators are cast aside upon reaching the Oval Office, Rove has been by Bush’s side since his election as governor of Texas. While the Rove camp refuses to speak out on his role, many unauthorized biographies have spoke of how he is the Bush presidency’s most powerful player.

Rove biographer Lou Dubose said: “I think it’s an enormous position of power, and it’s hard to overstate. I think he’s unique in the modern presidency.”

The Bush presidency has managed to quash many memoirs and tales of Bush’s puppet master however some ex-advisors have spoken out in recent years. Former advisor John Di Iulio revealed in a telling email to Esquire magazine just how far Rove’s power stretches.

Following his 2001 resignation, DiIulio wrote: “Karl is enormously powerful, maybe the single most powerful person in the modern, post-Hoover era ever to occupy a political adviser post near the Oval Office…Little happens on any issue without Karl’s OK, and often he supplies such policy substance as the administration puts out.”

Former treasury secretary Paul O’Neill knows all to well just how far Rove’s power stretches. Four years ago, he spoke out about a 2002 cabinet meeting concerning tax cuts. The president, it seemed had thought twice about concentrating on benefits for America’s richer classes. According to O’Neill, Bush asked: “Didn’t we already give them a break at the top?” Within moments, Rove took control of the situation, allegedly telling him to “stick to principle”. O’Neill’s economic acumen lost out to Rove’s political sway and he was eventually removed from his cabinet post.

Karl is now writing a book and scarily advising John McCain?

Doug …….

Popularity: 1% [?]

Does anyone in the Middle East want peace?

Politics written by Doug Scott

Weapons of mass destruction, biological threats and the fight against terrorism were just a few of the reasons given for entering into war in Iraq. However, there is little denying the true attraction of waging war in Iraq.…..

As with any battle, there are spoils to be had – none as rich as the Iraqi oil fields. The current uncertainty on the future of oil supplies can be felt throughout the West, from the highest seats of power straight down to the domestic petrol pumps. The uncertainty definitely bodes well for countries in the Middle East as the unstable environment drives oil prices through the roof. The longer the period of uncertainty there is the higher the price of oil. So by having the West involved in the war on Iraq, more oil tycoons will increase their revenues unless the US and its counterparts rescind their troops which isn’t going to happen anytime soon whilst Mr Bush is in power.

Since the start of the war, the price of oil has quadrupled, reaching an all-time high of $111 on March 17. While oil supplies and reserves are at an all-time high, production in many OPEC countries is operating at maximum capacity and demand is unchanged, the question remains: who is to blame?

The war is now five years old and according to Nobel Laureate economist Joseph Stiglitz, will be the most expensive war in history. Its current cost is believed to be in excess of three trillion dollars.

The discovery of oil in 1908 has left this Middle Eastern nation as the playground for war games and power struggles for one hundred years. According to the US Energy Information Administration, “Iraq is important to world energy markets because it holds more than 112 billion barrels of oil – the world’s second largest reserves. Iraq also contains 110 trillion cubic feet of gas.”

While many would blame the OPEC countries themselves, it seems that this vast increase in oil prices may have a US-grown conspirator, with many financial analysts are blaming speculators for this massive increase in prices per barrel.

So what happens now?

In the short term the oil companies and the oil exporters are making fortunes, but are they forcing oil importing nations to look at alternative energy sources? Or maybe not???

Doug not amused

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Blackberry Phone Heaven

Fun written by Doug Scott

If you ever want to see someone on the verge of a total meltdown, just watch their face when they realize they’ve left their Blackberry at home. You would think they lost their firstborn, it’s so bad. They are such lost soul’s….ah

We are addicted to being connected, 24 by 7, 365 days a year. Lose that connection, even for a moment, and we are lost. We don’t know what to do, how to act, where to go. We are a multi-tasking generation. Talk on the phone, drive the car, send an email, read the newspaper … all at the same time. God, we’re smart, aren’t we? And we’re so vital to those around us too, and that’s specifically why the 24 by 7 connectivity is so important to us. Our families, our friends, our co-workers might actually die if they were left out of touch with us, even for a moment. Their worlds would end, not to mention ours.

So, I think the logical next step would be to have our Blackberries implanted. Why not? At least then we would never have to worry about losing them. You’d never again have to feel that sinking sensation in the pit of your stomach when you realize your Blackberry is sitting on your desk at work, while you’re miles away out in the country. Of course, recharging might be a pain if the Blackberry were implanted, but maybe we can multi-task this function too … perhaps by having the recharge stations next to the john. You recharge as you discharge! What can be better than that!

Having our Blackberries implanted could also serve as a status symbol as well. Have them implanted in on a visible part of the body, like in the palm of your hand. What a great way to separate the wheat from the chaff! You’re in a bar on a Friday night looking for someone to hook up with for the weekend. Well, surely you don’t want to waste your time on a loser, right? So, check for the Blackberries. Clearly anyone without one would not be worth your time. They’re part of the “have nots,” the “left behinds.” If he’s not connected, then clearly he’s not worth knowing, so steer clear. Implanted Blackberries would sure make socializing a lot easier, now wouldn’t they? Simple, no more facebook or dating sites when looking for love. Then you can spend quality time with your loved ones.

Even our children could be “wired.” These implanted Blackberries would also contain a tiny GPS chip that could track our children’s every movement. We could know at any given moment exactly where they were. Think about it. The poor kid couldn’t even skip school once in a while. Mom and dad would know instantly that he was not where he was supposed to be, like maybe at that video arcade playing Space Invaders. Aren’t we glad Blackberries were not on the scene when we were growing up? They would have surely cramped my style, and that’s a fact!

I think the future looks bright for our Blackberries. They would become even more central to our lives than they are today if we just went ahead and had them implanted. Society would benefit because we’d be producing more. Our employers would benefit because they could demand even more work from us since we’d be able to do things more efficiently, texting and emailing and conversing, even as we eat or drive in our cars. Of course, we may suffer a bit as we longingly look back to the old days, when things were simpler and we had our privacy. Our time away from the workplace was actually our own and we could relax and enjoy life far more than our Blackberries would ever allow today.

Soug blackberry less

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Nadeem Azam Interview

Affiliate Money Grabbers written by Doug Scott

The idea of these is to try and see what makes them tick. It’s not a completely serious interview.

Firstly thanks Nadeem Azam from Azam Marketing for being my first:)

Thought I would try to find a pretty picture as he is my first. Well Nadeem is a guy who has been around, and probably knows loads about internet marketing and affiliate marketing, but we wont be asking too many of those questions here. I sent the guy a list of questions and he has been so kind to answer them with such honesty that all I can say is if he is half as nice and honourable a guy as his questions appear then he is lovely and if I was a nice lady I would be at his office.

So here we go:

Name: Nadeem Azam

Birthplace: Yorkshire

What do you do now: Run Azam Marketing, www.azam.net, an online marketing and web design agency with over 11 years experience in internet marketing. We carry out Affiliate Management, Affiliate Marketing, SEO, PPC, Public Relations, Email Marketing, Domain Name Trading and Graphic / Web Design. Based in central London. Clients include Xpango.com, Inkfactory.com, Purpleparking.com and eDealsUK.com.

Height: 172cm

Weight: 65Kg

Doug – Eat more skinny boy and get to the gym

How much do you drink: Never have

Doug – See that’s why you are skinny

Worst Holiday: Poland in the winter – not much to cheer you up when it’s minus 15 and you don’t drink vodka

Doug – They work well though

What worries you the most about work: Not doing the best for my clients, my merchants and my affiliates.

Best advice about starting a business: Don’t. Whenever friends ask me about starting their own business, I advise them against it. It’s easier to do a 9am-5pm Monday-Friday job than the 9am-9pm Monday-Sunday many entrepreneurs do

Best advice about starting a business with someone else: I’d advise against it as it usually ends acrimoniously.

Where do you stash all your money: I have always reinvested it into expanding the business, acquiring the best staff and building the most formidable infrastructure

If you could be anyone in the world who would it be: The Brazilian footballer Kaká. His incredible on-the-field skills are eclipsed by the benevolent and humble person he is off the field.

Do you die your hair: I sometimes have it highlighted with a bit of brown or red.

Doug – Well you ain’t got much left so better do it now

What worries you the most: I am the world’s worst worrier: I worry about everything ranging from whether I should have used a semi-colon instead of a colon in an article I wrote a few days previously to poverty in Zimbabwe to the seals that are being battered in the culling season in Canada

Doug – I bet those Zimbabweans could do with a good seal to eat

Many thanks to Nadeem, I have only used some of the questions he answered for this blog as I know I get bored with long posts and expect you do too….zzzzzzzzzz. I will publish more at a later date.

Nada’s blog is here

Doug liking him more

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Take the money and run – buy.at is that ethical?

Affiliate Money Grabbers, Google written by Doug Scott

Affiliate Networks are encoraging brand bidding groups with the new adwords changes……you are taking the p**. What happened to honour, integrity etc etc etc.

Merchants if they are advising you to do it then your network has no integrity….Read Buy.at’s official line for Tyson here. Come off it mate we all know the game. Scam a stupid merchant. As a merchant ask yourself:

As a merchant you should easily be able to work out a way to protect your brand with these changes. Shane the pie man is no fool and always been a guy good at seeing an opportunity to exploit but he is even astonished. Read his views on what should happen here.

When I was a merchant we said no brand bidding groups as we thought it unfair to the affiliates who do the real work and find the ppc traffic you can’t find or the content players who bring related traffic from organic.

As a large affiliate we don’t bid on our partners brands intentionally even though we know it works well. We just feel it’s not correct and it leaves a sour taste in our relationships.

My concern here becomes the ones where affiliates who drive traffic that a merchant would have not being credited with a sale, but a brand bidding affiliate getting the sale.

If I was a “true” affiliate in that area I know I would not be promoting merchants who allowed brand bidding affiliates. The simple economics are that I would be loosing sales that were rightly mine.

Another interesting story

Doug

Popularity: 2% [?]

money.co.uk sold US$2.4 million

Stupid Domain Things written by Doug Scott

I am hearing gossip that www.money.co.uk has just been sold for $US2.4 million.

Bought by Dot Zinc Limited, was owned by Steven Terence Jackson, the owner of NewReg, the car registration people and sponsors of Preston North End football team.

Steven Terence Jackson also owns:

• love.co.uk
• car.co.uk
• top.co.uk
• what.co.uk
• finance.co.uk
• england.co.uk
• hot.co.uk
• super.co.uk
• fan.co.uk
• domains.co.uk
• photograph.co.uk
• and about 1000 more generic names all registered in 1996, nice portfolio

We own loads including asset finance, asset management and bike shops,  bike for sale and many are .org.uk’s, We are not worthy to be in the same room as him:(

Looks like the UK domain market is getting real with now several big sales.

money.co.uk US$2.4 million

cruises.co.uk US$1.1 million

Looks like my purchases of fly.co.uk and recycle.co.uk were bargains:) The cheap flights and recycling domains

Doug happy about buying lots of domains

money co uk
money.co.uk
www money co uk
www.money.co.uk

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Let the plumbers in

Politics written by Doug Scott

From famine to glut……….we had no bloody plumbers, now we have a country of them.

Every where I go I see a plumber, they speak in plumber language, even Tesco’s now has it’s own plumber section. The most exciting think I once could find in the shop was a Benny Hill video, well now there are complete shelves dedicated to spanners and monkey wrenches.

Even on the top shelf at my local paper shop, which was the bastion of maledom, the plumbers are creeping in. Once they were stuck in the local DIY shop but no more.

I was browsing round SKY the other day and even found a native plumber channel.

Welcome in I say, I may take the Mieczyslaw out of them, but gone are the days of leaking toilets.

The only thing I hope those plumbers don’t do it put those bendy “kielbasa” pipes on the street like they have done in other countries:

Doug the Plumopian

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