January 7, 2009
January 7, 2009
Two New Free SEO Tools Released by Bruce Clay
The folks over Bruce Clay have released two new SEO tools and the best part is that they're free.
The first one is called the Search Engine Optimization/KSP tool. It helps you know how competitive the keyword term or phrase is that you wish to optimize for. Just type in the keywords and the results appear in a chart below. Here's a screenshot of how it works.
The second tool is the SEMToolBar. It's only available for Internet Explorer. Use the search box with the toolbar to conduct a search for the keyword or phrase you're interested in. Once the regular results load, wait a few moments as the toolbar performs its magic. Underneath the results, you'll see a variety of competitive intelligence data including page rank and inbound links.
Related Reading:
CrazyEgg: Free SEM/SEO Analytics Tool Blows My Mind
Google AdWords Launches Search-Based Keyword Tool
TNS Unveils Next Generation of Online Advertising Monitoring Tools
magnify360 Launches New Paid Search Tool: Google Cost Optimizer
AdWords Keyword Tool Now Shows Numerical Data
Posted by Nathania Johnson on 11:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Facebook Reaches 150 Million Users Worldwide
Facebook is starting off the new year with a bang. Today, the social network announced that it has reached the 150 million user mark. Members speak in 35 different languages and represent 170 countries and territories.
But how many of those users are active? Facebook says half of them use the social network every day. That's remarkable.
Writing on the Facebook blog, founder Mark Zuckerberg said, "The full potential of the web is to make the world more open, so everyone has a voice and can share what is important to them. With 150 million voices and counting, we can't wait for the rest of 2009, and we look forward to offering even more ways for you to connect with the people who matter most."
This should make Microsoft happy as well. Last year, they struck a deal to become the search engine for Facebook.
Related Reading:
Facebook: Get Educated on the Hottest Social Media Platform
Facebook's New Privacy Problem: Groups Created Under False Pretenses
Posted by Nathania Johnson on 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Google Maps for Mobile Updates Servers for Easier Local Business Search
If you've ever typed in the name of a business into Google Maps for Mobile, you may have been a bit frustrated. Google would return results of street names that contained the search term you typed in instead of finding the business itself.
That all changes today. With a new update to their servers, Google Maps for Mobile is smarter. Type in Starbucks and find a local Starbucks store.
If you're using a smartphone such as a BlackBerry, Nokia S60, T-Mobile G1, or iPhone, you do NOT need to download anything new to see the change.
If you don't have Google Maps for Mobile downloaded on your phone but would like it, click here. Warning: it won't be available for all devices.
Related Reading:
Google Wants You! (To Vote for Mobile Product Ideas)
Google's My Location Now with WiFi
Street View and Walking Directions Added to Google Maps for Mobile
Posted by Nathania Johnson on 10:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Paid Search Spend up 12% in Q4 2008
Paid search spending was up 12% in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to the same quarter in 2007, according to SearchIgnite.
We've been hearing that advertising dollars were being shifted online, with the strategy accelerated by the rough economy. But is that trend slowing?
SearchIgnite says October's spend was up by 15% and November was up by 43% year-over-year. But December's spend dropped 14% from the previous year.
It could be a reaction to consumer behavior. Conversion rates increased by 11% in October, but dropped 2% in November. They went back up in December but just by a 4% increase.
Still, Roger Barnette, President of SearchIgnite, suggests that in all the confusion there is opportunity for the technologically innovative.
“Retailers were more aggressive with their paid search spend in the first half of the quarter compared with the year earlier in an effort to capture more consumer dollars ahead of the holidays.” said Barnette. “This is evidence that the challenging and changing economic environment is requiring retail marketers to adjust their online marketing strategies accordingly. As such, tools for testing and understanding how both search and other online media are performing together will become increasingly important for retailers as they look to make more nimble, data-driven decisions about where to allocate their media spend.”
Related Reading:
59% of Small Businesses Don't Do Paid Search Marketing
Yahoo Gives Itself Permission to Change Your Search Marketing Campaigns
Posted by Nathania Johnson on 9:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
SEW Experts: Writing Sales Copy for Conversions
One of the most common components you can test is sales copy. In today's By the Numbers column, "Writing Sales Copy for Conversions," Tim Ash explains that changing your approach to writing can often lead to a double-digit increase in conversion rates.
Posted by Kevin Newcomb on 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
SEW Experts: Forget Tibet; Free the Content
In China, search engines are responsible for the content to which they provide links. This means anytime the Chinese government decides that a certain type of content isn't worthy of its people, they can tell search engines not to list them. In today's Searching for Meaning column, "Forget Tibet; Free the Content," Kevin Ryan discusses the Chinese government's ongoing efforts to censor the Internet.
Posted by Kevin Newcomb on 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
