The week has been interesting. It snowed and the trees are finally bare. Google Analytics came out with new features. SphinnCon Israel is planned and you should all sign up. Google wants your story about Gmail. Ask.com launches AskEraser. Yeah, let's walk through this week in search in case you haven't been caught up. I know Stoney hasn't a clue.
Holidays
Chanukah came and went, but the festivities are still ongoing. The search landscape changed to celebrate the holiday, with Ask.com sporting a dreidel, Search Engine Roundtable sporting a Chanukah theme, and Dogpile featuring three different carefully-dressed dogs for Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanzaa. If you missed the themes, check out our holiday screenshots to see what we saved for you.
Google Analytics Compares
Google Analytics has launched new features, including the ability to compare two metrics. Jon West spotted the changes too (but a little too late, my friend!) and so did Andy Beal. I know, I know. You all noticed it. Now how do you keep track of everything Google Analytics has implemented in the past few months?!
Ask Eraser is Here!
Concerned about privacy? Well, Ask has launched AskEraser which will protect users from having their searches saved to Ask.com's servers, adding an extra layer of security to your search conscience.
Banned from Gmail
Google accidentally banned a ton of users from Gmail. Oops. In any event, if the account is disabled, Google informs the community that the information within still stays intact, so in the event of an accidental disabling, it can be reenabled without information loss. Good to know ... in case it happens to you.
Yahoo's X-Robots Tag Updated
Guess what? Yahoo now recognizes your updated robots.txt file and supports NOINDEX, NOFOLLOW, NOARCHIVE, and NOSNIPPET. Good stuff for search engine consistency's sake.
IE Users? Get Google's New Toolbar
If you use IE, you might want to know that Google's new toolbar has been released. It supports gadgets, saving clips and settings, and the AutoFill feature has been improved.
Googlepedia Coming Soon
Google has announced a Google Knol initiative, where users can create their own Wikipedia of sorts. It's all about user generated content in this web 2.0 world. Will it kill Wikipedia? Will it be more worthwhile? Will Google nofollow links like Wikipedia does? (If it doesn't, maybe Knol will get somewhere.)
Google AdWords Search Results
Barry reports two new AdWords findings. First, Google is ranking relevant searches higher where they are putting keyword-centric results higher than others. The other is that Google is adding the address to AdWords ads, which I'm able to note myself.
Cool Link Analysis Tool
Joost de Valk makes pretty awesome tools. His recent link analysis tool supports information from Google, Yahoo, and MSN. You should definitely check this baby out.
AdWords Tools Update
The Google AdWords Keyword Tool has been updated with a new look and AdWords Editor 5.0 has been released with features to support local business ads, the ability to export to different file formats, saved searches, default campaign targeting, the ability to locate errors quickly, and a larger workspace.
Wedding Bells
Guess what? Larry Page has gotten married and now the two Google founders are unavailable... for real. In any event, we wish you a happy and long marriage, guys!
Google Wants To Show You More Ads
So with that, Google is now testing scrolling AdSense ads. What do you think? Distracting? Useful?
Link Value Factors Sheet Released
Wiep Knol asked a ton of people to provide information about links. The result is a pretty awesome link value factor form that he has published on his blog. If you're interested in experts' opinions, be sure to check this out.
Google AdSense: Ad Review Center is Coming
Are you a Google AdSense user? If so, you might want to know that Google will be releasing an ad review center in the coming months where publishers can approve ads for their site using placement targeting. Today, we got confirmation that ad review center is coming.
Google to Give SEO Advice
A new feature in the Google Webmaster Central gives SEO advice. Called Content Analysis, the tool shows you which pages have problems and how to fix them. Barry walks through the tool with screenshots in case you want to see it for yourself before you log in.
Google Wants to Know How You Use Gmail
Use Gmail? Google wants your story in a video format that they can then publish on their website. There are a few guidelines that you should check out, but if you can participate, let me know and I'll be sure to look for you in the final video!
Near or in Israel? Save the date: February 5th
Barry is leaving me in February and will be organizing SphinnCon Israel then. It's going to be a laid back but fun event for search marketers to mingle and network. It's also really cheap ($50) compared to other conferences. If you can make it, Barry would love to meet you.
