Technology News

While Google Buzzes, Bing Makes Deals

February 12th, 2010 by Kasi

There has been so much “buzz” about Google Buzz, and the 100 other things Google launches every week, I’ve been wondering what Bing has been up to lately. I’ve seen various blog posts and comments from people stating they are becoming less endeared to Google due to all the new features they’ve introduced into the SERPs (such as the real time results) and that Bing may becoming a more viable option for search. With this in mind, I found some very interesting Bing developments in its quest to steal some search market share from the almighty Google.

Bing Provides Facebook Web Search Results

Did anyone else notice that the new Facebook layout now displays the Search box at the top of every page you’re on? Kind of like a search engine, no? But that’s a topic for a whole different post. For now, check out the “Web Results” for a search I did in Facebook on Google Buzz:

Yep, Bing’s search deal with Facebook allows it to power the web portion of all searches people type into the social networking site. Plus, when you click to the next page for more web search results, the top of the page says “Find more Web Results on Bing.com“. This could definitely result in an increased search volume for Bing if Facebook really starts emphasizing the search feature.

Bing + iPhone

It’s rumored that Apple will make Bing the default search engine on the iPhone with its next software update, replacing Google. Apple and Google used to get along and play nice, but now they are competing in the same markets (phones, browsers, operating systems, etc). If the deal goes through, Bing will start covering some ground in the mobile search area as well. Obviously, it’s not going to oust Google from the top spot, but it would take a nice bite out of the search numbers if this comes to fruition.

Microsoft-Yahoo Search Deal Finalized

The news dropped in July 2009 that Yahoo will be ditching its search technology in favor of Bing’s. What does that mean exactly? You will still be able to go to Yahoo.com and do a search, but the results returned to you will be provided by Bing. Essentially, Yahoo and Bing will have become one and Bing will be the #2 search engine in the game. The two companies finally came to terms with exactly what the deal will encompass back in December. The only thing left is an investigation by the US Department of Justice, which is mandated when two businesses strike a deal of this nature. Microsoft and Yahoo don’t anticipate any problems with the review and are hoping to make it all official in the first quarter of this year.

I do not believe that Bing will ever be numero uno when it comes to search engines, but Microsoft is not letting any opportunities go to waste. If Bing is the default search on the iPhone (and it’s already the default on various non-Droid Verizon phones), it could potentially start cutting similar deals (Firefox maybe?) and really start to put some heat on Google. And why not? I think it’s nice to see some healthy competition and give searchers some different options.

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Posted in Google, Internet Marketing, Microsoft, Organic Search (SEO)

Skipping Animated Introductions

January 27th, 2010 by Kyle

In a day and age where online users devour information at an alarming rate, it makes little sense to keep the beast from the feast. One of these obstacles keeping users (especially B2B’s) from accessing important information is the flash introduction page.

You know…those fancy animated movies when you get to a website that were a GREAT idea in 1998 before any of us really knew how to leverage a website as a marketing tool? If you’re not selling the hot new product that all the young kids love, a Animated Flash intros have got to go.

Even Google has a system to detect Flash intro pages and SKIP them in search results! What does this say about Flash animated introductions? It says “I have become such an annoyance to usability that corporations are developing options to bypass visual presentation to get to my content.” This immediately classifies this situation as a bad practice. This is just another way Google is changing the way businesses market themselves online.

In the B2B environment where you are trying to convert visitors into partnerships and sales leads, there needs to be a strategic way to make graphic presentation compliment your valuable content. This strategy is not executed using animated loading spinning globes, “techie” styled designs and running water.

Effective ways to use flash within your online marketing strategy :

Create a low file size, animated header with key points and calls to action within the top 1/3rd of your index page.
Relocate those creative animations within a product demo or tutorial as a segue between scenes or talking points.
Integrate animation within a call to action piece for user conversion.

Navigation and usability is important. The user wants to be in control of what they can and cannot view. Failure to provide that freedom can lead to an increase in bounce rate. If a simple 20 second animation is getting in the way of a user and your contact form or buying decision, you have potentially lost a valuable networking opportunity or sales lead.

Use design to compliment, not complicate!

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Posted in Google, Web Development

What Are You Supposed to DO With Google Wave? Collaborate

January 20th, 2010 by Amanda

Photo credit: The talented Mr. Natty Graham

Google Wave was announced back in May of 2009 (eons ago) and then we all waited for our invites with anticipation. Then we waited some more and we heard about other people that got them. Fits of jealousy came over us like the kid who got the lame doll while their neighbor got the whole He-Man Castle Grey Skull and you had to sit and listen to how cool it was, but I digress…

Then FINALLY you get your invitation! You login and… what the heck are you supposed to do with this thing?

The nice people at Google have described Google Wave as an ‘online collaboration tool’. Ok? Cool. So… now what am I supposed to do? The interface is confusing, there is no step by step ‘get me started button’ so what do I do?

My Google Wave experience started with a dozen or so of my geek friends (I mean that in the nicest way possible) starting waves that were titled:

‘You figure this thing out yet?’
‘You doing much with Wave yet?’
‘How does this work?’
and then just silence for a few months.

As time passed, my Google Wave collected dust until I found a project that fit with what Google Wave was created for: collaboration

Collaboration Waves

Here is a thought: We didn’t know we NEEDED the iPhone until after it came out. Now I am concerned I would not be able to live without mine. I didn’t know I needed the functionality of Google Wave until months later. We are in a world with less business meetings and more GoToMeetings, less phone calls and more emails, less internal emails and more Instant Messaging et al., perhaps we (some of us) needed an online tool that was 100% a joint effort and in real time.

Do you use Google Docs? It is a little like that but in real time.

What does it do?

Real time conversation – As you type (no really, like AS you type) the people in your wave can see your text. You can edit and add notes to parts of the conversation. I only know my experience, but I have heard that this interaction is one step ahead of email in prioritization but the response does not need to be immediate if you don’t want it to be.
One Example: – Imagine taking notes in a meeting but everyone can add to them. Add comments or links for more information and then everyone has access to the meeting notes after the meeting is over.

Another Example: – Ever have a group email going to multiple decision makers? Some people on the email are right on top of replying back quickly and you continue a big back and forth. Then someone else replies to an email from hours ago answering a question you resolved this morning. With Google Wave it is all documented in order and you can go back and answer a question from hours ago or get right back in on where the conversation last left off.
Images and Documents – As you build your content you can easily add documents, photos, even video and maps to your wave. As necessary, you can send these files and resources to your team in less time than it would take to email it to them.
One Example: – When planning an event, the organizers can share all their resources like maps to the event, photos of the location or attendees and so much more.
Document the process: – When collaborating on a document sometimes we loose how we got to the final product in the first place. With Google Wave you can have a record of how you got to the end result.
One example: – Putting together an eBook or a real book? Perhaps some of your good content was left on the cutting room floor? Now you have it documented in a place you can refer to at anytime to make a sequel or Part II.

Another idea: some of my favorite parts of movies are the outtakes. Maybe your content outtakes could be fun and useful as well.
Organize by Content – Not only can you organize your collaboration by time of posts but you can make offshoots of your waves by topic and keep organized that way. Example: – Working on a book or eBook again? You can organize your thoughts and resources by chapter and not just in one stream.

I still don’t get it

Photo credit: The talented Mr. Natty Graham

Good news! You don’t have to! Just because a new form of technology comes out does not mean you have to be an expert in it. Perhaps if this makes no sense to you, that is because you aren’t in the target market for Google Wave. Nothing wrong with that.

If you think you can work just fine with email, the phone, IM, Google docs etc. then go for it. Nothing wrong with that either.

I do think it is important for you to get an understanding of what you CAN do with Google Wave and if down the road you see a collaboration opportunity that could use these features, you know where to go.

Now that you perhaps have a little bit more of an understanding, I hope that takes some pressure off if you weren’t amazed with Google Wave.

Need more information to form an opinion?

Here are some more resources and opinions on Google Wave if you want to know more:

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Posted in Business Strategy, Google, Social Network Marketing

Dec. 24 – Track Santa Online!

December 24th, 2009 by Kasi

This is an entry in our daily Internet Marketing Advent Calendar series. Each day your favorite marketing elves Kasi and Amanda will focus on a new topic to get your internet marketing in order before the start of the new year.

Back when I was a kid, the internet wasn’t around. I mean, it had been developed and all that, but it wasn’t accessible to us “regular” folks yet. So, aside from a newscast here or there about his whereabouts, I just had to believe that he would make it to my house that night. I couldn’t obsessively see where he had already visited and track his path.

Kids today are so lucky! Now, just by doing a simple search, they can find tons of Santa Trackers at their disposal! When I typed “Santa Claus” into Bing and Google, it actually suggested “Santa Claus tracker”. Check out some of these cool sites and enjoy!

Santa Update

NORAD Tracks Santa

Santa Radar

I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Thank you so much for tuning in this month to our Internet Marketing Advent Calendar.

Read the rest of the Internet Marketing Advent Calendar