All entries for April 2008

Coventry Analogue Cable Switch–off next week – 3 years ahead of Digital UK Plan!

Writing about web page http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when

The escalation of my complaint to Virgin Media’s Chief Executive’s office actually produced a reply.
Patricia Wolstenholme called, apologised because there was nothing VM could do then added the surprise.

Virgin Media did not decide when to turn off their analogue cable service in Coventry. This was due to the head end feed service being switched off by BT as a part of the national plan.

Patricia was vague about who was behind this decision.

I can’t receive Freeview or satellite TV due to local topology and close large trees. My home will have a better chance of receiving the Freeview service when the Central region analogue transmitters close down in 2011. This is because the Terrestrial Digital transmitters can then use higher power levels as these will no longer interfere with analogue transmissions.

This interference problem is clearly why the switch-over to digital TV has been planned in such a carefully choreographed manner.

So why has the feed to Virgin Media’s analogue cable customers in Coventry been cut off three years before this regions planned switch-over date?
This could still be a VM commercial decision but I am following my enquiries to Gregory Bensberg, the Ofcom Director responsible for the Digital Switchover, gregory.bensberg@ofcom.org.uk with no response so far.

I have learned that you can get high level, timely answers to complaints from Virgin Media but you have to approach the Cheif Executive’s Office. The Cheif Executive is Neil Berkett, his email address produced the response, neil.berkett@virginmedia.co.uk and that his office’s number is currently 08456505050. It is a shame that I finally find this out in my last week as a customer.

Robert McGonigle : 25 Apr 2008 10:16 |  Tags: Anologue Cable Digital Switchover Digital TV Digital Uk Ofcom Sigital Switch Over Virgin Media Virgin Media Complaints Vm |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Google Adwords in other Languages

Writing about web page http://armyland.gr

I only write Google text adverts in two languages;
UK English and US English.

I was asked to help with a Greek website. With an excellent bilingual helper I still ignored their advert copy. You need to truly understand the nuances of language but I was able to give them three pointers.

• To optimise their bidding.
• To split test with 2 or more Adverts.
• To echo back the Search Query of the user on one group with a wide variety of terms.

Within 2 days Mr Armoutis of Armyland.gr reported back:

Your suggested changes has trebled the CTR from 1.72% to 5.4% whilst the cost per click has dropped from over 10c to 4c. More importantly the campaign has delivered its first verified phone order. Thank you for your help.

The simple echoing of the searcher’s query works in any language as demonstrated by eBay. Good split-tested Advert Copy for tightly grouped search terms can do better again but this technique can help identify the best groups of words to move into their own group first.

Robert McGonigle : 23 Apr 2008 10:31 |  Tags: Google Adwords Keyword Keyword Echoing Languages |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem