We've collected all the search marketing news from selected posts to the Search Engine Watch blog in the past week, along with recent search-related headlines from around the Web.
From the SEW blog:
Organic Search
- SEW Experts: There is no Guaranteed Search Engine Ranking
If a company ever finds a way to guarantee organic search engine rankings, that company will undoubtedly go public and have a market cap approaching that of Google's.
Search Advertising
- SEW Experts: Google AdWords 101: Landing Pages
Last time, we looked at the basic steps to set up a Google AdWords campaign. Now we'll show you how to use A/B testing to improve it. - Google Conversion Optimizer Out of Beta
Google has expanded its Conversion Optimizer bid management feature to make it available to all advertisers. - Is the AdWords Competitor-bidding Party Over?
1-800-Contacts is trying to force a legal ruling that could put a chill on the widespread practice of PPC advertisers bidding on competitors' trademarks. - Microsoft adCenter Add-in for Excel - Keyword Research Gold
The free tool, still in beta, is a culmination of research conducted at their Pac Rim adLab. - The Paid Search Presidential Primaries
In honor of today's New Hampshire primaries, we decided to hold our own Paid Search Presidential Primaries.
Linking Issues & Social Media
- SEW Experts: Top 5 SEO and Link Building Challenges for 2008
Google's public attack on paid links has caused a flood of scared Webmasters who are scared to link to other sites. - SEW Experts: What's Your Link Building Marketing Mix?
Do you have a linkbuilding plan that can be integrated into your comprehensive marketing strategy?
Analytics & ROI
- SEW Experts: Increase ROI: Google Performance Placement Reports
Google's new Placement Performance report can help you fine-tune your content campaigns to make sure you're getting the most out of your ads.
Local & Mobile Search
- SEW Experts: Local Search Lives or Dies by User Reviews
In the old days, consumer opinions regarding personal experiences with businesses were passed around in a practice known as "Word of Mouth" marketing. - Will Newspapers Compete with SEOs and SEMs?
The Kelsey Group analysts get Search. Today their analyst team published 2008 Local Search trends and developments. - SEW Experts: Local Search Revelations
News flash: people buy stuff on the Internet. It's too bad people still buy a lot more stuff anywhere but on the Internet. - Google Inks PPC Deal with ReachLocal for SMBs
Google's local reach rarely exceeds its grasp. Google signed a new partner that raises the stakes in local search and puts IYPs on alert.
Vertical & Specialty Search
- Google Entertains Real Estate Industry At NYC Offices
The Real Estate Connect conference is in New York this week and participants were invited to hang out at Google HQ East last night. - YouKu.com: Online Video-Sharing Strong in China
The site has seen a 20-fold increase in its daily video views and daily unique visitors since its formal launch in December 2006. - Pew survey finds increased use of video-sharing sites
The Pew Internet & American Life Project has just released a new report which has found that 48% of Internet users have been to video-sharing sites such as YouTube and the daily traffic to such sites on a typical day has doubled in the past year.
Small Business/Big Brand SEM
- SEW Experts: Free Big Brand Marketing and Other Facebook Problems
Even successful third-party applications don't generate a dime for Facebook, leaving the social platform cut out of the revenue loop. - SEW Experts: Small Business SEM New Year's Resolutions
One of the big challenges to gaining search rankings and marketing yourself online is deciding "what's next."
In-House & Outsourcing
- Search Marketing Makes an Attractive Career
A position as an in-house search marketer is not necessarily a quick path to riches, but it's worth considering, according to a new survey from SEMPO.
SEM Industry Issues
- Don't Worry About That Economic Slowdown
The search ad marketplace "sky" won't fall when our economy slows or possibly kicks into a recession this year. - Ask Shuffles Management
Jim Lanzone, CEO of Ask.com since April 2006, has left the company to serve as an entrepreneur-in-residence at a venture capital firm. - Yahoo CEO Says They Want To Become Internet's Indispensable Starting Point
Jerry Wang outlined his vision of Yahoo's future as the "internet's indispensable starting point" at CES.
Searching/Search Technologies
- Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker in Google Checkout
You can buy "Sarah Jessica Parker" but you can't get Bitten by her. Sarah Jessica Parker (the keyword phrase, not the actress) can be found in Google Checkout Trends. "Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker?" You're out of luck with Google Labs' new tool. - Microsoft Offers $1.2 Billion For Norwegian Search Company
They may not have Google's market share but Microsoft does not seem to be stopping its acquisition of more properties in the search space. - Wikia Search: Wikia Dream? Or SEO Wake-Up Call?
Wikia Search is a project to *build* a search engine, not a completed search engine. So the comparison to Google on day one is just mistaken. - How Will Wikia Grow The Index?
We would be interested in knowing the game plan for developing a substantial index over time. It's not just about numbers, although a billion or two could help with a 2009 launch. - Wikia Search Requires Your Help
Right now, Wikia is more concept than reality. The plan is to apply collaborative tools to build a better search engine than Google.
More from the SEW Blog
- Choose your Racecourse at SES London
They say that every horse has an ideal course they like to run. Greg Jarboe outlines the various tracks available to the many kinds of search marketing horses at SES London, coming in February. - What's Next for Terry Semel?
When Terry Semel joined Yahoo as chairman and CEO in May 2001, he left behind the investment firm he started, Windsor Media. According to a report from paidContent.org, Semel is reviving that company, and taking some Yahoos with him. - China Limits Video, Audio Podcasts To State Run Sites
The Chinese government plans to restrict all video and audio content on sites starting next month.
Search Headlines
We report the top search marketing news daily at the Search Engine Watch Blog. You'll find more news from around the Web below.
- The Diminishing Value of the SEO Shop, ClickZ Experts
- Why Local Ads Aren't Coming Online, ClickZ Experts
- Hoping for Nevada Win, Obama Targets State Voters in Search Ads, ClickZ News
- Fast deal muddies Microsoft search strategy, Information World Review
- CES: Interview: Jeff Weiner, EVP-Network Division, Yahoo: 'You'll See This Stuff In '08', paidContent
- Lecturer bans students from using Google and Wikipedia, The Argus
- Facebook: The Entire "60 Minutes" Segment, BoomTown
- Trying to Fine-Tune Yahoo, NY Times
- Microsoft executive changes, Don Dodge
- Live Search Maps for Wordpress, Windows Live Maps Blog
- Google Responds to Search Engine Patent Lawsuit, Marketing Pilgrim
- There's No Such Thing As A Worthless Link, Search Engine Land
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