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!
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 […]
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 […]
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 Devices Today Google announced upgraded Maps for Android, with the addition of a new mobile version of Places (not to be confused with the Android […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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: […]
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 […]
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 […]
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.
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 […]
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 News A group of six French newspapers is partnering to create an online news site that they hope will be an alternative to Google News. […]
A 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 […]
Google is working to fix at least a pair of bugs in the Google Places dashboard, both of which affect the analytics reporting related to a local business listing. One bug is a delay in the analytics reporting inside Google Places. Earlier this week, users noticed that stats were only available through July 12th — […]
Microsoft announced earnings and beat expectations of Wall Street. Microsoft reported, “record fourth-quarter revenue of $16.04 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, a 22% increase from the same period of the prior year. Operating income, net income and diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $5.93 billion, $4.52 billion and $0.51 per […]
You’ve done your research. You understand how consumers search for your products and services. Now, what do you do with this insight?
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Check Out Bing On A Windows Phone 7 Device The Bing Search Blog just posted pictures of how Bing looks and acts on a Windows Phone 7 device. As you know, […]
The Bing Search Blog just posted pictures of how Bing looks and acts on a Windows Phone 7 device. As you know, Bing will have prime real estate on the new Windows 7 devices. So making sure Bing acts and feels smooth and functional is extremely important to Microsoft. As a side note, similar to […]
We cover most of Google’s special logos, also known as “Doodles” here. I wanted to share a video posted by Google named “Meet the Doodlers.” It showcases some of those Google designers who are responsible for some of the Doodles you have seen throughout the years and shows off some of the Doodle for Google […]
You’ve loaded keywords and ads into the engines via the desktop tools and have begun to go in to the platforms and tweak the various settings we have at our disposal. Last week, we began a dive into these settings that included ad rotation, dayparting, delivery method, etc. This week, we’re focusing on a single […]
On the web, errors are seemingly inevitable, and there are plenty of best practices for minimizing their negative effects. But what if we treated errors as an opportunity? What if we deliberately designed our customers’ error experience—not just for basic usability and clarity, but with conversion in mind? In this article I’ll take a look […]
Fwix, a growing player in the hyperlocal news space, has launched the beta version of what it’s calling a Local Trend Search tool at search.fwix.com. It lets users search for things “happening at any place right now” (recently would be more accurate) at more than 200 English-speaking locations worldwide.
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: All New Microsoft Bing Webmaster Tools Today, Microsoft launched a revamp of their Bing Webmaster Tools. I talked to them back in June, when they previewed the tools at SMX Advanced, […]
Today, Microsoft launched a revamp of their Bing Webmaster Tools. I talked to them back in June, when they previewed the tools at SMX Advanced, and they told me that they were starting from scratch and rebuilding the tool from the ground up. So how are things different? They say they are focused on three key […]
Analytics are great. They provide us with loads of good information. The danger is what we do with that information and in the assumptions we make. Here are three faulty assumptions I see regularly. Please share yours, too. Your analytics tell you what people are searching for Recently, while waiting to speak at an online […]
Click Forensics released their report on the overall click fraud rates for the paid search industry. They said click fraud was up from 17.4 percent last quarter to 18.6 percent in the second quarter of 2010. The findings of the report said: The overall industry average click fraud rate was 18.6 percent. That’s up from […]
Trada announced a $5.75 million “C” round this morning. It was led by Google Ventures and early investor Foundry Group. Trada CEO Niel Robertson told me yesterday that the money will be used for to get into display (and eventually video and mobile), as well as to expand into non-US markets and develop new tools […]
If you have agreements with advertisers who sponsor your brand on paid search, it’s important to monitor them to make sure they are using your brand or trademark terms according to your agreement. If they advertise using keywords containing no other words but your trademark or slogan, it’s easy to recognize that as a violation. […]
National borders may not seem important to the average Google Maps user that’s looking for a hotel or a place to eat. But when you’re mapping the world’s boundaries — as Google and other map providers are — getting them right or wrong can have international implications. With that in mind, Google has announced “significant […]
David Roth is Director Of Search Marketing for Yahoo, as well as being a very large Yahoo advertiser. Offering an insider's perspective, Dave provides some unique insights into the forthcoming Yahoo/Microsoft search alliance. Here are his tips and information that will enable both large and small advertisers, publishers, and webmasters to navigate the process smoothly.
Yahoo has provided an update on the current status of the transition over to Bing’s search technology. On the organic side, Yahoo began testing Bing powered results. They are currently testing Bing powered results on about 25 percent of the traffic. They hope to transition over to Bing fully, sometime in September or October. That […]
Right now, up to 25% of the Yahoo Search results are powered by Bing. Yahoo began testing Bing search results this month, currently there are live bucket tests underway on both the organic and paid side. Mark Morrissey, Senior Vice President of Product Management at Yahoo, told me that while only 3.5% of the paid […]
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Yahoo Q2 Revenues Flat, Display & Net Income Up Yahoo announced generally flat Q2 revenues of $1.6 billion but improved net income today. That compares with revenues of $1.57 billion in […]
Yahoo announced generally flat Q2 revenues of $1.6 billion but improved net income today. That compares with revenues of $1.57 billion in Q2 2009. Accordingly overall revenue growth vs. last year was 2 percent. However, “Display advertising on Owned and Operated sites … [grew] 19 percent in the quarter compared to the second quarter of […]
Google announced a new image search UI and new Image Search Ads today. Barry wrote about the new UI last week. Consumer image search is much improved in several respects while the new Image Search Ads opens up ads on Google Images to all advertisers. It had been essentially limited to retailers with image feeds […]
As the in-house person in charge of marketing the online legal directory, Avvo, I need to have accurate and timely access to all of our performance metrics. Since we launched the site three years ago, finding consistent metrics to evaluate our site’s growing link strength has been a remarkably difficult exercise. We have adopted at […]
That’s the headline Foresee Results, which administers the e-business portion of the American Consumer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), used to get attention from reporters and bloggers. This is the first year that the survey, which tracks general consumer satisfaction levels with websites, has measured social media. What the company found was that the ad hoc collection […]
For newer Facebook marketers, finding the right tone and messaging can be tough when looking to attract fans. Facebook users are different than the normal website visitors as physical customers, in that they react to specials/offers very differently. However, if done right, special information or deals can make your Facebook page flourish.The key is that […]
Although Google’s universal search results were introduced in the U.S. in 2007, they’re a relatively recent development in Europe, and not fully implemented everywhere. Universal search results show not only text links but videos, images, local results, maps and much more. And the problem is, many European web sites aren’t taking advantage of the opportunities […]