Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today (and Friday), through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
- Webmasters Report January 2008 Google SERP Changes
In continuing with our theme for Google SERP updates, we now have January's report. Numerous webmasters are seeing a huge increase in their traffic: double the visits. Naturally, everyone affected is quite thrilled. One webmaster reports with confidence that this is due to long tail searches. Unfortunately, others lost more than half of their traffic. It seems that this occurred around December 21st or 22nd. Webmasters report that using the site: operator gives an exact - What Was the Most Improved PPC Program in 2007?
Search Engine Watch Forums held a poll that asked forum members what their perceptions were of the most improved pay per click program in 2007. There were only 4 votes, but the clear winner is Yahoo with 3 votes (whereas Google only had one). Mel66 explains why Yahoo is the program of choice: My vote is for Yahoo. It's hard to believe that Panama launched in 2007 - it feels like it's been out there - Google Files Patent to Recognize Text in Images
The news this past weekend is that a patent filed by Google in June has surfaced where the search engine giant intends to use more sophisticated search techniques to discern text within images. InformationWeek talks about the patent, known as "Recognizing Text in Images." "Digital images can include a wide variety of content," the patent application explains. "For example, digital images can illustrate landscapes, people, urban scenes, and other objects. Digital images often include text. - Google Presentations Adds Embeddable Slideshows & More
On Friday, Google Docs Guide announced in Google Groups that Google presentations has been updated. We're ringing in 2008 with some new features. You can now embed your slideshow on any website, insert slides from PowerPoint files or other Google presentations to your current presentation, and drag images from any website directly onto a slide. Here's an example: The Google Docs blog has more. Not only can you embed slideshows, you can also add subfolders - Wikia Search Alpha Goes Live
Wikia Search is now live at http://alpha.search.wikia.com/. Honestly, it seems very lacking - I guess that is why it is an alpha launch? There has been a lot of pressure to launch Wikia Search. Jimmy Wales promised an early launch and then promised to launch this week and here we have it. Let's look at one search, although, I have been disappointed with many. A search on george bush returns a blank "mini article" result - Google AdWords Tries "Show Product Results For" Again
A WebmasterWorld thread reports Google is once again testing a new flavor of Products from this Advertiser feature. It was reported in early November that Google was trying a new feature out within their AdWords listings, for Google Checkout merchants. The old reports said there was a link with a plus sign that read "Products from this Advertiser." The new reports are similar, but the text for the link read "Show Product Results For." The - Microsoft Refers German Advertisers to Yahoo Search Marketing
A member posted a thread at WebmasterWorld in the Microsoft adCenter forum asking how he can advertise in the German market with adCenter. Guess what? You can't, not just yet. However, adCenterEU, the official Microsoft representative in the European market, told this member to advertiser with Yahoo Search Marketing. He said: It's true that adCenter is not available in Germany as yet, so i suggest you go through our paid search partner Yahoo! Search Marketing. - Skype's Browser Extension Converting Phone Numbers in Google AdSense Ads
A DigitalPoint Forums member was browsing some ads and notice that one ad that had a phone number actually allowed you to place a call with Skype. The forum member wondered if it was a special Google click to call feature within Google's contextual AdSense ads. No, this is not a Google feature. It is Skype's browser extension that automatically converts phone numbers on web sites into contextual drop downs to make it easier for - Weekly Search Forum Recap: New Year 2008, Internet Marketing Ninjas, and Traffic Power Scam
Happy 2008, everyone! (And happy birthday to me tomorrow!) I hope you all enjoyed your long or short vacations and are ready to start the year strong. I know I am (am I?) In case you've avoided the blogosphere while you've been in San Diego or in some foreign country enjoying the warmer weather, we have you covered. Here's what happened this week in search: New Years Okay, yes, captain obvious, 2008 is now here. - Google AdWords Ads Live While Site is Offline
It really isn't cool when you're busy entering tons of data for Google AdWords and your site goes down. Consequently, Google cannot verify the site and cannot check your landing pages and your quality score probably is not where it could be. That's what happened to a WebmasterWorld members, who writes: So I check the URL during the ad creation process to make sure it is up and it is but by the time I - Ask.com Reimburses Advertisers for Invalid Clicks
According to numerous reports, including a post at Search Engine Land, if you've advertised on Ask.com between August 2005 and now, you're entitled to reimbursement for any suspected invalid clicks. Those who are entitled to the settlement money will be getting it in the form of advertising (no checks or cash, sorry!) If you've been affected, your claim must be submitted by February 2, 2008. A website has been set up for more information about - Jim Boykin Launches Internet Marketing Ninjas Video Training
Link building expert Jim Boykin announced on his blog that he's launched a series of training videos on all things Internet Marketing-related at Internet Marketing Ninjas. The training costs $2995/year and includes videos from Aaron Wall, Andy Beal, Bill Slawski, Christine Churchill, Cameron Olthuis, Jim Boykin, Jim Gilbert, Jeremy Schoemaker, Jill Whalen, Lee Odden, Neil Patel, and Todd Malicoat. It's a stellar team. :) Bloggers agree. Those who were interviewed acknowledge the work that Jim - Google Map's Business Location Bulk Upload Now Working Again
A Google Groups thread reported that the bulk upload solution was returning 504 errors and not functioning properly since December 22nd. Google provides this bulk upload for to allow businesses to easily add their listing to Google Maps. If you have multiple locations, this is the easier way to do so. Yes, this solution has been taken advantage of and Google has been working up solutions to prevent local and map spam from happening too - Got Beef With Google's Content Removal Solutions?
There are many many ways to remove content from Google. We have discussed this topic over and over again. In fact, here are those articles: A New Way To Remove Content in Google.com via Google Webmaster Central Removing A Page From the Search Engines: Google & Yahoo Easy; Live.com & Ask.com Hard Need Content Removed From Google Quickly? Expedited Google Content Removal Google Removes Old Remove URL Tool Frustration Over Google URL Removal Tool Google - Ask.com Fixes Crawler Issue With Badly-Formed URLs
Earlier this week, we reported that Ask.com Crawler Inserting Url-Encoded Spaces in URLs Causing 404 Errors. In short, Ask.com's crawlers were crawling badly formed URLs, causing tons of 404 errors in web server log files. Vivek Pathak, Ask.com's Infrastructure Product Manager, replied to the WebmasterWorld thread saying Ask.com has fixed the issue. We did experience a data error which caused us to crawl badly-formed urls from a small number of sites. We identified the issue
Other Great Search Forum Threads:
- How Does Google Track Your Domains?, Sphinn
- Am I getting any Link Love Here?, WebProWorld
- Ask SEMpdx: What are the Benefits of Attending / Speaking at Search Engine Conferences?, Sphinn
- Think Like a Search Engineer, Sphinn
- Welcome To Cre8tive Tomorrow, Cre8asite Forums
- The Ins and Outs of Forum Marketing, Sphinn
- Welcome To The Nonprofits On The Web Forum, Cre8asite Forums
- What do you think of the pages section?, Google Groups
- Google Gadget Ads will turn the Web (and Advertising) Inside Out, Search Engine Watch Forums
- How do you stay up-to-date with SEO?, Search Engine Watch Forums
- Introducing Maps Guide Sirene, Google Groups
- Is Google Using a Position #6 "Penalty"? - part 2, WebmasterWorld
- Site crawled without submitting to Google, no links, nothing, WebmasterWorld
