Ted Ives takes a look at the patent protection set into the agreement between Microsoft and Yahoo, and the possibility of the Redmond, Wash., giant building out a search engine that has portions based on Yahoo-developed technology (hmmmm... interesting). Aside from the numerous patents mentioned in the SEC 8K filing, the agreement requires Microsoft to hire at least 400 Yahoo employees, Ives writes. Ives points to the 400 people, who probably submitted most of the 234 granted patents and 1116 patent applications. These employees could soon move into new roles at Microsoft, presumably to work on Bing. But …

Matt Cutts finally got his wish. Google has enhanced the ability to share content by adding a "Send to" feature. The new feature, which you enable from the settings page, allows you to send items to Blogger, Delicious, Digg, Facebook, MySpace, Reddit, StumbleUpon and Twitter. He reminds us to disable pop-up blocking, so Google Reader can pop-up a new window on twitter.com, or others, to share items. The "Send To" link appears after selecting the sites in which you want to share your Google Reader items. Aside from the "Send To" feature, Google Reader made it easier to …

Search engine result pages, also known as SERPs, have evolved from a simple list of 10 results on a Web page into local and personalized listings. As SERPs shift, Peter Meyers wants to know if rankings still matter. So, he collected data to analyze a ranking drop for a client's primary keyword. Meyers analyzed direct keyword traffic, looking at Google rankings and weekly search traffic for that same keyword. Then he looked at long-tail organic traffic. Stepping through the results, his research shows whether rankings matter.

Does Google know what Web sites you own? Affiliates who began building and publishing Web sites before 2000, likely operated with a different set of rules and standards. They likely built and developed isolated pockets on the Web, and tried hard to keep Google from knowing they were associated with other affiliates, according to Michael Gray. So, Gray set out to discover what methods Google uses to gather information about who owns what Web sites. He writes that Google has never answered that question, but the best answer comes from a guest post by Nick Wilsdon on Jim …

Barry Schwartz points to a sign from Ask.com in the Search Engine Strategies conference hall that mocks Yahoo. The sign reads: "My company just gave up on search. Where do I work now?" At the bottom of the sign is a URL that tells Yahoo search employees where. He was also told Ask gave away chocolate bars with the same tag line. Schwartz also provides a list of SES coverage from around the net.

Dave Harry points to a Microsoft patent that caught his attention, Forum Mining for Suspicious Link Spam Sites Detection,. The patent aims to "conveniently and efficiently exchange link trade information." Harry describes why Microsoft would want the patent, how it might influence site rankings in queries on search engines, and what it means to the SEO industry. The patent details ways to protect rank, application of penalties for suspect URLs, methods to analyze link profiles to possibly find other reciprocal manipulations, and more. Harry also crafted and made available a Google Custom Search Engine to search popular SEO …

Chris Crum wants to know if SEO can save the publishing industry. A panel of experts at the Search Engine Strategies conference in San Jose, Calif., tries to answer the question. Crum explains that the session provided insight into how SEO might save publishing jobs by driving traffic, and infusing ad dollars into publishers' pockets. For example, Thomson Reuters VP Liesel Kipp shared four tips: show the value of SEO; data is the key to your success; set goals and show how you will fulfill them; and evangelize, evangelize, evangelize.

Excluding entire categories from your Google AdWords Content Network can further optimize performance for paid search campaigns, according to Joe. He explains that it's done through the AdWords interface. He tells you where to find the options and how to activate them. Screen shots also provide guidance. Joe explains there is a set of standard categories included in the Content Network. Within the screen you can choose entire categories. He believes carrying out the process correctly can help increase conversion rates and decrease cost-per-conversions.

Ann Smarty reviews a search engine tool, KPMRS, a "keyword position checking and monitoring utility," that lets you quickly check your site rankings in Google, Yahoo and Bing without logging in. It also lets you track as many as five words per site across multiple domains. Smarty discusses what she likes and dislikes about KPMRS, and how it compares with other similar tools. She writes that it's easy to use for small sites and blogs.

Derek Edmond explains that one attractive option for mitigating financial risk and maximizing return has been the pay-per-performance ad model. But how does this model fit into today's world of shrinking budgets and demand from advertisers for better results? Edmond provides highlights from the Search Engine Strategies in San Jose, Calif., panel "Performance Pricing Models: What Every CMO Must Know." He writes that the panelists evaluated SEM campaigns contracted by the performance pricing model. Speakers also offered an overview of the concept, applicability to various channels, key benefits, caveats and crucial success factors.