Similar to Google, Microsoft has been working on developing wearable technology. Steve Clayton tells us about how the research group has been looking at putting technology into clothing and how to use human skin as an input and conductive surface. For those following the growth of semiconductors and radio frequency technology in the electronics space, these concepts are not new -- but integrating technology with social computing changes the vision.

Marketers could get significant improvements on both average positions and click-through rates in search campaigns with the introduction by Microsoft adCenter of an AdWords-like Modified Broad Match tool, according to Marc Poirier. He definces broad match modifiers, and explains how to make the most of phrases and bid strategies, and how marketers may want to think about protecting brand terms.

Aaron Wall has been running a series of survey questions related to search engine marketing. This one attempts to determine whether the general public knows more about paid search and AdWords compared with search engine optimization and link building. He explains that one of the major issues with that question involves the numerous check boxes or possibilities for answers. Wall also explores other questions, such as which gender and age group have a greater awareness of SEO.

Converging social media and digital channels will take some getting used to for marketers. Costs related to actions and acquisitions will also be the ultimate metric, but how marketers get there will continue to change. Andy Betts serves up screen shots and details on seven new ideas -- such as matching value to traditional SEO metrics -- that will help marketers measure the value of media. 

Marketing automation software has become a staple for business-to-business marketers because it makes the job of tracking, nurturing leads and qualifying leads for sales easier, compared with manually going through the process, according to David Kirkpatrick. But for small- to mid-sized businesses, these tools may be too expensive and may require an extended contract. Kirkpatrick tells us about one SMB that found a viable solution and got positive results.

Thinking about starting a business? Jessica Bruder profiles a search engine -- Trademarkia -- that helps business owners find a name among the more than six million that exist today in America. The site went live in 2009, but Bruder tells us about the company's challenges, and that it still spends about $1 million yearly on paid-search advertising.   

Ah -- don't you just love it? Search for a product on an engine. Click on the link and through to the online store, and then hop on to a publisher's site without making a purchase, only to get bombarded with ads about the product you left behind. Marketers have heard it before: Search marketing campaigns should not live in a silo. So Michelle Ulizio serves up tips on display advertising targeting options, such as site and search retargeting, as well as how to purchase third-party data. She also explains how to combine buying a block of impressions on a …

Marketers don't set out to fail at paid-search campaigns, but Jeff Allen gives us four scenarios that sometimes get overlooked. Over-optimizing or continually pulling levers inside paid-search account bids, ads and keywords to change campaigns can become one sure way. Resist the temptation, he writes -- and he tells us how marketers can think about tweaking accounts rather than jumping into changes.

Optimizing video metadata, descriptive playlists, helpful annotations, and consistent branding are four tips that Brian Honigman shares. He goes into detail on each, and provides screen shots and examples on how to use each. For instance, Honigman tells us Zappos includes a URL at the very beginning of their description of this video, which for the company works well. He explains why it's important to include a relevant URL to either a specific page or the home page of the company's Web site.

Zeen, a new project from YouTube co-founders Chad Hurley and Steve Chen, will let anyone create a digital magazine when the site launches. It's the latest project from the duo, who believe that a Web site is the basic tool every startup needs to get off the ground. The Web page already connects to a Facebook and Twitter account, but today both have few friends and followers.