Chitika, a veritable fountain of data lately, has generated some new interesting findings from activity on its search-based advertising network. The company compared ad click behavior on Google and Bing and found that Bing generated about 50% more clicks: Across the sample of nearly 15 million impressions used for this study, Google users clicked on ads at a rate of 1.09%, while Bing users clicked on ads 1.67% of the time. However among the engines, Ask wins the prize for most clicks: These data are consistent with isolated earlier data that show more conversions coming from AOL [...]

Related Topics: Channel: SEM | Google: AdWords | Microsoft: Bing | Microsoft: Bing Ads | Stats: General | Stats: Search Behavior

Linkbait is quality content that people want to share or link to due to its engaging layout, ideas, and concepts. Although the name ‘linkbait’ sometimes carries a negative connotation, the fact remains that it is a great way to drive traffic, get links, contribute to the web, and share ideas. For bloggers and writers that create linkbait with the intent of educating their readers and increasing site traffic, linkbait can be a great way to establish credibility and increase reader loyalty. Linkbait can take the form of many different types of content. The most common types are: Artic [...]

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

The Google Webmaster Central Blog announced they are stepping up their notifications within Webmaster Tools. They will now send "SiteNotices" for a "significant increase" in unreachable content, that is when GoogleBot cannot reach a number of pages on your web site. Here is a picture of what a SiteNotice may look like: Google will only send these out if you have a verified site in Google Webmaster Tools and they recommend setting up the email forwarding option to make sure you don't miss these important alerts. As you know, if GoogleBot cannot access your content for some reason, [...]

Related Topics: Channel: SEO | Google: SEO | Google: Webmaster Central

AllThingsD reported that the Softbank majority owned Yahoo Japan has decided to replace Yahoo Search (soon Yahoo-Bing) with Google. Yahoo owns a minority stake in Yahoo Japan and so can't control or block the decision. According to a statement released by Yahoo it will "support" the deal as it is contractually bound to do: Yahoo! Japan announced that it has chosen to implement Google as its backend algorithmic search engine and paid search infrastructure. Yahoo! Japan made this decision as an independent and separate publicly traded company, in which Yahoo! holds a 35% equity interest. [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | Google: Outside US | Google: Partnerships | Microsoft: Business Issues | Microsoft: Outside US | Top News | Yahoo: Outside US | Yahoo: Partnerships | Yahoo: Search

As Matt posted earlier this evening Ask is in beta on a new approach to search, or perhaps more accurately: a return to an earlier approach but with greater experience and sophistication. The IAC-owned company is returning, conceptually, to its origins as a question & answer engine, when human editors were involved. This has been in the works since last year when Ask was calling it "social search." The company is making a serious bet that "Q&A" can be a differentiator for Ask and provide new appeal for the engine, which has seen flat-to-modestly-declining traffic over the past two y [...]

Related Topics: Ask: Ask 3D | Ask: General | Ask: Mobile | Ask: Web Search | Channel: Mobile | Top News

If you’re choosing domain names for your business with the intention of going global, then you have quite a lot to think about. You might want to incorporate keywords in your domain name — but how do you handle this across multiple different languages? Or you might choose an invented new word to be your domain — but how do you check if that will work in international markets. A few simple checks prevent lots of pain!

Related Topics: Channel: SEO | Multinational Search

Wolfram|Alpha, the fact engine has released a neat new feature today. Wolfram|Alpha is allowing anyone to build query driven widgets that can be embedded on any web page. The purpose is to enable publishers, bloggers, professors, teachers and so on to easily build quick widgets to add to their content and materials. You can build widgets based off of Wolfram|Alpha's large database of scientific information and data. Widget creation is all based off the initial query, which then can be made into a simple form that can be used by anyone. I'll explain this in more detail below. First, [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Consumer | Search Engines: Answer Search Engines | Wolfram Alpha

As we (and others) hinted a couple weeks ago, Ask.com is re-launching as a cross between a traditional search engine and the question-and-answer service that it was back in the site's heyday. NOTE: SEE OUR FOLLOW-UP PIECE, Ask Comes Full Circle With "Q&A" Offering The new Ask.com homepage represents a pretty dramatic change. Search is still front and center, but in order to focus on the Q&A aspect, Ask says all users will now see the "Question of the Day" feature; a section of "Popular Questions" is also featured prominently on the home page. The look-and-feel changes are [...]

Related Topics: Ask: Web Search | Channel: Consumer | Search Engines: Answer Search Engines

Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Google Mobilizes Place Pages for Android DevicesToday Google announced upgraded Maps for Android, with the addition of a new mobile version of Places (not to be confused with the Android app Places Directory). It enables users to browse for categories of businesses nearby. It also allows users to create custom search categories (e.g., “free wifi”). The data presented are the same [...] Globalizing & Localizing E-Business: Five Steps [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Other | SearchCap

Today Google announced upgraded Maps for Android, with the addition of a new mobile version of Places (not to be confused with the Android app Places Directory). It enables users to browse categories of businesses nearby (bars, ATMs, gas, etc). It also allows users to create custom categories (e.g., "free wifi"). The data presented are from the same database that's behind Google Maps/Places online and exposed via Places Directory as well as "near me now" and Google Local on the mobile web. The central difference between Places Directory and Places is the cleaner appearance of Places [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Mobile | Google: Maps & Local | Google: Mobile | Top News

Not so long ago, there were only a few companies out there that bothered to customize their websites for foreign markets. Those who chose to do so made minimal effort—they simply translated their English copy into the local language and started doing business. Their incentives to create more sophisticated, tailored offerings was minimal; with so few companies doing it, there was no competition for e-business or Google rankings. This, however, is no longer the case. In the past, only the big players could afford to invest the time and strategic resources needed to localize their w [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Search | How To: SEM | Search Marketing: Multinational

At the beginning of Google's "Searchology" event in early 2007 original Google employee Craig Silverstein opined, "If Google had started a year or two earlier, it wouldn't have worked." That's because prior to that time (1998) the internet wasn't yet large enough to require Google or enable people to see the value of its approach. As sites and pages multiplied exponentially Google became an increasingly necessary tool. We're all familiar with the story. Now Google controls a majority of search traffic in most countries around the world. It has become a seemingly unstoppable force. The in [...]

Related Topics: Blekko | Channel: SEO | Features: Analysis | Google: Web Search | Search Engines: Cuil | Search Engines: Custom Search Engines | Search Engines: Open Directory Project | Search Engines: Powerset | Search Engines: Social Search Engines | Search Features: General | Top News

Google announced they have redesigned and enhanced their dictionary results. Google said you no longer have to type define or what is prior to your search to trigger a dictionary. Google added "implicit triggering" of the dictionary result, so for example, a search on [stupendous] shows a dictionary result at the top of the page: The dictionary result also includes speech and pronunciation information and additional dictionary links to third-party sites. Plus, Google pushed this out to all global English users. There are more changed coming, including improvements to the mobile [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Consumer | Google: Definitions

Craig Silverstein, Google's first employee, is still the company's director of technology. The question is why? He's undoubtedly in a financial position where he no longer has to work. Maybe that's precisely why he remains at Google, connected to the founders and their vision of the company. Silverstein was in Gainesville Florida for his 20th high school reunion and also spoke at the synagogue where he had his bar mitzvah. He discussed a number of technology trends and talked about Google more broadly. Among other things, he reportedly said that "search" is no longer the right term for what [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Mobile | Google: Business Issues | Google: Employees | Google: Mobile

Attend SMX East October 4-6 in New York City and become be a more effective, innovative and inspired internet marketer. Register by this Friday, July 30 and pay only $1195 for 3 days of exceptional content, invaluable connections, and all the essential conveniences SMX events provide. The SMX East Agenda features more than 50 sessions providing expert insight and real-world-proven tactics that you'll implement instantly...and deliver results for months and years to come. There are sessions just for you at SMX East, whether you’re an experienced search marketer or just starting out, [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Other | SEM Industry: Conferences | SMX & DMD Alerts | Top News

If you have an extra hour in your very busy workday day, don’t spend it fine-tuning your site for algo search, or optimizing your SEM campaigns for efficiency, ROI or profitability. Spend it building out and executing on your social media strategy. I know, shocking advice coming from an old search jockey like me, but I mean it. Seriously, how much cash are you really going to squeeze out of your already-optimized site or SEM program compared to the huge opportunities in front of you in social media? Let me take a half-step back. First of all, I just finished a monster piece on the Yahoo! [...]

Related Topics: Channel: SEO | Industrial Strength

It’s that time of year when many of us turn to the internet for information, advice and maps to help plan a getaway for some rest and relaxation. Although search engines may be an obvious place to start your quest, they often aren’t your best bet for useful information, helpful advice or savvy planning tips. Here’s why—along with an in-depth look at more useful alternatives.

Related Topics: Channel: Consumer | Features: General | Google: Gmail | Microsoft: Bing Travel | Search Engines: Travel Search Engines | Top News

Virtually all of the famous print travel guides have online counterparts. Most are just as packed with information, photos and maps as their print versions. Most also have planning tools, community, deals and other online-specific features. Surprisingly, for sites that offer information about travel and moving around the world, many don't have mobile versions of their websites, though some do have apps or iBook versions. If you've ever browsed the print versions of many of these travel guides, you know that they're largely similar, and the one that works best for you is largely a matter of [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Consumer | Features: General | Search Engines: Travel Search Engines

This presentation discusses: Top acquisition strategies to increase traffic & ROI 10 social media acquisition best practices How Simply Business increased search marketing effectiveness with no added headcount Download Now [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Other | Sponsor Messages

Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: French Newspapers Partner To Sidestep Google NewsA group of six French newspapers is partnering to create an online news site that they hope will be an alternative to Google News. France’s National Daily Press Union announced the plan yesterday and said the virtual newsstand will be launched in September. According to the Shaping the Future of the Newspaper blog, the French newspapers [...] Google Places Team Fighting Bugs In Dashboard Reporti [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Other | SearchCap