SearchCap: The Day In Search, February 2, 2012

Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.

From Search Engine Land:

• Microsoft adCenter Increases Ad Description, Adds Budget Widget & More Mobile Targeting Options

  Microsoft announced their January 2012 adCenter release update. The update includes three major additions to adCenter: (1) adCenter increased the ad description length by one additional character from 70 to 71. They did this to help with import issues from other advertising products. (2) There is a new quick campaign budget overview widget to get […]

• How Much Does SEO Cost? 3 Analogies To Help You Determine Its Value

  “Why can’t you just give me a straight answer?” Johanna’s voice showed a trace of irritation. “All I’m asking is how much you charge for SEO services!” I smiled. This was familiar terrain. As an SEO consultant, almost every client asks me a similar question. My answer is always the same. “It depends. On many […]

• Can Bing & adCenter Bring More To The Table For Large Advertisers?

  During the week of January 4th, I had the privilege of spending a week with the Bing and adCenter teams in Bellevue. First off, I would like to thank them both for their tremendous hospitality. Today, I want to outline some of the most interesting conclusions I have from the meetings with the adCenter team […]

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

• US Smartphone Share: Android Now 47 Percent, Apple 29 Percent, Others Down
• No, You Don’t Need To Fear The Google Privacy Changes: A Reality Check
• Why Facebook Advertising Needs To Be Comfortable Checking “In A Relationship With” Facebook Content
• Why Necessity Will Soon Make Facebook The World’s Largest Mobile Ad Network
• Facebook’s $5 Billion IPO, By The Numbers [CHARTS]
• Facebook Files To Go Public, The S-1 Is Live

Search News From Around The Web:

Applications & Portal Features

• Android and Security, Official Google Mobile Blog
• Introducing the New Yahoo! Calendar, ymailblog.com

Business Issues

• Consumer group objects to Google’s secret briefing, usatoday.com
• Silicon London is first choice of base for Google, Facebook and other tech giants, The Guardian

Local, Maps & Mobile

• A clearer view of the seafloor in Google Earth, Google LatLong
• Bing Super Imagery for Super Bowl 2012!, Bing Maps Blog
• Live Traffic Cameras Now On MapQuest, MapQuest Blog

Link Building

• Improved: your weekly backlink opportunities with more data, SEOprofiler Blog
• The 10 Golden Rules to Attracting Authority Links, SEOmoz

Paid Search & Contextual

• Google: Most Invalid Clicks On AdSense Are Self Clicking Or Encouraging Clicks, Search Engine Roundtable

Searching

• A Big Change Is Coming — Wolfram|Alpha to See Dramatic Functionality Enhancements, Wolfram|Alpha Blog

SEO & SEM

• Find New Keywords: Simplifying Keyword Research, SEOmoz
• 3 P’s of WordPress Site Structure for SEO – P#3: Performance, Search Engine People
• …Because Most SEOs Don’t Know What Strategy Means, Search Engine Journal
• Cheaper Clicks from AdWords Coming?, Practical eCommerce
• Crucial Steps for Building Authority, Vertical Measures
• February 2012 Google Webmaster Report: Panda, SPYW & Page Layout Algorithm, Search Engine Roundtable
• Follow-up: How Much Do “Top” Advertisers Matter to Google?, Rimm Kaufman
• How To Get Hired At A Top SEO Agency Part 4: What Not to Do in An Interview, Search Engine Journal
• SEO: Are You Relevant, or Are You Vital?, Small Business SEM
• The Ultimate SEO Timesaver: SEOmoz Linkscape API and Google Docs, Search Engine People
• Uncontrollable Factors Affecting SEO Success, Search Marketing Standard
• Why Page Titles Matter, BruceClay.com

Social Media

• 11 tips for a better Facebook ad campaign, SEOptimise