July 3, 2008
July 3, 2008
Need To Track Your Brand Online? Try Search Monitor
There was a new service launched at the beginning of the month that follows all uses of your brand, domain, special keywords and more - Search Monitor. And before you jump at me for the plug I am not associated with it at all.
I was sent the press release and information about the product and from what I have seen so far this could be a great tool for reputation management, keeping an eye on competitors using your name etc. or even to track affiliates.
There are some products out there that cover some of the elements, but the interface is easy to navigate and provides some valuable monitors that many of us can use.
The press release states:
The Search Monitor (“TSM”), an online monitoring service that tracks competitive advertiser activity on paid search, blogs, news, and web sites, announces the product release of three new automated monitoring utilities: Competitor Monitor, Trademark Monitor, and Affiliate Monitor.With this launch, interactive agencies, marketers, affiliate managers, and compliance teams gain critical insight into search marketing strategies, affiliate activities, trademark abuse, and brand buzz. The Search Monitor offers important information that can only be gained by careful 24x7 automated monitoring, and surfaces the information in 3 easy to use reporting sections:
1. Competitor Monitor gives insights into competitive bidding strategies, competitor market share and visibility, ranking on sponsored search, ad copy strategies, and promotions like free shipping, trials, or sales.
2. Trademark Monitor eases the tasks associated with reputation management by auto-detecting advertisers sponsoring branded keywords, use of trademarks and slogans in ad copy and display urls, and brand buzz on blogs, news, and web sites.
3. Affiliate Monitor simplifies oversight of affiliate programs by auto-identification of affiliates using sponsored search to detect violations of rank requirements, keyword restrictions, ad copy
requirements or restrictions, and landing page copy requirements or restrictions.Search engine marketing has become a critical component for advertisers. According to the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO), North American advertisers spent $12.2 billion on SEM in 2007 and that figure is estimated to more than double to reach $25.2 billion by 2011. The Search Monitor was developed to provide the tools necessary to optimize the sizable investments being made in this medium and to protect brands from competitive threats.
“There is a big problem in the industry known as ‘Piggybacking’ which is when smaller advertisers use the trademarks or slogans of bigger advertisers in ad copy or display urls to lure consumers into clicking on their ads”, says Shaun Martinec, a TSM founder. “For our larger brand clients, we have discovered as many as 1 in 10 competitors engaging in this practice. We were quite alarmed to learn that some violators are parked domains, phishing, and spyware sites. With The Search Monitor, our clients are able to catch these activities and react quickly.”
Another advantage of having a monitoring tool such as The Search Monitor is that marketers and agencies can glean insights into competitive online advertising campaigns including ad copy, promotional offers and ad placement strategies.
Posted by Frank Watson at 6:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Blackberry Pearl Gets Google Voice Search for Mobile Maps
If you're a Blackberry Pearl user in the US, then you have a new way to conduct searches on Google Mobile Maps: voice search. The feature has been made available for models 8110, 8120, and 8130. The Google Mobile Team says the feature is experimental and should improve better over time as more and more people use it.
And here's how to access the feature on the device, according to the Official Google Mobile blog:
1. Press "0" to center the map view around your location
2. Press the left-side key and hold it while you say the name or type of business you're looking for (for example, "pizza")
3. When you're done speaking, release the left-side key, and our voice recognition technology will figure out your request and find the business you've been looking for, no typing needed.
Do you have a Blackberry Pearl and have tried out the voice search for Google mobile maps? Let us know in the comments.
Related Reading:
Google Updates BlackBerry Search Results Pages
AT&T iPhone Google Deal Pits Apple Against Blackberry
Google Releases Google Talk for Blackberry
Posted by Nathania Johnson at 11:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Search Sold Separately: Breaking Down Yahoo's Parts
Despite a search advertising deal with Google, Yahoo shares are down and rumors are on again about Microsoft buying just the search chunk of Yahoo. But just how big is that chunk? Would it destroy Yahoo as a whole if sold separately? Not necessarily, according to Hitwise Vice President of Research, Heather Hopkins.
Hopkins analyzed the US internet hits for the top 20 Yahoo properties in the month of June. Yahoo Mail by far saw the most traffic, at 37.47%. Yahoo.com saw 30.62%, and remember that's a portal not just a search page like Google.com. Yahoo Search came in third but only saw 12.10%. The remaining 17 made up a combined 19.83%. Here's the full breakdown of Yahoo's top 20 properties.
Hopkins also took a look at what search referrals look like for the above 20 properties. Yahoo Answers, Finance, My Yahoo, Mail, Flickr, Fantasy Baseball, Hot Jobs, Sports, and Groups all received more referrals from Google search than from Yahoo search. Check out the full chart below.
These numbers are only for the U.S., and Yahoo is more popular in Asia. Attempts to reach Hitwise for Asian data were not immediately returned.
Posted by Nathania Johnson at 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Judge Protects Google Source Code, But Not YouTube Users
Remember when Google and Viacom were friends? Ah, those were the days. But not anymore. Over a year ago, Viacom filed suit against Google for the copyright infringment found on YouTube videos. In the latest plot point in the ongoing saga, U.S. District Judge Louis Stanton has ruled that Google can keep its source code secret, but must hand over user logs for the popular video sharing site.
Viacom says it wanted the code to prove that Google could use it to "purposely" find the content in question. Nice try, Viacom. Google's code, of course, is a trade secret. But it's almost a wonder the judge protected the code, because he ruled that Viacom can have access to the user logs. Data to be released includes user names, IP addresses, and videos watched.
Google has often defended its data collection, saying it's not a threat to privacy. It appears the argument worked a little too well on Judge Stanton.
For a history of the Google-Viacom battle, check out these links:
Google Fights Back in Viacom/YouTube Copyright Suit
Others Join YouTube, Google Copyright Lawsuit
Viacom Would Rather Not Sue, Chief Counsel Claims
Google to Viacom: Don't Turn YouTube into SueTube
Posted by Nathania Johnson at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Banned from Google? Get Back in the Game
The Official Google Webmaster Central blog has posted steps on how to get reincluded in the search results should you find yourself in the unfortunate circumstance of being exempted. Mariya Moeva, of the Search Quality Team, hosts an entertaining how-to vid explaining the steps you should take when your site is Google-less. For those who can't or don't want to view the video, look below for the steps in text.
1. Check your access. Log into your Webmaster Tools account and check the Overview page to see what happened when Googlebot visited your site last. Also, check your robots.txt file to make sure there aren't any pages blocked that you want seen by Google.
2. Check your messages. There could be a message in your Message Center inbox of your Webmaster Tools account regarding your site.
3. Read the Guidelines. Make sure you know what Google does and does not allow for sites it lists in its search results.
4. Help Group. When all else fails, join the webmasters help group where other webmasters and Googlers can help determine what's going on.
5. Fix your site! Once you know what's wrong, fix your site!
6. Submit a Reconsideration Request. After you've made the fixes, submit a request for Google to check your site again.
Have you ever submitted a reinclusion request? Tell us about your experience in the comments.
Related Reading:
Google Updates SEO Recommendations Article
Posted by Nathania Johnson at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Yahoo and MerchantCircle Enter Local Online Marketing Partnership
MerchantCircle, a network of local business owners, has announced a new partnership with Yahoo. As a newly minted Yahoo! Local Ambassador, MerchantCircle members will have exclusive access to Yahoo Local online marketing services. MerchantCircle has seen dramatic growth since December 2007, when it began a new push for its online advertising products. The network has now surpassed 500,000 members.
“Yahoo! is one of the most important brands on the internet – one that really appeals to our local business members. Local business owners tell us they want to advertise on Yahoo! to get more local customers to their storefront,” says Darren Waddell, Vice President of Marketing, MerchantCircle. “This partnership creates an important product option in our growing suite of advertising products for local merchants.”
Merchant Circle expects its members to get access to the program by the end of the summer.
MerchantCircle offers its members SEO-friendly profiles on its site. Last November, MerchantCircle announced a partnership with Citysearch, where members can be featured on the popular online local guide.
Posted by Nathania Johnson at 9:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Get smart at universal search SEO training class in Seattle
Greg Jarboe: Search Engine Strategies (SES) is asking us to teach a full-day SEO training class about “Optimizing for Universal Search” on Thursday, July 17, 2008, at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel, 515 Madison Street, Seattle, WA 98104?
Amanda Watlington: I don’t believe you.
Greg: Would you believe SES is sending us to teach a Google universal search engine optimization training workshop in Microsoft’s backyard?
Amanda: No.
Greg: How about going to Seattle to get a proper cup of coffee?
Amanda: I demand the Cone of Silence!
Greg: Okay, if you insist. I’ll download the Cone of Silence blog widget. So, now that our conversation is enshrouded in a transparent sound-proof shield, what’s the problem?
Amanda: Who in Seattle wants to learn search engine optimization strategies from a couple of SEO experts from Boston?
Greg: Well, our “Optimizing for Universal Search” workshops at SES London and SES New York were well attended. And if British Red Coats and New York Yankees didn’t mind that their SEO classes were taught by a couple of search engine optimization experts from Boston, why should Seattle companies?
Amanda: True, we haven’t dumped their tea in our harbor or faced them in the ALCS. But, give me a couple of specific examples of companies in Seattle that would benefit from sending their search engine optimization specialists, public relations professionals, and corporate video producers to a full-day SEO workshop on universal search taught by a couple of SEO experts from out of town.
Greg: Good idea Amanda – although a comprehensive list would include every member of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce. But, conduct a web search using Google for the term, Steve Ballmer, and you’ll see an example of a company in Redmond, Washington, that needs help optimizing for universal search.
Amanda: I see YouTube videos and websites integrated into a single set of results. So, who is responsible for managing this special blend?
Greg: No one is which means anyone could be. I’d hate to be on the receiving end at Waggener Edstrom when one of their largest PR clients calls to ask, “What do you know about blended search?” But, they are not alone. Google the term, Seattle Mariners, and you’ll see that there are a lot of media companies in the Seattle area that have dropped the ball, too.
Amanda: I see news results blended in with the web listings above the fold. But the news sources displayed in the universal search results are from The Associated Press, SportingNews.com, and The Canadian Press, not the Seattle Times, Seattle Post Intelligencer, KING5.com, KOMO, or KIROtv.com.
Greg: Right, and according to Steve Lohr of The New York Times, search engines are “delivering 30 percent or more of the traffic on some newspaper, magazine or television news Web sites. And traffic means readers and advertisers, at a time when the mainstream media is desperately trying to make a living on the Web.”
Amanda: So, we’ve seen YouTube videos and news results blended into universal search results. What about images?
Greg: Ah, the old leading question trick. That’s the second time I’ve fallen for that this week. Well, Google the term, Starbucks logo.
Amanda: I see three images at the top of the search engine results page. Don’t tell me that clicking on any one of the Starbucks logos doesn’t take you to a page in the Starbucks Coffee Company press room.
Greg: Clicking on any one of the Starbucks logos doesn’t take you to a page in the Starbucks Coffee Company press room
Amanda: I asked you not to tell me that. You realize you’ll be facing every kind of danger imaginable if you show this example to Starbucks coffee drinkers?
Greg: And loving it! But wait! There’s more! Use Google to search for the term, Seattle hotels downtown.
Amanda: I see two pushpins on Google Maps. Hold on, the Renaissance Seattle Hotel is missing! Greg, the location of our SEO training class about “Optimizing for Universal Search” isn’t on the map!
Greg: It’s a shame that they didn’t use local SEO instead of web SEO.
Amanda: Okay, you can invert the Cone of Silence. I’m ready to use it as a loudspeaker.
Greg: This is the Search Engine Watch Blog. We don’t "loudspeaker" here.
Amanda: Never mind. I’ll use YouTube. Their slogan is “Broadcast Yourself.” So, where’s the video interview that we conducted about our upcoming SEO training class?
Greg: Missed it by that much!
Amanda: Then, how are we supposed to provide more information about our universal search engine optimization training workshop? Oh, this is utter KAOS!
Greg: Sorry about that Chief! We could try image optimization.
Amanda: That just might work. I hope I wasn’t out of line with that crack about utter KAOS.
Greg: I don’t mind, 99. Let’s just hope that business professionals in Seattle “get smart” and attend our universal search SEO training class.
Greg Jarboe of SEO-PR and Amanda Watlington of Searching
for Profit will teach “Optimizing for Universal Search” in
Seattle on July 17, 2008.
Posted by Greg Jarboe at 8:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
SEW Experts: Three Tips for Creating a Successful Blog
Instead of focusing on where to find links, SEOs and site owners should think about setting up a site so people will want to link to it. In today's Link Building column, "Three Tips for Creating a Successful Blog," Sage Lewis notes that people usually put the cart (the links), before the horse (the content). But the horse is what drives the cart.
Posted by Kevin Newcomb at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
SEW Experts: SEM Going Legit – Literally EDU
Many newcomers are looking for some kind of accredited SEM course. But for a university to offer such course, it must be created in theory, pass through boards and deans, and be completely vetted. That can take anywhere from two to five years. In today's SEM.EDU column, "SEM Going Legit – Literally EDU," Ron Jones outlines some of the existing college-level courses for SEM training.
Posted by Kevin Newcomb at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
