FeedBurner Announces AdSense for RSS Feeds
Posted by keirsun on May 30, 2008 at 02:37 PM
Beginning next week, you may start seeing Google ads in a few of your favorite RSS feeds.
That's because FeedBurner, a Google-owned company that helps bloggers, podcasters, media companies and anyone who pushes content via RSS publish and promote their feed, is going to start putting Google AdSense ads into feeds.
Steve at the Official FeedBurner weblog dropped the hefty bit of news this morning.
To get the ball rolling, AdSense ads will be available to a limited number of publishers, with a full launch to all FeedBurner and AdSense publishers in the near future. FeedBurner publishers who meet the AdSense program requirements will be able to use AdSense in their feeds. Steve provides a few more details for FeedBurner publishers:
You'll learn more about the details when we fully launch, but here are the basics: you will need to sign up for AdSense if you haven't already, and you will want to set up your AdSense channels for "placement targeting" in order to make sure that advertisers can target your syndicated content specifically. As a publisher, you will remain be in control of the campaigns that are targeted at your feed by harnessing the power of Ad Review Center.
More details will be available closer to the full launch, but in the meantime, FeedBurner will be contacting specific publishers to try out the new program.
Image: pandemia
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FeedBurner
AdSense
Oneupweb
Dull Knives and Sharp Tools
Posted by tim on May 30, 2008 at 09:51 AM
Sure, we took a week off. What of it? Even after a year and a half hiatus, we needed some time alone to think, read the classics, ponder the intricacies of Mozart, etc. Who am I kidding? We were watching 80's movies!
Regardless, we wrangled ourselves back into the studio this week for another episode of StraightUpSearch the Podcast!
Here's the rundown for today's show:
Site of the Week: Cutco Cutlery, otherwise known as Vector Marketing?! (1:46)
Cool Tool: Firebug (13:16)
Do It!: ALT Attributes (23:10)
Today's show is just shy of heavy-weight status at: 28:45
And, as promised, here's a photo of Lisa's classic camping rig:
Which in our warped minds, looks strangely similar to a certain EM-50 Urban Assault Vehicle:
Want more StraightUpSearch the Podcast? You can listen to past episodes of StraightUpSearch, subscribe to the show via iTunes or add our RSS Feed to your favorite reader.
Enjoy the show and we'll be back next week, unless there's a Dan Akroyd movie marathon we just can't miss.
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StraightUpSearch
StraightUpSearch Podcast
Oneupweb
Visual Search - A Primer for the New Search Age?
Posted by luke on May 30, 2008 at 08:04 AM
Traditionally, visual search has referred to strictly image searches. Search engines simply scanned the web for keywords in the ALT attributes attached to images, similar to a text search. Lately, however, visual search has begun to embody the entire presentation of search results.
These new visual search engine startups are constantly being portrayed in the media as 'going up against' Google. I certainly don't feel this is the case. These engine platforms are more concerned with allowing users to create their own user experience, pulling results from their preferred engine/data sources. Clearly, Google's strength is relevance and rather than attempt to compete with their powerful algorithm, these visual search companies are looking to enhance and/or build upon what's already there.
To paint a better picture, I'll focus on one of these startups. SpaceTime is a 3D browser application which organizes your Google, Yahoo, Ask, eBay and other search results into a 3D tabbed view.
As online shoppers and information seekers, we've been trained over the last decade to visually recognize quality web pages. Personally, I'll disqualify pages I know will not contain the information I seek from a quick glance. SpaceTime allows users to quickly browse through screenshots of top results. The added value here is eliminating those additional clicks. There is no need to click through to each of the search listings or click through to additional search engine results pages (SERP).
Here are a few screenshots of SpaceTime search results:
Searchme, a similar startup, takes it one step further and actually highlights keyword density within the screenshot. We're all interested in finding what we're searching for with the least amount of effort possible. That's what these visual search engines are attempting to do; take away some of that effort.
Ultimately, SpaceTime and Searchme are inventing an entirely new category of search, which can, in turn, create new and innovative online marketing opportunities outside of text and display advertising. Despite these startups having a long way to go to catch up with some of Google's even smallest competitors, they're something you may want to keep your eye on.
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SpaceTime
SearchMe
Oneupweb
Weigh Your PPC Options Before Using Google's Automatic Matching
Posted by adam on May 29, 2008 at 08:07 AM
By now most SEM professionals have either heard of, or are currently opted-in to, Google's newest campaign optimization feature called Automatic Matching. If you haven't already heard of this AdWords feature, I recommend checking your accounts' campaign settings because it's an opt-out feature.
We discussed Automatic Matching when Google first announced the new feature as a way to gain additional targeted traffic if your keyword inventory isn't reaching daily budgets. When this feature is enabled, Google matches your ads using an algorithm similar to broad match.
Here's an example: If you sell Vans skateboard shoes and are bidding on [vans shoes] (exact match), Google could potentially serve your ad on queries like "moving van service" or "rental vans" when Automatic Matching is enabled. Trust me, I've seen stranger things happen.
In addition to serving your ads on search queries that loosely match your keyword lists, Google will automatically review your landing pages and display your ad based on keywords pulled from landing page content. If you've done a good job of keyword research when building and optimizing your campaigns, Google isn't going to make any magical keyword discoveries on your landing pages. This additional traffic is very likely to come from unqualified keywords that appear on your landing pages.
Before you consider testing Automatic Matching first consider other, more targeted ways to gain additional exposure in Google's paid listings. Also, consider expanding your PPC efforts into additional search engines such as Yahoo, Microsoft adCenter or Ask. While these three engines see lower overall volume than Google, they can also be very profitable as well as highly targeted. 
If you are a B2B marketer check out Business.com. If you are an e-commerce site, do a little research on comparison shopping engines. There are currently more than 150 comparison shopping engines that accept product feeds.
Any of the options listed above could provide more qualified traffic to your site than letting Google choose how to match your ads. Automatic keyword matching and/or automatic keyword list creation will never replace the judgment or logic of a seasoned SEM professional. It's like competing in auto racing with an automatic transmission.
If anyone has any amazing success stories using Google's Automatic Matching feature, I'd like to hear about them below.
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Google
Automatic Matching
Oneupweb
1 Billion Online Video Viewers Served by 2013
Posted by keirsun on May 28, 2008 at 12:12 PM
YouTube may soon add signage similar to the golden arches. That's because the number of people who watch video via the web is expected to quadruple in the next 5 years, rising to at least one billion viewers worldwide in 2013.
A new study from ABI Research, a New York state-based research firm, attributes the increase in online viewers to greater broadband availability and internet connection speeds.
ABI's study is designed to attract pay-TV service providers looking for ways to migrate their services (and revenues) to the growing online audience. And if pay-TV providers aren't thinking that far ahead, this study should be their wake up call.
ABI senior analyst Cesar Bachelet also makes the case for avoiding the same path the music industry took, and recognize right now that consumers are going to get their content from non-traditional sources:
Pay-TV providers should refrain from knee-jerk responses, or adopting defensive measures aimed at discouraging consumers from using those services. That would only produce resentment from subscribers and likely defections from their services.
But what does this all mean for the average website owner? It means you can use video to push your product/service/message to an audience that continues to grow each and every year.
Personally, I can't wait to see which TV network finds global success online. NBC and News Corp's Hulu is still going strong. And ABC recently won a 2008 Webby Award for its streaming video player.
Ultimately though, it's the YouTubes of the world that will challenge pay-TV providers to create an online video experience that will satisfy the appetites of next generation video consumers.
Image: Daquella Manera
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Online Video
Broadband
Oneupweb
Online Brand Reputation - Nalgene Quenches Thirsty Rumors
Posted by drew on May 27, 2008 at 01:35 PM
Memorial Day weekend typically signifies the start of summer and, more importantly for some of us, the beginning of camping season. For me, this weekend would be the first big trip of the year, hiking 15-20 miles per day and drinking plenty of water along the way.
If you're a backpacker, camper or outdoor enthusiast, you probably have a Nalgene water bottle or have at least heard of the company. In 1949 Nalgene introduced its first storage bottle for liquids; the bottles were produced for laboratory purposes. It wasn't until the 1990's that Nalgene bottles became mainstream, used for recreational water storage and essentially replacing the canteen. Since its initial success in the outdoor market, the company has released a wide variety of products that have proven to be popular among a growing market. But Nalgene soon faced a treacherous trek into the wilds of reputation preservation.
In late 2007, outdoor equipment retailers began pulling certain Nalgene polycarbonate products that contain Bisphenol A (BPA) off the shelves. Some studies suggested that BPA could pose a significant health threat.
You don't need to be a internet marketing genius to know that product health warnings spell trouble for business. So, what did Nalgene do? The company provided consumers with BPA information right on its homepage. Further into the site, visitors can find more in-depth BPA information, including FAQs, links to studies and all of the government agencies that have been testing and reviewing BPA for the past 50+ years. The EPA and the FDA, not to mention other nation's regulatory organizations, have determined that BPA poses no health risk to humans.
That may be enough to reassure most people that BPA is safe, but what about the potential customers who still have their doubts? Nalgene now provides a full line of BPA-free products available online, including comparison charts showing statistics of BPA-free Nalgene products compared to the original BPA polycarbonate bottle.
Nalgene knew its audience enough to provide the information that they would care about and also provide an alternative product, just in case. Taking the extra step of providing so much information, rather than just giving a simple press release stating that the company disagrees with any study's findings, will go a long way in giving consumers reasons to still buy Nalgene products.
When disasters strike and your brand reputation is on the line, providing the right information that consumers will be looking for is critical to keeping your business on the bright side of things. And what better vehicle to spread the word than the internet, the world's top information resource? That's where your consumers will be looking for news stories, scientific studies and the latest rumors. Take the extra step to optimize your content; you'll appear before those rumors in search engine results and retain control of your online brand reputation.
Image: bradley j
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Nalgene
BPA
Reputation Management
Oneupweb
GeoGraffiti - Make Your Mark
Posted by lawrence on May 23, 2008 at 04:29 PM
Who, What, Where, Why, When, and How? These are all some things to consider while assessing GeoGraffiti, and all it may have to offer.
GeoGraffiti has been described as a free verbal message board for exchanging location-specific community information. From any mobile phone, GeoGraffiti enables the user to "mark" real world places by publishing a Voice Mark message. These Voice Marks are made in 100% voice form and are linked to a locality using a zip-code, or geo-tagged to an exact spot on earth using coordinates.
The name GeoGraffiti is a combination of the prefix "Geo", meaning earth or land, representing our location-specific focus, while "Graffiti" represents the expressive and informative content marking those locations. GeoGraffiti is in public beta, providing its service via a phone call to (213) 221-3802, or online via its Google Maps mashup. The online map is made available so that desktop-bound web surfers can easily search for and create Voice Marks in relation to their social network and community.
The image above shows the very first Voice Mark, which announces the launch of GeoGraffiti's beta startup.
In addition to announcements, GeoGraffiti users can share information such as advice, opinions, warnings, etc. This information could prove useful to someone else who might be in that same location in the present, or the future tense. What if you just had the best meal that you have ever had in a restaurant and wanted to share your experience with other food lovers? This seems to be the angle that has some advertisers and business owners looking deeper into the possible opportunities of this service. How will GeoGraffiti address the issue of spammers if, and when, their application becomes more widely used or abused?
While providing some selective and customizable informational needs, GeoGraffiti is a community-driven voice platform, designed to collect and organize the public's "wisdom of crowds" intelligence. Allowing the user to combine their real-time thoughts with the collective knowledge of the creative, it is being described as a free form creation whose reason for being is up to the user to decide. There is not much for content yet, but the designers want to encourage everyone to make this a community research and learning project, similar to Wikipedia.
In 2002 Paul de Armond, research director at the Public Good Project, described an event in which mobile, location specific information, had a huge real-time effect over a group of people:
The potential of mobile, locative media to affect the threshold for collective action is also giving rise to a kind of intelligent crowd phenomenon in which people are organizing spontaneous events via text messaging from street performances to political protests, popularly known as 'flashmobs'. Flashmobbing was arguably first, and most famously used as a civilian technology when, in 1999, a loose association of protest groups used their cell phones to evade a police force who were synchronized by a single dispatcher, thereby disrupting the meeting of the World Trade Organization in Seattle...
GeoGraffiti welcomes any questions or suggestions, as this is a community based learning project, and these can be addressed on the website. One can also find a list of FAQs, and a very informative video demonstration of the service.
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GeoGraffiti
Google Maps
Oneupweb
Microsoft's New Search Initiative - Live Search Cashback
Posted by steve on May 22, 2008 at 08:19 AM
Well, one thing is clear: Microsoft is determined to increase its Live Search user base.
After having a nearly $47 billion offer rejected by Yahoo earlier this month, the software giant has launched Live Search cashback, a new initiative which will allow users of their search properties to get deals on products purchased.
Here's how it works:
Users can search for products they're looking to purchase at Live Search cashback, Microsoft's new comparison shopping engine. When they do, they'll be served relevant products from merchants participating in the program, which as of now includes Office Depot, Barnes & Noble, Home Depot and Sears, among others. Search results will outline the amount of cashback that users can receive for each product, which is expected to range anywhere from 2% to over 30%, depending on the product and retailer.
In addition to Live Search cashback, you'll also be able to search for products using Live Search, Microsoft's primary search portal. When using Live Search, certain products will be labeled with a distinct icon notifying users that they can receive cashback deals.
How is Microsoft offering these cashback deals?
The program stems from Microsoft's purchase of Jellyfish.com last year, a cashback site that offers rebates to consumers for making purchases originating on their site.
Participating retailers will be paying Microsoft for each purchase made via their portals, which they will be splitting with the consumer. Rather than a cost-per-click model, advertisers will only pay Microsoft on a cost-per-acquisition basis.
This isn't a new concept. Other, smaller engines have run similar programs in the past; however, given the prominence of Microsoft, along with the projected significance of the rebates that will be offered, this program has the potential to raise many more eyebrows and have users thinking twice as to where they'll shop online.
Microsoft is working hard to develop new and extreme strategies (as in the case of the attempted Yahoo acquisition) in order to better compete with Google and secure a greater share of loyal users. Only time will tell if Live Search cashback is a success, but when you combine the company's sheer determination with its virtually unlimited resources, these attempts certainly aren't something to brush off.
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Microsoft
Live Search cashback
Oneupweb
Display Ad Revolution - Banners Vs. Search
Posted by duncan on May 21, 2008 at 07:46 AM
Earlier this week the New York Times reported that companies are reconsidering their approach to online display advertising. The Times also noted that companies are planning to push even bigger budgets into search marketing. They mention tough economic times as a possible reason. I am not sure that is the whole story. The bigger story may be an impeding evolution in how companies view display advertising.
Advertisers have had the ability to narrowly target their paid search ads for some time. The same advertisers are now hoping to do the same with their display ads and media buys. Rather than sponsor a whole portal and accept the associated large media spend, companies are hoping to target their display ads to more narrowly defined personas and demographics. This seems like a natural evolution.
The Times goes on to report that the result of this display advertising shift has been lower CPM rates from the ad networks. Prices have been pushed down because fewer companies are willing to bid high and compete for what has seemed like unsatisfactory results. Meanwhile search marketing costs seem to keep rising. Perhaps this is a sign that advertisers are willing to pay more and more because they can so closely manage their search campaigns.
Experts will point to the fact it may be hard to verify the branding effect of display ads. Most online marketers give sales credit to the last click a customer made before buying. With so many sales coming from search referrals, it stands to reason that search is where you want to be. Some would argue that display ads may lead consumers to later search for related services. The tough part is trying to figure out how to give credit to the display ad if it wasn't the last click before purchase.
What's next? We could be witnessing a bit of a sea change in the display advertising world. It seems only the companies with the biggest online marketing budgets have been able to experiment with banner/display ads. As costs come down, and targeting becomes more of a reality, many smaller companies may be able to run tests in the display space without having to commit an enterprise style budget. These same smaller companies have already been active in search marketing for years. Many are anxious to do more in online marketing, but don't want to break the bank with tests.
Integration, integration, integration. I can't say it enough. Use your online marketing budget intelligently and don't toss all your eggs into one basket. The most successful websites combine a strategic mix of paid search marketing, display advertising, natural search optimization, email marketing, social marketing, and more. The key is the think it all through so the multiple channels work well together.
I am not surprised that the display advertising world is changing. I hope that it opens the door to more advertisers. Ultimately the ad networks and even web users will benefit. We all must admit that display/banner ads seem less annoying when they offer products we are likely already interested in. Targeting feels good.
Tags
Advertising
Search Marketing
Oneupweb
Optimizing Press Releases - It All Starts with the Lead
Posted by maureen on May 20, 2008 at 08:03 AM
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." and so begins one of the most famous books ever written by Charles Dickens. Even those who haven't read A Tale of Two Cities are still familiar with this opening sentence.
Now granted, writing a press release is a bit more stringent than a novel, but I still enjoy hunting for those few promising words that will set the tone not only for the release, but for the fantastic, amazing, everyone must know and publish immediately bit of news that I am pitching. And once I have a promising beginning, a few simple tricks help to get my news out there for the world to see.
Keywords, Keywords, Keywords
Make a list of your 10 top keywords, and then use them throughout your press release. That way, when editors, writers and others search for those keywords, your press release will be found and read in search results.
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
If the old saying is true, why not give it a try and include a picture with your press release. Plus, search engines are now picking up photos and video as a result of blended search. If you want to be seen, give your audience something to see.
Google Trends
For those who use PRWeb, Google Trends is a great tool! Type your top keyword into Google trends, and check where in the United States (or even in the world) you should target your release. Include the top cities in your MSA results. This will target your release to the cities where people are actually searching for the information you are providing.
Link to Your Website
Make sure to include links to your website in your press release. This gives editors and writers a simple way to find out more information about you and your company.
After employing these simple tricks, there won't be any time for leisurely reading as your email box fills up and your phone makes some noise.
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PR
Press Releases
Oneupweb
SEO is Like a Box of Chocolates
Posted by nick on May 19, 2008 at 10:14 AM
The fact that natural search engine rankings are curiously unpredictable things is just something that comes with the territory of search engine optimization. SEO professionals are set with the task of managing and adapting to the every day fluctuations of the industry.
These changes can come in a variety of ways. Search terms that are doing well one month could suddenly decline in the next due to seasonal preferences, product innovations, a change in search vernacular or something completely unforeseen. New businesses selling similar products are springing up all the time, which can lead to increased competition for your chosen keywords. And don't forget the fact that every search engine out there seems to be in the midst of continually upgrading the way their search algorithms perform and produce results. Granted, this is great for searchers, but it does have a way of making SEO interesting.
Adaptation
So how do you contend with an ever-changing industry? You evolve with it. I know it sounds like a simple solution that everyone should already understand, but that's not always the case. I'm sure there are still people so engrained in their personal tried and tested optimization strategies that when search positions start slipping, all they can do is scratch their heads as to the reason. The factors influencing search results are too numerous to count, but staying alert to as many of those changes as possible is a prosperous way of maintaining SEO.
That's not to say that every new idea for influencing search results is always a good one. A strategy considered to be completely SEO-tastic one day can easily be shucked aside for something thought to be better the next. Take the time to research and test new search innovations. Be sure the impact of these new strategies won't fade away before you can even implement them.
Use What You Know Works
There isn't a single (legitimate) solution out there that will thrust your site to the top of search results. It doesn't exist. What does exist are a variety of ideas and strategies that, when used in conjunction with each other, can help boost the visibility of your site on SERPs. I suppose the moral of the story here is that to increase your search positions, use a combination of valid solutions that you know work.
Of course you always want to keep usability in mind when optimizing, but why not cover all your bases?
As stated before, SEO is an evolving process. Implementing a strategy that intelligently utilizes as many aspects of search optimization as possible is the only way to know you've done all you can to adapt to the unpredictable nature of search engines.
Image: Aunt Owwee
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SEO
Search Engine Optimization
Oneupweb
Getting the Band Back Together
Posted by keirsun on May 19, 2008 at 09:05 AM
The Crazy Train Rolls Again! At least that's what we're calling the new episode of StraightUpSearch the Podcast.
Why you ask? Because the original cast members are back at the helm: Lisa, Dave and Tim. And in the spirit of the original show, we've reworked our format to include a Site of the Week (formerly What Were They Thinking?!), the Cool Tool, and our new favorite, Do It!
Today's showcase includes:
Site of the Week: TomTom.com (4:49)
Cool Tool: SearchStatus (18:05)
Do It!: 404 Not Found Errors (24:25)
Today's Show Weighs in at: 30:59
Want more StraightUpSearch the Podcast? You can listen to past episodes of StraightUpSearch or subscribe to the show via iTunes.
Enjoy the show and we'll be back next week.
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StraightUpSearch
StraightUpSearch Podcast
Oneupweb
Charter Communications to Enhance its Bottom Line with Behavorial Targeting
Posted by mike k on May 16, 2008 at 03:28 PM
Last week, Charter Communications sent out letters to a test group of its high-speed internet subscribers informing them of a new feature that will provide them an "enhanced online experience". Sounds great, right?
The truth of the matter is that Charter will begin to monitor its customers' surfing activity and use that information to inject targeted ads into the sites they visit. According to Charter, the feature, "...uses completely anonymous information and, based on your surfing and search activity on the Internet, it infers your interests in certain product or service categories, such as automobiles/sports cars, fashion/handbags, or travel/Europe, and so forth."
Charter will not only be monitoring what sites you visit but also their content. This is made possible by using deep packet inspection (DPI) technology. DPI allows an ISP to look at the actual information contained in packets traveling to and from your computer. The nation's largest internet provider, Comcast, was recently investigated by the FCC for using DPI to throttle P2P traffic coming from programs like BitTorrent. After an initial blanket denial they eventually admitted that they were in fact using DPI to block or otherwise disrupt file-sharing traffic.
Why would Charter decide to essentially spy on its customers for the purpose of injecting targeted ads? Simple, extra revenue. Charter's stock price is down roughly 68% over the past year and they were nearly delisted from the NASDAQ for having shares priced lower than $1. There is no telling how much this new "feature" could mean to Charter's bottom line if it were to expand to all 5.7 million of its customers. This isn't the first time Charter has used ad delivery to squeeze more cash out of its subscribers. Earlier last year, Charter started to redirect "server not found" error messages your browser displays when you mistype a URL to their own page that shows ads and referral links.
Customers are able to opt-out of these "enhancements" by visiting a website that will place a cookie on the surfers' computer that will prevent the ad injection. The problem with this is that if you ever decide to clear your cookies, use a different browser, or connect from another computer you will have to visit the site again to have it reapplied. This might seem like Charter cares about the customer and wants to provide them with an option but it is really a red herring. Opt-out cookies or not, Charter will still be using deep packet inspection to monitor all of your web traffic, email, p2p, instant messages, etc. I would like to think that this monitoring will only be used as part of their ad targeting efforts but if the actions of Comcast are any indication I would imagine there is more going on that hasn't been made public.
If this new feature is so harmless and will actually "enhance" the online experience why doesn't Charter make it opt-in? Surely customers would signup in droves to have their surfing monitored for the purpose of advertising! Sadly, according to Ted Schremp, Charter's senior vice president for product management and strategy, "opt-out has become the norm for all targeting on the Internet."
Perhaps this is the norm in the minds of some marketers but the general public is starting to take notice and object to these annoying practices.
SEO & iFrames: A Glimpse at What Search Engines See
Posted by teal on May 15, 2008 at 04:06 PM
I like to think of iFrames as little windows on websites that content peaks through. It's not really on the page, but is being displayed to the user as an element of that page and more often than not, blends seamlessly into the surrounding design.
From your browser it can be difficult to determine if content is on-page or is being displayed through an iFrame, but from an SEO or search engine perspective, it is oh-so-evident.
Two iFrame Scenarios: Your Domain and Theirs
As an SEO, under most conditions I would recommend that my clients NOT use iFrames to display text/content on their pages. In the end, unless there are very specific circumstances, having on-page content is the most beneficial to the website in terms of search engine optimization.
But what does it really mean for SEO? There are a two scenarios I would like to discuss here. First of all, when the content displayed in the iFrame is from another site/domain. And secondly, when the content is from the same domain, but a different file.
When the Content is Theirs
This one's pretty simple. When the content displayed on your site through an iFrame is from another domain, your site does not benefit from this content. Even though it's being displayed on your pages, it still is being pulled from another source and does not live on your domain. I've seen this happen when a company's blog is being hosted on another domain and is being pulled to the main domain through an iFrame. Even though the content is unique and exclusive to that company, their site is not benefiting from the frequently updated and content-rich resource.
When the Content is Yours
A not so simple situation is when the content being displayed is hosted on the main domain, but is being pulled to the pages through an iFrame. If the source URL is a spiderable URL, the crawlers can follow the path and spider the content on the page feeding the iFrame. It's good that this content is actually on your domain, but the problem is, it's not actually being attributed to the page it's being displayed on.
For example, if you're an e-commerce site and your CMS dynamically displays product listings on category pages through an iFrame, you can run into some problems with making these category pages optimized and relevant for the products you're promoting. Because it's likely that you're optimizing your category pages with unique title and meta tags, this top level page is missing the benefit of the product listings, and you're left with an optimized shell - without content.
It can also hurt your internal linking because the page that contains the listings, content, or whatever is showing through your iFrame is free of any navigational elements to help the spiders continue crawling your site. Basically, once they enter the iFrame page, web crawlers are not able to fluidly crawl through additional site links.
To Summarize
In the end, it's really best to include content on-page when it is supposed to be part of that page. It doesn't do your site any good to have content displayed on your pages, but hosted on another domain, and it stifles optimization and spiderability when iFrames are used to display windows of text from other URLs on your own site.
3 New Search Engines to Spice Up Your Results
Posted by alex on May 14, 2008 at 11:16 AM
With all of the news recently regarding deals between Microsoft-Yahoo, Yahoo-Google, Microsoft-Google, or any combination of the above, being an SEO project manager and working in those search engines day in and day out, I find it refreshing to see different companies and people placing effort into developing new, creative, and innovative ways to search.
I want to take a little time today to summarize just a tiny sampling of the many different search engines that are moving search forward.
Since I am a fan of shopping, and anything that makes it easier to find what I am looking for, I will start with Like.com.
This visual search engine uses both text and images as queries to make shopping more convenient. Simply find a photo of a product that you like or type in a query such as "silver women's watch", and the Like.com search engine will return a variety of results similar to the photo or matching the text query from a variety of retailers. That's just the beginning. You can then highlight the aspects of a wrist watch that you like and Like.com will find other watches with similar styles, shapes, patterns and colors. You can then even further refine with different color, style, or brand options, creating a refreshingly unique shopping experience.
Still sticking with the visual pattern, but moving away from shopping is Viewzi, a visual search engine that has been under wraps since October 2007. With over 10 unique ways that users can view results, this search engine offers a pretty unique way to experience search.
Viewzi offers results in an array of different viewing options. First, a web screenshot view with an actual screenshot of the pages in the search results (from Yahoo! only). Or, a basic photo view displaying results from popular image sharing sites. There is the Video x3 view, curtailing results to display videos from YouTube, Blinkx, and Veoh with tags that allow users to dim out videos they don't want displayed. Viewzi also offers a standard text view with combined results from Google and Yahoo, as well as a source view, which displays up to 15 results from the top four search engines. There is also the weather view, Amazon book view, celebrity photo view, an MP3 search view, as well as an everyday shopping view.
While Viewzi struggles a little to provide a user friendly atmosphere for casual web searching, it seems as though it has something for everyone.
We wrote about Powerset last September, but the search engine just recently launched a limited showcase version to the public. This Powerset version allows users to search against material within Wikipedia using natural language.
Powerset's goal is to "improve the way we find information by unlocking the meaning encoded in ordinary human language." And how, do you ask, is Powerset going to do that? Good question! Powerset's pitch is that a user will get better search results because its technology has read and understood what every word within Wikipedia means.
Powerset says that it looks at each sentence and how the words relate to each other; it "understands" what the queries are and returns results that are better suited for the user. This search engine also offers unique tools in order to get more in-depth results, including query refinements where a search will return different tabs in all the different areas that the query could be related. Powerset also offers straightforward lists of facts that also relate directly to your search query, and outlines of the different results returned. Overall, depending on the query, the array of results can be a bit much; however, it is still a good step in the right direction for new and innovative ways to search.
At the end of the day...
Are any of the above engines on their way to ousting Google, or even Yahoo or Microsoft Live? Probably not. But it is nice to take a little trip away from the standard search methods we have all become quite accustomed to and see what could be coming up down the road.
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WiMAX - Broadband Goes Mobile
Posted by chip on May 13, 2008 at 09:49 AM
Well the big story in mobile this month is undoubtedly the news that Clearwire, Sprint and Nextel, with the help from several other strategic investors including Intel, Google, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and others, have combined forces to undertake the development of the WiMAX network.
WiMAX will be built upon the combined wireless spectrum holdings of Sprint and Clearwire, which cover the vast majority of metropolitan and suburban areas of the United States.
While traditional wireless signals are limited to a broadcast range of a few hundred feet, WiMAX is based on the Internet protocol packet network of the conventional internet and Ethernet enabling it to deliver broadband signals up to 30 miles for home and business use and 10 miles for wireless devices.
That's great for range and accessibility of this new network, but what about speed you ask? Well speed is WiMAX's strong suit. While traditional DSL connections tend to average not much more than 2Mbps, and often times even lower, the WiMAX forum talks about speeds up to 40Mbps.
The increased competition that would come from WiMAX could help lower the price of both home and business signals. In fact beyond the reliable high speed wireless network that we've all been waiting for, the greater idea of WiMAX is to be able to create a network for metropolitan areas that serves a large number of people with minimal base stations. Such a network could be a viable alternative to DSL and cable modems for home and business connections and to WiFi and cellular networks for mobile users.
When you start to think about this in combination with newer devices, such as the Nokia 6136 which can operate as cell phone on their network and as a VoIP phone on a WiFi network, the possibilities for WiMAX become very exciting. In fact simply bringing true broadband speed to the world of the mobile web will allow the world of mobile applications to explode like we've never seen before - who knows what we're in store for?
And best of all, we may not be waiting for long. The partnership of companies has agreed to invest $3.2 billion in this venture and hope to have commercial service ready sometime early next year. Of course, as with any development that has the potential to impact an industry on this scale, the WiMAX venture is surely going to have its battles to fight in court - IPCS inc. has already filed a suit against Sprint for breach of exclusivity provisions that are part of their affiliation agreements with Sprint Nextel.
Tax Rebates Offer Online & Career Investment Opportunities
Posted by anne on May 12, 2008 at 09:04 AM
According to the IRS, tax rebates for millions of American taxpayers are already in the mail, or in your bank account if you opted for direct deposit. The government is hoping we'll spend the money just as quickly and give the ailing economy a boost. Let's get real.
With my mind wandering this week, I found myself researching and thinking of ways that this money could be wisely spent.
Todd Mintz, Director of SEMpdx (a search engine marketing association in Portland, Oregon) suggests a way that he says will stimulate "The" economy and "Your" economy: invest your tax rebate in a premium domain name.
For instead of buying consumable "goods" that have little or no future value (or paying off goods that you've already purchased), you are buying an appreciable asset that can generate income (from parking revenue and or site development) while you own it.
Mintz points out a few domains that he could purchase for approximately the same amount as his rebate check: Populararticles.com ($2,188), Totalpolitics.com ($2,288) and Publicmarkets.com ($2,000). According to Mintz, with "the right development strategy, each of these (and many other domains) offers me the opportunity to earn income while substantially growing the value of my asset."
On another note, many of us have been spending sleepless night thinking about a 52" wide-screen HDTV, a new outfit for this year's vacation or perhaps that 'gotta have it' no-fail, weight-loss plan. Whatever your refund dreams, as an HR professional I suggest that you reserve a portion of that money and invest in your career. I recommend investing your tax rebate into your career to prepare for the unexpected. Here are a few ideas:
1. Buy A Relevant Career Book
Motivational books can help you get ahead and become more career-focused. They can teach you how to sell that incredible work ethic you possess. It's all about the sell, you are the product. A couple of recommendations are Good to Great by Jim Collins and Winning by Jack Welch.
2. Purchase A New Interview Suit
Ok, at one time, you did look fabulous in the one you bought after college graduation, but let's face it, it's lost it's appeal. Remember, people notice! You want to leave a lasting impression but not one that is shared at the water cooler. So spend a few dollars to spruce up your wardrobe and spring for the required outfit to spruce up your appearance.
3. Spend It On Someone Else
We all know that we feel the best when we give to others. Helping a dear friend or family member rebound from an unfortunate situation, could make all the difference in the world for them. Or if you have a buddy who is having difficulty with how to manage their time, Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done by Larry Bossidy is a great read.
4. Save It
Everyone know that having money in the bank is empowering. We realize that a single tax rebate check isn't going to change your life, but in this turbulent economy, placing that cash into a savings account is a step in the right direction. The proverbial rainy day might be around the corner. Even if it never comes, a little extra cash can give you more options and confidence when making career decisions.
5. Education
The old saying, "You're never too old" applies here. Take an evening class that meets once a week, one that will add to your list of marketable skills. From my own first-hand experience, a single class can make or break the sell during the interview; it may be exactly what that employer is looking for in filling that "perfect" position.
To conclude, there are many ideas out there for spending your rebate money wisely. While many are important and practical ideas, the ones who invest their tax rebate in either their career or by purchasing that premium domain, will reap monetary rewards in the long run. So before you think about high definition, think about return. And it will benefit you in the years ahead. Uncle Sam would be proud.
Image: Jenn Jenn
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