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Don't forget Google merchant center (the old google base)! It can easily increase sales by 30%.

Late to this game, but just in case you're still waiting on your dev...

Magento has an automated add-on system called Magento Connect, and you can access it from your admin (unless the original installer disabled it on your account). You can just use that to install Yoast's plugin. Check out http://www.magentocommerce.com/magento-connect/canonical-url-for-magento.html

Aside from that, if you are using something after 1.4, you should have canonical built into your store (it's in the config section).

If you're not using something after 1.4, consider upgrading. It's not painless, but anything prior to 1.4.1 is pretty rough to use. I'm not surprised you've got bugs and general sadness.

Keep in mind that we're not talking about someone wanting "evaporative air conditioner" instead of "swamp cooler" here.

Consider a word like "retarded," which has a national campaign pushing people to stop using it, and is even considered hate speech by some. Swap out the word with "mentally challenged," and GKT shows less than half the local search volume!

It's a tough sell to convince a client who runs a care facility for the intellectually disabled  to say, "Our services for retarded kids are the best in the state."

EDIT: Just to be clear, I'm not trying to be coarse or flippant with that example. That's a high-search term that some would find incredibly offensive.

Organizations that fight the use of certain words see it as more than just inelegant speech, they see real, tangible harm whenever the word is used. Reaction to that particular phrase is unique in that there are some who would vociferously argue against it, and other who would still see little to nothing wrong with it (as reflected in GKT).

Here's the scenario: you need to capture a search phrase that is very widely used in common search, but the term is considered antiquated, overly vernacular, insensitive or outright offensive within the client's industry.

In this case, searchers overwhelmingly look for "nursing homes," but the term has too many negative connotations to the client's customers, so they won't use it on-page.

Some obvious thoughts are to build IBLs or write an op-ed/blog series about why the term is offensive. Any other ideas?

Here's the scenario: you need to capture a search phrase that is very widely used in common search, but the term is considered antiquated, overly vernacular, insensitive or outright offensive within the client's industry.

In this case, searchers overwhelmingly look for "nursing homes," but the term has too many negative connotations to the client's customers, so they won't use it on-page.

Some obvious thoughts are to build IBLs or write an op-ed/blog series about why the term is offensive. Any other ideas?

Keep in mind that we're not talking about someone wanting "evaporative air conditioner" instead of "swamp cooler" here.

Consider a word like "retarded," which has a national campaign pushing people to stop using it, and is even considered hate speech by some. Swap out the word with "mentally challenged," and GKT shows less than half the local search volume!

It's a tough sell to convince a client who runs a care facility for the intellectually disabled  to say, "Our services for retarded kids are the best in the state."

EDIT: Just to be clear, I'm not trying to be coarse or flippant with that example. That's a high-search term that some would find incredibly offensive.

Organizations that fight the use of certain words see it as more than just inelegant speech, they see real, tangible harm whenever the word is used. Reaction to that particular phrase is unique in that there are some who would vociferously argue against it, and other who would still see little to nothing wrong with it (as reflected in GKT).