Anyone who's been in marketing for more than a day understands the value of customer testimonials. Better than any other form of proof (logical argument, data, endorsements), they can prove particular claims that the marketer wants to make about his product.

But, like any marketing tool, the strength of a testimonial is greatly related to the effectiveness of its presentation. If you give your customers typical testimonials in a typical way, they will have very little effect, because they will neither attract attention nor deliver an emotional message. But if you can find a way to make the testimonial new - either with the language itself or with the presentation - the effect can be powerful.

When I teach young copywriters the power of proving their claims, I stress the importance of not using testimonials that "sound like" testimonials. When a customer tells you that your product is "far and away the leader in its field" or "the best thing since sliced bread," you may be thrilled because it sounds like something you might have written yourself. But that's precisely why you shouldn't use it.

The best testimonials are those worded in a way that catches your attention, conveys a positive message, and does so with credibility. "Damn good eatin' fish!" is a testimonial I'd much rather use than "Succulent and tasty." The "damn" arrests my attention, the choice of words is believable, and the effect of making "eating" an adjective conveys an immediate benefit. It almost makes the mouth water.

So that is one thing - selecting, finding, or creating language that meets these criteria:

* attracts attention
* conveys a benefit
* achieves credibility

But that's not all. To make your testimonials do their job, they need to be presented in a format that supports those three objectives. In a sales letter, for example, testimonials are typically presented as one- or two-sentence quotations that are placed either in the text itself or at the margins. If you have a bunch of one- or two-sentence testimonials, it doesn't hurt to use them that way.

But if you have a really good testimonial, one that's distinctive and believable and strongly conveys the chief benefit of your product, you should find a more creative way to present it. You can, for example, turn it into a big bold headline and bolster it with an eye-catching photo of the customer enjoying the benefit.

Perhaps the best way to achieve both powerful, unique language and a captivating presentation is to show actual customers in their natural environment speaking their own words. Infomercials selling wealth-building programs often present real customers talking about their success, but they are usually in a staged setting - in front of the beach or a swimming pool - and their comments seem to have been coached out of them. A much better approach would be to have these people walking around their homes or businesses, interacting with other people and talking candidly and in an unrehearsed way about how their lives changed by following the system that is being sold.

Home Depot just released three commercials that do a very good job of this. So good, in fact, that I'd recommend you study them to get an idea about what is possible - particularly nowadays, when just about every business should be working in mixed media, incorporating video into their advertising program.

Home Depot's new commercials feature documentary-like accounts of customers who have fixed up their homes. One features an African-American mother, her sister, her daughter, and her son. Seated in front of her children and beside her sister, the mother is obviously proud of the painting and spackling job she did on the living room. She says something like, "Now my kids say Mom did this and Mom did that"... and is interrupted by her daughter saying, "At first we were, 'Mom, you're messing up the house.'" The commercial flashes back to the mother getting tips on spackling at Home Depot and features impressive before-and-after shots. It ends with the mother saying, "This is a building that I made into a home."

Another one begins with a young mother saying something like, "I'm going to try to tell this story without crying." And then, "Two weeks after I bought my house, Dad died. He remodeled every house we ever lived in." And then she starts crying.

According to a review of the ad series by Stuart Elliott in The Wall Street Journal, the commercials were directed by Jeff Bednarz, a documentary filmmaker. "We started with the notion that nobody can tell a home-improvement story better than the customer can," said Gary Gibson, creative head of the Richards Group, the ad agency handling the Home Depot account. "They tell them better than we write them."

I agree. The message of these little films is empowerment and the effect is sentimental - but that sentiment is successful because it comes without a script and without professional actors. The cinema verite style that Bednarz chose to depict the customers' stories makes them at once dramatic and believable.

The bottom line is this: Testimonials work well if they are true - and the closer you can get to truth, the stronger your sales message will be. When working with testimonials, ask yourself, "How can I show this customer experience as dramatically and truly as possible?" You'll get a much better response.

Michael Masterson has developed a loyal following through his writings in Early to Rise, an e-newsletter published by Agora, Inc. that mentors more than 160,000 success-oriented individuals to help them achieve their financial goals.

You would think that everyone in business would be able to tell you what they do and why you should be doing business with them; unfortunately the sad truth is many business executives can't. In fact one of the biggest problems in designing websites has always been getting appropriate raw material that can be turned into meaningful presentations: a handful of badly written brochures and a few out-of-date photographs are not going to make much of an impression.

And now that the Web has involved into a sophisticated communication platform, able to deliver audio and video content, the problem has become even worse; not only do websites need to deliver appropriate copy and image content, they need to present audio dialog and video performances that demonstrate how products and services improve the business or personal lives of website visitors.

As a company we are good at what we do, we can turn the mundane into the memorable but we can't do it if clients don't know or can't express their own marketing story, or are unwilling to allow their multimedia advisor to develop that story for them.

At the heart of the problem is fear, fear of making a definitive statement, declaring loud and clear what you do, and why anyone should care. It's no longer good enough to apply technical solutions to marketing problems: you are not going to engage your audience with SEO, XML, CSS, or PHP. You must have a story to tell and you can't be afraid to tell it as boldly as you can.

Do You Know Who You Are and What You Really Do?

We know who we are and what we do: we deliver our message knowing that some people are just not going to buy into what we have to say, but those that do get it, really get it, and they are our potential clients. As far as the others are concerned, well, there's lots of business for everybody, and nobody is going to get it all.

You can't be afraid to loose a customer you never had in the first place. In our case our job is clear: we deliver marketing stories using Web-video and audio in memorable Web-presentations. We are not afraid to tell clients that they need multimedia, and that an over dependence on search engine optimization or any other technical answer is a mistake - a big mistake.

Are You Doing All You Can To Attract Business?

There are many methods that can be employed to drive appropriate traffic to your site: search engine optimization is only one. Have you written and published articles and advice on what you do, have you created a blog or a MySpace page to create a community of interest, or have you issued press releases on new developments and product releases? If you're relying solely on search engine optimization as a substitute for marketing, you are not doing everything you can to attract new business.

Even if your search engine tactics are attracting large numbers of visitors to your site, what is your conversion rate, how long are people staying on your site, and do you have enough compelling content to get them to come back?

If you're in the business of selling banner and text ads on your site, if that is how you make your living, then lots of random traffic may serve your purpose; but if you are in the business of providing something useful to people, then you better pay more attention to what your visitors see once they arrive on your site. After all, all the traffic in the world is useless if those visitors don't get your message. It all starts with the message, so what's your message?

What's Your Story?

Crafting your marketing story is not as easy as it sounds, and you may have to let go of some outdated thinking in order to bring your story to life.

Web-videos are not feature films or even viral videos intended to show how clever you are. You are making a commercial: special effects may be cool but they are not a substitute for a finely crafted script delivered by a professional performer.

Websites Don't Close Sales, People Close Sales

Web-videos are designed to make a statement: "this is who we are, and this is what we do, so contact us to find out how we can change your life." Websites create leads, not sales; so don't expect your Web-video to make the sale, that's your job.

Now you know the purpose of your website presentation, it is time to figure out what you want to say. Below are a series of questions that will help you develop your marketing story.

1. How will your product or service change your customer?

All stories or marketing messages have to do with change: a cosmetic company provides change from plain to beautiful, from self-doubt to self-confidence. A vitamin supplement supplier provides change from poor health to good health, from sluggish to vitality. A self-help motivational program provides change from defeat to victory, from depression to wellbeing, and so on.

All good marketing stories highlight the change that your audience wants to make in their business or personal lives. Go deeper than the obvious look for the psychological, emotional, cognitive or spiritual change your company delivers.

All successful campaigns are about change. People who are satisfied with their work and life aren't motivated to be customers; you want to target people who are motivated, people who want to be better, stronger, smarter, prettier, healthier, and richer; people who want more out of work and more out of life.

If your audience isn't motivated to change and if your product or service can't deliver that change, then you're wasting your time and your money.

2. Is what you have to say different?

If you are saying the same thing, the same way as your competition, you're in trouble. You must differentiate yourself somehow; you must standout. Your product or service must provide something different. The world is full of 'me-too' companies, businesses that do the same thing as dozens of other businesses. You must find that unique something in what you offer that makes you different; that says you are not a follower but a leader.

If your product or service is substantially the same as your competitors, perhaps you should market it differently, or maybe you should concentrate on the 'High Concept' need it delivers, rather than the standard 'same-old-same-old' that everyone else is touting.

Which one of 'Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs' does your product or service fulfill: physical, safety, social, self-esteem, aesthetic, cognitive, or self-actualization? Chances are your competition has completely ignored the psychological and emotional marketing angle and is focusing on specifications and features that have little to do with why people really choose one product over another.

3. Do you know how to tell your story?

You must have more than a story to tell or a message to deliver; you must know how to tell it. Your marketing should create a recognizable corporate image that establishes a unique identity in the mind of your audience. If your audience sees no difference between you and the competition then you become interchangeable.

Apple didn't capture the lion's share of the MP3 market just because their product is arguable better than everyone else's, they did because iPods are more than MP3 players, they are a life-style choice, clearly delineated in commercials and advertising.

4. Can you say it boldly?

The meek may inherit the earth, but if they're in business, they'll probably go broke. If you got something to say, SAY IT, and say loud and clear. There are just too many companies, too many websites, too many advertisements, and too much everything to expect people to pay any attention to you if you are afraid to stand up and be noticed. Go boldly or don't go at all.

5. Who is your target audience?

Decide who you want to target and what motivates them; then design your website, videos, and advertising campaigns to trigger every hot button motivating message you can. Develop your message so it speaks directly to that audience.

Your message must have purpose, be focused and concise, and deliver a clear impression of identity. This means you can't be all things to all people. By focusing on a clear audience with a precise message you may even have a better chance of capturing non targeted audiences: the fact that Apple iPod commercials are aimed at a hip young audience has not stopped Apple from capturing MP3 market share across all demographic profiles.

6. Can you take the heat?

Last but not least, do you have what it takes to tell your story in a way that people will remember? Are you prepared to deliver your message in the boldest, most audacious manner you can? Are you ready to give up on none productive audiences and concentrate on those motivated to say yes to your message? Are you able to ignore the odd complaint or nasty email objecting to your cutting-edge approach? Are you ready for the Web-video revolution?

Jerry Bader is Senior Partner at MRPwebmedia, a website design firm that specializes in Web-audio and Web-video. Visit http://www.mrpwebmedia.com/ads, http://www.136words.com, and http://www.sonicpersonality.com. Contact at info(a)mrpwebmedia.com or telephone (905) 764-1246.

Conversion Rate Marketing Blog --> GrokDotCom by Future Now, inc

The Only Marketing Blog You'll Need to Read

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7. Posting tips for the AdWords Help group - 2007-05-21 22:49:00-04
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8. Busted By The Wikipedia Police - 2007-05-21 22:51:00-04
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11. Buy Viagra - 2007-05-22 06:38:00-04
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12. CNN Does Yahoo!-Like Local News Deal - 2007-05-22 09:02:58-04
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13. Google AdWords Now Bolding Keyword Variations in Google.com - 2007-05-22 09:30:22-04
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14. New Study on Google Ranking Factors - 2007-05-22 09:36:28-04
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15. Fooooo! Japan’s Video Search to Make International Splash? - 2007-05-22 09:46:49-04
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16. SEO Clinic : Free SEO from Industry Experts - 2007-05-22 10:12:44-04
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17. Google bans essay writing adverts - 2007-05-22 10:20:23-04
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18. Google.com Shuffles AdWords Listings: Results Return After Cookies Deleted - 2007-05-22 10:40:59-04
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19. Control Your Title Tags in Blogger - 2007-05-22 11:13:08-04
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20. Workspace: Al Gore rocks multiple monitors, could stand an inbox - 2007-05-22 11:31:11-04
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Search Engine Watch

Keep updated with major stories about search engine marketing and search engines as published by Search Engine Watch and its daily newsletter, SearchDay.

1. Highlights from the SEW Blog: May 14, 2007 - 2007-05-14 14:50:07-04
   Featured posts to the Search Engine Watch blog in the past week, along with recent search-related headlines from around the Web.
2. Lotus Alumni Are Impacting Search - 2007-05-15 08:44:56-04
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3. Should SEOs Care About Wikipedia? - 2007-05-16 14:48:19-04
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4. Will Universal Search Mean Universal Domination? - 2007-05-17 04:42:59-04
   Will the increased relevance from Google's new universal search process leave other search engines in the dust?
5. Search Engine Forums Spotlight - 2007-05-18 16:44:16-04
   Found in the search marketing forums:
6. Highlights from the SEW Blog: May 21, 2007 - 2007-05-21 14:50:16-04
   Featured posts to the Search Engine Watch blog in the past week, along with recent search-related headlines from around the Web.
7. What Does Universal Search Mean for SEM? - 2007-05-22 19:45:53-04
   Google's move to present results from multiple vertical searches in general search results will affect both searchers and search marketers.

ZDNet Blogs

Latest posts from all the ZDNet blogs

1. JSR 291 approved despite Sun's No vote - 2007-05-22 04:02:07-04
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7. Google's HOT new toy? Hot air! - 2007-05-22 13:00:46-04
   The illusory Google Trends I analyzed a year ago, my first Google story at this Digital Markets Blog. At the time, the "unveiling" of Google Trends at Google's "Press Day," was (almost) universally hailed. I underscored, nevertheless:  Following Google’s instructions, however, results in colorful, but numberless, graphs. In addition to its lack of any numerical quantification of search activity, whatever data is suggested by the tool is incomplete and not representative, according to Google’s own disclaimer. Today, Google heralds a super, duper Google Trends, "Hot Trends!" Is Google finally making good on its touted corporate mission to make REAL "information" available to the public? NO! Google actually acknowledges that its "Hot Trends" is but its latest "new toy": It's a new feature of Google Trends for sharing the...
8. Yahoo deleting profiles of undercover cops - 2007-05-22 13:22:55-04
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9. On2 acquires Hantro Products helping Flash Video on devices - 2007-05-22 13:27:01-04
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10. AP: Cities losing millions on Wi-Fi - 2007-05-22 13:33:11-04
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11. Interop: Quirky data center formats, NAS and more - 2007-05-22 13:44:06-04
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12. In defense of muni Wi-Fi - 2007-05-22 13:49:04-04
    Esme Vos wrote a long post today taking apart an AP story that says Lompoc, CA, has wasted taxpayer money on a Wi-Fi networks no one wants. The AP article could have used some fact checking. It states: Most communities, including Lompoc, paid for their projects. Elsewhere, private companies agreed to absorb costs for the chance to sell services or ads. I have no idea where they came to that conclusion. It's the other way around: most cities that are building out these networks have sought, and are seeking private providers to pay for, build and run their networks. Vos notes that many, many stories focus on "web surfing" as the point of building Wi-Fi networks, which makes the politicians...
13. Cisco CEO John Chambers proclaims the future is Web 2.0 - 2007-05-22 14:03:19-04
    Cisco CEO John Chambers ran on stage and then strolled throughout the crowd giving his vision of the networked future during his Network + Interop keynote presentation. As he walked and talked throughout the ballroom with the verbal passion and polish of a televangelist, Chambers proclaimed that Web 2.0, which he defined broadly as collaboration, is the future. In other words, collaboration, enabled by the networking software and software that Cisco produces, will lead to an increase in productivity. He defined the characteristics of collaboration as safe, open architecture, simple, virtualized and converged. “We are moving our company as fast as we can to collaboration and Web 2.0,” he said. “We see the next wave of productivity re-accelerating around the...
14. Is it time for TechCrunch to leave? - 2007-05-22 14:10:32-04
    "Silicon Valley could use a downturn right now," laments Mr. Silicon Valley himself, Michael TechCrunch Arrington, in but another of his tour de force posts. It is not April Fools Day, so THAT is not an "excuse" THIS go around! SEE: Google, TechCrunch: When April Fool’s is no joke What gives this time? Two months ago, in announcing the acquisiiton of Heather Harde, ex SVP of Mergers and Acquisitions at Fox Interactive Media, for CEO of the TechCrunch Network (see TechCrunch goes pro: What’s the deal?), Arrington previewed:  Heather’s job will be to leverage the opportunities that we have sometimes let slip by, and to manage our organic and acquisition growth going forward. More announcements are coming soon. Is Arrington teasing his...
15. Interop '07: Woven Systems claims first 10Gbit switch-cum-Ethernet fabric - 2007-05-22 14:15:31-04
    True to form for an edition of Interop, the show floor here at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas is chock full of rack-mounted network connectivity gear. Whereas hubs and routers were the stars of years gone by, today's floor is dominated by Ethernet switches of all types and sizes -- from the very small for home and small business use, to the wireless, to carrier grade equipment. While canvassing the show floor one day prior to the event's start, we found Woven Systems, a manufacturer of Ethernet switches that's claiming three unique selling propositions for its gear (and you thought all Ethernet switches were created equal). According to Woven marketing veep Derek Granath, Woven's switch is the...
16. Michigan man busted for stealing Wi-Fi signal; could have received five years - 2007-05-22 14:23:17-04
    Sam Peterson II of Sparta, Michigan has been arrested and charged with stealing the Wi-Fi connection from a nearby coffee shop. He was arrested after a police investigation targeted his computer. The ultimate penalty for the 2000-vintage law: five years in jail, $10,000 fine. The law says: 752.795 Prohibited conduct. Sec. 5. A person shall not intentionally and without authorization or by exceeding valid authorization do any of the following: (a) Access or cause access to be made to a computer program, computer, computer system, or computer network to acquire, alter, damage, delete, or destroy property or otherwise use the service of a computer program, computer, computer system, or computer network. (b) Insert or attach or knowingly create the opportunity...
17. Silicon Valley gets a bad case of startup-itis; the doctor is in - 2007-05-22 15:11:50-04
    Before commenting on Michael Arrington's yearning for a simpler Silicon Valley life, I'd like to disclose the following: I don't live in Silicon Valley; I always thought you West coasters were a bit off--now I know why (self loathing); A CEO has never cried to me; And everyone whining about a little success should go outside and chill for a few hours--without Twittering, texting, blogging or even talking. OK now that disclosure is out of the way back to your regularly scheduled post. Arrington laments that Silicon Valley isn't fun anymore. Robert Scoble notes that the stakes are higher and he's feeling pressure. Now some of these Silicon Valley self loathing issues are the result the fact funding is...
18. List brokers welcome thieves who target elderly - 2007-05-22 15:23:51-04
    Web-savvy scam artists are lurking everywhere on the net, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable, reports the International Herald Tribune. Posing as government and insurance workers simply updating their files, shysters telephone World War II vets, retired schoolteachers and thousands of other elderly Americans and ask for their bank account information. Like many seniors, Richard Guthrie, a 92-year-old U.S. Army veteran, entered a few sweepstakes hoping to get lucky. Little did he know that his name appeared in a database advertised by infoUSA, one of the largest compilers of consumer information. InfoUSA then sold his name - and data on other elderly Americans - to known lawbreakers, regulators say. Many of the these lists clearly target clients that use the...
19. Classmate or OLPC - Who cares? - 2007-05-22 15:38:12-04
    A recent BBC report highlighted the growing rift between Intel and Nicholas Negroponte of One Laptop Per Child fame. Both Intel and OLPC expect to begin shipping competing products (the Classmate and the XO, respectively) relatively soon in emerging markets. While the XO was originally dubbed the $100 laptop by the press, it will now sell for $176/laptop. The Classmate should sell for just over $200/laptop.  The major source of controversy is pricing, with Negroponte accusing Intel of selling the Classmate below cost to drive him out of these emerging markets. This may, in fact, be the case, although Intel denies the approach.  However, Intel committed last year to spend $1 billion to bring technology to developing countries; it certainly...
20. FlashFlashRevolution: putting the rhythm into social networking - 2007-05-22 15:57:35-04
    Flash Flash Revolution (FFR) is a multi-player music game built in Flash, which follows the long tradition of rhythm-based games. You begin by picking a song, and each song has a corresponding pattern of arrows that goes along to the beat of the music. The goal is to hit the correct arrows as close as possible to the music. "If you've ever played a game like Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero, Beatmania, or In The Groove, you should feel right at home here", explains the site's FAQs. But it's more than just a very addictive game. FFR has evolved into a lively social network, which according to the site's founder, James Webb, now has over a million registered users. What...

Google Blog Search: CRM

1. Writing CRM callouts with filtered views - 2007-05-21 16:45:07-04
2. CRM Over the Internet, Finally - 2007-05-21 16:45:07-04
3. RightNow Wins 2007 CRM Magazine Service Leader Award for Third ... - 2007-05-21 17:49:42-04
4. Siebel Developer Needed, Porter, IN - 2007-05-21 18:44:06-04
5. Siebel Analytics-Tech Arch Lead Needed, New York, NY - 2007-05-21 18:44:06-04
6. Private Equity Groups Nab Alltel in $27.5B Deal - 2007-05-21 21:43:49-04
7. Google, Salesforce.com Partnership Buzz Grows - 2007-05-21 21:43:49-04
8. Microsoft Dynamics CRM Forum Open - 2007-05-21 22:46:17-04
9. Security Leader Builds One-Stop Service on Microsoft Dynamics CRM - 2007-05-22 01:43:05-04
10. Upgraded to WSUS 3.0 now MS CRM 3.0 does not work - 2007-05-22 04:46:05-04
11. Microsoft Dynamics CRM Forum Open - 2007-05-22 06:59:46-04
12. CRM Software [P] - 2007-05-22 06:59:46-04
13. CRM Software improve sales - 2007-05-22 07:45:51-04
14. CRM Software - 2007-05-22 07:45:51-04
15. Oracle CRM technical consultant - 2007-05-22 11:11:51-04
16. IT Showcase: Centralizing and Sharing Business Intelligence - 2007-05-22 12:56:11-04
17. Analyst initiations 5-22-07: BDK, CRM, NWACQ and RNOW - 2007-05-22 12:56:11-04
18. Vying for Slices of the E-Payment Pie - 2007-05-22 13:46:55-04
19. Tripping on the Red Carpet Treatment - 2007-05-22 13:46:55-04
20. Fair Isaac Retools Credit Scoring Model - 2007-05-22 13:46:55-04

Adrants

Marketing and Advertising News With Attitude by Steve Hall

1. Toronto's AdBands to Raise Money For Autism - 2007-05-21 12:12:01-04
   T oronto-based AdBands, a collection of rock bands made up of some of the advertising industries most talented creative people, are coming together on May 31st for a third year to raise funds and awareness for one little girl with...
2. VW Golf Gets Dark and Stormy - 2007-05-21 12:37:54-04
   If you're into dark (so dark you can't see the product), brooding spots voiced by a Richard Burton reading of Dylan Thomas' Under Milk Wood, you're gonna love this DDB London-created, Biscuit-produced spot for the VW Golf. Yes, we're...
3. Schweppes Fruit Carbs Sophisticates Texas Cowboy - 2007-05-21 12:50:18-04
   Now this is just weird. But leave it to an American to change things up while at a formal equestrian event. Created by one of our favorite agencies, Duval Guillaume Antwerp, this Schweppes Fruit Carbs commercial praises the "slightly...
4. Giant Uses Renault to Lure Humans For Breakfast - 2007-05-21 13:17:06-04
   Now here's a commercial you'll likely never see in America because we'd somehow find an allegory to 9/11 claiming giants tossing lures into the city to catch and cook people is simply too reminiscent of planes crashing into building...
5. Brands Lauded, Bitch Slapped For Gay, Lesbian Portayal in Ads - 2007-05-21 13:18:20-04
   Speaking of there being an organization for every cause known to man, the Commercial Closet Association, a group that makes sure the ad industry responsibly includes gays and lesbians in advertising, has announced the nominees for its third Annual...
6. Heinz Two Minute Soups Celebrate Man's Staying Power - 2007-05-21 14:34:28-04
   In yet another stab at the unfortunate fact whomever created mankind was distracted the day time-to-orgasm was programmed for men and women, this commercial for Heinz Microwaveable Soups celebrates what can be accomplished within two minutes. The work was...
7. Breast Cancer Radio Ads. Ho Hum - 2007-05-21 15:07:00-04
   John St. has just launched a campaign for Rethink Breast Cancer. The idea is to get you thinking about assumptions you make about shirts people wear and ultimately convince you it would be awesome to buy a breast cancer...
8. Pop Culture Still Tells the Best Stories About Us - 2007-05-21 15:42:26-04
   This isn't an ad; it's a music video for D.A.N.C.E. by Justice. We like the video because it does a spiffy-ass job of using retro pop images, subculture slogans, familiar colours, and even corporate fonts to demonstrate how these...
9. Mark Baratelli Pushes Earnest Improv On YouTube - 2007-05-21 16:13:10-04
   This guy uses viral dissemination to push his improv cabaret act. We're trying to decide what to say about this besides "Hrm. Very earnest." But no, we can't think of anything. If you want to see just how earnest...
10. Pop Culture Still Tells the Best Stories - 2007-05-21 16:42:26-04
    This isn't an ad; it's a music video for D.A.N.C.E. by Justice. And it's amazery! We just think it does a spiffy job of mashing up retro pop images, subculture slogans, familiar ad themes, and corporate fonts to demonstrate...
11. English Humor, We Think, Fills Pimm's Commercial - 2007-05-21 17:24:53-04
    They always say the English have a different sense of humor and that is clearly on display in this new Mother/Feel Films-created commercial for Pimm's. The spot features comedian Alexander Armstrong on a summer tour of the UK acting,...
12. Samsung Searches For Next Gary Brolsma - 2007-05-21 17:41:50-04
    Calling Gary Brolsma. Gary? You still out there? Samsung desperately needs you since you're the only one who can turn lip syncing into an overnight, worldwide sensation. You see, Samsung's UpStage Contest is looking for people to film themselves...
13. Ask, Ask a Ninja Get Together for Algo - 2007-05-22 03:29:33-04
    While we thought their last algo campaign was kind of lame, we did admire Ask.com's attempt to get people actually involved with the search engine. Keeping with that, Ask has partnered up with Ask a Ninja. Puppetvision points us...
14. New Chick Site is Pretty, Peppy and Pop-Trivia Rich, Just Like its Fantasy Demo - 2007-05-22 04:32:41-04
    For every lad mag that does well, a new chick rag is born to reinstill self-esteem and sell make-up at the same time. This rule also applies to online destinations. So if traditional media hasn't sated your burning desire...
15. Blueballs, on a Truck, Get Castrated, with Shears. KMLE Country Radio! - 2007-05-22 05:08:12-04
    We're having trouble not wincing to the image of a woman slicing off a set of blueballs with garden shears, even if they are attached to a truck, and we're not sure what that has to do with KMLE...
16. Jack in the Box Celebrates McDonald's, Burger King 'Anus' Burgers - 2007-05-22 12:01:39-04
    Keeping with its 'tude, feisty Jack in the Box is out slinging bathroom humor at the expense of McDonald's and Burger King referring to their Angus burgers as Anus burgers. Jack in the Box agency Secret Weapon Marketing CCO...
17. Change Shower Head Temperature, Get Girl on Girl Action - 2007-05-22 12:08:16-04
    Axe just keeps pumping out the goodies for 14 year old boys across the globe. And every other guy across the globe of any age since all men are 14 years old when it comes to certain thoughts. Anyway,...
18. Upcoming Batman Movie Makes Extensive Use of Viral - 2007-05-22 12:54:09-04
    Catch Up Lady has a descriptive overview of an ongoing viral campaign for the the upcoming Warner Brothers movie Batman: The Dark Knight. The promotion began cryptically with a site that showed nothing but the Batman logo but then...
19. 'The Latino Guy' Explains 'Translation' at Diversity Conference - 2007-05-22 12:56:20-04
    Last week, Adrants, Business Development Institute and Boston's Ad Club held the third Advertising, Marketing and PR Industry Diversity Job Fair and Leadership Conference at Boston University. The focus of the event was to ramp up the conversation about...
20. Shoot Scooter Riding Cops in Single-Promoting Game - 2007-05-22 14:21:19-04
    Oh look, an online game to promote a band's new single. Chicino is the band and the game lets you shoot scooter riding cops who drop out of the sky. Nifty. Sort of. Check it here....

Search Engine Watch Blog

Provides constant updates of the latest search engine marketing and other search news from Search Engine Watch and across the web.

1. Microsoft to Acquire AQuantive - 2007-05-18 11:33:42-04

It looks like Microsoft wasn't really missing out on getting 24/7 Real Media after all. This morning, the company announced plans to acquire digital marketing agency aQuantive for $6 billion.

AQuantive is the parent to Atlas (ad-serving tools for advertisers and publishers), DRIVEpm (behaviorally targeted ad network/media broker) and Avenue A | Razorfish (digital marketing agency, including search).

Microsoft is touting this as a commitment to become a "major player in online advertising."

The acquisition puts Microsoft in a similar position as Google with its DoubleClick acquisition. DoubleClick's Performics and aQuantive's Avenue A | Razorfish create potential conflicts of interest. Google has said it is not planning on spinning off Performics, and on a conference call this morning, the company said it had no plans to spin off Avenue A | Razorfish.

You can find all the coverage on Techmeme.

2. Fair Isaac Pegs Click Fraud at 10-15% - 2007-05-18 13:17:21-04

According to an AP report, Fair Isaac's preliminary data shows that 10 to 15 percent of online advertising traffic is "pathological," indicating a likelihood of click fraud, said Joseph Milana, the company's chief scientist of research and development.

The company has been working with SEMPO for the past year, and started collecting click fraud data in August.

It's not clear yet how much data they got for the study, or what their definition of click fraud or "pathological" clicks may be. Milana also told Information Week that it needs more complete data: "There's no way we could make a general statement about what's happening in the marketplace," he said.

The data is in line with third-party estimates from Click Forensics and others, but higher than the "under 10-percent" mark of "invalid clicks" reported by Google in March. At the same time, Google pointed out that it caught the majority of those clicks before advertisers were charged, leaving the amount of invalid clicks that are not proactively detected and are caught by advertisers is less than 0.02 percent.

3. Fair Isaac Click Fraud Report Spreads False Alarm - 2007-05-19 09:21:08-04

Media reports (including Search Engine Watch's) saying Fair Isaac Corp. (FIC) reported industry-wide click fraud at 10 to 15 percent are not accurate. FIC decided to put out a press release and speak at its user conference about data that was extremely preliminary, based on a small sample size, and not statistically significant.

While FIC's press release and public statements were carefully worded, the data was inevitably taken out of context, especially by mainstream media that may not understand the intricacies of click fraud, or of statistics and research. This is compounded by headline editors, who don't always go for nuance when they write headlines.

So that meant that much of the news coming out of Friday's announcement ended up being misleading, such as the reports from AP, Information Week. And industry and blog reports, based on these mainstream media articles, followed suit.

I spent a good portion of my day yesterday trying to get the facts, collected in yesterday's post, Fair Isaac Pegs Click Fraud at 10-15%. I've edited that to reflect the latest facts, but I feel that it needs even more clarification and explanation to put it in perspective, so I'll try to do that here.

4. Search Headlines & Links: May 18, 2007 - 2007-05-19 09:38:53-04

Want a snapshot of the day's search marketing news? Here we've collected today's top news stories posted to the Search Engine Watch Blog, along with search-related headlines from around the Web:

5. Will Ad Targeting Change? - 2007-05-19 17:31:28-04

Whenever there are big ownership shifts in the ad business, it seems like a good time to ask for changes. Now that the ad network/server companies are shifting around, we should make our online ad targeting dreams come true. Here are three dreams.

6. Who Said It... - 2007-05-19 17:44:19-04

It’s the Saturday after major ownership changes have been announced in the online ad business. We have heard all sorts of “unquoted reasons” for the transactions. The true motivations remain with the players, namely Google, WPP, Microsoft, Yahoo, DoubleClick, 24/7 Real Media, aQuantive and Right Media. You are free to pick from these reasons mentioned behind closed doors, in hushed tones. Sorry, but answers will NOT be provided:

– We serve ads to the world.
– Improve those CPC buys!
– We can change.
– Make love, not war with publishers.
– We can’t keep losing people.
– Selling CPMs is dull.
– Have advertisers, will travel.
– We’re all about paid search.
– Our publishers are impressive.
– No more sweat shop for us.
– So few ways to spend our money.
– Our optimization rocks!
– Don’t creative ideas matter?
– Welcome Big Brother.
– We finally joined the club.

7. Chasing the Long Tail - 2007-05-21 11:01:56-04

When you pursue a competitive market you quickly find out how hard it is to rank for the highest volume terms. In education it's terms like "online degrees" and "nursing schools". In the mortgage space, it's terms like "mortgage" and "refinance". It's really hard to remove an entrenched competitor from high positions for these terms. First, they are making lots of money, and can afford to keep investing in staying there.

That's one of the beautiful things about the web, because looking at the real search terms entered by people really reveals something about the human mind. And, man, the human mind is all over the place. While a term like "refinance" is huge in search volume, the volume in related terms is much higher.

How big is this phenomena? At Google's Universal Search announcement, Udi Manber put up a slide that stated that 20% to 25% of the search queries Google sees every day are search queries it has never seen before. Let that sink in for a moment. To me, that number was startlingly large.

8. Google Cracking Down on AdSense Arbitrage - 2007-05-21 12:06:58-04

Several AdSense publishers have received notice that their sites, which are mainly of the AdSense arbitrage/made for AdSense (MFA) variety, are being kicked out of the AdSense program as of June 1. According to Jennifer Slegg, the letter explains that the site involved has an "unsuitable business model," and most of the targeted publishers are earning significant amounts of money from AdSense. (Though how much of that money is being pumped back into AdWords to drive traffic to the site is not known, of course). Google will pay the publishers through the end of May.

Slegg notes that this could be good news for advertisers, since it should help clean up the content network:

From a business perspective, it does make perfect sense for Google to make this move, since so many Google AdWords advertisers refuse to advertise on the content network because there are so many "Made for AdSense" style sites as well as those doing arbitrage. So in the long run, it could mean more money for publishers if/as advertisers return to the content network.

In the short-term, this could affect publishers not engaging in MFA sites, since these large-scale arbitrageurs will take their ads out of the program. These publishers could see at least a temporary drop in earnings, but a better-quality content network could bring in more advertisers in the long run, Slegg said.

The discussion is ongoing at Webmaster World and Search Engine Roundtable.

9. Google Adds Neighborhood Search - 2007-05-21 12:33:40-04

Google has added a neighborhood search capability for 50 U.S. cities, so a user can search for things like bagels upper east side new york or restaurants, over the rhine, cincinnati on Google Maps.

As Greg Sterling points out, in this case Google is playing catch-up with sites like Ask.com (which launched this in December with its AskCity local search tool, as well as Trulia and Yelp. Yahoo has defined neighborhoods in large cities for some time as well.

10. Winning on Digg Podcast - 2007-05-21 14:29:49-04

A couple of weeks ago Neil Patel and I put together our second podcast about winning on Digg. This second podcast focused on becoming a top Digg user yourself, and how to get content to the Digg home page.

One of the most important things to remember about this topic is that with Digg, as with all social media sites, you are dealing with a community. This means that you have to think about building relationships. Building and managing those relationships is the key to ongoing success.

For example, you can't come into Digg and begin to fling content into the system just to see what happens. You need to learn about what content the audience likes, and become friends with other important users. Becoming a Digg friend means a lot more than just getting them to agree to add you to their friends list.

You need to look at their content submissions regularly, and vote for the things you like. You need to start by giving, and then over time you can begin to get their support. Once you have this process working with a few people, you are well on your way.

You can also listen to the first podcast with Neil Patel. This one focuses more on the mechanics of story selection, titles, and descriptions.

11. Indeed Testing Pay-per-Action Ad Model - 2007-05-21 15:31:36-04

Job search engine Indeed.com has been testing a pay-per-action (PPA) advertising model, which for recruiters means a pay-per-applicant ad model. The offering lets recruiters pay only when a job applicant responds to their listing, or lets other advertisers pay only when a specified action has occurred. Advertisers can specify any kind of online action they want to pay for, such as filling out a form or creating an account.

The PPA job ads will appear above and below Indeed's organic results, in the same positions as its pay-per-click (PPC) ads run now. Keyword-targeted ads, sold by Indeed and back-filled with Ask Sponsored Listings ads, appear next to the organic listings. PPC and PPA ads will be intermixed, with Indeed's algorithm ranking both types of ads together.

Organic and sponsored job listings are also outsourced to Indeed's network of content sites, who share in revenue generated by a co-branded job search or a site-targeted "Jobroll," a custom feed of jobs matching the interests and locations of their audiences.

12. SEW Experts: Ego Bidding Gone Wild - 2007-05-21 16:45:10-04

In today's Search Ads column, "Ego Bidding Gone Wild," Tony Wright talks about the danger of ego-bidding and how to stop a client from bidding their business into the ground.

Besides being bad business in general to spend money that can't be shown to bring a return, Wright points out that "in a world where relevancy criteria is in play, number 1 is somewhat nebulous."

Personalized search, quality scores, geotargeting, behavioral targeting, and other factors can make the concept of a "top result" that everyone sees a quaint memory. Wright says it's better to focus on the return, and not to let ego drive you to make bad decisions.

13. Search Headlines & Links: May 21, 2007 - 2007-05-21 17:23:57-04

Want a snapshot of the day's search marketing news? Here we've collected today's top news stories posted to the Search Engine Watch Blog, along with search-related headlines from around the Web:

14. SalesForce, Google Partnership Discussions - 2007-05-21 18:19:03-04

The Washington Post reported talks between Google and SalesForce.

This move is another direct challenge to Microsoft who offers CRM products, but also adds an element to their analytics that only a handful of other companies have: the ability to track offline conversions to online advertising.

15. People Search Makes up 30% of All Searches - 2007-05-22 10:14:59-04

Back on May 8th, Google hosted a People Search SIG at their headquarters in Mountain View. Michael Arrington of TechCrunch presided over the session that included:

1. Michael Tanne - CEO Wink
2. Jaideep Singh - CEO Spock
3. Bryan Burdick - COO ZoomInfo

This is another one of those fascinating areas of people search which has unexpectedly eye popping numbers. Data shows that 30% of all searches on Google or Yahoo! are for specific people or people related. I would love to get some stats on how much of that is celebrity related versus plain old folks.

But you can see that many companies are doing quite well with their people search strategies. In addition to the companies listed above, most people are also familiar with Classmates and its leading competitor Reunion.

This is yet another vertical search area where specialized search tools that access uniquely structured data bases can do quite well.

16. SEW Experts: Convincing the Executive Team to Invest in SEO - 2007-05-22 11:38:44-04

In today's Big Biz column, "Convincing the Executive Team to Invest in SEO," Aaron Shear shares tips on how to get the executive management team to buy into the idea of search marketing. There are still many executives at large companies that think SEO is black magic. The key to convincing them otherwise is to start small, prove the value of search marketing, and build up allies in your organization.

17. SEW Experts: Blog Your Way to the Top - 2007-05-22 11:42:46-04

In today's au Natural column, "Blog Your Way to the Top," Mark Jackson takes a look at the benefits of blogging on a corporate Web site. Besides the SEO-related benefit of adding fresh content to usually static sites, corporate blogs can also provide a good way to interact with customers and potential customers, and to establish thought leadership in your industry.

18. Google Tracking Hot Trends - 2007-05-22 14:47:40-04

Google has been regularly tracking popular searches in the form of the Google Zeitgeist for some time, and added the Google Trends service last year, providing an unfiltered, uncategorized view of popular queries in relation to each other.

Now, Google has introduced a new tool called Hot Trends. "It's a new feature of Google Trends for sharing the the hottest current searches with you in very close to real time," according to the Google Blog post. It's also added a Hot Trends group to help decipher the reasons why some seemingly odd phrases are appearing in Hot Trends.

Hot Trends are not a straight list of most popular searches, but are ranked with a new algorithm:

Hot Trends aren't the search terms people look for most often -- those are pretty predictable, like [weather] or [games] or perhaps [myspace]. Yes, [sex] too. Instead, the Hot Trends algorithm analyzes millions of searches to find those that are deviating the most relative to their past traffic. And the outcome is the Hot Trends list.

Google has also updated the Google Trends page to make it easier to break trends down by geographic region, for example. It's also ending its weekly Zeitgeist, but will continue monthly and annual publications.

19. Top Three SEO Mistakes - 2007-05-22 15:08:26-04

In the process of creating a presentation for catalog retailers at a DMA conference, SiteLogic's Matt Bailey has distilled the essence of SEO into three common things that businesses do wrong. Here are his Top Three SEO Mistakes:
1. Branding comes before marketing tactics – On-page optimization is often at odds with brand decisions.
2. Call things what they are – Customers don't always search for branded terms; they use their own words to describe your product.
3. The basis of optimization is the customer experience – Optimizing pages for users will help you rank well in search engines.

Matt has posted his 48-page slide deck from the presentation, which is filled with more SEO basics like these.

20. Changes at SEW: Moving Over Yonder - 2007-05-22 16:13:02-04

It's been a really interesting year here at Search Engine Watch. I'm happy to say traffic to the site is strong, if not at an all-time high, due to the fantastic work of our bloggers, expert columnists, and SearchDay contributors. News Editor Kevin Newcomb deserves much of the credit for those areas as well, since joining the site in January.

For those reasons, I'm also sad to say, my last day as editor of Search Engine Watch is this Friday, May 25.

ZDNet Blogs

Latest posts from all the ZDNet blogs

1. Google: John McCain's secret campaign weapon - 2007-05-22 07:47:50-04
   Digital Markets Blog presidential campaign 2008 special series on what I am calling “User Generated Politics” John McCain succumbed to the “ultimate job interview for the top job in the U.S.” earlier this month in his pilgrimage to the Googleplex. While McCain is no stranger to cross-fire, verbal or otherwise, even he experienced some Googley “shock and awe” at the hands of the “infamous” Google interview. In response to a Googler question about immigration laws, McCain got his biggest round of applause of his "job interview" at Google: "If Google is going to be able to maintain its supremacy in the world, it is going to have to continue to get the best and the brightest from all over the world,...
2. Nortel introducing new router with VoIP features - 2007-05-22 08:02:07-04
   (via Network World)  In just a little while from the time I am posting this, Nortel will introduce a new WAN router with VoIP features. Intended for corporate branch offices,  the Nortel Secure Router 4134 will be Microsoft and Nortel network-compliant, and as Network World notes, be dedicated to speeding up Web-based enterprise apps such as Microsoft Outlook, IBM WebSphere or SAP. Network World also reports the 4134 (as shown in the Network World screencap at the top of this post) will soon include a gateway card that will allow the router to act, in effect, as a remote-office gateway to Microsoft's VoIP, collaboration and messaging Office Communications Server.  That capability will be added later this year. In addition,...
3. PC World names BlackBerry 8800 fifth best product of 2007 - 2007-05-22 08:19:59-04
   That's pretty lofty air. The ranking seems more complimentary than does Liane Cassavoy's review score of 80. Pros: Great e-mail device Includes integrated GPS Cons: Lacks a camera Lacks consumer IM clients Despite the "Cons," Lianne writes: The BlackBerry 8800's strengths--in particular, its battery life, excellent e-mail handling, and built-in GPS features--outweigh its minuses. If you don't need a camera with your PDA phone, the 8800 is worth a look. Oh, and the Top four products of 2007: Google Apps Premier Edition  Intel Core 2 Duo  Nintendo Wii  Verizon FiOS 
4. Dell, Ubuntu and the driver details - 2007-05-22 08:20:34-04
   Dell outlined some of the technical details surrounding its use of Ubuntu 7.04 on its desktops. Judging from Dell's post, the main takeaways appear to be: Dell is choosing peripheral options based on what hardware has the most "mature and stable" Linux drivers. Dell will use open source drivers where possible. If none are available it'll use closed source options. Dell promises it will work with vendors to get better Linux drivers. "While this may not happen overnight, we do expect to have a broader range of hardware support with Linux over time," says John Hull, manager of Linux OS technologies at Dell. Dell won't support audio and video codecs that aren't distributed with Ubuntu already. In other words,...
5. AT&T to release BlackBerry Curve 8300 this Friday - 2007-05-22 08:31:24-04
   BoyGenius says that "all signs point" to a BlackBerry Curve 8300 release by AT&T this Friday. Features, at least according to BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion: Phone, email, text messaging (SMS and MMS), browser, instant messaging and organizer applications in a single smartphone 2 megapixel camera with built-in flash Next-generation media player with audio and video playback in a variety of formats High capacity battery Preloaded with BlackBerry Maps application Trackball navigation system Dynamic, highly responsive experience when viewing attachments and graphics, browsing the web and running applications Full QWERTY keyboard Bluetooth headset, hands-free and serial port profiles supported High resolution LCD screen with light sensing technology Polyphonic and MP3 ringtones 64 MB of memory and expandable memory via microSD...
6. March of the notebook hard drives - 2007-05-22 09:07:48-04
   I've always complained about the fact that notebook hard drives are the only technology that don't seem to keep up with Moore's Law, but that appears to be changing. A rash of recent 2.5-inch hard drive announcements shows promise that the trend of small, slow notebook drives could be changing in the near future. MacBooks and MacBook Pros use Serial ATA (SATA) hard drives as opposed to PowerBooks and iBooks which use slower Parallel ATA (PATA) hard drives. Also MacBooks and MBPs can only accommodate a maximum drive height of 9.5mm, so the fatter 12mm drives are out. Some of the recently announced mobile SATA HDDs include: Seagate Momentus 7200.2 - 160GB, 7200RPM Samsung Spinpoint MP1 - 200GB, 7200RPM Western...
7. How Red Hat is monetizing JBoss - 2007-05-22 09:21:12-04
   A little more than a year ago Red Hat acquired JBoss to enter the open source middleware market and the financial results thus far have been mixed. But now analysts are becoming more upbeat about JBoss and what it can contribute to Red Hat. In an analyst note, Credit Suisse analyst Jason Maynard upgraded shares of Red Hat (RHT) to an outperform from a neutral and outlined many of the items we already knew: Oracle's unbreakable Linux effort hasn't been a threat; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 has been well received and business overall is solid. But what caught my eye was Maynard's optimism around JBoss. JBoss had its sales issues in prior quarters, but Maynard said that Red...
8. Apple not the only PC vendor making bogus display claims - 2007-05-22 09:37:58-04
   A class action lawsuit filed recently against Apple Inc. claims that, among other things, the company advertised MacBooks and MBPs as capable of displaying “millions of colors” when in fact they can only do that by “dithering.” Wired's Gadget Lab blog mentions that Apple is not the only one making this claim: The majority of LCD panels show color at only 6 bits of depth per RGB element, for a total of only about 260,000 colors. However, finely-detailed dithering at the sub-pixel level tricks our eyes into perceiving millions, as would be seen in a true-color 8-bit display. What's funny is that the lawsuit claims that banding/sparkling issues aren't evident when booted into Windows which means that either, a) Microsoft's...
9. Zoho Notebook now in Public Beta - 2007-05-22 09:39:40-04
   At the end of January, I wrote about Zoho Notebook, the latest addition to the company's stable of web-based applications. At the time, I was very impressed with the concept and initial execution and today, Zoho has made Notebook publicly available as a beta. If you use a product like Circus Ponies Notebook on the Mac or Microsoft OneNote on Windows, you'll immediately grasp the general idea but Notebook, as I wrote in my original post, has internet-native capabilities that exceed what these fat client apps can do on the desktop. Zoho's Raju Vegesna has put together a video introduction that highlights some of the capabilities engineered into Notebook. As you'd expect, integration with other Zoho applications like Writer...
10. New Microsoft-funded study finds developers don't want GPL to cover patent deals - 2007-05-22 09:55:10-04
    Microsoft is expending an awful lot of time and energy to try to derail the next version of the Free Software Foundation's General Public License (GPL). On May 22, yet another in a long line of Microsoft-commissioned open-source studies made its debut. The latest, conducted by Harvard Business School professor Alan MacCormack in conjunction with Keystone Strategy Inc., is titled "A Developers Bill of Rights: What Open Source Developers Want in a Software License." You probably can guess what the study concludes, given Microsoft's decision last week -- in the name of attempting to derail the looming GPL version 3 -- to claim that open-source software violates 235 of its patents. The Bill of Rights study found that rank-and-file open-source...
11. Following the money in open source - 2007-05-22 10:24:20-04
    Open source turns money flows inside-out. As I noted before, the development process in open source is transparent, while the use of open source products in the enterprise can be rather opaque. Open source enterprises end up spending a lot of money on the front-end, building communities, recruiting developers, while the sales cycle becomes continuous. You don't have the clear breaks you do in the proprietary world, where companies spend big bucks developing new products, then release them and watch the money flow in. The event which would herald this change in cash flow, back in the day, was the press conference. I went to hundreds of such events in the 1980s and 1990s, and I knew when companies believed...
12. Interop GM Lenny Heymann: Green is in, Red (Novell) is back, Web 2.0 is hot - 2007-05-22 10:43:21-04
    It's the day before Interop here in Las Vegas. What will be a polished show floor tomorrow is covered in crates, plastic, and speeding forklifts today. Even so, I took to the show floor in search of disruptive solutions and interesting people. You've already seen Thureon's Armarac in my other video and there are more to come. One of the people we found however was Lenny Heymann, general manager for all of Interop. He was busy preparing for his opening keynote tomorrow morning. But not too busy to take some time out to give us some insight into what this year's show has in store for attendees. In my discussions with him both on and off camera, Heymann was pretty...
13. The daily Google Zeitgeist - 2007-05-22 10:54:58-04
    On Monday, Google launched a new module for Google Trends called "Hot Trends" that analyzes queries done in the USA. The tool is updated several times daily so we can get a sense, albeit not real time, of what is happening right now on Google Search. Hot Trends, a list of the current top-100 fastest-rising search trends, will be refreshed several times daily, using data from millions of Google Web searches conducted up to an hour before each update, the company said. I don't know how useful the tool actually is, but I do know it's fun to play with, at least for a few hours. Unfortunately, it will probably fall under the "cool, but I'll never use it" category...
14. How Microsoft beats Google in ad agency battle - 2007-05-22 11:18:15-04
    Google CEO Eric Schmidt has a fantasy, a world wide advertising domination fantasy: “The long-term fantasy is we walk up to you and you give us, say, $10 million and we'll completely allocate it for you’ across different media and ad types.” Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer aims to have a $6 billion advertising agency reality: aQuantive’s Avenue A/Razorfish. Why does Ballmer trump Schmidt? Product beats Spin. Google believes the Google brand trumps all, even reality. After all, Google IS the top brand AND the best place to work, just ask Millward Brown or Fortune Magazine! OR, ask Kevin Gough, the Google point man for Enterpise Search, who touts the value of consumer BELIEF in Google search results: Why Google Fears...
15. Dell's not really serious about Linux - 2007-05-22 11:40:59-04
    When I initially found out that Dell was going to ship desktop and notebook PCs with Ubuntu installed I said that I was going to reserve judgment until more details emerged.  Talk is cheap and all that.  I sure hope Dell can offer customers a way to upgrade these rigs to Windows if the need arisesWell, Dell's now released some details and if what I'm reading is right, Dell's not really serious about Linux and is only releasing Ubuntu-powered Dell systems to appease the IdeaStorm masses. I can sum up how I feel about this with one word: disappointed. OK, I can't just say I'm disappointed and leave it at that.  Allow me to explain why I'm disappointed. Here are...
16. Podcast: News to know midday: Mainstreaming Linux; Office exploit fix; Wall-mounted data centers - 2007-05-22 11:44:08-04
    On today's podcast: Can Linux go mainstream? Adrian Kingsley-Hughes analyzes the five things the Linux community needs to know about users. In addition, Dell outlines the technical details of including Ubuntu on desktops. Ryan Naraine reports that Microsoft has released a file conversion tool that stops exploits rigged into .doc, .xls and .ppt files from infecting Office 2003 users And David Berlind checks out a wall-mounted data center. Also as a programming note, this podcast is now available on iTunes. All ZDNet podcasts can be found on this page.
17. ODF, OOXML...and now UOF? - 2007-05-22 11:53:57-04
    UOF, or Uniform Office Format, is a document format created by the Chinese government that has catapulted to prominence, at least in China, due to its use by government and a Chinese population making greater use of computing technology. Scott McNealy, Sun's chairman, has called for the merging of UOF with ODF, and Microsoft recently announced that it would was building a converter between UOF and OOXML. Three formats? The heads of those who believe in a document format singularity must be exploding right about now. But why should they? It occurred to me as I was reading details of the Chinese document format that all this silliness over having exactly ONE document format is just that...silly. Life does...
18. Interop '07: NetGear shows 3 terabyte hardware RAID-based NAS (it's a Web server too) - 2007-05-22 11:59:07-04
    Here in Las Vegas at Interop 2007 while roaming the show floor prior to the start of the event, I bumped into the folks at the NetGear booth who were preparing to announce several products at the show. But the one the grabbed my attention was the latest ReadyNAS network attached storage device. The ReadyNAS brand came to NetGear by way of its acquisition of Infrant earlier this month. Infrant clearly had some new updates to existing line up in mind (mostly in the area of increased capacity) and here at Interop, NetGear was showing off a version of the ReadyNAS that goes up to 3 terabytes. ReadyNAS is cool for a couple of reasons. First, it runs on hardware-based...
19. Microsoft on aQuantive: Think merger, not acquisition - 2007-05-22 12:07:13-04
    Microsoft views its aQuantive purchase as more of a merger than an acquisition, according to Steve Berkowitz, the Microsoft Senior Vice President of Online Services. Berkowitz discussed Microsoft's $6 billion aQuantive buy, among other topics, during his May 22 presentation at the JP Morgan Technology conference. (I listened to the Webcast of his talk.) "I would call the aQuantive acquisition more of a merger" than an acquisition, Berkowitz said. He said that he told Microsoft employees the same during an internal Town Meeting on the deal on May 18. Berkowitz characterized the aQuantive buy as an "additive." "It puts us in places where we weren't before," he said. The former Ask CEO, who has been with Microsoft for about a...
20. Hell Freezes Over: Oracle Buying Shares in SAP? - 2007-05-22 12:29:20-04
    The rumor du jour hit the Reuters wire early this morning, and it's a doozie: SAP's shares are up in recent trading because Oracle has bought some eight percent of the company. Considering April Fool's Day is come and gone, one has to assume that this was reported not for its humor value but for some other purpose -- maybe even as a piece of legitimate news. So a little dissection is in order: First, any time an analyst says a stock's shares are up because of a single event is usually speculating, lying, or worse. Unless you really survey buyers, you'll never know why a stock has gone up or down, absent some highly material event like a major...

Google Blog Search: network security

1. Networking DICOM enabled devices - 2007-05-21 09:53:55-04
2. Los Alamos contractor admits thumb drive data theft - 2007-05-21 11:51:56-04
3. This Is Not A Good Idea IMO - 2007-05-21 11:51:56-04
4. CIS "Best Practices" Certification For Nessus Audits - 2007-05-21 11:51:56-04
5. SonicWALL to Participate at Upcoming Technology Conference and ... - 2007-05-21 12:48:46-04
6. Network Intelligence is an Oxymoron & The Myth of Security Packet ... - 2007-05-21 13:50:33-04
7. NSA, DOD to Open Secret Information Network to Allies - 2007-05-21 14:49:08-04
8. Mobility, Networking Highlight Interop Product Launches - 2007-05-21 15:50:53-04
9. Security Companies Unveil Products, Updates At Interop - 2007-05-21 15:50:53-04
10. Linux Security Cookbook - 2007-05-21 17:49:43-04
11. Security Companies Unveil Products, Updates At Interop - 2007-05-21 19:43:54-04
12. wireshark showing weird activity - 2007-05-21 19:43:54-04
13. LATEST VOIPSWITCH 2.0.0.745 +SIP TUNNEL+SIP DIALER(CUSTOMIZE)+ ... - 2007-05-21 20:44:03-04
14. Network Security Portable Reference - 2007-05-22 01:43:06-04
15. Hacking and Network Security - 2007-05-22 03:45:05-04
16. DHS wants its network to network - 2007-05-22 05:48:52-04
17. Why excessive network traffic that shut down an Alabama nuclear ... - 2007-05-22 06:59:47-04
18. VU#754281:RSA BSAFE libraries denial of service vulnerability - 2007-05-22 11:11:53-04
19. Aruba Touts Security, 802.11n Plans - 2007-05-22 12:56:13-04
20. Aruba Touts Security, 802.11n Plans - 2007-05-22 12:56:13-04

Business Opportunities Weblog

Opportunities, news, and links for small business entrepreneurs

1. New Changes for eBay Users - 2007-05-16 13:09:24-04
   Entrepreneur: From postage changes to great new additions to the eBay site, keep up with the alterations that will affect your eBay business. USPS is revamping its international services and raising prices. The categories for international mail will become the same as those used for domestic mail. USPS will offer the following: Global Express Guaranteed (the [...]
2. Employees Favor Minimum-Wage Hike - 2007-05-17 09:05:17-04
   Inc.: Most workers that are paid an hourly wage support a proposed increase in the federal minimum wage, even if it results in higher consumer prices and job cuts, a recent survey found. Of 500 employees polled nationwide, 65 percent said they favor the wage hike regardless of its potential impact on consumer prices, while 50 percent [...]
3. Niche Idea: Beach Rover - 2007-05-17 10:06:47-04
   Grand Rapids Press: As an avid Jetskier who grew up along the Lake Michigan shoreline, Ryan Fogg had a chance to see the problems that plague personal watercraft owners. Where Jetskis once were relatively light and mobile, easily moved by one person, the machines increasingly were sitting idle because they were too heavy to move. As consumer [...]
4. Most Retirees Happy With Late-Life Ventures - 2007-05-17 11:07:39-04
   Inc.: Despite the risks to savings, retirees who launch a small business are happy in their new careers, though most are working harder than ever, a new survey shows. Of more than 1,000 post-retirement business owners polled, 59 percent said they enjoyed their second career, while 68 percent said they were working harder than they expected, according [...]
5. Online Clothing Sales Outpacing Computers - 2007-05-17 12:08:36-04
   Inc.: For the first time, clothing surpassed computers in U.S. online sales, with online shoppers spending $18.3 billion on apparel, accessories, and footwear last year, Shop.org reported on Monday. Online computer sales totaled $17.2 billion, followed by cars and auto parts at $16.7 billion, the report said. The gains in online clothing sales were attributed to range of [...]
6. ‘Alternative’ Moms Find Their Niche - 2007-05-17 13:09:34-04
   Norwich Bulletin: Sarah Brassard of Baltic wanted to network with other parents who take a slightly alternative approach to raising children. Gretchen Lally of Waterford wanted her son to be able to ease into learning to walk. Now, both women and their children are taking classes at a new business in Norwich aimed at helping parents bond [...]
7. Entrepreneur Aims For $1 Million - 2007-05-18 09:05:45-04
   Orlando Sentinel: Claire Evans is the kind of woman who will go skydiving or rappelling — or even move to a new country on a lark. Born in Zimbabwe and schooled in South Africa, Evans likes adventure and isn’t afraid of taking a risk. The enthusiasm, energy and can-do attitude that propels the 40-year-old entrepreneur out of [...]
8. Schools Out, Summers In! - 2007-05-18 10:06:46-04
   Dorm Room Biz: As young student entrepreneurs, the summer season is the time to get down to business! That also means it is money making time! Here are a couple tips for business success this summer: 1. Make a Plan Without a plan of what you want to do, you will not be able to accomplish your goals for [...]
9. Hiring Family Members - 2007-05-18 11:07:59-04
   Yahoo Finance: Small employers complain about how difficult it is to find good employees. But there’s one place that can be a terrific source of great workers — the families and friends of your best employees. After all, current employees who have great work attitudes probably have brothers, sisters, and best pals with great work attitudes, [...]
10. Woman Finds Niche Doing Jobs For Others - 2007-05-18 12:08:20-04
    Baltimore Messenger: Many people are just too busy these days for their own good — and that’s fine with Mandy Leeuwen. The White Marsh resident has opened BizEBodies, a business doing odd jobs that the over-scheduled can’t get around to. The 26-year-old woman, who holds a degree in public relations, has hired an employee to assist her after [...]
11. How Much Can You Make From a Franchise? - 2007-05-18 13:09:42-04
    BusinessWeek: If you have asked a franchisor this question, you may not have gotten a straight answer (or one at all). The main reason lies in legalities. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has strict requirements for franchisors about how they can present earnings statements to franchisees. Earnings claims must be provided in writing in the Uniform [...]
12. Skype Calls On Wal-Mart - 2007-05-21 09:05:30-04
    Small Business Computing: In a sign of the increasing popularity of VoIP phone service, Skype announced a distribution deal with the giant Wal-Mart chain of stores this week. Under the agreement, the voice communications area of 1,800 Wal-Mart stores in the U.S. will carry Skype-certified hardware, including headsets, webcams, and handsets designed to work with Skype, the [...]
13. Good Time To Graduate - 2007-05-21 10:06:15-04
    USA Today: As the school year draws to a close, newly minted graduates are emerging into one of the best job markets in years. Companies are scrambling to get the best and brightest. Employers are dangling perks such as signing bonuses and flat-screen TVs to woo this year’s college graduates. Employers plan to hire nearly 20% more new [...]
14. Buy Your Own Band - 2007-05-21 11:07:27-04
    Entrepreneur: Have you ever dreamed of owning a band? Then go to eBay to check out an actual band for sale for $1.5 million. The band is called Rednex, and they’ve been around since the mid ’90s. According to their website, they’ve sold more than 10 million records and plan on releasing their latest album in [...]
15. Drive-Ins Make A Comeback - 2007-05-21 12:08:32-04
    Entrepreneur: They were all the rage in the ’50s and ’60s, and now they’re becoming trendy once again. Drive-in movie theaters are making a comeback in various parts of the country, with one opening tonight in Southern California. The Star-Vu Drive-In in Costa Mesa boasts an inflatable screen that’s 72 feet wide and 46 feet tall. [...]
16. Inventor Improves Velcro - 2007-05-21 13:09:29-04
    SciFi.com: We’ve gotten so accustomed to that ripping sound that Velcro makes, it might take us a while to get used to Leonard Duffy’s invention, an improved fastener that not only eliminates that annoying noise when unfastened, it can hold eight times the weight. It took him eight years and $40,000 to develop this new Velcro [...]
17. Why Meetings Are So Unbearable - 2007-05-22 09:05:35-04
    Inc.: Frequent interruptions, cell-phone use, and a lack of bathroom breaks are among the many complaints employees have. Whether it’s a cell phone ringing or your co-workers whispering next to you, there’s no shortage of annoying meeting behavior. And now there’s evidence to back it up. Disorganization tops the list as the biggest frustration for meeting attendees, according [...]
18. Employers Skimping On Vacations - 2007-05-22 10:06:31-04
    Inc.: Fewer small-business owners are planning to take a vacation this summer compared to previous years, a recent survey shows. Of 626 small business owners polled nationwide, 59 percent said they plan to take at least one week off this year, down from an average of 67 percent over the last four years, according to OPEN from [...]
19. Don’t Let Business Sap Your Energy - 2007-05-22 11:07:49-04
    Rhonda Abrams at USA Today: Strategy versus execution. Sales versus operations. Increasing income versus reducing costs. Every entrepreneur faces a constant tug of war. On the one hand, you have to build a business — spend your time doing those things that move your company forward and grow. On the other hand, you have to run a [...]
20. Minorities Surpass 100 Million - 2007-05-22 12:08:48-04
    Entrepreneur: It’s always good to know the demographic you’re marketing to. The U.S. Census Bureau announced that the nation’s minority population has surpassed the 100 million mark. The total is now 100.7 million, compared to 98.3 million last year. According to Census Bureau Director Louis Kincannon, nearly one in three U.S. residents is a minority. Of [...]

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1. AT&T Plans Speedy Death for Cingular Brand - 2007-05-21 22:42:00-04
   Having purchased the remaining 40 percent of Cingular last year, AT&T has since begun whittling away at the familiar orange logo at approximately 1,800 Cingular stores. Weeks before Apple's iPhone...

2. Carell's "Almighty" Spin-Off Spins Green Marketing - 2007-05-21 23:40:00-04
   Steve Carell's upcoming "Evan Almighty" is the first major motion picture comedy to zero out its footprint. See how the Real Pie-created website gets film fans to embrace both the film and environmentalism.
3. Ad Musings from the Googleplex - 2007-05-21 23:40:00-04
   Magnify.net's CEO advises cutting-edge marketers on using AdWords, experimentation and on the democratization of advertising to drive their strategies.
4. Get Serious About In-Game Marketing - 2007-05-21 23:40:00-04
   CNET Networks Entertainment's John Broady talks about why in-game ads are increasing marketer reach and relevance, and why they aren't just for kids anymore.
5. Ask, Ask a Ninja Get Together for Algo - 2007-05-22 03:29:00-04
   While we thought their last algo campaign was kind of lame, we did admire Ask.com's attempt to get people actually involved with the search engine. Keeping with that, Ask has partnered up with Ask a Ninja. Puppetvision points us...
6. New Chick Site is Pretty, Peppy and Pop-Trivia Rich, Just Like its Fantasy Demo - 2007-05-22 04:32:00-04
   For every lad mag that does well, a new chick rag is born to reinstill self-esteem and sell make-up at the same time. This rule also applies to online destinations. So if traditional media hasn't sated your burning desire...
7. Facebook Traffic Up 126% After Bursting .edu Floodgates - 2007-05-22 04:40:00-04
   While MySpace demonstrates symptoms of looming plateau, social networking remains a growth-friendly field. The original "place for friends" maintains a competitive advantage in the social networking...

8. Somagirls.tv Brings Femme Flair to Online Lifestyle Niche - 2007-05-22 04:45:00-04
   Soma Management, a women's lifestyle company, has just launched somagirls.tv, an interactive "How-to" destination for women between ages 12 and 24, according to a press release. Somagirls.tv will...

9. Spanish Networks Struggle to Woo Ad Interest - 2007-05-22 04:50:00-04
   While people of Latin descent comprise the largest ethnic group in the U.S., and though their buying power is increasing incrementally, Spanish-language networks still have trouble courting...

10. AT&T Plans Speedy Death for Cingular Brand - 2007-05-22 04:55:00-04
    Having purchased the remaining 40 percent of Cingular last year, AT&T has since begun whittling away at the familiar orange logo at approximately 1,800 Cingular stores. Weeks before Apple's iPhone...

11. AFP News Images Become Sales Gallery - 2007-05-22 05:00:00-04
    Those less inclined to dadaism or the abstract arts can now consider ordering a framed, archive-quality version of the feature image from a choice Yahoo or Reuters news article. A partnership between...

12. Blueballs, on a Truck, Get Castrated, with Shears. KMLE Country Radio! - 2007-05-22 05:08:00-04
    We're having trouble not wincing to the image of a woman slicing off a set of blueballs with garden shears, even if they are attached to a truck, and we're not sure what that has to do with KMLE...
13. Google Widgets Allow for Info Customization - 2007-05-22 06:30:00-04
    Some Google searches now trigger results that include functionality from their menu of gadgets, reports WebProNews. Select search terms include real-time results via Google gadgets, widgets that you...

14. 80 Newsies Join Monster Cache - 2007-05-22 06:40:00-04
    Monster has added 80 newspapers to the list of outlets for which the job search company will provide classifieds functionalities, reports The Associated Press. The papers are owned by Community...

15. Set-Top Boxes Growing and Growing - 2007-05-22 07:00:00-04
    Shipments of set-top cable boxes are expected to double by 2011, reports WebProNews. Set-top box sales are being driven by the demand for digital cable, which is growing because of the pending...

16. Time Launches Recipe Portal - 2007-05-22 07:10:00-04
    Time Inc. is preparing to announce the launch of a recipe portal that will pull content from a raft of Time publications, reports MediaWeek. The site, MyRecipes.com, will contain about 25,000...

17. Google, Salesforce Flirt with Rendezvous - 2007-05-22 07:13:00-04
    Rumors are circulating that business management software company Salesforce.com may be acquired by Google, reports The Globe & Mail. Analysts and commentators peg the two companies as a natural...

18. Top Producers Line Pockets on SpyMac - 2007-05-22 07:15:00-04
    YouTube wasn't the first to come up with the content creator reward model. By giving producers a cut of ad revenue, SpyMac gains content, page views and consequent ad income, reports MediaPost. The...

19. Clear Channel Brings Mobile Functionality to Local Stations - 2007-05-22 07:17:00-04
    Clear Channel is working on rolling mobile features out to 100 of its local radio stations, reports MediaWeek. The media giant is sending stations applications that will allow it to make radio more...

20. Avis Adds Wireless to the Road Trip Experience - 2007-05-22 07:20:00-04
    Avis Rent-A-Car is bringing wireless access to its car rental travelers wherever they go, reports WebProNews. The service, Avis Connect, will cost just $10.95 a day and provide customers with...

SEL

1. Still Don’t Think You Need to Chase the Long Tail? - 2007-05-22 11:13:27-04

Online Marketing Blog

A marketing blog about the intersection of social media, search marketing and online public relations.

1. Are Search Engine Rankings are Dead? - 2007-05-11 16:32:17-04
   The phrases “search engine optimizaton” and “rankings” have gone hand in hand since the start of the search marketing industry. Agencies have gone so far as to use “rankings” as part of their name such as Jill Whalen’s High Rankings, David Wallace’s “Search Rank” and of course, our company “TopRank”. With the advent of personalization and [...]
2. More Google SERPs Testing - 2007-05-13 16:31:38-04
   Normally when related queries are suggested after doing a search on Google, they appear at the bottom of the search results page (SERP). I noticed this weekend Google is testing the display of other Google categories as well as related search queries above the right side column ads. (Outlined in red) The example above shows [...]
3. Five Things You Didn’t Know About Accoona - 2007-05-14 18:58:54-04
   Due to the generous networking opportunities at last week’s conference, it was easy to meet a variety of people even though the event was fairly small. One person I met was John Fernandez from Accoona. You may remember Accoona from their launch event with past President, Bill Clinton. I hadn’t heard a whole [...]
4. Quick Links 051507 - 2007-05-15 09:15:22-04
   Here are a few new items plus some things I’ve been meaning to link to for a while that may be of interest: ISEdb launches Digg style news site for search marketing:  ISEdb Scoop. Check out Jeremy Shoemaker’s AuctionAds Videos of all Search Insider Summit sessions Danny defending SEO (again). I’ve seen Danny do this in comments on other [...]
5. Final Five for $10,000 SEM Scholarship - 2007-05-16 10:31:01-04
   Andy Beal at Marketing Pilgrim has announced the five finalists in the 2007 SEM Scholarship Contest. There were 20 entrants, each tasked with finding ways to attract the most unique visitors to their article hosted at the MP blog using any combination of SEO, PPC, social marketing, word-of-mouth, etc in 4 weeks.  Out of those [...]
6. Google Searchology - 2007-05-16 14:00:46-04
   I just had a chance to watch part of the webcast of Google’s Searchology presentation with Marissa Meyer, Craig Silverstein and others. Software Engineer Ben Gomes talked about PageRank: Kerry Rodden talked about usability testing: and the various Google search products were also discussed. Danny lists links to live blogging of the event from TechCrunch and AppScout. While there were [...]
7. Google Reader Tip: Show Only New Items - 2007-05-17 15:26:09-04
   If you’re an active feed reader, you may feel a bit overwhelmed by the number of feeds in your reader at times. An easy way to slim down the number without removing any, is to show only feeds that have new posts. If you’re using Google Reader, click on the Show: updated link. This [...]
8. Search Marketing Blogs Update 051807 - 2007-05-18 15:05:17-04
   With a bit of housecleaning, the big list of search marketing blogs has been trimmed down! Nearly 100 blogs were removed from the list this week. Removals were based on blogs that have not updated in the past month. This week’s additions: AdGeek - Direct response copywriter Jeff Horsager offers a nice mix of marketing, [...]
9. Links for Charity - 2007-05-18 17:47:42-04
   Some company web sites might like to characterize themselves as in need of charity, but that’s not what this post is about. Andrey Milyan has tagged me in a Charity Link Meme started by Skitzzo over at SEO Refugee. This is a timely meme as I’ve had a draft blog post sitting in my [...]
10. What’s Old is New: Web Site Marketing Tips - 2007-05-21 12:47:39-04
    In the late nineties, the current search marketing buzz words, “link bait”, “social media”, “search engine PR”, etc were nowhere near the lexicon of web masters tasked with promoting web sites. Sage advice of the day centered on evangelizing the internet as a channel first, and then focusing on web sites as the vehicle. The logical [...]
11. TV Guide Online Video Search - 2007-05-22 08:04:23-04
    When I was at the Search Insider Summit a few weeks ago, there was a panel on video search optimization. One of the panel participants was Christy Tanner from TV Guide. It was interesting to learn about how most video search works and that there is a distinction between video hosted search and video search. [...]
12. New Study on Google Ranking Factors - 2007-05-22 09:36:28-04
    “titel” is “title” in German for you spell check enthusiasts. Via Axandra Search Engine Facts newsletter, German company SISTRIX (translated link) has conducted a study of 10,000 random keywords and then analyzed the top 100 Google search results for each keyword to determine which page elements offered the most influence on rankings. Nothing in the analysis will [...]

Conversion Rate Marketing Blog --> GrokDotCom by Future Now, inc

The Only Marketing Blog You'll Need to Read

1. Meetup: We’ve Got More To Offer Than Google - 2007-05-21 07:00:33-04
   Meetup, the site that lets you organize groups of people with similar interests, has posted a funny comparison of their corporate culture with Google’s (on Google Docs, no less!). It compares everything from company goals (organizing information versus organizing people), headquarters (Mountain View, California vs. New York City) and even toilets (electronic Rear Cleansing [...]

2. aQuantive/Microsoft - 2007-05-21 11:40:14-04
   I'm talking to some of the key players later today and will post some thoughts afterwards. Meanwhile, some second day stories: Merc News Scoble GigaOm Reuters SEL AdAge NYT B2 Kara Ars...

3. Yahoo caught cloaking! - 2007-05-21 12:09:29-04
   Looks like my man was peeking under yahoo's skirt and found something that is going to be VERY difficult for them to explain... read more

4. How to Protect Yourself From Being Misquoted - 2007-05-21 13:45:00-04
   Howard Kurtz' article about interviews in today's Washington Post got me thinking about how we can protect ourselves from being misquoted. The bottom line: often you can't. The best defense is not to say anything stupid, but, as well all know, that's not always possible. :>) What should you do to protect yourself from being misquoted when you are interviewed? I've been misquoted, and I'm sure m...

5. So Long Google AdSense Arbitrage - 2007-05-21 16:06:50-04
   I’ve just found out via JenSense, that Google is disabling arbitrage publisher accounts as of June 1st. There is not official word from Google yet, the buzz started from a WebmasterWorld.com forum thread, in which many AdSense advertisers tell about the termination letters they received. If you don’t know what this arbitrage is, you can [...]

6. MySpace Still Dominating Social Networks with 80% of Visits - 2007-05-21 17:41:18-04
   MySpace remains king of the social networking category, according to Hitwise, taking in 79.7% of visits to sites in this category ofr the Month of April, 2007. Facebook is second, with 11.47% of visits, and Bebo comes in third with 1.28% of visits. MySpace’s traffic has more than doubled since April 2006, increasing 70%. [...]

7. Ypulse Essentials - 2007-05-21 17:45:21-04
   A new soundtrack for young Arabs (meet the new breed of pop superstars like Nancy Ajram and Haifa Wehbe [in photo]) (BBC) - Meet Japan's J.K. Rowling (Rumiko Takahashi...and she's a manga cartoonist. Plus read about Mashup speaker Henry Jenkins's...

8. Al Gore: 'We need somebody who knows how to build a ladder' - 2007-05-21 18:29:21-04
   Plenty of Apple fanatics are drooling over Al Gore's three 30" Cinema Display monitor setup, but few appear willing to comment on the infallible Steve Jobs' apparent endorsement of the failed presidential candidate and eco-warrior in the new Time cover piece by Steve Pyke [Photo: Time]: We have dug ourselves into a 20-ft. hole, and we need somebody who knows how to build a ladder. Al's the guy...

9. Beware the CEO EGO! Keyword Analysis is probabl... - 2007-05-21 18:30:00-04
   Beware the CEO EGO! Keyword Analysis is probably the most important and difficult part of any Search Engine Marketing project - whether SEO or Paid Search. Tony Wright's article "Ego Bidding Gone Wild" reminded me of a slide I have in my presentation deck when talking about B2B Search Engine Marketing; the one called 'BEWARE the CEO EGO'!! The CEO EGO manifests itself in three ways: The...

10. MindTouch Powers AmplifySD’s Music Community - 2007-05-21 18:55:08-04
    MindTouch, the enterprise solution for wikis, announced today that SignsOnSanDiego, the online component for The San Diego Union-Tribune, is utilizing MindTouch’s services for its Internet radio station AmplifySD, that promotes local music. Amplimedia is powered by MindTouch Nexus, its turnkey hosted service, integrating with SignOnSanDiego’s existing web and publishing systems. Launched in M...

11. Rootly’s Third Relaunch Offers More Customization - 2007-05-21 19:53:01-04
    Rootly, the news aggregating site, has launched some new and useful features. In this third relaunch, Rootly is introducing a new site design, which is not only more practical but more attractive as well. The navigation is improved, switching its vertical menu to a horizontal orientation, making the site’s functions easier to access. To [...]

12. Confirmed: CBS Acquires Wallstrip - 2007-05-22 03:52:10-04
    Turns out you can believe what you read on a gossip blog: Jossip broke the news last week that CBS was acquiring the stock market-focused video blog Wallstrip for $5 million. They were right, apart from the price, which was apparently incorrect (surely it’s lower?). Wallstrip founder Howard Lindzon confirmed the deal on [...]

13. Microsoft Random Thoughts - 2007-05-22 04:26:30-04
    TheStreet agrees that Microsoft is still big game hunting in the online advertising space:We believe that Microsoft's MA appetite may not have been sated with its acquisition of AQNT, ThinkEquity analyst Stewart Barry wrote in a research note on Monday....

14. The Mass Amateurization of Everything - 2007-05-22 04:27:04-04
    Increased communication and information sharing leads to more of the same. You either submit your content to the machine, or they will grab as much as they can for free, then point off to those who are borrowing it and running ads against it.

15. Legless Chihuahuas Prove Google Hot Trends Not So Hot - 2007-05-22 04:33:05-04
    Google has launched a new addition to its growing lineup of…well everything, Google Hot Trends. Google Trends takes the idea behind Google Zeitgeist to the next level. Instead of providing weekly details of top Google searches, Google Hot Trends provides similar data daily and goes as far as providing “hot” search results via state, city and [...]

16. Google Trends - 2007-05-22 07:35:35-04
    I like the new Google trends feature but does anybody really believe [esoteric] is a “hot search term” for May 22 2007? Like really … a hot 20 search term … c’mon. Hey Google would it really have been that hard to make it RSS so I wouldn’t have to scrape it it … Sponsor: SEO Class Hands on SEO Workshop in NYC, more info, no sales pitches! Share This Share This

17. Blogging or Thinking About It? - 2007-05-22 08:48:04-04

John Wesley has an interesting post about his blogging experience and building an audience of 3,000 unique visitors a day and 2,200 subscribers. Let me share a few of what I believe are my favorite insights. In no particular order [my comments follow]:

• Be prepared to invest 2-3 years before seeing any serious returns. (Don't forget to read the ROI of Free.)
• A bad post is worse than no post. (Ask yourself :"What is the value that this post provides my readers?")
• It won’t work if you try to satisfy everyone. (You're not a $100 bill; not everyone needs to like your topic or posts, nor will they, so stop trying.)
• Piss a few people off. (If you haven't, you didn't move anyone emotionally in a positive way either.)
• If linking doesn’t provide value to your readers it’s a bad idea. (Think before doing a "Group Link.")
• Respond to your commenters, especially the ones who disagree. (It's easy to comment with people who share your point of view. Responding to the challenging comments improves your writing and thinking.)
• Display your best posts on every page in a prominent location. (People landing on your blog for the first time are like people jumping into the middle of the conversation. Give them a way to catch up quickly.)

Check out his full 27 lessons learned about blogging.

blogging advice, Blogs, comments

Do you know which sells best? Learn more about our latest ebook

18. Google Maps Allows You to Search Your Neighborhood - 2007-05-22 09:17:24-04
    David Tussey from Google Maps announced that you can now do neighborhood searches at Google Maps. So if you are on the upper west side of Manhattan and you want bagels you can find them over here. But yes, if you do travel over to the dark side of the upper east side of Manhattan and you want bagels from there, you can find them here. Also, if you are in the gramercy park area of Manhattan...

19. Wallstrip Goes Through The Exit Door - 2007-05-22 10:15:00-04
    CBS announced today that they are purchasing Wallstrip. Here's the story as I see it. Howard Lindzon is a scrappy investor and sometimes entrepreneur from Phoenix, Arizona. He got hip to blogging several years ago and started networking around via...

20. Another Day, Another $6.3 Billion - 2007-05-22 11:12:12-04

Music business giant EMI has agreed to be bought for a cool $6.3 billion by Terra Firma. But after Microsoft's unrelated $6B acquisition last week, who can keep track?

That's like buying 10 Mona Lisas. (Probably seven, once you adjust for hedge fund dollars and inflation since 2005, when its value was roughly estimated.)

EMI, as you may recall, made waves last week when it announced a partnership with Amazon to create an online mega-store to rival iTunes. (Nice to see that Rolling Stone and ZDNet agree with us.)

How do you think these massive acquisitions will change the way we buy?

acquisitions, Amazon, blog buzz, EMI, iTunes

Do you know which sells best? Learn more about our latest ebook

Digg RSS News Search for "INTERNET MARKETING"

1. Starting An Online Home Business? Work At Home Internet Start-up Tips - 2007-05-22 08:23:56-04
   Thinking of starting an online home business? Herewith some start-up tips to help you get organized to ensure the smooth running of your work at home internet business.
2. CBS purchases Wallstrip - 2007-05-22 08:38:01-04
   Wallstrip is a video podcast or show about the market, and in a generalized tongue in cheek viewpoint, Wall strip has made it through angel funding to finally getting a buy out from CBS today. Another web 2.0 company is bought, but this one with a different spin, they were a completely internet investing show, bought by big media.
3. BitTorrent Malware Spreads to Media Players - 2007-05-22 08:38:12-04
   When someone or something becomes a huge success, inevitably some people want a piece of that and try to cash in. The BitTorrent scene is no exception and in recent months we have reported on a raft of torrent clients hitting the internet, each installing malware on unsuspecting user’s PC’s.
4. Should Apple Stop Making Macs? - 2007-05-22 08:43:19-04
   A story based on that damn report from 2006: When a major international report claimed Dell should start making computers for Apple, a blaze of controversy swept across the Internet. But admit it. Apple got it right — Mac computers are the future. But not for the reasons most people think.
5. Peoples Choice Software Award Voting - 2007-05-22 08:54:02-04
   Users would have the opportunity to vote for their favorite software programs. The voting for these awards is hosted each year by some of the largest sites on the Internet. In past years, this has included popular sites like CNET, Simtel, Tucows, PC World, and others.
6. Vista: Enabled DEP for Internet Explorer 7 - 2007-05-22 08:54:15-04
   By default, DEP is turned off for Internet Explorer in Vista. If DEP is so powerful, why is it disabled for important applications such as Internet Explorer? Well, the answer is simple. Microsoft disabled DEP to maintain backward compatibility with other plug-ins and add-ons that simply do not work with DEP. To enable DEP for IE 7...
7. RIAA Seeks Royalties From Radio - 2007-05-22 08:54:35-04
   First it was Napster; then it was Internet radio; then it was little girls, grandmothers, and dead people. But now our friends at the RIAA are going decidedly low-tech. The RIAA wants royalties from radio stations.
8. British watchdog group claims Wi-Fi can cause cancer. - 2007-05-22 08:56:03-04
   Britain's top health watchdog has called for an inquiry into the use of wireless Internet networks in schools because of concerns they could be exposing children to the risk of cancer.
9. UndercoverBlackman Joins Internet Race War - 2007-05-22 08:57:35-04
   Hamlet Washington (NY) - The UnderCoverBlackMan, David Mills, 'joined' the white supremacists in the ongoing Internet race war between the groups & the Yacub 7 Ali Negro Sun Worship movement. Identifying the religion's leader as a fake and his movement a hoax, Mills inflamed Ali's followers and brought himself under intense scrutiny from his peers.
10. Ron Paul: The Web Effect...in NY Times! - 2007-05-22 09:01:20-04
    "Representative Ron Paul, the Texas Republican who is running for president, may be barely registering in public opinion polls, but his supporters are making their presence known on the Internet."
11. World Internet Mega Summit at your fingertips - 2007-05-22 09:01:41-04
    The World Internet Mega Summit happening this coming weekend (May 26-29) can now be attended from the comfort of your own home. Yep right at your fingertips due to revolutionary technology.
12. Introducing Google's Online Security Efforts - 2007-05-22 09:04:10-04
    Online security is an important topic for Google, our users, and anyone who uses the Internet. The related issues are complex and dynamic and we've been looking for a way to foster discussion on the topic and keep users informed.
13. Free to be Al Gore - 2007-05-22 09:14:32-04
    Al Gore's revenge is to have been right: right about the Internet and global warming, and right about Iraq.
14. “Words not only affect us temporarily; they change us..." - 2007-05-22 09:18:59-04
    Much of the new Internet is about social and community geared sites and activities. These sites are usually tagged with the label web 2.0.
15. Benefits of Submitting Articles to Article Directories - 2007-05-22 09:19:00-04
    Is article writing and submission so crucial in the Internet marketing? How can articles serve me? How can my web site benefit from them? Those are the questions you might be asked yourself when reading about the article marketing and submission directories. Let us examine how the articles can serve you.
16. Free Market News: Ron Paul is Feasible - 2007-05-22 09:20:43-04
    It's political Seabiscuit -- 'Ron Paul (R-TX) is "leading the pack" on the Internet at sites such as YouTube and MeetUP, despite low regional polls by mainstream media outlets. Since those who pay attention to the presidential debates have anointed him a winner, it would seem feasible that his message will be well received in Iowa, New Hampshire..'
17. Spammers in porn attack on internet forum - 2007-05-22 09:22:06-04
    MEMBERS of an online discussion forum set up by community leaders in Magdalene have been urged to re-register their details after the site was taken over by internet spammers.
18. RSS 101 Tutorial Part 2 - 2007-05-22 09:23:10-04
    Tired of searching for what you want and checking three or four or more websites to see news you care about? Internet surfers stand to gain immensely from RSS.
19. Flickr Has an “e” in it…Web 2.0 Spelling CORRECTED - 2007-05-22 09:30:26-04
    One of Internet trends that has started to irritate people over the last few years is dropping vowels from company names - Flickr, Tumblr, Pluggd, Talkr, Anothr. As diehard members of the spelling Nazis, we decided to see what had become of the correctly spelled domains, which are still racking up pageviews from visitors who can actually spell.
20. Picking a Better Password - 2007-05-22 09:34:34-04
    As the title states. How to pick a better password and keep yourself safe on the Internet.

Google Blog Search: SEO

1. SEO Cheater of the Day - 2007-05-21 17:49:43-04
2. Google Kills Low End AdSense Arbitrage & MFA Spam - 2007-05-21 18:44:07-04
3. LinkAssistant SEO Tool 2.5 - 2007-05-21 18:44:07-04
4. Can Too Many 301 Redirects Hurt Your SEO Efforts? - 2007-05-21 19:43:54-04
5. Kurt commenting on Managing Your Reputation and SEO - 2007-05-21 21:43:49-04
6. Google Local Results now showing small cities - 2007-05-21 22:46:17-04
7. Search Engine Optimization aka SEO - 2007-05-22 00:42:59-04
8. Dual Trustrank, User Profiles, and Personalized Rerankings of ... - 2007-05-22 01:43:05-04
9. The Ron Paul Story: How Social Media Is Affecting the ‘08 ... - 2007-05-22 01:43:05-04
10. Google File System & Large Scale Machine Learning System Patents ... - 2007-05-22 02:46:14-04
11. The Mass Amaturization of Everything - 2007-05-22 02:46:14-04
12. Sweet PPC Ads - 2007-05-22 03:45:04-04
13. Dr. Robert Silkey says SEO is illegal! - 2007-05-22 03:45:04-04
14. Loooooooooooooooooong Tail Keywords - 2007-05-22 04:46:05-04
15. Google Trends Adds Hot Keywords - 2007-05-22 04:46:05-04
16. Beautiful Political Marketing - 2007-05-22 05:48:51-04
17. BlogJet 2 Desktop Blogging Application Reviewed - 2007-05-22 06:59:46-04
18. Internet pioneer to oversee its redesign - 2007-05-22 11:11:52-04
19. Web CEO giving deep discounts right now - 2007-05-22 11:11:52-04
20. MainSearches Seo Web Directory - 2007-05-22 11:11:52-04

Search Engine Roundtable

::: THE PULSE OF THE SEARCH MARKETING COMMUNITY :::
A well-rounded view on search engines and search engine marketing by senior members of the major SEO/SEM forums on the Internet.

1. Google Maps Allows You to Search Your Neighborhood - 2007-05-22 09:17:24-04

David Tussey from Google Maps announced that you can now do neighborhood searches at Google Maps.

So if you are on the upper west side of Manhattan and you want bagels you can find them over here. But yes, if you do travel over to the dark side of the upper east side of Manhattan and you want bagels from there, you can find them here. Also, if you are in the gramercy park area of Manhattan, near Baruch College (where I went), and you need a bagel, that works also over here.

Greg Sterling adds; Real Estate sites HomeGain and Trulia offer this capability and so do local search sites Yelp and Ask City. Yahoo recently introduced color-coded neighborhood maps (in SF and NY) among other changes and Maps upgrades.

Gramercy Park Bagels searches at Ask City isn't too shabby.

Yea, but Google gets the forum buzz for it.

Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.

2. Google AdWords Now Bolding Keyword Variations in Google.com - 2007-05-22 09:30:22-04

A WebmasterWorld thread reports Google not only bolding the ad text that matches your exact search query, but also bolding variations of that query.

For example, a search on ipod in singular form, also bolds the word "ipods" in plural within this Circuit City ad.

WebmasterWorld member Rehan confirms that he also believes this is new, saying;

I'm pretty sure this is relatively new, or at the very least the broadening of what may have been happening on a limited basis before. A few weeks ago I split up a "Keyword widget" campaign into separate "Keyword widget", "Keyword widgets", "Key word widget", and "Key word widgets" ad groups just so I could get bolding without using dynamic keyword insertion. With this new change, I don't need to do that because "Keyword widget" in the ad text is bold even if "Key word widgets" is the search query.

I personally do not know for sure if this is new, but it seems like the majority of the AdWords professionals at WebmasterWorld seem to believe so.

Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.

3. Google in Potential Partnership Talks with Salesforce - 2007-05-22 10:23:37-04

According to a DigitalPoint Forums and WebmasterWorld posts, Google and Salesforce.com are in potential talks for a partnership. A Yahoo News article expounds on this possible relationship:

The paper said one outcome could be a Web-based offering that integrates some of Google's online services such as e-mail and instant-messaging with those of Salesforce.com, whose customer-relationship management tools help salespeople track their accounts.

So, why this acquisition? For the betterment of the Google Apps platform, it seems. Digital Point Forum members feel this way.

Salesforce is a pretty powerful software far superior to MS CRM. I have used both and can see why google wants to go after it.

If it was integrated with other Google apps it would be the daddy of all business focused web applications.

I have no experience with this CRM software, but if that's true, this is a naturally strategic move on Google's part. And maybe another DigitalPoint Forum member is right, "Google wants to spread their business to every market!"

Or maybe it's just competition at its finest. As a WebmasterWorld member says:

Man, they're really in an all-out war now, aren't they, GOOG v. MSN. G fired the first shot with the DoubleClick buy, and since then it's been wild.

Forum discussion continues at DigitalPoint Forums and WebmasterWorld.

Additional coverage is at Techmeme and in the Washington Post article.

Search Engine Roundtable

::: THE PULSE OF THE SEARCH MARKETING COMMUNITY :::
A well-rounded view on search engines and search engine marketing by senior members of the major SEO/SEM forums on the Internet.

1. Online Form Design Requires Thought - 2007-05-22 08:39:57-04

It may appear unimportant to care about where to put an "*" or text word "Required" in forms, but the more complicated the type of form or application, the more it becomes a design issue. Creating a form that works for both those who can see web pages and those who can't, as well as all the physical limitations that rely on assistive software to access the Web, may be challenging.

There are many solutions out there. Cre8asiteforums visits the topic in force in Accessibility Design - Where To Put "required" In Forms?

2. Google Trends Releases "Hot Trends" Tool - 2007-05-22 08:41:42-04

I wrote a really long piece at Search Engine Land on a new feature by Google Trends, I named my article Google Meme: Hot Trends Added To Google Trends.

In short, now when you go to the Google Trends home page you will see "hot trends" under the search box. These hot trends are made up of USA based queries. What makes a query hot? If there is a sudden increase in searches for that phrase, something out of the norm relative to the historical look at that phrase, it will be considered a hot trend. I gave several examples in my article at Search Engine Land.

Let me give you one more that is related to why Tamar and I will be out Wednesday and Thursday. The Jewish holiday of Shavuot is tomorrow, we won't be here, so expect some prewritten articles and articles from the other authors. But since Shavuot is a seasonal event, typically, throughout the year, no one searches on that term. But now that Shavuot is tomorrow, there is a spike in people searching for it.

Right now, Shavuot is 36 on hot trends list for me. Here is a link to the trend for May 22nd for Shavuot.

As you can see at the top right it shows the date, which you can change. Then it shows the "hotness" level, in this case, it is only mild. It shows the search volume throughout the day. The search query "peaked" 22 hours ago, meaning Google noticed a spike in people searching for that search term 22 hours ago. What I find very interesting is that the "location " is 9% New York - well there a lot of religious Jewish people in New York, so that may make sense. Then at the bottom you see news articles and blog posts, followed by related web pages. I suspect news and blog posts have a lot to do with the hot trends reports.

Now, just think how this can be useful for SEOs. Hot trends. Hmm...

Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld and DigitalPoint Forums

3. Is Yahoo! Autos Cloaking? - 2007-05-22 09:05:47-04

A WebmasterWorld thread links to a post at Agerhart.com showing screen shots of Yahoo! Autos cloaking.

Cloaking is when a search bot is given one page of content, while a normal user is given another set of content.

If you go to http://autos.yahoo.com/used-cars/forsale.html and compare it with the Google Cache version, to me they look identical. So possibly, Yahoo! changed it. But in the screen captures, only the Google version had the "used cars" anchor text by every state break down. You can see the before and after at Agerhart.com.

It seems like Yahoo Autos is currently not cloaking at this moment.

Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.

ZDNet Blogs

Latest posts from all the ZDNet blogs

1. Kansas launches $40 million overhaul to make public records accessible online - 2007-05-21 05:03:06-04
   Kansans who like to keep up on how the state spends taxpayers' money will soon have detailed budget information at the click of a mouse, reports Stateline.com. Information such as how much the governor's office shelled out for pencils and paper will be available when the Kansas state government launches a $40 million technology upgrade to their accounting ledgers. Fifteen other states also have spending-transparency initiatives in the works, according to Americans for Tax Reform, an anti-tax group. "There's no excuse in our age of technology to not have this information readily available and accessible to citizens," said Annie Patnaude, a spokeswoman for Americans for Prosperity, a group promoting limited government. The Internet is the place to find all kinds...
2. Making America safe for online poker - 2007-05-21 05:23:21-04
   If you play poker on the Internet, you already know about the squeeze the U.S. government is putting on Internet gambling. Wired News reports that a law passed last September, which just went into effect, makes financial transactions between online casinos and American banks and credit card companies illegal. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) has forced Internet gambling to come to a grinding halt in the States. But, like Prohibition in the 20's, people have found ways to get around the laws. "There was mass panic when the legislation came out," says "Boy Wonder," a inveterate online gambler who asked to be identified only by his screen name because he fears the IRS might target him. "(The Act)...
3. MySpace, AGs come to terms over sex predator info - 2007-05-21 05:50:46-04
   Eight state attorneys general and MySpace officials have hashed out an agreement by which the social networking site will hand over user information on some 7,000 convicted sex offenders, reports Reuters. Last week, MySpace said it had identified profiles for convicted sex offenders on MySpace but felt that confidentiality laws forbade the company from handing the info over to law enforcement. The agreement takes into account a myriad of different state laws, said Fox Interactive general counsel Mike Angus. It's an intricate web of laws that we make sure we comply with ... We don't want these guys walking out on a technicality." But some AGs want MySpace to do more than just turn over the information. "While conveying this...
4. Microsoft releases Office exploit isolation tool - 2007-05-21 06:53:38-04
   Microsoft has released a file conversion tool that stops exploits rigged into .doc, .xls and .ppt files from infecting Office 2003 users. The tool, called MOICE (Microsoft Office Isolated Conversion Environment), can be used in tandem with Group Policy settings to convert documents in legacy (.doc) formats to OpenXML formats, stripping out potentially harmful elements that could pose a potential security risk. The conversion process takes place in a safe, quarantined sandbox environment, so the user's computer is fully protected. (See previous blog entry on the MOICE plans). The tool, available here as a free download, currently supports the .doc, .ppt, .pot, .pps, .xls, .xlt and .xla file formats. According to a KB article accompanying the MOICE release, the tool...
5. Changing the user expectation by freeing applications from the browser - 2007-05-21 07:17:56-04
   Disclosure: Last week I announced that I’m working for Adobe. While I haven’t officially started, consider me an Adobe employee for all intents and purposes. I have the disclosure statement at the bottom of the page, but I’ll probably run this for a while just to make sure there isn’t any confusion. Bill Higgins has a very, very thought provoking post about the "uncanny valley" and the sudden increase in trying to make web applications look like desktop applications. In the "uncanny valley" he is referring to the theory that the more human like our robots become, the more we're impressed until they reach the point where they are human enough to be creepy, but still not human enough to...
6. Interop '07: First, Sun's datacenter in a trailer. Now? Armarac's wall-mounted datacenter - 2007-05-21 11:10:15-04
   Datacenters are showing up in the strangest places. Two weeks ago, while in San Francisco, I took you for a video walkthrough of Sun's Project Blackbox. Project Blackbox is basically a shell of datacenter in a shipping container (the kind hauled around by tractor trailers). It's got everything that's needed (power, cooling, networking, tons of 19" racks, etc.) to bring up a datacenter anywhere at anytime. All you need to do is fill-in the rack space with gear (Sun would rather you do so with Sun's gear, but any gear that can fit in 19" standard racks will do). Whereas Project Blackbox has the high-end covered, not only does the New Zealand based Thureon have the low-end covered, it may...
7. 404: not founded in reality? - 2007-05-21 12:38:02-04
   Sarbanes-Oxley has proven itself to be a terrific money maker for the accounting and legal industries in the United States, but the evidence on its effectiveness as an information equaliser in the capital markets is ambiguous at best. Here's the soxlaw.com section 404 summary: Issuers are required to publish information in their annual reports concerning the scope and adequacy of the internal control structure and procedures for financial reporting. This statement shall also assess the effectiveness of such internal controls and procedures. The registered accounting firm shall, in the same report, attest to and report on the assessment on the effectiveness of the internal control structure and procedures for financial reporting. In response Congressmen Meeks and Feeney along with...
8. Dell announces support plans for Linux machines - 2007-05-21 14:54:03-04
   While the exact details concerning timing and availability of Dell's Ubuntu-based hardware offerings are still emerging, an entry yesterday on their Direct2Dell blog outlined plans for support of the new OS.  In particular, Dell will be launching a new wiki for users on their linux.dell.com website "that gives technical details of the supported systems, information on the device drivers used for system peripherals, details of our Ubuntu factory-installation, and information on the problems we found during our testing, with their fixes/workarounds." The blog entry also outlined the software to be included on the machines.  Most notably, in addition to the default Ubuntu 7.04 packages, only open-source drivers would be used wherever possible.  Full wireless support (though with restricted drivers) would...
9. Xenâ?¢ 3.1 is launched bringing a 64-bit hypervisor, live relocation and XenAPI - 2007-05-22 06:23:06-04
   The good folks at XenSource announced Xen??? 3.1 today. This release is a wonderful demontration of a community effort. The list of contributors to Xen 3.1 include XenSource itself, Intel, IBM, Novell, VA Linux (Japan), HP, Fujitsu, SGI, Red Hat, AMD, Sun, Unisys and the U.S. National Security Agency. Impressive list, no? Here's a capsule description of what's new. Enhanced 64 bit hypervisor ??? Xen 3.1 extends Xen???s paravirtualization support to allow simultaneous virtualization of both 32- and 64-bit paravirtualized Linux virtual machines. This improvement adds to what earlier versions of Xen already offered including, support for 32 and 64 bit hardware assisted virtual machines (HVM). Xen 3.1 is able to simultaneously virtualize todays 32 bit Linux and Windows guests...
10. T-Mobile Wing replaces the T-Mobile MDA - 2007-05-22 06:42:11-04
    I was one of the first to receive an HTC Wizard/T-Mobile MDA device and posted a full review on Geek.com a year and a half ago. T-Mobile was the first in the U.S. to update or release a device running Windows Mobile 6 when they released an update for the T-Mobile Dash and today they announced the release of a Windows Mobile 6 Professional (aka Pocket PC Phone Edition) device called the T-Mobile Wing. This device was revealed just a couple of weeks ago by the FCC and it didn't take long for T-Mobile to get it out. The press release and device specifics haven't even been posted on T-Mobile's site yet, but a couple of fellow mobile enthusiasts...
11. News to know: Office exploits; Dell's Linux move; RAM to avoid - 2007-05-22 07:00:42-04
    Notable headlines: Ryan Naraine: Microsoft releases Office exploit isolation tool. MS Word exploit generator circulating? Opera sings code execution blues. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes: Five things the Linux community doesn't understand about the average computer user. Dell: Ubuntu 7.04 Offering???Technical Details. Christopher Dawson: Dell announces support plans for Linux machines. Photos: Imagination becomes reality at Maker Faire (right). David Berlind: Interop '07: First, Sun's datacenter in a trailer. Now? Armarac's wall-mounted datacenter. AMD shows sunny side of Barcelona. Robin Harris: RAM to avoid: hot, expensive and slow. IBM simulates business software in 3D game. Gallery: 3D gaming meets SOA (right). Dana Gardner: IBM sets up SOA as the major brand consolidator of the age. Joe McKendrick: SOA-Web 2.0: a lot in common,...
12. Hey Qwest, you are NOT as fast as my Comcast - 2007-05-22 07:06:17-04
    A missive from regional telco provider Qwest's p.r. firm arrived in my Inbox yesterday. The email contained news of a "survey" of 100 Comcast and Qwest broadband customers performing a set of outlined tasks at two identical computers -- one connected to Qwest's premium product (5 to 7 megs) and one connected to Comcast's 6 meg product. Connected to a 30-second tv spot campaign, the "results" showed that of those tested, 72 percent perceived the Qwest product running as fast or faster than Comcast. But Paul at GigaOm puts the slam down on what he calls "weak, home-based statistics" used by companies such as Qwest: ...as far as the “perception” that cable is faster than DSL… maybe that’s because,...
13. Hey Qwest, you are NOT as fast as my Comcast - 2007-05-22 07:06:17-04
    A missive from regional telco provider Qwest's p.r. firm arrived in my Inbox yesterday. The email contained news of a "survey" of 100 Comcast and Qwest broadband customers performing a set of outlined tasks at two identical computers -- one connected to Qwest's premium product (5 to 7 megs) and one connected to Comcast's 6 meg product. Connected to a 30-second tv spot campaign, the "results" showed that of those tested, 72 percent perceived the Qwest product running as fast or faster than Comcast. But Paul at GigaOm puts the slam down on what he calls "weak, home-based statistics" used by companies such as Qwest: ...as far as the ???perception??? that cable is faster than DSL??? maybe that???s because,...
14. Self-service SOA, the Salesforce way - 2007-05-22 07:21:03-04
    The convergence of SOA and SaaS continues apace. Yesterday Salesforce.com announced Salesforce SOA, an add-on to its Apex development environment that allows users to access external web services — anything from an RSS feed to a full-on SOAP stream from an enterprise application. I have to say this is neither revolutionary nor surprising, but it is significant. If Salesforce.com hadn't done this, I would have been surprised. All development environments these days include the ability to access web services, and Apex is now no different in that respect. Of course Apex is a little unusual in being a hosted development environment, but it's not unique in that respect either — Bungee Labs' Connect environment springs to mind as another example....
15. Self-service SOA, the Salesforce way - 2007-05-22 07:21:03-04
    The convergence of SOA and SaaS continues apace. Yesterday Salesforce.com announced Salesforce SOA, an add-on to its Apex development environment that allows users to access external web services ??? anything from an RSS feed to a full-on SOAP stream from an enterprise application. I have to say this is neither revolutionary nor surprising, but it is significant. If Salesforce.com hadn't done this, I would have been surprised. All development environments these days include the ability to access web services, and Apex is now no different in that respect. Of course Apex is a little unusual in being a hosted development environment, but it's not unique in that respect either ??? Bungee Labs' Connect environment springs to mind as another example....
16. Avaya and NETGEAR team up for small biz IP phone system solution - 2007-05-22 07:21:17-04
    Networking products manufacturer and marketer NETGEAR, Inc. , (not shouting, but just spelling things right) is teaming with communications systems solutions provider Avaya to develop an IP telephony solution for small businesses with 20 users or less. The solution involves Avaya Quick Edition peer-to-peer technology, which includes Avaya phones that contain software for business communications without the need for a central phone server or PBX. Hey, we are talking about auto attendant, conferencing, a single inbox for voice and e-mail messages, and the ability to have office calls ring on a mobile phone. NETGEAR's role is in the network infrastructure part of this solution.  We're talking  Smart Switches with power over Ethernet (PoE) capability that can remotely power Avaya...
17. Avaya and NETGEAR team up for small biz IP phone system solution - 2007-05-22 07:21:17-04
    Networking products manufacturer and marketer NETGEAR, Inc. , (not shouting, but just spelling things right) is teaming with communications systems solutions provider Avaya to develop an IP telephony solution for small businesses with 20 users or less. The solution involves Avaya Quick Edition peer-to-peer technology, which includes Avaya phones that contain software for business communications without the need for a central phone server or PBX. Hey, we are talking about auto attendant, conferencing, a single inbox for voice and e-mail messages, and the ability to have office calls ring on a mobile phone. NETGEAR's role is in the network infrastructure part of this solution.?? We're talking?? Smart Switches with power over Ethernet (PoE) capability that can remotely power Avaya...
18. Salesforce.com partnership will gauge Google's software commitment - 2007-05-22 07:24:23-04
    Will a Google partnership with Salesforce.com yield a software combination with staying power? If so maybe a real threat to Microsoft could emerge. Dan Farber noted the two could be a 21st century applications platform. But the devil will be in the details. On Monday, the Wall Street Journal reported the two are talking about a partnership. On Tuesday, analysts were weighing a potential combination. The partnership when announced will reveal just how seriously Google is taking enterprise software. And if Google is really serious this Salesforce.com partnership could be a precursor to a Google acquisition. But let's not get carried away just yet. Merrill Lynch analyst Kash Rangan notes: The scope and duration of a partnership, if announced, will...
19. Salesforce.com partnership will gauge Google's software commitment - 2007-05-22 07:24:23-04
    Will a Google partnership with Salesforce.com yield a software combination with staying power? If so maybe a real threat to Microsoft could emerge. Dan Farber noted the two could be a 21st century applications platform. But the devil will be in the details. On Monday, the Wall Street Journal reported the two are talking about a partnership. On Tuesday, analysts were weighing a potential combination. The partnership when announced will reveal just how seriously Google is taking enterprise software. And if Google is really serious this Salesforce.com partnership could be a precursor to a Google acquisition. But let's not get carried away just yet. Merrill Lynch analyst Kash Rangan notes: The scope and duration of a partnership, if announced, will...
20. Why ABC's time-shifting of Charlie Gibson Webcast is a seminal development - 2007-05-22 07:39:55-04
    We learn from a report in Broadcasting & Cable magazine that ABC is moving its World News Webcast from 3 p.m. to 12:30 p.m Eastern Time. Interesting backstory on the move.  As B&C's John Eggerton notes, the Charlie Gibson-anchored newscast was originally launched in Januaryk 2006 as a preview of that night's tv newscast. But an unanticipated thing happened. World News Webcast devoted a following of its own, with some exclusive content.  And with that emergence, came some new metrics. "The move to 3, says ABC, is because the Web's peak traffic is in the early afternoon," Eggerton writes. The takeaway? This isn't just an isolated example. I believe that more and more real-time Webcasts produced by "mainstream media"...

Digg RSS News Search for "INTERNET MARKETING"

1. How to use blogging in five unusual ways - 2007-05-22 05:06:23-04
   A useful post for Internet marketers, online businesses, business owners and executives
2. Graphics Design Guide tons of expert tips for both online/offline media! - 2007-05-22 05:08:34-04
   A large selection of tips and tricks for how to go about graphics design. It was compiled from a range of different sources including the web and various Internet magazines, enjoy!
3. Internet Marketing For Newbies - 2007-05-22 05:13:37-04
   For many newbies, starting an internet marketing business is a daunting task. According to one study, the most common obstacles are having to create a website and finding the right products to sell. If these obtacles are removed, there will be a better chance for people to get started and experience how to money is actually earned online.
4. The Latest Internet Snooping: Lifecasting - 2007-05-22 05:39:16-04
   What is interesting about this human experiment is that Kan’s appeal is not talent or physical appearance because you never see him since the camera is rarely turned on him, but what you get to do is participate in is his life. As the media has gone interactive, and Kan is destined for stardom, his celebrity is participatory.
5. Give Credit Where Credit Is Due - 2007-05-22 05:49:53-04
   I've begun to notice there are tons of blogs that are automated on the internet. Instead of writing content yourself, these blogs automate the process of grabbing and linking content. You probably don't realize they're robot blogs at first, but once you read a few, there is something that just doesn't sound right. A blog about psychology has...
6. New gaming laptop from ASUS entered the market - 2007-05-22 05:54:16-04
   Stylish and modern gaming laptop ASUS G1S-A1 can be ordered now in the Internet. It means that you can now read about all its capabilities, specifications and advantages.
7. The man who owns the Internet - 2007-05-22 06:04:10-04
   Kevin Ham is the most powerful dotcom mogul you've never heard of, reports Business 2.0 Magazine. Here's how the master of Web domains built a $300 million empire.
8. Google to Show Daily List of Hot Topics - 2007-05-22 06:10:55-04
   Google Inc. is going to start sharing more insights about whats on its users minds by showing a daily list of the 100 hottest topics on its Internet-leading search engine.
9. Congress Must Do Its Duty - 2007-05-22 06:18:46-04
   It's truly a shame that the Corporate-controlled mainstream media doesn't give Mr. Paul any coverage.Thank God for the Internet and websites like antiwar.com
10. The Man Who Owns The Internet - 2007-05-22 06:20:03-04
    Kevin Ham leans forward, sits up tall, closes his eyes, and begins to type -- into the air. He's seated along the rear wall of a packed ballroom in Las Vegas's Venetian Hotel. Up front, an auctioneer is running through a list of Internet domain names, building excitement the same way he might if vintage cars were on the block.
11. Installing Ubuntu Edgy Eft 6.10 on HP DC7700 pc - 2007-05-22 06:45:07-04
    I encounter some problems installing Ubuntu on e newly bought HP DC7700 workstation. After done some reading on the internet, I found out that there are some custom parameters to be used to perform the installation.Since the problem is related to the ACPI, so ACPI sould be turned off in the boot menu.
12. Online, GOP Is Playing Catch-Up - 2007-05-22 06:59:19-04
    Michael Turk, who was in charge of Internet strategy for President Bush's 2004 campaign -- puts the problem his party faces more bluntly: "We're losing the Web right now."
13. Barack Obama just joined my website! - 2007-05-22 07:04:05-04
    I have heard that this years political race was going online but I have verified that people from Barack Obama's campaign have joined and rated restaurants on our site. You have to love the internet.
14. IAA, Internet Addicts Anonymous - 2007-05-22 07:26:59-04
    *stands up*Hello, my name is Sean..... and I'm an addict.First it was just walkthroughs and cheatcodes for consoles. I dabbled, but i knew i could stop any time i wanted.Then came broadband...The filesharing... The online gaming... The instant messaging... It just got deeper and deeper and I became more addicted, and
15. Why is the Law Ignored on the Internet? - 2007-05-22 07:42:24-04
    The United States of America has obscenity laws, and while the Bush Administrations is enforcing them to a greater extent than did the Clintons, obscenity is still allowed to run rampant on the Internet. Obscenity Advocates are quick to claim that software can be used to block many sites, but turn around and fight efforts to install such software
16. On line Censorship approach - 2007-05-22 07:56:33-04
    It's hard to decide which procedure should be used to control Internet Content. If we try to control anything, the load balance of the ISP's server will become too huge to process. And aside from the technical problems, there are political questions, since a change in how Internet works in a country is a process that will take some time.
17. Electronic Cheese - 2007-05-22 08:10:43-04
    So Tuesday, after another ten-hour day, Angela spent time designing a webpage. She listed all of the cheeses she stocked with a standard order form. To her surprise, Helen had the webpage up on the Internet the next day.
18. Microsoft: 'XSS exploitable bug in IE is by design' - 2007-05-22 08:12:04-04
    Because of broken mimetype sniffing in Internet Explorer, a specially formed but entirely valid gif-image or png-file can be used to run malicious scripts with Internet Explorer. Microsoft was informed by the Editorial Department of Tweakers.net, but responded that this behavior is by design and not considered a vulnerability.
19. Is the GOP mocking the right wing blogs? - 2007-05-22 08:12:44-04
    Right wing GOP/KKK/nazis eat their own and delegitimize their internet footsoldiers. Hey LGF! That's gotta hurt!All that fabrication, lying and demagoguery, and your own fascist leaders snub you! Feel the burn!
20. Plain and Honest Review of Ultimate Wealth Package - 2007-05-22 08:17:54-04
    If you have been keeping up with the internet marketing world, perhaps you have heard about the product: "Ultimate Wealth Package". Many people asked: Is this product a scam? I have been promoting this product for months now. What I can tell you right now is that this product is suitable for the newbies. I have written a simple and honest review...

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News and Discussion for the Web Professional

1. Google Beta Test Playing With Serp Layout Continues - 2007-05-17 16:43:06-04
2. New to Domaining - How to Estimate Type-in Traffic? - 2007-05-17 16:43:06-04
   "If the keyword gets a few thousand searches according to the major keyword tools, will that mean, that having the exact match domain name will make sense for type-in traffic?"
3. Productivity Tips for Expression Web and FrontPage - 2007-05-17 16:43:06-04
   "Why would I need a CMS if I have tools like FrontPage or Expression Web available to me?"
4. Google's Phrase Based Patents and Keyword Co-occurrence - 2007-05-17 16:43:06-04
   How do the six recent "phrase based" patents build on earlier ideas that used a semantic approach? Let's take a look at some of the principles these patents include.
5. U.S. Military Blocks MySpace & YouTube - 2007-05-17 16:43:06-04
   Ban affects only computers owned by the military; 11 other websites on block list.
6. What is Quality Content in Relation to Smart Pricing? - 2007-05-17 16:43:06-04
   What is the Best Definition of Quality When We Speak of Smart Pricing?
7. Adding Background Images to Google AdSense Ads - 2007-05-17 16:43:06-04
   "...place a background image behind your AdSense ads...isn't this against the AdSense TOS?"
8. Porn.com Sells for $9 Million - 2007-05-17 16:43:06-04
   "...it is believed to be one of the most significant adult domain transactions in history."
9. Yahoo Hires New CFO Dealmaker: Blake Jorgensen - 2007-05-17 16:43:06-04
   "Yahoo! hired veteran dealmaker Blake Jorgensen to be its new chief financial officer yesterday in a sign the struggling Internet titan may be looking for its own deals, despite overtures from software giant Microsoft."