SearchCap: The Day In Search, April 2, 2014

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’s Matt Cutts: We Can Improve Our Algorithms For Authorities On Topics
  In an interesting video released by Matt Cutts, Google’s head of webspam, Matt answers the question on how Google separates the concept of popularity from authority. The truth is, he answered that question quickly by saying popularity and authority are two different things. The example he gave was that porn sites are often way more […]
• Part Siri, Part Google Now: Microsoft Announces “Cortana” Virtual Assistant
  Rumored for months, Microsoft has formally announced its answer to Apple’s Siri and Google’s Voice Search/Google Now: Cortana. Danny Sullivan is at the Microsoft Build Conference and live blogging it. Cortana appears to be sassy like Siri and can perform many of the functions that Google Now does (providing reminders and notifications regarding dates, meetings and […]
• Google Adds Shopping Campaigns Features, Says Regular PLA Campaigns To Sunset In August 2014
  Google introduced Shopping campaigns to all advertisers running Product Listing Ads (PLAs) in February as a way to simplify PLA set up and management. Today, Google announced some new features that have been rolling out in response to advertiser feedback, and they laid out the succession plan for Shopping campaigns to take over legacy PLA […]
• Google Tests Product Images Within Organic Listings
  It seems Google is testing showing product images in the organic, free search result listings, for certain e-commerce sites. This was first spotted in a Moz thread for a site that sells ski equipment named evo.com. Here is a picture of the organic listing that shows not just rich snippet data for pricing and stock […]
• Long-Term SEO: Sustainable Tactics, Strategies & Solutions
  Last month, I attended the Long-Term SEO: How To Win For Years, Not Days session at SMX West. I have worked in the search industry since 1995. I have seen search engine optimization (SEO) trends and tactics come and go… and I’ve also seen fundamental, universal concepts get stronger and stronger over time. So what […]

Recent Headlines From MarTech, Our Sister Site Dedicated To Internet Marketing:

• The Email That Microsoft’s Cortana Assistant Won’t & Can’t Read: Yahoo Mail
• Is Marketing On April Fool’s Day Fool’s Gold Or Worth The Effort?
• Ad-ID Tracking Now Required For All Digital, TV, Radio Ads With SAG-AFTRA Members
• Google Moves Universal Analytics Out Of Beta
• Email Marketers Aren’t Ready For Gmail’s Grid View, Yet: What You Need To Know To Stand Out
• Microsoft Unveils Cortana Assistant At Build Conference
• Google Takes “SpyView” Wiretapping Appeal To SCOTUS
• In A Mobile World, Not All Mobile Performs Equally For Advertisers
• Bolthouse Farms’ Food Porn Index Aims To Refocus People’s Obsessions
• Infographic: How To Create Great Images For Blog Posts & Content
• After Period Of Neglect Apple Opens Up iAd To “Filmmakers, Small Business Owners”
• Social Media: The Perfect Tool For Spying On Your Customers (Aka Doing Market Research)
• VIDEO + SLIDESHOW: Email Marketing & The Audience Imperative
• Happy Birthday Gmail! The Email Giant Turns 10 Today

Search News From Around The Web:

Industry

• Kenshoo Named Winner for Best PPC Management Software in European Search Awards, realwire.com
• Man tries to sue Google NZ for $9 million, SBS News
• ReachLocal’s New CEO Wants to Deliver Better Service, Build a Stronger Brand, screenwerk.com

Local & Maps

• Yelp’s practices sound to some like extortion, Los Angeles Times
• The simple way Google Maps could side-step its Crimea controversy, Washington Post
• Why Google Maps gets Africa wrong, theguardian.com

Link Building

• Why links should never be the end goal, Branded3

SEO

• Diagnosing Google Penalties, Part 1: Manual or Not?, marketersbraintrust.com
• How To Write Category Page Content for SEO, SwellPath
• Local Landing Pages: A Guide To Great Implementation In Every Situation, Moz

SEM / Paid Search

• Multi-Lingual PPC Advice Told Mostly In Pictures: Great Cheap Traffic, 3Q Digital
• The 10 Levels of AdWords Geotargeting, Search Engine People