Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
- Can Faster Servers Increase Your Google AdSense Earnings Drastically?
A WebmasterWorld thread has isolated a tip on how to increase one's Google AdSense earnings. One tip was bold enough to say a faster server can increase your earnings as much as 25%! Most publishers in that thread are skeptical about the 25% figure. It is obviously dependent on one's start and finish point. If my server is incredibly slow, then of course, if I speed it up, people might wait for the content to - Google Webmaster Tools Message Center Bug
Google recently improved the Webmaster Tools "message center" by having messages wait for you even if you are not verified. But a few reports are coming from Google Groups that the message center is not displaying open messages. Users are seeing they have a message, they click on the message and are presented with the following error: Your messages are not available at this time. Please try again later. Google Webmaster Trends Analysts, Jonathan Simon, - Google AdSense May Use Web Beacon Tracking in Future
Google recently updated their AdSense terms of service and one publisher asked AdSenseAdvisor if Google AdSense is or will be using "web beacons." After about a week (March 18th), AdSenseAdvisor replied to a WebmasterWorld thread saying: In the future we may begin to serve new ad tags that may use web beacons to help advertisers track their metrics. Is this a huge deal? I am not one to talk about privacy and stuff like that - Yahoo Site Explorer Showing Less Links Recently?
A DigitalPoint Forums has reports from dozens of webmasters that their link counts in the tool are way down. Some users are reporting as much as of an 80-percent reduction in the number of links Yahoo Site Explorer is finding for their sites. Lost about 75% on all sites today. Ya! This was a huge drop though..not the usual slight fluctuation. i lost like 12k links. I don't track my links on a frequent basis - Very Explicit Porn Hits Google Universal Search
Warning, clicking on the following Google search result may return an image of extreme pornographic nature. The image is of a woman's vagina and is found on a pornographic site, but the image appears to be hosted on Google's Blogger network. The search phrase is a common search in Google Web search for hot celebrities (warning, there may be an image that you don't want to see or don't want your kids to see). The
Search Engine Strategies Conference:
- CSS, AJAX, Web 2.0 & Search Engines
As the web moves into its second generation, sites are making more use of CSS, AJAX and other advanced and interactive design techniques. But how are the largely Web 1.0 search engines reacting to these, from an SEO perspective. This session explores issues and solutions. Moderator: • Jon Myers, Head of Search, MediaVest Speakers: • Jonathan Ashton, VP of SEO & Web Analytics, Agency.com • Ben D'Angelo, Software Engineer, Google • Chris Humber, Director of - The New Face of In-House Search
As Search Engine Marketing (SEM) grows in popularity, many companies are attempting to handle the SEM function in-house despite the inherent complexity and challenges. Join us for a spirited discussion and get a chance to meet some of these intrepid do-it yourselfers behind the in-house movement as we debate the pros and cons of developing and training a dedicated in-house team. Laying the foundation for in-house SEO success, long-term cost savings, gaining project support at - Social Search - The Next Step
Moderated by Kevin Heisler the Executive Editor of Search Engine Watch. First speaker will be Simon Heseltine from Serengeti. He is wearing a quite awful tie with zebras on it. (Just kidding Simon). What is social search? It is search with human involvement. It can be delivered using an Algo + humans or just humans. The whole concept is wisdom of the crowds/masses. Others have called this folksonomy. Common search topic for use to examine - Dealing with Affiliates
Jeff Rohrs of ExactTarget is moderating, and he introduces the first speaker Kris Jones from Pepperjam. Dealing with affiliates from an affiliate network perspective. Your Affiliate (aff) Network should stand as a resource to help you with understanding who your affiliates are (transparency) and how to identify and address channel conflict. Four primary potential channel conflicts: direct linking, Trademark (TM) bidding; bidding on same keywords as you; promoting conflicting marketing messages. Direct linking occurs when - SEM Small Business Blitz
This session will provide a rapid fire take on how to tackle the most popular SEM tactics with a small staff and an even smaller budget. Would feature practical, affordable ideas and real world examples on PPC, SEO, Viral, Blogging and Social Media. This isn't a "how to do this" session so much as a "how to do it cheap and effectively" session. Moderator: * Carrie Hill, Search Engine Watch Expert and Certified Search Engine - Social Media Research: Informing Search Strategies
Moderator: Pauline Ores, SES Advisory Board and Senior Marketing Manager, Social Media Engagement, General Business, IBM Corporation Andrew C. Frank, Research VP, Gartner Media Industry Advisory Services is first up. Marketing in the Spotlight: - Losing: -- Faith in the power of the mass media communication forms -- Ability to control the terms of the marketing dialog - Gaining: -- Unprecedented quantities of data -- Visibility into the public psyche -- Scalable direct consumer dialogs, - Keynote with Jason Calacanis - Official Launch of My Mahalo
Afternoon Keynote: Jason Calacanis * Jason Calacanis, Founder & CEO, Mahalo.com, Inc. (I'm sitting next to Allen Stern who already discussed this new development and it's now on Techeme. But you can read the other stuff now!) First of all, Jason clears the air. He wants all SEOs to know he didn't mean to offend them. Some people think SEO is about gaming their way to the top rankings at search engines. Since then, however, - Search Advertising 101
Paid placement is a form of search advertising that provides a top ranking in return for payment. Every major search engine offers a paid placement program. Learn what's available in this session that is especially geared toward beginners, with details on programs from major providers and advice on how to succeed. Moderator: • Allan Dick, General Manager, Vintage Tub & Bath Speakers: • Dana Todd, CMO, Newsforce • Matt Van Wagner, President, Find Me Faster - Successful Tactics for Social Media Optimization (SMO)
Moderator: Erik Qualman, Search Engine Watch Expert and Global Vice President, EF Education Liana Evans, Director of Internet Marketing, KeyRelevance is up to talk to us about video sharing and rating/review sites. (1) Social media is not new, it starts with message boards Why Care About Social Media? - More Opportunities in SERPs - Creates an Engagement Opportunities - Traffic to Site - Links to Site - Creates Buzz Video Sharing Ties in How? - - Social Media Marketing - What is it and What is it Good For?
Marketing to and through social networks means humans are hot again. Not as directory editors; it's Web 2.0 and your customers are in control. The old-fashioned media buy has gone bye-bye. Social Media marketing is fast emerging as a must-have in search strategies. Learn about the social search revolution, and hear case studies of how marketers have successfully promoted brands and products with it. Moderator: * Pauline Ores, SES Advisory Board and Senior Marketing Manager, - Widgets and Gadgets are taking over, but what are they?
Kevin Ryan is the moderator of this panel. I just made it in from crazy NYC traffic with 15 minutes to spare. Love that Hilton parking, incredibly convenient, trust me a I pay for it. Ryan introduces the wrong person first but we are back on track. Speaking of widgets, make sure to add our Search News Facebook Widget. Jeff Williams, Associate Director, Creative, DIGITAS is now up. Advertising Perspective: - Is it advertising? Yes, - Morning Keynote: Search Has Changed Everything... And So Can You
Search engines have forced an entirely new dynamic in how connected humans access information. Successful traditional brands along with new entries into the space learn to roll with the changes... even if that means a transformation in how they do business. The death of traditional information sources is often grossly exaggerated. In other words, winning in the Interactive world means combining the best of the old and the new. Mr. McLeod will discuss how a
Other Great Search Forum Threads:
- Facebook Steps Up Privacy and Plans To Add Chat, WebmasterWorld
- Google CEO claims to be able to weather US economic slowdown, WebmasterWorld
- Optimisation tip of the week #3, Google Groups
- Will Google's Algorithm change because of their share price?, Sphinn
- Yahoo Bullish In Its Forecasts, WebmasterWorld
