SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 12, 2010

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 Search Funnel Reports—Tunnel Vision?

  On March 19, 2010 Google unveiled Google AdWords Search Funnel Reports via this YouTube video. This was a great day for proponents of multi-attribution marketing analysis. There are two reasons why companies that offer similar services actually viewed Google’s release as a benefit to their business models and not as a mortal […]
• Google Squared Powers Answer Sources & Something Different Refinements

  Did you know that Google Squared turned one today? Google noted this fact today and also noted the various web search features Google Squared powers. Currently, Google Squared powers the “sources” displayed for the “best answers” one box and it also powers the new “something different” refinements on the new Google design.
  For example, a […]

• Why B2B Marketers Should Leverage Flickr

  Here it is, one of the most common cliches of all time (at least since pictures were around) – A picture speaks a thousand words.

  Credit

  The saying is so prevalent because it captures the power of images so clearly. It should be no surprise that images are not only a highly effective communication vehicle, but […]

• Attributes To Look For When Hiring An In-House SEO

  Hiring a search professional for an in-house role can be a daunting task. SEO as a profession lacks a large, experienced talent pool, and it is especially rare to find good search marketers with in-house experience. However, an individual with the right personality, skills and background can make a great addition to your team, even […]

• The “Anyone Know” Search: How Twitter Is Good For More Than Brand Monitoring

  Many marketers understand Twitter search is a powerful way to monitor brand mentions and reach out to customers. But I think few realize what a powerful platform it provides to reach out on non-branded generic mentions. To better illustrate this, let me introduce the “Anyone Know” Twitter search.
  Actually, I’ll explain “Anyone Know” toward the end […]

• Did Google Screw Scroogle?

  Scroogle, a site designed for those who don’t want Google tracking their searches back to them, had some hiccups since the new Google design went live on May 5th.
  Scroogle worked by “scraping” the Google search results from https://www.google.com/ie, a service for Internet Explorer 6 users. Google has decided to discontinue that service redirect it […]

• Using Natural Language To Improve Conversion Rates

  Languages are powerful things. Emotive, passionate, constructive, descriptive—they are all these things and so much more! This post explores the power of natural language for conversions and first I’m going to look at “Mad Libs” forms.
  What is a Mad Libs form?
  Mad Libs forms are a style of lead generation/contact/sign-up form which are designed so that […]

• Google Promoting “Internet Stats” Site

  Last September Google launched “Internet Stats” in the UK. Now Google is “launching” it in the US or perhaps, more precisely, exposing it again.
  The site aims to be a repository for data points, organized by broad categories, market sectors and verticals. Data come from various sources, but mostly trade groups and market research firms […]

• When Losers Are Winners: How Google Can “Lose” Search Share & Yet Still Stomp Yahoo

  comScore’s out with new search market share figures. Yahoo’s up, but did it “game” its growth with new navigational changes? Gaming figures is nothing new. But even if Yahoo effectively did, it’s the search volume — the number of searches — that people should care more about in deciding who’s “winning” and “losing” when it […]

• Yahoo Covers The World Cup With New Shortcuts

  The biggest sporting event on Earth is a month away, and Yahoo is out of the gates first to announce special shortcuts focused on the 2010 World Cup.
  Already in place is a general World Cup shortcut, and once the matches begin, Yahoo will have specific shortcuts for countries, groups, and individual matches, like these examples […]

Search News From Around The Web:

Applications & Portal Features

• Announcing Google Moderator’s API, powering a Wave Extension and Android App, Google Code Blog
• Drag images into messages, Official Gmail Blog
• Thumbs Up On The New AOL Homepage, TechCrunch
• Microsoft Office 2010 takes aim at Google Docs, BBC News

Business Issues

• Analysis: Some Facebook Privacy Issues Are Real, Some Are Not, Inside Facebook
• F.T.C.’s Review of Google-AdMob Deal Gets More Time, New York Times
• Is Google Getting Back Into The Gaming Business?, TechCrunch
• More Product Housekeeping At Digg: Kalmikoff And Howard Out The Door, TechCrunch

Local, Maps & Mobile

• Local marketing 101 at “Local University”, Google LatLong
• Verizon Wireless, Google Work on Tablet, Wall Street Journal
• Another Security Hole Found On Yelp, Facebook Data Once Again Put At Risk, TechCrunch
• Groom’s Wedding Invitations Has Wrong Address, Asks Google For Help, Search Engine Roundtable
• New Mobile Resource: ConsumerReports Mobile Now Available on Your Phone; App in the Works, ResourceShelf
• Save the Date: Google Geo Teachers Institute, July 21-22, Google LatLong

Link Building

• Link Building is All About Answering One Question, Wiep.net

Paid Search & Contextual

• AdWords system maintenance on May 13th, Inside AdWords
• AdSense Account Hacked, Google Sends ~$25,000 Payment To India?, Search Engine Roundtable
• Coffee break with clients: Proving the value of display with View-through conversion tracking, AdWords Agency Blog
• Google takes stand on Pharma paid search redirects, What’s Your Digital iQ?

Searching

• They’re Here! E-Mail Alerts for Google Scholar Now Available Direct from Google, ResourceShelf

SEM Industry

• 3 Key Takeaways from Search & Social, SEOmoz

SEO & SEM

• Long-tail Keyword Marketing, PPC Hero
• Microsites. A Bad Idea Most of the Time., Nine By Blue
• Google Using Whois Data For Keyword Matching?, Search Engine Roundtable
• Advanced Web Ranking Review, SEO Book
• Google Defines Semantic Closeness as a Ranking Signal, SEO By The Sea
• The SEO Tool That May Make You Switch to Google Chrome, Search Engine Journal

Social Media

• Facebook Executive Answers Reader Questions, New York Times
• People You May Know: Helping you discover those important professional relationships, The LinkedIn Blog
• Top Five Social Media Trends for 2010, Yahoo! Advertising Blog
• Creating a Network Like Facebook, Only Private, New York Times
• Digg’s Biggest Problem Is Its Users And Their Constant Opinions On Things, TechCrunch
• Facebook Makes Ad Inroads but Still Trails Rivals in Revenue, Wall Street Journal
• The Big Game, Zuckerberg and Overplaying your Hand, calacanis.com
• Are You Making These 5 Social Measurement Mistakes?, outspokenmedia.com

Video, Music & Image Search

• More Choice for Users: Unlisted Videos, YouTube Blog
• YouTube Launches Unlisted Videos, You Decide Who Can See It, ResourceShelf

Other Items

• A word is worth 884 pictures, Official Google Blog
• Is Google becoming like Microsoft?, YouTube

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

• Microsites. A Bad Idea Most of the Time.
• Link Building is All About Answering One Question
• Some Backlinks Deserve to Have Their Backs Scratched
• How the Value of a Link May Differ Based upon Link and Document Features and User Data
• Conversion Rate Optimisation for SEO