Search Results

Archive for Search Results

You are browsing the search results.

Only 11% of Social Network Users Will Make a Purchase Based on Advertising

It’s no secret that social networks have had a difficult time integrating advertising that has a bang for its buck. IDC has released some data showing what social networks - and advertisers - are faced with.

Only 57% of social network users have clicked on an ad in the last year versus 79% of all users in the rest of the web.

When it comes to purchasing, only 11% of social network users will actually make one compared to 23% of the rest of the internet.

“The thinking has been that the popularity of SNS will attract a big audience and generate a lot of traffic, which in turn will produce enormous amounts of user-generated content (UGC) and therefore advertising inventory – without any expenses for editorial staff or content distribution deals,” said Karsten Weide, program director, Digital Marketplace: Media and Advertising. “All of the above has proven true – except that almost invariably, SNS have had a hard time selling this inventory.”

WebTrends Taps Microsoft, Yahoo Vet as VP of Marketing

Former Microsoft and Yahoo employee, Jascha Kaykas-Wolff, is heading to WebTrends to become their Vice President of Marketing. Kaykas-Wolff comes to WebTrends directly from a business consulting firm, but previously held senior management roles at Microsoft and a management role at Yahoo.

WebTrends CEO Alex Yoder said, “Jascha is a veteran digital marketer, and brings a successful track record of developing and executing strategies that enhance customer experience and deliver meaningful results. His background with Internet and software companies, along with his first-hand experience with WebTrends, has ideally prepared him to lead the delivery of WebTrends’ vision and solutions to the marketplace.”

Google Beta Testing New AdWords Interface

Google AdWords is beta testing a new AdWords interface. The beta test includes a small group of U.S. advertisers. If your account is included in the test, you should see a notification upon signing up to the account.

You can also request to be included in the beta test by signing up here.

Note that this beta test is for the interface and doesn’t change how AdWords campaigns work (i.e. bidding, Quality Score, etc.). They’re looking to improve the way users navigate their campaigns and edit campaigns across multiple ad groups.

Have you been included in the beta test? Let us know your first impressions by leaving a comment.

Google Launches Customizable Search Feature, SearchWiki

Google has released a new feature to its search results. It’s called SearchWiki and it lets searchers, while signed into their Google account, customize their own results.

When you do a search, you can move results around. If a result is third, you can move it to first. (You SEOs are going to looooove that [detect my sarcasm]).

You can make notes about search results. If you return to the same results, you will find them the way you left them last time.

Your changes only affect YOUR searches. Check out this vid for more:

MapQuest Incorporates Personalization Feature

MapQuest is bringing personalization into their online and mobile mapping offering. Dubbed My MapQuest, the feature lets users save routes and maps, giving them access later whenever they need it.

My MapQuest pages can be created through an AOL account or an OpenID account. You can set language and mileage preferences as well as store mobile numbers and addresses.

The feature will be rolled out to MQ4M (MapQuest for Mobile) for Blackberry soon. Initial Blackberry models will include AT&T BlackBerry Bold, Verizon BlackBerry 8830 and 8330, and T-Mobile BlackBerry 8300, 8800 and 8820.

“The launch of My MapQuest continues MapQuest’s commitment to innovation and improving the user’s experience. Our studies have shown that our customers want a personalization feature that includes the ability to save previously searched addresses,” said Christian Dwyer, Senior Vice President and GM, MapQuest. “Giving our users the ability to save not just maps but also their routes sets us apart and extends MapQuest’s commitment to offering users choice and flexibility.”

Local Video Ads Come to Local.com

Local search site Local.com has integrated local video ads throughout its site. Initially the ads will come from Jivox, an online local video advertising provider. Eventually, the video ads will expand to include more providers.

“We believe that video advertising provides consumers with relevant, timely information about local businesses, products and services. It’s natural for video to be integrated into our local search ecosystem over time,” said Kim LaFleur, Local.com vice president, product management. “Local video bridges the product gap that exists between businesses that advertise in print, but perhaps don’t have the budget to move to television advertising yet, and unlike TV advertising, ROI is fully trackable. We plan to incorporate additional video capabilities and syndication to our network next year.”

Google AdWords Launches Search-Based Keyword Tool

Google AdWords has released a new keyword tool. This one lets users plug in their website and a few keywords. The tool, dubbed Search-based keyword tool, takes a look at the site and makes suggestions for keywords that may be relevant to your paid search campaign.

The idea is that you might be missing out on terms that are being searched for. I have to admit, when I’ve used keyword tools, I’ve often been wishing I knew what people were searching for instead of guessing.

But the SEO copywriter in me also knows that so many sites are already optimized for keyword terms based on traditional keyword research, which often starts with a guess.

Plus, the existing keyword tool takes keywords and phrases plugged in by the user already returns a bunch of suggestions.

The tool’s strength lies in avoiding human error. In other words, the existing AdWords keyword tool relies on human entry. This tool looks at the site and can help marketers avoid overlooking terms they may have missed.

Still, remember the tool is in beta. And Google makes it clear that it’s not responsible if you use their suggested keywords in a way that violates the law. Say, by creating an ad that includes a trademarked term.

Related Reading:
AdWords Keyword Tool Now Shows Numerical Data

Chitika Sees 200% Growth in Premium Ads for 2008

Contextual advertising network Chitika has announced that their Premium Ads product has seen 200% growth in 2008. The ads are now being served on the sites of 34,000 publishers.

Chitika says the ads work best on sites that garner traffic from search engines. The ads on the publisher’s site target the keywords that the visitor came in on. The ad also offers the ability to search within the ad, never having to leave the page of the site they’re currently visiting.

Chitika calls it search-targeted advertising. Because of that, they’re comparing the program to search engine ads. And they’re saying they’ve surpassed Ask.com’s August 2008’s numbers of 364 million searches.

24/7 Real Media is Fastest Growing Top 10 Ad Network

While some sectors in the economy are struggling, 24/7 Real Media brings some much needed good news. They are the fastest growing top ten ad network in the six months ending October 2008, according to the comScore Media Metrix report.

24/7 grew by 36% and now reaches 135 million unique users. That’s 71% of U.S. internet users.

“We will continue to diversify our publisher network to provide advertisers with unmatched targeting and reach, to accomplish their specific program goals and experience increased ROI for every campaign,” said Ari Bluman, president of North American sales and operations for 24/7 Real Media, Inc. “As a result of our robust targeting options and tremendous reach, we have one of the highest performing networks available.”

AOL Presents the Platform-A Tour

AOL’s ad network, Platform-A, is going on tour. The 5-city event begins in New York City on November 17th at the American Museum of Natural History. The next stop will be Atlanta on November 20.

The tour will break for the holidays before hitting Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco in 2009.

“AOL has one of the largest, most diverse and most engaged audiences on the Web, and combined with Platform-A’s industry-leading technologies, we can offer advertisers a unique combination of scale, integrated branding, and advanced targeting capabilities to enable them to deliver their branding messages in an effective, engaging and highly efficient way,” said Platform-A President Lynda Clarizio. “At a time when companies make sure that every penny spent on advertising counts, AOL delivers quality content and engaged consumers and Platform-A connects marketers to this audience to drive superior results.”

Monty J: Hey thanks for the post. I was really very confused what to give my sweet little sister for this Christmas....

Adio Bam: Every month the big G gains share out of other search engines. This trend is scaring the hell out of me. I...

lyndon ogden: speaking as an seo practitioner and a ppc expert, i know where i would spend my money. go for organic...

Internet Availability: I like the capabilities taken on this blog..i think that this info will be very helpfull for...

Lisa P: The days are flying by, and we all know what that means. It means that the stores already have had their...

Red Carpet

	david yuan View Comment

	O Benim Ba?kan?m View Comment

	Shantanu Bala View Comment

	JakeLynagh View Comment

	Daniel View Comment

ArticleSnatch Blog

SEO News and Tips