Flickr Photo: thelearnrOver the weekend, I encountered a new phenomenon: AdWords squatting. I met a guy trying to develop a business around finding obscure, but potentially lucrative search terms, building up a quality AdWords presence for them, then, presumably, selling the rights. His best success so far was -- and I cannot make this kind of stuff up -- "adult incontinence".

This is the mindset we're competing against with our Google Grants accounts.

Go search for "polar bear" on Google. You'll find ads from the NWF and Defenders of Wildlife up against ads for travel services for polar bear-based tourism.

Google's not going to give us top placement just because we're trying to do good, so join us for our Advanced Google Grants webinar series, "Maximizing Your Grant To Meet Your Organization's Goals", to learn best practices from the Google Grants team.

> Learn more and register today!

Session Series Include:

• Setting Goals and Setting Yourself Up for Success (6/5/2009)
• Evaluating Performance and Monitoring Your Google Grants Account (6/11/2009)
• Optimizing Your Google Grants Ads and Keywords (6/19/2009)
• Optimizing your Google Grants Campaign and Maximizing Your Online Initiatives with Google Nonprofit Offerings (6/26/2009)

When: June 5 - 26, 11 am PT / 2 PM ET

Series Cost: $100 for NTEN Members, $200 for non-members

Individual Webinars: $30 for NTEN Members, $60 for non-members

Presented By: The Google Grants Team

> Learn more and register today!

Incidentally, Defenders of Wildlife may have my favorite ad of all time, keyed on "polar bear":

How to Mail A Polar Bear
Surprise Your Loved One With A
Polar Bear In Their Mailbox Today!

Can't you just imagine it? "My, what a big box. I wonder who could have sent me... Oh, no! Aaaaaaargh!"