This is not exactly a scoop, the latest update of Google's algorithm, codename Penguin, has been at work for a few weeks now. Its official objective: clean out the search results from all the crap (sorry I can't find any better word!) that was polluting them.

The websites targeted by this new update are all the low-quality websites which they are calling "web spam".

I've seen a lot of discussions on a couple of forums I visit daily, about getting cheap traffic. A lot of people only think about getting traffic - and of course they want it cheap, and they don't want to make too big an effort to get it.

The problem is, they're missing the point. Cheap traffic is useless most of the time, because it is not targeted. I've proven it some time ago in my article about Adf.ly: you can have tons of cheap traffic sent to your website, if these people are not interested in what you have to tell them, they come and go (that's called "bounce rate", those visitors who come to a page of your website and leave immediately). So don't go buy cheap traffic just because it's... Cheap.

If you don't want to have to pay for your quality, targeted traffic, then you'll have to work for it. This means mainly working on your SEO (Search Engine Optimization):

• Produce quality content.
• REGULARLY produce quality content!
• Do your keyword research. So you know which keywords you have a chance to rank for, and which keywords are worth working on (as opposed to those that won't bring you the traffic you need).
• Build back-links, and build them naturally (no mass-submissions or alike, there are tons of offers like this, which most of the time can be assimilated to spam! You want your back-links to appear to the search engines as natural as possible).

And this is only for starters... An article about keyword research will follow in the next few  days.

Conclusion: you certainly don't want cheap traffic. What you may want, however, is cheap targeted traffic. And this... Requires time and efforts. There's no magic, no shortcuts. The only other way is to have real professionals do it for you, and this doesn't come cheap.

A few weeks ago, I got asked by that guy from LA if I would do a series of tasks for him - and he offered to pay me quite well for that... He just didn't know how to do them. So I figured... Instead of doing it for him... I'll teach him how to do.

And this is how it all started... How I got the idea to start offering software training courses. Live, online. I have now prepared several programs, which are all designed for beginners - if you're new to Internet Marketing then these are skills you absolutely need.

For the time being, your first hour is on me.

You've read that right. It won't cost you a single cent. In exchange, I expect you to provide me with a review, both text and video. It doesn't have to be long or very detailed, what I expect from you is that you sincerely, honestly say what you think of my services. This is a rather good deal for you as you will acquire a new skill at no cost!

More programs will follow. If you are interested, please leave a comment right here.

Pinterest... Such a hot subject these days!

If you don't know what this is then I suggest reading this quick introduction to Pinterest I have posted not so long ago.

As most of you probably know, Pinterest works on invitations only. You can request one from their home page... If you're lucky, you may get it within a day or two. If you're unlucky... You could be waiting forever. Go figure... The other way is to have a current Pinterest member invite you. That's a lot faster!

This situation has a consequence: some sort of parallel market has developed, some people are offering Pinterest invitations, but in exchange you've got to sign up to a list or worst go through one of those boring and incredibly intrusive surveys... Personally I've never completed one of those, I always run away when I see one.

Fortunately for you, I don't do that... Are you looking for a Pinterest invite? Just post a comment here with your e-mail address. Don't worry, your address won't be published, I'll edit the post before publishing it (the posts here are moderated before publication) and send you an invite within 24 hours. No signup. No survey. No catch. I'm just helping out.

Seb.