Google’s Secret Is Out…Or Is It?
With allegations of anti-competitive practices ringing in its ear, Google is about to open its Pandora’s box of secrets about page rank. But, don’t get too excited yet, or it has released is its initial paper outlining the basic principles of page rank was written 10 years ago! in its defence, Google is pointing out that it has over 70 blogs committed to assisting Webmasters to rank appropriately for their content, and a comprehensive suite of Webmaster tools which anyone can access and utilise. Take a look for yourself and read this article, you might even come out feeling sorry for Google
Is The Chinese Wall Blocking Google?
It seems that the Chinese government can’t make up its mind whether it is talking to Google or not. One ministry is reporting that Google has never threatened to pull out of China, nor has it lodged any complaints regarding the well published cyber-attacks. another ministry however has reported being in negotiations with Google. The real problem for the Chinese government however may lie in the fact that nearly 87% of its population regard access to the Internet as a fundamental right. At the moment it’s anyone’s guess as to who’s doing the most bluffing.
It’s Google v Bing!
It looks like Microsoft has finally taking off the gloves as it takes the battle to Google at last. but don’t get too excited yet, it’s a David versus Goliath fight according to Microsoft and its going to take millions of pounds to make any impression. The comparison seems a fair one when you consider that Google has a massive 90% of the market in the UK alone, whilst Bing accounts for just 3%. So, Microsoft will start advertising in the UK shortly with a series of TV ads promoting Bing as the engine to provide straightforward, simple answers.
Is Google Playing Around…Again?
Have you noticed any changes to the Google search results pages recently? Maybe it isn’t very significant but it might be worth taking a look. For instance you might find that the side navigation has been integrated into the search page itself, and that the fonts are smaller and bolder. You might find more results not being underlined and where is the blue bar between the search box and the results? There might be nothing in it at all, but then again it might just be an indication of a change coming.
Where Do Online Shoppers Start Looking?
The complete online shopper intelligence survey is out. We now know that 94% of online shoppers perform some sort of research before they start shopping online. The interesting thing is that specific industries can be targeted by specific mediums, and consumer behaviour can be further broken down into particular groups. only 12% of apparel shoppers the shop online as opposed to 45% of electronics shoppers. The article also highlights the usage of online chat when consumers are looking for assistance, so manufacturers and online sellers need to lift their game.
Facebook’s Advertising Push
It’s no secret that Facebook has had a dazzling rise to prominence. But how much has it spent and how much is an earning? Is the business model of viable one? this analysis of Facebook’s Performance Advertising revenue may raise some eyebrows. The evidence is finally trickling in about the success of social media’s promise to maximise the way marketers can stay in touch with their customers. But what about the future? Is there enough growth potential for all the hype to be finally realised? This report raises as many questions as it answers, and give some pointers as to what we can expect in future.
Google’s Surprise End of Year Report
In a bold move which competes with Pres Obama’s State of the Union, Google has published it’s official State of the Index outlining exactly what it has done for users, developers and Webmasters alike during 2009. In a 26 minute video, you will hear Matt Cutts cover such things as Google Chrome, Android and Wave and touch on such things as Google Social Search and the integration with Twitter and FriendFeed. Music One Box also receives an honorable mention. another thing he mentions with pride is Google’s Wonder Wheel and its impact on keyword research. All in all, a summary of the things which Google has done for Webmasters and Web developers during 2009.
SEO Business Models – An Expose
SEOBook has produced another excellent information piece,this time concentrating on the best SEO business models being practised today. The article is effectively an interview with Hugo Guzman, a top performer in the SEO industry, where he opens up his business model describing such elements as how he does SEO the “right way”, and what he sees as the best opportunities in terms of profit potential. he outlines the strategies he utilizes to help clients provide adequate resources for large and complex SEO assignments and the success metrics used to convince clients of the benefits of implementing complex SEO strategies.
What Is Google Up To Now?
Matt Cutts recently posted an article on his blog requesting websites owners submit link spam reports using Google Webmaster Tools. It seems that they are doing another push to find sites that are selling links. There are some interesting comments on the article about how Google will treat sites that have been accused of link spam. Is this another way of hurting your competitors?
Hacking Is The Last Thing You Need For SEO
If you’ve ever had your website hacked then you know about the stress you go through and the days of wasted time fixing up what the hackers changed. Going through every website file. Changing FTP passwords. Upgrading all of your installations… And if you’re relying on SEO you’d better get it fixed before Google comes around and classifies your site as being hacked. Because if this happens you will see a line on your SEO rankings that says ‘This site may harm your computer’, and this will definitely hurt your revenues. But, if Google does come around and sees that your site has been hacked, they will let you know through Google Webmaster Tools through their new message notification service. And as long as you remove the infected files ASAP, your SEO rankings shouldn’t be affected.