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Issue #018: Click-to-Call
----------------------------------------------------------------- SearchReturn Discussion List "Understanding Internet Search Technology" ----------------------------------------------------------------- Moderator: Published by: Disa Johnson SearchReturn http://www.searchreturn.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- November 22, 2005 Issue #018 ----------------------------------------------------------------- SEND POSTS: ----------------------------------------------------------------- Refer a friend: http://www.searchreturn.com/subscribe.shtml ----------------------------------------------------------------- .....IN THIS DIGEST..... // -- ESSENTIAL NEWS -- // "Google Click-to-Call" "Google Fantasy" "TiVo Does Search Advertising" "Danny Has Suggestions for Matt" "WebmasterWorld Robot Ban" "Online Holiday Sales Up" "Google Online Agency" ----------------------------------------------------------------- // -- ESSENTIAL NEWS -- // ----------------------------------------------------------------- ==> Google Click-to-Call http://blogs.zdnet.com/Google/?p=38 Essentials: Google is testing a way to connect advertisers with search users. When a phone icon appears in AdWords listings, a search user can click it to supply their phone number. Google will call the user and connect them with the advertiser. No calling costs are incurred unless a mobile carrier is involved. As the reference suggests, the partnership may include AOL. If true, it means the pay-per-call component could be powered by Ingenio. Ingenio's strength lies in mass appeal to local advertisers. Pay-per-call advertisers do not even need a website. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ==> Google Fantasy http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20051124.html Essentials: Robert Cringley adds to his unfolding fantasy about what Google's plans are. With his usual witty remarks on fact, mixed with grand vision, (some of which may actually play out in reality), noteworthy items include a Google "box" that connects home electronics devices. The Google datacenter also goes mobile, housed in shipping containers fully deployable as a secondary Internet. Dark fiber comes to life in this dream. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ==> TiVo Does Search Advertising http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/051128-124437 Essentials: TiVo has shown their users consume a little more television than non-users. TiVo users are exposed to more advertising, and ads can still brand users who skip ads with images that are seen despite fast forwarding. TiVo is a connected device, and therein lies its real strength. If TiVo encourages users to select their advertising, shouldn't TiVo insert a user's choices into slots during regular programming? Wouldn't users be inclined to watch full length advertising again? What would you pay for keywords in a Sponsored Listing program for TiVo? ----------------------------------------------------------------- ==> Danny Has Suggestions for Matt http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/051128-142010 Essentials: Matt Cutts blogs some funny findings in his quest to squash search engine spam. Illuminating the double standard, Danny points out that spammers can always just advertise with Google AdWords. It's not perfect, but Yahoo! has an editorial process that limits spam advertising. The beta MSN AdCenter subjects advertisers to editorial review before publishing ads too. If Google sells spam advertising, then regretful users do not have "a great explanation for a reinclusion request." Will Google ever turn away the revenue, or will they keep leading search users to spam and look the other way? ----------------------------------------------------------------- ==> WebmasterWorld Robot Ban http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/051128-161606 Essentials: In a tough call, Brett decided to ban all robots from WebmasterWorld. There were large numbers of pages indexed, which quickly dropped to near nothing. Search traffic must have plummeted, but great user loyalty guarantees Brett long lasting post activity. Among the reasons for his ban is difficulty with managing a large number of robots, and distinguishing their IPs. We think he might have held onto the big engines so users can access pages in the manner they are used to, (search at WMW is not currently effective, and users prefer to use search engines for locating topics at the site), and we wish Brett the best with his efforts to regain the control he desires. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ==> Online Holiday Sales Up http://www.searchreturn.com/digest/refs018.shtml Essentials: Thirty-two percent jump in online sales over last year, comprising 7.7% of total Visa sales in the two days following Thanksgiving. The US Holiday shopping season is expected to peak earlier than normal, due to merchants expecting lower overall spending. Many believe high consumer debt will limit sales in a climate of high-priced petrol. Merchants will use promotions early to attract spending before it subsides. This can help online sales, where the price of petrol has little to do with consumer behavior, and gifts can be shipped directly. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ==> Google Online Agency http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/051125-094530 Essentials: Google is looking at a hiring area that appears to support serious comittment to print advertising sales. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Alternate formats: http://www.searchreturn.com/info-formats.shtml Essential Headlines: http://www.searchreturn.com/newsworthy.shtml Archives: http://www.searchreturn.com/digest-archive.shtml Manage Subscriptions: http://www.searchreturn.com/help/manage-subs.shtml Problems unsubscribing? Contact the postmaster: mailto:postmaster@searchreturn.com Information on how to sponsor this publication: http://www.searchreturn.com/help/advertise.shtml Published by SearchReturn http://www.searchreturn.com Website Membership: http://www.searchreturn.com/register.shtml The contents of the digest do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SearchReturn or Disa Johnson. SearchReturn and Disa Johnson make no warranties, either expressed or implied, about the truth or accuracy of the contents of the SearchReturn Digest. Copyright 2005 Disa Johnson. All Rights Reserved. -----------------------------------------------------------------