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Google takes Image Search to the Next Level

Ask any Search Engine Optimization professional and they will tell you that image search is all about the tags. Unfortunately for searchers, this has led to poor quality of  search results. Flickr, the photo social network of Yahoo! Uses tags to group photos into relevant bunches. Microsoft Live.com and Google also have image search engines based off of these same tags. For example, type “classic cobra” into any of the three engines and your results will be a mix of cars, snakes, and toys. No amount of long tail search refinement seems to ever bring the results to real pertinence.

PageRank, Google’s signature search technology, is joined by VisualRank. Google announced the new image-recognition algorithm blend at the International World Wide Web Conference in Beijing. Google is looking to stay ahead of start-ups specializing in image search with VisualRank, believing the new search technology is a real breakthrough.

So what does this mean for Google’s bottom line? As Google refines it’s image search be on the look out for integration of ads similar to current Google searches, with easy access for merchants using Google checkout, and other profitable cross-promotions.

What should businesses be doing now? Do the tags still matter?
Take a step back and approach this change with the end user in mind. Are the images you are using representative of your business?  If they aren’t, or if they are just filler, replace them to images that better represent your business and brand. Double check your tags while your at it, although Google may be able to search your images, they don’t drive all the searches.

Seven Reasons Google Profit Margins have Decreased in Q1 ‘08

Wall Street was surprised as Google released earnings for the first quarter of 2008 that showed a slowing of the massive growth rate experienced in the third and fourth quarters of 2007. The line Google has been towing has been that they have been refining their system to increase the quality of the service to both advertisers and searchers. Here are the ten biggest changes Google has made in the Q1 2008:

1.    Demographic bidding & exclusion
2.    Demographic reporting
3.    Site exclusion limit removal
4.    Integrating audio ads with analytics
5.    Landing page load time integration into quality score
6.    Updated URL policy
7.    Google Business YouTube channel

With Microsoft and Yahoo battling over a buyout at the number two and three spots in search Google has not lost a step. Google continues to take their ad serving system in directions to meet the more traditional standards small businesses insist upon, greater control over who does and does not see their ads and the ability to track ROI and optimize easily.

Yahoo search marketing bowing to Google?

The online edition of The Wall Street Journal reported today that Yahoo is testing outsourcing it’s search advertising to Google. Several News sources have already picked it up, and everybody seems to think the move by Yahoo to test outsourcing search advertisements to Google is all about snubbing Microsoft. Driving off the aggressive MSFT bid.

As someone who spends most of my day in one of the two outlets, this is the greatest news I have heard in a long time, and it will only be superceded if all Yahoo ads are served through the Google Adwords network. Why you ask? Let’s be honest, for click-through-rates, conversions, and costs per click Yahoo usually is slightly better than Google. However, Google Adwords is not only easier to use than Yahoo! Search Marketing, it also allows advertisers much more control over who sees their ads.

Simply put, Google has better targeting options; from geographically to time of the day Google has countless additional features that Yahoo does not provide. Yahoo is really taking a chance by going public with the test though. Yahoo Search Marketing is already a shaky platform, and this is lets the public know that Yahoo’s solution involves finding another company to handle their search advertisements.

In the event that Yahoo outsources all of it’s search advertising to Google the emerging media of search advertising it will be like having the star who is the most popular in their sport join the team that has the best coaches and management structure. Google makes search advertising easiest in both setup and upkeep, Yahoo draws a large portion of the surfers new to the internet through their partnerships with internet service providers. Together the benefits will be for both advertisers and searchers alike, a smoother experience, and more targeted results.

Mobile Ads Made Easy by Google and Apple

For many companies that are larger than 5 employees Google Adwords, and other pay-per-click outlets, are still an emerging media advertising platform. So, mobile pay-per-click advertising lies well within the boundaries of new media. This unfortunately, is counter intuitive, as those who B2B companies are looking to target are the people most likely to be on that new media frontier, plugged in to the latest gadgets and networks. The C-level executive you are targeting is plugged into his iPhone right now at the airport, searching Google for possible suppliers of your product or service. Does your ad show up? Are you sure? I know you haven’t placed any mobile ads, or any of the other new ad types like newspaper, radio, or TV. The task of just learning how to leverage pay-per –click advertising can be daunting, as you see new ways of tracking your data, and new ways of structuring your advertising efforts.

Guess what? Google has made it easy for you. Google has been serving ads on searches on iPhones. It appears they serve up to three ads, all in that sweet spot in the bottom of the upper third. So don’t worry, if your bid, budget, and placement strategy are all sound, Google will make sure the CEO at the airport sees your ad.

Apple, presumably this is the browser and not Google, will convert phone numbers in ads to click-to-call buttons, making it as easy as possible for prospects to become clients.

Google Climbing on High Horse no April Fools Joke

Advertising to children is a touchy subject, particularly on the web. Right before April Fools day Google made a play that is no joke.  Google Adwords Demographic exclusions were made possible for Googles Content network.  But they built something in…          …If you disable any of the age groups, Google automatically disables the 0-17 age category. Because toddlers surfing the web happens, where do you think all those outdated restaurant touch screen monitors go?

I would have Blogged about this earlier, the demographic targeting, not the Toddlers with touch screens, but I was busy excluding the 0-17 age category from all our clients accounts if they are running ads on the content network.  This is the socially responsible thing for all B2B marketers to do.

When first I was reading all the information, it was very unclear that I could actually do what I wanted to do, just exclude the 0-17 age demographic.  According to the Google Adwords Help There was no “Edit” button next to the 0-17 age.  However, one was on my screen. The only option it gave was to exclude. A quick check of the box and the row turned gray.  Social responsibility in a cool shade of gray.

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