Inside AdWords: Ads quality and you
Published by Picturesque on Friday, April 28, 2006 at 8:12 PM.
Google has changed the way Adwords works and chances are it affects you (if you use Adwords). Claiming better relevance to what users are searching for and also for sites the ads appear on, you could have fewer impressions. The good news is, maybe you'll receive better results. By presenting your ads to only qualified users really looking for your site, perhaps you'll be able to spends the money you save on more ads. Let's hope they didn't go too far on trying to improve their services. Inside AdWords: Ads quality and you
In Search of Better Organic Rankings
Published by Picturesque on at 8:09 PM.
While the title is a bit deceptive, it is a good article on how search engines work (which would have been a better title). A good article for those who want to know why things work the way they do...at least on a simple level. In Search of Better Organic Rankings
Inside Google Sitemaps: Updated robots.txt status
Published by Picturesque on Thursday, April 27, 2006 at 11:05 AM.
Google has finally acknowledged the robots.txt bug in their Sitemaps feature by announcing a fix for the issue. Prior to this, they were incorrectly stating that the robots.txt file had errors. Inside Google Sitemaps: Updated robots.txt status
Google bug is fixed: sa=X parameter
Published by Picturesque on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at 9:44 AM.
Goolge uses tracking codes to help them do what they do. These codes would often send users to a site not found page instead of your real web site. This bug was quickly fixed of course and Google encrypted the needed tracking code into the links. More info is at Extended listing links. The sa=X parameter causes a Google Bug!.
Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2
Published by Picturesque on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 at 10:01 AM.
For those of you with a spare computer that's not really doing anything important comes a new beta. To encourage people to try the beta, Microsoft is offering free phone support in selected countries. Most notable for search enging buffs is the search tool that allows you to search multiple sites. I didn't see any features not already available in Firefox and it looks like Safari. This is of course the Microsoft trend...take someone else's ideas and make them better. I'm not knocking it. It's been a tried and true approach even before the Sony Walkman. IEBlog : Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2 (and more) Available
Site-flavoring and image ads. What's Next? Stratch and Sniff Monitors?
Published by Picturesque on Monday, April 24, 2006 at 2:32 PM.
Google definately loves silly names. At other times they call it what it is. The first is called Site-Flavored Seearch. This new feature is suppose to provide search that is tailored to your site's topics and themes. I thought they were already suppose to be doing this. Ah well. In the other department, Google has added more Image Ad support. Two new sizes. Have fun kiddies. Google AdSense Help Center: What's New - April 2006
Windows Live Expo Push
Published by Picturesque on Saturday, April 22, 2006 at 4:03 PM.
Microsoft is pushing their beta of Windows Live Expo. Still in Beta, this service allows you to post classified ads of all sorts. Soon to be a haven for get rich quick schemes, porn sites and more, we do hope that Microsoft is able to reign in this service and make it usable. You can limit it to a geographical region and just to trusted friends. (Of course if they really are friends, do you need classifieds to know what's going on in their life?) Windows Live Expo
SEO? Easy peasy. What's the fuss all about?
Published by Picturesque on Thursday, April 20, 2006 at 8:17 AM.
Someone at Search Engine Watch posted an article about SEO being easy and asked what they were missing from this easy formula. Hitting it right on the head, the moderator compared it to chess. Limited pieces, limited rules, simple to learn, a lifetime to master. A good analogy. If it was so easy, why would anyone think they could make a career of it? SEO? Easy peasy. What's the fuss all about?
Introducing the 2006 e-Planner from MIVA
Published by Picturesque on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 at 9:23 AM.
Miva has finally done what has been missing from many online ad campaigns....introduced paid online advertising that is holiday friendly. Do you have products or services to market that are associated with a holiday or special event? Check it out at ... Introducing the 2006 e-Planner from MIVA.
Display Impressions Double Year-Over-Year - 04/17/2006
Published by Picturesque on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 at 1:35 PM.
MediaPost reports marketers have dramatically increased online spending. Online paid advertsing is definately in it's boom stage. With the number of ecommerce sales increasing and more competitors online, it's no wonder. As competition heats up, so must marketing. MediaPost Publications - Display Impressions Double Year-Over-Year - 04/17/2006
Google AdWords Conversion Tracking Reveals Competitors Customer Value
Published by Picturesque on Monday, April 17, 2006 at 4:01 PM.
Time to spy on your competition. A Google flaw, which probably won't last long now that it's public, allows you to see what a competitor estimates their cost of conversion to be. This number is typically the cost to make the sale, or how much the lead is worth to the company running the ad. Click here for more info...Google AdWords Conversion Tracking Reveals Competitors Customer Value.
Search Engine Journal » Washington Post & Oodle : Aggregated DC Classifieds Marketplace
Published by Picturesque on Friday, April 14, 2006 at 11:54 AM.
The Search Engine Journal reports that Oodle, the local classified search tool is snuggling up to Washington Post. Newspapers should be afraid and making such alliances. Electrons could replace the paper standby. Search Engine Journal » Washington Post & Oodle : Aggregated DC Classifieds Marketplace
adCenter Blog : Changes to the broad match type
Published by Picturesque on at 11:52 AM.
If you are advertising on MSN's beta ad program, read this article about the changes coming up. adCenter Blog : Changes to the broad match type
Welcome to Google Calendar
Published by Picturesque on at 11:50 AM.
The new calendar is here! The new calendar is here! All you need is a Gmail account or a free Google account. It's a nice calendar with sharing options. Welcome to Google Calendar
Yahoo! Maps, Driving Directions, and Traffic
Published by Picturesque on at 11:42 AM.
Yahoo! Maps Beta is finally here. Although late to the game, their sattelite images are of great quality. While you can't get driving directions in many countries, the US and Canada will be pleased. Yahoo! Maps, Driving Directions, and Traffic
Windows Live Academic Home Page
Published by Picturesque on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 at 1:38 PM.
It's another of Microsoft's "I Can Do Better" jabs at Google. It looks like they've succeeded, again. The Beta Academic Search allows for deep searching, drilling into information not possible with Google's service. We are certain Google will respond with an update on their service. Currently only the fields of computer science, electrical engineering and physics are covered, but there will be more. Windows Live Academic Home Page
Kanoodle Snares Dow Jones Sponsored Link Distribution
Published by Picturesque on at 1:35 PM.
Kanoodle, a long time online advertising service, will now be serving up ads on Dow Jones sites. Yahoo! may not miss this customer, but to Kanoodle it's sure to be a feather in their cap. Kanoodle features ads not just targeted on page content, but also through a large set of categories and other factors. If you need to reach an audience that stays up to date on news, Kanoodle is a good advertiser to consider....now for even more reasons. Kanoodle Snares Dow Jones Sponsored Link Distribution
BetaNews | Microsoft to Offer Froogle Competitor
Published by Picturesque on at 1:32 PM.
Microsoft has plans to one up Froogle by indexing not only products for sale, but also informational pages about those products. Do you have content on your site? If not, it's well past time to start adding more product information pages. BetaNews | Microsoft to Offer Froogle Competitor
Yahoo! Publisher Network Adds a Blog
Published by Picturesque on Monday, April 10, 2006 at 11:45 PM.
Of course if you are going to encourage a Publisher network, you should publish your own blog. Yahoo! has taken this logical step and created a blog for it's publishers. They are off to a great start at Yahoo! Publisher Network. So what's a publisher? It's anyone publishing information to the Internet as in a blog, wiki, etc.
Google Stealing AdWords Clients Now In Israel?
Published by Picturesque on Friday, April 07, 2006 at 1:48 PM.
Google contacts AdWords customers in an attempt to also have their AdWords account managed by Google. This sounds like asking the fox to watch the chicken coop and many people in the PPC managing business are upset with Google calling their customers. I have customers that I manage campaigns for and I'm not upset. Why should I be? In a free market, should I restrict Google from calling their own customers to sell more services. Of course they are going to claim they can do a better job just as I'm going to claim when I talk with a potential customer. Get over it people. Only people with rocks in their heads would let Google do this. Goodbye to customers with stone heads. Bring me the smart ones. Google Stealing AdWords Clients Now In Israel?
Want more info that'll help you decide on Google's trustworthiness? Check out Chinese AdWords Advertisers To Sue Google Over Click Fraud (also the same site as the above link).
Want more info that'll help you decide on Google's trustworthiness? Check out Chinese AdWords Advertisers To Sue Google Over Click Fraud (also the same site as the above link).
Google & Earthlink To Win San Francisco Wireless Contract
Published by Picturesque on Thursday, April 06, 2006 at 2:34 PM.
Free internet access! Yippee! Oh...I have to move? Google and Earthlink are closer to providing free and low cost wireless Internet access to San Francisco. We are all looking forward to national service. Google & Earthlink To Win San Francisco Wireless Contract.
Google Adds Other Languages Drop Down To Support Pages
Published by Picturesque on at 2:28 PM.
Great news for illegals! Ok, just a bit of political humor there. There's a post on SearchEngineWatch that Google now has a multilingual pulldown on their support pages. Google Adds Other Languages Drop Down To Support Pages.
Need Photos? You Need everystockphoto.com
Published by Picturesque on Tuesday, April 04, 2006 at 9:22 AM.
EveryStockPhoto includes a number of photos that you can use, but do check for how you can use them. Most photos are from Creative Commons. There are a number of features worth checking out. A membership is required. everystockphoto.com - your source for free photos
eComXpo - The Virtual Trade Show for eCommerce Marketers
Published by Picturesque on at 8:46 AM.
The free virtual tradeshow is live today through the sixth. Intended for eCommerce marketing, this online trade show is at least worth a gander. We hope it will prove to be a true informational event and lead to other such shows with an emphasis on helping us all become better at attracting qualified shoppers. Go to eComXpo - The Virtual Trade Show for eCommerce Marketers.
Reader's Digest to Buy Allrecipes.com
Published by Picturesque on at 8:42 AM.
Allrecipes.com, a true survivor, has been purchased by Readers Digest for about $66 million. The site will serve as a portal to the digest's existing food sites. More at Reader's Digest to Buy Allrecipes.com.
