Sometimes when searching on google.com for a broad topic, the searcher wants an in-depth, thoughtful piece. That's what searchers will find in a new feature launched Tuesday. Pandu Nayak points to a help section to give content developers some pointers on the metadata that will present better search results to users. He links to the schema.org Article markup for assistance.

Just browse. That's how Spotify describes it. On Monday the streaming music site launched a browse page that offers themed playlists on the phone. The company has been working on bringing discovery to the app, allowing listeners to find their favorite music. Browse will gradually roll out to iOS and Android users, and will soon become available across all platforms.

Matt Cutts talks about Google's efforts to fight Web spam in the latest Webmaster Video Log on YouTube after a user in Mountain View, Calif. asks whether the Webspam team takes the same measures to counter spam in international markets as the ones they have taken in the U.S. The short answer is yes -- but for the details listen here.

Consumer Reports tested 15 apps that locate, lock, and erase phone data if it's stolen or lost. Searching for the correct one can become time consuming. Considering about 1.6 million Americans had their smartphones stolen last year, according to a Consumer Reports survey, it may become worth the time to do a little research. While some apps protect against malware, others allow the phone owner to lock controls via a Web browser or by sending a text message rendering it useless. McAfee, Avast, and BitDefender were the top three performing apps. The chart provides insight on ease of use, resources …

Marketers launching a new brand site will want to keep this handy checklist of 25 things to do before making the Web site live. Mark Knowles tells us how each launch team can help to make it a smooth transition. He breaks it down by department. For instance, Web designers need to check for live URLs, Validation, 404 pages, and favicons. It may seem elementary, but let's face it -- lists help marketers keep the important stuff top of mind. Read the article here.

Just getting started in paid-search marketing or need a refresher on some of the better approaches to take when thinking about setting a goal? Don Sturgill serves up some tips on what to think about and how to implement goals. Similar to any lengthy task, Sturgill suggests breaking down the event into the simplest denominators and organizing them by priority. Analyze the space between the start and the finish, and envision each event to determine how to close the gap. Breaking them down into individual tasks will make the journey more manageable. Read the article here.

Marketers may like to use Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+ to reach specific audiences in social sites, but they don't love everything about it. Merry Morud gives us 10 things to hate about LinkedIn ads and workarounds to make it all better. She provides a solution for each of the problems. For example, Morud tells us that marketers can work around the limited campaign-level functions by either right-clicking and selecting the open link in new tab option, or holding down the command key (for Mac, control for PC), or clicking the scroll wheel on your mouse. Read the article here.

The gecko gives Geico an avenue to connect personally with consumers. Eric Enge describes how and why teams should become subject experts, and how the content they build can become the personal connection between the inanimate object and consumers. He tells us the content gives the site and the brand an identity. Its important because the brand's audience "wants to attach to a person more than they want to attach to a nameless entity." Customers want to feel that they're interacting with people, rather than a thing. Read the article here. …

Tina Kelleher posted a cheat sheet to visualize exact, phrase, and broad matches. The infographic describes what comprises a paid-search ad. This is great information for newbies. If you're an experienced paid-search marketer you might want to skip this one.

Some consumers prefer apps, while others prefer search on mobile engines. Interestingly, the top 10 U.S. mobile smartphone apps are either directly search-focused or search-oriented such as Google Play or iTunes, according to Rachel Pasqua, who cites comScore numbers. The reason that people prefer apps is clear: typically they provide easy access to information in fewer clicks. Marketers still need a mobile SEO strategy. One of the more interesting points is Pasqua's view on building URL structure to optimize search. Read the article here.