For thoses who are looking for my Search Engine Optimisation skills I have moved to Hit Search.
All new enquires can be re-directed here in future. Thanks
Andy
comScore today released findings from a major research study analyzing the role of online search in generating Web site traffic for a number of consumer packaged goods (”CPG”) categories, including baby care, personal care, home care, and packaged food.
The study, entitled “The Digital Shelf: the Opportunity for Search Marketing in Consumer Packaged Goods,” was conducted in partnership with Procter & Gamble, Yahoo!, and the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO) to help the CPG industry better understand the opportunity to grow sales using search marketing.
“While search marketing has long been recognized as an effective direct response vehicle, it’s been largely overlooked by CPG companies who focus on brand advertising and promotional efforts to drive in-store purchasing,” commented Gord Hotchkiss, Chairman of SEMPO.
“This study seeks to demonstrate the potential brand-building impact of search for CPG marketers.”
Millions of Consumers Use Search to Learn About CPG Products Search appears to represent a significant marketing opportunity for CPG brands. The study found that a majority of U.S. consumers visited Web sites for CPG product categories during the three months ending April 2007, with search driving a significant percentage of visitors in all the categories.
Food products represented the largest search marketing opportunity with nearly 44 million category site visitors searching. Baby products attracted 15.7 million searchers, followed by personal care products with 9.8 million and household products with 1.7 million.
The study also found that a substantial percentage of the visitors to category Web sites arrived as a result of a search query. Among visitors to baby products sites, 60 percent arrived via search, followed by 47 percent in food products, 27 percent in personal care products, and 23 percent in household products.
Thomas Edison, Bell Labs, and Xerox, move over and make way for Google as America’s premier R&D company.
“Google is an applied engineering company, maybe the most skilled applied engineering company since Thomas Edison cranked out inventions more than a century ago,” says Stephen E. Arnold, president of Arnold Information Technology, in his recently issued “Google Version 2.0: The Calculating Predator,” a patent-centric study of the company. Adds Arnold, “Google’s database inventions by themselves make it clear that Google’s research unit has superseded Bell Labs and Xerox PARC as the place for technical innovation in the U.S., if not the world.”
Arnold, whose earlier book “The Google Legacy” changed how many investors and technology experts view the Mountain View, Calif., company, bases his assertion on a detailed review of patents and patent applications filed by Google employees since mid 2005.
The new study’s index lists 90 patents and applications of the more than 200 that Arnold has identified and analyzed.
Arnold examines more than 24 of these patents in detail in the 266-page study, identifying their technological importance and potential business impact. These inventions signal, he says, where Google focuses its research and provide insight into areas into which Google could move.
“Telecommunications, motion pictures and entertainment, financial services, and publishing are just a few of traditional market sectors that Google can enter and disrupt without too many technical gyrations,” he says. “Most of these market sectors are blissfully ignorant of Google’s capabilities.”
His study is the first to use text analytics and intelligence community techniques to glean business insights from publicly available Google patent applications and patents, Arnold says, noting: “To my knowledge, no one has attempted the type of invention deconstruction that I have undertaken. Also, no one has yet taken the Google technology and made an attempt to characterize what functions it can support.
The nature of patent documents is to describe certain information in ways that can be quite difficult to understand.”
His book’s title, says Arnold, reflects Google’s love affair with mathematics, which is part of what he calls the “Google DNA.” He continues: “Google is perhaps today’s best example of a company built on calculative thinking. Characteristics of calculative thinking include efficiency and logic, not emotional reactions. An elegant proof of a theorem bundles intelligence and beauty into a construct of great beauty.
Like a grand master in chess, Google uses strategic feints to obtain its objective — winning the game.”
Identifying Google’s patents and patent applications is no easy task for several reasons, Arnold found. “. . . Google does not list the company affiliation of inventors of pending patents,” the study notes. “A search for Google patents with a query for the term ‘Google’ is almost useless.”
Arnold describes his approach to this study as marrying two types of information. “First, I have the patent applications, patents, and technical papers,” he says. “Then I have the ’soft’ discussion of how selected technologies disclosed in the public patent documents seem to relate to Google’s capabilities, business tactics and products and services.
Each of the patent discussions is introduced by a business commentary and followed by a discussion of the possibilities the technologies described contain.”
“Calculating Predator” picks up where “Legacy” left off in depicting Google as more than a search and advertising company. Arnold observes in the study: “Google Version 1.0 was the Web search and advertising company.
“Google Version 2.0 is another creature entirely,” he adds, noting: “I use the term Googzilla to describe the current incarnation of Google. The idea is that Googzilla is big, powerful, and indifferent to the insects and ants crushed by its massive paws. Google Version 2.0 shares the search and ad capabilities of Google Version 1.0, but it is much, much more.
With a little more effort, Google could become the largest information publishing, distributing, archiving, and retailing operation in the world.” Throughout the study Arnold evaluates the competitiveness with Google of companies such as Yahoo and Amazon. Its would-be competitors are no match for Googzilla, he indicates. “Yahoo operates the computer equivalent of the Pan- Slavic movement in the early 20th century,” he says.
“Many different systems suck resources, and it’s unlikely that its existing plumbing is up to the type of algorithms that Dr. [Anna] Patterson uses [at Google]. Ask.com is not in the running. Barry Diller is too abstemious to invest massively in Google- like innovation in hardware and software.”
The study’s chapters consist of the following: Preface; Google’s Database Technology; Digital Ninjas: Competing with Smarter Software; Brin-Page Patents: Tech Sign Posts; Google Patents from August 2005-March 2007; Achieving $100 Billion in Revenues; Google and the Programmable Search Engine; Enterprise Applications; Google As Publisher; Thwarting Google — Is It Possible?; and Looking Ahead.
Ask.com achieved the highest percent increase in customer satisfaction of any online company, according to the University of Michigan’s annual American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI).
While the market share leader and search category as a whole declined this year, Ask.com’s level of satisfaction grew from a rating of 71 in 2006 to 75 in 2007.
This represents the highest increase year over year among all portals, search engines, and news and information sites measured by ACSI.
In addition to the highest increase year over year, Ask.com’s new score also represents a 21% increase in customer satisfaction since the company was first tested as AskJeeves with a score of 62 in 2002 — the largest increase of any online company in the history of the ACSI.
“The latest ACSI scores show that the search category is still evolving, and innovation still really matters,” said Jim Lanzone, CEO of Ask.com.
“Given Ask.com grew our user satisfaction scores more than any other search engine this year — despite the fact that the study was conducted before the release of Ask3D — we’re looking forward to even better results in 2008.”
Using the methodology of the University of Michigan’s American Customer Satisfaction Index, the study measured how well the top search and portal websites delivered the kind of site experience consumers want.
“Ask.com seems to be well-positioned to rival Google in the coming years because it has a strong search technology lauded by analysts and users alike and by developing impressive features to challenge Google’s lesser-known add-ons,” said Larry Freed, President of ForeSee Results, on the ACSI e-business report he authored today.
“Ask.com has been more than rewarded by its customers for the changes in functionality and search technology by receiving the biggest increase in the e-business sector this year.
The bottom line is, Ask.com is showing that it is hitting on all cylinders when it comes to customer satisfaction and user engagement, and this denotes a mastery of the crucial mix of evolution and revolution.”
Measurement for this particular survey was concluded in June 2007.
Lycos, makes it easier than ever for teachers across the U.S. to connect with their students, parents, fellow teachers and educators through its award-winning Tripod web publishing and hosting tools.
Much more than a virtual classroom, Tripod gives teachers powerful, easy-to-use tools to better compete in the world of Web 2.0, with the ability to create interactive web sites for more efficient communication.
Tripod for Teachers provides classroom templates, easy-to-use site building tools and hosting services for any teacher to create a web site in minutes.
Many teachers are unaware of free web page building and hosting sites like Tripod, giving educators resources to create a web presence to post homework assignments, provide links to websites for references, host class photo albums and field trip videos, and blog with parents and others in a secure online environment.
“Education is the fifth most popular topic with our millions of Tripod members, and we are thrilled that more and more teachers are turning to Tripod to access our easy-to-use site building tools to aid them in their classrooms,” said Don Kosak, chief technology officer for Lycos.
“Lycos is proud to be able to offer educators the opportunity to utilize our award-winning building and blogging tools to better connect with the audiences that are most important to them.”
“Tripod has made a huge impact in my classroom, especially in the communications between myself, students and parents,” said New York teacher Heidi McCasland.
“I discovered Tripod more than five years ago and have been using it in my classroom ever since, and spreading the word to colleagues across the country as well.
After seeing the positive impact my web site has had on my students, many of my fellow teachers wanted to create their own classroom web sites.
Since then, I have led workshops, instructing other teachers how to build their own sites using Tripod, creating a more connected community focused on providing the best educational experience possible for our students.”
Microsoft has completed its acquisition of aQuantive Inc.
The acquisition will help Microsoft deliver on its previously outlined goal to provide the advertising industry with a world-class advertising platform across devices and media that will create the best experiences for users, advertisers and publishers.
Microsoft also created the Advertiser and Publisher Solutions (APS) Group. This new business group will be responsible for building Microsoft’s monetization engine to serve the advertiser and publisher community.
The APS team will assume responsibility for building and marketing all ad platforms, including Atlas, DRIVEpm, MSNDR and Microsoft(R) AdCenter, along with emerging media types such as in-game and mobile ads, and the agency arm Avenue A | Razorfish.
The APS group will be run by Brian McAndrews, CEO of aQuantive, who will report directly to Kevin Johnson, president of Microsoft’s Platforms & Services Division (PSD).
“Today we take a significant step forward in our ability to capture share of the $40 billion online ad opportunity and the larger $600 billion ad market, which is rapidly shifting to the world of online and IP-served platforms, including TV and gaming,” Johnson said.
“The addition of aQuantive’s technologies and people to the Microsoft portfolio is a core, strategic investment and step forward in our plans to become one of the top two online advertising platforms in the industry.”
The leadership team reporting to Johnson responsible for Microsoft’s expanding efforts in advertising and audience includes the following:
– Steve Berkowitz, Online Services Group, is responsible for Microsoft’s “audience” business and for delivering great end-user online services that attract users and deepen customer engagement. These online services include the MSN.com portal, Windows Live(TM) services and Live Search.
– Brian McAndrews, Advertiser and Publisher Solutions Group, is responsible for building the monetization engine to serve the advertising and publishing community.
– Satya Nadella, Search & Advertising Platform Group, is focused on building innovative technologies in search and designing the advertising platform to support Microsoft’s business and customer goals.
Yusuf Mehdi will take on the newly formed role in PSD of senior vice president, Strategic Partnerships, where he will be focused on overseeing international mergers, acquisitions and partnerships; managing strategic accounts; and forging relationships with early stage startups and venture capital firms. Mike Galgon, an aQuantive co-founder, has been named chief advertising strategist and will report to McAndrews.
Microsoft’s other recent advertising-related acquisitions, including Massive Inc. and ScreenTonic, will continue to report to Cory Van Arsdale as part of the Emerging Media Group within APS. The newly formed Emerging Media Group will report to Karl Siebrecht, president of Atlas.
The Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions sales force will continue to be a part of the Online Services Group.
aQuantive’s employees will continue to be located in their downtown Seattle offices. Upon close of Microsoft’s acquisition of AdECN, CEO Bill Urschel and his team will report into Alex Gounares, corporate vice president, adCenter and Commerce, part of Satya Nadella’s Search & Advertising Platform group.
AdECN will maintain its offices near Santa Barbara, Calif. The aQuantive acquisition, excluding transaction costs, is not expected to have a significant impact on previously issued fiscal 2008 guidance for operating income and earnings per share.
Microsoft will provide updated financial guidance on its first-quarter earnings call scheduled for Oct. 25, 2007.
Marketo today announced the availability of Marketo Search Marketing for salesforce.com’s AppExchange.
Marketo Search Marketing optimizes the entire process of generating business leads using pay-per-click (PPC) search engine marketing-from keyword management to bid optimization to landing page creation and testing.
Integrated with salesforce.com’s on-demand platform, Marketo’s PPC search engine marketing tool is available for test drive and deployment on the AppExchange at ttp://www.salesforce.com/appexchange.
Marketo Search Marketing comes in two modules: Marketo Pay-Per-Click and Marketo Landing Pages. Each is pre-integrated with Google AdWords and requires no IT support to set up or use. Together the modules are designed to allow B2B marketers to bridge the gap between generating pay-per-click traffic and converting traffic into leads:
“Marketo’s PPC campaign management tool addresses the need of marketing executives who use Salesforce to be accountable for every lead they put into the system,” said Phil Fernandez, Marketo’s president and CEO.
“This certification with AppExchange is not only extremely important to our business, but it also validates our mission of providing marketers with tools to track and optimize their results from the day they identify new prospects to the day sales books revenue in Salesforce. And we do this without requiring up-front investment, annual contracts or heavy IT support.
When it comes to on-demand CRM, there’s no name bigger than Salesforce, so being part of the AppExchange will help us gain the visibility we need to finally give marketing the respect it deserves.”
“The AppExchange economy continues its rapid growth as customers of all sizes are using it to quickly and easily extend the benefits of on-demand applications throughout their enterprises,” said George Hu, chief marketing officer, salesforce.com.
“Marketo Search Marketing will help customers extend the value of Salesforce to measure exactly how their search marketing spend affects revenue.”
EasyJet has selected The Search Works as its agency of record for search engine optimisation.
The low-cost airline is making a determined effort to boost its presence in natural search across a range of European websites.
The Search Works will also be tasked with reducing “user drop-off” rates with better usability features on the main site.
Andrew Berks, EasyJet’s brand communications manager, said: “We chose The Search Works because they comprehensively addressed challenges specific to our business.
“The team’s experience of running campaigns for other travel clients and competitive pricing were clear differentiating factors. Pricing in particular was extremely important to us as a low-fares airline.”
LivePerson, Inc, a provider of online conversion solutions, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2007.
Revenue for the second quarter was $11.7 million, a 57% increase from the second quarter of 2006, and a 6% sequential increase versus the first quarter of 2007. Sequential revenue growth was due primarily to strong growth from existing enterprise users of Timpani Sales & Marketing, as well as continued strong performance from the small business product line.
“The second quarter came in right in line with our expectations on a number of key measures,” CEO Robert LoCascio said. “We signed a solid number of new clients, saw decreased enterprise attrition rates, and experienced strong bookings that will support our second half growth expectations.”
Net income for the second quarter of 2007 was $0.9 million or $0.02 per share as compared to net income of $0.4 million or $0.01 per share in the second quarter of 2006, and net income of $0.9 million or $0.02 per share in the first quarter of 2007.
The Company’s effective tax rate in the second quarter was zero resulting from a partial release of the company’s valuation allowance against deferred tax assets based on current estimates of future taxable income.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation (EBITDA) for the second quarter of 2007 was $2.2 million as compared to $1.0 million in the second quarter of 2006 and $2.0 million in the first quarter of 2007.
comScore today released the results of a study on the expansion of social networking across the globe, revealing that several major social networking sites have experienced dramatic growth during the past year.
Social networking behemoth MySpace.com attracted more than 114 million global visitors age 15 and older in June 2007, representing a 72-percent increase versus year ago. Facebook.com experienced even stronger growth during that same time frame, jumping 270 percent to 52.2 million visitors. Bebo.com (up 172 percent to 18.2 million visitors) and Tagged.com (up 774 percent to 13.2 million visitors) also increased by orders of magnitude.
Worldwide Growth of Selected* Social Networking Sites Total Unique Visitors (000) Jun-06 Jun-07 % Change MySpace 66,401 114,147 72 Facebook 14,083 52,167 270 Hi5 18,098 28,174 56 Friendster 14,917 24,675 65 Orkut 13,588 24,120 78 Bebo 6,694 18,200 172 Tagged 1,506 13,167 774
“During the past year, social networking has really taken off globally,” said Bob Ivins, executive vice president of international markets.
“Literally hundreds of millions of people around the world are visiting social networking sites each month and many are doing so on a daily basis.
It would appear that social networking is not a fad but rather an activity that is being woven into the very fabric of the global Internet.”
“A fundamental aspect of the success of social networking sites is cultural relevance,” continued Mr. Ivins. “Those doing well in certain regions are likely doing an effective job of communicating appropriately with those regions’ specific populations.
As social networking continues to evolve, it will be exciting to see if networks are able to cross cultural barriers and bring people from different corners of the globe together in fulfilling the truest ideals of social networking.”
