SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 8, 2007

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 Illustrated: Google PageRank Explained
  One of the most commonly discussed concepts among search marketers is Google’s PageRank algorithm. Google explains PageRank in the following way: “PageRank relies on the uniquely democratic nature of the web by using its vast link structure as an indicator of an individual page’s value. In essence, Google interprets…
• Search Illustrated: New Column From Search Engine Land
  Our newest Search Engine Land column, Search Illustrated, launches today. Search Illustrated differs from our other columns in that it uses graphics to illustrate complex topics in search marketing by breaking them down into easily understood pictures and diagrams. Today’s debut features a graphic with a visual depiction of…
• Google Analytics Launches New Version With New UI & Features
  Google Analytics today has released a new version of their web analytics tool. I spoke with Brett Crosby, Senior Manager of Google Analytics about the release, which he explained was a completely “new platform” to enable “non-experts” to use sophisticated web analytics without expert intervention….
• Exalead Adds Image Search, Facial Recognition Capabilities
  Exalead, a search engine that’s popular among librarians and information professionals thanks to its array of advanced search capabilities, has added an image search function for more than 1 billion images on the web. Included in the image search tool is the ability to drill down on human faces, thanks…
• MySpace To Buy Photobucket For $300 Million
  Techcrunch broke the news that MySpace would be acquiring Photobucket for about $300 million….
• Live On Twitter: Having A Baby!
  Many search marketers know Nick Wilson, especially for his role in having founded Threadwatch. In case you haven’t been keeping up, Nick and his wife Ivana are having baby. Like now, right now. Nick’s twittering it live here. Barry and I are pretty sure this will be the first birth…
• Looking For iGoogle? It’s Been Removed, Says Google
  If you are looking for iGoogle, you may use Google to search for igoogle only to find out that Google has told us “iGoogle has been removed.”…
• Podcast: Preview Of SMX Advanced Show In Seattle Next Month
  Thinking about attending Search Engine Land’s first conference, Search Marketing Expo Advanced, in Seattle this June 4th and 5th? There’s now a special SMX Advanced Preview Podcast where I talk about what to expect at our upcoming show. You’ll find the MP3 file here. A few changes since the podcast…
• Google Finance Integrates Google Calendar, News & Reader While Adding New Features
  The Google Blog announced new features for Google Finance. The features include: Events section now lists earnings calls, analyst meetings and other scheduled events relating to a company Add those events to your Google Calendar right from that page View and download historical prices (example for AAPL) You can download…
• Are You Bidding Correctly On AdWords? A Close Look At The Four Bid Options
  AdWords offers four different types of bidding options. Each bidding option has different characteristics, uses, advantages, and disadvantages. It is important to understand which option you should be using so you are maximizing your time and getting the best ROI from your AdWords campaign. These options are set at…
• Yahoo Search Integrates Lyrics Shortcut
  The Yahoo Search blog has reported that Yahoo has now integrated their new music lyrics database into the Yahoo search results. If you perform a search on neil young lyrics at Yahoo, you will see a Yahoo Shortcut for “Neil Young Lyrics - Music Results.”…
• A Survival Guide to SEO & Wikipedia
  “Who knows about Wikipedia?” asked Neil Patel. “Everyone,” he answered. And this is exactly why the session “Wikipedia and SEO” was completely packed at the 2007 SES New York show. Moderated by Danny Sullivan, the panel featured Neil Patel, Co-Founder of ACS, Stephan Spencer, Founder and President of Netconcepts, Don…

Search News Headlines From Elsewhere

Applications & Portal Features

• Could Gmail Be Moving To Unlimited Storage?, InsideGoogle
• Google launches Google Reader for the Wii, Googling Google

Business Issues

• Singapore’s PM takes in Yahoo, Middle East Times
• No. 2 Google, BtoB Magazine
• Why Google Should Worry About Microhoo (The Danger’s In The Touchpoints), MediaPost Publications
• Fox Interactive Nears Deal to Buy Photobucket, New York Times
• Gates makes case for Microsoft’s ad business, News.com
• Nicholas Carr’s Blog: Google preparing to police web, Rough Type
• Broad Matching Doesn’t Violate Injunction–Rhino Sports v. Sport Court, Eric Goldman

Link Building

• Is Linkbaiting Making Directories Useless?, Search Engine Guide
• Paid Links Debate - The Experts Weigh In, Search Marketing Gurus

Local, Maps & Mobile

• Multilingual Global Place Names for Google Earth, Google Earth Blog

• Local.com Launches Local Verfied : Local Search Advertising, Search Engine Journal

Paid Search & Contextual

• REMINDER: Version 7 Shutdown on May 21, Google AdWords API Blog
• 65% of Google AdSense Publishers Earn $100 or More Per Month, Search Engine Roundtable
• Yahoo To Stop Updating Overture Keyword Suggestion Tool, Search Engine Roundtable
• A Look into adCenter’s Quality Score Rankings, eWhisper
• AdWords Bidding Methodologies Compatilibty Chart, eWhisper

Searching

• Poll: Search Innovation, Read/Write Web
• Top 17 Search Innovations Outside Of Google, Read/Write Web

SEM Industry

• Day One Summary Search Insider Summit, Online Marketing Blog
• SEMpdx Searchfest Video Preview, SEMpdx Blog
• I’m feeling vacation-y, Matt Cutts
• Search Marketing Expo Expands With 2008 Santa Clara Convention Center Event, SMX Blog
• Search Insider Summit Keynote Day One, Online Marketing Blog
• Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Gary Price, The Ask.com Blog

SEO & SEM

• On Selling SEO Consulting, V7N

• Should SEO’s Ask for Site Credit Links?, Search Engine Roundtable

• Yahoo Patent Application Challenges Other Search Engines, SEO By The Sea
• 10 Ways Competitive Webmastering is Like the 2007 NBA Champion Detroit Pistons, Stuntdubl

• Epiar is Making Exceptional Strides in the Automation & Efficiency of SEO Campaigns, SEOmoz

• Stanford’s New PageRank Patent, SEO By The Sea
• New York Times Spamming Google Results, Search Engine Journal
• Top 5 Ways to Lose Your Great Search Engine Rankings Fast!, SEO Scoop

Social Media

• Social Bookmarking How-to, eKstreme
• 5 Second Life Lessons I’ve Learned the Hard Way, Metaversed
• Feature Update: More Twitter!, FeedBlitz News
• Growth of Twitter vs. Blogger, kottke.org

Video, Audio & Image Search

• Photobucket Was A Steal v. Google/YouTube, Techcrunch

• Warner Bros. to Offer Programming on Joost, Techcrunch

Other Stuff

• Presidential campaign trail winds through the Googleplex, Official Google Blog
• Sergey’s icy bachelor party, Valleywag
• Yahoo Closes Yahoo Auctions, InsideGoogle
• Are You Saying What You Think You’re Saying?, Search Engine Guide
• Japan Children’s Day Google Doodle, InsideGoogle
• Quality of Google Book Search Is Questioned, Library Journal
• Who’s George Bush?, Google Blogoscoped
• You’re a Nobody Unless Your Name Googles Well, WSJ.com
• Databases: UK’s 192.com Directory Service Adds a Bunch of New Features and Services, ResourceShelf
• Web Tool Add-Ons: PeteSearch for Firefox, ResourceShelf