23 Jul 2008

feedSearch Engine Land: News About Search Engines & Search Marketing

SearchCap: The Day In Search, July 23, 2008

Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.

From Search Engine Land:

Search News From Around The Web:

Applications & Portal Features

Business Issues

Local, Maps & Mobile

Paid Search & Contextual

Searching

SEM Industry

SEO & SEM

Social Media

Video, Music & Image Search

Other Items

Recent Hot Items From Sphinn, Our Social News Sharing Site:

23 Jul 2008 10:06pm GMT

Google's Knol Launches: Like Wikipedia, With Moderation

Google Knol

After six months of testing, Google has formally rolled out Knol, a service designed to let people create pages of knowledge on any topic they choose. While Google says Knol is not designed to compete with Wikipedia -- and there are good arguments to back this up -- I still think the easiest way to describe the service is Wikipedia with moderation. Below, more about this, the service in general and some of the issues it may raise for Google.

Click to continue reading...

23 Jul 2008 6:36pm GMT

feedSearch Engine Watch Blog

Yahoo Researcher Seeks to Combine Semantic Search Methods

Yahoo researcher Peter Mika has written up an extensive article on semantic search. First he talks about the limitations to syntax-based search:

Mika says there are two approaches to semantic search: Natural Language Processing (NLP) and the Semantic Web.

Natural Language Processing "builds on the automatic analysis of text." Semantic search company hakia is an example of natural language processing. Interestingly, hakia uses Yahoo search technology, including the recently announced Yahoo's BOSS (Build Your own Search Service). Powerset, which was recently acquired by Microsoft, is another example of NLP. These NLP semantic search providers "extract entities from text, disambiguate them against large-scale background knowledge sources (PowerSet uses Freebase, Hakia has its own ontology), and then record the relationships as found in the text." Users can query by asking full questions, though many still use keywords.

Semantic Web "aims to make the web more easily searchable by allowing publishers to expose their metadata." Mika says most publishers are willing to share their data if it results in increased traffic. Plus, semantic web allows publishers to avoid costs and quality issues associated with NLP. But last year, Yahoo researcher Mor Naaman declared the Semantic Web dead. Naaman's reasoning was the limitation of microformats, but Mika says that the new RDFa standard would have greater capabilities.

What Mika wants to do is to integrate the best of NLP and semantic web. He says Yahoo's SearchMonkey platform allows for this integration to occur.

To dig into all the technical nitty gritty, check out Mika's full article, "Semantic Search Arrives at the Web."

23 Jul 2008 5:07pm GMT

feedSearch Engine Land: News About Search Engines & Search Marketing

Now Google Searches For "Educating" Not Safe For Family Viewing

I feel bad for always seeming to pick on Google about showing inappropriate images in normal web search. But it's happened again. This morning at the Search Engine Roundtable, I explained that a search for [educating] returns a "teacher standing over a student holding a small rod, with the student's pants down leaning over a desk." For the term education! What is even worse is that I privately reported this image three days ago to Google for removal, using the new report images feature in Google web search. Today, it's still sitting there (though now, not likely for long). Here what's showing:

Click to continue reading...

23 Jul 2008 4:17pm GMT

feedSearch Engine Watch Blog

15% of Fortune 500 companies have blogs

PRWeek reports that a new study conducted by Burson-Marsteller has found that 15% of Fortune 500 companies communicate with consumers via blogs.

bmlogo.jpg The survey, conducted in February and March this year, found that 74 Fortune 500 companies actively maintain blogs, many of them technology-related corporations. The top four industries with blogs were: Computers and Office Equipment (IBM, Dell, etc.); Network and Other Communications Equipment (Motorola, Lucent Technologies, etc.); Semiconductors and Other Electrical Components (Intel, AMD, etc.); and Internet Services and Retailing (Amazon, Google, etc.).

Of course, the next step is learning how to optimize your blog. For that, may I recommend that representatives of Fortune 500 companies attend the "SEO Through Blogs & Feeds" session on Wednesday, Aug. 20, at SES San Jose. The session will be moderated by Rebecca Lieb, Contributing Editor, ClickZ, and the speakers are:
* Chris Boggs, Search Engine Watch Expert & Manager, SEO, Brulant, Inc.
* Lee Odden, CEO, TopRank Online Marketing
* Amanda Watlington, Owner, Searching for Profit
* Daron Babin, CEO, Webmaster Radio

Check out the session to learn more about the unique advantages that optimized blogs and RSS feeds offer to companies large and small.

23 Jul 2008 3:31pm GMT

SEM Platform Provider Kenshoo Opens U.S. Office

Tel Aviv-based search engine marketing platform provider, Kenshoo, has announced plans to open an office in the United States. The office will be located in San Francisco. Kenshoo has a European subsidiary in London as well.

Kenshoo provides a third generation SEM platform called KENSHOO SEARCH.

"We see North America as a key market and are very happy to hit the ground running. Following our plan, we have decided to take the needed step and establish a local company. This move will help us expand our already solid base of U.S. customers while improving our service." said Yoav Izhar-Prato, CEO of Kenshoo.

Related Reading:
Online Advertising Shifting from Branding to Direct Response
Local Advertisers Shifting Dollars to Internet
Global Internet Ad Spend to Exceed $106 Billion by 2011
Online Ad Spend Intact Despite Weakening Economy

23 Jul 2008 3:25pm GMT

Google Rumored to Buy Digg for Third Time

google%20digg.jpg

A few months ago we explained why Digg would be worth $200 million to Google.

Now it appears the rumor mill is reporting that Google will buy Digg for $200 million or so.

Rumor has it the two companies have signed a letter of intent and are close to a deal that will bring Digg under the Google News property.

Microsoft has an advertising deal with Digg so the deal would be a competitive blow to the Redmond giant.

This is the third time the buyout rumor has surfaced.

Is it "three strikes and you're out" or the "third time's the charm?"

Digg has yet to publicly disavow the rumor but it's still early on the West Coast.

23 Jul 2008 2:17pm GMT

SEW Experts: How Valid Are Your Landing Page Test Conclusions?

Search Engine Watch Expert - Tim AshAre your landing page tests telling the whole story? In today's By the Numbers column, "How Valid Are Your Landing Page Test Conclusions?," Tim Ash talks about the care and feeding of landing page tests - and their results.

» Full story

23 Jul 2008 1:51pm GMT

feedSearch Engine Land: News About Search Engines & Search Marketing

Live QnA Adds Features & Firefox 3 Support

The Live QnA blog announced that the Live QnA question and answer site has been updated with several feature and design releases. Here is a brief overview of those changes:

Click to continue reading...

23 Jul 2008 1:24pm GMT

feedSearch Engine Watch Blog

SEW Experts: The Japanese Search, Why Don't We?

Search Engine Watch Expert - Kevin Ryan"Drive to search" campaigns are hot in Japan. In today's Searching for Meaning column, "The Japanese Search, Why Don't We?," Kevin Ryan explains the trend and how you can implement similar techniques in your search marketing campaigns.

» Full story

23 Jul 2008 1:19pm GMT

feedSearch Engine Land: News About Search Engines & Search Marketing

The Better Business Bureaus Rates Google As "Unsatisfactory"

Google, the superbrand and top global brand is also listed on the Better Business Bureaus (BBB) list of businesses as having an "unsatisfactory record."

The reason Google has this unsatisfactory rating from the BBB is because Google has failed "to respond to one or more complaints and or two or more otherwise unresolved." The BBB does note that Google "has resolved most complaints presented to the bureau." You can find some of the complaints over here. Valleywag has their swing to the story as well.

23 Jul 2008 1:17pm GMT

Rumor: Google To Buy Digg For $200 Million?

There are ways in which Digg is like YouTube: it's the "brand" in a competitive "social news" segment that also features Yahoo Buzz, AOL's Propeller, MySpace News, Reddit, Ask Big News and, by some counts, more than 80 others. Similarly YouTube was the "brand" in a crowded video segment when Google acquired the company.

Digg has more or less been for sale for months and rumors have been circulating that either Google or Microsoft would buy the company.

Click to continue reading...

23 Jul 2008 12:36pm GMT

22 Jul 2008

feedSearch Engine Land: News About Search Engines & Search Marketing

Yahoo Q2 Revenues Flat, No Help For Shareholder Meeting

Analysts expectations were low and, depending on the analyst, Yahoo barely met or missed them. According to the press release, "Revenues were $1,798 million for the second quarter of 2008, a 6 percent increase compared to $1,698 million for the same period of 2007." Net income fell 18 percent. The company suffered from the general sluggishness of the advertising economy but may also have taken a hit from all the distractions of MicroHoo and Carl Icahn's proxy battle. Icahn is now becoming a Yahoo board member after a publicly announced compromise.

Click to continue reading...

22 Jul 2008 10:28pm GMT

SearchCap: The Day In Search, July 22, 2008

Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.

From Search Engine Land:

Search News From Around The Web:

Applications & Portal Features

Business Issues

Local, Maps & Mobile

Link Building

Paid Search & Contextual

Searching

SEM Industry

SEO & SEM

Social Media

Recent Hot Items From Sphinn, Our Social News Sharing Site:

22 Jul 2008 10:14pm GMT

feedSearch Engine Watch Blog

Yahoo Q2 2008 Disappoints Wall St.

Yahoo%20Y%21%20logo.jpg

Yahoo Second Quarter 2008 Financial Results
• Revenues were $1,798 million for the second quarter of 2008, a 6 percent increase compared to $1,698 million for the same period of 2007.

• Marketing services revenues were $1,587 million for the second quarter of 2008, a 7 percent increase compared to $1,486 million for the same period of 2007.

"Yahoo!'s transformation gained momentum in the second quarter as we announced new product initiatives and partnerships along with solid financial results," said Sue Decker, president Yahoo! in a statement. "We advanced our position with users by opening up Yahoo! through new innovative offerings like SearchMonkey and BOSS in search and have seen great improvements with Buzz in the freshness of content on our home page. Our commercial agreement with Google is another great example of our open strategy and we expect it will strengthen our competitive position as a leading provider of search and display advertising. On the advertising side, our growing list of major agency partners including Publicis, WPP, Havas and premier publishing partners including walmart.com, and CNET and Turner are great examples of our ability to be the partner of choice across search and display advertising. We remain confident that our efforts will lead to a stronger and more profitable Yahoo!."

o Marketing services revenues from Owned and Operated sites were $1,016 million for the second quarter of 2008, a 14 percent increase compared to $892 million for the same period of 2007.

o Marketing services revenues from Affiliate sites were $571 million for the second quarter of
2008, a 4 percent decrease compared to $594 million for the same period of 2007.

• Fees revenues were $211 million for the second quarter of 2008, a less than 1 percent decrease compared to $212 million for the same period of 2007.

• Revenues excluding traffic acquisition costs ("TAC") were $1,346 million for the second quarter of 2008, an 8 percent increase compared to $1,244 million for the same period of 2007.

• Operating income for the second quarter of 2008 was $101 million, a 45 percent decrease compared to $185 million for the same period of 2007.

o Operating income for the second quarter of 2008 includes incremental costs of $22 million
incurred for outside advisors related to Microsoft's proposals to acquire all or a part of the
Company, other strategic alternatives, the proxy contest, and related litigation defense costs.

• Free cash flow for the second quarter of 2008 was $231 million, a 30 percent decrease compared to $328 million for the same period of 2007.

• Net income for the second quarter of 2008 was $131 million or $0.09 per diluted share compared to $161 million or $0.11 per diluted share for the same period of 2007.

"Despite a difficult economic environment, we posted solid results in line with the ranges we indicated in April," said Blake Jorgensen, chief financial officer, Yahoo! in a statement. "GAAP revenue was $1.8 billion, with operating cash flow on a normalized basis coming in at $449 million. Our diverse advertiser base and compelling value proposition for our customers were key factors behind Yahoo!'s strong second quarter performance."

22 Jul 2008 10:07pm GMT

feedSearch Engine Land: News About Search Engines & Search Marketing

Click Fraud Rate Mostly Unchanged, Says Click Forensics

Click Forensics has released the second quarter results for 2008, showing a slight drop in the estimated click fraud. Last quarter, Click Forensics reported a 16.3 percent rate, they are now reporting a 16.2 percent rate for Q2 of 2008. However, the rate is up from a year ago, which was a 15.8 percent rate in Q2 of 2007.

The main number that stood out was that "traffic from botnets was responsible for more than 25 percent of all click fraud traffic in Q2 2008," said Click Forensics. Click Forensics believes the botnets increase was the reason why the click fraud rate did not drop more then it should have.

Click to continue reading...

22 Jul 2008 9:33pm GMT

The Google Logos Video

I thought I share with you a video from Appappeal.com, named "Just Google." The song was created by Lex Friedman and Seth Brown.

Here is the video/song:

Click to continue reading...

22 Jul 2008 9:28pm GMT

The Link Building Kiss of Death

Link Week

If you are an experienced link builder, you might be tempted to read something other than today's column, which on first glance may appear a bit to rudimentary for your skills. If you do stick around, and I hope you do, I'll share with you what I consider to be one of the tragic mistakes that even sophisticated link builders often make when contacting a site to request a review/link: Using the wrong contact method.

Click to continue reading...

22 Jul 2008 8:41pm GMT

feedSearch Engine Watch Blog

Yang to Yahoos: One Team, One Voice

yahoo%20dice.jpg

We're not sure what the long-term implications of the Yahoo-Yang-Icahn settlement will be. In the short term, though, the agreement that ended the impending proxy fight appears to have inspired Jerry Yang to use capital letters in his memos to employees.

Here's the full text of Jerry Yang's take on the Icahn affair.


Today, Yahoo! moves past a distracting proxy contest. This morning we announced a settlement with Carl Icahn which will enable Yahoo! to put an end to this challenging chapter in our history, and allow us to get back to the business at hand - building our business and maximizing value for all stockholders.

Over the past few weeks we've made progress communicating with investors, helping them to better understand our roadmap for long-term growth, our valuable combination of assets, and our solid position in the converging search and display marketplaces. These discussions have been productive for everyone.

Under the terms of the settlement with Mr. Icahn, he has withdrawn his nominees for consideration at the annual meeting, and has agreed to vote his Yahoo! shares in support of the Board's nominees. At our annual stockholder meeting on Aug. 1, we'll ask stockholders to re-elect eight of our current directors. (In connection with the settlement of the proxy contest, Bobby Kotick has notified the Company that he will not stand for re-election to the Board.) After the annual meeting, Mr. Icahn will be appointed to our Board. We've also agreed to expand our Board to make room for two additional members to be chosen by the Board upon the recommendation of the Board's Nominating and Governance Committee from a list that includes the rest of Mr. Icahn's slate and Jon Miller, former Chairman and CEO of AOL.

We're pleased that both parties were able to work together productively to accomplish this settlement, and we look forward to working with the new Board members and benefiting from their fresh perspective.

Yahoo! is now moving forward with one team and one voice, and we're excited about what the future holds.

Jerry Yang
CEO and Chief Yahoo

22 Jul 2008 7:03pm GMT

Expedia Chooses Baynote Social Search to Improve Site Usability

Travel search site Expedia has announced the selection of Baynote to add Social Search to complement its search results. Baynote uses what other searchers find most helpful or most interesting to refine search results.

"Baynote's Social Search technology is a great fit for Expedia because the collective input from our millions of monthly visitors constantly improves the relevance of the search results," said Tom Taylor, director of strategy for Expedia.

Expedia says users will now be able to search for specific types of trips or hospitality vendors instead of simply browsing the site. The goal is to provide a better experience for the user. Adds Taylor, "The Baynote solution is able to deliver the most relevant results based on what other Expedia customers have previously found most useful for similar queries."

Earlier today, SEW expert Mark Jackson posted about the connection between Usability and SEO. Looks like social site search could be another way to incorporate usability while aiding your SEO campaign.

22 Jul 2008 5:07pm GMT

SEO copywriting tips from Jill Whalen of High Rankings

I went to my first Search Engine Strategies back in the spring of 2002. And one of the SEO experts speaking at that search engine conference was Jill Whalen, the CEO of High Rankings.

Six-and-a-half-years ago, Jill spoke at a session entitled, "Writing for Search Engines." And six-and-a-half-years later, I'm still quoting her SEO copywriting advice in the "Introduction to Search Engine Marketing" sessions at SES conferences because it was "built to last."

As Jill says, "Good SEO work only gets better over time. It's only search engine tricks that need to keep changing when the ranking algorithms change."

And next month, Jill will be speaking at SES San Jose at the "Building a Search Friendly Site" session on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. as well as the "Keywords & Content: Search Foundations" session later that day at 2:45 p.m.

I recently interviewed Jill and asked her to share some of her SEO copywriting tips. The video interview is below.


Copywriting: High Rankings Jill Whalen

Jill is a pioneer in search engine optimization. She founded High Rankings in 1995 and since then, it has grown to be one of the pre-eminent SEO companies in the United States, providing hundreds of clients in more than 40 industries with expert SEO consulting, website audit reports, SEO campaigns and in-house SEO training classes.

Jill is also the founder of the popular High Rankings Search Engine Optimization Forum, the author of The Nitty-gritty of Writing for the Search Engines, and the co-founder of the Search Engine Marketing Network for New England (SEMNE).

If SES San Jose is going to be your first search engine conference, then I strongly encourage you to attend both of the sessions where Jill will be speaking. Her advice is "built to last."

22 Jul 2008 3:10pm GMT

80% Buy from a Store Whose Site They Previously Visited

Measurement and analytics are crucial to a successful online marketing campaign, but the relationship between online marketing and offline purchases has been a tricky one to figure out. But as more attention is given to the matter, we're learning more about the connection.

Media measurement company, Nielsen Online, conducted a survey to examine the relationship between online research and offline purchases. They found that 80% of participants who had recently bought consumer electronics from a brick and mortar store whose site they visited first.

Nielsen used "pet food" as another category to examine the online/offline connection. They used this category to examine a niche that might not need as much research. I personally think this was a bad topic for that purpose due to last year's pet food crisis. But let's check out the data anyway.

Here's the percentages of pet food survey participants who would use the internet to research each topic.

Of course, as we learned yesterday, more and more people are turning to the internet to make purchases due to rising gas costs.

But the message is clear, online marketing and company websites impact consumer purchasing decisions.

What do you think of the data? Share your thoughts in the comments.

22 Jul 2008 3:04pm GMT

feedSearch Engine Land: News About Search Engines & Search Marketing

Are You BLVD Status? New Analytics Package Tracks Conversions

Last week, my friend Chris Bennett at 97th Floor and his brother Patrick at Modern Blue launched a new analytics package called BLVD Status that I am particularly excited about. I was one of the original pre-beta testers and was able to see this grow into a really powerful and helpful tool for anyone trying to better track their search & social media marketing efforts.

BLVD Status LogoBLVD Status is an analytics program that has a live dashboard similar to something you would see in Have a Mint but with really robust information like conversions, search engine rankings, outgoing link information and many more data points. BLVD Status presents a slick and clean user interface, but I am more excited about the actual data it provides you. With many analytics programs I have tested, it seems like you can't get the data you are looking for without custom programming and tweaking. Below, details about what features it currently includes, and what I would like to see in future releases.

Click to continue reading...

22 Jul 2008 3:00pm GMT

feedSearch Engine Watch Blog

Google Barely Inches Out Yahoo for Top Web Property; Platform-A Top Ad Network for June 2008

comScore has released the top 50 ad networks and top 50 web properties for June 2008.

In ad networks, AOL's Platform-A takes the top spot, reaching 90% of American internet users. Yahoo comes in second, reaching 83% and Google comes in third with 81%. Here's the full list:

top50adnetworksjune2008.png

In web properties, Google leads the pack 140.2 million unique visitors, but Yahoo comes in a very close second at 140.1 million. This past April, Google's sites beat Yahoo's properties for the first time. Microsoft trails in third with 119 million. AOL is in 4th with 110 million and Fox Interactive rounds out the top 5 with 85 million. Here's the chart:

top50webcomscorejune2008.jpg

22 Jul 2008 2:22pm GMT

feedSearch Engine Land: News About Search Engines & Search Marketing

Google Maps Walking Directions Now Live

Earlier this month, I reported that Google Maps was testing walking directions on a small subset of users. This morning, I noticed that Google Maps now is offering walking directions for all Google Maps users.

For example, conduct a search for 200 Madison Ave to 200 Lexington Ave and you will see the option to take "Walking" directions, as opposed to driving directions. Here is a picture:

Click to continue reading...

22 Jul 2008 2:13pm GMT

Microsoft Virtual Earth Adds New Imagery

The Virtual Earth Blog announced that they have released a bulk of new imagery to Virtual Earth and Live Maps. I am not going to list out all the new locations you can find the new satellite, ortho and bird's eye imagery, but here are a few:

Click to continue reading...

22 Jul 2008 2:05pm GMT

Will Software Patents (Including On Search Algorithms ) Go Away?

It's fairly safe to say: 1) patent law is a mess, 2) patent law is in transition and 3) newer court rulings are reducing the rights of patent holders. But in a very provocative argument, based on recent cases, the PatentlyO law blog argues that new rules and tests imposed by courts (though not yet the US Supreme Court) could effectively eliminate software patents.

Click to continue reading...

22 Jul 2008 1:53pm GMT

feedSearch Engine Watch Blog

SEW Experts: Usability and SEO

Search Engine Watch Expert - Mark JacksonHow does the usability and accessibility of your website affect your SEO efforts? In today's au Natural column, "Usability and SEO," Mark Jackson explains the connection and gives you tips to make your site user-friendly.

» Full story

22 Jul 2008 1:43pm GMT

SEW Experts: Why Links are Like Shoes

Search Engine Watch Expert - Carrie HillIs that incoming link a Manolo, a Jimmy Choo, or a bargain pump from Payless? In today's small business SEM column, "Why Links are Like Shoes," Carrie Bradshaw, I mean, Carrie Hill indulges the fashionistas among us with a catwalk of links - and how to make them part of your wardrobe.

» Full story

22 Jul 2008 1:27pm GMT

21 Jul 2008

feedSearch Engine Land: News About Search Engines & Search Marketing

SearchCap: The Day In Search, July 21, 2008

Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.

Search News From Around The Web:

Applications & Portal Features

Business Issues

Local, Maps & Mobile

Link Building

Paid Search & Contextual

Searching

SEM Industry

SEO & SEM

Social Media

Video, Music & Image Search

Web Analytics

Other Items

Recent Hot Items From Sphinn, Our Social News Sharing Site:

21 Jul 2008 9:17pm GMT

feedSearch Engine Watch Blog

Peace In Our Time: Icahn Gets Yahoo Board Offer

Seems Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang has made an end move to stop the bickering between the usurpers and his current slate of board members. They have offered Carl Icahn a spot on the new board along with another of his proposed new slate of candidates, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Very clever Jerry. Adding Icahn and former AOL Chairman and CEO Jonathan Miller is a good way to stop the schoolyard emails and press releases we have seen over the past month or so.

That shareholders meeting on Aug 1 should be interesting.

21 Jul 2008 7:01pm GMT