SEO By The Sea
What if Bing and Google added a feedback button after every search, wonders Bill Slawski. How would that impact the search results people see? He tells us about a Microsoft patent describing how a search engine may automate processes for "dissatisfaction reports" manually submitted by searchers, and how the search engine may file a seperate disatisfaction report. Some feedback that search engines receive may include Web spam reports, as well as feedback that "something is 'broken,'" or that a URL that should serve up for a specific query doesn't.
Search Engine Watch
There are ways that social can drive organic traffic to Web sites outside of links being retweeted or publicly shared by influencers, according to Simon Heseltine. In a detailed post, he compares organic search listings with paid-search ads and tells us how sharing and social signals influence personalization and real-time results in organic searches.
WebProNews
Google's Matt Cutts confirms another tweak to the Panda algorithum, according to Chris Crum, who points to SearchMetrics, which shared numbers for sites it was found to have influenced. Several webmasters reported during the weekend in forums seeing the influence from the latest update, which occurred late Friday night. It turns out some SEO experts have lost their jobs as a result of Panda updates. Crum points to Demand Media as one company to implement "a drastic reduction in new article assignments for its freelance writers." He suggests that while Google provides the majorty of traffic to most sites, publishers …
GigaOm
Datafiniti is a search engine that wants to help developers find relevant data. The Web-based service from the Houston, Texas, startup aims to make it as easy as "entering SQL parameters into a search box, clicking 'search' and watching the results display." The interface also suggests relevant search terms as users type based on available categories in its platform and fields by which the data sorts, according to Derrick Harris. He tells us about the founder, as well as the types of features developers get using the API.
Search Engine Watch
Adam Audette gives us three areas to explore when integrating search engine optimization with paid-search ads. Some studies show the two can reinforce organic and paid-search listings, except on brand queries where cannibalization is more likely to occur. The basic rules often discussed include using paid-search keyword data to inform organic content and optimization strategies. While these are useful, Audette writes, it's important to understand what it takes to gain and maintain a competitive advantage. So he tells us how to focus on competitive search, explore landing page snippets in paid-search ads, and understand traffic value.
Coconut Headphones
Ted Ives serves up some advanced ranking techniques for local search. He put together a list of advanced techniques using David Mihm's local search ranking factors survey and by reading numerous interviews with -- and blog entries by -- various experts in Local Search. The list includes making sure businesses are listed properly on GPS mapping services, using targeted keywords in custom categories, and getting a dedicated IP address. Ives develops the list of advanced, local search tips by looking through the "lens of normal" organic search and making assumptions that Google and others handle it similarly to organic search.
PPC Hero
Felicia Coover serves up an overview of how to use the MSN Desktop Editor. Don't expect advanced tips and tricks. The video is for the newbie. She starts with the basics and explains how to upload excel worksheets, make changes and fixes after uploading the wrong content, and work with the data. For example, she tells us where to find information on average spend, click-through rate, average position, and conversions. In the video, which is a little more than five minutes in length, Coover explains how to "restore the account" after making a mistake by uploading the wrong data. She calls …
KISSmetrics
Bnonn provides 10 "practical steps" to increase paid-search ad conversions. They apply to several tactics, such as trying to gain more signups on a Web site's home page newsletter, or clicking through to view a product demo. Bnonn calls it "reducing friction." One clear bit of advice will help campaigns become more effective. Remember the "You Rule." The potential cllient or customer is not necessarily "interested in you,"but rather "himself and his problems." Rather than have the copy above the fold on the home page of the Web site highlight the owner or the company, focus on the prospective client and …
Search Engine Journal
Loren Baker provides us with a visual graphic comparing the top three search engines. The infographic takes a look at how Yahoo, Microsoft and Google measure up side by side. Loren points to Experian Hitwise's recent Q3 2011 search engine marketing report that shows how Bing continues to slowly chip away at Google's search share. But the question remains -- can the engine continue to take market share from Google? There are not many believers, and bunches of skeptics out there.
IndexTank
LinkedIn made another small acquisition. The social site for business professionals acquired IndexTank, a startup that makes a real-time hosted search engine service. Financial terms of the deal were not released, but we do learn that 11 full-time employees -- including nine engineers -- support the San Francisco company, which has secured $1.6 million in seed funding to date. In an FAQ on the company's Web site, IndexTank explains the transition.