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Lijit Search
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Microsoft proved this week that they can still compete with the likes of Apple and Google when it comes to innovation. With their launch of surface computing, Microsoft has turned the standard coffee table into an interactive touch screen computer. When this type of technology (Apple is in the hunt too) goes mainstream and is combined with services like universal search from Google, the resulting applications could change the way that we interact with the Internet.
Posted by John Faris
9:13 AM
0 comments  
Friday, May 25, 2007
Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are set to talk next week for the first time in a public forum at the "All Things Digital" conference in Carlsbad, CA. Very exciting.
Posted by Reid
2:00 PM
0 comments
Thursday, May 24, 2007
With the recent launch of “Universal Search,” Google has made revolutionary changes to its search interface. This new interface creates considerable challenges and opportunities for companies engaged in search engine marketing (SEM). Search engine marketers are now forced to take a more holistic approach in their quest to drive traffic and create brand recognition through Google’s search engine listings.
What is Universal Search?
Most Internet users are familiar with the standard Google Web search interface, which typically lists text titles and descriptions of Web sites relevant to a particular query. On the other hand, a vast majority of users are not aware of Google’s other “Vertical” search engine interfaces, such as Google Images, Google News, and Google Video. These vertical (or specialized) search engines narrow a user’s query to a particular content type (i.e. images, news, video, etc…). By integrating listings from its various vertical search engines directly into its primary search engine result pages (SERPs), Google is making this “other content” more obvious to the less savvy search engine user.
Whahhhht? You say….
For an example of universal search, try performing a standard Google search for Darth Vader and you’ll see (as of 5/24/07) a news result ranking 1st, an embedded video ranking 7th, and images on the bottom of the page. While universal results are currently not appearing for most queries, changes are being rolled out in a phased approach, and more of these universal SERP listings will begin to appear as time goes on.
Impacts on Search Engine Marketing
Universal search has dramatically increased the importance of diversifying Web site optimization and promotion strategies. Companies that rely solely on Web page editing to drive organic rankings are going to fall in the SERP rankings, while companies that optimize and promote multiple content types are going to gain in the SERP rankings. This paradigm shift translates into an exponential increase in the value of multimedia development and syndication, social media marketing, online news (namely online public relations optimization and social news), local search, XML feeds, and RSS feeds. For companies that are operating in a competitive market and/or want to create a defensible and sustainable presence in the SERPs, implementing these additional search marketing tactics has become more of a requirement than an option.
Posted by John Faris
2:04 PM
0 comments
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Go to Google and type in the search for - french military victories, click on "I'm Feeling Luck." You will be prompted with "Did you mean French military defeats?" Take note of the page you are actually on...it's not a Google result page; you've landed on http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/text/victories.html which "appears" to be a Google result page.
This implies either of two things; 1) Google is having fun with the French, or 2) Someone has hacked into Google. I believe it is Google having fun. Click on the link"Did you mean French military defeats?"and you will be taken to /france.html page; a list of the wars engaged by the French military over the past thousand years or so.
The list would infer that the French are military incompetents.
My point is that on March 13 2003 Google said "pages will be less visible as they fall down further in the search engine's results list."
It is 4 years later and nothing has changed.
Posted by Paul J. Bruemmer
8:07 AM
1 comments
Friday, May 18, 2007
Red Door Interactive is seeking a Web Analyst to join our User Experience team. Our focus is results-driven planning and site optimization through an understanding of user behavior and passion for discovering creative ways to leverage the Internet as an extension of our clients' business models. This is a full-time position. As part of this role you will:
- Map business goals to Web strategies.
- Identify key performance indicators.
- Analyze site analytics and search marketing data.
- Create client reports.
- Articulate performance.
- Identify opportunities for improvement.
- Inform design decisions.
Desired skills:
- Experience with HBX, Google Analytics, Site Catalyst and/or other popular Web analytics tools.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel.
- Background in business, marketing, design or Web strategy.
- Bachelor's degree preferred.
If you are interested in this position please
submit your resume with any samples through our Career Application
Form.
Posted by Charles
3:57 PM
0 comments
Red Door Interactive is seeking an Interaction Designer to join our User Experience team. Push the boundaries of interaction design through innovative user interfaces and emerging technologies. Discover creative applications for tools like Twitter, user generated content, Ajax, social networking, mash-ups, widgets and Apollo. Share your excitement for that next beta invite. Recently honored as winner of the San Diego Business Journal's 2007 Best Places to Work award our culture encourages collaborative thinking and open dialogue. Red Door is located in downtown's thriving East Village surrounded by boutique stores and restaurants. This is a full-time position. As part of this role you will:- Define user experience strategies through site map and wireframe planning models.
- Conduct research to better understand the needs and preferences of target users.
- Keep informed of the latest interactive trends and technology.
- Stay fresh working on a diverse range projects for high-profile clients in various industries.
Desired skills:- Experience creating site maps and wireframes.
- Familiarity with usability best practices.
- Background in business, marketing, design or Web strategy.
- Bachelor's degree preferred.
If you're a good fit, please submit your resume with any samples through our Career Application Form.
Posted by Charles
3:53 PM
0 comments
Microsoft purchased web ad firm aQuantive, Inc. today for 6 billion dollars (an 85% premium over yesterday's closing price), just weeks after Google's purchase of Doubleclick. Online advertising is expected to have a compounded annual growth rate of 20% per year through 2010. Though the deal does seem a little pricey, it only represents 2% of Microsoft's market cap of 293 billion dollars.
Posted by TCarrillo
9:41 AM
0 comments
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Leading Provider of Mobile Advertising Solutions Will Expand Advertising.com’s Mobile Services for Advertisers and Publishers
the buy-up continues. the next move belongs to microsoft...
Posted by brian_tsang
1:34 PM
0 comments
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Videopinions are the preferred method of gathering product opinions on the web for a third of broadband users.
"The kind of honesty and true word of mouth that video product reviews provide delivers an increasingly compelling value proposition." Video reviews are found to be more influential and engaging then other forms of user generated product reviews.
Posted by Michelle Preston
10:18 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Jeff Veen provides insights into the overhaul of Google Analytics. It will be interesting to see how the user interfaces for Gmail and other Google apps evolve after he gets his hands on them.
Posted by Charles
7:39 AM
0 comments
11th Annual Webby winners announced. As always, great sites this year.
Posted by Charles
7:36 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Web analytics evangelist Avinash Kaushik gives a great overview of the latest features.
Posted by TCarrillo
11:56 AM
0 comments
Monday, May 07, 2007
Paid search is still evolving into a complex, multi-faceted channel that has brought tremendous promise and online marketing star power. However, it has also defined many obstacles such as trademark policy issues, affiliates competing in the space and the corporate re-structuring of search teams so they can best handle the millions of keywords and campaigns.
The complexities of paid search have reached a critical point. Companies need to re-evaluate/re-build their internal search team infrastructure or consider utilizing outsourced professional SEM services to stay ahead of the game.
View more highlights from the Search Engine Strategies conference in New York last month.
Posted by Erika Tyker-Werner
9:18 PM
0 comments
Friday, May 04, 2007
Google announced a new beta called “Gadget Ads,” which are widget-like applications that can be embedded into web pages. This puts rich media in Google’s playbook. Gadget Ads will be available for all ad categories when launched some time this summer. These ad units will be HTML-base applications providing advertisers the opportunity to add flash, video, real-time feed and transaction functionality -- trumping static display ads. It will be relatively easy to embed a Gadget Ad. They will be available in standard IAB ad formats, placed through Google AdSense where advertisers can bid by publisher site or contextually with either CPC or CPM pricing. Advertisers are adopting these widget-like applications because the rich media solutions do not require users to search for content or click to a landing page -- they just encounter them as they surf. Google will provide analytics support through newly developed interaction reporting tools. This will enable advertisers to determine which features users are clicking the most (video, flash, feed, etc.), depending on gadget performance. Information on Google Gadgets
Posted by Paul J. Bruemmer
2:00 PM
0 comments
You can view this in two ways:
1) It only makes sense for this to happen. Google, continues to slowly pull away from the pack while Yahoo quarter after quarter continues to dissappoint as they scramble to make a comeback. Microsoft has made a valiant effort in their search technology, but to little to late. The synergies are there, and both Yahoo and Microsoft could leverage each others resources to give Google a run for its money. Gotta love competition.
2) Yea this sounds like a great idea, but in the eyes of the consumer is it really going to make a difference? Are we all going to immediately download the Yahoo search tool bar into our browser? (do they even have one?)
Either way, Wall St. was stoked about the rumor and Yahoo traded up 19% on Friday morning.
Posted by TCarrillo
8:18 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Always a fun read. To view the report cards:
http://www.adweek.com/aw/images/pdfs/IQReportCards.pdf
Note from IAB:
Grading the interactive shops The nutty professors at Adweek are at it again: Their "Interactive Report Cards" offer grades for 10 leading interactive agencies for their work in 2006, taking into account company financials, management, creative and work in emerging media. The grading curve was steep: No rated agency earned better than a B+ overall.
Posted by pilar
12:47 PM
0 comments
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