I assume those pdf files are not intended for Google's indexing. Move those files to a folder and block the folder in robots.txt, and if needed, password protect the folder. Make sure you don't have links to them in the sitemap and any links to them on the site also use rel="nofollow".  read more..

Currently we do not allow Google Bot or the AdWords Bot to index our AdWords landing pages. We are considering to allow our landing pages also to be indexed by the Google Bot. Since for a long while these landing pages have not been indexed, they have NIL link popularity. My question is, will indexing these landing pages now, bring down our  read more..

Please at least check some documents from Google before giving an advice that is absolutely against the original intent of using the nofollow attribute. Mainly as applying this advice on all sites would make nofollow completley useless.  read more..

HI, i hope someone could come up with some suggestions here, previously the people in this group have be soooo helpful (thank you), so here goes. Established website [link] traffic has plummeted from around 800 visits per day to around 120 (!!! help!!!). Most of this traffic was organic  read more..

When i am typing healthinsuranceindia.org in url i am getting my website as [link]. But when i am opening it as [link] it is opening as [link] .How can i overcome from this. Actually this website have been developed by using classical asp.So plz tell me to short out this  read more..

Bad karma I know replying to self. Looked at next user on our bandwidth chart, and again the main bandwidth use is a Googlebot retrieving a large PDF file repeatedly (okay most of the files were retrieved once, but the 20MB one was fetched 14 times). Definite pattern arising here.... Anyway kicking the proxy to convert these requests into IMS fetches -  read more..

I'm seeing the same behaviour I reported previously for a different large PDF file. A customer is hosting a password protected PDF file, which is 13MB in size. Over the weekend a Googlebot 2.1 (69.10.149.153) attempted to download it 14 times, most of the attempts were about 6 minutes apart starting  read more..

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web....  read more..

Happy New Year to those of you who celebrate! This week, the holiday commenced and now we're swamped but we still have to give you our recap. Without further ado, here you go: Coincidence: Search Updates Around Holiday Time? As...  read more..

This month, WebmasterWorld members spotted a few anomalies in the Google SERPs: Some people are spotting some huge numbers (and differences) in results found on Google. For example, they could be performing a search in the middle of the day...  read more..

In case you hadn't heard (or couldn't guess), Search Engine Roundtable is, as always, liveblogging Search Marketing Expo East 2008 which will start next Monday, October 6th, in NYC. The conference coverage is not quite finalized just yet, but we're...  read more..

Interesting story about the success of Guitar Hero, and the music included in Guitar Hero read more..

This old chestnut.  read more..

 read more..

 read more..

A member of the SEO Book community wanted to add graphs to the Rank Checker extension. Please give Site Rank Reporter a try, and leave feedback below. I have alerted him to this thread and he is anxious for your feedback.  read more..

Today's search engine marketing news and opinion: Has Mobile Local Search Finally Arrived?; Look Out PageRank, There's a New Algorithm in Town; Universal Thoughts on Local Search; and more. read more..

Today's search engine marketing news and opinion: The Future of SEM Education; Understand Where You Are To Know Where You're Going; Microsoft Adds Image Hotspots to Live Search Design; and more. read more..

If you’re going to SMX NYC, Be sure the attend This Party which donates to the Ronald McDonald House on Monday Night.  I’m honored to announce that we’re (We Build Pages)... read more..

In honor of Google’s 10th Anniversary Celebration and inspired by the "Google is turning 10. See what’s happened in the past 10 years." Prominently displayed under the search box... read more..

I’m seeking a logo for a new website and foundation called "Give A Little Bit". I can pay $200 for the winning logo… …or… you can get a link on their... read more..

Rhea Drysdale Joins We Build Pages!  I’m excited to announce that Rhea Drysdale has joined We Build Pages. I’m sure Rhea, like Pat, will enjoy all that Upstate New York can offer. I... read more..

In a couple of weeks, the heavily-criticized search ad partnership between Google and Yahoo are supposed to materialize. But perhaps not wanting to face further issues, the two search giants decided to wait for the Justice Department to finish their study first. According to a Yahoo spokesman, the deal was delayed a bit to pursue their [...] read more..

If you work for an online marketing agency the following scenario is probably not uncommon. A client comes to you wanting to help shape the search results for their brand names. They’re not talking about their own domain names or web properties either. They’re now worried about sites like RipOffReport, ComplaintsBoard and the dozens of [...] read more..

Google highly values the “freshness” of the content. But how does Google defines it against the “staleness” of the content? Google’s Historical Data Patent reviewed at WebmasterWorld and SEroundtable sheds some light on what Google thinks to be fresh content and what can be defined as stale documents. Bill Slawski did a great job of summarizing [...] read more..

by Scott Buresh read more..

by Jennifer Laycock read more..

by Mack Collier read more..

Posted by gillianLast week, as the US financial powerhouses began to pay the price for their lack of fiscal responsibility, I was on the road in Seoul, Nanjing (for SMX China 2008), and Tokyo. I had a great time! I haven’t felt such excitement, vigor, and potential in a long time. SEOmoz sponsored the water bottles. Chris Sherman took a shot of me showing it off before the keynote speech. I was going to post a standard review of the conference with stats, etc. but Shor wrote an admirably thorough review of the state of search in China and Chris posted a solid review and his thoughts of SMX Nanjing. So today, I’ll focus on things I came away with from the conference and on the financial market activity, what it means to the Search industry, and how I see it being perceived and responded to by our colleagues in China and Japan. The Business Climate in Nanjing, Sept 2008 I met about 300 people involved in search, software, and technology at the Nanjing Conference and Exhibition Center (Chris got a great shot of the complex the day before the crowds arrived). Attendees were privileged businesspeople involved in a growth industry with sufficient expendable capital to attend a 2-day conference. The mayor came to open the event and Microsoft sent Zhaohui Tang, Principal Group Program Manager, Microsoft AdCenter, to demonstrate their suite of marketing and ROI-improvement tools. We’re not talking about reactions from the ‘man on the street’, but I think there is value in what I heard and saw. On the surface, China seems impervious to the maelstrom in the US. The Asia Financial Times, however, begs to differ. Articles indicate that China’s growth has slowed from more than 12% to an expected 9% this year. Nine percent! Washington would donate a few right arms for that kind of growth. And there is no doubt that China is already a major force in the global economy in many sectors. China’s drop in production is affecting the global price of commodities. Carlos Slim suggests, “China is now the most important country to help responsibly in this crisis. China has great liquidity, large resources, surpluses in its current accounts and a lot of capital flow." That should give every American cause to think. read more..

Posted by willcritchlowWe fall on the very search-engine-friendly side of SEO (I hesitate to use the phrase "white hat" because I think all the lines often blur). Despite this, I have a lot of respect for well-executed darker tactics and find it fascinating to watch and deconstruct them. read more..

Posted by randfishIf your job or current tasklist includes building a social media strategy for your organization (or yourself, personally), you should be thinking about the branding created by the profiles you create. The profile name, the image you use as an icon or avatar, the webpage you link to and the words you use to describe yourself have a significant impact in how you're perceived and how you're remembered across the web. Strategies for Choosing a Name The name you choose should be based on branding considerations, SEO and reputation management intent. Choose the name of your profile based on�your carefully thought out goal for social media participation (and if you don't have one, get to work!):� Company Branding Use the exact brand name of the company, not a modified version, a play on words or a name you picked for fun. If you're going to be representing your brand officially in these spheres, you need to craft a profile that does just that. It doesn't mean you can't show personality or be fun with your profile, it just means you need to make it extremely clear that this profile IS your brand. Consider adding a geographic or specific modifier only if this is part of your branding goal (for example, Utah SEO PRO). Because anyone can make a modified version of your name, you should also invest in owning the exact match brand name to be sure there's no confusion (and, if possible, mention the profile you use in the exact match name). Personal Branding First and last name must be included. Speaking from personal experience, if I could go back in time, I would alter all my profiles to be "Rand Fishkin" rather than "randfish." It seemed fun at the time (2001), but in retrospect, my full name would bring far more recognizable branding and credibility through those profiles, back to a personal brand. I can't enumerate the number of folks who, offline, made the sudden connection that "randfish" and "Rand Fishkin" were one in the same - a clear sign of missed branding opportunity. If your name is exceptionally long or difficult, you can consider shortening or modifying, but make sure it's something you're comfortable using in the real world as well. Remember that this advice is targeted towards professional use of social media campaigns, so if you're just in there for fun, you don't need to worry about this nearly as much. Boosting Search Rankings Choose relevant, non-cannibalizing keywords and phrases to put in the name. You don't want to directly compete with your own site on the keywords you're pursuing - you just want the profile pages to have some keyword relevance (and oftentimes, the profile name is the only keyword opportunity you get in the title tag on social sites). Make sure it makes sense, sounds reasonable and doesn't come across as spam. No matter how much effort you put in, if the name is "student-credit-card-dude," no one will trust you or want you around. A diversity of profiles may seem wise, but in reality, you may be able to draw far more link juice and value by contributing more significantly with fewer accounts. Pro-Active Reputation Management Use the brand name and possible combination keywords to build phrases that make sense and can fill up important or risky search results. Make sure to be extremely careful and non-provoking as you participate - aggressive or antagonistic behavior can turn a pro-active reputation management campaign into a defensive one very quickly. Re-Active Reputation Management Consider using names synonmous with but not exactly your brand name. The reason is to avoid having responses to negative comments repeat the keyword of your brand name more times in the copy or having complaints about your profile come up in brand searches. If you are representing yourself, be clear about it - if web users smell a rat, they'll pounce, and you could end up exacerbating the reputation management problem. Strategies for Choosing a Profile Image / Avatar Company Branding Use the logo. If the logo won't fit, use the most recognizable aspect of the logo that fits into square dimensions If all else fails, go with the first letter or an Acronym for the brand name Personal Branding Use a picture of yourself - a head shot, with your face as close up, visible and friendly as possible. Make the photo fit your personality. Even if you're going for a very professional profile, having a smile and a polo vs. a somber face and tie is OK. As with many things on the web, there's a certain respect for the more casual and approachable profiles, but don't miss the opportunity to brand visually. Boosting Search Rankings It's probably best to use a photo that's cute, funny or enticing without being directly associated with your brand or you personally. After all, if you go overboard initially or learn the ropes by testing the boundaries of what you can accomplish from a pure rankings perspective, you don't want that possibly negative branding reflecting back on you. As others aruond the web (and in presentations) have noted on this topic, using an image of an attractive, younger woman on social sites can produce more interaction, more "friending" requests and a greater level of acceptance. I personally think it's a sad example of sexism on the web, but my responsibility on the blog is to note valuable strategies, and this one certainly can deliver. Pro-Active Reputation Management As with company branding, using the official logo is a generally wise move here. Re-Active Reputation Management Using a photo that helps humanize you as an individual and your company can help - a group photo, a picture with your kids, significant other, on vacation, etc. One of the big problems in reputation defense is getting the opposing party to empathize, and this strategy can help start down that path. Now is not the time to be the faceless corporation. I'll let others tackle advice about how and where to link and how to optimize the descriptive elements of a social media profile page for maximum value (or maybe Jane can do it next week) :-) Also looking forward to your feedback about how you've had the most success with social profiles. read more..

Posted by Nick GernerAfter watching Nate Buggia a few weeks ago speak about Live's Webmaster Tools, I was struck by his statistic about the number of domains on the web.� He suggested that there are 78 million domains.� There's certainly room for disagreement about this number—don't forget Google has one trillion web pages ;) —but I bet he's in the right ballpark.� If that's right, could we manually review all of them? read more..

Posted by Jane CoplandYesterday afternoon, as I was at home recovering from a form of black death known as the common head cold, I came across Danny Sullivan's piece on Search Engine Land about his dealings with a lazy link broker. I recommend reading Danny's post, which details how he questioned a person who wanted a link on the Sphinn.com homepage with the anchor text "search engine optimisation." The person represented a UK-based SEO firm. I'm not saying that reading or even acknowledging the status of Sphinn is necessary for success in our industry, but one should probably avoid trying to buy links from a site SEOs and search engine employees read with regularity. read more..

Running a website can be complicated—so we've provided Google Webmaster Tools to help webmasters to recognize potential issues before they become real problems. Some of the issues that you can spot there are relatively small (such as having duplicate titles and descriptions), other issues can be bigger (such as your website not being reachable). While Google Webmaster Tools can't tell you exactly what you need to change, it can help you to recognize that there could be a problem that needs t read more..

So, you've set up a forum on your site for the first time, or enabled comments on your blog. You carefully craft a post or two, click the submit button, and wait with bated breath for comments to come in.And they do come in. Perhaps you get a friendly note from a fellow blogger, a pressing update from an MMORPG guild member, or a reminder from your Aunt Millie about dinner on Thursday. But then you get something else. Something... disturbing. Offers for deals that are too good to be true, b read more..

When it comes to answering your webmaster related questions, we just can't get enough. I wanted to follow-up and answer some additional questions that webmasters asked in our latest installment of Popular Picks. In case you missed it, you can find our answers to image search ranking, sitelinks, reconsideration requests, redirects, and our communication with webmasters in this blog post.Check out these resources for additional details on questions answered in the video:Duplicate Content: check o read more..

"The companies have agreed to a brief delay in implementing this agreement to continue our ongoing discussions with the Department of Justice," read more..

 read more..

"In honor of our 10th birthday, we've brought back our oldest available index. Take a look back at Google in January 2001." read more..

"Microsoft chief exec Steve Ballmer says slowness to grasp internet search potential hit the business." read more..

"We looked at a number of different locations and ultimately decided that Dublin was the best pick for a couple of different reasons," read more..

Earlier this week Barbara Boser of 3 Dog Media made a post asking people to turn their avatars pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. So in an effort to help a good cause I tried to play along, however trying to turn my avatar a shade of pink wasn’t as easy as I thought, I ended [...] read more..

Having been involved in internet marketing for more than a few years, it’s interesting to see ideas fall out of favor only to come back in fashion, specifically email newsletters and true community building. I’ll admit that I’m a big fan of RSS as it allows me to consume larger amounts of information as I scan [...] read more..

I’m cruising through my feeds this morning and I notice a headline from the New York Times that might interest me Have I mentioned lately that partial feeds really suck. I’ve really really really really got to want to know whats on the other end to bother to click through to this page (sucky implementations deserve [...] read more..

Date: October 5th, 2008 01:35 PM - justanotherguy - My Apologies Visio, et al. Post: My dear sirs, Visio, et al.: Thank you for your reply. I appreciate and have learned from all responses that I have received. I work 14 hours a day and have a 2 hour commute, and as such I have yet to find the t... Software Development Cheap Software Development. Compare Prices & Types Online! read more..

Date: October 6th, 2008 03:23 AM - motherknucker - Untitled Post: i don't understand this thread but djstreet - PR= poop rank thats so true... IES- software See why IES leads in Logistics Software. Clients include Maersk & ABF. read more..

Date: October 6th, 2008 03:06 AM - fathom - Untitled Post: Death has a design so if you cheat death, death's design must change but in the end it will still get you once the new design cheats you.... Logmein Rescue Provide Instant Remote Support To Customers & Employees. Free Trial. read more..

I tried to leave a comment on pixelrn.com but the problem with talking about hacked sites is that you often end up using language that gets flagged as spammy. Here’s what I tried to say but the WordPress installation over on pixelrn wouldn’t let me: Hi Beth, I checked and it doesn’t look like you have [...] read more..

Okay, I’ll help on this. A Google blog post and the corresponding video ask people to register to vote (find out how at http://maps.google.com/vote ) and/or send this video to five of their friends. I’m game for that, mainly because Jonah Hill is the funniest man in the world and he says to do it. [...] read more..

More and more people are spending free time (and work time) online and lots of those people want to discover interesting things on the web. Google Blogsearch’s new home page applies that insight with a browsable version of what’s going on in the blogosphere. The UI design is a little reminiscent of Google News, but [...] read more..

In their own words“Bringing the latest from blogging background.”Why it might be a killerBloggers all over the globe will find the information on offer quite practical.What it doesThe Bloground blog stands a portal that has the aim of making life easier for bloggers. Basically, it collects a wealth of information on themes and plug-ins for sprucing up an existing blog and make it stand apart from the competition. The blog features a navigation bar that touches on the following items: “CMS”, “CSS”, “Themes”, “Plug-ins” and “Toolbox”. Further headings include “Tutorials” (the place to go in order to figure out that nagging doubt at the back of your mind) and “Inspiration”, an umbrella term that groups together different resources such as websites, logos and development tools, presented in the same list in order to inspire bloggers to do better and act as a showcase for fresh ideas on the Net. There is also a “Popular Posts” subsection like the ones that blogs always boast which can be used anytime to find which posts have attracted the most attention. As it could be expected, the website also features a search engine that will enable you to look up items of interest in the most straightforward possible way, saving time in the processSome questionsHow often is the blog updated? Can visitors submit stories or provide leads?Link: http://www.bloground.roOur Review: http://www.killerstartups.com/Blogging-Widgets/bloground-ro-collection-of-blogging-resources �  read more..

In their own words“Like all search engines we earn money from people using the site. We figured if we make money from people like you using a search engine, surely you deserve something in return. Or to put it more simply, the more you use us, the more we can afford to give prizes away!”Why it might be a killerPeople might be enticed by the prospect of receiving prizes in exchange for searching the web for free.What it doesIt’s quite interesting to see the plans and schemes that people devise in order to propel a web based initiative into the spotlight. In the case of WabbaDabba, the premise is quite simple: it is a search engine that lets you win prizes according to how much you use it. The more you use it, the more chances you have of receiving a prize. Simple. It must be said that it is a original way of self-promoting a newly-launched search engine, but whether it will pay off and make people choose it over other giants (like the one that starts with a “G” and ends with “oogle”) remains to be seen. As far as the search engine itself is concerned, it provides a basic set of “Web/images” refinement labels. For its part, it is possible to conduct UK-based searches or searches spanning the web as a whole. Further features include a blog where the latest news are discussed, as well as links to YouTube videos that showcase acts of kindness carried out by the WabbaDabba mascots (an orange ET lookalike, only taller and with a cuter aspect, and a green little fellow). There is also comprehensive information on how to receive the prizes you happen to win.Some questionsWhat are the prizes on offer? Can they be redeemed for cash? Link: http://www.wabbadabba.comOur Review: http://www.killerstartups.com/Search/wabbadabba-com-search-the-web-win-prizes �  read more..

In their own words“MyShape.com: an online retail store created for you. Your store (called myShop) is where you'll find clothing matched to your measurements, your body shape and your preferences.”Why it might be a killerIt makes for online personalized shopping.Some questionsHow difficult is it to configure the provided recommendation system? Are there special sales held?What it doesIs finding the right apparel a tricky thing for you? Can’t seem to come across what you need however much you try? Well, you can always resort to the World Wide Web in order to find exactly what you need. The recently-launched MyShape web retailer is as good a place as any other. The site has the particularity of saving your preferences and measurements and recommending items you might like based on those. The company prides itself on having a wide-ranging collection of items that can be looked up in several ways, thanks to the provided navigation menu. For example, you can shop by category and have your pick from sweaters, shirts, blouses and skirts – not to mention a large selection of dresses. You can also visualize the contents of the online store by following the “Outfits” link. In this case, different pieces of clothing are grouped under tags such as “Modern Classic”, “Romantic Glam” and so forth. In addition to that, the store has an “Accessories” subcategory where items like handbags and jewelry are listed. For its part, bargain hunters are advised to visit the “On Sale” section, as items that can be procured at just a fraction of their original retail prices are listed therein. In last place, gift certificates are available and the redemption process is described alongside the denominations on offer in the section which goes by the same name. Link: http://www.myshape.comOur Review: http://www.killerstartups.com/eCommerce/myshape-com-personal-online-clothing-store �  read more..

In their own words“The world’s first targeted B2B ad network.”Why it might be a killerIt can redound to a better web experience for all involved parties. What it doesBizo claims to be the first targeted B2B ad network. This is achieved by what are termed “Bizographics” – graphics that take into account industry, size of company, functional area and several more factors of a site's visitors. The advantages of this approach are discussed both when it comes to marketers and publishers. The former will benefit from the ability to reach a specific business audience that is going to readily find the products on offer appealing, whilst the latter will monetize its audience both online and offline. This approach also decreases the volume of unwelcome advertising on the Net, and this is no doubt going to be appreciated by internauts everywhere. The tool that makes this possible is named Bizo Analyze, a reporting application that allows any site owner to access the abovementioned bizographics and work out which target he is reaching and which portion of the public he cannot dent. The corporate website includes a thorough description of every single bizographic at play under the pertinent heading, along with a section where new developments are described alongside planned updates and features. When all is said and done, Bizo provides an interesting solution that might just result in a more enjoyable web experience for all concerned parties. Some questionsHow difficult is it to implement? How much does it cost?Link: http://www.bizo.comOur Review: http://www.killerstartups.com/Marketing/bizo-com-b2b-ad-network �  read more..

In their own words“Scrumy is a project management tool loosely based off of Scrum.”Why it might be a killerScrum is a popular platform; its users will find this quite useful.Some questionsWhat are the full features of the Pro version?What it doesThose who need resources when it boils down to Scrum projects management and have looked high and low to no avail might just find what they need at the Scrumy website. According to the team behind this project, this web based tool was born because the generic post-its “kept falling off the wall”. As a result, the team wanted to create a tool that was not only useful but also easy to implement. Thus, project Scrumy was born. To create a new project you simply click on the relevant button on the main page. New tasks can easily be added in a similar fashion, along with new stories. Scrumy is essentially a free tool, although a paid version does exist and it includes features such as password protection for projects and burndown charts for scheduling purposes. Also, projects are never deleted on grounds of inactivity. But perhaps the most notable addition is the Dashboard, a tool which enables the user to manage projects across time by means of editing future sprints. Link: http://www.scrumy.comOur Review: http://www.killerstartups.com/Web-App-Tools/scrumy-com-scrum-projects-management �  read more..

What it doesBargain hunters are going to relish visiting the GoToDaily website, a portal where finding the best ways to save money when shopping is the order of the day. The site collects together free coupon codes and promotional coupons that can be used straightaway in order to shop more and pay less. You can browse through the site using the provided navigation menu. This includes a “Popular categories” section that comprises items such as “Clothing & Accessories” and “Computer & Software”, and a list of featured stores. The latter category is made up of retailers such as Dell, Office Depot and American Eagle Outfitters. A keyword cloud is included as well. The site also highlights the most popular coupons on the main page, and a link titled “Use this coupon” is featured for extra convenience. Another aspect which merits mentioning is that those who register can actually create an online network of friends with whom exchange advice and tips when it comes to picking out the best deal in town. Some questionsHow do I register? Is it free?Why it might be a killerIt stands as a viable way to get the latest store coupons and deals.In their own words'GotoDaily.com makes it easy to discover, share and recommend online store coupons, deals, and other hard-to-find promotional offers.'Link: http://www.gotodaily.comOur Review: http://www.killerstartups.com/eCommerce/gotodaily-com-online-shopping-resources �  read more..

Google removed "directory submissions" from their Google Webmaster Guideline suggestions earlier today! read more..

SEL - Someone's trying to trademark the term SEO, which has roiled the SEO community. The someone is named Jason Gambert and he has persistently filed with the Patent and Trademark Office, claiming to have coined the term "SEO" (for Search Engine Op read more..

Firefox Add-on that let's you see your daily AdWords stats and perform keyword research on the fly. read more..

Melanie Nathan writes an awesome guest post over at Sugarrae.com talking about the new Compete Pro. Some great info about how and what you get with the service, a must read for anyone looking seriously at getting a subscription. read more..

Streko's got a hilarious survival guide - if you're going to SMX, you'll have to read this! Remember, don't ask crazy people for directions! read more..

40,000 Reasons the IM Charity Party at SES San Jose Was a Success...... and all the more reason to make sure you go to the IM Charity Party at SMX East. Check out the great pics!! read more..

Reid from Google Webmaster Help Group fame, search quality fortune, and Google glory offered some more answers to more webmaster questions. You can watch the video for his answers. Even More Webmaster Questions He answered an interesting question that’s been tested several times by several people but this is the first official mention I can [...] read more..

Nice URL. What they said: Google’s help document, “Creating a Google-friendly URL structure” currently says: Consider organizing your content so that URLs are constructed logically and in a manner that is most intelligible to humans (when possible, readable words rather than long ID numbers). For example, if you’re searching for information about aviation, a URL like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviation will [...] read more..

I’m sure the millions of readers headed my warning about Twitter caving to mattcuttsean-like pressures and nofollowing everything on your profile back on 7/22/08. So this is no surprise to you, but twitter has finally pulled the plug on that loophole. The web educated amongst you will add twitter.com to your well maintained nofollow [...] read more..

Earlier this week, we noted a report that Google was showing banner ads on Google Images. Now via TechCrunch, a new implementation — an AdWords ad on Google Images with its own thumbnail image. Notice in the screenshot above how a Guinness Logo is appearing next to a Target ad where NHL Buffalo merchandise is [...]  read more..

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 News Tests New Look, Targets Social Media Users Yahoo News is inviting its throngs of readers to try its next version, which has new design and content features. Readers will immediately notice [...]  read more..

Yahoo News is inviting its throngs of readers to try its next version, which has new design and content features. Readers will immediately notice a wider footprint on the new Yahoo News, as well as larger text and other new design elements. Content has also been rearranged, with easier access to the most popular stories [...]  read more..

As Google Maps continues to roll out new features that competing map services don’t have, web users are rewarding it with big gains in traffic. A recent analyst report says Google is the number one maps site in terms of features and usability, and new Hitwise.com traffic data just shared this week with Search Engine [...]  read more..

Source: Geek & Poke  read more..

Now, although Search can’t be held directly responsible for the material it indexes, for the material it gives easy access to, as any parent and law enforcement officer knows, it certainly makes finding and accessing undesirable information a lot easier. In the real world (for geeks define:real world) finding undesirable information can be a lot harder [...] read more..

Source: Andertoons The reason we all write blogs and content for our websites is because we have something that we feel is important to say, and we want to get that message out to the public and to our potential consumers. Unfortunately, as my boss has pointed out in one of his posts that only 16% [...] read more..

In June of this year, Microsoft (MSFT) went public with beta testing of their desktop editor for PPC marketing, proving that they are getting even more serious about competing in the Paid Search arena.  Although they still have some vast distances to travel in order to compete on the field with Google, they have clearly [...] read more..

Lately the search engine results pages in Google have been alive with the sounds of Microblogging platforms. I have come across quite a few long tail, non-competitive search queries as of late that have actual individual utterances from platforms such as Twitter and FriendFeed in their top ten results. It seems as though a mixture of [...] read more..

What is a Sitemap? A Sitemap is an XML file that lists all the URLs of your website with additional metadata about each URL. It is useful for every site (or blog) to have a sitemap because it is an easy way to keep the search engines informed on when a page was last updated, how [...] read more..

Another song for the day, yes? “I’m Gonna Buy Me a Dog.” It’s what’s playing now on my computer. Yahoo’s been testing a new design for site explorer, and now it’s officially live. Slick. Barry needs the links. So here’s one to one of his posts on SEL. Oh, and you might [...] read more..

I have a little song for you today. It’s to the tune of “Oh Shenandoah.” O-pen Social, you long to give us A-a-apps, all open source O-pen Social, you long to serve us A-a-away you’re bound to go ‘Cause Facebook’s stealing your lunch Okay, the last line might not fit so well in the song, but it looks to be [...] read more..

You don’t see a lot of traditional advertising from Google. Their philosophy is to build great products and develop amazing technology and let it sell (and support) itself. Their marketing strategy has relied mostly on word of mouth - and its worked well. It just may not be enough for a company their size. That is [...] read more..