Todd McDonald explains an "unexpected side effect" from Google's Disavow Link tool. One comment suggests that bad-hat SEOs could buy and use links until they are caught and then ask Google to disavow them. McDonald believes the new tool might have "swung the door open" too much for the link manipulators. He tells us why SEOs that are too aggressive can capitalize on the short term while being even more able to regain footing in the long term. Before this tool, using paid links meant risking a lot. What does it mean now?

What does it mean to maximize a company's digital marketing teams? Jani Rayner gives us five ways. Of course she plugs IgnitionOne's platform, but marketers can carry out the insight within the tips to get teams talking. For example, not a difficult task in theory, but physically getting teams in display, social and search to work together can be quite a challenge. Start with cross-channel meetings. Exposure to each other's tasks can help teams increase their skills and knowledge to offer a fresh perspective on workflow and strategies.

Courtney Eckerle analyzes results from two Twitter experts offering optimization tips. She examines ways to capitalize on opportunities, identifies some common mistakes to avoid, and tells us how to search and research what works and what doesn't. Eckerle explains why it's a big mistake for marketers to think Twitter campaigns don't require research, serves up insights on developing a method for checks and balances in campaigns, and takes us through ways to analyze post-tweet data. One thing Eckerle doesn't mention, but marketers should consider, is finding ways to use the platform as a hyperlocal targeting tool. 

A European investigation led by France's data protection agency told regulators it wants Google to clarify its new unified privacy policy on how it collects and stores data from across its services. The agency wants Google to take more responsibility for the way it treats data and consumers, given its ability to not only collect data from its services, but all those that connect to its applications. The French agency said about 90% of the top 500 most-visited sites in France link with Google.

Miranda Miller tells us that the search marketing industry association SEMPO appealed to the Federal Trade Commission to review the 2002 guidelines for search engine disclosure of paid advertisements in search results. In the post she includes a copy of the letter sent to the FTC. She points out that the FTC has not announced an official review of the guidelines for search engine disclosure of paid ads in search results, but it's understood that the FTC is looking into the issue.    

What is the role of the search engine in the purchase path based on the product and region? Avinash Kaushik digs deep into consumer behavior and data to help marketers understand the role of search in the consumer purchase path. He points to a free Google tool called Consumer Barometer that provides qualitative research to analyze the influence of digital and consumer behavior that leads to online and offline purchases. The tool can tell marketers the percentage of consumers who actually purchase specific products online.

Helping potential customers find a company's Web site and content has always been the number one reason why businesses would want to delve into search engine optimization. And while it seems like a good idea, it's not always easy to follow through. Lots of stuff gets in the way. Elisa Gabbert gives us 10 reasons why SEO is more difficult for small businesses. And while most of the reasons seem a bit obvious, she also provides a list of reasons why SEO is still worth the trouble. 

Predictive keyword research for paid-search campaigns caught the attention of Jeff Allen after Rand Fishkin wrote an extensive piece on the topic. He points to a few methods recommended by Fishkin and then adds a few of his own, such as looking at conference topic titles and analyzing patterns in sales calls. He also notes that lead-generation companies can use predictive keyword research to find cheap clicks and take advantage of large spikes in traffic.  

Stephanie Chang gives us tips on how to test content before implementing to reduce time, effort and resources related to writing non-duplicate content. She share a strategy used by clients, from purchasing a domain for the sole reason to test content, to setting up an AdWords account to test out the cost per acquisition via paid-search campaigns.  

Some might think it wonderful that Marissa Mayer can bounce back to work just two weeks after giving birth to a baby, but some believe the move could send a negative message about women in the workplace and families -- especially after Fortune magazine used a non-pregnant photo of the newly appointed CEO, named by Fortune as one of the 50 most powerful women, on the cover. Barbara Palmer reminds us that no matter how much money someone has, "no one remembers the first 1-2 weeks after they have given birth. Your body is recovering, your emotions are out of whack, and your …