Handpicked Search Industry Headlines And Posts
Issue #079: Local Search Ads
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"Understanding Internet Search Technology"
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July 25, 2006 SearchReturn Issue #079
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.....IN THIS DIGEST.....
// -- FEATURED POST -- //
"Local Search Ads"
~ Kathryn Martyn
// -- CONTINUING DISCUSSION -- //
"Gangs Of Clicksters"
~ Ivan Jimenez
"Server Response"
~ Anonymous Comment
// -- ESSENTIAL NEWS -- //
"Excellent Google Earnings"
"Click Fraud Settlement Objections"
"HP Pre-Configures Baidu"
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// -- FEATURED POST -- //
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==> Local Search Ads
"Local.com has added people search features powered by Whitepages
which includes 92 million records of residential listings"
From: Kathryn Martyn
I think Local.com has a long way to go to generate much interest
in the average surfer. I tried something general, dentist, in
Vancouver, Washington which is where I live. I got first the
notice that Firefox had preveted a popup -- don't know what it
was, I generally don't bother to see, then there is "Sponsor
Links" which if I didn't have a high resolution would take most
of my screen. Many users would never scroll below that point.
Next comes an ad block with "featured sponsors," none being in
Vancouver, Washington, so I'm thinking, this isn't very good.
Only then do I realize that my actual results have yet to come...
I see this as very boring and time consuming to wade through
countless ads to get to the real results.
Next we have three results listings and then more ads. This site
isn't one I'd return to. Too many ads, not relevant results near
the top of the page, etc.
The reason Google became so popular was they had no ads
whatsoever for quite a few years. It was plain jane all the way
and people liked it. Now, they have introduced ads at the top but
it's usually only two, not block after block after block.
I love the idea of local search but I don't want to see ads all
over it as they are rarely relevant to my search so they just
frustrate me. Any other opinions on this?
Kathryn
Kathryn Martyn Smith, M.NLP
Ending Emotional Eating, One Bite at a Time
http://www.OneMoreBite-Weightloss.com
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// -- CONTINUING DISCUSSION -- //
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==> Gangs Of Clicksters
"Underground gangs of clicksters are profiting by a notion of the
Paid To Read (PTR) phenomenon. The profits are split between the
publisher and organized gangs of Web users who even have
discussion forums about what they're up to."
From: Ivan Jimenez
This is exactly why I do not promote Google's pay per click
program for advertisers. As a publisher, Google really hit the
nail on the head as only they could but as far as advertising
solutions go, Overture is a safer bet thanks to tougher affiliate
/ partner guidelines and what seems to be a stricter stance
against click fraud.
...not eagerly awaiting the day all search becomes paid search.
--
Ivan Jimenez
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==> Server Response
Quote:
-scale_prvec4_to_prvec
Guess: PageRank Vector directives, possibly normalizing at PR4.
SearchReturn Comment: vec4 in a graphics context would mean "4
dimensional vector", which seems more likely than PR4. Scale
would be the graphics meaning of the word.
You might be interested in: http://ofb.net/~wtanaka/node/221
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// -- ESSENTIAL NEWS -- //
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==> Excellent Google Earnings
http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/060720-165222
Essentials: Google reported excellent earnings news with revenue
of $2.46 billion last quarter. Google's one weakness is that they
earn virtually all their revenue from AdWords. This means their
revenue is virtually wholly dependent upon traffic to Google and
their search ad network partners.
Google captures the largest share of dollars spent on search
marketing, and these earnings are mighty impressive. Microsoft is
certainly paying attention. It's especially obvious when
Microsoft executives comment "it's not far off that we're going
to have 100 percent of our business on AdCenter."
Google currently defines the user friendly search marketing
interface, and all other players including Microsoft and Yahoo!
remain far behind. Microsoft's AdCenter does not work with
Firefox, and Yahoo! recently announced a delay of their updated
Search Marketing Center.
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==> Click Fraud Settlement Objections
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,205192,00.html
Essentials: Objections in the Google settlement of the class
action brought by Lane's Gifts and Collectibles are under
consideration yesterday and today. The urgency that this is
considered now, is because it is imperative under the settlement
that advertisers prove their case by estimating the level of
their fraud, and argue for their share of the settlement credit.
Although Google attorneys are saying the settlement is "fair,"
the burden of proof lies with advertisers, and the settlement is
for credits - not a cash refund - on the purchase of future
advertising. The likely outcome of this case is that the judge
will approve the settlement, the attorneys in the case will get
paid and advertisers will either get a paltry credit or nothing
when they neglect to file in time. The deadline is August 4.
File here: http://www.clicksettlement.com
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==> HP Pre-Configures Baidu
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=33241
Essentials: Microsoft recently announced that with Vista, OEMs
can pre-configure any search engine (including competing search
engine Google) on their systems and users can alter the
preference any way they like. In one of the first OEM deals after
this announcement, HP struck a deal with Chinese search engine
Baidu. Baidu is the current search engine leader in China.
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