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September 30, 2009

Google Merchant Center Replaces Google Base for Products

Google has introduced the Google Merchant Center, designed to replace Google Base for submitting products to the search engine.

Google says that Merchant Center provides a better-optimized experience for product listings. The Merchant Center interface is similar to Base and uses the same account info. Just sign into Merchant Center with your Google Base account and you'll see your feeds, items, FTP settings, etc.

Non-product items still use Google Base. If you the same account for Merchant Center (for products) and Base (for non-products), Google says you'll need to reset your FTP settings in Google Base.

Posted by Nathania Johnson on September 30, 2009, 3:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Feedburner Goes All Permanent on Their URL Redirects

If you've ever clicked on a link in your RSS reader and that link is associated with a site that uses Feedburner, you've probably noticed that the initial URL to appear in your browser's address bar was related to the feed and not the final URL. That's because Feedburner uses the URL to track the click.

The redirect was a 302, a temporary redirect. But now Feedburner is updating the URLs to be permanent 301 redirects.

Feedburner, which is owned by Google, says that the reason for the change was that some search engines index the feeds, which affects the popularity of a site.

If you use Feedburner, you don't have to do anything special. The update is automatic.

Posted by Nathania Johnson on September 30, 2009, 3:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Microsoft Execs Get Pay Cuts; No One Feels Sorry for Them

Microsoft has filed a document with the SEC showing that top executives at the software giant have received pay cuts. Basically, some millionaires are making a few million less than they normally would.

In related news, Kleenex was having a hard time moving tissue boxes off the shelves this week.

Meanwhile, Steve Ballmer released a 1,300 word dissertation on his thoughts regarding the "new normal" which is translating into the "new efficiency." Basically, people are saving more and spending less. You would think that would translate into a lower Windows 7 price, but somehow I doubt that's gonna happen.

Instead, Ballmer talked about how upgrading to Windows 7 will save companies money in the long run. Pay now, benefit later. That must have been the theme for those pay cut conversations with the execs as well.

Posted by Nathania Johnson on September 30, 2009, 2:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Warner Music Returns to YouTube

Last December, Warner Music decided not to renew its contract with YouTube. They wanted more money from the advertising coming in to YouTube as a results of the company's popular music videos. It was only slightly ironic since YouTube (and social media in general) has been notorious for not monetizing very well.

Meanwhile, another major label, Univeral was out there touting the benefits of having their videos on YouTube, which actually made music videos a viable part of a business model again (you know, ever since MTV wrapped their business model around socialites in Hollywood.)

Not only did Universal renew their contract, but they partnered with YouTube to create their own music site, Vevo. Sony a also renewed their contract.

Of course, traffic on YouTube continues to soar. In August alone, Warner Music is returning to YouTube. They'll be back to making tens of millions of dollars off what is essentially a marketing medium.

The new deal allows them to sell their own ad inventory and includes a revenue sharing agreement. Warner will also be using the Content ID program to make money from videos uploaded by third parties that use content developed by Warner artists.

Posted by Nathania Johnson on September 30, 2009, 2:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Bryan Eisenberg Shares 69 Free (or Low Cost) Tools to Improve Your Website

Bryan Eisenberg, the co-author of the bestselling books "Call to Action", "Waiting For Your Cat to Bark?" and "Always Be Testing", has a new personal blog named, Bryan Eisenberg. (Does he owe his parents royalties for using that name for his blog?)

And he's just posted an incredibly useful list of 69 Free (or low cost) Tools to Improve Your Website.

(I should disclose that I'm mentioned in the 69th listing, which is for Market Motive, but so are Avinash Kaushik, John Marshall, Todd Malicoat, Matt Bailey, and Jennifer Laycock, who are also members of the Market Motive faculty.)

So, check out the complete list of low-cost and free tools. Yes, yes, you'll find ones like Google Analytics and Google Website Optimizer, that you already knew about. But there are plenty of others that I'd never heard about before.

And while you are visiting Eisenberg's new blog, let him know if there are other free (or low cost) tools that should be added to the list. Hey, improving your website is hard, so we want to know as many options as possible.

Oh, and if you come to SES Chicago 2009, thank Eisenberg in person. You can't miss him. He's the New York Yankees fan being interviewed by the Boston Red Sox Nation citizen in the video below.

Bryan Eisenberg, Future Now, at SES London 2008 on SEO

Posted by Greg Jarboe on September 30, 2009, 1:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Chance Card: Design a 3D Building for Monopoly City Streets Using Google Sketchup

Hasbro, the makers of Monopoly, have launched a contest where you can design a 3D building for their new interactive version of the popular board game: Monopoly City Streets.

But you'll have to hurry. The deadline for the contest is next Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 11:59pm EST.

You'll need to use Google SketchUp to design your building and then upload it to the Google 3D Warehouse to enter. Learn more about the contest rules here.

Monopoly City Streets, which launched earlier this month, uses Google Maps for its interactive game.

Posted by Nathania Johnson on September 30, 2009, 12:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Another Ex-Googler Heads to AOL

AOL has tapped Shashi Seth as Senior Vice President of Global Advertising Products. Seth was formerly with Cooliris and before that was at Google. Prior to leaving Google, he was charged with the difficult task of developing monetization strategies for YouTube. Seth previously was the Product Lead for Web Search at Google.

Seth also spent time at eBay, where he managed APIs & Platform. Before that, he launched Gap's online stores. Seth began his career at NASA.

"Shashi is unmatched in the industry as an innovator with an outstanding track record of developing new and better ways to serve advertisers on the Web," said Jeff Levick, President of Global Advertising and Strategy at AOL. "As we move forward on our strategy of becoming the world's largest provider of display advertising, Shashi will play a critical role in creating the best products in the business for our advertising partners."

Seth is the latest of the fresh talent to head to AOL. Earlier this year, Tim Armstrong left Google to head up the struggling internet company. A few weeks ago, news came that ex-Yahoo! Brad Garlinghouse of "Peanut Butter Manifesto" fame is joining AOL as well.

Posted by Nathania Johnson on September 30, 2009, 12:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Google to Send Out 100,000 Wave Invites

Beginning tomorrow (September 30), Google will send out 100,000 invites to Google Wave. The product has received a lot of buzz, both for being innovative and not quite ready. Actually, Google admits it's not ready for prime time, which is one of the reasons why the invites are limited.

If you're not familiar, Google Wave is a collaborative tool that features real-time features. They're still working on features, including group definitions, draft mode and permissions.

Those who can expect an invite are developers who participated in an earlier preview, the first people to sign up for invites and select Google Apps customers.

Posted by Nathania Johnson on September 30, 2009, 12:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

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