Tomorrow is Halloween and we have already begun seeing some home page designs, easter eggs, and custom applications themed for the day. Here is a preview of what we have spotted so far. Ask.com seems like they will be offering a special new theme for the day. The Ask.com designer posted a preview of it at Flickr, and here it is: Pretty nice, Ask.com! Philipp Lenssen reports Google Maps has a special easter egg for the day. Just take a look at locations that support "Street View," such as 500 Broadway in NYC. There are several different versions of those witch icons out there. Also [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | SEM Industry: General

The Gmail Blog has announced they have been making structural changes to the Gmail code base to make Gmail iterate faster and share components with other Google applications such as Google Groups, Page Creator, and Contact Manager. How do you know if you have the new Gmail? If you login to Gmail and look at the top right of the page and see a link for "Older Version," that means you have the new Gmail. Honestly, I did not know I had the new version until I saw all the news at Techmeme about it. Don't have the new Gmail, or you do have it and don't know what is different? Gmail 2.0 Screen [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Consumer | Google: Gmail

Australia regulator clears Google-DoubleClick deal from Reuters reports the Australian competition regulator will allow the Google acquisition of DoubleClick. The commission said on Tuesday that Google and DoubleClick were not close competitors in the ad serving space. Now Google has to hear decisions from Europe and America. [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | Google: Acquisitions

...er, your web site, that is.... A few weeks ago at SMX Social Media, presenter after presenter (myself included) stressed the importance of making sure your hosting would be able to handle the effects of a strong viral campaign. The message was simple: "If you're going to target Digg, reddit, del.ico.us and the like, be prepared." There is no bigger waste than seeing a great piece of viral content fall flat because the server couldn't withstand the load. And yes, these sites can deliver a lot of traffic. Here are some of the key reasons you should never allow your site or blog to go d [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Social | Search & Social | Social Media Marketing

Each of the major search engines has a certification program that an individual or agency can use to show their accreditation status to prospective clients. While it takes a bit of time and effort to achieve accreditation with Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft, there are several important ways in which these certifications can be used, and all have payoffs for those willing to go the extra distance. The first, and most obvious, is to showcase your company to prospective clients. Being able to claim that your analysts have been certified by Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft is a strong point to e [...]

Related Topics: Channel: SEM | Google: AdWords | Microsoft: Bing Ads | Paid Search | SEM Industry: Awards | SEM Industry: General | SEM Industry: Organizations | Yahoo: Search Ads

In part 2 of our 3-part series, today's infographic details an essential element of keyword research: exploring conversations that are happening on the web. By combing through competitive and industry websites, relevant blog postings, and popular tag sites, new phrases are discovered and search frequencies can be determined. Graphic by Elliance, an eMarketing firm specializing in results-driven search engine marketing, web site design, and outbound eMarketing campaigns. The firm is the creator of the ennect online marketing toolkit. The Search Illustrated column appears Tuesdays at Sear [...]

Related Topics: Channel: SEO | Infographics | Search Illustrated | Search Marketing: Search Term Research | SEO: Writing & Body Copy

Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Microsoft adCenter Adds Instant Editorial Reviews & MoreThe adCenter Blog announced new changes that have been implemented in the adCenter console. The changes include a real time editorial ad feedback feature, changes to campaign management features and additional reporting upgrades. The largest change was the immediate editorial feedback on keywords or ads you create in the adCenter... Internet Now The Primary Local Medium Judy's Book last week joine [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Other | SearchCap

The adCenter Blog announced new changes that have been implemented in the adCenter console. The changes include a real time editorial ad feedback feature, changes to campaign management features, and additional reporting upgrades. The largest change was the immediate editorial feedback on keywords or ads you create in the adCenter console. In short, Microsoft seemed to have added validation on certain fields to save both you and ad support some time. The validation checks to make sure you filled out all required fields, that you did not exceed character length limits, and your display and [...]

Related Topics: Channel: SEM | Microsoft: Bing Ads

Last week, Judy's Book joined the list of companies that have tried but stumbled or wiped out in local. The market's complexity and business model challenges make it tough for most startups to succeed. Yet, paradoxically, consumers have clearly embraced the "local Internet" and are using it with increasing frequency to find local information online. A couple of weeks ago we reported on recent, top-level local data from local SEM firm WebVisible and Nielsen. The data come out of a survey fielded earlier this year with roughly 2000 U.S. adults. However, there were a great many interesting deta [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Local | Local Search | Stats: Search Behavior

In what is starting to become the tech equivalent of the OJ Simpson trial, The Hollywood Reporter says that the judge in the Viacom litigation against YouTube/Google has grown frustrated with delays and resistance by both sides to the discovery efforts of one another. Discovery is a pre-trial phase of litigation in which attorneys exchange documents, information, and question important witnesses in the case. The publication reports that the judge rebuked both sides for their "gamesmanship" in the conduct of the lawsuit. [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Video | Google: Legal | Google: YouTube & Video | Legal: Copyright

TechCrunch and Techmeme offer lots of discussion and long posts about the NBC Universal and News Corporation joint video venture and challenge to YouTube: Hulu. The site is not yet open to the public but many of the videos it will be streaming can be seen today on distribution partner AOL. There are both full-length shows and movies being distributed via the site itself and its partner network, which includes Yahoo, Microsoft, MySpace, AOL, and others. There's currently no user-generated content and no downloading. There are commercials, but they will be fewer and less intrusive ("limited co [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Video | Search Engines: Video Search Engines

Mike Blumenthal explains how you can use Google Maps to now find Google coupons. As you may know, Google Maps allows businesses to add their listings plus add coupons to their listings. Reportedly, now you can search for those coupons in Google. One example Mike gave was a search for olean n y coupons. The coupon search URL is located at http://maps.google.com/coupons?hl=en&q=&near=LOCATION+GOES+HERE. Here is an example of the returned coupons for that result. Notice how all the listings below are coupons, but you can add images to your coupon listings as well: And here is an example [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Local | Google: Maps & Local

Andy Beard reports that Google seems to have made their third PageRank update this month. This one appears to have reversed some of the downgrades in PageRank seen by some sites. We know that some of the PageRank changes were due to paid link selling, as we reported was happening back in early October in our Official: Selling Paid Links Can Hurt Your PageRank Or Rankings On Google post. However, not all the sites impacted in recent changes were selling links (several strongly deny this), so there may be other reasons related to the drop. For example, one common theory is that Google might [...]

Related Topics: Channel: SEO | Google: SEO | Link Building: Paid Links

Three dimensional mapping company Everyscape has been busy building its product out for the last several months. This morning it finally launched, with four US cities to show for its effort: Aspen, CO, New York, Miami, FL, and Boston. And while Google and Microsoft have been battling it out in public and the press with their respective 3-D efforts, Everyscape has quietly built a very impressive experience that includes many building interiors (that's where the business model comes in). Businesses pay money (from $250 to $500 per year) for interior photography that is integrated into the 3-D e [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Consumer | Search Engines: Maps & Local Search Engines

Another Yahoo Exec Departs from BoomTown reports Jacki Kelley, Yahoo's Vice President of Sales Strategy, has left Yahoo this past Friday. Kelley will be working at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. as the Executive Vice President of media sales. Yahoo's Executive Vice President Hilary Schneider sent out a company email: It is with mixed emotions that I am announcing that today is Jacki Kelley’s last day at Yahoo!. Since joining Yahoo! in May 2006, Jacki has led our advertising efforts for the travel category and has recently played an integral role helping to facilitate the integrati [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | Yahoo: Employees

Last week Google tweaked its visible PageRank in what seems to be an attempt to stifle the paid link trade. Scores of well known web sites saw their PageRank fall as they were slapped for what many believed was selling links and/or participating in excessive cross-linking. Google has confirmed at least some of the changes are due to paid link selling, but it's widely accepted that this display of bravado was a reminder they can and will enforce their guidelines against paid links. Browsing through the countless news stories and blog posts, I raised an eyebrow after reading this article: [...]

Related Topics: Channel: SEO | Link Building: General | Link Week

Search Marketing Expo - SMX London's keynote speaker will be Mario Queiroz, Google's Vice President, Products, Europe, Middle East, & Africa. SMX London is being held 15-16 November. You can register for the event today. Mario Queiroz will cover how Google makes products such as YouTube, mobile search, AdWords, AdSense, Google Maps, and more work for Europe and beyond. The Queiroz keynote rounds out an SMX London program that spans two days and three tracks, with content for every skill level of search marketer -- from novice to seasoned professional. Just a few of the sessions are: - Comp [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Other | SMX & DMD Alerts

Yahoo! Sponsored Search advertising puts your business where your customers are searching. SPECIAL OFFER: Sign up now and receive a $50 credit toward your first month, or save $50 on assisted setup, our expert starter service. [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Other | Sponsor Messages

We reported earlier about Yahoo Site Explorer not showing all link data. Yahoo has just posted an update for us on that topic. Yahoo says to "disregard any counts for inlinks reported by Site Explorer from October 11 through next week." Yahoo is rolling out fixes for the tool over the weekend and throughout next week. Postscript: On November 6th, Yahoo announced they have finally fixed the issue. [...]

Related Topics: Channel: SEO | Yahoo: Site Explorer

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 in Pictures: Matchbox 20, Dr. Muhammad Yunus & Yahoo Parachute In this week's Search In Pictures, here are the latest images culled from the web, showing what people eat at the search engine companies, how they play, who they meet, where they speak, what toys they have and more.... Facebook To IPO Next Year (It'll Have To)I'm still on vacation, but catching up on my reading, I see that Facebook "years away" said founder Mark Zuckerbe [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Other | SearchCap