Search Engine Strategies New York: Search Behavior
If you read Search Engine Lowdown on a regular basis, you know that I love looking at the various surveys and studies that float around in the search space. So you can imagine the drool running down my chin, at the thought of the “Search Behavior” session. Panelists shared details of various recent surveys. It was a cornucopia of search trivia.
Dr Bonny Brown Director of Research and Public Services, Keynote Systems, gave details of their study of 2000+ panelists who were invited to log on to the web using a browser companion that measures browsing habits and asks questions.
They revealed which of the search engines were the most popular. No surprises that Google was the top rated search engine. What was interesting is that out of all of the votes cast, Yahoo, MSN and Ask Jeeves all had double digit gains (compared to the same study 6 months ago), while Google maintained the lead, its growth was the lowest among the big four. A clear sign the Google juggernaut might be losing a little steam.
When it came to which search engine was the most effective at directing users to click on sponsored links, Ask Jeeves topped the list – kicking Google’s behind – with Lycos coming in second place. So, to recap, Ask Jeeves was the best search engine at getting visitors to click on a sponsored link. Guys…build your own paid search product, all the signs point to success!
Other useful snippets from Brown:
* 1 in 2 searchers will use another search engine, if they cannot find what they are looking for. * 1 in 3 searchers use search engine toolbars – the greatest retention tool the search engines ever created, in my opinion. * 17% of searchers use different search engines for different types of searches.
Gord Hotchkiss of Enquiro will probably never have to worry about losing his “search behavior monitoring” crown. As kids today say, “he rocked”.
His new study – to be released tomorrow, so you’re getting a sneak peak – demonstrated that despite all of the things we think lead to click-thrus and sales, ”rank” and “page position” are still the two most important factors to searchers.
Who gets the share of clicks? The number one organic position received 27.4% of all organic clicks, while 51% of all who click on paid results, pick the top paid search listing. This clearly shows that in paid search, you need your ad to be in the top position, while in organic, you can be in the top 3 to 5 results and still get a good share of the click-thrus.
Hotchkiss then went on to display a graph that demonstrated how confidence in search results reduces, the longer it takes a searcher to find what they are looking for. Changing their search request, gave the searcher a brief bump in confidence.
It may be hard to top the next piece of data shared by Hotchkiss. He demonstrated his eye-tracking survey (50 participants) – where participant’s eye movements were tracked to accurately record which search results received the most attention.
He showed a Google search results page with an “eye tracking map” that looked similar to a thermal imagery chart (with the “hotspots” showing the most eye contact). The study distinctly showed most eyes look at the top left corner of the search results, with a small coverage at the top of the paid search results.
Hotchkiss explained that a users’ eye is drawn to a triangle pattern which he named “Search’s Golden Triangle”, with searchers scanning from the top left to the page’s “fold” line and then left (in a triangle pattern). While the triangle did not really extend below the fold, 60% of participants scrolled down below the fold, with only 40% taking a look at the paid search results on the right (above fold).
Search's Golden Triangle - click to enlarge
Finally he shared some data on how page position impacted visibility and ultimately click-thrus.
For Organic Results on Google: 100% visibility for the top 3 organic results 85% for the No.4 position 60% for the No. 5 position
For Organic Click-Thrus on Google: 28% click on the No.1 position Drops to 12% by position No. 3 Remainder share 3-12% of click-thrus
For Paid Search Results on Google 90% visibility for the top 2 AdWords advertisers 50% visibility for the No.3 position. Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
Search Engine Strategies New York: Day One
When Search Engine Lowdown first launched back in the summer of 2003, we became the first web site to blog the sessions of a Search Engine Strategies conference, as they happened. Since that San Jose event, many blogs have emerged to offer blow-by-blow coverage of SES. With that in mind, we want our readers to know that if you’re looking for detailed write-ups of SEO tips and tricks, you may have come to the wrong place. However, if you’re a busy individual who just wants to hear about those most tender and juicy morsels of information, Search Engine Lowdown is for you.
Still here? Great, let’s get to the snippets of information, from day one, which caught our attention. Session: Applying Lessons of Search to Other Direct Marketing
The usual PowerPoint presentation format from Jupiter included endless slides about how search can be integrated with other forms of marketing (with a long look at email marketing). The best stuff came during the Q&A.
David Daniels, Research Director for JupiterResearch, offered that only a third of all online marketers are sophisticated enough to understand the behavioral pattern of their visitors. These savvy marketers were able to grasp and analyze the tell-tale signs that make up a valuable customer – click patterns, timing of buys etc.
Daniels also suggested that these marketers are using search in ways not previously utilized. For example, how many of you are using paid search for the express purpose of driving visitors to a landing page, so you can capture their email address and personal information? Daniels gave an example of one web site that uses paid search to advertise free cell phone ring tones, then captures valuable information in a registration form. Paid search at the next level, methinks.
Larry Chase, publisher of Web Digest for Marketers, wanted an example of how vertical search was changing the search landscape. According to Jupiter analyst Niki Scevak, retail and travel verticals are the most developed vertical search sites. Scevak explained how shopping search engines are “creating an additional layer in the search engine experience” and help to “consummate the transaction” He went on to give the example that product searches no longer consist of “Google to Amazon” and are now more likely to be ”Google to Shopping.com, to Amazon”.
Gary Stein (another Jupiter number-cruncher) took time to explain how the APIs, opened up by Google and Overture, can provide potential opportunities to integrate search marketing with other marketing campaigns. He believed that the time was almost here where the performance of an email ad could be used to generate automated paid search ads, based upon the response rates of the emails. If “Email A” has high response rates and generates new sales, use the paid search API to create targeted ads that utilize the same message as the email. Wow, can you imagine a day when your email campaign talks directly to your paid search campaign with no interaction from the advertiser? (and if you have that technology already, email me).
When it came to affiliates and search marketing, Stein chuckled, “if you don’t have a good search strategy, your affiliates will create one.” Stein also stressed the importance of providing a data feed to your affiliates, “it’s like gold to them,” he said. A product data feed allows them to get deeper into your products and create their own content (in line with Google’s new affiliate policy).
The last interesting snippet from this session came from an audience question on the breakdown of search traffic origination. Scevak claimed that 50% of searches are conducted in the US, with the remainder skewed towards western Europe. He also said 70-75% of search marketing dollars are spent in the US. What about outside the US? “In some markets Google has a near monopoly,” he said. Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
Kanoodle Launching RSS Ads for Blogs
After months of testing, Kanoodle is today ready to launch their RSS ads solution, according to CNET.
On Monday, the company is expected to introduce a self-service system that lets online publishers pair advertising with their RSS feeds. Called BrightAds RSS (after the technology format Really Simple Syndication), the service takes advantage of Kanoodle's keyword advertising system to match Web content to relevant ads. Once a publisher signs up, an advertising link will piggyback on its syndicated feed sent to third-party news readers.
I'll have to check it out. The problem that most of these services have is that they want you to re-configure your RSS feed and redirect the URL...yeah, like I have time for that! ;-)
Brits Smarter Searchers than Americans?
Netimperative offers details of a survey conducted by Agence Virtuelle that claims British search engine users are smarter than Americans.
Nine out of ten (93%) Web users in the UK know the difference between sponsored and organic search engine results compared to just 38% of Americans, according to new research.
Only problem? The company that conducted the UK survey, did not conduct the US survey. From my school days, even I can see that it is unlikely that the conditions or questions asked in the two surveys are likely to be the same. Also, all of my family are still back in ol' Blighty, and they sure don't know the difference...I would imagine that more than 7% can't tell either. Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
February 25, 2005
Heading to New York
I'll be heading to NY Sunday evening for the SES show. Fingers crossed, we'll have wi-fi during the show and we'll bring you the latest search engine news.
SEMPO Gets New(ish) Board Of Directors
SEMPO has a new list of board members. What is interesting is that some of the previous board members were re-elected. That suggests that many SEMPO members are happy with the initial efforts.
IBM to Release Serrano Enterprise Search
eWeek reveals IBM is developing a new version of its WebSphere Information Integrator. The release, code-named Serrano and already in a restricted beta, is due for a public beta later this release and a general release in the fourth quarter.
By opening its corporate search technology to partners, IBM wants to turn enterprise search into more than a way to find documents, e-mails or data by keyword. It also wants search engines to extract meaning from unstructured data, said Nelson Mattos, IBM's vice president of information integration. Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
Dan Gillmor on Google's AutoLink Dan Gillmor chatted with Google's Marissa Mayer about the controversial "AutoLink" feature in the new Google toolbar. He shares his thoughts on the subject.
At the very least, Google needs to make some changes in the installation process. As users install the toolbar they should be asked if they want features that change content on web pages. There should be an opt-in process, not an opt-out process, for such things. Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
February 24, 2005
Impression Spam Impacting Google AdWords Advertisers
ClickZ tracks a developing trend that is starting to worry advertisers on Google, impression spam.
The search engine giant defines impression spam as "ad impressions generated outside of normal search activity, in some cases deliberate in other cases not deliberate," whose overall effect is minimal, said Salar Kamangar, Google's director of product management.
It makes sense why it would exist, after all, if you can increase the number of impressions to an advertisers ad (without also increasing the click-thrus), you can work that to your advantage.
Industry-watchers speculate fraudsters take advantage of Google's system by disabling their own ads, making a flurry of queries on their chosen keywords, and then re-enabling their ads. By doing this, they drive down the CTR on competitors' listings, then swoop back in to claim higher rankings.
Lisa Wehr of OneUpWeb believes "without the CTR (click thru rate) algorithm, impression spam would go away."
Yeah, but then Google wouldn't be able to make as much money. Remember, they push the best performing ads to the top of the list, in order to benefit themselves advertisers. Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
Yahoo to Buy Flickr Photo Blog? Om Malik has heard rumors that Yahoo is about to buy Ludicorp, the company behind photo blog site Flickr.
Most of the deal-related chatter is coming from blogging world insiders who have said that Flickr might have inked the papers last week, but Yahoo is holding off on an announcement until March 1.
Forecasting Paid Search Traffic
Heather Lloyd-Martin has a summary of the panel session from SES Chicago, titled "Forecasting Paid Search Traffic". Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
Search Verticals Gain Traction
Matt Hicks has a great article on the rise of vertical search engines and the recent launch of Become.com.
Market analyst Jupiter Research, a division of Jupitermedia Corp., issued a study that predicts growth in vertical search, particularly as the bid prices for popular keywords on general search engines such as Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc. rise.
Jupiter Research based its report on a finding that 79 percent of the $2.6 billion spent on paid search last year in the United States fit into four categories—retail, financial services, media and entertainment, and travel. Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
AOL Launches Local Search
AOL Search today launched Local Search with local information available to help searchers find answers where they live, work and travel throughout the country.
So what features do you get? Here's an extract from the release:
New features and functionality of AOL Local Search include:
** Personalized, streamlined design with one-click sorting and clustering to help users quickly find exactly what they are looking for. Users can choose an enhanced view or scan view and refine results by type, such as business, movie or event, as well as distance away, and rating. Users can also view maps, photos, descriptions, and event schedules directly within the search results, see recent searches for quick reference, and save multiple zip code locations to automatically see results customized to specific geographic areas.
** Complete, up-to-date listings and information for more than 13 million businesses and points of interest from the AOL Yellow Pages, as well as restaurants, bars, music and events - including the newest hotspots - in more than 300 cities across the country from AOL CityGuide, the Web's #1 local entertainment guide for where to go and what to do in cities where people live, work and visit. Also, movie listings covering all new releases for 31,000 screens nationwide from the Moviefone service. For easy planning, AOL Local Search automatically displays the next movie showtimes from the three theaters nearest to the user on the results page, full schedules of all nearby showings for the next three days, and convenient ticket purchasing on Moviefone.com. Built-in maps and driving directions from the MapQuest service appear alongside search results, with customized features to see all nearby results on one map and view closest subway stations. Additionally, AOL Local Search will include the most accurate and up-to-date location information through AOL's new MapQuest Partner Data Program that enables MapQuest's Business Solutions clients to have their information regularly updated in the AOL database.
** Ratings and reviews to help make decisions based on others' recommendations and word-of-mouth referrals. These include editorial reviews and annual "City's Best" rankings for thousands of local dining, nightlife, and entertainment options from AOL CityGuide; as well as consumer ratings that allow people to see what others in their community think are the best experts, restaurants, hotels, contractors, events, movie theaters and more, with a one-click way to add their own rating and personal review. In addition, "Hot Searches" highlight the most searched-for restaurant and entertainment venues.
** Built-in shopping and transaction services, including "what's on sale," with weekly specials on apparel, consumer electronics, home improvement products, food and more offered by local retailers from ShopLocal.com; opportunities to make restaurant reservations online through OpenTable; the ability to purchase $25 dining certificates for only $10 from Restaurant.com; as well as integrated ticket purchasing for events and concerts through AOL Tickets, which partners with the six top primary and secondary ticketing services.
AOL Local Search will also offer the future ability to find local news for communities and neighborhoods in every zip code nationwide through Topix.net.
All this, without a "beta" tag in sight! ;-) Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
MSN Search Viral Campaign with Fake Blogs
Mediapost has details of the new viral campaign, MSN hopes will help its newly launched MSN Search gain street cred.
The viral’s main site, www.msnfound.com, collects all the blogs together, along with pictures of the authors. Each of the authors has a unique shtick.
It's laughable that MSN has to create its own buzz by developing fake blogs and hoping the word will spread. Even Microsoft evangelist, Robert Scoble, thinks the campaign stinks.
This site, which probably cost $100,000 (ahh, that's where our towel money went) has great graphic design. Lots of streaming video.
But it's fake. All of it is actors. No real people. No real point.
AOL Search Predicts American Idol Winner
AOL is certainly doing a better job of promoting their search engine recently. They're coming up with all kinds of quirky information, revealed from search requests.
With most of America tuning in tonight to see the results of the last two nights of voting, AOL Search thinks they have an idea who might win American Idol.
AOL Search: Most Searched for American Idol Contestants (February 13 - 22)
1 Carrie Underwood
2 Constantine Maroulis
3 Mario Vazquez
4 Mikalah Gordon
5 Bo Bice
6 Anthony Fedorov
7 Travis Tucker
8 Amanda Avila
9 David Brown
10 Vonzell Solomon Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
MSN Search a Flop? Not so Fast!
If you read threadwatch, you must be prepared to accept the fact that you will often not agree with the posts (imagine the controversy of this blog, times 10).
Nick W gets a good conversation going by suggestiing that MSN Search's "marketing and attempts to connect just suck" and "my gut feeling is that they've blown it".
Come off it! They only launched it a few weeks ago and they have 5 years of catching-up to do. I know for a fact that they are still working on refining the search engine and have efforts to reach out to the search marketing community. It may take a few months for them to gain traction, but don't write them off in the first inning (remember the Red Sox vs the Yankees?). Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
CGI Holding Corporation to Present at the Roth Capital Partners 17th Annual Growth Stock Conference
Want to know which direction WebSourced and its parent company, CGI Holding (CGIH), is heading? CGI's CEO Gerry Jacobs is speaking at the Roth Capital Partners conference today at 12pm EST / 9am PST.
Gerry will mostly discuss the growth plans and M&A strategies for the company, but will also describe the vision behind WebSourced and its recent move into traditional marketing, with the acquisition of MarketSmart Advertising.
Life Without Google
Steve Bass proves that there is life without Google. He has a brief list and summary of some alternative ways to find information online.
Don't get me wrong: I love searching the Web with Google. It's on my toolbar, and it's been my mainstay search engine since what feels like the late seventies. (Okay, so that's an exaggeration--but you get the idea.)
The question is, are there equally good alternatives? You bet. And this week I'll share some of the ones I've found, as well as a few articles, all to help you better find your way around the Internet. Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
"We did research last year and it revealed that (online) dating customers want a robust and efficient way for searching for dates online," said Curt Degenhart, a Lycos senior product manager.
It looks like our parent, CGI Holding, was ahead of the game when it recently acquired online dating sites to go alongside WebSourced's search marketing services. ;-) Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
Amazon Seeks Personal Search History Patent
The Slashdot folks are reporting on a recent Amazon A9 patent for personal search which allows for a user interface that responds to a user's request to "delete" his search history by rendering it "undisplayable" to him, but still leaving it accessible for other uses.
This sounds like giving a user the ability to "delete" their search history, which is important for users who want to protect their privacy and prevent others from viewing their search history. But, depending on how the interface is built and the privacy policy is written, users might think that this act of deletion actually erases their search history from Amazon's databases altogether. Not so - the data just won't be displayed. Amazon still has the data, and apparently can share it with other "clients of the...server" - whatever that means. Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
February 22, 2005
Ask Jeeves' Love of Bloglines
The Blog Herald points to a San Fran Business Times article which quotes Ask Jeeves SVP Jim Lanzone as saying: “I began seeing how an integration (with Jeeves) would make sense. Being a fan of the service, I reached out to Mark Fletcher [Bloglines CEO] and set up lunch”. Lanzone goes on to reveal that he would visit Bloglines 20 times a day.
The Herald states..
"We say that as much as we love Bloglines, 20 times a day is an unhealthy obsession."
20 times a day...that's nothing. If reading RSS feeds was a sexual activity, I'd be blind by now!!! Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
Google Calendar Next?
Dave Jung thinks that recent Googlebot activity will lead to a Google Calendar tool.
MSN Search Partners with Picsearch for Image Index Breaking News: Picsearch announced today that it has entered into an agreement to supply the new MSN Search service with image search services. Picsearch already provides the pictures seen when you conduct an image search at Ask Jeeves or Lycos Europe. The addition of MSN Search, is a big coup for the company.
Nils Andersson, CEO of Picsearch, said "I am very excited that Picsearch's technology will be used to find images on the Web for this worldwide service. MSN shares our desire to be at the forefront of the net search market. Picsearch will continue providing the highest quality image search service in the world. New features are always being developed."
Adding a comprehensive database of images is just one of many crucial steps MSN Search must take, if they are to compete with Google and Yahoo.
"The new MSN Search service offers a large index to help consumers quickly and easily find the information that is of interest to them," said Justin Osmer, product manager at MSN. "MSN is proud to team up with Picsearch to offer a vast index of high-quality images that are relevant to our consumers' queries." Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
Pay-Per-Call: A New Avenue for Search Marketers
Heather Lloyd-Martin has an article published over at Search Engine Watch that discusses the new trend of Pay-Per-Call. Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
French Not Happy with Google Book Plans
According to Reuters, France's national library has raised a "war cry" over plans by Google to put books from some of the world's great libraries on the Internet and wants to ensure the project does not lead to a domination of American ideas.
OK, all of our French readers, I'd like your thoughts. Do the French hate Google? Why is it that most attacks on the company appear to originate from France? Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
February 21, 2005
Search Engine Strategies NYC - February 28-March 3 Search Engine Strategies is next Monday...see? you needed a reminder, didn't you? :-)
As the show is being held in New York, the theme is going to focus a little more on the "marketing" aspects of SEM and should have plenty of sessions for all of you who's eyes glaze over when you hear "301 redirects".
If you have not yet registered, you can get a 50% discount using this offer from KeywordRanking.com. And be sure to stop by our booth #1106 for your chance to win a 42" Plasma Screen TV.
I look forward to seeing you there! Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
Pandia Search Engine Awards 2004
Per and the team have announced their favorite search engines and search engine marketing sites of 2004.
As for SEL? I like the way they described the us..."Andy Beal can be found thinking aloud about search engines and search engine marketing at The Search Engine Lowdown, always a good read."
"Thinking aloud" is very accurate...after all, if I engaged my brain before actually posting to the blog, it wouldn't be as entertaining now, would it. ;-) Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
Reflections on the Etail Conference
Stephen Spencer also attended eTail last week and he gives his thoughts on the event.
I actually enjoyed the content of the event, more than I thought. While some companies, such as Bill Me Later, used their sponsorship opportunities for a sales pitch, others tried to make an effort to relay some interesting, non-sales pitch, information.
The search panel that I spoke on was a little too brief, demonstrated by the fact that many people came up to me with additional questions at the end. Although, I have to thank Carol Steinberg of QVC for including Search Engine Lowdown in a list of top resources, in her presentation...I almost fell off my chair!
Some interesting snippets of information came out of the retail speakers, including one very large retailer stating that search engine marketing was "absolutely critical" to their business (their name has been removed to protect them from potential sales pitches ;-) ).
I've added some other interesting statistics to the presentation I will be giving next week at SES NY. Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
Taking the Wrapper Off Google Maps Speaking of Jason Dowdell, he'd be all over this news story from InfoWorld (yes Jason, you are a search geek...it's OK, embrace it).
Jon Udell peels back the outer-layer of Google Maps and reveals the technology behind the newly launched map service.
As is the tradition when Google launches a new service, curious hackers immediately took Google Maps apart to see how the magic was done. The best early analysis came from Joel Webber, who worked out the details of image tiling, dynamic updating, and route plotting (infoworld.com/2533). Among other interesting discoveries, he found that the application uses the browser’s built-in XSLT engine to transform packets of XML received from the server into search results, displayed as HTML.
So why no compatibility with Apple Macs?. According to Udell, "this explains why Google Maps supports only Internet Explorer or Mozilla-based browsers. The others, notably Safari and Opera, lack built-in XSLT processors."
Enough about the technology behind it, what is more important, is the impact this will have on the popularity of MapQuest. I showed Google Maps to my wife, just once last week, and she's already using it instead of MapQuest. I predict many will make the switch. Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
Bloglines Acquisition Price Inflated Jason Dowdell ("Dow" as in "Dow Jones", "Dell" as in "Dell computers") suggests he has an inside source with info regarding how much Ask Jeeves paid for Bloglines.
A confidential source told me last week Ask Jeeves didn't pay anywhere near the $50 million dollars some speculate they did. The purchase price will probably be reported at a max of $25 million but it's probably nowhere near that amount in actuality either.
Interesting that Bloglines was given kudos in this month's issue of Wired (before the announcement had come out). I bet they had more than one suitor, so I would guess a price closer to the "max of $25 million". Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
Google Yourself the Correct Way David Grimes manages to make a who column out of the practice of "Googling yourself".
To my surprise (and to my suddenly inflated ego), I got 493,000 hits when I entered "David Grimes." What could they be? Paeans to my wit and wisdom? "A little something" from the Pulitzer Committee? A remedy for my erectile dysfunction?
Believe it or not, there is more than one David Grimes on Planet Earth. In fact, it appears that every fifth person shares my name. (In Tibet, my name translates to, "He who drives with finger up nose.")
Of course, we all know (smugly) he should place quotes around his name, to truly see how many references there are for his name. Doing so, drops the number count from 493,000 to just 15,100.
A pointless post? Hey, he started it, when he created a two-page article about Googling his own name. ;-) Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
February 20, 2005
Does Ask Jeeves Understand Bloggers?
Very funny cartoon in this week's eWeek magazine, on the topic of Ask Jeeves buying Bloglines.
Obviously the creator doesn't know that Ask Jeeves knows bloggers very well - indicated by the fact that they sponsor this blog...they know a good thing! ;-) Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
February 19, 2005
New Google Toolbar Stealing Traffic?
A CNet report suggests that some are not happy with the new AutoLink feature offered by the latest version of the Google Toolbar.
When Web surfers install the toolbar in their Microsoft Internet Explorer Web browser and click the AutoLink button... Book publishers' ISBN numbers trigger links to Amazon.com, potentially luring shoppers away from competing book sellers such as BarnesandNoble.com.
...some critics charge that AutoLink takes the liberty of modifying Web pages to direct people the way Google sees fit. Microsoft took the same approach with its Smart Tags feature years ago and eventually pulled it because of trust and trademark concerns
We'll give it about a month before some company files suit against Google for stealing code or traffic. Not because they have an inherent right to, but just because they'll know they have a good chance of winning (especially if filed in a French court). And can you imagine the uproar if Google starts linking AdWords advertisers with the AutoLink feature? Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
February 18, 2005
Minor changes
You may notice a few minor changes to the layout of the blog. I've removed the top "computer keyboard" gif from the template. The reason for this, is to get more information "above the fold".
I've also added my own mugshot to each page. Not because I think I'm pretty (in fact, I bet visitor-counts are already down), but I have had a lot of feedback, from people I respect, telling me to add my photo. And, heck, if it works for Scoble and Zawodny, there must be some sense to it. ;-) Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
Getting an Education in Search Engine Marketing
Two reasons for this post...
1. Jennifer Laycock has a useful article on where to turn for search engine marketing advice and education. 2. I want to thank her for listing Search Engine Lowdown among her resources.
AOL Search Predicts Oscar Winners If searches on AOL Search are any indication of who'll be collecting an Oscar on February 27, then online consumers have cast their votes for Johnny Depp (Best Actor), Hilary Swank (Best Actress) and Million Dollar Baby (Best Picture) to win trophies in their respective categories.
AOL Search: Top Searches for Oscar-Nominated Actors/Actresses For the Week of February 7
1) Johnny Depp - Best Actor, Finding Neverland 2) Hillary Swank - Best Actress, Million Dollar Baby 3) Natalie Portman - Best Supporting Actress, Closer 4) Clint Eastwood - Best Actor, Million Dollar Baby 5) Leonardo DiCaprio - Best Actor, Million Dollar Baby 6) Jamie Foxx - Best Actor, Ray and Best Supporting Actor, Collateral 7) Kate Winslet - Best Actress, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind 8) Clive Owen - Best Supporting Actor, Closer 9) Morgan Freeman - Best Supporting Actor, Million Dollar Baby 10) Virginia Madsen - Best Supporting Actress, Sideways 11) Don Cheadle - Best Actor, Hotel Rwanda 12) Cate Blanchett - Best Supporting Actress, The Aviator
AOL Search: Top Searches for Oscar-Nominated Movies For the Week of February 7
1) Million Dollar Baby - Best Picture 2) Sideways - Best Picture 3) The Incredibles - Best Animated Picture 4) The Aviator - Best Picture 5) Finding Neverland - Best Picture 6) Ray - Best Picture 7) Shrek 2 - Best Animated Picture 8) Shark Tale - Best Animated Picture Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
Is Google Using Latent Semantic Indexing?
The latest newsletter from Axandra has everything you need to know about LSI (latent semantic indexing) and the impact it can have, if in fact, Google is using it in its algorithm.
UK SEM Group Gears Up for Elections
You've probably noticed the "short and sweet" nature of today's posts. I'm still digging-out from eTail. :-)
I wanted to give you the latest news on SMA-UK myself, but Kevin Newcomb has already posted a pretty comprehensive overview.
The working group for the Search Marketing Association UK (SMA-UK) has exceeded its initial membership and financial goals and is now in the process of formally launching the trade organization and electing an executive committee.
Generic Searches Lead to Online Purchases
A joint study by DoubleClick and comScore Networks suggests that many consumers conduct product-related searches weeks in advance of purchase and they prefer generic, non-branded, search terms.
According to the report, approximately 77 percent of keyword searches conducted by buyers across all four categories are generic, compared to 23 percent that are brand-only or a branded word plus another item.
Many online marketers measure search marketing campaign effectiveness based on clicks that lead to a purchase in the same session or within a few days of purchase. However, the study finds most buyers complete their relevant search activity well in advance of the online purchase. In the travel category, 64.7 percent of buyers' final searches occurred at least two weeks before the purchase; 21.6 percent searched a week or more before buying; and 23.8 percent bought during the same session.
Next time your SEM tells you that you should focus on brand-related search terms, make sure they've already tapped into the traffic from generic phrases.
Ask Jeeves TV Ads Online
You can now see Ask's new TV commercials online.
To be honest, they could be a whole lot funnier. The voice-over at the end of each commercial is so dull, it hardly makes me want to visit the site. And what about those that don't know how to "Ask Jeeves"? Shouldn't there be the URL at displayed at the end of each ad? Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
Google to Open Technology Facility in Oregon
Google again...
This time, Reuters reports Google has bought 30 acres of land from the Port Authority of The Dalles, Oregon, for a new technology infrastructure facility.
Google, based in Mountain View, California, is expected to pay $1.87 million for the parcel of industrial-zoned land 85 miles east of Portland, with an option to buy three other area sites. Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
Google the Star Witness in Murder Trials?
Interesting story in the National Post that demonstrates how Google's cache can keep information living-on.
On Tuesday, the judge in Toronto's Johnathan murder case declared a mistrial because of new evidence uncovered when a National Post reporter Googled a key witness and found a cached version of her Weblog. Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
New York Times to Buy About.com for $410 million
The news is out that the NYT will spend $410m buying About.com from Primedia.
The New York Times Co., whose newspapers include the New York Times and the Boston Globe, said it will expand About.com's content and visibility and use the site to market its products.
The Times Co. said it paid a multiple of 23 times About.com's estimated 2005 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
Bill Gates' Microsoft in "Battle" with Google ABC's Peter Jennings tonight interviewed Microsoft founder, Bill Gates. Gates offers his thoughts on a number of topics, including the challenges it faces trying to compete with Google.
"Well, I have a meeting today with our people doing search. And that's an area where Google has got out in front, does a very good job. We're sort of the David vs. Goliath in that (chuckles) particular battle so we'll have fun talking to them about their progress."
"I think we're actually one of the few companies that can say with credibility that we'll give Google some competition. And that's great for everyone."
Ask Jeeves States "Enhance is Not a Customer"
It seems the guys over at Enhance, used some creative license in their email claiming a new "partnership" with Ask Jeeves.
"We are happy to announce our new partnership with Ask Jeeves, Inc. This partnership allows Enhance.com advertisers to deliver contextually targeted, relevant ads that visually involve users and help express the value of their product or service."
Actually, according to Ask Jeeves, they are not a partner. James Speer, VP of Products for AJInteractive told us, "Enhance is not a customer of Ask Jeeves, or vice versa. This email was sent to their customers to describe and perhaps promote our Premier Listings product, since Enhance would play middleman on those buys if they occur...The email they sent seems to be explaining what Premier Listings is about for those who are unfamiliar with it, that's all."
So there you have it...no lipstick on Ask Jeeves' collar after all. The Google/Ask marriage is still as strong as ever! ;-)
Update: Mark S. Peterson, VP of Public Relations, for Marchex (the parent company of Enhance) wants to make sure there is no confusion.
"The published story ‘Ask Jeeves Joins Forces with Enhance Interactive to Offer Google AdWords Alternative’ was based on completely unauthorized and inaccurate emails created by members of Enhance Interactive’s sales team. We take this matter very seriously and have taken immediate actions internally to address this.
Again, it is important to note that the partnership referenced in today’s story does not exist in any form." Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
Google Releases New Toolbar, But Not for Safari or Firefox
CNet has all the details you need on Google's Version 3 of their popular toolbar.
Version 3 of the software also lets people automatically check their spelling in Web forms; translate words in English into several languages; and add Web links to certain plain text. For example, an address could be enhanced with a hypertext link to its location on a map, with the click of a button on the toolbar
Google would not comment on whether Google is developing a version for Apple Computer's Safari or Firefox Web browsers. Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
Microsoft Announces New Internet Explorer
Susan Kuchinskas takes a look at the recent announcement by Microsoft, that they will be launching IE 7.0 soon. She questions whether the new browser will include an integrated MSN Search toolbar.
There's another good reason why Microsoft should do more than add security to IE 7.0, according to JupiterResearch analyst Joe Wilcox: Search rivals Yahoo and Google are both rumored to be working on their own branded browsers...A browser can be a powerful delivery mechanism for searchers, Wilcox said. "To change search services, you just type in a new URL. But when you get attached to one browser, you'll stick with it," he said.
And, I agree...
Andy Beal, vice president of search marketing at WebSourced, a search engine optimization company, said Microsoft should integrate a search query box into IE. It's well enough to offer a downloadable browser toolbar, Beal said, but much more potent to build search into the browser itself.
"If they can integrate it with the browser," Beal said, "they have a much better chance of getting people to stick with MSN search." Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
Ask Jeeves Joins Forces with Enhance to Offer Google AdWords Alternative We have an update on this story, here.
EXCLUSIVE...According to an email being sent out by Enhance's account controllers, the paid search company has joined forces with Ask Jeeves, to offer any alternative to Google AdWords.
Here's the email...
"We are happy to announce our new partnership with Ask Jeeves, Inc. This partnership allows Enhance.com advertisers to deliver contextually targeted, relevant ads that visually involve users and help express the value of their product or service. We are committed to complimenting our services by delivering relevant information through these results.
This campaign works similar to Google AdWords but is 15% cheaper. It will run in the featured section of Ask Jeeves and your buy is exclusive. This is a quarterly agreement buy and will run off keywords you choose. You'll send us a title and description you wish to use, along with a landing page. We submit almost any keyword to Ask Jeeves for pricing and approval. Each keyword has a different CPC, the cost is less than Overture but higher than Enhance.com's regular CPC. Please reply if you'd like to take advantage of this great offer."
I wonder if execs at Ask Jeeves are aware that Enhance is stating "This campaign works similar to Google AdWords but is 15% cheaper." Ask has always been very protective of their relationship with Google and may not appreciate this little dig.
This is certainly an interesting development. Could this partnership mean the end of the relationship with Google and could Enhance be on Ask Jeeves' radar screen for acquisition?
We'll contact Ask and get you the "Search Engine Lowdown". ;-)
Yahoo Opens European Headquarters in Dublin
According to FT.com, Yahoo, attracted by Ireland's low corporate tax rate of 12.5 per cent and availability of data centers, has set up European operations in Dublin. Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
February 15, 2005
Avoiding Search Engine Woes with Multiple Domains and Websites
Our own Ben Wills, shares his experience when dealing with multiple domain names, in this report from SES Chicago.
"Microsoft has a section of their Web site for developers called the Microsoft Developer Network," Wills explained. "However, they do not necessarily want the brand, Microsoft Developer Network, to be its own standalone brand. But they do want the brand name (Microsoft) prominently featured. Subdomains are a great way to utilize the brand strength of the main domain and have subdomains piggy-back off of the main brand."
"If you have 50 different sites with 50 different domain names and 50 different hosting companies, with a linking scheme to everything, you might get some short term results," Wills further explained, "but the longevity of those results all will eventually raise a red flag with the search engines." Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
TurboScout.com Makes Searching Faster
21 year-old William Chee was tired of switching between search engines to compare results (all that re-typing). So the bright guy built TurboScout.com, an on-page toolbar that allows you to switch between search engines, while keeping a search navigation pane at the top of the screen.
"Users who visit http://www.turboscout.com only need to enter keywords once, and getting original results from different search engines is as simple as clicking the engine's name. No more retyping keywords into different search engines." Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
February 14, 2005
Ask Jeeves Courts Mozilla
CNet reports on a recent post at the Ask Jeeves blog, that suggest the search engine wants to cozy-up with Mozilla.
In a meeting with Mozilla late last month, the company discussed how the open-source group could help it use Mozilla technologies and the organization to help develop its products.
I guess this is as close as we get to a "love" story in the search engine space. Google and Ask both vying for the affections of Mozilla. Happy Valentines! Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
Ask Jeeves Launches TV Ads
According to ClickZ, Ask Jeeves responds to recent MSN Search TV ads, with their own ramped-up effort.
The six 15-second TV spots that aim to change Jeeves' lackluster rankings were created by TBWA/Chiat/Day San Francisco. In each, someone asks a question of a wildly inappropriate source, but he or she can't answer. Those questioned include "American Idol" reject William Hung and "Animal Adventures" star Jack Hanna. The spots conclude by suggesting people search Ask Jeeves. The tag line for the campaign is "Ask Jeeves. And get what you're searching for."
I've not seen the Ask ads, but I have seen the MSN Search ads. MSN's ads appear to be very targeted. For example, I saw an ad that promoted MSN Search for finding college sports information, shown during an ACC basketball game. Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
Google Sees All, Knows All
Another Reuters story. This time, they look at the growing problem of sensitive data being readily available via a simple Google search.
Using Google, identity thieves can easily find credit-card and bank-account numbers, tax returns, and other personal information buried in court documents, expense reports and school Web sites that contain such information.
Google hackers can download Department of Homeland Security threat assessments marked "For Official Use Only."
They can gain control of office printers, Internet phones and other devices controlled through a Web interface -- including electrical power systems. Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
No Google Stock Decline After Lock-Up Expires
According to Reuters, the expiry of the largest stock lock-up for Google was mostly anticipated, hence no decline in the stock price today.
"Everyone knew that the lock-up period is over and more shares were available to come to the market. Much of the recent downward action seen in the stock price after early February earnings was attributable to the impending lock-up expiry," said Tim Biggam, chief options strategist at Man Financial. Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
February 11, 2005
Another conference
Just a heads-up that posting will once again be erratic next week. I'm heading to Palm Desert, CA to speak at the eTail conference.
Hope you all have a good weekend! Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
Google May Host Wikipedia
According to a CNet report, Wiki Media Foundation, the group behind the Wikipedia online encyclopedia project, said Friday that search giant Google has volunteered to host some of its content on company servers.
They've not yet decided whether to take Google up on its offer. They plan to meet with them in March. Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
Become.com Now Open for Beta Testing
We sent Jason Dowdell out to Cali for the pre-launch party for Become.com. He has some great reports on his blog, Marketing Shift. He tells us that you can now register for the beta. Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
InfoUSA Offers to Buy Digital Impact
Digital Impact, the company that acquired MarketLeap in an effort to diversify their offering, is now an acquisition target itself.
According to DMNews...
InfoUSA continued its acquisition spree by announcing yesterday that it offered to buy Digital Impact Inc. for $2 a share. However, Digital Impact’s board of directors has not responded to the offer.
The price represents a 38 percent premium over its closing price of $1.45 yesterday. Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
Increasing Cost of Pay-Per-Click
BusinessWeek Online takes a look at the increasing cost of PPC and how some advertisers are becoming more targeted with their keyword buys (not exactly breaking-news, but we're glad BW caught-up).
...many advertisers have found such generic keywords to be pricey and less likely to cover the ad cost. Instead, they are bidding on a larger array of more specific keywords: a telecom company might choose "wireless plan" rather than "cell phone"' in an effort to lure the most interested buyers. Andy Beal
| permalink | +marktd |
Om Malik has heard 
Lycos today 
Breaking News: Picsearch announced today that it has entered into an agreement to supply the new MSN Search service with image search services. 
Speaking 
If searches on 
ABC's Peter Jennings tonight 
We have an update on this story, 