Pages Indexed, Descriptions and Title Tags
November 6, 2008 by admin
Filed under Advanced SEO
Pages Indexed, Descriptions and Title Tags
How important is it to have a large number of indexed sites through Google? If so, how do we increase the number, and how do we edit what text appears under the link?
Election Tools from Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, and AOL
November 3, 2008 by admin
Filed under Search Engines
Election Tools from Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, and AOL
I’m sure I don’t have to remind you that election day is next Tuesday. Whether you’re observing or you’re breaking out the campaign gear for some hardcore get out the vote effors this weekend, here are some tools to help you keep up with the news and your efforts:
Google Earth
You can download a KML file that lets you search results from past elections, since 1980. The data is broken down and can show you how different regions of the country voted - even by county. I used to work as a political consultant, and let me tell you - this kind of data is heavily relied on. It’s a bit of a late release for campaigns, who already have this data. But it’s great for political junkies.
Google News
Trying to remember what a candidate said on an issue? Just type their name into Google News. If Google has indexed a quote by that person, it will appear on top of the search results in the one box.
Google Mobile
Want to know your precinct location? The Google Mobile team has created a special tool just for that purpose. Go to m.google.com/elections on your mobile phone, type in your address and you’ll be directed to your precinct.
The tool did not point me to early voting locations, which in my state are not the same as Election Day precinct locations.
As cool as that is, always verify with your local elections office. Google even helps you do that. They have a box where you enter your state’s abbreviation, and it will pull up relevant links to voting information.
Yahoo Elections Hub and Political Dashboard
Yahoo makes the most of its successful portal platforms with its Elections Hub and Political Dashboard. The dashboard is a super slick map showing the latest poll results. Hopefully they update it with real time results on election night. I can totally see myself keeping the dashboard open while watching results come in on the tv.
Microsoft Live Search xRank
xRank, Live Search’s buzz tool, has a politician section. It’s no surprise that the Rep and Dem presidential and vice presidential candidates take the top 4 spots today. The rest of the top 20 is filled with senate and gubernatorial races, with Hillary Clinton and George Bush thrown in for good measure.
MSN Election Live Q&A
Q&A is Live Search’s answer product, and over at the MSN Election Guide, you can find the Election Live Q&A. It’s pretty straightforward. You can ask and answer questions about the election in real time.
AOL Elections Toolbar
AOL has a toolbar for IE and Firefox that can keep you up to date with election news. If you like to surf the net while watching TV - this could be an ideal toolbar for you come Tuesday night.
Well, hopefully that’s enough to keep you busy and up to date.
Got any tools to share? Leave your suggestions in the comments.
Related Reading:
Obama is Winning the Internet War
ChaCha Selected by Rock the Vote for Mobile Answers
Savvy Competitor Analysis and Keyword Research Your Competitors Aren't Doing
October 28, 2008 by admin
Filed under Latest SEO News
Savvy Competitor Analysis and Keyword Research Your Competitors Aren't Doing
First, let’s tackle competitive analysis. As an entrepreneur, you’re no doubt familiar with some of the conventional wisdom about how to handle competitors. Do your research. Check public records and disclosures about big name firms in your industry. Assess your goals, branding plans, and future efforts in the context of the presumptive goals of your industry rivals. Understand why customers choose competitors over your firm — both why they like your rivals and why they refuse to work with you.
Blogging Baghdad: The Untold Story - MSNBC.com
October 27, 2008 by admin
Filed under Blogs And Blogging
Blogging Baghdad: The Untold Story - MSNBC.com
About this blog. Blogging Baghdad aims to provide a dynamic look at the story behind the story of covering the news in Iraq. Online entries – from text to video blogs – will
Using Robots.txt to Control Search Engines
Using Robots.txt to Control Search Engines
Robots.txt is a text file you put on your site to tell search robots which pages you would like them not to visit. Robots.txt implements the Robots Exclusion Protocol, which allows you as a web manage…
Yahoo Begins Offline Advertising Campaign for Search
October 16, 2008 by admin
Filed under Search Engines
Yahoo Begins Offline Advertising Campaign for Search
Yahoo is beginning an aggressive advertising campaign in order to get people to use it (again) for search.
Expect to see display ads (like the one below) and hear radio ads as the campaign unfolds.
The Yahoo Search blog posted a radio ad on its blog. It uses the concept of searching the web as a jungle and that users need Yahoo’s security measures to protect them from the dangerous and even wacky stuff on the web.
What do you think of the new advertising push by Yahoo? Leave your first impressions in the comments.
Related Reading:
Yahoo Sets Q3 2008 Earnings Call for Tuesday, October 21, 2008
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Why Keywords In Page Titles Are Important
Why Keywords In Page Titles Are Important
It is highly recommended to use keywords in page titles themselves. This title tag is different from a Meta tag, but it’s worth considering it in relation to them. Whatever text one places in the titl…
Google’s “In Quotes” Search Helps the Spin Go Round and Round
September 30, 2008 by admin
Filed under Search Engines
Google’s “In Quotes” Search Helps the Spin Go Round and Round
Just in time for the debates (whenever they happen), Google has released a political search engine called “In Quotes.” The search engine helps people find what John McCain or Barack Obama have said about a variety of issues. (For elections in Canada, India, or the UK, see the drop-down menu in the top right hand corner.)
Sad but true, elections are often won and lost on one-liners, whether they be gaffes or zingers. Now, “In Quotes” will help passionate politicos perpetuate the sound bites fast and furious.
Interestingly enough, the “quotes” that appear on the front page are already soundbites culled by reporters. It would be a little more helpful if the search results provided excerpts from speeches posted on the candidates’ websites so that people could (finally) start investigating the context of what was said.
Related Reading:
John McCain Outspending Barack Obama in Search Engine Advertising
Obama v. McCain in Online Display Ads, Video Views, and Searches
Is John McCain or Barack Obama Winning the YouTube Vote?
Can Google Predict the Next President?
Microsoft adCenter Launches Learning Center
September 26, 2008 by admin
Filed under Search Engines
Microsoft adCenter Launches Learning Center
Microsoft’s adCenter has launched a Learning Center. It’s pretty self-explanatory what this feature does, but specifically you’ll find articles, videos and other content that can help you as you navigate your adCenter campaigns.
The Learning Center is designed to help users at any point in their experience with adCenter. From figuring out where your ad is in the Live Search results to tracking conversions, the Live Team wants the Learning Center to help with every step of the process.
Have you checked out the Learning Center? What are your first impressions?
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Yahoo Rebrands AMP as APT and Launches
September 26, 2008 by admin
Filed under Search Engines
Yahoo Rebrands AMP as APT and Launches
Last April, Yahoo unveiled details of a forthcoming online display advertising platform called AMP, to be released in the third quarter of 2008. Well, it’s Q3 and AMP was launched this week at Advertising Week in New York. Except, it’s not called AMP anymore. It’s been rebranded as APT.
Jon Hamm, star of the AMC Drama Mad Men which is based on a 1940s ad firm, was on hand to celebrate. This really excited Jerry Yang.
“The advertising landscape has changed dramatically since the days when Don Draper was roaming the halls of Sterling Cooper,” said Jerry Yang. “While Mad Men celebrates the Madison Avenue of 40 years ago, APT from Yahoo! clearly represents the future.”
APT is being touted as a streamlining of the display advertising process, from planning to buying and optimizing.
APT will undergo a phased roll-out. Select newspapers get the first stab at it, specifically publishers the San Francisco Chronicle of Hearst Newspapers and San Jose Mercury News of MediaNews Group.
Features include:
- Guaranteed cross-selling with pre-defined selling rules
- Ad Exchange for non-guaranteed inventory
- Advanced audience targeting techniques based upon behavior and geography
- Inventory lookup and forecasting across individual and partner sites
- Creative workflow automation and personalization
- Powerful rate card tools for improved yield management
- Filters for better controls around creatives
- Flexible and powerful APIs
- Federated ad call to support multiple ad formats
“One of the major benefits of APT from Yahoo! is the fact that it’s an open system, designed to enable advertisers to reach their audiences in their favorite places across the Web, and publishers to monetize inventory across the broadest possible demand channels,” said Sue Decker. “As we transform the advertising marketplace, we’re excited to have key members of the Newspaper Consortium, the San Francisco Chronicle and San Jose Mercury News, lead the way in this historic journey.”
APT (as AMP) has often been one of Yahoo’s defenses about the strength of its company. Yahoo has undergone much scrutiny in the past year, especially since Microsoft attempted to acquire it. They’ve placed high hopes on AMP, and now it’s go time.
Related Reading:
Yahoo! to Integrate Right Media and AMP Ad Management Platforms, But When?
Yahoo! AMP! plus Full Text: Yahoo Proxy Statement