LinkedIn DirectAds

I was recently looking for a new day job and, being a technophile, I used the internet to my advantage. At first, I solely used SEO (search engine optimization) so when you Googled my name, my LinkedIn profile would be in the search results and also appear as an ad.  I then received $100 in free LinkedIn DirectAds advertising through a promotional mailing, so I figured that was even better than the Google AdWords platform since folks are only on LinkedIn for professional things whereas they are on Google for many things. My experience with LinkedIn Ads was largely negative. The only good thing about it was that it was easy to set up. Since I had the free Ads to use, I set the maximum budget for my ad at $100, but it quickly used it somehow. When I noticed this, I immediately turned the ad off. The DirectAds platform reported that I caught it before any clicks sent me over budget, but soon after I was charged $79.56 because the system failed to turn my ad off. I spent approximately 2 months dealing with customer service trying to get a refund. The Ads Specialist I dealt with at first, Troy, was extremely rude and unhelpful. I told him I wanted to escalate to a supervisor and he said he was the person who made decisions about refunds. I went over his head and got my refund anyway.


This past Friday I received an email from a LinkedIn Product Manager asking me about my experience with LinkedIn DirectAds. I told him exactly what I wrote above. In fact, I copied most of the above from the email I sent back to him. Now last night I got an email from LinkedIn's "social media guy" asking if I'd like to participate in a social media ad campaign for LinkedIn DirectAds. Really? I mean, you obviously got my information from the Product Manager - the one that knows my experience was bad. You want to share that? Apparently he doesn't want to share it, so I'm doing it for him.


Don't get me wrong, I find LinkedIn to be a fantastic product, but LinkedIn DirectAds is like LinkedIn's step-child that the parents lock in a dog cage so they can go bar hopping every night. The Ads Specialist (read: customer service) was rude and unhelpful. Now, months later, they ask for my experience? Check your records and you'll have an answer. Then I sent the answer that they should already have had and they obviously didn't even bother to read it or else why would they pass it along so I could potentially participate in an ad campaign for them? Come on, LinkedIn DirectAds, and therefore LinkedIn, get your shit together! I'm so glad you chose not to hire me for the position I applied for! I guess they only want incompetent illiterate folks - that's not me!


PS - Google's AdWords ROCKS. If you want to do an SEO campaign, go with Google.

LinkedIn DirectAds fails The Trav Test with an F.


• Category: Products
• Location: Online
• Cost: Expensive since their shit doesn't work properly
• Ease of use:
 Easy
• The Trav Test grade: F

On SOPA

Just an FYI: The Trav Test is 100% AGAINST SOPA! 

(Image from Gizmodo)

• Sign This SOPA Petition to Get Obama’s Attention

• All the Companies Supporting SOPA, the Awful Internet Censorship Law—and How to Contact Them*

  
  
  *TheTravTest is NOT registered with GoDaddy!

SOPA fails the Trav Test with an F-∞. 


• Category: Politics
• Location: USA
• Cost: If it passes, it will cost your freedom!
• Ease of use:
 If it passes, it will be very difficult!
• The Trav Test grade: F-∞

Bissell Little Green ProHeat Pet

As you can tell, I've been too busy to post lately. I do have reviews queued in my head, but they haven't been "exported" yet. So, here's a super fast review of a product I tried today.


 The Bissell Little Green ProHeat Pet. It's a piece of shit. Don't buy it. The end. :)

Bissell Little Green ProHeat Pet fails The Trav Test with an F. 


• Category: Products
• Location: Stores
• Cost: About $100
• Ease of use:
 Medium
 • The Trav Test grade: F

Google's CR-48... So far

Alright, here goes. This is my first review of Google's CR-48. I've had it for a month now and I pretty much hate it. I don't even know where to start. The only thing I like about it so far is the free Verizon service that comes with it, but I have yet to use it and it was a major pain in the ass to activate. So why I do I hate it? Well, first of all, it's nothing special. Want to know what the user experience is like? Ok! Take your computer, launch Chrome, and don't allow yourself to touch anything else outside of Chrome. Seriously. You can't use any other applications like Word or Skype or anything. Want to type a Word doc? Google Docs is your only choice. Want to look at your schedule? Google Cal is your only choice. Want to instant message with a friend? Google Talk is your only choice. Call me crazy, but I prefer Word for Mac 2011, iCal, and iChat.

Ok, so you now know what it's like to be stuck with nothing but the web. What else? Well, the machine itself is SLOW. When both are on WiFi, my iPhone loads webpages about twice as fast as the CR-48. One thing Google talked a lot about when they introduced the CR-48 was that it turns on instantly. Well, actually, my MacBook Pro turns on almost as fast - it only takes about 20 seconds longer. I'd much rather "wait" an additional 20 seconds and have a complete, powerful computer over a bad netbook. Another issue I have with it is the trackpad. I can't even put into words how awful it is!  

So far, going from my MacBook Pro to the CR-48 feels like I'm stepping back into 1995. It is slow, unresponsive, and basic. Don't get me wrong, I love that it was free and the free Verizon service is nice to have when I don't have access to Wifi (which is incredibly rare). I also like that I can toss the CR-48 into the awesome case I got and let it sit in my car in 20º weather and not worry. I probably could do that with my MacBook Pro, but it's such a beautiful machine that I wouldn't even want to try.

I'll post again as time goes on, but one month in, the only thing I like is the price. Oh, and that a group of probably 15 year olds approached me at Chipotle to ask if it was a CR-48 and drool. It took me back to high school momentarily... and I had something that the other kids wanted! Damn, I should have offered to sell it to them... oh well.

My old Black MacBook (left) & My CR-48 (Right) on my bed

Google's CR-48 fails The Trav Test with an F (so far).

 • Category: Products

 • Location: N/A

 • Cost: Free!

 • Ease of use: N/A

 • The Trav Test grade: F

Red Riding Hood Movie Review

Continuing the theme of The Trav Test firsts, I'm reviewing a movie! Red Riding Hood officially releases today, but I saw the movie a few days ago. Let's just cut to the chase: It's awful.

Imagine combining Little Red Riding Hood and Twilight. Now, add in bad acting, such poorly done stunts that the audience was laughing, an incredibly low-budget set, and a "score" that was probably purchased online and then set to "loop" mode. This is the recipe for disaster as well as for Red Riding Hood.

Actually, I'm not sure why they used Red Riding Hood as the title since the main character doesn't get her red Slanket (Wait... that wasn't a Slanket?) until the middle of the film and the lines everyone knows are used in the worst way possible. The actual story (and I use that term loosely) was that a werewolf was living in the village and needed to be killed. The one thing that they did well is keep the audience guessing who the werewolf was. I didn't figure it out until almost the end. Speaking of the end, they left the ending open so there could presumably be a Red Riding Hood 2. Hopefully there won't be. If you're curious, wait for it to hit Red Box or Netflix or save you time altogether!

Red Riding Hood barely passes The Trav Test with a D.

 • Category: Movies

 • Location: In theaters today

 • Cost: Varies

 • Ease of use: N/A

 • The Trav Test grade: D