Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Google SearchWiki: Wikity Wikity Whack?

"Last week, Google announced the release of SearchWiki, a way for Google users to customize their search results. It seems the main benefit is the ability to bump up results you find most relevant so that they're there the next time you search on a related topic."

Find Resolution: Resolution Media Query Marketing Blog:

Monday, November 24, 2008

Overstock.com Introduces $50,000 Family Bailout Plan

"SALT LAKE CITY — Overstock.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: OSTK) announced today that the online shopping site will pay off $50,000 of the debt of the winner of its “Overstock.com Family Bailout” plan. The contest kicks off today, November 24, 2008, with an official entry deadline date of December 22, 2008. The winner of the bailout package will be announced December 30, 2008. No purchase is necessary for eligibility; however, entrants are automatically submitted when purchasing items through Overstock.com.

To enter or nominate someone you know, visit: http://www.overstock.com/familybailout. SALT LAKE CITY — Overstock.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: OSTK) announced today that the online shopping site will pay off $50,000 of the debt of the winner of its “Overstock.com Family Bailout” plan. The contest kicks off today, November 24, 2008, with an official entry deadline date of December 22, 2008. The winner of the bailout package will be announced December 30, 2008. No purchase is necessary for eligibility; however, entrants are automatically submitted when purchasing items through Overstock.com. To enter or nominate someone you know, visit: http://www.overstock.com/familybailout."

pitchengine.com

Also Feel free to digg this or add to rededit

Crashing Motrin-gate: a Social-Media Case Study

"BATAVIA, Ohio (AdAge.com) -- At first glance, it looks like Johnson & Johnson's Motrin was chastened by the power of social media when it yanked a Motrin ad campaign pilloried by mommy bloggers on YouTube and Twitter."

Advertising Age - News:

Lunascape, the browser with three engines

"You know what I'm sick of? Running three browsers on my Windows system. Not because I want to, but because I have to. I need Internet Explorer (which uses the Trident engine) for some CNET corporate pages and to run Outlook Web Access. I have to use Firefox (Gecko engine) for our blog publishing system and to run all the plug-ins I like. When I want to just browse quickly I turn to Chrome (Webkit). This is no way to live."

Webware - CNET:

New Commerce Chair Bodes Well For Privacy, Net Neutrality#comments

"Digital rights advocates are cheering the news that Henry Waxman (D. Calif.) will replace John Dingell (D. Mich.) as chair of the House Energy and Commerce committee."

Daily Online Examiner » Blog Archive

The Social Media Marketing Blog: How You Can Use Social Media to Help the U.S. Auto Industry

"It's been a rough week. And for someone who is new to the auto industry, this is truly a test.

I don't usually talk directly about my work unless it's something truly worth sharing. As such, I'd like you to indulge me a little here, because there's some important information that I would like to share."

The Social Media Marketing Blog: How You Can Use Social Media to Help the U.S. Auto Industry

American Music Awards Winners List

"The 2007 American Music Awards is over for another year, and Rihanna and Alicia Keys were among the big winners. Here’s the final results:"
American Music Awards Winners List

hint: Kanye and Chris Brown cleaned up.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Microsoft To Rebrand Search. Will It Be Kumo?

"Microsoft will relaunch Windows Live Search under a new brand sometime early next year, says a source within the company. What we don’t know is what that new brand will be, although a few names have been thrown around. According to our source, a “final” decision has been made, but very few people inside of Microsoft are aware of it, and it could change."

TechCrunch

Gmail Security Flaw Proof of Concept

"Is it possible for someone to create a malicious filter without having access to your Gmail username and password? No, however, they can force you to create the filter without your knowledge."

Geek Condition:

The Gmail Hack Heard Round the Web

"Google’s Gmail service has lots of fans, but it may also be the cause of a number of domain name thefts in recent weeks."


Mashable

Google SearchWiki Is Back. Here’s How To Kill It For Good.

"Cheers were heard across the Internet earlier today when Google’s new SearchWiki search interface inexplicably vanished. Perhaps, just maybe, it was gone for good. Or at least when it returned it would have an opt out feature."

TechCrunch

Friday, November 21, 2008

Google SearchWiki 101: An Illustrated Guide

"Google SearchWiki — a new feature that allows you to move and comment on search results — has been out for less than a day, and it’s amazing to see how much confusion (as well as commentary) there is already developing. So below, some clarification on how it works, opportunities search marketers should consider, some privacy issues and ideas for improving it."

Google SearchWiki 101: An Illustrated Guide:

Bounce Rate is A Search Engine Ranking Factor

"Confirmed: Bounce Rate is A Search Engine Ranking Factor
Top rate SEOs must now take bounce rate into account when designing and refining a site. The rest of you? just keep doing what you’re doing and hope it works tomorrow. Confirmed: Bounce Rate is A Search Engine Ranking Factor
Top rate SEOs must now take bounce rate into account when designing and refining a site. The rest of you? just keep doing what you’re doing and hope it works tomorrow."

Confirmed: Bounce Rate is A Search Engine Ranking Factor- SEO black hat:

Are Our Brains Becoming “Googlized?”

"As somebody interested in how the mind works, I read with interest the results of a recent study at UCLA that used the sexiest research tool around today, fMRI scanning. fMRI allows researchers to see which parts of the brain are active when participants are exposed to different stimuli. And for the first time I’m aware of, this was used to track brain activity while people engaged in various online tasks, including searching."

Search Engine Land:

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Google SearchWiki brings custom search results

"Disagree with Google's search results? You'll be able to do something about it with a change the company plans to release starting Thursday.
Google's SearchWiki is a feature that lets people elevate, delete, add, and annotate search results. Google remembers the changes a person made to search results, so repeat searches will show the same customizations and notes."

Google SearchWiki brings custom search results:

FriendFeed List Organization, 60 Days In

"In September, FriendFeed launched the redesign of their site, along with a new feature, lists. Friend lists are a way for you to help you organize your subscriptions into groups. In theory, it's a great system for trying to maintain an upper hand in controlling the voracious FriendFeed firehose.
So far, it's been approximately 60 days since I created and started using my lists. I'm in the process of overhauling my list system and these are some of my observations thus far."

louisgray.com:

Google SearchWiki Launches, Lets You Build Your Own Search Results Page

"Google will announce today the launch of SearchWiki, a major addition to its user interface that allows users to edit search results. When using SearchWiki, you can re-order, remove, or add web pages to the search results for any query. You can also add notes to specific listings. You have to be logged in to a Google account so that the changes you make will be saved and shown the next time you run the same search."

Search Engine Land:

“EDG” The First Pharma Credit Card-Sized Video Player

"EDG (pronounced edge) is the digital video card designed to comply with the new Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals. The card provides pharmaceutical firms with a cost effective method to build and maintain an interactive relationship with physicians, pharmacists, and other health care professionals."

“EDG” The First Pharma Credit Card-Sized Video Player:

The Real O’Neal Puts His Cyber Foot Down

"Shaquille O’Neal had a problem. An Internet impostor using his name was sending messages to unsuspecting Shaq fans. So O’Neal did what any sensible, 7-foot-1, muscle-bound mammoth would do. He started tweeting."

NYTimes.com:

Facebook Steps Up SEO for Brand Pages with Millions of New Indexable Links

"In a move that will increase the amount of Page Rank and traffic Google gives to Facebook Pages, Facebook launched a new feature over the weekend that essentially added hundreds of millions of new internal links to Facebook’s brand Pages in users’ public search listings."

Inside Facebook » Facebook Steps Up SEO for Brand Pages with Millions of New Indexable Links:

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Google, Schmidt have the ear of Obama administration - San Jose Mercury News

"WASHINGTON — Google is poised to play a more influential role in government with the incoming Obama administration. Two Google leaders have Barack Obama's ear and may land prominent positions on his team or continue as close advisers in the private sector:"

San Jose Mercury News:

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Twitter Traffic Explosion: Who’s behind it all?

"Twitter has made headlines for some amazingly powerful stuff lately; breaking the news of recent China’s earthquake; partnering with MySpace for it’s “data availability” project; even helping a student get out of jail! All of these speak to the growing popularity of Twitter, and also help to explain it’s recent scaling issues. But how big is twitter, who uses it and how?"

Twitter Traffic Explosion: Who’s behind it all?:

HOW NOT TO: Build Your Twitter Community

"Don’t get caught up in the COUNT; get caught up in the CONTENT!
My biggest pet peeve on Twitter is when people ask for more followers. I don’t think anyone has malicious intents, but it doesn’t make any sense to me. You get more followers because you provide great content, are entertaining or someone likes you."

Mashable

Monday, November 17, 2008

Why Google Must Die

"It's called SEO—search engine optimization—and it's pretty much all anyone working with Web sites ever talks about nowadays. You may think it consists of ways to trick the search engines, Google in particular, into giving you higher than usual page rankings. But in fact, it centers around the idea that Google sucks so much that companies think they need to use SEO to get the results they deserve."

Why Google Must Die - Columns by PC Magazine

Papa John’s takes to Facebook

"Papa John’s International Inc. has cooked up a new promotion to reach the tech savvy.
Beginning today, any Facebook user who becomes a “fan” of the official Papa John’s Facebook page will receive an online redemption code for a free medium pizza with any online pizza order."

Business First of Louisville:

Google's PageRank Is Best Way to Rate Online Influence

"BusinessWeek recently created a bit of a stir from bloggers such as Ogilvy's John Bell when it reported that Google had created a method for ranking the influence of social networkers. But it might be moot, because bloggers are more influential."

Advertising Age - Steve Rubel - Steve Rubel, who is a PR guru and is a pioneer in the field of PR Blogging, tries to explain how to measure a blogs influence with Google PageRank.
Which you really shouldn't do because it's a flawed measurement.

(He is supposed to talk to me before he writes anymore articles or blog posts about SEO... giggle)

A coming of age for YouTube

"Two years ago, YouTube executives disdained anything but the most unobtrusive forms of advertising (no prerolls for them), and even promised to pioneer new ad formats. At the same time, YouTube refused to license rights to TV shows and feature films. Instead, the company bet big on the creative force of the masses to draw huge audiences and eventually advertising dollars. But things didn't turn out that way."

Digital Media - CNET News

Tweetdeck’s new version takes Twitter to new heights

TechCrunch: "Tweetdeck - the Adobe Air application which has taken Twitter addicts to a new state of nirvana - is due to be updated this week, and UK-based developer Iain Dodswoth emailed me with the new version.Tweetdeck - the Adobe Air application which has taken Twitter addicts to a new state of nirvana - is due to be updated this week, and UK-based developer Iain Dodswoth emailed me with the new version."

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Twitter’s Hockey Stick Moment

"October was a good month for Twitter. All those election Tweets brought a 25 percent increase in U.S. visitors from the month before, to 1.45 million unique visitors, according to comScore. (Worldwide, the number was 5.6 million in September). Since January, Twitter has experienced a 16-fold growth in the U.S. And that is just visitors to Twitter.com. These numbers don’t count all the people who send and read Tweets from other Websites, desktop apps, or their mobile phones."

TechCRunch:

How Big Media Can Beat P2P and Make a Killing in the Recession

"There are only a few places around the world where the vice of art of consumerism is having a good day. Suffice it to say that the holiday season will be celebrated; it just won’t be full of so much…stuff. And maybe a bit less happiness to show for it, too."

Mashable:

The next step in search for MSN, Live.com Search by MSFT

"Today at PubCon we launched a new release of the Live Search API for publishers and web developers. Now, in one place, we're making available what is essentially a content management system for your site or blog, plus the ability to monetize by selling ads.
This release is the next step in what we're calling Project Silk Road, a broad range of tools and services we're offering online publishers and developers to help them generate traffic, increase engagement on their sites, drive insight, and boost productivity and agility."

Live Search : The next step in search:

Friday, November 14, 2008

Beatmaker for iPhone

"Intua’s BeatMaker (US$20, iTunes) bills itself as a “mobile music creation studio” for the iPhone and iPod touch. It’s a revolutionary application that allows you to easily create and edit beats and loops in the palm of your hand."

The Apple Core | ZDNet.com

ComCast Customer Service and Reputation Management the Twitter Way: A Case Study

"A couple weeks ago I received a letter from Comcast informing me that they've auto-renewed me for NBA League Pass this year and that if I don't want to renew I'd have to cancel."

SEOmoz | Customer Service and Reputation Management the Twitter Way: A Case Study of ComCast

$10k hacking contest announced

"Israeli software developer Gizmox is challenging hackers to try hacking into the company’s Visual WebGui Platform, by offering a $10,000 incentive to those who manage to achieve the objectives of their contest launched at the beginning of the month."

$10k hacking contest announced | Zero Day | ZDNet.com

Google Chrome vulnerable to data theft flaw

"Google has seeded a new version of its Chrome browser to developers with fixes for a pair of security issues that could expose users to data theft."

Zero Day | ZDNet.com:

Google fixes critical XSS vulnerability

"All your accounting data are not belong to us. Hours after a proof of concept example detailing a XSS vulnetability at Google’s account login page was posted at the XSS Project’s clearing house, the company quickly took notice and fixed it."

Zero Day | ZDNet.com:

Pharma Goes Digital and Meets January 2009 Code Requirements!

"Dallas, TX November 10, 2008. EDG (pronounced edge) is a digital video card designed to comply with the new Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals. The card provides pharmaceutical firms with a cost effective method to build and maintain an interactive relationship with physicians, promote brand products with pharmacists, and communicate product benefits to consumers."

The Scientist Community - debate. relate. collaborate.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Google's SEO Starter Guide

"Our Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide covers around a dozen common areas that webmasters might consider optimizing."

Official Google Webmaster Central Blog: Google's SEO Starter Guide

Google gives customers faster Site Search service

"Google has launched a feature called On-Demand Indexing that lets customers of its Google Site Search service more rapidly include new pages in search results."

Webware : Cool Web apps for everyone - CNET

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Splogs, Copyright Infringement, Sphinn Power and the Trademark Productions Smackdown

"There are a myriad of motivations which drive unscrupulous publishers to steal content or create garbage posts: Organic prominence and AdSense revenue are classic spoils for plagiarizing. Gaining false credentials to dupe unsuspecting clients is another. No matter how many times it happens or what the reason, it sucks when your content is stolen."

-check out marty's full article here.

Splogs, Copyright Infringement, Sphinn Power and the Trademark Productions Smackdown » aimClear Search Marketing Blog

Facebook | Thank an Engineer by Texas Instruments

"Texas Instruments’ “Thank an Engineer” short video series provides a funny look at the world without all the innovations that engineers have created."

Facebook Thank an Engineer by Texas Instruments

Monday, November 10, 2008

AOL's Platform-A Collaborates with T-mobile for 2 Day, Billion Impresion Ad Blitz

"AOL's Platform-A has collaborated with T-mobile for a two day ad blitz. The campaign will have the mobile carrier buying 1 billion impressions over the two day time frame, which is expected to reach 81.5 million consumers. Platform-A currently reaches 90% of the U.S. internet audience."

AOL's Platform-A Collaborates with T-mobile for 2 Day, Billion Impresion Ad Blitz - Search Marketing News Blog - Search Engine Watch (SEW)

As an SEO, Are You Cleaning the Shark?

"I used to like to pretend that I was an SEO locked in an epic, Tolkien-esque battle of wills with the Search Gods. Both warriors, constantly trying to out do one another. We find a loophole, they close it. We exploit a chink in their armor, they re-enforce it. And so it continues until we reach an apocalyptic climax where Google algorithms are implanted directly into human brains and we all become giant walking computers."

As an SEO, Are You Cleaning the Shark?

- a good article by SEO ninjajen @ WeBuildPages

No rest for the Web's election-weary | The Social

"SAN FRANCISCO--There wasn't much time for Current Media, the cable news network co-founded by former Vice President Al Gore, to recover from last week's election and its marathon live broadcast, infused with content from Digg, Twitter, and countless video bloggers.
On Friday, Gore was giving the final address of the Web 2.0 Summit, a few blocks to the west of Current's offices, at the Palace Hotel, and plenty of advertising and marketing types were in town for the occasion."

No rest for the Web's election-weary The Social - CNET News

Saturday, November 08, 2008

Top 10 Things to Look Forward to in Windows 7

"While the next iteration of the ubiquitous Microsoft desktop operating system, Windows 7, isn't a dramatic overhaul of its predecessor Windows Vista, it does fix several Vista sore spots and add a few welcome features that will make life easier on your PC."
Lifehacker Top 10: Top 10 Things to Look Forward to in Windows 7

Friday, November 07, 2008

Foreign governments attack White House, Obama, McCain campaign systems

"Hmm, anyone want to place bets on what “foreign entity” has been hacking into Obama and McCain campaign computers, as Newsweek reports? Could it be the same country (China) that penetrated the White House’s email archive system and lifted email conversation between top officials, as the Financial Times reports?"

Foreign governments attack White House, Obama, McCain campaign systems ZDNet Government ZDNet.com

FriendFeed takes the conversation to IM

"FriendFeed introduced a new feature on Friday, giving members the option to get updates from the social network as soon as they happen through standard instant messaging protocols."

FriendFeed takes the conversation to IM Webware : Cool Web apps for everyone - CNET

Thursday, November 06, 2008

What If SEO Was Spelled TSA? - SEO Blog

"Throughout my travels I visit many different airports, but there are a few I frequent more often than others. More than once, I've had the attendant checking me in ask who I am right after I've handed them my ID. Then they point to the sign that says it will cost me X to check a bag."

Bruceclay.com - What If SEO Was Spelled TSA? - SEO Blog

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Microsoft Office Online

"If you're one of the two million or so people who use the free, Web-based word processor or other apps from Google or Zoho, it may seem odd to you that Microsoft is still charging $500 for the full version of its desktop Office suite — and that hundreds of millions of people still pay for it."
Late to the Game: Microsoft Office Online - TIME

A vote for broadband in the "white spaces"

"All eyes are on the presidential election today, but another important vote just took place at the Federal Communications Commission. By a vote of 5-0, the FCC formally agreed to open up the 'white spaces' spectrum -- the unused airwaves between broadcast TV channels -- for wireless broadband service for the public. This is a clear victory for Internet users and anyone who wants good wireless communications."

Official Google Blog: A vote for broadband in the "white spaces"

Core Security finds critical Adobe Reader hole | Latest Security News

"A critical security hole in Adobe Reader could allow an attacker to take control of a computer, according to Core Security Technologies.
The vulnerability affects version 8.1.2 of Reader, Core Security said in a statement issued on Tuesday to coincide with Adobe's planned release of a security update to fix the vulnerability.
An attacker could put malicious code in JavaScript embedded in a PDF and spread that via a Web site or e-mail. Once the file is opened, the code could manipulate the program's memory allocation pattern and trigger the vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user."

Core Security finds critical Adobe Reader hole Latest Security News - CNET News

Google Analytics: Advanced Segments - new Beta Feature | limeshot - graphic design sydney

"Just noticed this late today - it wasn’t there in the morning. A new tab above my Google Analytics Dashboard - Advanced Segments, new Beta feature. Well, well, well; isn’t this interesting! So what does it look like?"

Google Analytics: Advanced Segments - new Beta Feature limeshot - graphic design sydney

Monday, November 03, 2008

Yahoo, Google Add Provisions to Search-Advertising Agreement

"Yahoo Inc. and Google Inc. have sent the Justice Department a revised version of their search-advertising agreement, adding a number of new provisions designed to limit the scope of the deal as they scramble to get it past regulators, according to people familiar with the matter."

Yahoo, Google Add Provisions to Search-Advertising Agreement - WSJ.com

SEO Blogs Make You Teh Dumb

"All those SEO blogs you read are making you a crappy search marketer. Get out of your damn feed reader and live a little."

SEO Blogs Make You Teh Dumb

- excellent post by Lisa Barone about doing SEO using other people's blogs...

Internet criminals use SEO to dupe unsuspecting visitors into infecting themselves with malware and fake anti-virus products - Security Park news

"Internet criminals are now using tools such as Google Trends to identify the most popular and current Internet search terms. The same criminals then use new blogs on free hosting sites, such as Windows Live Spaces and AOL Journals, featuring the same search terms. When an Internet user then makes a search using those popular terms they get multiple links to these hosted blog sites in their search results."

Internet criminals use SEO to dupe unsuspecting visitors into infecting themselves with malware and fake anti-virus products - Security Park news

Kindle Offers Glimpse of ROI on Oprah

"NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Since Amazon launched the Kindle, its electronic reader, a year ago, it has created a swarm of dedicated customer advocates. But on Oct. 24 it snagged the most important evangelist in Oprah Winfrey, who said, 'I'm telling you, it's absolutely my new favorite thing in the world.'"

Kindle Offers Glimpse of ROI on Oprah - Advertising Age - Digital

Future of SEO | SEO Technologies | SEO Blog | Search and Social

"Search engines are getting smarter day by day, technologies are advancing minute by minute, and search engine optimization specialists need to get on board and prepare for the future of SEO."

Future of SEO SEO Technologies SEO Blog Search and Social

Saturday, November 01, 2008

Tabbloid - HP concept, RSS to PDF

Check out a PDF of this blog.. the links work too..

The Secret Influence of Search Behavior

"Did you know that Rachel Ray grounds up toasted pumpkin seeds, adds some herbs and uses the mixture to coat chicken? Me neither. One day, after my daughter mentioned this to me, I started thinking about how people’s eating habits are changing everywhere. More fast food restaurants serve healthier, lower fat meals. Today’s families use different herbs to prepare food than their parents’ generation. In my house, you may find your salad has apple, pineapple or oranges in it."

The Secret Influence of Search Behavior


- very astute observations about searcher behavior.

Facebook Headed for Financial Ruin?

"TechCrunch today has no treats—and no joy, no, not even Almond Joy—for Facebook in reporting about its projected financial woes. For a company once valued at $15 billion, things are looking grim as the cash supplies may dwindle long before Facebook is ready or willing to go to IPO."

Facebook Headed for Financial Ruin?

Greedy BBC Blocks External Links

"Links from the BBC have, historically, been some of the most important links that a website can get and there can be no doubt that Google rates the BBC as one of the most trusted sites on the web.
The links used to be direct links but they are now passing through two redirect scripts using a 302 redirect which is highly unlikely to pass any PageRank."

Greedy BBC Blocks External Links