Maki Papadopoulos log

New Google AdWords Certification program replaces GAP program

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:00:00 -0400
Through its official blog, Google today announced that they're retiring the Google Advertising Professionals (GAP) program, and replacing it with the new Google AdWords Certification program.According to the blog post, "the new program provides agencies and their employees with more up-to-date, comprehensive, strategy-focused training and certification on the latest tools and best practices for managing AdWords accounts."

There are 4 main changes in the new program:

1) Certifications: Google will now recognize Individual Qualification (at the individual level) and Certified Partner status (company level).

2) Managed spend: There is no longer a managed spend requirement at the Individual Qualification level. As for the company level, the managed spend requirement has been reduced to $10,000 minimum (from $100,000).

3) New exams: There are now 4 exams (!) and individuals are required to pass at least two (the Fundamentals Exam and one advanced exam) to become qualified.

4) Badging: The Qualified Individual/Company logos will be phased out. Qualified companies will now be awarded Google Certified Partner badges (such as the one below). Individuals will receive a certificate when they pass the required exams.

Google AdWords Certified Partner

My Olympic Torch Run

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:59:00 -0400
Being a Torchbearer for the Vancouver 2010 Torch Relay was an experience that I will remember and share for the rest of my life.What: Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay
When: October 29, 2009 @ 5:22 p.m.
Where: Panepistimiou Street (Athens)

Link: My Torchbearer profile on TorchRelay.net

Pass the Flame!

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:59:00 -0400
The moment the Olympic Flame was passed to the first Torchbearer for the commencement of the Vancouver 2010 Torch Relay, a new Facebook application was launched: Pass the Flame!During the coverage of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relay, Community-online.com is enabling Facebook members to share the values of peace, brotherhood and friendship.

Every day - from October 22nd to February 12th (Olympic Torch Relay) and from March 3rd to March 12th (Paralympic Torch Relay) - you can "Pass the Flame" to your Facebook friends. Each time you Pass the Flame, it will be like running with the Torch for 300 meters (like the actual Torch Relay).

Why did we create this Facebook application? Couple of reasons (in the order that we list them below):

1) To enable people from all over the world to share the values of peace, brotherhood, and friendship with their friends and family.

2) To use the power of social media and viral marketing to promote TorchRelay.net - the first site that enables Olympic and Paralympic Torchbearers and Fans to share their Torch Relay experience.

TorchRelay.net Launched

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:00:00 -0400
I'm very pleased to announce the launch of TorchRelay.net - a new digital channel providing coverage of the Olympic Torch Relay including news, photos, videos, torchbearer profiles and more.

Did You Know 4.0

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 08:31:31 -0400
This is another official update to the original "Shift Happens" video. This completely new Fall 2009 version includes facts and stats focusing on the changing media landscape, including convergence and technology, and was developed in partnership with The Economist.

Comment: Unfortunately, there are still so many people out there who "don't know" and others who simply "don't want to know".

Google Advertising Professionals exam

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:50:25 -0400
Earlier this week I gave (and passed) the Google Advertising Professionals exam in order to maintain my status as a GAP.I have a few comments to make about the exam as well as the Learning Center. For example, I was surprised to see questions about the old AdWords interface and not the new one!

More feedback coming soon on this post...

Easy-to-remember domain, linking to my status as a Google Advertising Professional: GoogleAdsPro.com

Ad Networks on AdSense

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400
Google plans to allow ad networks to compete for ad space on AdSense. This is a big news for advertisers as well as publishers.More information, Inside AdSense!

Canada�s Anti-Spam Bill

Mon, 11 May 2009 17:08:32 -0400
Interesting article on MarketingSherpa about Canada's Anti-Spam Bill.The article is titled "Canada�s Anti-Spam Bill: 5 Key Differences from CAN SPAM" and addresses the new anti-spam bill in Canada for commercial e-mail communications.

Marketers who target Canadians need to prepare themselves accordingly should this bill become law.

123win! Launches First Site

Sun, 1 Mar 2009 22:05:58 -0500
I'm pleased to announce that the first 123win! site is launched!After over a year in research and development, 123win! launched its first site: 123win.gr.

123win.gr - Greek version

123win.gr - English version

Vancouver 2010 Torch Relay Route

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:29:22 -0500
The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) unveiled today the route for the Canada-wide 45,000-kilometre Olympic Torch Relay. It would really be a dream come true for me to be one of the torchbearers (either during the journey in Greece or in Canada).Following the ceremonial lighting of the Olympic Flame in Olympia, Greece, the torch�s Canadian journey will begin on October 30, 2009 in Victoria, British Columbia and will conclude on February 12, 2010 with the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron in Vancouver. After 106 days the flame will have touched more than 1,000 communities and places of interest, travelling as far west as Old Crow, Yukon; as far east as Cape Spear, Newfoundland and Labrador; as far south as Point Pelee, Ontario; and up to Canada�s northernmost inhabited point - Alert, Nunavut.

The Olympic Torch Relay will visit 187 celebration communities, 115 Aboriginal communities, 20 key places of interest, 14 Canadian Forces Bases and stations, and 690 other route communities. Here are a few prominent sights along the route:

Alberta
Hoodoos
Banff National Park
Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo Jump

British Columbia
Kootenay Pass
Craigellachie (site of The Last Spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway)

Manitoba
The Forks, Winnipeg
Canadian Forces Base, Shilo

New Brunswick
Fundy National Park
Carleton Martello Tower National Historic Site

Newfoundland and Labrador
Cape Spear (easternmost point in North America and the relay)
L�Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site

Northwest Territories
Igloo Church in Inuvik

Nova Scotia
Lunenburg, home of the Bluenose
Annapolis Royal

Nunavut
Resolute
Alert (northernmost point of the relay)

Ontario
Parliament hill
Niagara Falls
Point Pelee (southernmost point of the relay)

Prince Edward Island
Anne of Green Gables House National Historic Site
Confederation Bridge

Quebec
Old Quebec City
Olympic Stadium, Montreal

Saskatchewan
Wanuskawin Heritage Park

Yukon
Old Crow (westernmost point of the relay)

Nearly 200 communities across Canada will have the distinct opportunity to gather and participate in the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay community celebrations. Designated celebration towns will open up their events so that friends, relatives and neighbours from nearby communities can share in the fun.

Related Links:

Vancouver 2010 - Official Web site

Torch Relay coverage by Community-online.com (under development)