A new Twitter search engine from OneRiot focuses on the content people link to rather than the things they write, according to Matt McGee. He explains that the engine indexes tweets, looking for messages with embedded links, then crawls and indexes the linked content, displaying the search results in the familiar Title-Snippet-URL format. The engine includes social community tools, too. "Each result includes a reference to how recently the URL was shared on Twitter, how many tweets mention it, and who first found it on Twitter," McGee writes. "Clicking on the 'Shared in (N) tweets' link displays the …

Sergio Gomes tells us about an AdWords feature that lets marketers schedule ads in advance through a timer, automatically, without requiring manual intervention either to enable and disable them. He provides several examples and instructions on setting the start and end for times and days. Gomes writes that scheduling applies to all active ad groups and ads. He explains that the scheduling tool provides a way to increase or decrease your bids at certain times.

Do you need to know how to rotate ads within a campaign, or if Yahoo bases ad optimization only on performance statistics? The Yahoo Search Marketing blog answers these and other questions advertisers asked in recent Webinars on optimizing ad placement. In another example, in answer to the question if advertisers should "delete any ads running under 20 percent," the recommendation is against "using specific percentages as a factor in determining ad performance, because each keyword market is different. But you should use ad optimization and test different ads, which will enable our system to optimize to …

Google has begun showing local responses to non-geographically targeted search queries, sending SEO bloggers across the blogosphere buzzing. It appears Google now bases the 10 local results on the browser's IP address, rather than city, ZIP codes and more. Mike Blumenthal believes this change will dramatically enhance the role of local data in search. Blumenthal estimates the change gives local listings a "61 fold increase of exposure if the 10 Pack is shown on all of those searches." Aside from his own views, he notes links to others SEO experts such as Matt McGee and Greg Sterling.

You don't need to give up total control to get results when working with SEO experts, according to Stoney deGeyter. The balancing act ranges from deciding how much sensitive information and site access to give the SEO firms, to vetoing recommendations yet still getting results. "The amount of access the SEO needs and time you'll be required to invest in a particular campaign can dramatically change the dynamic of the campaign as well as the SEO's ability to ensure the campaign's success," he writes. "Having this information before you begin can help you plan and prepare for the …

Google AdWords offers a placement performance report that can help you remove under-performing Web sites from your campaign, according to Joe, who provides a few tips on the tool. Depending on how poorly a Web site is performing, you can exclude your ads from that site at varying levels to enhance its performance, he writes. You can also exclude your ads from entire categories of content -- including "crime, police & emergency," "death & tragedy," and "military and international conflict."

A search engine built just for SEOs? One where you can remove your competition from search engine results on a whim -- or add your own site immediately? Danny Dover tops the April Fool's spoof of the day by announcing a search engine created by SEOmoz.org that allows you to do all that, and more. The crew actually built a working site at Webfluence.com. Search on a few keyword terms. I guarantee it will put a smile on your face.

Sometimes Todd Miechiels feels a lot like John Henry, a steel-drivin' man who tunneled through mountains with a sledge hammer. Miechiels likens Henry's task to managing precious budgets for paid search campaign across multiple ad networks, using manual tools and labor. To lighten the work burden, Miechiels suggests companies may want to outsource rather than try and do it themselves. He defines "digging and blasting" to emphasize the point that some paid search tasks take precious time and "once the strategy has been clearly defined, can be executed by relatively cheap labor and in many cases automatically by a …

The demand for those working in search engine optimization is on the rise, according to the April Online Work Index published by Elance, an online job network that connects businesses with professionals. SEO positions rank No. 14 in demand, rising one spot in the last month. There are more than 450 job posts for SEO professionals on the site. Businesses are alsochasing expertise in open source technologies and social media, as marketers attempt to connect brands with consumers through YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. Elance notes the demand for online work is rising across the board as businesses manage …