How Yahoo Plans to Compile New Search Engine Index
Taken from Tim Mayer's (Yahoo) post over at Webmasterworld.com:

"The primary means of generating our index is via our free crawl, using our new Yahoo! Slurp crawler. Yahoo! Slurp discovers pages by following links on the web. We update our index with a daily crawl to gather newly created and fast-changing URLs, as well as our main crawl which updates our index incrementally twice per week.
We supplement this free crawl with the paid inclusion program, which allows us to add dynamic database content and other content that we could not otherwise discover and crawl. Currently less than 1% of our index is content that is included via our inclusion programs.

Our paid inclusion programs provide a superior way for sites to interact with us in a clearly structured fashion. These sites get the following
benefits:
1) Control over which URLs they include in the index (subject to content
guidelines)
2) Frequent refresh
3) Clearly defined way to interact with us (for example: clear feed
specifications)
4) Quality review and consultation (for feed customers)
5) Detailed reporting to track and optimize performance
6) Customer service

Participation in Yahoo!'s paid inclusion program does not guarantee rank in the search results. URLs are ranked in search results in the same way as all other URLs from the free crawl. The key drivers of ranking are keyword-specific relevance and site quality, as assessed by our regular search relevance algorithms with input from the quality review process.

(Note that Inktomi Index Connect clients are receiving Yahoo! Search traffic going forward, and Inktomi Search Submit customers are receiving a free trial of Yahoo! traffic until 4/15/04.)

We will also be launching free URL submission during the week of 3/1. This service allows content providers to suggest that the crawler should visit a site during the main crawl cycle. This service is different than paid inclusion in two ways:

1) There is no guarantee that we will crawl and include the URL in the index.
2) As this site potentially could be added to the main crawl, Yahoo! Slurp will follow links from that URL.

This service will reside on the Yahoo.com site and be accessible via a Yahoo! login. This service has been available for the AltaVista and Alltheweb Indices previously and the tradition will continue with Yahoo! Search."
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Google Billionaires to Create a Charitable Foundation
Google's billionaire co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who have organized their Web search company around the principle that "you can make money without doing evil," plan to establish a charitable foundation.
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Google Continues to Encourage "Out of the Box" Thinking
Rumors that Google had scaled back their 20% rule (encouraging employees to spend 20% of their time on creative projects), appear to be not true.

Google's co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, addressing a technology conference in Monterey, California, on Saturday, said they encourage their employees to pursue their own ideas and projects. The company tracks the results with an internal list known as the "Google Top 100," they said.

"For 20 percent of your time, if you're working at Google, you can do what you think is the best thing to do," Page, 31, said.
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Google Recruitment Party Hosts 200
Bubble, what bubble?

Google recently held a recruitment party for 200 attendees in an effort to hire the very best talent in Silicon Valley.

"We hire both for technical brilliance and for culture," said Alan Eustace, vice president of research and systems engineering.

Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Googlewhacking is Word of the Week
Macmillan names its new word of the week: Googlewhacking.

"the practice of trying to find combinations of two or more words that will produce exactly one single result when submitted as a query to the Googleâ„¢ search engine"

Courtesy of resourceshelf.com.
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Yahoo UK Adds Business Search
Thanks to Gary for letting me know that Yahoo UK has added a new business search option. It appears to work just like the Yellow Pages (actually pulls data from Thomson Directories).
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Google Looking Hard At Search Engine Spam
Read what Google Engineer, Matt Cutts has to say about Google's fight against search engine spam.
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Google Guys Get Richer
Google co-founders Page and Brin join Forbes billionaire list.
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Google Dismayed By IPO Speculation
Taken from a recent Reuters report:

"Google co-founder Larry Page said on Thursday that he and other executives of the Internet's most popular search engine provider have made no statements about an initial public offering and said he was "dismayed" by the amount of conjecture being reported as fact.

"We've made no statements about an IPO," said Page, who along with Sergei Brin founded Google in 1998.

"I have been a bit dismayed at the level of speculation that has been reported as fact. It's pretty amazing the stage we're at. ... Even when we don't do anything in some area, people make stuff up," Page told Reuters at a technology conference in Monterey, California."

Page says, "I have been a bit dismayed at the level of speculation". Excuse me chief, but that "level of speculation" is making you the hottest company around, IPO or no IPO. Don't bite the hand that feeds (then again is he just stoking the rumor fire?)
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
The Secret To Google's Success
The New York Times outlines why Google has become so successful:

"Google has found ways to make advertising pay without making advertising obtrusive — something the big-banner portals are only now starting to figure out. It has changed the way we shop, travel and get basic information about our economic and cultural climates. Perhaps the most fundamental difference since those early days is an enormous change in the usefulness and credibility of what one can find on the Internet. "
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Want to Know the Future of Search Engine Technology? Ask Jeeves!
If you plan on attending Jupiter Media’s Search Engine Strategies conference in New York on March 1st thru 4th, you’ll no doubt hear a lot of buzz surrounding the future of search engine technology. With Yahoo recently switching to a new and improved Inktomi index, Google testing localized search and MSN promising to enter the foray sometime in the next twelve months, you can bet that the search engines we know today will be much improved over the next couple of years.

While the spotlight may be on Google, Yahoo and MSN, Ask Jeeves has quietly improved their search engine to ensure a user experience that is second-to-none. While, Ask could comfortably rest on their laurels, they know that the competitive world of search is constantly changing and in order to continue their success they need to ensure that they remain at the cutting edge of search engine technology.

After being fortunate enough to sit down with Microsoft’s Robert Scoble and discuss his thoughts on search engine technology development, I caught up with Ask Jeeves’ vice president of products, Jim Lanzone and asked him his thoughts on what the future of search might hold.

[Andy Beal] Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions. Let’s start with what you see happening in the future?

[Jim Lanzone] Unfortunately, we can't talk publicly about the most exciting search technologies we're building, because they are proprietary to us and we wouldn't want Google copying us now would we? We have some very tasty special sauce we'll be launching over the course of the next few quarters that will make our search results perceivably better than the competition's.

[AB] Without giving too much away to your competitors, can you give any hints as to what might be upcoming from Ask Jeeves?

[JL] In the area of things we can talk about, we are very excited about our work on both the search technology side and the search experience side. They are equally important to helping people find what they need.

Regarding the user experience, we've had a lot of success with Smart Search the past year, and you can expect to see us continue to pursue that strategy. Smart Search is more of an ideology here than a brand name. It means giving the user smarter results in a more intuitive way, and what that means differs depending on what kind of search you're doing.

[AB] What new developments in search do you see happening in the next 3-5 years?

[JL] Because accessing information is such an integral part of our lives, I believe your interaction with search will change dramatically in the next 3-5 years. You will be able to access search databases from other sources than the keyboard (with voice recognition technology, maybe), and on different platforms (such as the GPS in your car).

[AB] GPS (global positioning system)? How do you see GPS and search interacting?

[JL] For example, a GPS with search capabilities could tell you where to find the best local pizza restaurant or nearest medical clinic in a neighborhood you visit. Of course, in order for that to happen, local search capabilities will have to vastly improve, as will voice recognition technology.

[AB] Apart from GPS, do you see search having an impact on any other consumer products?

[JL] Search is the #1 activity on the Web, and there's no reason why the utility of search or the Internet should be restricted to your PC or Mac. I believe a device will come along and have the same impact on search as the iPod did for music. Cell phones will probably adapt more to this device, ultimately, than the other way around, due to usability issues, and the user's desire to carry only one device. Standing on a street corner and using this device, you will search for a local restaurant, or a cab company, through the Internet. Instead of going to the cab company's website, you will click a link and initiate a phone call. The search engine will be compensated for the call (this is the traditional Yellow Pages model of "metered calling") rather than the click.


[AB] Let’s take it one stage further. Assuming there were no restrictions on technology, what new feature would you like to see introduced by the search engines?
[JL] We'd like to one day be able to understand a user's query perfectly, regardless of how they phrase it. Understanding the query perfectly would do much more to impact the quality of results for the everyday user (whether novice or expert) than perfecting the results themselves (though obviously we're trying to do both!). Much of our work is geared towards overcoming the hurdles of technology to make this dream a reality. After that, things like voice-enabled search will flow more easily.

[AB] What if cost wasn’t an issue? Any dream product?

[JL] If cost were no issue, we'd also like to see an Ask Jeeves-enabled PDA in every user's hand!

[AB] Companies such as Eurekster are betting that social networking is the future of quality search engine results, what are your thoughts?

[JL] In terms of the social networking devices being developed by other companies, there are two types we're seeing get attention. The first is the kind being used by the likes of Friendster and Tribe.net, where social networks are being used to help people find a job or a gardener or a date. The potential problem with this is the "reverse network effect", whereby the more the network grows, the less useful the recommendations are by those in the network. For example, how much more useful is it to me, versus the yellow pages or a search engine, to be recommended a contractor by my friend's cousin's neighbor? Now imagine if that's how I'm finding a date for next Friday night?

Meanwhile, with something like Eurekster, the "social networking search engine", you may face the same problem. At what point are these results more useful than those given by our "normal" engine, which is already getting smarter and smarter about who and when it serves up certain results. So, in the end, we believe that social networking as defined and utilized by Teoma is the best of breed way to go in this area, and the most effective growth will be built on its foundation.

[AB] What makes Teoma the “best of breed�?

[JL] Our Teoma technology is predicated on social networking theory, as originally pursued by the Clever team at IBM in the mid-90's. Teoma was the first (and is still the only) search technology that can identify the Web graph's expert hubs and authorities in real time.

[AB] What is Teoma doing that the IBM team couldn’t do?

[JL] The Clever team identified that it was a better mousetrap for producing relevant search results, but thought it would take a server farm the size of the state of Texas to produce in real time. Teoma does it in a split second. Others questioned whether the technology would scale past 50 million document index. We're now at 2 billion. Remember that Teoma is a much younger technology than our competitors, so in some ways we're only now starting to see the power of it. And as it grows, social networking will continue to be at the heart of what makes Teoma different and special.


[AB] Do you foresee a time when commercial search results (product/services) will be separated from informational search results (white papers/educational sites)?

[JL] Yes, similar to Yellow vs. White Pages. But since index search is already separate from P4P links, this is a much more important prediction for the future of paid inclusion. The future of paid inclusion is more likely to be in separate, possibly 100% paid indexes, than it is the current mix of paid and unpaid links, and structured and unstructured data. It's better for monetization, better for relevance, and probably better for the FTC. When you think about it, this is already happening with a site like Shopping.com, which is basically product search with a 100% paid index. Same thing with the Yellow Pages. I could see this model extended to jobs, airfares, and even adult sites.

[AB] We’ve talked a little about providing more relevant search results. If search engine users gave up a little of their privacy and allowed their search habits to be monitored, would this allow the search engines to provide better, customized results?

[JL] Some search engine users are already giving up their privacy willingly, for example with the latest Google 2.0 toolbar. The reason why Google wants this information is because the answer to your question is a resounding "yes"! Even more important than results customized for individuals, however, which will have some utility but not as much as some may think, are results customized for groups of individuals who exhibit similar characteristics. For example, those who frequently visit certain sites. Moreover, search engines can use this information to track the quality of their competitors' results, because these toolbars can - if users allow them to - track their usage on other sites.

[AB] Jim, I appreciate you taking the time to answer these questions. What last thing would you like readers to know about Ask Jeeves?

[JL] We'd just like to add that we're very proud of service Ask Jeeves has become the past 18 months. It is now a world-class search site, featuring world-class search results thanks to Teoma and a world-class search experience thanks to Smart Search. 2004 will be an exciting year for us.

Anyone connected with the search engine industry probably shares my excitement that the future holds some great advances in technology. Search engine users are going to be in for a thrill as Google finally faces some legitimate challenges from a host of search engine companies, both large and small. You can keep up with the latest search engine news and developments right here at www.SearchEngineLowdown.com.

By Andy Beal
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Yahoo Accepts Anti-Pollution Search Engine Ads Rejected by Google
Something tells me Yahoo wasn't "in" on this press release. That said, Yahoo taking an opposing stance to Google is good for publicity.
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
WebSourced's KeywordRanking.com Sponsoring Search Engine Strategies New York
Time is running out to register for next week's Search Engine Strategies in New York. The event is being sponsored by KeywordRanking.com and will feature dozens of speakers from search engine companies and SEM firms.

Rumor has it, this will be the largest SES ever with more than 3,000 people attending. KeywordRanking.com will have a huge 20x20 consultation booth, where our expert staff will be on hand to provide free site consultations on a 42" plasma screen. We'll also be giving away a total of 16 portable dvd players, so be sure to stop by booth #1106.

If you can make the first day of the event, I'll be presenting the "Search Term Research & Targeting" session at 11am, so please come and say "hi". No hecklers please :-)
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
New Meta Search Engine, Zapmeta.com, Shows Promise
I've been taking a look at zapmeta.com, a newly developed meta-search engine offering. I like the look of the interface and the fact that you can preview the site is a nice touch. It's a little too slow, but I am sure that will improve.

Chris Sherman takes a more in-depth look at the search engine over at Search Engine Watch.
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Looking For Search Engine Patent Updates?
Gary Price keeps his eye on any developments that include search engine patents.
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Yahoo CEO Keeping Eye on Social Networking
Yahoo chief, Terry Semel is keeping a close eye on social networking.

"At this moment in time, it's exciting, it's interesting, it's viral," said CEO Terry Semel, a former Warner Brothers studio co-chief, at a Commonwealth Club meeting in Santa Clara, California. "We haven't seen any business models around it yet. It's an area we watch very closely."

He also commented on why the switch from Google.

"Semel said that, in the end, in addition to wanting to create its own answer to Google, Yahoo needed search technology that was customized for use by its more than 130 million registered users.

"We had been licensing technology that was not custom made for Yahoo," Semel said, referring to using Google's search results."
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Microsoft Loses Search Engine Guru
According to CNet, Microsoft has lost MSN Search general manager, Paul Ryan. Ryan was hired away from Overture but quietly left MSN on Feb 12th.

"Microsoft spokeswoman Crystal Duncan confirmed that Ryan left on Feb. 12. She would not comment on the specifics of his departure, but added that the company is actively seeking his replacement."
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Yahoo Sues FindWhat and Google Over Search Engine Patent Claims
While the "search engine wars" continue, a different battle wages in the courtroom. When Yahoo acquired, Overture, they also acquired the PPC provider's bidding technology. It appears Yahoo believes some of those PPC patents are being infringed upon by both FindWhat and Google.

"Overture has long sought to protect its growing market dominance: It has hired a staff of IP experts and aggressively wielded its portfolio of patents for pay-for-performance search against rivals. The company sued FindWhat.com in February 2002, after FindWhat filed a summary judgment request in a New York federal court in an attempt to fend off any potential infringement charge from Overture. Two months later, Overture launched a second lawsuit, in which it said that Google's pay-for-performance ad system infringed its patent."
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
AOL To Buy Ask Jeeves?
My favorite named reporter, Bambi Francisco suggests that AOL may decide it shouldn't miss out on revenues from search engine advertisers.

"Part of the exodus has been partly AOL's own doing. Through its relationship with popular portal Google, AOL has "alerted users to what's existed beyond AOL," said Jordan Rohan, an analyst at Schwab SoundView.

AOL is "missing an opportunity to retain traffic because it sends viewers to Google." The portal suffers from "leakage," said Rohan.

How do you stem this outflow? At a recent media dinner Rohan attended earlier this week, one media executive suggested that AOL could perhaps increase its retention rate if it were to buy Ask Jeeves, which owns Teoma, an algorithmic search engine that competes with Google.

If AOL were to do that, then it would not be so reliant on Google, and would have the option to end its working relationship".

Wow, just look at all the Ask Jeeves news all of a sudden. In England we have a saying..."no buses for an hour, then 3 come at once".
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Ask Jeeves Needs A Voice
I think the PR team over at Ask Jeeves might not have seen my positive interview today at Search Engine Watch. I say this, because they sent me an email in a tone that suggests they think I am smitten by Yahoo and Google and have no time in my life for a menage a trois that includes Ask. Anyway, here is what they had to say:

"Now that Yahoo! has dumped Google in favor of its own search technology, everyone is trumping up the Google vs. Yahoo! battle and doing their own version of the “search taste test.� What the media hasn’t seemed to realize is that this “test� is the equivalent of comparing Coke with Pepsi if the two sodas used the EXACT same ingredients.

So, why include Ask Jeeves’ search engine in these types of stories? Here’s why…

Type these searches on Ask.com then Google then Yahoo! and see what you get. We promise you’ll see a big difference.

Capital of New York
Stamp collecting
What does a dachshund look like

Let me explain:

Capital of NY: Ask Jeeves Web results are about Albany, not just about the keywords capital or New York. This is what we mean by INTUITIVE searching.

Stamp Collecting: This is an example of ranking by “authority.� Ask Jeeves’ Teoma search technology has determined that the American Philatelic Society is the most authoritative site for stamp c ollecting, which is why on Ask.com it is ranked as your first result, but not on Google or Yahoo.

What does a dachshund look like: Unlike other search engines, Ask Jeeves’ technology can understand from your query that you want a photo of a dachshund. By delivering a photo of a dachshund directly to the first reply page, Ask Jeeves is redefining the meaning of a FAST search; it’s no longer how fast you get your ten blue links, but how fast you receive actual information.

Now that search engines have realized the success of Google’s technological approach to search, the most popular engines—Yahoo!, Alta Vista, AlltheWeb, Wisenut, etc--use that same approach. The size of their datasets or the way results are presented may differ from engine to engine, but the algorithmic approach is basically the same. So, basically, there are TWO search technologies out there. Only TWO…

How is the Ask Jeeves search technology different?

Ask Jeeves’ Teoma search technology is the only search technology that breaks down the Web into what is called "Subject-Specific Popularity." This is a process that uses social networking theory to examine the links that are attached to pages on the Web and analyzes the Web organically as a social network of naturally occurring “communities� that are about or related to the same subject. The technology then identifies the experts within each community, called the “hubs and authorities� of the Web. These communities, hubs and authorities determine which sites are most relevant.

We ask you to experience the difference yourself and put Ask Jeeves HEAD TO HEAD with Google and Yahoo!"

For the record, I like Ask Jeeves, they have some great technology. Besides anyone who includes references to "dachshunds" get's my attention [secret Dachshund fan lurking].

Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Ask Jeeves: What's the Future of Search?
Thanks to Search Engine Watch for running an interview I did with Ask Jeeves' vice president of products, Jim Lanzone.

Check back tomorrow, and I'll post the unedited version for you! ;-)
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Espotting Strikes Search Engine Deal with Mcdonald's UK
Some positive news for FindWhat's newly acquired UK PPC provider, Espotting. Espotting will provide search functionality and develop over 10 new channels for Internet Terminals at 200 UK locations this year.

'Espotting were our partner of choice for the McDonald's deal' commented Mike Kellond, Managing Director, DVE. 'As pioneers of Content Solutions, they have vast experience in this area and their dedication to providing customized solutions is a huge asset to the project and the user experience.'

Here is how the terminal interfaces will look:


Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Yahoo Discontinuing AltaVista?
Is Yahoo taking steps to wind-down AltaVista?
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Lycos Launches New Site
Lycos previously announced a change of direction and today they launch the new look website. Gary Price shares his thoughts.
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
WebSourced's KeywordRanking.com Selected by Lowe's For Search Engine Marketing Campaign

Press Release: WebSourced's KeywordRanking.com Division to Provide Search Engine Marketing for Lowes.com


RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 25, 2004--WebSourced, Inc., the global leader in search engine marketing (www.websourced.com) - today announced its KeywordRanking.com division has been selected by Lowe's, the world's second largest home improvement retailer, to assist the company in achieving better website positioning on major search engines such as Google, Yahoo and MSN.

The engagement will begin immediately with the objective to assist Lowe's in achieving better search engine positioning for home improvement related terms across its website.

Andy Beal, vice president of search marketing at WebSourced, Inc.'s, KeywordRanking.com division, stated, "We are excited to announce this partnership with Lowe's. We are confident our search engine optimization expertise will result in better search engine positioning for Lowes.com and ultimately drive sales."

WebSourced helps clients design a well-rounded online marketing presence that will generate new business and continue to keep revenues high. The company works with clients to increase their web presence and rank high in popular search engine results; build new websites that leverage online sales technology; and design improved infrastructure for order fulfillment and financial transactions.

Lowe's is the latest addition to the WebSourced, Inc. roster of over 1,200 clients, including a wide array of market leader companies such as NBC, Alaska Airlines, LasikPlus, Peopleclick and Experian.

With fiscal year 2003 sales of $30.8 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE 100 company that serves approximately 10 million customers a week at more than 950 home improvement stores in 45 states. In 2003, FORTUNE named Lowe's America's Most Admired Specialty Retailer. Based in Mooresville, N.C., the 58-year old company is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com

Founded by CEO and President S. Patrick Martin, WebSourced, Inc is the global leader in Internet marketing, with its KeywordRanking.com service specializing in improving website visibility in major search engines and Cherish.com offering online dating services. WebSourced is a subsidiary of CGI Holding Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board symbol: CGIH.OB - News). The company's filings can be viewed at www.freeedgar.com. For additional information please visit www.cgiholding.com.
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Just What We Needed, More Search Engine Toolbars
In case you haven't found that perfect search engine toolbar take a look at what Yahoo and Viewpoint are cooking up.
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
How Small Search Engine Companies Can Change The Future
How are Eurekster and a host of other companies looking to change the way you search? This article by Mark Boslet takes a look at the potential of search.
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
DMA/AIM net.marketing Conference
Not attending the DMA/AIM net.marketing conference? Not a problem, check out Garrett French's live reports.
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Froogle On Your Wireless Phone
For those of you who like to shop online at every opportunity, check out the latest incarnation of Froogle. (Nod to ResourceShelf)

Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Google Losing Relevancy?
I know that it's not new news to tell you that the search for "search engine" on Google, shows AltaVista at #1 and not Google. But have you looked at the other results? Let's take a look...

1. AltaVista
2. Excite
3. Dogpile
4. Lycos
5. SearchEngineWatch.com
6. Google
7. Yahoo

AltaVista you can say deserves to be number 1 because it has been around forever, but we're talking relevancy here. Today's relevancy! How in the world does Excite and Dogpile place higher than Google and Yahoo. And no disrespect to Search Engine Watch, but if I am searching for "search engine" chances are I want an actual search engine, not a site about SEM.

Anyone else care to share search results at Google that just don't make sense?
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Wired Magazine Features Google
I already reported that Wired had gone Google crazy in their current issue. For those of you who have not yet read the magazine, here is the online version.







Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Booble Fights Back at Google
Ok, this is very funny. For all of you who have trouble differentiating Booble from Google, try TauntedByTatas.com. Those naughty people at Booble.com have launched the site in response to Google's trademark attorney's attempt to "tuck the Booble name back into the softly padded embrace of obscurity." (link from ResourceShelf)
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Google Shunned by Stanford
File this under the "ouch, that hurts" category. Sergey Brin and Larry Page's alma mater, Stanford University, has chosen Google's competitor, Verity's Ultraseek for both its internal and external search engine needs.
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
LookSmart Adds New Sponsored Search Partners
LookSmart today announced the addition of four new search partners including BrainFox, Findology, Superlogy.com and GenieKnows. (thanks Gary)
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Verizon Selects FindWhat.com To Supply Paid Search Engine Ads
Could this be FindWhat.com's year? They are certainly getting aggressive in their acquisition and partnership efforts.

Verizon today announced it will relaunch SuperPages.com, the new service for its online Yellow Pages, on March 1 with partner and paid-search advertising provider FindWhat.com.

"We're adding pay-per-click for national and local advertisers to take advantage of that model," Lester Chu, a Verizon vice president, told Reuters.
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Ask Jeeves Launches Smart Search UK
Ask has launched Smart Search in the UK, which combines natural-language processing and Teoma search technology to deliver selected contents and direct results for popular searches.
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Can Google Remain Cool?
The UK's Independent takes a look at the history and future of Google.

"One thing that has worked in Google's favour - and which its founders espouse - is its sense of cool....earlier this year, Brin lectured attendees at the Davos conference about how one becomes, and remains, hip. "If you have to think about being hip, you're never going to be hip," he told them. (No doubt they carefully wrote it down.) He also joked that after Google, he'd like to build a detector for airports to prevent unhip people boarding planes; he only likes to share aircraft with "cool" passengers"

At Forrester, Colony warns: "How long did it take you to switch to Google? Seconds. How long will it take you to switch out of Google? Seconds." By contrast, he says, "all great businesses are built on a monopoly". And nobody has that in searching. Get it wrong, and the pack will leave footprints all over your back. "Is Google's search good?" he adds. "Yes. Is the company worth tens of billions? No."
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
FindWhat.com Agrees to Acquire Comet Systems
Thanks to John Battelle (and Gary Price) for sharing FindWhat.com's latest acquisition, Comet Systems. You know Comet, they are the (annoying) cursor company that some webmasters insist on using on their website.

With the recent acquisitions of Miva, eSpotting and now, Comet, FindWhat is certainly going on the offensive.
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Queryster, A Fun Multi-Search Tool
A couple of weeks ago we discovered a great little search tool called Queryster. In today's Search Engine Watch article, Chris Sherman shares his thoughts on the service.
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Google Tops the Search Engine Charts
CNet gives their views on the recently released Nielsen/NetRatings survey.
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Inktomi Wants To See Your Meta Keywords Tag
Whenever I have been asked to discuss the SEO techniques you should implement, I have always maintained that you should at least do something to optimize your meta keywords tag.

Now that Yahoo is getting it's results from an Inktomi-based index, it appears that decision has been validated. Look what Tim Mayer of Yahoo has to say.

"Yahoo Search uses the Metakeywords tag . We did not use them at FAST or Altavista. It is important that you make the keywords and description different (targeted) on every page. Exactly what the page is about. ie. the right specificity. Having all the pages have the same keywords and description is not helpful to the SE."
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Nielsen NetRatings Report Shows Google Still Most Popular Search Engine
Nielsen//NetRatings has released a new report on the top search engine destinations. While Google is still on top (39.37% reach), Yahoo (30.38%) and MSN (29.63%) are closing the gap. More than 39% of the population now use search engines on a regular basis.

Survey respondents also reported on what they felt were the most important search engine features:

1. Can Find Relevant Information = 51.8%
2. Can Get Credible Results = 34.2%
3. Get Results Quickly = 33.0%

Surpisingly, only 17.5% of those asked suggested that a search engine needed to be well known in order for them to feel comfortable using it.


Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
More "Which Is Better", Google or Yahoo?
Seems that the hottest topic this week will be which search engine has the best results, Google or Yahoo. Robert Scoble weighs in with his views.

Search Engine Strategies in New York next week, should be very interesting.
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Peter Jennings of ABC News Talks With Google's Page and Brin
Can Larry Page and Sergey Brin still keep to their mantra of "Don't be evil" once they have shareholders screaming down the phone? Read the interview with Peter Jennings.

It used to be that you knew you had made it if Peter Jennings wanted to interview you. Now, you know you have made it when Google takes the time to talk with you! ;-)
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Google Adwords Now In New Sizes
According to dmnews.com, Google has added six more ad format options for publishers displaying its AdSense contextual paid listings.

The new formats are: 125x125-pixel button with one listing; 120x140 vertical banner with two listings; 180x150 small rectangle with one listing; 160x600 wide skyscraper with five listings; 250x250 square with five listings; and 336x280 large rectangle with four listings.
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Which is Better, Yahoo or Google?
USA Today conducts a comparison between Yahoo and Google (similar to WSJ's last week). One interesting observation:

"A Google search for presidential candidate John Edwards, without quotation marks, displays headlines about the North Carolina senator. But the top two links are sites for TV psychic John Edward, known for talking to the dead. Five links down is the "Edwards for president" site. At Yahoo, the first link is relevant: "John Edwards for president."

This demonstrates one of the issues with stemming. Google is matching up searches for both John Edward and John Edwards. While this works for other searches (computer or computers), in this instance there clearly is a difference between the two searches.

Unless John Edward can use his psychic abilities to determine if the similar sounding democratic candidate is going to win anything?
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Will Yahoo Become The Next Verb for Search?
The New York Times prints an interesting piece on Yahoo CEO, Terry Semel. Yahoo faces a challening but potential lucrative future as it competes not only as a portal but as a bona fide search engine.

"...For the moment, it is enough that Yahoo has become a credible alternative, argued Jeff Weiner, a protege of Mr. Semel's from Warner Brothers who now runs Yahoo's search unit. "You have a second player now," he said. "If you go to Google and you didn't find what you want, you have somewhere else to go."

Of course, Yahoo isn't done, and Mr. Weiner said that there would be a series of improvements to the search system in coming months. Many of them take advantage of its data about users.

"Personalization will ultimately change the way search is delivered," Mr. Weiner said. In particular, he hopes that by watching users over time, the search engine can guess what sort of information they are looking for - or, as he put it, "If you type in flowers, do you want to buy flowers, plant flowers or see pictures of flowers?"
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Google Makes Front Cover of Wired Magazine
While you can't get March's edition of Wired Magazine online yet, the magazine is available at your favorite store. On the front cover you'll find Google as well as a huge feature inside.
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Yahoo Wants You To Advertise With Overture
Yahoo has started actively promoting Overture as it's search engine advertising division, including banner ads on the Yahoo homepage.
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Like Search Engine Lowdown? Get the T-Shirt!
I had to do it, the little voices inside my head made me do it. Anyway, for all SEL fans out there (yes, both of you), you can now buy your very own Search Engine Lowdown merchandise.

Ask the world..."where do you get your news?"




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Yahoo Confirms Not Using Inktomi
According to WebmasterWorld forum user "Tim" (which after reading his profile, can only be Yahoo employee, Tim Mayer), Yahoo is not using Inktomi...

"Yahoo is using a new search technology which is not Inktomi."

It's obviously based on Inktomi technology, but the fact that Yahoo results do not match those at MSN or Hotbot, confirms that it's certainly an improved version. Yahoomi perhaps?

P.S. Tim, if it's not you that made that quote, please let me know. ;-)

Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
What Search Engine Metrics Are You Measuring?
eMarketer.com publishes findings by icrossing that show what metrics most US marketers track during an SEM campaign.



The chart above is credited to WebTrends and iProspect....I was expecting icrossing to be the source. What happened guys?
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
WebmasterWorld Internet Marketing Conference
It's not too late to sign up and attend the 2004 PubConference.
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
The Hottest Consumer Searches
Spring is coming and "front load washers" are among the hottest product searches. Maybe they'll be on Oprah's "Favorite Things"!
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
A Sign That Google Has Fallen
Thanks to Serge for pointing out that Aaron Swartz has decided to end his Google Weblog citing, "Google simply isn't relevant in this day and age."

Update: As Bill Curnow pointed out, the post is almost a year old. Aaron must have had a change of heart. I was going to delete the post, but let's leave it in as a reminder to all of us to do our due diligence and fact checking (I will be!).
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Yahoo Mail Invading Your Privacy
Now this is interesting. I have just noticed that Yahoo is spying on my Yahoo Shopping purchases and then using that information to power contextual ads they serve me. Take a look at this screenshot:



That inconspicuous looking Sponsored Links ad you see, is more sinister than it first appears. When you click on the "What's This" link, you'll see that it is a contextual ad served up by Overture.

Now, a few weeks ago, I predicted that Google was going to launch an email application so that it could serve up contextual ads. However, it appears Yahoo is doing this already.

What does appear to be troubling is when I search for the phrase "charger ipaq" within my Yahoo account, there are no results. So how does Yahoo know that I recently purchased an Ipaq car charger? Well, I used Yahoo shopping using the same username I use for my email account. Interesting, huh? Is Yahoo collecting information on my purchases and then using that to further entice me to click on one of their sponsored ads? Or are they simply scanning the content of all my received emails?

According to the Yahoo Mail Privacy policy:

"Yahoo!'s practice is not to use addressing information or the content of messages stored in your Yahoo! Mail account for marketing purposes."

According to the Yahoo Shopping Privacy policy:

"Yahoo! does not give your personal information or any information about where your shopped or what you bought to any of our partners or advertisers."

Either way you dice it, Yahoo appears to be collecting information on my habits that they claim they don't! I'm waiting for someone at Yahoo to call me back with an explanation.

Buyer beware!!
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Why Yahoo Dropped Google
The Times in England gives some insight on why Yahoo switched from Google. Nothing new, but a nice re-cap.
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Which Is Better, Google Or Yahoo?
The Wall Street Journal conducts a non-scientific test on 6 different searches to see which search engine comes up with the most relevant results.

Some quotes of note:

"While our search wasn't exact, Yahoo got us what we wanted much faster"

"Yahoo's hits are much cleaner than Google's, if you have pure intentions in this search. Also, Yahoo's results are also presented in a more appealing way."

"Google's search turns up a more comprehensive list"
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Using Google To Locate Wi-Fi Hotspots
Over at Searchblog, John Battelle highlights that you can use Google's "Search by Location" to find wi-fi hotspots. I'm glad to see that my home was not listed!
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
John Kerry's Affair Rumors Dominate Search Engine Queries
According to About.com, the alleged affair between freelance journalist, Alexandra Polier & Democratic presidential candidate, John Kerry is driving thousands of search enquiries this week.

"The Yahoo! Buzz Index reports that searches for Alexandra Polier have shot up 1758.95% in a single day."
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Google Is Losing Its Share Of Search Engine Traffic
With all of the Yahoo/Google/Inktomi news lately, it's almost easy to forget that the balance of power is shifting away from Google. With Yahoo's Inktomi currently being used for Yahoo Search and MSN Search, they control nearly half of all search queries.

Google is still King, but for how much longer?


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Isn't That Purty - Search Engine Watch Changes It's Spots
Search Engine Watch is sporting a brand new look today and a new tagline, "The source for search engine marketing". I know the old color scheme was based on Danny Sullivan's original website. I wonder how he likes the new colors?

Come on Danny, I know you stop by here. What prompted the color change and are you sad to say goodbye to the old colors? BTW, the SES logo on the homepage still says "2003", might want to update. ;-)
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |

 
Google To Enter Newspaper Business?
Thanks to John Battelle for pointing me in the direction of Editor & Publisher's interview with Google co-founder, Sergey Brin.

The article focusses on Brin's views on the future of newspapers now that search is so popular.
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Yahoo Paid Inclusion And Inktomi Will Be Different
According to the sign-up page of Inktomi paid inclusion provider, Positiontech, Yahoo will be offering a paid inclusion service of their own. This indicates that those of you hoping to get all of that great traffic from your Inktomi feeds, will now have to cough up additional $$$.

Yahoo! Search has transitioned to its own search technology and is preparing to launch a new inclusion program. As a bonus for Search Submit customers, Yahoo! Search is providing a free trial of Yahoo! traffic that will end on April 15, 2004. When the new inclusion program launches, Search Submit customers will have the option of joining the new program for ongoing participation in Yahoo! Search results.

Credit WebmasterWorld for the tip!
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Microsoft's MSN Expands News Service, Competes With Google
Microsoft's MSN has unveiled news search in several additional foreign languages, advancing its search strategy internationally to compete with Google.

In addition, according to CNET, on Wednesday, Moreover Technologies is expected announce with Microsoft that it is the exclusive provider of technology and content for the news services and MyMSN.
Andy Beal |