For all you SEO fans out there wondering about or maybe even pontificating what results if any will materialize from the launch of Google Instant, I have a rather simplistic albeit cryptic prediction:
With the launch of Google Instant; the tail will stop wagging the dog.
Adjust your search marketing communications accordingly.
A search for Google on Yahoo produces rather interesting results.
Yes, the top result is an ad for Google from Google.
However, the next result although innovative is quite biased in nature:
“You could go to Google. Or get straight to your answers here.”
Yahoo Google
Apparently navigational search ie., “google” is alive and well at Yahoo.com.
To Yahoo’s credit, a search for advertising in their “search here” box does produce a top sponsored listing result for Yahoo Search Marketing.
Yahoo Advertising Search
Yet curiously, organic search results for Yahoo marketing are nowhere to be found while Microsoft Advertising appears fourth in Yahoo’s search results.
Doesn’t Yahoo’s absence from their own search results for advertising mean Yahoo is in need of some help with their site’s own Search Engine Optimization?
I thought this job opening for a Free Search Traffic / SEO Software Engineer from Amazon.com was interesting.
Amazon.com understands the importance of getting free search engine traffic enough so that they have a position devoted specifically to making free search engine traffic happen in their business.
Does your company?
Software Engineer SEO Amazon
If your company hasn’t yet made search engine optimization a priortity – why?
I was fishing in the Tweet stream yesterday when I caught the following job posting for a social media coordinator.
Social Media Coordinator
Several attributes of this job description struck me as odd if not misinformed.
The job description sounds more like a wish list composed by someone in Human Resources rather than by someone who actually knew what they were requesting.
The idea that the future Social Media Coordinator position holder has to report to the “Manager – Interactive Projects” runs counter to the list of skills the job description requires.
Any individual who has experience performing the following “social media” laundry list of tasks including the non-social media related disciplines of search engine optimization and web analytics while generating a return on investment would by definition already be a Manager – Interactive Projects – if not considerably more.
Responsibilities of the position will include the support of Interactive initiatives regarding online Social Media (SM), web analytics/research, news distribution and Search Engine Optimization (SEO). In addition, responsibilities of this role will include:
· Strategy, planning and direction to content managers and maintenance of Social Media initiatives including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace, YouTube and others
· Educating consultants regarding new technology and the Social Media environment
· Utilizing technology to research and measure company Social Media status and ROI
· Interaction with corporate and regional company representatives to promote news and activities of the company
· Management of all company related Social Media registrations
· Providing regular reports of web site traffic analytics
· Interaction with company Studio Team to manage and promote a variety of news and activity videos/broadcasts
The position’s “Utilizing technology to research and measure company Social Media status and ROI” requirement indirectly poses a valid question yet one few if any company’s understand or can let alone quantify – “What is the Return on Investment in Social Media?”
Any search engine marketer or SEO worth their salt can answer the Return on Investment question, I doubt a majority of the new breed of social media marketers can.
I noticed today while logging into my Adwords account, Google has begun offering and promoting a new Adwords consulting service: “Get started with expert advice on Adwords.”
Google Adwords Expert Advice
From the Adwords home page:
This service is only available for new AdWords advertisers in the US and Canada. Only businesses with an advertising budget of more than $250/month will be considered for this service.
I guess it was inevitable Google would eventually publicly offer advertisers help. However, further down the page Adwords asks a loaded question:
Is your company an advertising agency/SEM/SEO? Yes / No. If yes, indicate the company name of your client: ______________________
In the early days of paid search I believe there were concerns by Pay Per Click Agencies about Google circumventing the agency client relationship to distntermediate the paid search agency.
Could this expert advice service for new Adwords advertisers be Google’s first step toward disintermediation of pay per click agencies?
Or is Google Adwords actually trying to help new advertisers get the most bang for the advertising buck?
Microsoft has re-launched Live Search along with its xRank features.
Today I was surprised to find the following picture embedded in Microsoft’s Live Search home page.
Or is it the other way around?
I was surprised to find the Microsoft Live Search box embedded in a picture of Barack Obama.
Live Search Barack Obam
I am not sure but I think this is a first.
Embed your search home page in images from the day’s headlines?
If your search appliance isn’t gaining search traffic market share from its competition piggy back your product on news and images known to produce search traffic by bolting your search box onto the backs of the day’s top headlines?
Yahoo already does this to some degree but Live Search has taken its editorial to a new level.
If search was previously defined by it’s transparency and absence of bias, Microsoft Live Search has now flip flopped with its decision to make its editorial choice the cover of their Live Search home page.
It will be interesting to see if this decision increases Microsoft’s Live Search traffic volume and market share or if it puts off both its otherwise loyal search users while dissuading potential additional search audience members from visiting the Live Search site.
Drilling down from the home page Live Search provides five categories of Live Search xRank results: Celebrity, Musician, Politician, Blogger and Olympics.
I assume as news cycles ebb and flow, so will their xRank editorial categories selections.
By optimizing its home page for maximum search audience traffic through co-opting the day’s headlines, Live Search has literally given new meaning to the terms search engine optimization and SEO.
Live Search xRank Celebrity
Live Search Celebrity xRank
Live Search xRank Musician
Live Search Musician xRank
Live Search xRank Politician
Live Search Politician xRank
Live Search xRank Blogger
Live Search Blogger xRank
Live Search xRank Olympics
Live Search Olympics xRank
I am presenting a Webinar on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to Medicare Marketing professionals July 10th, 2008 @ 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM EDT.
I recently presented at the World Research Group Medicare Marketing Strategies conference in Washington DC. I am looking forward to working with World Research Group again.
The Medicare Marketing Strategies Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Webinar Overview:
Harness the Power of the Internet! An increasing number of potential Medicare beneficiaries are turning to the web, and specifically to Google, to find and research area plans. Make sure your name is at the top of their list. This webinar shows how Medicare plans can utilize Google-specific Search Engine Optimization techniques to improve their outreach among prospective enrollees.
Who should attend the Medicare Marketing Strategies Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Webinar:
From Health Plans:
Also Vice Presidents, Directors, and Managers of:
Medicare Marketing Strategies Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Webinar Agenda:
Learn how to:
About Tim Cohn:
For more information about the Search Engine Optimization Webinar or to register, please contact the World Research Group toll free by phone at 1-800-647-7600, via e-mail at info@worldrg.com or sign up for the Medicare Marketing Strategies Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Webinar at World Research Group.com
Search Marketing Communications 
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