Search Engine Marketing Blog by ineedhits: Google Serves Up YouTube Videos in Google Maps
If you have been considering using online video for your local business, then now is as good a time as ever!
Google have announced that they have added the ability to include YouTube videos into Google Maps and Local Business Listings.
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Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Yahoo Google Test Successful A Giant Leap for Y
Yahoo Google Test Successful A Giant Leap for Y
Wall Street Journal has reported that Yahoo! Inc, and Google have got closer to a partnership deal after the successful testing of Google advertisements in Yahoo! SERPS (Search Engine Result Page). On April 10th 2008, we had reported to our readers that Yahoo! was going to test Google's ads in its SERPS.
Online Annonsering
Wall Street Journal has reported that Yahoo! Inc, and Google have got closer to a partnership deal after the successful testing of Google advertisements in Yahoo! SERPS (Search Engine Result Page). On April 10th 2008, we had reported to our readers that Yahoo! was going to test Google's ads in its SERPS.
Online Annonsering
SEOmoz | Content is King, Baby!
SEOmoz | Content is King, Baby!
One of the most important things you can do to help create a successful web site is to build a site that provides a remarkable experience. If we look past the popular phrase "linkbait" (a term I don't like because of its negative connotations), we need to answer the question "Why would someone link to our site?"
Internet Marketing
Online Annonsering
One of the most important things you can do to help create a successful web site is to build a site that provides a remarkable experience. If we look past the popular phrase "linkbait" (a term I don't like because of its negative connotations), we need to answer the question "Why would someone link to our site?"
Internet Marketing
Online Annonsering
Friday, April 18, 2008
Google Presentations Finally Adds Powerpoint Saving
Google Presentations Finally Adds Powerpoint Saving
Google Presentations has finally added a feature that most thought should have been there at launch: You can now save your presentations as PowerPoint files.
Google Presentations has finally added a feature that most thought should have been there at launch: You can now save your presentations as PowerPoint files.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
SEO is Not Free Traffic
SEO is Not Free Traffic
SEO has never been, nor will it ever be, free traffic. It takes work, and that comes at a cost. You need to hire staff or allocate internal resources to manage your SEO efforts. You need to enlist an SEO firm or consultant to help identify the opportunities and prioritize them, navigate the minefields, and up-skill your internal team. You need to outfit your in-house team with on the tools of the trade (SEOMoz Pro, Internet Marketing Ninjas, etc.), send them to the conferences (all the SMX conferences, of course!), provide them with training intensives (e.g. SEOClass, SEOTraining), and various other professional development and networking opportunities.
From Internet Marketing
Online Annonsering
SEO has never been, nor will it ever be, free traffic. It takes work, and that comes at a cost. You need to hire staff or allocate internal resources to manage your SEO efforts. You need to enlist an SEO firm or consultant to help identify the opportunities and prioritize them, navigate the minefields, and up-skill your internal team. You need to outfit your in-house team with on the tools of the trade (SEOMoz Pro, Internet Marketing Ninjas, etc.), send them to the conferences (all the SMX conferences, of course!), provide them with training intensives (e.g. SEOClass, SEOTraining), and various other professional development and networking opportunities.
From Internet Marketing
Online Annonsering
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Google Website Optimizer Steps Out Of The AdWords Box: Open To All Users & Urchin 6.0 Comes Out Of Beta
Google Website Optimizer Steps Out Of The AdWords Box: Open To All Users & Urchin 6.0 Comes Out Of Beta
Google has announced that AdWords is no longer a requirement for Website Optimizer. In fact, you can now go to google.com/websiteoptimizer and register, for free, to use Website Optimizer, even if you do not have an AdWords account.
Now, you can use Website Optimizer to not just A/B test your AdWords landing pages, but also test your Yahoo landing pages, your banner landing pages, and different elements throughout your web site to improve conversions and desired actions from your users.
From Our CMS system
Google has announced that AdWords is no longer a requirement for Website Optimizer. In fact, you can now go to google.com/websiteoptimizer and register, for free, to use Website Optimizer, even if you do not have an AdWords account.
Now, you can use Website Optimizer to not just A/B test your AdWords landing pages, but also test your Yahoo landing pages, your banner landing pages, and different elements throughout your web site to improve conversions and desired actions from your users.
From Our CMS system
Monday, April 14, 2008
Hitwise: Google Hits New High; Microsoft & Yahoo New Lows
Hitwise: Google Hits New High; Microsoft & Yahoo New Lows
Last week, Hitwise released the latest statistics for search engine share in the United States for March 2008, showing Google at an all-time high while Microsoft and Yahoo hit all-time lows.
The four major search engines stack up as follows:
* Google: 67.3%
* Yahoo: 20.3%
* Microsoft: 6.7%
* Ask: 4.1%
Last week, Hitwise released the latest statistics for search engine share in the United States for March 2008, showing Google at an all-time high while Microsoft and Yahoo hit all-time lows.
The four major search engines stack up as follows:
* Google: 67.3%
* Yahoo: 20.3%
* Microsoft: 6.7%
* Ask: 4.1%
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Vertical Ad Networks Should Get More Money This Year | WebProNews
Vertical Ad Networks Should Get More Money This Year | WebProNews
The results of a new study show that advertisers will be relatively cautious with their money this year, not throwing it at all ad networks indiscriminately. They'll still be spending more than before, though, and vertical ad networks should benefit.
Vertical Ads More Money
Joe Apprendi
Inventory quality, targeting abilities, and site transparency are three of the things advertisers will consider, according to Collective Media. Its results come from about 200 surveys.
The results of a new study show that advertisers will be relatively cautious with their money this year, not throwing it at all ad networks indiscriminately. They'll still be spending more than before, though, and vertical ad networks should benefit.
Vertical Ads More Money
Joe Apprendi
Inventory quality, targeting abilities, and site transparency are three of the things advertisers will consider, according to Collective Media. Its results come from about 200 surveys.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Google Ads Gain Scroll Buttons | WebProNews
Google Ads Gain Scroll Buttons | WebProNews
When the average person sees an advertisement, what do they most want to do? Well, "see more ads" isn't a common answer, but new "next" and "previous" buttons created by Google make some sense.
When the average person sees an advertisement, what do they most want to do? Well, "see more ads" isn't a common answer, but new "next" and "previous" buttons created by Google make some sense.
People Increasingly Turn To Computers For TV | WebProNews
People Increasingly Turn To Computers For TV | WebProNews
A new report from the Convergence Consulting Group states, "We estimate online viewing of full-episode Broadcast/Cable Network TV as a percentage of the traditional TV base was 9% in 2007 (6% in 2006), and we forecast 14% for 2008, 19% for 2009, and 23% for 2010."
Or, in other words: by the end of the decade, about one out of every four times somebody sits down to watch a show, they'll be facing either a computer monitor or a television connected to a computer.
Assuming the report is reliable ("[s]ources include hundreds of company interviews, quarterly, annual reports & presentations," and Convergence contacted around 1,000 consumers), this stat is something content creators will want to keep in mind. Advertisers should also pay attention to the trend, of course. It even seems they can get a deal, since "US online TV advertising . . . revenues represented 2% ($1.4 billion) of US Broadcast/Cable Network TV advertising revenue in 2007."
Internet marketing
A new report from the Convergence Consulting Group states, "We estimate online viewing of full-episode Broadcast/Cable Network TV as a percentage of the traditional TV base was 9% in 2007 (6% in 2006), and we forecast 14% for 2008, 19% for 2009, and 23% for 2010."
Or, in other words: by the end of the decade, about one out of every four times somebody sits down to watch a show, they'll be facing either a computer monitor or a television connected to a computer.
Assuming the report is reliable ("[s]ources include hundreds of company interviews, quarterly, annual reports & presentations," and Convergence contacted around 1,000 consumers), this stat is something content creators will want to keep in mind. Advertisers should also pay attention to the trend, of course. It even seems they can get a deal, since "US online TV advertising . . . revenues represented 2% ($1.4 billion) of US Broadcast/Cable Network TV advertising revenue in 2007."
Internet marketing
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Recent Google Updates Have SEOs Scrambling [SearchEngineWatch]
Recent Google Updates Have SEOs Scrambling [SearchEngineWatch]
Google News has decided to clear up rumors surrounding how articles are included and ranked. In a post on the official Google News blog, software engineer Andy Golding addressed some assumptions floating around about how articles are indexed.
Google News has decided to clear up rumors surrounding how articles are included and ranked. In a post on the official Google News blog, software engineer Andy Golding addressed some assumptions floating around about how articles are indexed.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Microsoft's $1 Million Guarantee Program To Win Searchers
Microsoft's $1 Million Guarantee Program To Win Searchers
Microsoft executives, worried that the plan to acquire Yahoo for an estimated $40 billion might not happen, have hatched an alternative plan that might bring about success over Google at a much cheaper cost. To win in search, Microsoft may pay people not to use Google. And pay a premium, up to $1 million per year, over the next three years, to anyone within the United States.
Microsoft executives, worried that the plan to acquire Yahoo for an estimated $40 billion might not happen, have hatched an alternative plan that might bring about success over Google at a much cheaper cost. To win in search, Microsoft may pay people not to use Google. And pay a premium, up to $1 million per year, over the next three years, to anyone within the United States.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Will You Be Sued Over Your Ad Copy Usage?
Will You Be Sued Over Your Ad Copy Usage?
Storus Corp just successfully sued another advertiser for use of a trademarked term in the ad copy.
There are ads running on Google right now using the exact trademarked term. In fact, a substantial number of ads use various trademarked terms. From the people I talk to, the vast majority of them rely on Google to tell them which words they should not use. This case could set a dangerous precedent of advertiser suing advertiser and ignoring Google's trademark complaint process.
Storus Corp just successfully sued another advertiser for use of a trademarked term in the ad copy.
There are ads running on Google right now using the exact trademarked term. In fact, a substantial number of ads use various trademarked terms. From the people I talk to, the vast majority of them rely on Google to tell them which words they should not use. This case could set a dangerous precedent of advertiser suing advertiser and ignoring Google's trademark complaint process.
Mobile broadband subscribers increase by 850%
Mobile broadband subscribers increase by 850%
he number of mobile broadband subscribers using 3G HSPA has increased by 850% worldwide in the past year, according to the GSM Association. But carriers are also running the risk of becoming a victim of their own success, according to some analysts.
HSPA (High-Speed Packet Access) is an advanced form of 3G deployed by cellular operators that use GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) technology. Worldwide, GSM is the most widely-used cellular technology; it is used by AT&T Inc. and T-Mobile in the U.S. HSPA currently offers speeds ranging from 1.8Mbit/sec. to 7.2Mbit/sec.
he number of mobile broadband subscribers using 3G HSPA has increased by 850% worldwide in the past year, according to the GSM Association. But carriers are also running the risk of becoming a victim of their own success, according to some analysts.
HSPA (High-Speed Packet Access) is an advanced form of 3G deployed by cellular operators that use GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) technology. Worldwide, GSM is the most widely-used cellular technology; it is used by AT&T Inc. and T-Mobile in the U.S. HSPA currently offers speeds ranging from 1.8Mbit/sec. to 7.2Mbit/sec.
Google + DoubleClick = 69% of Online Advertising Market [SearchEngineWatch]
Google + DoubleClick = 69% of Online Advertising Market [SearchEngineWatch]
When Google raised concerns over a possible Microsoft-Yahoo merger, it may have just been the pot calling the kettle black. According to new stats released by Attributor, Google's acquisition of DoubleClick gives them a whopping 69% of the online advertising market share. This comes in the wake of news that Google saw 59.2 percent of all US searches in February.
Furthermore, DoubleClick has 48% share of sites with 1 million unique visitors per month, while Google enjoys a whopping 71.38% share of sites with less than 100,000 unique visitors per month.
When Google raised concerns over a possible Microsoft-Yahoo merger, it may have just been the pot calling the kettle black. According to new stats released by Attributor, Google's acquisition of DoubleClick gives them a whopping 69% of the online advertising market share. This comes in the wake of news that Google saw 59.2 percent of all US searches in February.
Furthermore, DoubleClick has 48% share of sites with 1 million unique visitors per month, while Google enjoys a whopping 71.38% share of sites with less than 100,000 unique visitors per month.
SEOmoz | Ask Yourself... Do You Feel Lucky (about getting those links)? Well Do You?
SEOmoz | Ask Yourself... Do You Feel Lucky (about getting those links)? Well Do You?
High quality directory link building may seem dreary and time-consuming, but it's still one of the best methods to build credibility with the search engines (remember the importance of trust distance?). Today, while adding resources to our list of valuable directories, I stumbled across three webpages with valuable insight into the process of link building. Both are from universities, providing directives on how to evaluate a link - it doesn't get much more relevant than this.
Read more here:
High quality directory link building may seem dreary and time-consuming, but it's still one of the best methods to build credibility with the search engines (remember the importance of trust distance?). Today, while adding resources to our list of valuable directories, I stumbled across three webpages with valuable insight into the process of link building. Both are from universities, providing directives on how to evaluate a link - it doesn't get much more relevant than this.
Read more here:
Local Store And Inventory Data Poised To Transform "Online Shopping"
Local Store And Inventory Data Poised To Transform "Online Shopping"
The neglected part of the local story is about products. Often local search is discussed exclusively in terms of finding service businesses or small businesses in one's own area.
The expressed purpose of the study, completed in February, 2008, was to "better understand the mindset of consumers who research online products that lend themselves to purchase at a local store.
The neglected part of the local story is about products. Often local search is discussed exclusively in terms of finding service businesses or small businesses in one's own area.
The expressed purpose of the study, completed in February, 2008, was to "better understand the mindset of consumers who research online products that lend themselves to purchase at a local store.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Google Adwords targeted in phishing attacks
Google Adwords targeted in phishing attacks
Google Adwords customers are being warned to watch out for fake emails claiming to be from Google Adwords, which attempt to steal login details.
Google Adwords has become the latest service to be targeted by phishers, using spoof emails to steal user login data.
Normally targeted at banks and online financial providers, the aim is to capture user login details by using a link to a fake website, which then records the login details and allows criminals to clean out the users bank account.
From Online Annonsering
Google Adwords customers are being warned to watch out for fake emails claiming to be from Google Adwords, which attempt to steal login details.
Google Adwords has become the latest service to be targeted by phishers, using spoof emails to steal user login data.
Normally targeted at banks and online financial providers, the aim is to capture user login details by using a link to a fake website, which then records the login details and allows criminals to clean out the users bank account.
From Online Annonsering
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Google Launches YouTube Insight - Google Analytics Lite [SearchEngineWatch]
Google Launches YouTube Insight - Google Analytics Lite [SearchEngineWatch]
Anyone can be a star on YouTube. Now, with tools released on Wednesday for charting the popularity of clips posted to the popular video-sharing site, video creators can analyze their own celebrity potential.
The analytics service, called YouTube Insight, is a free software tool that lets video creators see detailed statistics about the videos that they upload to the site, giving them a glimpse of chronological and demographic audience trends.
"Whether a YouTube video has 10 views or 10 million, people always want to know the same thing: Who's watching this? Where do viewers come from? How did they find my video?," YouTube, a unit of Google Inc said in a blog post.
YouTube had 269 million monthly visitors worldwide in February, up 84 percent from the same month a year ago, according to Web traffic measurement firm comScore Inc.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
Anyone can be a star on YouTube. Now, with tools released on Wednesday for charting the popularity of clips posted to the popular video-sharing site, video creators can analyze their own celebrity potential.
The analytics service, called YouTube Insight, is a free software tool that lets video creators see detailed statistics about the videos that they upload to the site, giving them a glimpse of chronological and demographic audience trends.
"Whether a YouTube video has 10 views or 10 million, people always want to know the same thing: Who's watching this? Where do viewers come from? How did they find my video?," YouTube, a unit of Google Inc said in a blog post.
YouTube had 269 million monthly visitors worldwide in February, up 84 percent from the same month a year ago, according to Web traffic measurement firm comScore Inc.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Stupid SEO Spammers [SearchEngineWatch]
Stupid SEO Spammers [SearchEngineWatch]
Som people/companies never give up, but their advertise as they still are in the 90's
General rules are:
Lesson #1: Don’t spam people with your SEO services.
Lesson #2: Definitely don’t spam people who write for SEW and have close relations with spam blacklist owners about your SEO services.
"This morning I got an email (my tenth) from a company that hadn’t read my rules: National Positions, an “SEO” firm out of California, promising me “five times the RELEVANT traffic at a substantially reduced cost.” The site, which I’ve linked to above using a 302 redirect so as not to give out any of my link juice, said they could place my “website on top of the Natural Listings on Google, Yahoo and MSN” using their “proprietary techniques” and “valuable closely held trade secrets,” without using “link farms or black hat methods.” And they charge “less than half of what other companies charge!” Awesome.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
Som people/companies never give up, but their advertise as they still are in the 90's
General rules are:
Lesson #1: Don’t spam people with your SEO services.
Lesson #2: Definitely don’t spam people who write for SEW and have close relations with spam blacklist owners about your SEO services.
"This morning I got an email (my tenth) from a company that hadn’t read my rules: National Positions, an “SEO” firm out of California, promising me “five times the RELEVANT traffic at a substantially reduced cost.” The site, which I’ve linked to above using a 302 redirect so as not to give out any of my link juice, said they could place my “website on top of the Natural Listings on Google, Yahoo and MSN” using their “proprietary techniques” and “valuable closely held trade secrets,” without using “link farms or black hat methods.” And they charge “less than half of what other companies charge!” Awesome.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
Monday, March 24, 2008
Google-DoubleClick: The next phase | Tech news blog - CNET News.com
Google-DoubleClick: The next phase | Tech news blog - CNET News.com
Now that Google has acquired DoubleClick--the display advertising feather in its proverbial cap--it's time to see if the hat fits.
The $3.1 billion acquisition, which finally closed last week upon European regulator approval, gives Google a much needed boost in the market for display advertising.
Google's AdSense serves up pay-per-click text ads to Web sites within its publisher network, while DoubleClick, which markets a product called Dart, places banner ads on Web sites. DoubleClick also runs an advertising exchange and a search-engine marketing business called Performics.
There are some basic conflict-of-interest questions with some of the additions to Google. As the largest search engine, Google has kept its distance from search engine optimization, or SEO, which is the science of increasing a Web page's rankings in search results. But with Performics, Google owns an SEO company.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
Now that Google has acquired DoubleClick--the display advertising feather in its proverbial cap--it's time to see if the hat fits.
The $3.1 billion acquisition, which finally closed last week upon European regulator approval, gives Google a much needed boost in the market for display advertising.
Google's AdSense serves up pay-per-click text ads to Web sites within its publisher network, while DoubleClick, which markets a product called Dart, places banner ads on Web sites. DoubleClick also runs an advertising exchange and a search-engine marketing business called Performics.
There are some basic conflict-of-interest questions with some of the additions to Google. As the largest search engine, Google has kept its distance from search engine optimization, or SEO, which is the science of increasing a Web page's rankings in search results. But with Performics, Google owns an SEO company.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Yahoo! Search Blog: The Yahoo! Search Open Ecosystem
Yahoo! Search Blog: The Yahoo! Search Open Ecosystem
By supporting semantic web standards, Yahoo! Search and site owners can bring a far richer and more useful search experience to consumers. For example, by marking up its profile pages with microformats, LinkedIn can allow Yahoo! Search and others to understand the semantic content and the relationships of the many components of its site. With a richer understanding of LinkedIn's structured data included in our index, we will be able to present users with more compelling and useful search results for their site. The benefit to LinkedIn is, of course, increased traffic quality and quantity from sites like Yahoo! Search that utilize its structured data.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
By supporting semantic web standards, Yahoo! Search and site owners can bring a far richer and more useful search experience to consumers. For example, by marking up its profile pages with microformats, LinkedIn can allow Yahoo! Search and others to understand the semantic content and the relationships of the many components of its site. With a richer understanding of LinkedIn's structured data included in our index, we will be able to present users with more compelling and useful search results for their site. The benefit to LinkedIn is, of course, increased traffic quality and quantity from sites like Yahoo! Search that utilize its structured data.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
Friday, March 21, 2008
The Inconvienent Truth About Social Media Marketing
The Inconvienent Truth About Social Media Marketing
Social media is hot. Everyone wants to be on Digg's home page. Link baiting, especially using things like numbered lists, imperative rules, or controversial hooks is the SEM strategy du jour. There's just one -- major -- problem with spending so much time and effort on capturing the eyeballs of social media users.
Social media traffic does not monetize.
Social media is easy to hype because there is a lot of traffic on social media sites. But if you try to do anything with social media traffic to convert it to revenue, you will be hard-pressed -- unless you are selling CPM-based advertising.
From Internet Maketing and Online Annonsering
Social media is hot. Everyone wants to be on Digg's home page. Link baiting, especially using things like numbered lists, imperative rules, or controversial hooks is the SEM strategy du jour. There's just one -- major -- problem with spending so much time and effort on capturing the eyeballs of social media users.
Social media traffic does not monetize.
Social media is easy to hype because there is a lot of traffic on social media sites. But if you try to do anything with social media traffic to convert it to revenue, you will be hard-pressed -- unless you are selling CPM-based advertising.
From Internet Maketing and Online Annonsering
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Yahoo Buzz Introduces Social Media to the Masses
Yahoo Buzz Introduces Social Media to the Masses
Some of the latest buzz in social media happens to be Yahoos newest social media venture: Yahoo Buzz, which is currently in closed beta. In case you are unfamiliar: this site has been compared to the social media site Digg as far as functionality, but is particularly capturing attention in the social media landscape for Yahoos ability to tap mainstream audiences.
From Online Annonsering
Some of the latest buzz in social media happens to be Yahoos newest social media venture: Yahoo Buzz, which is currently in closed beta. In case you are unfamiliar: this site has been compared to the social media site Digg as far as functionality, but is particularly capturing attention in the social media landscape for Yahoos ability to tap mainstream audiences.
From Online Annonsering
Monday, March 17, 2008
The price of coddling Google - how Yahoo lost its way - San Jose Mercury News
The price of coddling Google - how Yahoo lost its way - San Jose Mercury News
Almost eight years ago, Yahoo decided to lend a little start-up a helping hand, featuring its search technology on the Yahoo home page and giving it money at a critical juncture.
In cut-throat Silicon Valley, no good deed goes unpunished.
The start-up was Google, and Yahoo's generosity helped launch the most formidable competitor it had ever encountered. Now facing a takeover attempt by Microsoft, Yahoo is coming to terms with the punishing consequences of its complex relationship with Google, including a futile attempt to copy Google's extraordinarily profitable advertising model at significant cost to Yahoo's own business.
From Internet Marketing
Almost eight years ago, Yahoo decided to lend a little start-up a helping hand, featuring its search technology on the Yahoo home page and giving it money at a critical juncture.
In cut-throat Silicon Valley, no good deed goes unpunished.
The start-up was Google, and Yahoo's generosity helped launch the most formidable competitor it had ever encountered. Now facing a takeover attempt by Microsoft, Yahoo is coming to terms with the punishing consequences of its complex relationship with Google, including a futile attempt to copy Google's extraordinarily profitable advertising model at significant cost to Yahoo's own business.
From Internet Marketing
Microsoft lunches to day a new ad center.
Microsoft has announced the launch of the new adCenter Community today. The new site replaced the old blog and forums and can be found at adcentercommunity.com. Features include:
* Product/Service specific blogs
* Categorized User Forums
* Multimedia Distribution including video interviews, audio podcasts and training videos
* User profiles
From Internet Annonsering
Microsoft has announced the launch of the new adCenter Community today. The new site replaced the old blog and forums and can be found at adcentercommunity.com. Features include:
* Product/Service specific blogs
* Categorized User Forums
* Multimedia Distribution including video interviews, audio podcasts and training videos
* User profiles
From Internet Annonsering
How To Improve Site Conversion, Minimize Google Ad Cost, And Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
How To Improve Site Conversion, Minimize Google Ad Cost, And Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
With Google's recent announcement about page load time influencing Quality Score, now is a good time to discuss site speed.
Speed matters. People rate snappy, responsive sites as more usable, even when the user interface itself doesn't change. If your architecture or design aren't that great, your users will give your site more chances before abandoning if the site responds quickly. Google knows that speed supports usability. I'd suggest much of the credit for Google's rise to industry dominance goes to their ongoing obsession on making search results blazingly fast.
From Online Annonsering
With Google's recent announcement about page load time influencing Quality Score, now is a good time to discuss site speed.
Speed matters. People rate snappy, responsive sites as more usable, even when the user interface itself doesn't change. If your architecture or design aren't that great, your users will give your site more chances before abandoning if the site responds quickly. Google knows that speed supports usability. I'd suggest much of the credit for Google's rise to industry dominance goes to their ongoing obsession on making search results blazingly fast.
From Online Annonsering
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Microsoft buys company for online advertising, holds talks with Yahoo_English_Xinhua
Microsoft buys company for online advertising, holds talks with Yahoo_English_Xinhua:
Microsoft said Friday that it has signed a deal to buy an online advertising management company, in a sign that the software giant is aggressively making its foray into the lucrative Internet advertising world.
Microsoft said Friday that it has signed a deal to buy an online advertising management company, in a sign that the software giant is aggressively making its foray into the lucrative Internet advertising world.
YouTube Slowly Uploading High-Quality Videos - Google Blog - InformationWeek
YouTube Slowly Uploading High-Quality Videos - Google Blog - InformationWeek
Watching standard definition TV can be a drag. What's even worse is tuning into YouTube videos. The video quality is often lacking in a big way. YouTube is hoping to change that, however, and is beginning to make higher-definition videos available for viewing.
As both a creator for and a watcher of the videos posted on YouTube, I know what a pain it is to upload long videos. Even if you have a very fast Internet connection, long videos can take a long time to get upstream to Google (NSDQ: GOOG)'s YouTube servers. High definition (or even higher quality) video, which is often four times the data of regular video, is much worse to work with and takes far longer to upload.
Not only does it take longer to upload, but it also takes longer to process on your PC and prepare for publication to begin with. This is why most people settle for the standard "YouTube" definition. In fact, iMovie has an uploader built directly into it, and it automatically creates videos that are the correct resolution to match what YouTube can handle.
From Internet Marketing and Internet Annonsering
Watching standard definition TV can be a drag. What's even worse is tuning into YouTube videos. The video quality is often lacking in a big way. YouTube is hoping to change that, however, and is beginning to make higher-definition videos available for viewing.
As both a creator for and a watcher of the videos posted on YouTube, I know what a pain it is to upload long videos. Even if you have a very fast Internet connection, long videos can take a long time to get upstream to Google (NSDQ: GOOG)'s YouTube servers. High definition (or even higher quality) video, which is often four times the data of regular video, is much worse to work with and takes far longer to upload.
Not only does it take longer to upload, but it also takes longer to process on your PC and prepare for publication to begin with. This is why most people settle for the standard "YouTube" definition. In fact, iMovie has an uploader built directly into it, and it automatically creates videos that are the correct resolution to match what YouTube can handle.
From Internet Marketing and Internet Annonsering
Friday, March 14, 2008
The Google Quality Raters Handbook
The Google Quality Raters Handbook:
The documents are used by Google Quality Raters to aid them in classifying queries, measuring relevancy and rating the search results. To do so, the Quality Rater must understand how Google works and this document has a bunch of that. Let me pull out for you some of those details in easy to read bullet points. The original site is here.
From Internet Marketing
The documents are used by Google Quality Raters to aid them in classifying queries, measuring relevancy and rating the search results. To do so, the Quality Rater must understand how Google works and this document has a bunch of that. Let me pull out for you some of those details in easy to read bullet points. The original site is here.
From Internet Marketing
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Open Letter To Google: Do The Right Thing, Divest Yourself Of Performics
Open Letter To Google: Do The Right Thing, Divest Yourself Of Performics
At long last, Google owns DoubleClick. In doing so, the company has done something else that many people would have never believed possible. Become an SEO. That's right -- Google's in the SEO business now, selling services through DoubleClick's Performics to people who want to rank well on -- um -- Google. Conflict of interest? You bet. And worse from an image perspective, the purchase puts Google in the paid inclusion business, something it dissed as evil back in 2004, when it went public. Don't get me wrong, I have absolutely no problem with Performics as a company and have good friends that work there. But Google shouldn't own it. The Google announcement yesterday should have said that Performics was being quickly spun off. Larry, Sergey, Eric, Google! Please do the right thing and make this a priority. Below, more on why this should be done, plus the official Google stance, so far.
From Online Annonsering
At long last, Google owns DoubleClick. In doing so, the company has done something else that many people would have never believed possible. Become an SEO. That's right -- Google's in the SEO business now, selling services through DoubleClick's Performics to people who want to rank well on -- um -- Google. Conflict of interest? You bet. And worse from an image perspective, the purchase puts Google in the paid inclusion business, something it dissed as evil back in 2004, when it went public. Don't get me wrong, I have absolutely no problem with Performics as a company and have good friends that work there. But Google shouldn't own it. The Google announcement yesterday should have said that Performics was being quickly spun off. Larry, Sergey, Eric, Google! Please do the right thing and make this a priority. Below, more on why this should be done, plus the official Google stance, so far.
From Online Annonsering
Using Wikipedia To Reveal Web Traffic Data
Using Wikipedia To Reveal Web Traffic Data
Before investing time and effort in search rankings, and even before setting client expectations, it makes sense to gather whatever intelligence you can about the keywords you'd like to rank for. SEOs and webmasters have few reliable sources of information about the relationship between rankings and traffic. But Wikipedia's traffic stats can help, offering some surprisingly detailed data.
From Internet Marketing
Before investing time and effort in search rankings, and even before setting client expectations, it makes sense to gather whatever intelligence you can about the keywords you'd like to rank for. SEOs and webmasters have few reliable sources of information about the relationship between rankings and traffic. But Wikipedia's traffic stats can help, offering some surprisingly detailed data.
From Internet Marketing
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Google Launches New Conference: Google "Insertion Order" for Developers [SearchEngineWatch]
Google Launches New Conference: Google "Insertion Order" for Developers [SearchEngineWatch]
Google launched a new branded product today: the Google I/O Web Forward developer conference, a two-day, event for developers to share knowledge about Google's developer products in specific and Web application development in general. For marketers, I/O means insertion order; for developers, input/output.
I/O (input/output) means communication between an information processing system (i.e. computer), and the world – possibly a human, or more likely in Google's scenario: an information processing system (computer).
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
Google launched a new branded product today: the Google I/O Web Forward developer conference, a two-day, event for developers to share knowledge about Google's developer products in specific and Web application development in general. For marketers, I/O means insertion order; for developers, input/output.
I/O (input/output) means communication between an information processing system (i.e. computer), and the world – possibly a human, or more likely in Google's scenario: an information processing system (computer).
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
Monday, March 10, 2008
How Do They Track You? Let Us Count the Ways - Bits - Technology - New York Times Blog
How Do They Track You? Let Us Count the Ways - Bits - Technology - New York Times Blog
On the Internet, companies are typically ranked by how many different people visit their sites in a given month. And when Microsoft announced its $41 billion bid for Yahoo, comScore and Nielsen Online promptly put out estimates counting how many people would be in the merged company’s total audience.
But audience size is not everything in the online world. Advertisers increasingly want media companies to find their most likely customers and show their ads only to those people, rather than to the site’s entire audience.
From Internet Marketing
On the Internet, companies are typically ranked by how many different people visit their sites in a given month. And when Microsoft announced its $41 billion bid for Yahoo, comScore and Nielsen Online promptly put out estimates counting how many people would be in the merged company’s total audience.
But audience size is not everything in the online world. Advertisers increasingly want media companies to find their most likely customers and show their ads only to those people, rather than to the site’s entire audience.
From Internet Marketing
Sunday, March 09, 2008
AdWords For TV Details Impressive | WebProNews
AdWords For TV Details Impressive | WebProNews
Screenshots have surfaced detailing Google's AdWords for TV tests, which appear to be near completion after a year of trials. Next stop: the UK.
From Internet Marketing
Screenshots have surfaced detailing Google's AdWords for TV tests, which appear to be near completion after a year of trials. Next stop: the UK.
From Internet Marketing
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Concerns Linger over Google-DoubleClick
Concerns Linger over Google-DoubleClick
EU regulators appear likely to approve Google's takeover unconditionally, but digital privacy advocates remain firmly opposed.
A €2 billion takeover by US-based search engine giant Google, of online advertising firm Double Click, is likely to be approved unconditionally by European antitrust regulators, according to three people close to the case.
Normally in such cases, the European Commission sends the given firms a list of formal objections with at least eight weeks' notice before a deadline in order to give the companies enough time to respond.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
EU regulators appear likely to approve Google's takeover unconditionally, but digital privacy advocates remain firmly opposed.
A €2 billion takeover by US-based search engine giant Google, of online advertising firm Double Click, is likely to be approved unconditionally by European antitrust regulators, according to three people close to the case.
Normally in such cases, the European Commission sends the given firms a list of formal objections with at least eight weeks' notice before a deadline in order to give the companies enough time to respond.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
Friday, March 07, 2008
Google Calendar Sync; a program for synchronizing Google Calendar with Microsoft Outlook.
This update now brings Google Calendar to a new level where user adoption will increase because it now can coordinate with Outlook; the most popular email client in use today. Here is Google's complete tutorial for setting up Google Calendar Sync.
There are Other Options Available
Google Calendar Sync for Outlook rounds out a fair list of apps that allow synchronization with Google Calendar between Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, and even Blackberry's.
For Mozilla Thunderbird
• Provider Add-on is a plug-in for Thunderbird that enables synchronization. Here is a great instructional on how to use it to sync the two systems.
Other Related Thunderbird Apps
• BirdieSync is a commercial application that reportedly does a great job of syncing Google Calendar with Pocket Outlook so that you can then have (by extension) your Google Calendar on your smart phone.
• FinchSync does the same thing as BirdieSync except it is free but that reportedly comes with less user-friendliness and reliability.
Synchronize Between Google Calendar and Your Windows Mobile PDA/Smartphone
It is still in beta but GMobileSync offers the ability to synchronize directly between Google Calendar and your portable if it is running Windows Mobile 5.0.
This update now brings Google Calendar to a new level where user adoption will increase because it now can coordinate with Outlook; the most popular email client in use today. Here is Google's complete tutorial for setting up Google Calendar Sync.
There are Other Options Available
Google Calendar Sync for Outlook rounds out a fair list of apps that allow synchronization with Google Calendar between Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, and even Blackberry's.
For Mozilla Thunderbird
• Provider Add-on is a plug-in for Thunderbird that enables synchronization. Here is a great instructional on how to use it to sync the two systems.
Other Related Thunderbird Apps
• BirdieSync is a commercial application that reportedly does a great job of syncing Google Calendar with Pocket Outlook so that you can then have (by extension) your Google Calendar on your smart phone.
• FinchSync does the same thing as BirdieSync except it is free but that reportedly comes with less user-friendliness and reliability.
Synchronize Between Google Calendar and Your Windows Mobile PDA/Smartphone
It is still in beta but GMobileSync offers the ability to synchronize directly between Google Calendar and your portable if it is running Windows Mobile 5.0.
Google Tests More TV Ads With AdWords Integration
Google Tests More TV Ads With AdWords Integration: "Google Tests More TV Ads With AdWords Integration
Google Integrates TV Ads Into Adwords Platform by Pinny Cohen shows screen captures of AdWords reports with TV ad integration. Pinny said that Google sent out more invitations for AdWords advertisers to test out TV ads within the Google AdWords system.
From Online Annonsering
Google Integrates TV Ads Into Adwords Platform by Pinny Cohen shows screen captures of AdWords reports with TV ad integration. Pinny said that Google sent out more invitations for AdWords advertisers to test out TV ads within the Google AdWords system.
From Online Annonsering
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Online Video Advertising + Search Engines = Opportunity For Small Businesses
Online Video Advertising + Search Engines = Opportunity For Small Businesses:
Much is being written and said these days about the rising future of online video advertising. Recent articles like one in the NY Times reporting Google’s move to test video ads in search results pages shows that the once abstract promise of online video advertising is now upon us.
From Internet Marketing
Much is being written and said these days about the rising future of online video advertising. Recent articles like one in the NY Times reporting Google’s move to test video ads in search results pages shows that the once abstract promise of online video advertising is now upon us.
From Internet Marketing
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Internet Advertising and Marketing Articles
Internet Advertising and Marketing Articles
Do you have a small online business? Are you thinking about starting this type of business? If you have answered yes to either of these questions then read on to discover how to effectively market your products or services online. Currently, online advertising for small internet businesses is the most popular trend entrepreneurs are using to garner more customers and produce more sales.
From Online Annonsering
Do you have a small online business? Are you thinking about starting this type of business? If you have answered yes to either of these questions then read on to discover how to effectively market your products or services online. Currently, online advertising for small internet businesses is the most popular trend entrepreneurs are using to garner more customers and produce more sales.
From Online Annonsering
The Beginning of the End? Or the End of the Beginning? - Search Engine Watch
The Beginning of the End? Or the End of the Beginning? - Search Engine Watch
The data doesn't lie; unless you torture it and force a false confession. The latest barrage of "be afraid" and "see I told you" press surrounding Google and its less than satisfactory CTRs had me (like many in the search business) staring sideways at the data – and more importantly the conclusions drawn.
How could people be clicking less? Was the entire Internet ad business coming to a screeching halt? Shortly after the news began breaking in major media, I began discussions with folks at comScore (since they released the data) while running down possible scenarios and thinking about the errors in judgment made by major media.
In the end, searches are still up; search revenues are still strong; and the sky isn't falling. The real story here is not the data itself; how it was interpreted; or the conclusions that were missed. It's certainly not about search ad revenue as an economic indicator, though the false economic barometer does catapult us into the real issue at hand.
From Online Annonsering
The data doesn't lie; unless you torture it and force a false confession. The latest barrage of "be afraid" and "see I told you" press surrounding Google and its less than satisfactory CTRs had me (like many in the search business) staring sideways at the data – and more importantly the conclusions drawn.
How could people be clicking less? Was the entire Internet ad business coming to a screeching halt? Shortly after the news began breaking in major media, I began discussions with folks at comScore (since they released the data) while running down possible scenarios and thinking about the errors in judgment made by major media.
In the end, searches are still up; search revenues are still strong; and the sky isn't falling. The real story here is not the data itself; how it was interpreted; or the conclusions that were missed. It's certainly not about search ad revenue as an economic indicator, though the false economic barometer does catapult us into the real issue at hand.
From Online Annonsering
Yahoo Desperately Seeking Suitor: Time Warner [SearchEngineWatch]
Yahoo Desperately Seeking Suitor: Time Warner [SearchEngineWatch]
Yahooo's desperately seeking a suitor. With a Microsoft proxy battle expected soon, Time Warner's emerging as a white knight for the Sunnyvale search engine. Or as a delaying tactic to put off the Yahoo annual shareholder meeting.
Talks between Yahoo and the AOL unit of Time Warner have escalated. Finding an alternative to Microsoft's unwelcome bid remains Yahoo's focus, according to reports this morning in The Wall St. Journal (subscription) and The New York Times.
From Internet Marketing
Yahooo's desperately seeking a suitor. With a Microsoft proxy battle expected soon, Time Warner's emerging as a white knight for the Sunnyvale search engine. Or as a delaying tactic to put off the Yahoo annual shareholder meeting.
Talks between Yahoo and the AOL unit of Time Warner have escalated. Finding an alternative to Microsoft's unwelcome bid remains Yahoo's focus, according to reports this morning in The Wall St. Journal (subscription) and The New York Times.
From Internet Marketing
Monday, March 03, 2008
Will Ask Switch To Google And Lay Off A 100
Will Ask Switch To Google And Lay Off A 100
Rumors are rife that Ask could be considering handing over its search operations to Google and consequently downsizing it's engineering team, reports Silicon Alley Insider. Ask might be thinking about abandoning or selling its Teoma search engine in favor of Google, There is indeed a big shakeup coming.
From Online Annonsering and Internet Marketing
Rumors are rife that Ask could be considering handing over its search operations to Google and consequently downsizing it's engineering team, reports Silicon Alley Insider. Ask might be thinking about abandoning or selling its Teoma search engine in favor of Google, There is indeed a big shakeup coming.
From Online Annonsering and Internet Marketing
Umbrella News - -
With only a few clicks, just about anyone will be able to quickly set up and update a Web site featuring wide an array of material, including pictures, calendars and video from Google Inc.'s YouTube subsidiary, said Dave Girouard, general manager of the division overseeing the new application.
Google acquired many of the Web-site tools when it bought a Silicon Valley startup, JotSpot, last year.
The tools are the latest addition to a bundle of applications that Google offers to consumers and businesses as alternatives to similar products sold by Microsoft Corp., one of Google's fiercest rivals.
Google's latest service represents a challenge to Microsoft's SharePoint, which charges licensing fees. Google is unveiling its alternative just a few days before Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft hosts a SharePoint conference in Seattle.
While Microsoft's programs typically are installed on individual computers, Google keeps its application on its own machines so users can access them from anywhere with an Internet connection.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Bigger! Better! Richer! The golden age of advertising - Media, News - Independent.co.uk
Bigger! Better! Richer! The golden age of advertising - Media, News - Independent.co.uk:
The admen (and most of them were men) of the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties created some of the most unforgettable images of modern times. Peter York celebrates the Golden Age of advertising.
Advertising was like that strap line The Rolling Stones' manager, Andrew Loog Oldham, used on their album covers, "The dividing line between art and commerce". But the real stuff, so insiders believed, still came from America. The country had invented TV-led consumerism – and particularly teenage-ism – and British mass-culture looked archaic and black and white by comparison until the 1980s.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
The admen (and most of them were men) of the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties created some of the most unforgettable images of modern times. Peter York celebrates the Golden Age of advertising.
Advertising was like that strap line The Rolling Stones' manager, Andrew Loog Oldham, used on their album covers, "The dividing line between art and commerce". But the real stuff, so insiders believed, still came from America. The country had invented TV-led consumerism – and particularly teenage-ism – and British mass-culture looked archaic and black and white by comparison until the 1980s.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
Friday, February 29, 2008
Are You An Agency SEM Pro? Take SEMPO's Salary Survey
Are You An Agency SEM Pro? Take SEMPO's Salary Survey
SEMPO is undertaking a salary survey of agency search engine marketing professionals, similar to its in-house SEM salary survey that we reported on in January. If you're an agency SEM pro, SEMPO would like to hear from you, whether you're a SEMPO member or not. To qualify for the survey, you must......
From Internet Marketing
SEMPO is undertaking a salary survey of agency search engine marketing professionals, similar to its in-house SEM salary survey that we reported on in January. If you're an agency SEM pro, SEMPO would like to hear from you, whether you're a SEMPO member or not. To qualify for the survey, you must......
From Internet Marketing
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
From SEO to Social Media: Content is Still King
From SEO to Social Media: Content is Still King
There was a time in social media, just as in search engine optimization (SEO), when everything was only about getting to the front page. Little attention was paid to what happened after you got there and for a while it seemed as if you could do it in your sleep. Over the last year social media has evolved and become a more common form of online marketing and link building.
With that evolution, it has become more difficult to push your content to the front page of top social communities, and the different communities’ algorithms have taken into account the various tricks and methods previously used. Marketers are also taking more time to evaluate and determine the value of success in social media.
Whether you are looking for increased RSS subscriptions, more page views and traffic, or inbound links, it is time to start looking at a real strategy for success with social media marketing.
From Online Annonsering
There was a time in social media, just as in search engine optimization (SEO), when everything was only about getting to the front page. Little attention was paid to what happened after you got there and for a while it seemed as if you could do it in your sleep. Over the last year social media has evolved and become a more common form of online marketing and link building.
With that evolution, it has become more difficult to push your content to the front page of top social communities, and the different communities’ algorithms have taken into account the various tricks and methods previously used. Marketers are also taking more time to evaluate and determine the value of success in social media.
Whether you are looking for increased RSS subscriptions, more page views and traffic, or inbound links, it is time to start looking at a real strategy for success with social media marketing.
From Online Annonsering
Online advertising to be new front in Google/Microsoft battle | The Industry Standard
Online advertising to be new front in Google/Microsoft battle
Microsoft will make its bid for online advertising dominance with Engagement Mapping, a new ad measurement system which will be available in testing mode in March.
The software giant says it’s created a new way to determine the success of online ads. Engagement Mapping will look at all ways the was users are exposed to and interact with ads before making a purchase, rather than just the last site or search result they visited. The measurement system will take into account “the impact that recency, frequency, size and ad format (such as rich media and video) have on a consumers’ path to action,” the company says, but it isn’t offering any more details.
From Internet Marketing
Microsoft will make its bid for online advertising dominance with Engagement Mapping, a new ad measurement system which will be available in testing mode in March.
The software giant says it’s created a new way to determine the success of online ads. Engagement Mapping will look at all ways the was users are exposed to and interact with ads before making a purchase, rather than just the last site or search result they visited. The measurement system will take into account “the impact that recency, frequency, size and ad format (such as rich media and video) have on a consumers’ path to action,” the company says, but it isn’t offering any more details.
From Internet Marketing
Monday, February 25, 2008
Online advertising to be new front in Google/Microsoft battle | The Industry Standard
Online advertising to be new front in Google/Microsoft battle | The Industry Standard
Microsoft will make its bid for online advertising dominance with Engagement Mapping, a new ad measurement system which will be available in testing mode in March.
The software giant says it’s created a new way to determine the success of online ads. Engagement Mapping will look at all ways the was users are exposed to and interact with ads before making a purchase, rather than just the last site or search result they visited. The measurement system will take into account “the impact that recency, frequency, size and ad format (such as rich media and video) have on a consumers’ path to action,” the company says, but it isn’t offering any more details.
From Internet Advertising and Online Annonsering
Microsoft will make its bid for online advertising dominance with Engagement Mapping, a new ad measurement system which will be available in testing mode in March.
The software giant says it’s created a new way to determine the success of online ads. Engagement Mapping will look at all ways the was users are exposed to and interact with ads before making a purchase, rather than just the last site or search result they visited. The measurement system will take into account “the impact that recency, frequency, size and ad format (such as rich media and video) have on a consumers’ path to action,” the company says, but it isn’t offering any more details.
From Internet Advertising and Online Annonsering
Friday, February 22, 2008
Google's Microsoft Yahoo Internet Doomsday Scenario: Google's Brin [SearchEngineWatch]
Google's Microsoft Yahoo Internet Doomsday Scenario: Google's Brin [SearchEngineWatch]
Yesterday Google co-founder Sergey Brin described the Internet doomsday scenario if Microsoft wins its Yahoo takeover bid. How does Google love thee, Microsoft? Let me count the ways:
Internet innovation? At risk.
Antitrust laws? Violated.
Internet users? Harmed.
From Internet Marketing
Yesterday Google co-founder Sergey Brin described the Internet doomsday scenario if Microsoft wins its Yahoo takeover bid. How does Google love thee, Microsoft? Let me count the ways:
Internet innovation? At risk.
Antitrust laws? Violated.
Internet users? Harmed.
From Internet Marketing
Is The Time Ripe For Search Marketing Standards?
Is The Time Ripe For Search Marketing Standards?
Over the past ten to twelve years, various SEM practitioners have brought up the need for industry standards. I started asking the question in 1998, and others have brought it up since, but the industry seems to have a laissez faire attitude.
Albeit, we've seen some standardization steps taken by the search engines themselves. Google, Yahoo!, and Microsoft got together on the Sitemaps protocol, and Google, Ask.com, and Microsoft are now anonymizing log file data. Subsequently, Google called for international privacy standards. The November 2007 FTC public forum on behavioral advertising also focused on privacy concerns. These are all steps toward industry standardization with regard to consumer privacy, an issue search engines must address to maintain public trust. But search engines are not as motivated to establish standards for search engine marketing tactics.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
Over the past ten to twelve years, various SEM practitioners have brought up the need for industry standards. I started asking the question in 1998, and others have brought it up since, but the industry seems to have a laissez faire attitude.
Albeit, we've seen some standardization steps taken by the search engines themselves. Google, Yahoo!, and Microsoft got together on the Sitemaps protocol, and Google, Ask.com, and Microsoft are now anonymizing log file data. Subsequently, Google called for international privacy standards. The November 2007 FTC public forum on behavioral advertising also focused on privacy concerns. These are all steps toward industry standardization with regard to consumer privacy, an issue search engines must address to maintain public trust. But search engines are not as motivated to establish standards for search engine marketing tactics.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Google to sell display ads in Web videos | Technology | Internet | Reuters
Google to sell display ads in Web videos | Technology | Internet | Reuters
Google Inc. plans to start selling ads to appear in Web videos after it agreed a partnership with YuMe, an online video advertising network.
YuMe, a Redwood City, California-based start-up, said on Thursday, it will serve InVideo overlay adverts as part of Google's AdSense for video beta advertising program.
Google has traditionally used AdSense for text-only advertising but said the video program extends its offer to targeted, contextually-relevant video graphical ads and text overlays.
Google has been working on ways of developing advertising revenue for online video since it bought YouTube, the video-sharing site, in November 2006.
As Internet access speeds become faster around the world more television and Hollywood-produced video content is moving to the Web on sites like Hulu.com, owned by News Corp and NBC Universal, and Fancast.com, owned by Comcast Corp.
From Internet Marketing
Google Inc. plans to start selling ads to appear in Web videos after it agreed a partnership with YuMe, an online video advertising network.
YuMe, a Redwood City, California-based start-up, said on Thursday, it will serve InVideo overlay adverts as part of Google's AdSense for video beta advertising program.
Google has traditionally used AdSense for text-only advertising but said the video program extends its offer to targeted, contextually-relevant video graphical ads and text overlays.
Google has been working on ways of developing advertising revenue for online video since it bought YouTube, the video-sharing site, in November 2006.
As Internet access speeds become faster around the world more television and Hollywood-produced video content is moving to the Web on sites like Hulu.com, owned by News Corp and NBC Universal, and Fancast.com, owned by Comcast Corp.
From Internet Marketing
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
SEOmoz | How to Track the Evolution of Search Engine Algorithms & Why It's Important to Do So
SEOmoz | How to Track the Evolution of Search Engine Algorithms & Why It's Important to Do So
Drive More Organic Traffic by Understanding Search Engine Algorithms
The Seattle-based blog SEOmoz, Rand Fishkin asks "What is an Algorithm? How does it apply to the Search Results at Google, Yahoo! & MSN/Live?" The post, How to Track the Evolution of Search Engine Algorithms & Why It's Important to Do So, amounts to a free clinic regarding the "whys" and "hows" for professionals seeking to garner more organic search traffic.
"The vast majority of search marketers operating in the organic space at least lay claim to "following the latest algorithms" at the search engines, and in 90% of the client pitches I've ever heard (or made, for that matter), the subject comes up at least once. However, I think this is still a topic about which there's not a lot of true understanding and for those new to the field, it's probably the most daunting aspect of the work. So, to help ease some pain, I figured I'd address many of the most common questions about keeping up with the search engines' ever-changing mathematical formulas that rank search results."
Rand Fishkin
The article gets to the algorithmic red meat: inherent trust in link metrics, domain trust over the importance of individual pages, temporal analysis of link growth, sandboxing of new websites, fixing blog comment spam, and Google's recent crackdown on reciprocal tactics.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
Drive More Organic Traffic by Understanding Search Engine Algorithms
The Seattle-based blog SEOmoz, Rand Fishkin asks "What is an Algorithm? How does it apply to the Search Results at Google, Yahoo! & MSN/Live?" The post, How to Track the Evolution of Search Engine Algorithms & Why It's Important to Do So, amounts to a free clinic regarding the "whys" and "hows" for professionals seeking to garner more organic search traffic.
"The vast majority of search marketers operating in the organic space at least lay claim to "following the latest algorithms" at the search engines, and in 90% of the client pitches I've ever heard (or made, for that matter), the subject comes up at least once. However, I think this is still a topic about which there's not a lot of true understanding and for those new to the field, it's probably the most daunting aspect of the work. So, to help ease some pain, I figured I'd address many of the most common questions about keeping up with the search engines' ever-changing mathematical formulas that rank search results."
Rand Fishkin
The article gets to the algorithmic red meat: inherent trust in link metrics, domain trust over the importance of individual pages, temporal analysis of link growth, sandboxing of new websites, fixing blog comment spam, and Google's recent crackdown on reciprocal tactics.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Yahoo Block Google From Delicious Bookmarks
Yahoo Block Google From Delicious Bookmarks:
During the weekend, Yahoo!'s social bookmarking property del.icio.us seems to have prevented robots of other search engines including Google from spidering the website or fishing out fresh web pages, bookmarks and websites, observes Collin. It was clear that it was not a simple robots.txt exclusion, rather it was a 404 response that was being shown based on who the requesting User-Agent was.
From Internet Marketing
During the weekend, Yahoo!'s social bookmarking property del.icio.us seems to have prevented robots of other search engines including Google from spidering the website or fishing out fresh web pages, bookmarks and websites, observes Collin. It was clear that it was not a simple robots.txt exclusion, rather it was a 404 response that was being shown based on who the requesting User-Agent was.
From Internet Marketing
Web Advertising and Behavioral Targeting: Service Providers Strike Back
Web Advertising and Behavioral Targeting: Service Providers Strike Back: "In the quest for behavioral targeting, companies who control ad networks have been working as hard as possible to allow advertisers to reach Web surfers based on their online behavior and not just what page they happen to be on.
The company best positioned to take advantage of behavioral targeting without a doubt was once-mighty Yahoo!. The wealth of services the company offers is surely staggering; the company can ascertain what stocks you are considering, what content is in your e-mails, what sports teams you track, and much more."
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
Monday, February 18, 2008
Virtual Blight & The Ten Commandments For Online Marketers
Virtual Blight & The Ten Commandments For Online Marketers
Among the most powerful trends of the last three years has been the emergence of community-social-media-social-networking sites with large user bases and incredible traffic. The traffic enjoyed by these successful virtual communities creates financial incentives for bad actors who want to hijack traffic for their own purposes. The open participation inherent in user generated content provides numerous opportunities for the parasitic marketer.
Exploits can take the form of spam posts, sock puppetry, trust fraud and scams that use social engineering to take advantage of the good faith users. The exploit may also be by way of paid advertising that promote illicit or illegal activities (porn, pills, casinos, and payday lenders) or ads that insert malware on users' computers. These anti-social and sometimes criminal activities are generally carried out despite the wishes of the site owners and community residents.
In the physical world, spam, scams and unsavory promotions have parallels: billboards, liquor stores and payday lenders on every street, and prostitutes and hustlers on every corner. These are the telltale signs of urban blight in a community and left unchecked lead to abandoned and neglected property and a spiral of decay. Urban blight creates flight; anyone who can afford to leaves.
From Internet Marketing
Among the most powerful trends of the last three years has been the emergence of community-social-media-social-networking sites with large user bases and incredible traffic. The traffic enjoyed by these successful virtual communities creates financial incentives for bad actors who want to hijack traffic for their own purposes. The open participation inherent in user generated content provides numerous opportunities for the parasitic marketer.
Exploits can take the form of spam posts, sock puppetry, trust fraud and scams that use social engineering to take advantage of the good faith users. The exploit may also be by way of paid advertising that promote illicit or illegal activities (porn, pills, casinos, and payday lenders) or ads that insert malware on users' computers. These anti-social and sometimes criminal activities are generally carried out despite the wishes of the site owners and community residents.
In the physical world, spam, scams and unsavory promotions have parallels: billboards, liquor stores and payday lenders on every street, and prostitutes and hustlers on every corner. These are the telltale signs of urban blight in a community and left unchecked lead to abandoned and neglected property and a spiral of decay. Urban blight creates flight; anyone who can afford to leaves.
From Internet Marketing
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Google Apps, Why use it?
The price is free, but no offline availability
The free suite of online applications from Google offers an alternative to the Microsoft universe and its Office productivity suite.
Adding some computers to the small business workplace entails making them useful for employees, while keeping the time to get people up to speed on them to a minimum. Google Apps may be helpful here.
In one swoop, a small business can add email, voice/text chat, word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and a calendar to the enterprise. All for free, with support options and extra tools available for an annual per-user rate.
As long as the Internet connection stays up, Google Apps fulfills its role for computer users. What Google has not done is make an offline version of the service that would suit the roles of mobile workers like salespeople.
Help for that should be coming soon. "It's something we're actively working on solving," Google's Matt Glotzbach said in USA Today.
The short learning curve for Google Apps should please its adopters. For those looking for a richer feature set in a free set of productivity applications, small business people can choose traditional offline suites like OpenOffice or the relaunched Lotus Symphony for document needs.
From Internet Marketing
The price is free, but no offline availability
The free suite of online applications from Google offers an alternative to the Microsoft universe and its Office productivity suite.
Adding some computers to the small business workplace entails making them useful for employees, while keeping the time to get people up to speed on them to a minimum. Google Apps may be helpful here.
In one swoop, a small business can add email, voice/text chat, word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and a calendar to the enterprise. All for free, with support options and extra tools available for an annual per-user rate.
As long as the Internet connection stays up, Google Apps fulfills its role for computer users. What Google has not done is make an offline version of the service that would suit the roles of mobile workers like salespeople.
Help for that should be coming soon. "It's something we're actively working on solving," Google's Matt Glotzbach said in USA Today.
The short learning curve for Google Apps should please its adopters. For those looking for a richer feature set in a free set of productivity applications, small business people can choose traditional offline suites like OpenOffice or the relaunched Lotus Symphony for document needs.
From Internet Marketing
A New Search Engine For Small Business Owners Offers information by location.
Small Business Administration has developed a new search engine for small business owners.
Users can search for information from state and local government Web sites, as well as federal Web sites, from a single search box. If a business owner types in a specific location, such as the name of a city and state the results returned will be for that geographic location. The new service improves general search services by providing results specific to doing business in a particular area.
"These new search offerings make it easier for businesses to learn about doing business in specific localities," said Nancy Sternberg, program manager of the Business Gateway Initiative.
"Try it yourself: Go to www.business.gov and find the box in the upper right that says 'Try Our New Search Engine' and click 'Read More About Search.' On the next page, type in 'business license,' type the name of your city, and see the results," said Sternberg.
Doing a brief test the search engine returned solid results. It will save time for small business owners while providing useful information.
From Internet marketing
Small Business Administration has developed a new search engine for small business owners.
Users can search for information from state and local government Web sites, as well as federal Web sites, from a single search box. If a business owner types in a specific location, such as the name of a city and state the results returned will be for that geographic location. The new service improves general search services by providing results specific to doing business in a particular area.
"These new search offerings make it easier for businesses to learn about doing business in specific localities," said Nancy Sternberg, program manager of the Business Gateway Initiative.
"Try it yourself: Go to www.business.gov and find the box in the upper right that says 'Try Our New Search Engine' and click 'Read More About Search.' On the next page, type in 'business license,' type the name of your city, and see the results," said Sternberg.
Doing a brief test the search engine returned solid results. It will save time for small business owners while providing useful information.
From Internet marketing
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Newest Newspaper Ad Network Attempt Raises Same Old Questions - ClickZ
Newest Newspaper Ad Network Attempt Raises Same Old Questions - ClickZ
The newspaper industry is starting to look like the boy who cried "network." In the latest addition to a string of ad network related reports over the past couple years, Gannett Co., Hearst Corporation, Tribune Company, and The New York Times Company have launched a network dubbed quadrantOne. The goal, as it always has been, is to grab more national ad dollars from large brands.
In light of ongoing print revenue losses and previous stalled or failed attempts to create a network encompassing most local newspaper sites, quadrantOne Interim CEO Dana Hayes stressed the new entity's "well-funded startup" status, and hinted at more non-owner partners to come.
From Internet Marketing
The newspaper industry is starting to look like the boy who cried "network." In the latest addition to a string of ad network related reports over the past couple years, Gannett Co., Hearst Corporation, Tribune Company, and The New York Times Company have launched a network dubbed quadrantOne. The goal, as it always has been, is to grab more national ad dollars from large brands.
In light of ongoing print revenue losses and previous stalled or failed attempts to create a network encompassing most local newspaper sites, quadrantOne Interim CEO Dana Hayes stressed the new entity's "well-funded startup" status, and hinted at more non-owner partners to come.
From Internet Marketing
Friday, February 15, 2008
Google To Test Video Ads With Search Results -- Google -- InformationWeek
Google To Test Video Ads With Search Results -- Google -- InformationWeek
Starting next week, advertisers will be given the option of running video links under the traditional text advertising that runs alongside search results. The new links would be a box with a plus sign next to the words "watch video." When the box is clicked, a window would drop down with the video playing inside.
A Google spokesman said the new offering is a test and would only be used with a "small percentage" of searches. "The vast majority of users probably won't see this," he said.
From Online Annonsering
Starting next week, advertisers will be given the option of running video links under the traditional text advertising that runs alongside search results. The new links would be a box with a plus sign next to the words "watch video." When the box is clicked, a window would drop down with the video playing inside.
A Google spokesman said the new offering is a test and would only be used with a "small percentage" of searches. "The vast majority of users probably won't see this," he said.
From Online Annonsering
Internet Marketing
Internet Marketing
AdWords – Conversion Optimizer
Google announced an expansion of the Conversion Optimizer bid management feature. The Conversion Optimizer is a new feature that allows advertisers to meet their ROI objectives by automatically managing their cost-per-click (CPC) bids according to a maximum cost-per-acquisition (CPA) goal. The AdWords system makes adjustments with the aim of keeping the cost of each conversion below the specified maximum CPA bid, showing ads when conversions are most likely to occur. Advertisers can save time while achieving more conversions and a lower CPA.
"The Conversion Optimizer is a great new bidding option for Steve Madden, as it's both time and cost-efficient in helping us manage our online advertising budget to meet specific ROI goals," said Frank Siano, internet marketing manager at Steve Madden. "Now that our bids are adjusted automatically, advertising with AdWords is even simpler than before. And because our ads only appear when they're likely to convert into sales, we've seen very high results, such as increasing our daily conversions by 60 percent."
Advertisers whose campaigns have enabled AdWords Conversion Tracking and accrued at least 200 conversions in the past 30 days will be eligible to use the Conversion Optimizer. The Conversion Optimizer is ideal for advertisers and agencies who want to manage their advertising costs around clear, defined conversion goals.
By using this free feature, advertisers gain more precision and greater control over their advertising budgets. It allows them to simultaneously increase ROI, receive more conversions and save time by automating the bidding process. Ads using the Conversion Optimizer participate in the standard ad auction and are able to show on both Google’s search and content networks.
To learn more about the Conversion Optimizer, which is now available to qualified advertisers worldwide, visit.
AdWords – Conversion Optimizer
Google announced an expansion of the Conversion Optimizer bid management feature. The Conversion Optimizer is a new feature that allows advertisers to meet their ROI objectives by automatically managing their cost-per-click (CPC) bids according to a maximum cost-per-acquisition (CPA) goal. The AdWords system makes adjustments with the aim of keeping the cost of each conversion below the specified maximum CPA bid, showing ads when conversions are most likely to occur. Advertisers can save time while achieving more conversions and a lower CPA.
"The Conversion Optimizer is a great new bidding option for Steve Madden, as it's both time and cost-efficient in helping us manage our online advertising budget to meet specific ROI goals," said Frank Siano, internet marketing manager at Steve Madden. "Now that our bids are adjusted automatically, advertising with AdWords is even simpler than before. And because our ads only appear when they're likely to convert into sales, we've seen very high results, such as increasing our daily conversions by 60 percent."
Advertisers whose campaigns have enabled AdWords Conversion Tracking and accrued at least 200 conversions in the past 30 days will be eligible to use the Conversion Optimizer. The Conversion Optimizer is ideal for advertisers and agencies who want to manage their advertising costs around clear, defined conversion goals.
By using this free feature, advertisers gain more precision and greater control over their advertising budgets. It allows them to simultaneously increase ROI, receive more conversions and save time by automating the bidding process. Ads using the Conversion Optimizer participate in the standard ad auction and are able to show on both Google’s search and content networks.
To learn more about the Conversion Optimizer, which is now available to qualified advertisers worldwide, visit.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
AdWords + Video: Video Ads Come To Google Search Results
AdWords + Video: Video Ads Come To Google Search Results
We've been expecting them -- now they've arrived, video ads on Google. Google Tests Video Ads on Search Results Pages from the New York Times has confirmation from Google that they are out there, though I haven't seen anyone reporting them live and in the wild yet.
Google has always had a love-hate relationship with advertising. Its power and wealth come from the $16 billion a year of advertising that it sells. Yet on its most important pages, the results from its Web search engine, it has limited ads to nothing more garish than a dozen words of text.
That is about to change. On Thursday, Google started testing video ads on some pages of search results. And it is developing ad formats with images, interactive maps and other more elaborate features.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
We've been expecting them -- now they've arrived, video ads on Google. Google Tests Video Ads on Search Results Pages from the New York Times has confirmation from Google that they are out there, though I haven't seen anyone reporting them live and in the wild yet.
Google has always had a love-hate relationship with advertising. Its power and wealth come from the $16 billion a year of advertising that it sells. Yet on its most important pages, the results from its Web search engine, it has limited ads to nothing more garish than a dozen words of text.
That is about to change. On Thursday, Google started testing video ads on some pages of search results. And it is developing ad formats with images, interactive maps and other more elaborate features.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
Hitwise Intelligence - Robin Goad - UK: What happens if your site gets 'blacklisted' by Google?
Hitwise Intelligence - Robin Goad - UK: What happens if your site gets 'blacklisted' by Google?
What happens if your site gets 'blacklisted' by Google? from Hitwise illustrates how dramatic a Google penalty can be to a company's success.
Hitwise collected search data and upstream traffic for searches for 'car insurance.' The search term saw a 31% increase in share of searches by the week ending 29th December. Around January 26th, GoCompare dropped to page seven from the number one results. Hitwise captured the traffic loss for the site. The number one position, at that time, was "capturing 17.49% of the all search traffic from the term." GoCompare saw a 87% decrease in traffic for that search term due to the Google penalty.
From Online Annonsering
What happens if your site gets 'blacklisted' by Google? from Hitwise illustrates how dramatic a Google penalty can be to a company's success.
Hitwise collected search data and upstream traffic for searches for 'car insurance.' The search term saw a 31% increase in share of searches by the week ending 29th December. Around January 26th, GoCompare dropped to page seven from the number one results. Hitwise captured the traffic loss for the site. The number one position, at that time, was "capturing 17.49% of the all search traffic from the term." GoCompare saw a 87% decrease in traffic for that search term due to the Google penalty.
From Online Annonsering
Yahoo! Inc. - Press Release
Having earlier told Microsoft no, now Yahoo has explained to its shareholders why it declined to be purchased. The full letter can be found here. Below, some highlights.
• Yahoo's board is "continuously evaluating all of Yahoo!'s strategic options"
• Yahoo is has a "unique combination of strengths," including a strong brand, many popular online services, a leader in display advertising, a leader in search advertising, mobile and online video.
• Yahoo plans to grow key properties by 15 percent per year, over the next several years.
• Yahoo is working to make itself a "must buy" for advertisers.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
Having earlier told Microsoft no, now Yahoo has explained to its shareholders why it declined to be purchased. The full letter can be found here. Below, some highlights.
• Yahoo's board is "continuously evaluating all of Yahoo!'s strategic options"
• Yahoo is has a "unique combination of strengths," including a strong brand, many popular online services, a leader in display advertising, a leader in search advertising, mobile and online video.
• Yahoo plans to grow key properties by 15 percent per year, over the next several years.
• Yahoo is working to make itself a "must buy" for advertisers.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
Monday, February 11, 2008
Not So Crazy: Yahoo May Partner With AOL To Escape Microsoft
Not So Crazy: Yahoo May Partner With AOL To Escape Microsoft
Wondering what's next after the news that Yahoo apparently plans to reject Microsoft's takeover offer? The Times Of London reports Yahoo will restart merger talks with AOL. Below, more about the news along with some back history on AOL in search and why a Yahoo-AOL partnership might indeed be a compelling way to convince Yahoo shareholders to resist Microsoft.
From Internet Marketing
Wondering what's next after the news that Yahoo apparently plans to reject Microsoft's takeover offer? The Times Of London reports Yahoo will restart merger talks with AOL. Below, more about the news along with some back history on AOL in search and why a Yahoo-AOL partnership might indeed be a compelling way to convince Yahoo shareholders to resist Microsoft.
From Internet Marketing
Saturday, February 09, 2008
WSJ: Yahoo Plans To Reject Microsoft's Offer
WSJ: Yahoo Plans To Reject Microsoft's Offer
The Wall Street Journal is reporting today that Yahoo plans to reject Microsoft's offer as insufficient:
Yahoo's board determined that the $31 per share offer "massively undervalues" Yahoo, the person said. It also doesn't account for the risks Yahoo would be taking by entering into an agreement that might be overturned by regulators. The board plans to send a letter to Microsoft on Monday, spelling out its position.
From Internet Marketing CMS
The Wall Street Journal is reporting today that Yahoo plans to reject Microsoft's offer as insufficient:
Yahoo's board determined that the $31 per share offer "massively undervalues" Yahoo, the person said. It also doesn't account for the risks Yahoo would be taking by entering into an agreement that might be overturned by regulators. The board plans to send a letter to Microsoft on Monday, spelling out its position.
From Internet Marketing CMS
Friday, February 08, 2008
Microhoo At One Week 1: Decision Nears? Yahoo Brand To Survive?
Microhoo At One Week 1: Decision Nears? Yahoo Brand To Survive?
Has it only been a week since Microsoft thought it was a nice day for a Yahoo wedding? Indeed, so. And what's happened since? Rumors that Yahoo is nearing a decision, while Microsoft's Steve Ballmer seems to want to encourage his potential new employees that a Yahoo brand will survive. Let's do the news.
From Our CMS System
Has it only been a week since Microsoft thought it was a nice day for a Yahoo wedding? Indeed, so. And what's happened since? Rumors that Yahoo is nearing a decision, while Microsoft's Steve Ballmer seems to want to encourage his potential new employees that a Yahoo brand will survive. Let's do the news.
From Our CMS System
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Daily blogging 'best for SEO'
Daily blogging 'best for SEO'
While blogging can be a useful way of adding to a website's search engine optimisation (SEO), it is vital the diary is regularly updated, an expert has explained.
An SEO programmer with optimisation company Just Search has highlighted the importance of adding regular new content, ideally around one post a day.
From Internet Marketing
While blogging can be a useful way of adding to a website's search engine optimisation (SEO), it is vital the diary is regularly updated, an expert has explained.
An SEO programmer with optimisation company Just Search has highlighted the importance of adding regular new content, ideally around one post a day.
From Internet Marketing
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
A Bad Month For SEO's Reputation
A Bad Month For SEO's Reputation
We seem to be going through another wave "SEOs are scumbags" incidents, and I find myself with little energy to push back against them with yet another defense of the industry. It's not that SEO doesn't deserve better treatment. It's just that I feel anything I could say, I've said before -- as have others as well. But below, a round-up of some of the latest developments, including a podcast defense of SEO that I did after Jeremy "Shoemoney" Schoemaker gave SEO some slams.
On January 7, Tech 'Solutions' Your Small Biz Can't Use from Gene Marks in BusinessWeek is what I'd say was the start of the current round. Marks wrote:
Search Engine Optimization
You mean for $5,000 I can get my company's name on the very top of Google's search results? Where do I sign? Many business owners have been fooled by the allure of search engine optimization [SEO] -- and I'm one of them. I forked over a bunch of dough to a firm in California that promised to get my company's name on "all the major search engines" when someone was looking for products that we sell. How did they plan to do this? I'm still not really sure, but it had something to do with spiders, black hats, and link farms. That should've been enough of a hint that witchcraft was involved. After a brief flirtation with page 47 of MSN's search results, I gave up. SEO probably does the job for companies with oodles of money, but not for the typical small business.
From Free SEO Tools
We seem to be going through another wave "SEOs are scumbags" incidents, and I find myself with little energy to push back against them with yet another defense of the industry. It's not that SEO doesn't deserve better treatment. It's just that I feel anything I could say, I've said before -- as have others as well. But below, a round-up of some of the latest developments, including a podcast defense of SEO that I did after Jeremy "Shoemoney" Schoemaker gave SEO some slams.
On January 7, Tech 'Solutions' Your Small Biz Can't Use from Gene Marks in BusinessWeek is what I'd say was the start of the current round. Marks wrote:
Search Engine Optimization
You mean for $5,000 I can get my company's name on the very top of Google's search results? Where do I sign? Many business owners have been fooled by the allure of search engine optimization [SEO] -- and I'm one of them. I forked over a bunch of dough to a firm in California that promised to get my company's name on "all the major search engines" when someone was looking for products that we sell. How did they plan to do this? I'm still not really sure, but it had something to do with spiders, black hats, and link farms. That should've been enough of a hint that witchcraft was involved. After a brief flirtation with page 47 of MSN's search results, I gave up. SEO probably does the job for companies with oodles of money, but not for the typical small business.
From Free SEO Tools
Microsoft Corp. today unveiled a series of next-generation digital advertising technologies at its fourth annual Demo Fest, an event that showcases some of the leading-edge technologies in development by Microsoft adCenter Labs
The following seven demos were shown at today's event:
Air Wave. This technology creates a "fourth screen" experience beyond
the TV, PC and mobile phone to enable advertisers to engage consumers
outside of the home in public places such as an airport or a shopping
mall.
Contextual Ads for Video. Through speech recognition, this technology
enables ads to be dynamically served based on the content discussed in
the video.
Intelligent Bug Ads. This technology balances the interests of
advertisers and the target audience by locating nonintrusive frames in
a video in which to place ads.
Visual Product Browsing. This tool uses computer vision algorithms to
browse and categorize images as a human might, without the need for
manual data tagging.
Content Analysis Engine. This technology uses advanced algorithms to
automatically extract and categorize information from search queries
and Web page contents to better understand user intent and minimize
search engine marketing complexity.
Content Detection in Sub-documents. This technology identifies
sensitive or unsuitable content such as pornography, weapons or
negative sentiments that advertisers would not likely want to be
associated with, and automatically blocks contextual ads related to
that content.
Ad Research Dashboard. The dashboard builds on the success of the
Keyword Services Platform (KSP) introduced at Demo Fest last year.
From Internet Marketing and online Annonsering
Search Illustrated: Building A Company With Social Media
Search Illustrated: Building A Company With Social Media
So much discussion in the SEO community today centers around social media because of its potential to drive traffic, increase awareness, and build links. The challenge of this new medium, though, is to marry social media tactics with real business goals.
From Make a RSS feed
So much discussion in the SEO community today centers around social media because of its potential to drive traffic, increase awareness, and build links. The challenge of this new medium, though, is to marry social media tactics with real business goals.
From Make a RSS feed
Monday, February 04, 2008
Yahoo may consider Google alliance, source says
Yahoo may consider Google alliance, source says
Yahoo management is considering revisiting talks it held with Google several months ago on an alliance as an alternative to Microsoft's bid, that source said. At $31 a share, Yahoo believes the bid undervalues the company, two sources said.
A second source close to Yahoo said it had received a procession of preliminary contacts by media, technology, telephone and financial companies. But the source said they were unaware whether any alternative bid was in the offing.
In a memo to Yahoo employees on Friday, which was obtained by Reuters on Sunday, Yahoo leaders wrote: "We want to emphasize that absolutely no decisions have been made -- and, despite what some people have tried to suggest, there's certainly no integration process underway."
From Internet Advertising and Marketing Articles
Yahoo management is considering revisiting talks it held with Google several months ago on an alliance as an alternative to Microsoft's bid, that source said. At $31 a share, Yahoo believes the bid undervalues the company, two sources said.
A second source close to Yahoo said it had received a procession of preliminary contacts by media, technology, telephone and financial companies. But the source said they were unaware whether any alternative bid was in the offing.
In a memo to Yahoo employees on Friday, which was obtained by Reuters on Sunday, Yahoo leaders wrote: "We want to emphasize that absolutely no decisions have been made -- and, despite what some people have tried to suggest, there's certainly no integration process underway."
From Internet Advertising and Marketing Articles
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Official Google Blog: Yahoo! and the future of the Internet
Official Google Blog: Yahoo! and the future of the Internet
Google blasted the Microsoft bid for Yahoo on the official Google Blog this afternoon. SVP Corporate Development and Chief Legal Officer David Drummond, characterized Microsoft's proposed acquisition as a "hostile bid" that threatened the underlying principles of the Internet: "openness and innovation."
Google then went nuclear, dropping the "A-bomb" -- invoking anti-trust concerns and citing as evidence Microsoft's "unfair practices" and "legacy of serious legal and regulatorty offenses" in the Netscape browser wars.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
Google blasted the Microsoft bid for Yahoo on the official Google Blog this afternoon. SVP Corporate Development and Chief Legal Officer David Drummond, characterized Microsoft's proposed acquisition as a "hostile bid" that threatened the underlying principles of the Internet: "openness and innovation."
Google then went nuclear, dropping the "A-bomb" -- invoking anti-trust concerns and citing as evidence Microsoft's "unfair practices" and "legacy of serious legal and regulatorty offenses" in the Netscape browser wars.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
Microsoft plus Yahoo! Strategic Assets in Email
Microsoft plus Yahoo! Strategic Assets in Email
So much of the chatter around Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Yahoo! revolves around competition with Google in the online advertising market. While that is a huge market, one that Google now dominates, and one that Microsoft has a jones for, that's a very narrow way to view the combination. And for Microsoft, it could be a fatal mistake to take the battle to Google on its own ground. That's the very mistake that companies like Netscape made in competing with Microsoft.
Remember that the key advantage in Web 2.0 applications comes from data assets built via network effects (and then ultimately, the ability to monetize those data assets). Thinking that way changes the calculus of this deal. Where is the high ground for Microsoft plus Yahoo!? I don't think it's in the combined advertising heft, despite the fact that advertising is currently the bulk of the monetization value
From Internet Marketing
So much of the chatter around Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Yahoo! revolves around competition with Google in the online advertising market. While that is a huge market, one that Google now dominates, and one that Microsoft has a jones for, that's a very narrow way to view the combination. And for Microsoft, it could be a fatal mistake to take the battle to Google on its own ground. That's the very mistake that companies like Netscape made in competing with Microsoft.
Remember that the key advantage in Web 2.0 applications comes from data assets built via network effects (and then ultimately, the ability to monetize those data assets). Thinking that way changes the calculus of this deal. Where is the high ground for Microsoft plus Yahoo!? I don't think it's in the combined advertising heft, despite the fact that advertising is currently the bulk of the monetization value
From Internet Marketing
AdSense Earnings Down? | WebProNews
AdSense Earnings Down?
A small poll at Search Engine Roundtable (43 participants as of this writing) shows just over half reporting a decrease in AdSense earnings, the other half reporting that things are on the level or increasing.
It's hard to say that's a representative sample with just 40 respondents, but it does match a bit with the reports at Webmaster World: some are losing, some aren't.
Many plausible explanations have been proffered without any real, thorough site examinations, as no URLs have been given by those complaining. The center of conversation though, has been around Google's "smart pricing," and whether that is the cause of lower returns on ad clicks.
-------------------------------------------
Anyone who claims to have his/her Adsense increase in the last 90 days either 1. isn't paying attention, 2. is deliberately misleading others or 3. just opened his account and started with zero.
Sad truth is that, on or about November 15th of 2007, practically all publishers saw a large drop when Google made it so that the only clickable part of the Adsense banner is either the hyperlinked title or the URL itself. Prior to that, the entire banner was a big juicy hot spot. For practically all publishers, that alone caused a huge income droppage. Big G called it a safety measure to prevent accidental clicks. Ok, whatever. Go argue with that.
Next came this smart pricing concept on or about the same time. Clicks that previously brought in significantly more now pay only $0.05-$0.10 -- if you are lucky. Sure some categories still pay a little more, but practically all took a beating.
Take a moment and think about this from Google's point of view, though. With the previously higher payouts, they got publishers to use their product in droves, they established themselves as the de facto place for companies to allocate advertising dollars, and they kicked the corporate tushies of MSN and Yahoo. Great strategy.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
A small poll at Search Engine Roundtable (43 participants as of this writing) shows just over half reporting a decrease in AdSense earnings, the other half reporting that things are on the level or increasing.
It's hard to say that's a representative sample with just 40 respondents, but it does match a bit with the reports at Webmaster World: some are losing, some aren't.
Many plausible explanations have been proffered without any real, thorough site examinations, as no URLs have been given by those complaining. The center of conversation though, has been around Google's "smart pricing," and whether that is the cause of lower returns on ad clicks.
-------------------------------------------
Anyone who claims to have his/her Adsense increase in the last 90 days either 1. isn't paying attention, 2. is deliberately misleading others or 3. just opened his account and started with zero.
Sad truth is that, on or about November 15th of 2007, practically all publishers saw a large drop when Google made it so that the only clickable part of the Adsense banner is either the hyperlinked title or the URL itself. Prior to that, the entire banner was a big juicy hot spot. For practically all publishers, that alone caused a huge income droppage. Big G called it a safety measure to prevent accidental clicks. Ok, whatever. Go argue with that.
Next came this smart pricing concept on or about the same time. Clicks that previously brought in significantly more now pay only $0.05-$0.10 -- if you are lucky. Sure some categories still pay a little more, but practically all took a beating.
Take a moment and think about this from Google's point of view, though. With the previously higher payouts, they got publishers to use their product in droves, they established themselves as the de facto place for companies to allocate advertising dollars, and they kicked the corporate tushies of MSN and Yahoo. Great strategy.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
Saturday, February 02, 2008
reportonbusiness.com: Microsoft, Yahoo would create advertising titan
reportonbusiness.com: Microsoft, Yahoo would create advertising titan
If the blockbuster takeover of Yahoo Inc. by Microsoft Corp. is allowed to proceed, the combined company could rival Google Inc. for clout in the advertising world.
Though Google holds the undisputed crown in terms of online advertising, Yahoo and Microsoft would together form the biggest challenge to its dominance over Internet ad dollars since the industry began to explode over the past decade.
While Google focuses on connecting marketers with audiences through its online search terms, Yahoo and Microsoft's MSN portal represent mass audiences.
Like Google, people make the sites a default Internet address on millions of computers around the world.
From Online Annonsering
If the blockbuster takeover of Yahoo Inc. by Microsoft Corp. is allowed to proceed, the combined company could rival Google Inc. for clout in the advertising world.
Though Google holds the undisputed crown in terms of online advertising, Yahoo and Microsoft would together form the biggest challenge to its dominance over Internet ad dollars since the industry began to explode over the past decade.
While Google focuses on connecting marketers with audiences through its online search terms, Yahoo and Microsoft's MSN portal represent mass audiences.
Like Google, people make the sites a default Internet address on millions of computers around the world.
From Online Annonsering
Windows Connected
Microsoft clearly smelt blood in the water in the Yahoo! deal with the recent poor earnings, the lagging stock price, and the announcement that it was laying off employees added up to an all out attack.
Everyone on the sideline seems to be very excited about possible Yahoo and Microsoft merger, but I’m not so sure it’s going to turn out pretty. Microsoft has a history of making acquisitions, and few comes to mind of anywhere close to a success. The recent exception being Bungie, and only because Microsoft left them alone.
But what does it mean, how can this work?
Take a look and see for yourself
From Internet marketing
Microsoft clearly smelt blood in the water in the Yahoo! deal with the recent poor earnings, the lagging stock price, and the announcement that it was laying off employees added up to an all out attack.
Everyone on the sideline seems to be very excited about possible Yahoo and Microsoft merger, but I’m not so sure it’s going to turn out pretty. Microsoft has a history of making acquisitions, and few comes to mind of anywhere close to a success. The recent exception being Bungie, and only because Microsoft left them alone.
But what does it mean, how can this work?
Take a look and see for yourself
From Internet marketing
Friday, February 01, 2008
Microsoft Makes $45 Billion Bid To Buy Yahoo
Microsoft Makes $45 Billion Bid To Buy Yahoo
Posting fast -- news just in that Microsoft is to bid $31 per share to Yahoo's board of directors to purchase the company. Release below. I'll update this post with analysis in a bit, and we'll have a separate post linked from this when the conference call starts.
From Internet Marketing
Posting fast -- news just in that Microsoft is to bid $31 per share to Yahoo's board of directors to purchase the company. Release below. I'll update this post with analysis in a bit, and we'll have a separate post linked from this when the conference call starts.
From Internet Marketing
Google Revenues Up 51 Percent, Social Networking Monetization "Disappointing"
Google Revenues Up 51 Percent, Social Networking Monetization "Disappointing"
Google posted Q4, 2007 revenues that represented 51 percent growth vs. 2006. Quarterly revenues were $4.83 billion, compared with $3.21 billion a year ago. However, earnings and revenue per share fell short of analyst consensus estimates. The headline that everyone is repeating is that social network monetization is not performing as well as hoped by Google (interpreted chiefly as MySpace traffic).
From Online Annonsering
Google posted Q4, 2007 revenues that represented 51 percent growth vs. 2006. Quarterly revenues were $4.83 billion, compared with $3.21 billion a year ago. However, earnings and revenue per share fell short of analyst consensus estimates. The headline that everyone is repeating is that social network monetization is not performing as well as hoped by Google (interpreted chiefly as MySpace traffic).
From Online Annonsering
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Report: Click Fraud Up 15% In 2007
Report: Click Fraud Up 15% In 2007
Click Forensics, the company that maintains the Click Fraud Index, a network that monitors and reports on data gathered from more than 4,000 online advertisers and their agencies, has released its most recent quarterly report on click fraud.
The company found that the overall industry average click fraud rate rose to 16.6 percent for Q4 2007. That’s up from the 14.2 percent click fraud rate for the same quarter in 2006, and 16.2 percent for Q3 2007.
From Online annonsering and Internet Marketing
Click Forensics, the company that maintains the Click Fraud Index, a network that monitors and reports on data gathered from more than 4,000 online advertisers and their agencies, has released its most recent quarterly report on click fraud.
The company found that the overall industry average click fraud rate rose to 16.6 percent for Q4 2007. That’s up from the 14.2 percent click fraud rate for the same quarter in 2006, and 16.2 percent for Q3 2007.
From Online annonsering and Internet Marketing
Google News Blog: We want to hear from you!
Google News Blog: We want to hear from you!
Google News Creates Feature Request Form
Lots and lots of people use Google News. Yet extremely few use one of its major features, the expert comments section. Now, perhaps as a way of ensuring that the next news-related update is better received, Google is asking for users' suggestions.
Like the recently launched Suggest a feature for Google Checkout, the Suggest a feature for Google News form isn't blank - a list of ideas from which users can choose is provided. There's also an "I have another idea" space, if you feel like thinking a bit outside the box.
From Internet Marketing
Google News Creates Feature Request Form
Lots and lots of people use Google News. Yet extremely few use one of its major features, the expert comments section. Now, perhaps as a way of ensuring that the next news-related update is better received, Google is asking for users' suggestions.
Like the recently launched Suggest a feature for Google Checkout, the Suggest a feature for Google News form isn't blank - a list of ideas from which users can choose is provided. There's also an "I have another idea" space, if you feel like thinking a bit outside the box.
From Internet Marketing
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Google Universal Search: 2008 Edition
Google Universal Search: 2008 Edition
Google launched Universal Search six month's ago, and its method of blending results from its own various topically-focused or "vertical" search engines. Since that time, the system has evolved. In particular, Google Universal Search now fills more than just 10 spots on the page, while shopping and blog search results are among new resources being included. Below, a look at these and related changes.
The Big Picture: Comparative Ranking & Blending
With Universal Search, Google promised that two major things would happen:
* Comparative Ranking
* Blending
Before Universal Search, Google gave a list of 10 web search results -- the best 10 selected by measuring those pages against all the web pages in the Google index of billions. Separately, Google decided if other information should be added to the search results page using different mechanisms.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
Google launched Universal Search six month's ago, and its method of blending results from its own various topically-focused or "vertical" search engines. Since that time, the system has evolved. In particular, Google Universal Search now fills more than just 10 spots on the page, while shopping and blog search results are among new resources being included. Below, a look at these and related changes.
The Big Picture: Comparative Ranking & Blending
With Universal Search, Google promised that two major things would happen:
* Comparative Ranking
* Blending
Before Universal Search, Google gave a list of 10 web search results -- the best 10 selected by measuring those pages against all the web pages in the Google index of billions. Separately, Google decided if other information should be added to the search results page using different mechanisms.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Google Experimenting New Search Views
Google Experimenting New Search Views
Google started promoting their Experimental Search product more actively last week. This week, theyre making the formal announcement of new views in Experimental Search"with a familiar-sounding rationale. Now, Experimental Search isnt new news"and neither is a search interface thats not just a list of 10 blue links.
Google started promoting their Experimental Search product more actively last week. This week, theyre making the formal announcement of new views in Experimental Search"with a familiar-sounding rationale. Now, Experimental Search isnt new news"and neither is a search interface thats not just a list of 10 blue links.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Ad nauseam - Jan. 28, 2008
Ad nauseam - Jan. 28, 2008
It wasn't long ago that it dawned on media experts that information technology - and in particular the Internet - would profoundly transform the business of advertising. Here was a new medium that could not only tell you when someone was looking at your ad but also indicate what that someone was interested in. How could old media's gray columns of classifieds compete with that?
Now it's dawning on me that advertising is in turn profoundly transforming IT. Google was the first company to really cash in on so-called targeted advertising. And thanks to Google's breathtaking revenue growth and market valuation, the rest of the IT industry - especially the venture capital machinery that creates new companies in Silicon Valley - now sees advertising as the key to "monetizing" IT innovations.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
It wasn't long ago that it dawned on media experts that information technology - and in particular the Internet - would profoundly transform the business of advertising. Here was a new medium that could not only tell you when someone was looking at your ad but also indicate what that someone was interested in. How could old media's gray columns of classifieds compete with that?
Now it's dawning on me that advertising is in turn profoundly transforming IT. Google was the first company to really cash in on so-called targeted advertising. And thanks to Google's breathtaking revenue growth and market valuation, the rest of the IT industry - especially the venture capital machinery that creates new companies in Silicon Valley - now sees advertising as the key to "monetizing" IT innovations.
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
SEOmoz | Choosing the Right CMS Platform for Your Website (from an SEO perspective)
SEOmoz | Choosing the Right CMS Platform for Your Website (from an SEO perspective)
I'm starting a new site and have no idea what I should do for software. Do I need to use a content management system, and if so, how do I make sure it's SEO-friendly?
The Answer: It depends...
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
I'm starting a new site and have no idea what I should do for software. Do I need to use a content management system, and if so, how do I make sure it's SEO-friendly?
The Answer: It depends...
From Internet Marketing and Online Annonsering
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Google to kill Domain Tasting
Google to kill Domain Tasting
confidential informant says Google will stop monetizing all domains if they are less then five days old. This potential new policy change by Google could stop all Domain Tasting in its tracks. The Add Grace Period (AGP) is a time period when registrars can delete a domain at no cost, but in this time frame a registrant could register millions of these temporary domains and place Google Adsense for Domains on them. The result is the ability to produce millions of temporary websites that literally generate millions of dollars in income per week for Google. It was disclosed in court that one partner that Google had was generating as much as $3 million dollars a month from the practice and that was after Google’s revenue share. Oversee.net and other companies have been using this practice for years and it will have a direct impact on them. The gravy train of free money might be coming to a halt very fast. This policy change at Google should be announced to the channel partners soon and it will have a huge echoing impact on the Industry.
From Internet Marketing and Online annonsering
confidential informant says Google will stop monetizing all domains if they are less then five days old. This potential new policy change by Google could stop all Domain Tasting in its tracks. The Add Grace Period (AGP) is a time period when registrars can delete a domain at no cost, but in this time frame a registrant could register millions of these temporary domains and place Google Adsense for Domains on them. The result is the ability to produce millions of temporary websites that literally generate millions of dollars in income per week for Google. It was disclosed in court that one partner that Google had was generating as much as $3 million dollars a month from the practice and that was after Google’s revenue share. Oversee.net and other companies have been using this practice for years and it will have a direct impact on them. The gravy train of free money might be coming to a halt very fast. This policy change at Google should be announced to the channel partners soon and it will have a huge echoing impact on the Industry.
From Internet Marketing and Online annonsering
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