This Week’s Industry News
Compiled By Rocket Clicks Staff
Google’s Search Results Get Really Sick During The Holidays
Apparently, humans aren’t the only ones getting colds during the winter. According to Blue Coat Security, Google’s search results are 80% more likely to include an infected link during the holiday season. The article includes a few of the most popular infection-producing terms, including, “preschool Christmas bulletin boards,” “crafts for Christmas,” “Christmas office party games,” and “Free printable Christmas word scramble.”
Source: Search Engine Land
Twitter Ad Targeting Through Negative Keywords
Twitter’s ad program is getting better by the week. Their most recent update allows advertisers to implement negative keywords in their campaign. The practice is a crucial part of any paid search campaign, so the fact that one of the most popular social networks is adopting the process means advertisers may be enticed to try it out sooner rather than later.
Source: Mashable
The YouTube Redesign Is Good, But The Site’s Copyright Problems Remain
Since everyone uses YouTube, we’ll spare you the new features of its stripped down look. However, what’s even more interesting is the fact that YouTube, although not explicitly, is still a Torrent website. This article provides a few examples of the copyright problems YouTube is soaking itself in, and why the re-design isn’t doing much to counter these issues.
Source: Search Engine Journal
Google Intros ‘Data Highlighter’ Tool To Make Data Markup Easier
Google’s new tool to ease the process of structured data attribution is interesting. Entitled the “Data Highlighter,” the browser-based tool literally allows webmasters to point, highlight, and click on different aspects of a page to indicate where they should be assigned in the schema code.
Source: Search Engine Land
Google’s Image Search Filter Would Make The MPAA Proud
Google has tweaked their image search to a default setting that pops up a warning box, notifying the searcher of how to use SafeSearch to filter out explicit content. Specifically, Google is aligning its image search with its web search functions, which only displays “vulgar” content if the user specifically requests it.
Source: Search Engine Land
Google Has A Shelter In Bermuda That Houses $2 Billion In Income Tax
According to a recent Bloomberg report, Google shifted $9.8 billion in revenue to offshore accounts in Bermuda, saving the company $2 billion in taxation. When called out for it, Google cheerfully noted that they are major employers in Europe and spend a lot of money on croquettes at that one restaurant by the Eiffel Tower. Therefore, they are entitled to snaking the EU tax code out of money.
Source: TechCrunch
A New Microsoft/Facebook Deal Could Alter The Advertising Landscape
The enemy of my enemy is my friend, I believe is the saying. A recent report indicates that Facebook and Microsoft are planning a deal that would expand Facebook’s ad network to a size rivaling Google’s. Facebook acquiring Atlas could essentially make it the most effective ad-delivering online network because of the ability to track conversions across the web using the data they already own.
Source: Business Insider
Google Lays The Hammer Down On Raven’s Rank Checker Tool
Google continues to crack down on metrics tools that collect scraped data, after Raven Internet Marketing Tools announced it was discontinuing its popular rank checker tool after failing to pass an annual Google AdWords audit. Google’s terms of service clearly state tools that collect scraped data are not allowed, and if found in noncompliance will have their access to the AdWords API revoked. Google’s data centers are a major expense and large volumes of automated search queries only drive those costs up. Still, many feel Google’s motives for stricter enforcement of their terms of service go beyond simply saving money.
Source: Search Engine Journal
Twitter To Develop Its Own Photo Filtering Feature
With Twitter and Instagram’s relationship on the rocks, rumors are circling that Twitter is trying to win the breakup by developing its own photo filtering feature. The move should only complicate Instagram and Twitter’s already rocky relationship by encouraging Twitter users to bypass Instagram and use Twitter’s feature instead. Right now, Twitter users can no longer view Instagram images in Twitter, but must click on the posted link and view the pictures on Instagram’s own site.
Source: Search Engine Journal
Surprise: Consumers Spend A Lot of Time On Social Networks
According to a recent Nielsen study consumers spend a larger chunk of time on social networks than any other category of website. While this is hardly a revelation, time on social networks increased by 37 % from July of last year to July of this year, at 121 billion minutes that month. While PC users spend about 20% of their browsing time on social networks, the usage rate is even higher among mobile users at 30%.
Source: Search Engine Watch
The FTC Is Very Disappointed In Children’s App Developers
The FTC recently issued a report claiming mobile apps for children still aren’t doing enough to protect kid’s privacy. The FTC’s review was scathing and chided app developers for being more concerned about tapping into kids’ parents’ wallets than protecting children’s safety on the web. In particular, they criticized apps for not providing the information in their disclosures parents need to make informed decisions about what apps their children are using.
Source: Search Engine Watch
Santa Claus Is Not Coming To Google Town This Year
NORAD has been “tracking Santa” for five years through Google Maps and Google Earth. However, it appears they have opted for Bing this year for 2D views, and Cesium for a 3D experience. NORAD has also created a mobile app (coincidentally listing the Microsoft version first on its site), but still touts its YouTube page.
Source: Search Engine Land
Notable Commentary
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Fortune Magazine Gets An Exclusive With Larry Page
Larry Page gives a rare interview where he goes into depth about Android, Google 10% time, mobile advertising, Google +, Innovation, and lots of other topics.
Analysis By: Miguel Helft, CNNMoney
Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Broken Link Building
Of all the link building strategies available to marketers, seeking out broken ones is usually not the first kid picked for kickball on the SEO playground. However, Russ Virante took an excellent brain dump on the underrated, and very lucrative, practice in the SEOmoz blog.
Analysis By: Russ Virante, SEOmoz
Dr. Pete Has One SEO Tip For Your 2013 Endeavors
Diversify. Everything.
Analysis By: Pete Meyers, SEOmoz
Google Uses Clever Videos To Illustrate The Value Of Google Analytics
What if a bad online shopping experience played out in a physical store? That’s the question at the heart of a batch of Google skits that are actually pretty funny. Basically, visualizing online website missteps in a real store setting makes understanding the importance of a well-optimized site that much easier.
Analysis By: Google Analytics Blog
New AdWord’s Features Wish List
Carrie Hill at Search Engine Watch unveils her AdWords Christmas list, detailing the six new features she’d like to see Google add in 2013.
Analysis by: Carrie Hill, Search Engine Watch
Improving Organic Click-Through Rates In Bing
With Bing’s new Social Search that incorporates things like Facebook likes into its search results, Josh McCoy offers four keys to gaining higher organic click-through rates on Bing.
Analysis by: Josh McCoy, Search Engine Watch
