Bing Reveals Home Sweet Home Photo Contest Winner (And It’s A Beauty)
December 23, 2009 by admin
Filed under Search Engines
Bing Reveals Home Sweet Home Photo Contest Winner (And It’s A Beauty)
A few weeks ago, Bing launched a photo contest with the theme “Home Sweet Home.” After selecting finalists, the public has voted and the winner is Seattle Skyline by Justin Kraemer.
It’s just flat-out gorgeous-amazing-wowsers:
Justin’s image will appear on the Bing homepage on January 6, 2010. The Bing team will add some hotspots featuring trivia to go along with the photo.
SEOmoz | Google Search Engine Ranking Factors
August 11, 2009 by admin
Filed under Search Engine Optimisation
SEOmoz | Google Search Engine Ranking Factors
This document represents the collective wisdom of 37 leaders in the world of organic search engine optimization. Together, they have voted on the various factors that are estimated
Time Warner Buys Back Google’s 5% Stake in AOL
July 29, 2009 by admin
Filed under Search Engines
Time Warner Buys Back Google’s 5% Stake in AOL
When the Time Warner board voted in late May to spin off AOL, buying back Google’s 5% stake in the company would be a prerequisite for the sale. This week, Time Warner did just that.
The return on investment, however, was not so hot. Google invested $1 billion in 2005 to acquired the 5% stake. They only got back $283 million.
Other statements made in the filing are quite telling of the possibilities for AOL’s future. Google currently powers the search on AOL (including paid search). That will be in place until December 19, 2010, but they’re leaving open the possibility of ditching Google after that.
They may then strike up an agreement with an alternate search engine, such as Yahoo! or Microsoft, or Microhoo. Though, with former Google exec Tim Armstrong now running things at AOL, I’d prefer to see AOL go for broke and develop their own search engine.
AOL also plans to maintain some licensing agreements with Time Warner.
Preliminary Results in Facebook Governance Vote Favor New Documents
April 26, 2009 by admin
Filed under Search Engines
Preliminary Results in Facebook Governance Vote Favor New Documents
The Facebook governance vote concluded yesterday. The social network says that while the numbers need to be verified by an independent auditor, 74% are in favor of the new documents over the old Terms of Service. 600,000 members participated in the vote.
The new documents include “Facebook Principles,” which define the rights of members, and a “Statement of Rights and Responsibilities,” which replaces the old Terms of Service.
Once the vote is confirmed, the new policies will take effect. Any future changes to the documents will be subject to public notice, comment and voting.
ABCSearch Acquires and Rebrands as Advertise.com
April 25, 2009 by admin
Filed under Search Engines
ABCSearch Acquires and Rebrands as Advertise.com
Privately-held paid search company ABCSearch, Internext Media Corp. company, has acquired Advertise.com. They will rebrand under the Advertise.com name, which will serve a larger online advertising solution including PPC, contextual advertising, and display ads.
This is, of course, not to be confused with AOL-owned Advertising.com (which has been rebranded as Platform-A).
“I believe that online advertising needs a new approach,” said Daniel Yomtobian, founder and CEO of Advertise.com. According to Yomtobian, advertisers and publishers have so many choices–some work, while others definitely do not. “The current model does not provide advertisers enough ROI. We launched Advertise.com to provide advertisers and publishers a new value proposition–effective, affordable, and easy-to-use advertising campaigns all under one roof. We are committed to our motto: ‘online marketing made easy’.”
Related Reading:
PPC Search Engine ABCSearch Partners with AdWatcher on Optimization
ABCSearch Acquires Social Search Portal, AfterVote.com
Search for SEM conference and find SES New York 2009
March 22, 2009 by admin
Filed under Search Engines
Search for SEM conference and find SES New York 2009
When I conducted a search yesterday on Google for “SEM conference“, the top sponsored listing was for Search Engine Strategies New York. However, the top organic listing was for the Society for Experimental Mechanics.
Welcome to the real world. The organic search engine results don’t always reflect the way we’d define a three-letter acronym (TLA).
And that’s why the SES New York 2009 agenda overview features a ton of conference sessions and training workshops devoted to search engine marketing (SEM) and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising. Sometimes, PPC ads are the only way you can get found for a TLA.
If you are wrestling with similar, real-world challenges, then you have two options. First, you can read Andrew Goodman’s book, Winning Results with Google Adwords. (The photo on the left is Andrew signing his book at SES London 2009.) Second, you can get over to the Hilton New York next week and register for what should be the leading SEM conference by anyone’s definition. (Of course, you can do both.)
If you select the first option, here are the sessions and workshops that you should attend:
Monday, March 23
8:00am-12:00pm — Making Pay Per Click Pay - Best Practices in Pay Per Click Advertising
1:00pm-5:00pm — Landing Page Testing Crash Course
Tuesday, March 24
10:30am-11:30am — First Timer’s Guide to SES and SEM
11:45am-12:45pm — Introduction to Search Engine Marketing
1:45pm-2:45pm — Pay Per Conversation
3:00pm-4:00pm — Publishers & Agencies: New Business Models for Changing Times
4:30pm-5:30pm — The Dozen Most Common Search Marketing Mistakes That CMOs Make
6:15pm — SEMPO Networking Event
Wednesday, March 25
9:00am-10:15am — Search Advertising 101
10:45am-12:00pm — Google Workshop: Preview the new AdWords interface
1:00pm-2:00pm — The State of Search - A Maturing Marketplace or Poised for More Growth?
2:15pm-3:30pm — Slash Your Search Budget: What Are Your Alternatives?
4:00pm-5:15pm — Wpromote Workshop: 8 Things You Aren’t Doing That Will Boost Your SEM Results
Thursday, March 26
9:00am-10:00am — Morning Keynote by John Gerzema, Author of The Brand Bubble
10:30am-11:45am — Advanced Keyword Research
12:45pm-2:00pm — Advanced Paid Search Techniques
2:15pm-3:30pm — Ads in a Quality Score World
3:45pm-5:00pm — Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark: Black Hat PPC Tactics
Of course, search engine marketing means more than just pay-per-click advertising, even if it commands the lion’s share of most SEM budgets. And SEM needs to be integrated into the rest of a company’s marketing mix. Last month, I interviewed Bill Hunt, the CEO of Global Strategies Inc. and Director of Global Search Strategy at Neo@Ogilvy, about this topic at SES London 2009. Listen to his insights below.
Bill Hunt, Global Strategies Int., on collaborative marketing at SES London 2009
Bill is just one of the many SEM experts who will be speaking at the SEM conference that our industry calls SES New York. How do I know that he’s also a top thought leader on Search Engine Marketing? Bill is the co-author of the best selling book “Search Engine Marketing, Inc.: Driving Traffic to Your Companies Web Site” from IBM Press. And Bill, you magnificent SEM, I read your book!
Utah Search Bill Pulled from Senate Vote, Postponed Until 2010
March 18, 2009 by admin
Filed under Search Engines
Utah Search Bill Pulled from Senate Vote, Postponed Until 2010
The Senate sponsor of the latest Utah search bill, Curtis Bramble, pulled the it from being voted on by last Thursday’s deadline, according to Clickz. After passing the House by a slim margin, the bill had to be voted on by last Thursday, which was the last day of the Utah legislature’s 45 day general session this year.
Senator Bramble says the bill needs more debate and consideration. The next chance the bill will have is in 2010, when the legislature convenes again.
If passed, the law would prohibit advertisers from bidding on trademarked terms when targeting Utah consumers.
Higher Education and Travel Industry Headed to SES London 2009
February 1, 2009 by admin
Filed under Search Engines
Higher Education and Travel Industry Headed to SES London 2009
According to the organizers of SES London 2009, it looks like attendance will be up this year. While this may come as a surprise to some, Matt McGowan, Publisher of the conference series in addition to its sister sites ClickZ and Search Engine Watch, says, “Attendance figures are up 11% compared to last year, which is not surprising as businesses invest more of their budgets in digital marketing.”
He adds, “What’s noticeable this year however is the increase in representation from the education and travel industries. Delegates from these two sectors have increased by 10% (Education) and 16% (Travel). Many of Europe’s leading universities are sending people to SES London – from web managers to researchers. Similarly, established travel companies and tour operators are, as always, well represented, but this year has seen an increase in representation from the smaller, more niche, travel companies. The figures suggest that these two sectors will see significant growth in digital marketing spend this year.”
On this side of the pond, universities have seen grad school applications and enrollments increase as government funding and endowments have declined. This prompted Brandeis University to announce it would close the Rose Art Museum and turn it into a study and research center.
So, I can see why higher education on both sides of the pond is interested in finding more cost-effective ways to drive traffic to college and university websites than mailing out more college brochures. One of the first things I’d recommend is registering for the Google Online Marketing Challenge, which is open to any higher education institution, anywhere in the world.
Meanwhile, here in Boston, we’ve had 49 inches of snow dumped on us – more than double the normal snowfall at this point in the winter and even more than the normal snowfall for the entire winter season. So, I can also understand why the travel industry sees search engine marketing (SEM) and search engine optimization (SEO) turning “the winter of our discontent” into “glorious summer” in the coming year.
Despite last year’s economic conditions, travel spending by domestic and international visitors in 2008 increased 5.2%, to $778.2 billion, according to the Travel Industry Association. Heck, I can’t begin to describe the looks I get from my wife when I lamely explain that I “have to” go to London to speak at conference, blog about the event for Search Engine Watch, and conduct video interviews from the show. Hey, it’s a business trip.
So, when we all get together Feb. 17-20, 2009, at the Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, Islington, I need a little help. For the European universities in attendance, my daughter is planning to spend a semester abroad next year. What do you have for an art major? And for the travel companies who will be at SES London 2009, my wife is looking for someplace sunny, where she can forget about the sleet, wind and bitter cold. (If I’m lucky, she might even bring me along.)
I’m speaking at the sessions on Online Video Update - The Next Wave, News Search SEO, and Beyond Linkbait: Getting Authoritative Mentions Online. Just come up after the session and introduce yourself.
If we haven’t met before, I’ve been called “the bearded guy you’d vote least-likely-to-be-in-public relations” by one industry observer. Or, I’m the bearded buy below who was interviewed by Li Evans of Key Relevance at SES San Jose 2008.
VSEO - Video Search Engine Optimization - with Greg Jarboe
Oh, and if you are from an art school in a sunny place like Spain or Italy, let me know all about the programs you offer. Who knows, I may even be able to come back from SES London 2009 a hero, instead of a zero.
SpokeUp.com: A Smarter Kind of Social Network
January 22, 2009 by admin
Filed under Search Engines
SpokeUp.com: A Smarter Kind of Social Network
When SpokeUp.com launched a few weeks ago, I was a bit confused. Where’s the social voting? Where’s the splashy Web 2.0 design?
I gave it another chance and I’m glad I did, because SpokeUp.com is a smarter kind of social network. Instead of just voting, you actually have to comment, bookmark articles, blog, or post a short blurb to the site’s wire in order to participate.
SpokeUp.com is technically a niche network. It’s geared primarily towards politics, government and the economy. But I’ve posted tech and search news and still found interest. The idea is in the name: to speak up about the things that are on your mind that need to be addressed. There’s all sorts of people from all types of persuasions. So far, the discourse is cordial and hopefully it will remain that way.
The best thing about it is that you can’t game the system like Digg. Adding friends won’t gain you any points, votes or power. The system is simple. Once you’re logged in, if you head to the “Activity” tab you’ll see what’s been posted in chronological order, simple as that.
SpokeUp.com reminds us that the web, yes even the social web, can be smart. It’s not about design and it’s not about trend. It’s truly about conversation and community.
Related Reading:
7 Social Media Predictions for 2009
Only 11% of Social Network Users Will Make a Purchase Based on Advertising
Adults Outnumber Teens on Social Networks
Pizza Yellow Pages Searches Expected to Soar in January
January 2, 2009 by admin
Filed under Search Engines
Pizza Yellow Pages Searches Expected to Soar in January
Well here’s an interesting nuanced piece of information. Searches for pizza on yellow pages tend to peak in January, according to the Yellow Pages Association. It starts with the very first day of the month, when football games fuel the need for a greasy pie. Football continues the calls to local pizzerias with the NFL playoff series (Go Panthers!).
This year, politics could play a roll in puffing up pizza pertinent searches with the inauguration of Barack Obama occurring on January 20th. Of course, if you didn’t vote for the man, you can always buy a pie on that day in celebration of yours truly, who will turn 31 on that very day (and whose birthdays are always overshadowed every four years by the unfortunately timed presidential event.)
Other interesting tidbits about pizza searchers:
- 52% are looking for a local restaurant
- The most likely pizza searcher is a single male, aged 18-24, with a college degree and renting in the Northeast.
- Maine is the most pizzeria-saturated state with four pizzerias for every 10,000 people.
Related Reading:
Pizza Search Engine Slow To Deliver
Papa John’s Makes a Friday Ad Blitz
New Analytics Tool Aids Shift from Print Yellow Pages to Online Advertising
Top 10 Yellow Pages Searches According to Yellow Pages Association
Yellow Pages and Search
