SEOByLOG

'Doing Search' Only Counts If You're Seen

by Gord Hotchkiss, Thursday, June 28, 2007

I'M NOT MAKING ANY FRIENDS with Ontario Tourism. Two weeks ago I said in this column they weren't using search. I was quickly corrected by the tourist bureau's Nick Pedota, who told me my claim was "wildly inaccurate" and that Ontario Tourism in fact has "an extensive search program." But based on the following searches I did while in Toronto, Ontario Tourism didn't show for: Ontario vacations, Ontario resorts, Toronto vacations, Ontario getaways and Ontario holidays. According to Google Trends' keyword research tool, these are the most common searches for Ontario, by a substantial margin.

If You're Not Seen, You're Not Doing Search

Here's the reality of search marketing. It's one thing to say "we're doing search" internally -- and it's a totally different thing to have the searcher realize that yes, you're doing search. The smart thing to do here would be to give Pedota and Ontario Tourism the retraction they're looking for and say I made a mistake (which I did). But this proves too good an example of the disconnect I see all the time; managing a search campaign to budgets, not objectives. I stand by my original claim: Canadian advertisers aren't clueing into the power of search.

Nick wasn't really in a mood to share many details of the bureau's campaign, but he did share that they're were bidding on thousands of "targeted keyphrases" and were using heavy geo-targeting to focus on their prime markets (Ontario and the border states). He said that's simply "smart marketing". I can't disagree. It makes sense to target in on your best clicks first, especially if budgets are limited.

Where's the Money Going?

But in this case, are budgets really limited? Let me share some things I was able to dig up on Ontario Tourism's site. First of all, the tourist bureau is doing print (lots of print) and TV (lots of TV). The goal? To drive people to its Web site. Full-page 4-color ads are running multiple times in over 70 dailies and weekly newspapers and 9 magazines. One 4-color full-page ad in the Toronto Star would run about $54,000 (there's a certain amount of guessing here, as print rate cards are really a mathematical exercise in confusion and frustration). Circulation of the Toronto Star is 350,000 (on an average day). An excellent conversion rate for a newspaper ad would be 0.5% That means, ideally, 1,750 people would actually visit the Ontario Tourism website. Now, I have never in my life seen a newspaper ad convert this well, but even if it did, that would be a cost per visitor of $30.85. If the ad doesn't work that well, the average cost climbs dramatically. And you pay whether or not the ad works.

What People Actually Use

Now, courtesy Yahoo Canada and a recent survey, let's look at what actual travelers cite as the most important influencers in making travel plans. Search and Web sites are tied for number one and two, used by 51% of respondents in a recent survey. Newspapers and print? Only used by 7%. But yet, only 2.1% of Canadian ad budgets get spent on search, and 42% gets spent on newspapers and magazines. I couldn't get any specific percentages for Ontario Tourism, but one only has to look at their campaign page to see that search is very likely getting only a fraction of what's going to newspapers and magazines. And don't even get me started on the TV buys.

The Search Story

So, where is Ontario Tourism in the search results? As Pedota shared, they're only geo-targeting the prime markets, and then only for a 3-month period (April through June). Only 1 of the 7 highest traffic key phrases I found (using an Ontario IP) returned an ad or an organic listing for Ontario Travel (the site also hasn't been organically optimized). More specific phrases, like Ontario Summer Vacations or Ontario Wine Getaways, did return more ads.

But by bidding on specific phrases (even thousand of "long tail" ones) and not on the more popular ones, Ontario Tourism is catching less than 10% of all the people using search to plan a vacation in Ontario. And unless you're in the top-sponsored ad locations (which few of the ads I saw were) you're actually only being seen by a small percentage of those searchers (usually 10% to 30% of them) on the results pages you do appear on. So, according to 97 out of 100 people who are using search to find the official site for Ontario Tourism, the tourism bureau is not "doing search." By the way, you could maintain top spot in Google and Yahoo for all the top traffic phrases for less than $2 per visitor. Remember, that ad in the Toronto Star cost, at a minimum, 15 times that!

Again, let's recap. What's the purpose of the campaign? To drive people to the Web site. And not just any one -- THE official Web site of Ontario Tourism, the site most people are looking for on these key phrases.

And You're Spending Your Money Where?

Is it really "smarter" to ignore 97% of the people who are actively searching online to find you, so you can spend more money running ads in newspapers for the 99.5% of people who have no interest in your site at all? And the real irony here is that if people don't click on a search ad, you don't pay! Take a fraction of that budget from the Toronto Star and blow out the geo-targeting and time parameters and go for the high-traffic phrases. After all, there might be people in Saskatchewan or Nova Scotia that are planning a trip to Ontario. Or, perhaps they're planning their trip in September, or February. If not, it's not costing you anything. Try getting the Toronto Star to offer the same pricing model!

Is this really smarter marketing? You decide. The readership of this column includes some of the smartest marketers on the planet. Blog about this and give me your opinion. Maybe I'm missing something, but I've decided I shouldn't apologize for trying to get advertisers to spend money more effectively. After all, in this case, it's really our money they're spending. At least, it would be if I were an Ontario taxpayer. Something tells me after this column, it might be a good thing I live 2000 miles away. As I said, I'm not making any friends in Ontario.

Post your response to the public Search Insider blog.

Gord Hotchkiss is the president of Enquiro, a search engine marketing firm. He loves to explore the strategic side of search and is a frequent speaker at Search Engine Strategies and Ad:Tech. Check out his blog at http://www.OutOfMyGord.com

Search Insider for Thursday, June 28, 2007: http://publications.mediapost.com

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Our directory just got the following four submissions from an IP address located in the Ukraine, which just happens to be where the software company that produces WEB CEO Web Site Promotion Software is located:

Title:
Web CEO - Web Site Promotion Software

Description:
Web Promotion Software for Keyword Research, Search Engine Optimization, Search Engine Submission, Ranking Check, Link Exchange, and Traffic Analysis

Keywords:
web site promotion search engine marketing website management web traffic analysis search engine optimization

Category: 74

GoogleBay, Or EGoogle?

by Mark Simon, Monday, June 25, 2007
AS OF TODAY, EBAY WILL be turning its search ads on within Google -- ending a spat between Google and one of its largest advertisers that's drawn comparisons to a lover's quarrel.

But while the ad standoff may be over, the rivalry has really just begun. EBay and Google, after all, are starting to look more alike every day, and they're headed towards a very similar future. And as their turf continues to overlap, we'll see the eBay-Google spat as a lot more than a tiff -- we'll recognize it for the opening volley in the next great Internet war.

A quick comparison of where Google and eBay are headed will show you what I mean.

Google, the eTail Platform

The first point to consider is that search advertising programs aren't true advertising programs. They're platforms that connect buyers with sellers. Buyers request products or services, and they're shown suppliers who can fulfill those needs. Which suppliers are matched with a buyer is determined, largely, by auction.

And Google's Pay-Per-Action program pulls ads still further away from what we traditionally think of as ads. By driving a particular interaction with the advertiser's business -- be it an e-mail signup or even a sale -- Pay-Per-Action is closer to a shopping cart service or a CRM system than it is to an ad system. Ads tell buyers about businesses; Pay-Per-Action ads live, at least partially, within the businesses themselves.

Currently, Pay-Per-Action lives within Google's content network, not on Google Search. But the program is expanding: last week, Google launched Pay-Per-Action in 24 languages. Expect to see Pay-Per-Action on Google SERPs within the next two years.

Finally, Google Checkout -- Google's payment system and PayPal competitor -- allows Google to serve as the system through which businesses collect payments.

When you add it all up, you get the following picture: Google is a service that uses auctions to match buyers and sellers, and which creates an environment allowing an entire transaction to happen -- from initial contact to final payment. Which, to me, sounds a lot like eBay.

EBay, the Search Engine

If Google is becoming eBay, the same can be said in reverse: EBay is becoming Google.

EBay, at its core, is really a product search engine. Whatever you're looking to buy, you can find it in eBay's site search feature. A visit to eBay.com even places your cursor within the eBay search bar immediately.

Over the coming months, look for eBay to become still more like a typical engine. While eBay currently features search results based on auctions' expiration times, Bog Tedeschi reports in The New York Times that eBay is looking to deliver relevancy-based search listings, based "in part by how well sellers have been rated by other buyers."

Once eBay acts more like a typical, relevancy-based search engine, eBay -- not Google -- may become the new leader in the product search sphere. Google may stay far ahead in share of searches, but eBay has the power to gain far more conversions per search than even Google can. And it's conversions, not searches, that ultimately earn money for search businesses.

The Two Futures are the Same

It's not just that Google is turning into eBay, and vice-versa. Both companies are headed to a collision course in the new horizon of auction-based advertising.

Google's realized that, if it can sell one type of advertising in an auction, it can do the same with many other types of ads -- including print and radio. EBay, for its part, understands that advertising has become a new commodity, which means that eBay can sell advertising through auction just as it sells nearly every other commodity imaginable through auctions. Enter the eBay Media Marketplace, eBay's auction marketplace for buying and selling traditional ad inventory.

The Future is the Environment

Taken together, all of this spells a very different future for the business of search. If Google and eBay continue on their current course, the search business won't just focus on ads: it will be a business of automated sales environments, in which auctions serve as the gateways, but those environments reach every touchpoint from initial contact to sale.

As the current leader in search and auction-based advertising, Google clearly has an advantage in that future. But eBay is the leader in auction-based business environments, so don't rule it out.

Indeed, eBay is already giving Google a real challenge. The eBay Media Marketplace -- created at the request of major advertisers like Wal-Mart and Toyota -- already has a TV network partner in Oxygen. Google, meanwhile, is still talking about entering the TV business as a long-term dream. So whoever wins, both eBay and Google are in for a long, hard slog.

In its pro-Checkout "Let Freedom Ring" party, Google borrowed symbolism from the American Revolution to challenge eBay. By comparing eBay v. Google to armed conflict, Google may have hit closer to the mark than it realized. Google must have sensed that both parties are in for a long, hard slog.

Correction: Friday's Search Insider incorrectly stated the number of people in the U.S. who are members of a racial or ethnic minority. It is actually a bit more than 100 million, not 300 million.

Mark Simon is vice president of industry relations at Did-it, an agency for search engine marketing and auctioned media management based in New York. You can reach Mark at msimon@did-it.com. 

Search Insider for Monday, June 25, 2007: http://publications.mediapost.com
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Special rate is available for a limited time for the Denver, October 2007 conference focusing on local search and mobile search marketing; Peter Horan, CEO of IAC Media & Advertising will deliver keynote

Redding, CT (PRWEB) June 22, 2007 -- Search Marketing Expo - SMX Local & Mobile opened registration and announced its keynote speaker for this October 2007 conference.

SMX Local & Mobile is part of a series of conferences hosted by Search Engine Land. Conference co-chairs are Chris Sherman, executive editor, and Greg Sterling, Local & Mobile correspondent.

Peter Horan, CEO of IAC Media & Advertising, will deliver the keynote speech at the conference, which will be held at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center in Denver, October 1 & 2. Horan is responsible for the strategic growth of the IAC's Media & Advertising sector, which is comprised of local search leader Citysearch, IAC Search & Media businesses Ask.com, IAC Advertising Solutions and IAC Consumer Applications & Portals, and Evite.

Registration is open and seats are limited. A special introductory rate of $995 is now available at a $400 savings off the on-site rate. Thereafter, the price will increase to the full conference rate of $1,395 in stages. Individuals interested in taking advantage of the special rate can register at SMX Local & Mobile

"SMX Local & Mobile will focus on tactical solutions for marketers looking to learn more about how local and mobile search marketing affects their business," said Sterling.

Local and mobile search promises to be the next significant opportunity for interactive marketers. Predictions vary, but the consensus is that the market will support more than $8 billion in ad spending by 2010.

SMX Local & Mobile is a two-day conference with two session tracks each day. Sessions include:
•Community-Driven Local Search
•Managing a Local/Mobile SEM Campaign
•Pay-Per Call Ads: Living up to the Promise
•SEO Best Practices for Mobile Search
….and more

A complete agenda is available here: SMX Local & Mobile Agenda

Companies wishing to participate in Search Marketing Expo - SMX Local & Mobile as exhibitors and sponsors should contact Sean Moriarty at (203) 536-4004.

About Search Marketing Expo and Third Door Media:
Search Marketing Expo is produced by Third Door Media, Inc. Third Door Media's mission is to empower interactive and search marketing professionals by providing trusted content and community services they need to be successful.

Other Third Door Media properties are the fast-growing search marketing news and analysis site Search Engine Land, which launched in December 2006 and attracted more than 245,000 unique users in May 2007. The company also produces Search Marketing Now, a lead-generation marketing solution for suppliers of SEM-related products and services.

##\#

Press Contact: Claire Schoen
Company Name: Third Door Media, Inc.
Phone: (203) 664 1350
Website: www.searchmarketingexpo.com

Mozeo has fully integrated mobile advertising into their text messaging services and offerings.

Syracuse, NY (PRWEB) June 5, 2007 -- Mozeo has fully integrated mobile advertising into their text messaging services and offerings. Mozeo is becoming one of the fastest growing mobile communities, and can now enable businesses to tag all Mozeo messages with their direct advertisement. Advertising campaigns can be targeted locally and nationally through the Mozeo network.

With the growth and widespread usage of text messaging, Mozeo is at the forefront of enabling dynamic mobile communication services. Mozeo currently offers two great services on their website Mozeo TxTCast and Mozeo GoGroups. Through Mozeo's TxTCast anyone can create a text message broadcast and send it out to the world. TxTCasts are perfect to promote a band, blog, bar or restaurant, almost anything imaginable. Through Mozeo Go Groups, anyone can reply to everyone, it's the best way to connect directly to a group of friends. When a message is sent, everyone receives it. When someone responds, everyone receives it. People are free to communicate together using simple text messaging.

Now with Mozeo Mobile Advertising, all messages sent can be tagged with a simple ad. It is direct, yet unobtrusive, to get a marketing message across. All tags appear separated from the main message, yet easily readable and always in direct view of the end user. The marketing opportunity created truly enables the mobile phone as a direct medium to touch consumers. The potential of reaching customers directly is now easily and readily available to anyone.

Since the launch of all their services, Mozeo's user community has been on a steady path of growth and success. This growth has a lot to do with Mozeo's services being free of charge, free of spam, and easy to use with no special software or downloads. In addition, all major mobile phone carriers are supported in the United States, making Mozeo a widespread phenomenon.

As more users continue to flock the site, Mozeo is finding a niche in helping businesses, of all sizes, market to their customers. Any business, can create a TxTCast, gather a list, and market to people who want their products. "It's the most direct way for me to keep in touch with my customer base" says Jay Chandley a pizza shop owner in New York City. Now offering mobile advertisements can give any client a full mobile marketing package.

So what's next for this exciting startup? As Business Development Manager, Stacey Jacobs, puts it, "You have not seen anything yet". "Mozeo labs are flourishing with great new ideas that will be launched over the next few months, so stay tuned".

In a world of constant communication and connectivity via the mobile phone, Mozeo is powering mobile lives.    

#/##

Press Contact: Nick Fruscello
Company Name: Mozeo, LLC
Phone: (315) 882-2560
Website: http://www.mozeo.com

Today we took a little visit to Reinvent Technology's web site, the company that is owned by Kevin Ham. We were looking for press releases that we could use on our site as content. We first checked Google and were disappointed to find nothing new and actually a lack of any recent news as well.

We need more content because if it all dries up no one will visit our site and well I'm sure you know how depressing THAT would be...

So while there were no press releases or news there, we did notice that they have a list of domains the company owns and we thought our domainer readers would be interested in knowing what they were.

So here is the list that we found on  http://www.reinvent.com/domains.html: 

3dAnimation.com
AcousticGuitars.com
Actor.com
AdventureJobs.com
AffiliateMarketing.com
Alcohol.com
Alcoholics.com
ArticleFinder.com
AskQuestions.com
Attorney.com
AutoLocater.com
AutoTrading.com
Awning.com
BabyGifts.com
BabyShowerGames.com
Baptism.com
BarbadosRentals.com
BarCodeScanners.com
BargainHotels.com
Be.com
Beat.com
BestFlights.com
BibleCollege.com
BicyleVacations.com
BioChemistry.com
BoardingSchool.com
Bogota.com
BonAppetite.com
BonBon.com
BrainBusters.com
BridalBouquets.com
BridalDresses.com
BudgetVacations.com
BuyAutos.com
CameraPhone.com
CanadaNews.com
Car.net
CarDecals.com
CarDetailing.com
CardScanner.com
CareerPathways.com
CareerTest.com
CarFinancing.com
CarPaint.com
CarpetDealers.com
CarPhone.com
CarRent.com
CashPayDay.com
CellularPhones.com
CheapScooters.com
CheapTires.com
CheapTravel.com
ChildrenGames.com
ClassmateFinder.com
CollectableDolls.com
ColonialHomes.com
Commercials.com
Consolidate.com
CouponSaver.com
CreditRating.com
CreditReportOnline.com
CrossStich.com
CruiseFinder.com
Cycle.com
Cyprus.org
DesignerDresses.com
Diabetic.org
Dialysis.com
DiscountAuto.com
DiscountCruise.com
DiscountVacation.com
Diseases.com
DogBeds.com
DogKennel.com
DownloadRingtones.com
DownloadSongs.com
DreamAnalysis.com
DrugAddictions.com
DvdCovers.com
ElementarySchool.com
Elyrics.com
EmploySearch.com
Eparty.com
Etextbooks.com
Eticket.com
ExpensiveCars.com
ExtremeGames.com
FaxOnline.com
FicaScore.com
FileShare.com
FlightChecker.com
ForceField.com
Francais.com
FreeHost.com
FreeLegalAdvice.com
FreeMusicVideos.com
FreePhoto.com
FreeTones.com
FreeVideo.com
FunnySongs.com
FurnishedApartments.com
FurniturePatio.com
Garnets.com
GeoThermal.com
GoldMarket.com
GolfInFlorida.com
GolfSwings.com
GospelMusic.com
GroupHomes.com
Hairs.com
HawaiianWedding.com
HawaiiVacationHomes.com
HDTV.com
Headstones.com
HealthCareers.com
HermitCrab.com
HooverDam.com
HouseSeeker.com
IncomeFromHome.com
Infertility.com
InkRefills.com
InMotion.com
Innovations.com
Instrumentals.com
InternetStats.com
Investigator.com
InvitationCards.com
Kalahari.com
KidsVacations.com
LaHotels.com
Laptop.com
LastMinuteTravelDeals.com
LasVegasShowTickets.com
LCD.com
LCDprojector.com
LeatherHandbags.com
LivingRooms.com
LoansForBadCredit.com
Lupus.com
MauiVacationHomes.com
MBAdegree.com
MedicalBracelets.com
MedicalCodes.com
MedicalHealth.com
MedicalHelp.com
Medrx.com
MexicoChat.com
MobileHomeParks.com
ModularHome.com
MontegoBay.com
MortgageCalculators.com
Mother.com
MovieSearch.com
MusicShare.com
MyMeds.com
NaturalRemedies.com
NewCellPhones.com
Notebook.com
NowAndForever.com
NurseFinder.com
NY.org
NYC.org
OnlineBanking.com
OnlineCreditReports.com
OnlineCreditReport.com
OrganicWine.com
Orthotics.com
OverSeaJobs.com
PChardware.com
PeopleSearch.com
PersonalChoice.com
Pharmaceutical.com
PhysicianSearch.com
Planetarium.com
PlayGame.com
Preview.com
Proverbs.com
PublicSchools.com
PuppyTraining.com
QAtester.com
RaceCars.com
Rapture.com
Refurbished.com
Religion.com
Reptile.com
ResumeBuilders.com
RoutePlanner.com
SalesTraining.com
SchoolGrants.com
ScooterDepot.com
SlideShows.com
SecondWorldWar.com
ServiceDogs.com
SevenWonders.com
SevenWondersOfTheWorld.com
Sidekicks.com
Sitcom.com
Skateboard.net
Skins.com
Slapshot.com
SlumberParty.com
SoapOpera.com
SongText.com
SpainHoliday.com
Spanish.com
SpanishTeacher.com
SpanishTranslations.com
Spyware.net
StockAnalysis.com
StorageUnits.com
Streetrods.com
StudentCollegeLoan.com
TahoeAccomodations.com
TanningSalons.com
TestEquipment.com
TheHolyBible.com
TimeShare.org
TrailerHomes.com
TrainingDogs.com
TravelFares.com
TravelLastMinute.com
TravelPlanner.com
TravelShop.com
TubalLigation.com
TummyTucks.com
TypeOnline.com
UnclaimedFunds.com
UsedBikes.com
UsedSUV.com
USmail.com
USweather.com
UtahVacations.com
VacationGetaways.com
Vacuum.org
Venture.com
Vest.com
Vids.com
VirtualLibrary.com
WasteContainers.com
WebPageMaker.com
WebStats.com
WeddingGowns.com
WeddingInvitation.com
WeddingShoes.com
Wire.com
WishingWell.com
WorkUniforms.com

I took a look about a dozen of these domains and I was struck by how pedestrian most of the parking pages were. I didn't see that any were what I would consider optimized and I would have expected that the owner would have these puppies humming with really nice templates and some kind of content.

Perhaps they generate so much income as they are that it's not a concern. None that I saw had any Google PageRank either. I did find one site that had a link to actor.com and it looks like the domain used to have a real site at one point...

If it were my domain I'd... "What would you do daddy, what would you do?"
Well, if it was MY domain, I'd... "What would you do daddy, what would you do?"
Smother that domain in Keywords and Wikipedia re-writes,
And host it on my own.

-With Regrets to Zappa Frank "Brown Shoes Dont Make It"

Balihoo Inc., developer of the advertising industry's first and only vertical search engine for advertising media, announced today that it has launched a broad Beta Program involving a group of companies representing more than $25 billion in U.S. media spending annually.

Boise, ID (PRWEB) June 19, 2007 -- Balihoo, developer of the advertising industry's first and only vertical search engine for advertising media, announced today that it has launched a broad Beta Program involving a group of companies representing more than $25 billion in U.S. media spending annually. Participants in the program include media buying firms, advertising agencies and major national advertisers.

The Balihoo search engine enables advertisers and agencies to search for media properties that are most relevant to their advertising campaigns, gather and analyze information about those properties, and interact with media owners to build and execute media plans. Balihoo works across geographies and on any media type including TV, radio, print, interactive and out-of-home.

Balihoo expects the Beta Program to run approximately four weeks, after which the company will review feedback and make any needed modifications to the platform before its highly-anticipated market launch in fall 2007. The Beta Program is starting with a core group of participants, however additional participants will be invited into the program as they sign-up on the Balihoo website. Interested individuals and companies are encouraged to go to the Balihoo website and sign up to be involved in the Beta Program.

"Input from participants in our recently concluded demo trial stage indicates that Balihoo will provide significant time and cost savings to the media buying and planning community," said Pete Gombert, Balihoo's chief executive officer. He continued, "The feedback from the Beta Program will enable us to fine-tune the application and ensure Balihoo is poised to launch in the fall as a ground-breaking application in the advertising media industry."

About Balihoo
Balihoo, based in Boise, Idaho, has developed the advertising industry's first and only vertical search engine. This web-based platform fundamentally changes the media industry landscape by enabling the quick and efficient discovery of best-suited media and advertising opportunities across any medium. With a database that is the world's largest collection of advertising opportunities, Balihoo greatly simplifies the media landscape, helping advertisers and agencies to sort through the massive number of available media properties. The Balihoo search engine lets media buyers zero in on media opportunities based on variables including demographics, geographies, keyword and specific media types… or any combination thereof. For media owners, Balihoo extends the visibility and accessibility of advertising opportunities to drive interest and sales.

###

Press Contact: Shane Vaughan
Company Name: Balihoo
Phone: (208) 629-7520
Website: http://www.balihoo.com/

Looking for Google's Future? You Can Find It On EBay

by Mark Simon, Monday, June 18, 2007

THE GOOGLE worldview is a thoroughly binary one. There are Google users, and then there's everyone else. Google users are treated like royalty. Everyone else is a potential resource for users -- nothing less, and nothing more. That view has made many enemies for the Frienemy over the years. It's also made it the unrivaled information resource on the Web.

But times are changing.

As Google expands far beyond search -- and into a vast array of online and offline businesses, from TV advertising to software applications -- Google will need to think beyond the basic terms of Google services and users. It will need to think in terms of partnerships with a slew of different companies and organizations. To understand how drastic a shift that is, consider last week's spat between Google and eBay.

For a while now, Google has been looking to push Google Checkout, its PayPal competitor, onto the eBay system. In a move to flex its muscles so eBay would pay heed, Google invited eBay Live! conference attendees to a Google party, posted on the Google Checkout blog under the heading "Let Freedom Ring." In that same post, Google referred to the party as "a celebration of user choice." The "choice" here was the choice of different payment systems within eBay -- PayPal or, if Google gets its way, Google Checkout.

EBay was not amused. In retaliation, it pulled all of its monthly $26 million in spend out of Google advertising. Google hurriedly cancelled the party; but the damage was already done. As of this writing, the eBay ads have yet to return to the Google SERP.

The party seemed like an audacious move on Google's part -- but it was largely in keeping with Google's style. In the party invitation, Google presented itself as a solution that gives eBay users more choice. It's the old model of users, with Google's help, up against the rest of the world. It's not so different from the way Google ignores protests of news organizations, book publishers, and the occasional porn provider about Google News, Google Book Search, and Google Image Search (respectively) -- all by arguing that Google is providing a better end-result for search users.

But what Google has failed to grasp is that eBay is different. Google can antagonize news organizations, book publishers, and the adult industry, because it doesn't hold major partnerships with them. But eBay, as Google's largest advertiser until last week, was a true partner. And offending partners doesn't make for good business.

As Google looks to expand its kingdom in both scope and depth across the information universe, partnerships with other businesses will become increasingly important -- and there will be far fewer bridges Google can afford to burn. Consider, for example, how much Google will need to rely on the entertainment industry's help in making good on its $1.6 billion YouTube buy. If it wants to keep YouTube traffic long-term, Google will need the professional content that, in pirated form, currently drives so much of YouTube's viewership. To keep that professional content flowing, Google will need the help of the very Hollywood businesses that it's alienated since buying YouTube last winter.

Even Google's relationship with users themselves is becoming more complex. As Google looks to provide more and better search information, it's also gathering more personal information. As I wrote two weeks ago, the numbers aren't in yet on how comfortable the world is or is not with Google and privacy. But many users are bound to feel that Google is spying on them, and privacy issues will only become more serious as personalized search ramps up, while Google Street View goes full-steam.

The lesson here for Google is that it's not 1998 anymore. Google is no longer leading users as, together, they shape the infant Web into whatever it can become. Google is #241 on the Fortune 500, sells for over $500 a share, and is looking to expand far beyond its unrivaled leadership on a fully-established Internet. Google is no longer the maverick upstart. Google is the establishment.

I, for one, think that's great -- when was the last time such a smart, user-friendly company joined the establishment? But being part of the establishment means that you have a lot more friends to lose, that there are more toes you risk stepping on, and that consumers won't necessarily reward you as a friend -- they'll see you as a corporation providing a service.

And so a decade after it began, Google can't afford to act as a lone player anymore. If it does, we might see a lot more partners than eBay jumping ship.

Mark Simon is vice president of industry relations at Did-it, an agency for search engine marketing and auctioned media management based in New York. You can reach Mark at msimon@did-it.com. 

Search Insider for Monday, June 18, 2007: http://publications.mediapost.com

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eBay Acquires StumbleUpon

San Jose, Calif., May 30, 2007 - eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY) today announced it has acquired StumbleUpon, an early-stage company that helps people discover and share content online, for an aggregate transaction value of approximately $75 million. This acquisition will provide eBay with in-depth exposure to a fast-growing community-based service with approximately 2.3 million users. StumbleUpon gives people a new way to discover relevant and entertaining content based on personal preferences and community recommendations.

"StumbleUpon is a great fit within our goal of pioneering new communities based on commerce and sustained by trust," said, Michael Buhr, senior director, eBay. "StumbleUpon's downloadable toolbar provides an engaging and unique experience to its users, but it is the similarities in our approaches to the concept of community that make it such a compelling addition to eBay."

Driven by word-of-mouth, the StumbleUpon community has grown 150 percent year over year and delivers approximately five million new recommendations a day to its large, highly engaged user base. StumbleUpon allows people to discover Web sites, people, videos, product information, communities and other online content based on personal interests. By allowing its community to rate the content, StumbleUpon gets smarter as it is used and provides an increasing level of relevance over time.

Said Garrett Camp, chief architect and one of three StumbleUpon founders, "We're excited about joining eBay, as we share the same values around community and we look forward to working with them to accelerate our growth."

Buhr will serve as general manager of StumbleUpon effective immediately. StumbleUpon's current founders and management team will remain in their respective positions and will work with Buhr to enhance the user experience, evolve its unique product and grow the community.

eBay does not expect this acquisition to have a material impact on its financial guidance as issued in conjunction with its first quarter earnings release on April 18, 2007.

About StumbleUpon
StumbleUpon helps you discover and share great Web sites and videos. With approximately 2.3 million users and approximately five million recommendations daily, StumbleUpon is one of the most popular new ways to discover content on the Web. The company was founded in 2001 and is based in San Francisco. For more information, visit www.StumbleUpon.com.

About eBay Inc.
Founded in 1995, eBay Inc. connects hundreds of millions of people around the world every day through commerce, delivering fun, engaging and trusted online experiences. We are constantly finding new ways to empower people worldwide to explore, learn, shop, share and talk with each other. Since its inception, eBay Inc. has expanded to include some of the strongest brands in the world, including eBay, PayPal, Skype, Shopping.com, and others. eBay Inc. is headquartered in San Jose, California.

Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding eBay, StumbleUpon and the expected impact of eBay's acquisition of StumbleUpon on eBay's financial guidance. Those statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those discussed. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, risks associated with the reaction of competitors to the transaction, and the possibility that the expected benefits of the acquisition of StumbleUpon may not materialize to the extent expected or at all. More information about potential factors that could impact eBay's business and financial results is included under the captions, "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," in eBay's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2007 which are on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and available at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements are based on information available to eBay on the date hereof, and eBay assumes no obligation to update such statements.

Receivelinks.com, an Internet link exchange network, is offering 500 free points per month for three months to any member who adds a site worth at least 500 points. This is a limited time special offer, and it expires June 30, 2007. Internet business owners who want to optimize their websites and increase traffic and sales will benefit from taking advantage of this free, limited time offer. It's an opportunity to see how receivelinks.com can increase your sales and maximize the income potential of your website or websites.

Benton, AR (PRWEB) June 15, 2007 -- Receivelinks.com, an Internet link exchange network, is offering 500 free points per month for three months to any member who adds a site worth at least 500 points. This is a limited time special offer, and it expires June 30, 2007.

Link building is a search engine optimization tool that drives business to your website. Building link directories by hand is time consuming and tedious, and reciprocal link exchange programs yield poorer page ranking than sites with one way links. (One way links are links to your website from another one, without a reciprocal link being placed on your website.)

Receivelinks.com members accumulate points that are used to purchase one way links to their websites. The point value of a web site is determined by evaluating a number of factors, including search engine ranking, the number of link spaces provided, the number of searchable pages and the effectiveness of the website itself. Members can include multiple web sites and multiple pages within each website in their receivelinks.com accounts.

During the month of June, members who add a web site worth at least 500 points will receive 500 free bonus points per month for three months. Five hundreds points is approximately equal to 500 one way backlinks.

Receivelinks.com offers members greater control over their link directories than similar services. Members control the type, language and category of links on their web pages and control what sites their ads are placed on. Only web pages that meet strict guidelines are accepted into the receivelinks.com network; site administrators rigorously scrutinize applicant web sites by hand to ensure that members receive only high quality, current links. Spam, porn and other undesirable or illegal factors are excluded.

Receivelinks.com is a free service. Members earn points by placing links or ads on their web pages, and they use those points to "purchase" one way links from other members. Members can purchase additional links if desired and can earn points through referrals and subscription bonuses, as well as special offers like the one that is available June 1-30, 2007--500 free points per month for three months for every member who adds a site worth at least 500 points.

Internet business owners who want to optimize their websites and increase traffic and sales will benefit from taking advantage of this free, limited time offer. It's an opportunity to see how receivelinks.com can increase your sales and maximize the income potential of your website or websites.

Receive Links
http://www.ReceiveLinks.com/
Receive Links Forum
http://Forum.ReceiveLinks.com

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Press Contact: Billy Pearson
Company Name: Receive Links
Phone: 501-326-5310
Website: http://www.receivelinks.com/

Over 1 Million Potential Victims of Botnet Cyber Crime

On June 13, 2007 the Department of Justice and FBI announced the results of an ongoing cyber crime initiative to disrupt and dismantle "botherders" and elevate the public's cyber security awareness of botnets. OPERATION BOT ROAST is a national initiative and ongoing investigations have identified over 1 million victim computer IP addresses. The FBI is working with our industry partners, including the CERT Coordination Center at Carnegie Mellon University, to notify the victim owners of the computers. Through this process the FBI may uncover additional incidents in which botnets have been used to facilitate other criminal activity.

A botnet is a collection of compromised computers under the remote command and control of a criminal "botherder." Most owners of the compromised computers are unknowing and unwitting victims. They have unintentionally allowed unauthorized access and use of their computers as a vehicle to facilitate other crimes, such as identity theft, denial of service attacks, phishing, click fraud, and the mass distribution of spam and spyware. Because of their widely distributed capabilities, botnets are a growing threat to national security, the national information infrastructure, and the economy.

"The majority of victims are not even aware that their computer has been compromised or their personal information exploited," said FBI Assistant Director for the Cyber Division James Finch. "An attacker gains control by infecting the computer with a virus or other malicious code and the computer continues to operate normally. Citizens can protect themselves from botnets and the associated schemes by practicing strong computer security habits to reduce the risk that your computer will be compromised."

The FBI also wants to thank our industry partners, such as the Microsoft Corporation and the Botnet Task Force, in referring criminal botnet activity to law enforcement.

Cyber security tips include updating anti-virus software, installing a firewall, using strong passwords, practicing good email and web security practices. Although this will not necessarily identify or remove a botnet currently on the system, this can help to prevent future botnet attacks. More information on botnets and tips for cyber crime prevention can be found online at www.fbi.gov.

The FBI will not contact you online and request your personal information so be wary of fraud schemes that request this type of information, especially via unsolicited emails. To report fraudulent activity or financial scams, contact the nearest FBI office or police department, and file a complaint online with the Internet Crime Complaint Center, www.ic3.gov.

To date, the following subjects have been charged or arrested in this operation with computer fraud and abuse in violation of Title 18 USC 1030, including:

    * James C. Brewer of Arlington, Texas, is alleged to have operated a botnet that infected Chicago area hospitals. This botnet infected tens of thousands of computers worldwide. (FBI Chicago);

    * Jason Michael Downey of Covington, Kentucky, is charged with an Information with using botnets to send a high volume of traffic to intended recipients to cause damage by impairing the availability of such systems. (FBI Detroit); and

    * Robert Alan Soloway of Seattle, Washington, is alleged to have used a large botnet network and spammed tens of millions of unsolicited email messages to advertise his website from which he offered services and products. (FBI Seattle)

The FBI will continue to aggressively investigate individuals that conduct cyber criminal acts.

    Washington D.C.
    FBI National Press Office
    (202) 324-3691

YouCouldWrite.com will host a free live Webinar for writers and experts on Friday, June 15, 2007 at 3:00 p.m. EDT. The hour-long Web-based seminar will teach both authors and professionals how to write and disseminate quality articles that will establish their credibility as experts and help them make a profit. Anyone wishing to attend the Webinar can register at YouCouldWrite.com.

Phoenix, Arizona (PRWEB) June 14, 2007 -- YouCouldWrite.com (www.youcouldwrite.com) has announced that it will host a free live Webinar for writers and experts on Friday, June 15, 2007 at 3:00 p.m. EDT. The hour-long Web-based seminar will teach both authors and professionals how to write and disseminate quality articles that will establish their credibility as experts and help them make a profit. Anyone wishing to attend the Webinar can register at YouCouldWrite.com.
"The Internet has an insatiable appetite for content, but unfortunately there's a proliferation of shoddy writing on the Web," said Dennis Stack, President of YouCouldWrite.com. "Our tagline - 'Publish. Polish. Promote' - encourages writers and professionals to share their knowledge through quality writing, while at the same time teaching them how to promote their websites, products, and services."

To this end, YouCouldWrite.com will provide Webinar attendees with the tools they need to promote their writing. Bob Cefail, Chairman of In Touch Media Group, Inc. (www.intouchmarketing.us), a full-service marketing firm that specializes in developing cutting edge technologies that harness the power of the Internet to deliver superior marketing and public relations services to its clients, will be the Webinar's featured speaker. Cefail will discuss the mechanisms that drive search engine rankings, the rise of consumer-generated media, and the ways in which writers, consultants, and other professionals can profitably disseminate quality articles on the Web.

"Writers and experts need to be able to stand out from the crowd, and Internet users need to be able to find useful information," said Stack. "Our Webinar will help to accomplish both of these goals."

About YouCouldWrite.com:

YouCouldWrite.com is a vibrant community that is a convergence of people from all walks of life who have a common goal: Publish. Polish. Promote. Members can publish their writing, receive feedback on their articles, and learn how to establish credibility as experts in their fields. With a writer's area, a social network, and an online store, YouCouldWrite.com is the meeting place for those who want to share their knowledge and those who are eager to learn.

Contact:

Dennis Stack, President
YouCouldWrite.com
(480) 986-2103
webinar @ youcouldwriteabook.com
http://www.youcouldwrite.com

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Press Contact: KRIS NICKERSON
Company Name:
Phone: (480) 986-2103
Website: http://www.youcouldwrite.com

Virtulawyer.com will certainly deliver effective legal solutions to all consumers, say its creators. From simple legal matters to the most complex and difficult cases, consumers can rely on the site to guide them through all of their legal needs. With hundreds of lawyers listed on the site, virtulawyer offers seamless service across practice areas, no matter where clients reside.

(PRWEB) June 12, 2007 -- Virtulawyer.com is a new, free legal-information resource for ordinary people seeking information on legal issues and controversies.

This is a premier destination for legal news and information, with listings of attorneys specializing in all areas of the law throughout the country. Virtulawyer.com boasts a sleek sexy look and increased functionality, and promises consumers everything legal.

The listed lawyers offer experience across industries and strengthen all legal services. The site features functions such as lawyer referral, accident lawyers, bankruptcy lawyers, family lawyers and reliable criminal and business lawyers just to name a few.
Virtulawyer now connects readers to state-specific legal resources with its handy Legal Websites in all States.

Virtulawyer is also home to lawyers who focus on mergers and acquisitions, finance, securities, private equity, outsourcing, tax, privatizations, antitrust, labor and employment. All attorneys on Virtulawyer have extensive experience serving clients, from individuals to multinational telecommunications and information technology companies, and give every client the legal representation that they deserve, regardless of how big or small.

Additional Information on virtulawyer is related, but not limited to, many general legal terms and subjects, such as employment discrimination, affirmative action, adoption laws, immigration law, probates, and wills just to name a few.

" Virtulawyer.com will provide consumers with a directory of legal resources, in all aspects of the law, which gives one the opportunity to choose a lawyer that 'stands out' to them." Said Janice M. of Virtulawyer.com

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Press Contact: Janice M
Company Name:
Phone: 304-322-6040
Website: virtulawyer.com

More than Two Lakh Names Registered with 'in' Domain

NEW DELHI , INDIA - 5 November 2006 -National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) and Afilias India Private Limited announced that the '.in' domain has reached 2,00,000 registrations, nearly doubling its presence in the market place since last year.  The .IN registry has grown to nearly 30 times the initial size of approximately 6500 domains prior to the January 2005 re-launch. The re-launch included a more competitive price, expanded eligibility, a state of the art technology platform, and broader distribution through the global registrar network.

While India rated 63 per cent in the usage of '.in' domain name 37 per cent were registered outside Indian soil.  Over 150  countries are represented by '.in' domain owners. The most popular countries are India, US, and Germany, which together account for over 81 percent of registrations, followed by the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Switzerland and Italy.

Expressing his happiness over the significant increase, Shri Dayanidhi Maran, Minister of Communications & Information Technology said,   "This is an important milestone in the 10 Point Agenda for India I introduced in 2004, as '.in' is now firmly established as a leading country code domain and reflects India's leadership in technology and the Internet". Shri Maran further said that the Government would shortly introduce the registration of '.in' domains in native Indian languages, beginning with Tamil and Malayalam Since '.in' is unrestricted, organizations and individuals across India can now reach their audience with an Internet address that proudly proclaims their Indian affinity. NIXI has brought a greater market focus to '.in' and has helped to proliferate the Internet in India.  All Indians on the Internet should get their '.in' now while great names are still available.

"We are proud to support .IN" said Ram Mohan, Director of Afilias India, who provides technical support to the .IN domain.     As regards Afilias,  it is  a fully integrated global provider of domain name registry services, maintains international headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, sales offices in London, England, sales and operational facilities in Toronto, administrative offices in the U.S. near Philadelphia, PA, and operational offices in New Delhi, India. Afilias provides a full range of registry services leveraging proven technology that is fast, reliable and secure.

It may be recalled that the Department of Information Technology (DIT) and National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) took the initiative of setting up of the state-of-the art, hardware and software and re-launched the '.in' Registry.   The entire process of registration is available online.   The opening of the '.in' Registry has significantly improved and  broadened the availability of the domain names.

Internet Domain Names worldwide have assumed greater significance in recent times with the Internet increasingly being used as an effective medium for communication, governance, education and commerce.  The system of registration of Internet Domain Names can facilitate the proliferation of Internet in a country.  Many countries have, therefore, adopted liberal and market friendly policies to register large number of Domain Names under their country code, broadly consistent with globally accepted policy and procedures of Domain registration.

Starter kits available for WordPress, Blogger and other blogging platforms

(PRWEB) June 7, 2007 -- Odiogo announced today the launch of the 'Listen Button' (http://www.listenbutton.com), a web 2.0 service which allows Content Publishers to provide visitors with an easy and instant way to hear regular text articles. Located near the familiar 'Email' and 'Print' buttons on top of each article in mainstream media and blogs, the Listen Button when clicked will open a player which will read aloud the currently displayed article.

"With the PC entering the living room as the brain of the home multimedia center, text content providers need tools which seamlessly turn readers into listeners," said Marc Kawam, CEO of Odiogo.com. "Our Podcast solutions and the Listen Button empower content providers to mobilize and boost the value of their text content by making it instantly audible."

"This audio feature is fast becoming a must-have capability for content sites," Kawam said. "This is an essential feature for a multi-tasking environment, where people can listen to articles from their favorite sites while working on their computer or performing other tasks. The Listen Button also expands the reach of a content site by allowing vision-impaired readers and language learners to easily access the site's content."

Amir Orni, CEO of Jpost.com, the Online Edition of the Jerusalem Post (http://www.jpost.com), said: "The Podcast Service we launched with Odiogo was received positively by our readers and has quickly reached thousands of downloads on a weekly basis". Orni added: "We welcome the Listen Button feature as it answers a need many of our readers had. Now, one click gets stories read out-loud on the PC."

The Odiogo Listen Button has been adapted for major blogging platforms. Starter kits have been developed to quickly install the button on blogs developed in the WordPress, Blogger or TypePad environments. Bloggers can enable the Listen Button on their sites for free. This allows Bloggers to meet their constituencies' desires for a more 'easy to consume' media - as compared to written content - at no cost to themselves.

Nigel Powell, publisher of The Red Ferret Journal (http://www.redferret.net) said: "The Listen Button is a very cool way for my readers to grab a dose of the blog while they're busy doing other things on their PC at home or in the office. Just the very thought of it makes my teeth ache with joy."

Stacy Blackman from Stacy Blackman Consulting (http://blog.stacyblackman.com) said: "Readers of Stacy Blackman Consulting's blog are MBA candidates who are constantly on the move and have limited time online. Odiogo provides them not only with a way to listen to the posts on their iPod but also when they are on-line, while multitasking."

The Listen Button is already available on several sites, among them:
-    http://www.jpost.com
-    http://blog.stacyblackman.com
-    http://www.redferret.net
-    http://blog.prompt-speechapps.com
-    http://www.uneasysilence.com
-    http://www.gideononline.com/blog


How it works
The majority of publications on the Web use RSS feeds, the standard distribution format. Odiogo monitors all feeds of its Content Partners and automatically creates for each news item high fidelity audio files using cutting-edge text-to-speech technology. Unlike many of its predecessors, this new breed of artificial intelligence technology observes punctuation and more natural speech patterns to provide a superior listening experience, which the Odiogo linguistic team together with the Odiogo blogger community is continually fine-tuning. Files are hosted on Odiogo's servers which makes integration with any text content provider a simple activity, requiring at most a few hours of work.


About Odiogo
Founded in 2005 in San Francisco, California, Odiogo (http://www.odiogo.com) is in the business of mobilizing and vocalizing content. Products include a groundbreaking service that enables newspapers, magazines, and blogs to automatically create audible versions of their content. The Odiogo-produced sound files can be listened to on computers and mobile devices such as iPod™, MP3 readers and cellular phones.

#-##

Press Contact: Patrice Khawam
Company Name: Odiogo
Phone: 1-888-220-4467
Website: http://www.odiogo.com

Web site owners are taking advantage of specialized training in search engine optimization to improve their overall search engine rankings.

Lexington, SC (PRWEB) June 6, 2007 -- Tracy Fredrychowski, SEO Professional and Instructor at the Search Engine Academy of South Carolina (SEAofSC) announced today that Web site owners are taking charge of their Web site's success by learning SEO.

Tracy Fredrychowski of SEAofSC stated, "Web site owners are finally realizing that they need to completely understand how the search engines work and exactly what they are looking for if they want their Web site to be competitive on the Internet."

Most business owners know that there are many Certified Search Engine Optimizers that they can hire to perform SEO services for them, but most of the time funding is not always readily available and the time to act is now if they want to start seeing results. Taking full control of their Web site rankings and not having to rely on someone else to do it for them is a real eye opener into how simple search engine placement can be to achieve.

To learn SEO one does not have to be overly technical they just need to have basic Web page creation skills and the desire to learn how to apply the latest search engine marketing principles and strategies to increase their Web sites visibility.

Being able to learn what is needed to gain better rankings on Google, MSN and Yahoo! is very exciting to any business owner who relies on the Internet to increase revenue.

Business owners that take a 2-Day Beginner, 3-Day Advanced or 5-Day Mastery Search Engine Optimization Workshop have been learning:

•    Keyword Research
•    How to Utilize User-Generated Content for Attracting New Traffic
•    Social Media Marketing Strategies
•    Which Search Engines and which Directories are Most Important
•    Advantages of Paid Inclusion
•    How to Stay out of Trouble with the Search Engines
•    How to Build Link Popularity
•    Working with Blogs
•    Converting Visitors to Buyers
•    Affiliate Marketing
•    In-depth Review of Google, Yahoo and MSN
•    Latent Semantic Indexing
•    Link Reputation
•    Truth and Myths About Search Engine Robots
•    Why Cascading Style Sheets are so Important
•    Article Marketing
•    Work Around Strategies - Frames, Flash, Databases Sites, Image Maps, JavaScript
•    Pay Per Click Advertising
•    Web Site Statistic and Log Analysis

Fredrychowski stated, "One of the greatest aspects of SEO Workshops is that most allow Web site owners to bring a copy of their business Web site to work on during class. In doing so, they can apply the SEO techniques right away and start tracking results immediately."

Learning to recognize a Web sites strengths and weaknesses is half the battle when trying to achieve better search engine rankings. Those business owners that take the time to learn SEO are those that are becoming the most successful on the Internet.

You can find an authorized training workshop for Search Engine Optimization at the Search Engine Academy of SC. They offer SEO training to business owners, Webmasters and Professional SEO's who want to take their Web site to the next level.

For additional information on workshop dates and locations please contact Tracy Fredrychowski or visit www.searchengineacademysc.com.

Tracy Fredrychowski, CEO of Small Business Web Solutions, Inc.
Professional SEO Instructor, Search Engine Academy of South Carolina
Phone: 803-356-2995
http://www.searchengineacademysc.com

#'##

Press Contact: Tracy Fredrychowski
Company Name: Search Engine Academy of SC
Phone: 803-356-2995
Website: http://www.searchengineacademysc.com

Users are given control over search listings. Search engine Sproose.com lets users rank the index. With its self voting platfom the more popular sites move up to the top of the index of search results.

Danville, CA (PRWEB) June 4, 2007 -- Sproose, an upcoming search engine with technology allowing users to rank the index of results, launched today a new voting platform inteface so users can easily rank their favorite sites. Former Netzero Executive, Bob Pack who helped raise its initial funding in 1998, founded Sproose.

Sproose uses a "human popularity voting" model where users can self- rank the index creating personalized search results. The more users that vote a site the further up in the ranking it goes.

"The new look is much more visual providing a total score of the voted sites and a ranking system that improves upon the algorithmic based order," says Bob Pack, CEO of Sproose. Users merely need to click on the "I like it" icon next to the search result and the index will refresh immediately moving that site up.

Registered users may also display their voted sites if they elect to. "This connects people in a social way to share knowledge through (search), states," CEO Bob Pack.

The Sproose website is at www.sproose.com

About Sproose
Sproose provides a consumer search engine whereby the users can influence the ranking of the index by voting on the results. Each user is able to create a different set of search results when searching under the same keyword. With its proprietary 'Knowledge Rank' moderated directory technologies, Sproose users can effectively categorize and index sites, tailored for personal or group usage. The rating of search results is done without downloading applications to ensure privacy.

Media Contact:
Bob Pack, CEO
Sproose, Inc.
Tel 925-918-0843    

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Press Contact: Bob Pack
Company Name: Sproose
Phone: 925-918-0843
Website: http://www.sproose.com

Search Marketer Performance Evaluation Tied to Search Metrics Increases to 86%

Boston, MA (PRWEB) June 4, 2007 -- Search engine marketing firm iProspect today announced the publication of the iProspect Search Marketer Measurement & Performance Study, sponsored by iProspect and conducted by JupiterResearch. The study reveals that the number of search marketers now measuring ROI has grown to 88% since 2005. It also revealed that search marketer performance evaluations based on campaign metrics has risen to 86% since 2005 as well.

Partnering with some of the most successful brands in the world, search engine marketing firm iProspect commissioned this study to gain a better understanding of search marketer behavior in regard to results measurement and personal performance evaluation. The survey targeted marketers based upon their familiarity with their company's search marketing efforts, and screened participants for involvement with marketing their company's products. Participation was limited to search marketers who both outsource the management of their search engine optimization campaigns to an outside firm, as well as engage in paid search advertising.

Fielded in March of 2007 by JupiterResearch, a total of 794 qualified search marketers completed the survey. The same questions used in this survey were also posed in previous iProspect search marketer surveys that resulted in the iProspect Outsourced SEO Metrics & ROI Study (August 2005) and the iProspect Search Marketer Performance Study (August 2005). Trending information included in this study is derived from the earlier papers.

Amongst its key findings, the study revealed that 88% of search marketers measure the ROI of their campaigns. This figure represents a 9% increase since 2005 when 79% reported they were able to measure their ROI. This figure underscores the dwindling ranks of marketers that fall short in this area.

"Going into this survey, we expected to see a significant increase in the percentage of search marketers now measuring the ROI of their campaigns," said iProspect President Robert Murray. "Especially given the increased level of search marketer sophistication that has evolved over the past two years." Murray continued, "However, we were surprised that it only bumped up 9%. While the increase was less than expected, it still shows that more and more marketers are motivated to measure the ROI of their search programs. And given the substantial investment that search marketing requires, I can't imagine not measuring ROI. It's become mandatory as senior management is increasingly demanding that the cost be justified."

The study also revealed some