Google, Google, Google. It’s been with us now for 12 years and has become the essential tool for navigating the eye watering amount of content that has been created by commercial sites, blogs, article directories and others.

SEO

For those who have taken full advantage of how SEO with Google works, the benefits have been huge. As direct consequence of this, what are known as ‘content farms’ have appeared, created to drive page views from content written by low paid writers.

These content farms, whilst being more than uneasy about being labelled as such, have grown exponentially – with brands such as Examiner.com, Suite 101 and About.com.

Some say that these sites have become a threat to Google, because the quality of writing varies a great deal; low quality, mass produced articles are not what Google’s searchers want.

Blekko, not yet launched, seeks to eliminate this poor quality writing. By using something called slashtags – a personalised raft of mini-indexes – authoritative or favourite sites can be kept track of. Someone who likes, say, model train sets, can find blogs and content on the subject of a higher quality. By looking over slashtags from other trusted users, more authoritative blogs can be found.

In terms of SEO, it might point to a time when SEO agencies need to direct their efforts towards creating truly high quality content – something they should be doing already. Here at High Position we understand the importance of creating content that meets the demands of search engine compliancy while being genuinely informative or entertaining. For content creation and SEO that achieves true balance, get in touch today.

The alliance between Google’s only competitors Yahoo and Bing seems to be moving full steam ahead. It was announced earlier that Yahoo was beginning to test Bing-powered results and senior staff at the company are saying that up to 25% of the results returned from Yahoo searches are powered by Microsoft’s search engine.

Users might not always see a ‘powered by Bing’ badge on their results straight away, but this will be the eventual layout when the full rollout happens in September or October.

SEO

As it stands right now, you have a one in four chance of seeing a Bing-powered search result in natural search, but you won’t necessarily know it. What this will mean for SEO professionals working on optimising for Yahoo and Bing is debateable, but it could certainly lead to saving a lot of time as Bing’s results will be Yahoo’s results.

This is certainly an interesting time in the search engine landscape and it will be interesting to see how this impacts the SEO industry.

An interesting email has been sent out by Yahoo regarding the Yahoo to Bing transition period, which shed some new light on topics that advertisers and general users are concerned with. Yahoo has confirmed it is testing Bing powered results ‘offline’.

In the email, the company said: “Though much of our testing is already happening offline, this month we’ll also test the delivery of organic and paid search results provided by Microsoft on live Yahoo! traffic.”

Internet Marketing

These testing volumes are to be of a very low level as regards paid search, thus allaying any concerns that advertisers might have – so there should be little impact on those conducting their internet marketing campaign through these engines.

While offline testing has already been happening, yesterday live Bing results started appearing on Yahoo. This is of course a very important step towards the search giants’ merger of search technologies.

According to Yahoo, who would of course say this, Bing will power 30% of search queries around the globe. Certainly a very healthy slice of the most popular pie in town.

In a move that many predicted when the search giants bought the video sharing phenomenon in 2006, Google are finally beginning to phase out individual YouTube accounts and requiring them to associate their accounts with the cross-platform Google accounts.

One of the big areas of concern from pre-Google users – especially those with very active accounts – was that they might lose all their videos and responses when their account was phased out, however it turns out that this isn’t the case. YouTube’s official blog features a guide for linking your Google account to it and it will not delete your videos, change your username, set you up with Buzz or even necessarily a Gmail account.

Internet Marketing

It’s easy to see why this is advantageous for Google’s internet marketing campaign – aside from Google’s team only having to manage one account for all of their services, it helps them to keep a track of how everyone uses these services.

Although Google are saying that this transition will be gradual, it will be mandatory and although it may take a few minutes to set up an account, it does allow access to Google’s other features and services. Due to the fact that no usernames, videos or anything else will be lost from this change, there don’t seem to be an awful lot of disadvantages to it. It doesn’t have to be done for a while, but if you want to be ahead of the curve, there’s nothing stopping you linking your accounts right now.

Speculation abounds that Google is to set up a social network all it’s own in direct competition with the likes of Facebook and Twitter etc.

So where do these rumours come from and do they hold any water?

Originating with the founder of Digg, Kevin Rose, the rumour began on his Twitter page with the direct statement that he had heard Google were to launch a Facebook competitor very soon. Techie gurus have been speculating as to how that would work and how it would be received. Of course, Google holds more power and more trust with internet users than any other search engine so interest is bound to be high.

Technology websites, Mashable and TechCrunch, claim that Google have been carrying out research into social networking, how it is used and who uses it and it’s all meant to be taking place at Google’s Dublin office. Apparently, they are paying people to complete a survey about how social networking affects lives on and off line. Google themselves have fuelled the rumours after a presentation was posted on the net by Paul Adams, Googles user-experience researcher, which partially looked at how the web is changing when it comes to users interacting.

The use of social media and social networking is a fast growing concept when it comes to internet marketing and advertising and it seems there is no stopping this occurence so why not jump on the bandwagon? Interestingly, nobody from Google has been available for comment – meaning they’re not denying it! Could bring a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘Google it’.

The activities of Google quite often bring about a rafts of rumours, with many proving to be unfounded. But signals that Google may have invested 100 million dollars in Zynga Games, suggests they may be eyeing up the gaming market.

Social Media

How does this relate to social media? Some are saying that this investment will be a great way for Google to enter the gaming market, and potentially use it as an attractive enticer for people to use Google’s social media services.

Getting the Edge

Facebook still dominates social media and Zynga itself owes all of its success (think Farmville for example) to this platform. By creating links with Google it is putting its eggs in another basket. And Facebok and Google are pretty good baskets to be in.

But the real prize might be for Google. It need to find a unique angle to attract people to its social media offerings – and fusing gaming with social media might just be the way to do it. On top of this, it might be a great way to start offering services that are paid for through its Google Checkout service. This service has so far failed to significantly dent Paypal’s iron grip on the payment market. Who’d of thought little old Zynga might provide Google with ammo for fighting the ever-mightier Facebook?

Facebook may well be the biggest thing online since x-rated content, but reports of an equally inappropriate nature are being addressed by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop). Until today Facebook were unwilling to cooperate with the agency over the inclusion of a panic button, insisting instead that it’s own reporting system is adequate. However, the Ceop received between 250 and 300 complaints from January to March this year from worried parents who were unable to get the matter deal with through to the social media giant. It is estimated that 40% of these complaints related to potential online grooming of children.

Facebook

Facebook’s dedication to the wellbeing of it’s members has been under scrutiny on more than one occasion, and as much as everyone realises that Facebook has to act in its own interests for the purpose of profits, it’s also been highlighted that it should do more for the loyal throng of followers. The rejection by the company to implement a free application that will serve only to benefit its users does not reflect the attitude of a company looking after its members. After the Ceops report whereby Facebook had to aknowledge that its own system failed so many members, it was impossible to reject the proposal, although there is still some debate over whether or not it is the right course of action to take.

Social Media

Many members of the public believe that social media providers should take more responsibility for the welfare of its members, especially after reports claim that Facebook’s system proved ineffective for so many. It became apparent that it took far too long to get offensive, abusive and bullying content removed from profile pages, and that until the matter was addressed there was no form of support for sufferers and their families, which all other social media sites offer. Although the addition of a panic button will give instant access to experts that can help with matters relating to grooming and potential sexual abuse, many parents and users themselves are saying that it is cyber bullying that needs to be addressed. With up to 50% of all reports filed to Facebook believed to be associated with bullying, one can only hope that it’s internal reporting system is going to improved too.

Social networking behemoth Facebook have their fingers in a lot of pies; aside from becoming the most visited site on the internet, their applications are available on almost every conceivable mobile device and now they’re taking a stab at the real world.

They have partnered with the micropayment group MOL to make their virtual currency known as Facebook Credits available in retailers throughout Australia and Asia. They can either be exchanged for cash/ credit card MOL’s own MOLPoints later down the line. There are further plans afoot for these virtual currencies throughout these markets as well.

Internet Marketing

Taking virtual currency out of the purely online field is certainly an interesting move. It’s not the first time that it’s happened of course; eBay is filled with a legion of video-game related ‘perks’ including levelled-up characters in World of Warcraft to custom-designed cars for a number of racing games. It’s also easy to see why the Australian and especially Asian markets are the first targets for this – these countries tend to rely more on pre-pay cards than credit cards for online transactions. In light of this and the MOL partnership, it should make things easier for members to buy Facebook Credits and thus put more profit into the social network’s pockets.

There can be no doubt that when it comes to online marketing, Amazon are one of the leaders in the field. Their ability to quickly source and deliver an untold amount of products to consumers makes them one of the leading shopping sites with prices that reflect the lack of overheads.

Grocery shopping on the internet has really taken off with the four major supermarkets all vying for top position. It is a fast and convenient way to get that dull job out of the way and can be done from work in a lunch break or at three in the morning if you can’t  sleep. It is a totally convenient and relatively stress free way to shop and the main websites are all pretty much user friendly and quick. Tesco has by far taken the lead with internet grocery shopping but that may soon all change.

Amazon have now set up their own grocery shopping site servicing the UK. They are already established in the US and Germany and currently have 22,000 products for sale although they plan to increase this. Of course, Tesco and the other leading names all stock far more so why would people opt for Amazon grocery shopping?

Well, for a start, just how much choice do you need? Amazon have all the basics and many big names who have become dis-satisfied with the way they have been treated by the big stores. Pampers, Walkers, Nestle and Kraft all intend to supply Amazon with their products for selling online.

There is also the added advantage that Amazon are able to source grocery products that are a little more ‘niche’ where it doesn’t pay the larger supermarkets to do so. A good choice of gluten free, Kosher, organic, sugar free and vegan ranges are available as are more specialist meats such as pheasant and partridge and a fantastic choice of cheeses that you wouldn’t find in your average supermarket. This is where they will find a wider market that might just encourage shoppers to keep returning. Add to this their more efficient delivery service being a ‘one day’ service which is unlimited for a £49 annual membership and they’re onto a winner! Tesco  charge up to £6 for a delivery at peak times – if you take this option every week you could be looking at over £300 per year just for delivery and, at it’s cheapest slot, it would still cost three times that of Amazon.

With a more diverse range of products and better delivery schedule and cost, Amazon must really be putting the cat among the pheasants, so to speak.

It seems as though Google are making local search a more import feature in SERPs. In the US the Google Map has been moved to the right hand column and it now follows the user when scrolling down the page. This could have major implications on internet marketing strategies, as it makes local results more prominent, and pushes down the paid ads. It is not yet certain however if this feature will be rolled out to the rest of the world, or whether Google is just testing a new layout.

Internet Marketing

If Google does plan to make these changes permanent, internet marketing campaigns will need to integrate local search with organic SEO and paid search to achieve a high listing. The results of the testing as noticed by eMarketing consultant Linda Buquet, are that the results are a better balance and blend of relevancy, and do not favour any one optimisation strategy. However, if a business has localised search phrases, this could offer the perfect internet marketing opportunity to capitalise on those search terms.

Local Search

The floating map allows more organic listings to appear above the fold and therefore allow businesses with a localised search interest to concentrate less on headterms and instead focus on optimising for phrases that will boost the relevancy in local search. The new layout also makes reviews a more prominent feature, which in itself could signify the changes are being made to meet the increasing demand of mobile search as Androids and iPhones become an ever more popular platform for browsing the internet.