SearchCap: The Day In Search, January 6, 2009

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 Testing ‘Blended’ Mobile Ads
  Yesterday Google Operating System noticed that search ads were showing up between and amongst the organic content in mobile search results. I tried a variety of times this morning to reproduce those results and was unable to. The ads I saw on Google mobile search results were all at the top or the bottom of the page (iPhone), which generally correspond to the ads on Google.com online results. Google Operating System points to the query “love” (on the Opera Mini browser) as an example: And when you scroll down, there’s the ad …
• Google Trends Features ASCII Art Of 9/11
  A reader tipped us off to how ASCII art of an airplane is showing up in the number two position at Google Trends. When we first looked ourselves, we thought the image was that of an airplane approaching a landing strip. But a reader suggests it represents a far more disturbing scene, that of an airplane crashing into New York’s former World Trade Center towers on 9/11. The ASCII image is this ✈ ▌▌. Below, how it appeared on Google Trends:
• Yahoo To Advertisers: We Can Create Ads & Edit Keywords Without Asking First
  Last night, Yahoo emailed their search advertisers about new terms and conditions including a controversial provision that they are allowed to create ads, remove or add keywords to campaigns and “optimize” accounts — which could allow for bid changes. All of this can be done without seeking the advertiser’s permission beforehand. Though the provision is at least six months old, it finally got noticed due to the recent email — and is attracting some outcry. That change is that Yahoo has documented Here is the snippet in the terms and conditions that states this: Sponsored Search 3. OPTIMIZATION. In the U.S. only, for those advertisers not bound by an Insertion Order, we may help you optimize your account(s). Accordingly, you expressly agree that we may also: (i) create ads, (ii) add and/or remove keywords, and/or (iii) optimize your account(s). We will notify you via email of such changes made to your account(s), and can also include a spreadsheet of such changes upon your written request.
• Google Wins “Gu Ge” Lawsuit In China
  Google Wins Lawsuit on Name, Trademark of Subsidiary in China from Bloomberg reports Google has won the lawsuit over Google’s trademark on its Chinese subsidiary “Gu Ge.” The Beijing Haidian District Court ruled that Beijing Guge Science and Technology has to pay Google China 100,000 yuan ($14,624). In addition, Beijing Guge is required to stop using the name. The suit was first filed back in July 2007, where Beijing Guge sued Google for the use of the name. The court case began in December of that year, but then I thought it was dismissed. It …
• Google Claims That Google Checkout Increases Conversion By 40% & Clicks By 10%
  Google has added claims to its Google Checkout Merchant homepage that having Google Checkout as part of your AdWords ads will lead to higher conversions and a better click through rate. Google specifically writes that conversions will increase by 40% and the click-through-rate on your ads will increase by 10%. Here is a screen capture from the page:
• Google Finally Brings Picasa To The Mac
  Google announced the now have Picasa for Mac available for download. Why now? Well, MacWorld 2009 is currently underway - so that is why they released it this week. What took so long for Google to bring Picasa to the Mac? I am not sure. Google had a Picasa Web Albums uploader and an iPhoto plugin for Mac users but never the application. The Wired Blog has a nice walk through the of many features available in Picasa. Below I will also embed a video demonstration of Picasa for Mac.
• The Big List of 2009 Marketing Predictions
  If you’ve been thinking about what’s in store for 2009, join the crowd. The start of a new year always brings out the proverbial crystal ball, but perhaps this year more than most, online marketers are trying to figure out what’s around the corner. To that end, here’s a big list of articles and blog posts where writers have shared their forecasts, predictions, and/or resolutions for the new year. A couple are (an attempt at being) humorous, some are completely serious. Either way, this might help you focus your own thinking on what’s in store for 2009. Search Marketing Find Resolution: …

Search News From Around The Web:

Applications & Portal Features

• Spamhaus: Google Now 4th Most Spam-Friendly Provider, Washington Post
• Google Code Hosting Abused for Spam, Google Blogoscoped

Business Issues

• EBay Ex-Chief Spurs Political Speculation, Wall Street Journal
• Microsoft elevates server unit, promotes Muglia, Beyond Binary
• Merriman upgrades Google to neutral, Reuters
• Vogue Model Sues Google Over Blog’s Skankusations, Gothamist

Local, Maps & Mobile

• New Kogan Agora Shots Get Us Excited For Android All Over Again, Gizmodo
• SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone announced | Macworld 2009, News.com

Link Building

• 5 Link Building Tactics You Probably Don’t Use But Should, Search Engine Journal
• How Link Buying Should Evolve In 2009, seoroi.com

Paid Search & Contextual

• 2008 adCenter Recap & What 2009 Will Bring…, adCenter Blog for Advertisers Blog
• Start the year with learning: Two upcoming webinars, Inside AdWords
• Are Google AdSense Optimization Reports Helpful?, Search Engine Roundtable
• Search Ad Quality Score 101, Part 1, Search Engine Watch
• Yahoo Updates Search Advertisers Terms & Conditions, Search Engine Roundtable
• AdWords Downtime: January 10, 10am-2pm PST, AdWords API Blog
• Can I Create a Great PPC Program For You?, Search Engine Guide
• Watching Google AdWords: The Mysterious Mechanization of Meaning in the Google Brain, MediaBerkman

Searching

• Gogimon Machine Delivers Serendipitous Search Experience, Technology News
• Search Box: Keep Your Curious Visitors on Site, Hakia Blog
• 3 easy ways to make a customized search engine, Pandia

SEM Industry

• If I Could Change One Thing About the SEO Industry, It Would Be…, SEOmoz
• SEO’s View of Google’s Greatest Achievements of 2008, Search Engine Roundtable

SEO & SEM

• A Short Case Study on Redirects: 301s vs. 302s, Nine By Blue
• Do SEO & PPC Cannibalize Each Other?, Brad Geddes
• SEO Packages Taste Like Cookies, We Build Pages
• Social Media and SEO: Does Social Media Really Make an Impact, Search Marketing Sage
• 6 Steps to a Better 404 Page, Kingdom Geek
• Are Low Google AdWords Quality Scores Due to "Penalties"?, Search Engine Roundtable
• Case Study: Transferring Google PageRank With Redirects, Search Engine Roundtable
• Is Google’s PageRank Indicators in Webmaster Tools Useless?, Search Engine Roundtable
• SEO Pricing: 5 Things to Consider When Shoping for a SEO, Search Engine Guide
• There’s No Shortcut to Good SEO…Or Is There?, Search Engine Watch
• Web Spam Taxonomy, All Things SEM

Social Media

• Delivery delays, Twitter Status
• How to Tweet your Google Reader Starred items, We Build Pages
• Rogue LinkedIn Profiles Lead To Malware, McAfee Avert Labs Blog
• Six Lessons from a Wooden Boy: Lesson Three: Don’t be a Social Media Jackass, Search Engine Guide

Video, Music & Image Search

• On Google Disallowing Crawling of Their LIFE Hosting, Google Blogoscoped

Web Analytics

• GAAC Attack: Year-End Fun for Google Analytics Pros, Google Analytics Blog
• Track SEO rankings with Google Analytics, yoast.com

Other Items

• Yahoo! bringing Internet to Samsung television sets, AFP
• Google at Macworld, Official Google Blog

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