Google made more than 24 acquisitions this year. Yes -- do the math. That averages two acquisitions per month. The most recent buy, Clever Sense, offers up the tool Alfred, which provides personal recommendations for nearby restaurants. The acquisition makes sense when viewing a complete list of companies acquired during in 2011.

Social signals influences search engine optimization. Jim Yu, BrightEdge CEO, identifies simple steps that brands can take to influence how search results serve up in queries. For starters, he suggests adding a link from the brand's home page to each social media site, such as Facebook, Twitter or Google+. "We took a look at the sites of the top 500 brands, and only about 50% have links to their social media properties," he said -- suggesting that the basic reputation management tactic remains underused.

Search syndication lacks transparency, as well as controls on pricing and placement through networks.. But will companies change processes and add tools to give marketers what they want? Some marketers call syndication search's stepchild because they believe engines and companies have not focused efforts on offering and supporting enough products and services -- but folks from Microsoft, Yahoo, adMarketplace and others say that will change.

Search data will integrate with a variety of media channels, changing the way demand side platforms (DSPs) support online advertising and increase the return on investment (ROI) on campaigns. After all, DSPs provide the technology connecting the ad-serving process. At MediaPost's Search Insider Summit Saturday, Matthew Meadow, search associate media director at the agency Draftfcb, led a discussion to uncover the future of search and the role of DSPs with panelists Frost Prioleau, CEO at Simpli.fi; David Rodnitzky, CEO of PPC Associates; and Jonah Spegman, director of digital media marketing at Scripps Networks.

In addition to search marketing, Citigroup Analyst Neil Doshi points to mobile, TV coming online, Facebook, cloud services, local ad markets, and digital goods as long-term online advertising growth strategies.

A study released by Covario Thursday identifies missed opportunities by marketers at pharmaceutical companies that do not optimize Web sites for search engines or tap into link-building techniques. Pharma advertisers investing in link building and SEO could own the search results, according to the report.

Are you sick of hearing how online sales continue to skyrocket? Well here's one more tale with a twist that began in late November. It may provide insights into how consumers will behave next year.

A team of engineers led by Italian researcher and computer scientist Massimo Marchiori will launch the next-generation search engine dubbed Volunia.

Marketers should prepare for a rerun on Christmas Day similar to the data that eXelate CEO Mark Zagorski collected on Thanksgiving Day. He calls it "the turkey effect" -- the day overstuffed humans lounged on couches with mobile device in hand, searching the Internet for holiday deals.

Aside from faster home broadband and cellular phone connections, the proliferation of tablets that allow consumers to multitask from their couch on Thanksgiving Day, or smartphones that support the on-the-go deal warrior, Cyber Monday will go the way of the dinosaur.