From: google.com

Kevin Maney has a book out in September about the trade off between delivering extraordinary experiences (which he calls fidelity) and doing it in a way that’s cheap and easy (convenience). The book takes this simple idea and supports it with dozens of examples.

The simplest example is movies. You pay to go to a theatre when you want the fidelity of the big screen and the crowd and the speakers. You stay home when you want the convenience of Netflix and the pause button. Vinyl records and live concerts offer fidelity, MP3 on your iPod is convenient.

In the word’s of Bill Gross, in order to win with a new product, you need to be on one axis or another, and ten times better than what you’re aiming to replace. Which means ten times more high impact or ten times cheaper and easier.

A refrigerator is ten times more convenient than an icebox. A cell phone is ten times more convenient than a pay phone. A private jet is ten times more joyful/fidelity than first class for the executive that can afford it. A backstage pass at a Cat Power concert is ten times higher fidelity than a ripped MP3.

There are interesting ways to define ‘fidelity’. Wikipedia is certainly more convenient, and the presence of a million articles that aren’t even in the Brittanica makes it higher fidelity as well. At the start, though, they were neither. It took a tiny group of passionate people to create enough content and enough quality that they could be high enough fidelity to be considered an alternative to the printed encyclopedia. It’s interesting to watch Luddite teachers refuse to accept it as a source, claiming that convenience shouldn’t trump their definition of fidelity…

The mistake that’s so easy to make is to be a little bit higher fidelity and a little bit more convenient. Incumbents fall into this trap all the time, assuming that you’ll stick with what you’ve got because they’re sorta both. And insurgents almost always fail because as geeky insiders they think that twice the convenience is enough to persuade anyone who cares. Not going to work.

Read Original: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/sethsmainblog/~3/GC7fOXcCUPo/fidelity-vs-convenience.html

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From: searchenginewatch.com

BrightRoll is launching Performance Pricing models for online video advertisements. They are:

• Cost Per Engagement (CPE): cost per each user-initiated video engagement or start
• Cost Per Completed Video (CPV): cost based on successful user-initiated video completion
• Cost Per Click (CPC): cost per click on video advertisement

“Requests from advertisers seeking a broader portfolio of pricing options to better align with their plan objectives led us to release this pricing model innovation,” said Tod Sacerdoti, BrightRoll’s co-founder and CEO. “Performance Pricing demonstrates that there is no one right way to buy online video advertising. By letting customers pay on the metrics that most benefit their individual campaigns, we’re continuing to remove inefficiencies in the video inventory buying process.”

What do you think of BrightRoll’s Performance Pricing? Let us know in the comments.

Read Original: http://feeds.searchenginewatch.com/~r/sewblog/~3/XreWEc7DDMY/090801-004049

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From: searchenginewatch.com

Webtrends has acquired Widemile, adding their multivariate testing and optimization services to their offering. Widemile’s platform provides advanced visitor segmentation, real-time reporting, intuitive wizards, and best practices training.

“Webtrends now offers the most open, elegant and powerful analytics and optimization platform available anywhere. Our customers want to further leverage the rich data set available with Webtrends Analytics, and Widemile’s capabilities provide a natural path to help our customers achieve better performance and improved ROI,” said Alex Yoder, Webtrends CEO.

The third-generation of Widemile’s platform is known for its ease of use, algorithms and architecture, and reporting capabilities.

“The Widemile and Webtrends offerings fit naturally to address the macro challenges and opportunities facing our customers in the coming years,” said Robert Bergquist, Widemile CEO and President. “The combination is a best-in-class integrated web analytics and optimization platform allowing users to plan online marketing programs with the assurance that built-in testing, targeting, and optimization solutions will maximize conversion rates.”

Read Original: http://feeds.searchenginewatch.com/~r/sewblog/~3/r2aWnqZShr8/090801-001107

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From: searchenginewatch.com

Remember back in May when Google launched Search Options as part of its Searchology day? Well, now they’re rolling it out to Image Search as well.

If you don’t remember, Search Options provides a panel on the left side of the results page which helps you filter the results. Search Options originally launched just on the main Google web page.

As pretty much all of Google launches, this one is being rolled out. I wasn’t yet able to access it.

How about you? Have you checked out Search Options on Google Images yet? Tell us what you think of it in the comments section below.

Read Original: http://feeds.searchenginewatch.com/~r/sewblog/~3/xUzsF9MvxmQ/090731-234545

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From: searchenginewatch.com

Recently, Google removed the “beta” label from a bunch of apps, including GMail. Now they’re at it again. The new AdWords interface is the latest to say goodbye to beta.

If you haven’t made the upgrade, you’ll eventually be required to. But you can do so now, and here’s what to expect when you do:

• Performance graphs: Quickly recognize trends in your account performance via custom graphs on every page
• Roll-up tabs: Identify top priorities by viewing and editing all keywords, placements or ads in an account on a single tab
• In-line editing: Make faster adjustments with single-click editing that doesn’t require loading a separate page
• Networks tab: Improve performance on the content network by looking at site-level statistics and making changes directly from your reports
• Filters: View only the keywords, ads or other parts of your account that meet or miss the performance thresholds you specify
• Spreadsheet editing: Make efficient bulk edits to keyword lists by using spreadsheets directly in your account
• Location extensions: Make ads locally relevant by including business addresses with your ads
• Custom alerts: Flag real-time changes in key metrics to stay on top of trends in your performance and quickly take corrective action

Search marketers are already seeing improvements in their paid search efforts as a result of the new interface.

“The new AdWords interface has given us huge gains in efficiency,” said

Alex Mann, CEO, ClickTime. “We’re spending less time navigating the

system and more time making good decisions.”

What do you think about the new interface? Let us know in the comments section below.

Read Original: http://feeds.searchenginewatch.com/~r/sewblog/~3/s16f-yfX1Ec/090731-132818

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From: searchenginewatch.com

The editorial team here at Search Engine Watch is proud to announce the finalists for the 2009 Search Engine Watch Awards. We had a great turnout this year, with nearly 100 entries for the 14 categories.

We’ve winnowed down the entries to three finalists in each category. Once our judging panel completes their deliberations, we’ll announce the winners in each category at Search Engine Strategies San Jose.

Look for my smiling face, along with several of our SEW Experts, in Booth 327 of the Expo Hall. We’ll be announcing the winners throughout the day on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 11 and 12.

And so, without further ado, let me congratulate the 2009 SEW Awards Finalists:

Most Innovative Use of Search Engine Optimization

• Procter & Gamble
• Washington Post Digital
• Wharton EMBA/Acronym Media

Most Innovative Paid Search Campaign

• Adobe Systems/Covario—Acrobat 9 Release
• ADT/Razorfish
• Pictage/Wpromote

Best Social Media Marketing Campaign

• Endless Vacation Rentals/iProspect—“Your Fat Chance”
• Grasshopper—“Advanced Phone Numbers”
• Pepsi/Eyeblaster—“Refresh Everything”

Best Business-to-Business Search Marketing Campaign

• All Metals & Forge/TopSpot Internet Marketing
• Kelly Services/TMP Directional Marketing
• PTS Data Center Solutions

Best Use of Local Search

• ARS & Rescue Rooter/TMP Directional Marketing
• Reliant Energy/Range Online Media
• Storage West

Best Integration of Search with Other Media

• Embarq/iCrossing
• Intel—“Sponsors of Tomorrow”
• Malibu Boats/PRWeb

Most Effective Use of Web Analytics

• Helzberg Diamonds/Rosetta
• PRNewswire/iCrossing
• World Travel Holdings—CruisesOnly.com

Technology Platform Search Marketers Can’t Live Without

• ClearSaleing
• Lyris HQ
• Marin Search Marketer

Best SEM Technology Platform for SMBs

• Marchex Connect
• ReachLocal
• Webvisible Geneva

Best Social Media Platform for Marketers

• Facebook Ads
• YouTube Promoted Videos

Best Web Analytics Platform

• Omniture Online Marketing Suite

Best Search Engine Ad Platform

• blinkx AdHoc
• Jumptap tapMatch
• LookSmart AdCenter

Search Engine with Most Relevant Results

• Local.com
• Yahoo Search

Most Innovative New Search Engine

• COGITO Focus
• FanSnap
• TapTu

Read Original: http://feeds.searchenginewatch.com/~r/sewblog/~3/wBaDDbI19EM/090731-131949

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From: sitepronews.com

With Article Marketing you write articles on the topic of your niche and submit them to online publishers such as article directories, ezine editors, and article announcement lists. Along with each article you include a resource box, which is basically a short author bio that includes a link back to your website.
This resource box is [...]

Post from: SiteProNews: Webmaster News & Resources

%%Article Marketing: A Beginner’s Guide%%

Article Marketing: A Beginner’s Guide

Read Original: http://www.sitepronews.com/2009/07/31/article-marketing-a-beginners-guide/

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From: sitepronews.com

As an online business owner you know how important it is to build your list in order to have a ready pool of clients, potential clients, and customers who are interested in your business and your services/programs. But as a list owner you also have a responsibility to those people on your list to [...]

Post from: SiteProNews: Webmaster News & Resources

%%Build Your Relationship With Your Subscribers With These 7 Simple Ways%%

Build Your Relationship With Your Subscribers With These 7 Simple Ways

Read Original: http://www.sitepronews.com/2009/07/31/build-your-relationship-with-your-subscribers-with-these-7-simple-ways/

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From: verticalmeasures.com

How valuable is traffic to you? Let’s say, hypothetically, you received a million visitors to your site in a couple days. Could you benefit? Your answer is likely a resounding, YES! One of the avenues businesses are exploring to accomplish this feat is through the aid of viral video marketing. 
Recently Evian’s "Roller Babies" commercial was [...] Related posts:

1. How to Use Link Building for Reputation Management

Read Original: http://www.verticalmeasures.com/video-marketing/viral-videos-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/

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From: searchenginewatch.com

Yahoo! has made some UI changes to their local search results. The update is centralized around the idea of reducing clicks.

When you’re viewing a result, the links to Yahoo! Shortcut information (reviews, photos, etc.) now load the content directly on the page you’re viewing.

Additionally, when you do a category local search on Yahoo!’s main search, a local section will pop up, enabling the Yahoo! Shortcut content to be accessed in the results page.

Raleigh must be in some kind of vortex, though, because I couldn’t get this feature to work for my hometown. But I can get it to work for other cities of varying populations.

What do you think of Yahoo!’s local search updates? Let us know by leaving a comment.

Read Original: http://feeds.searchenginewatch.com/~r/sewblog/~3/DLZEGPuqfrQ/090731-010003

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From: google.com

“I’m just here to learn.”

Learning is fine. Listening is good. Consensus is natural.

But initiating is rare and valuable and essential.

How often do you or your brand initiate rather than react? How often do you tweet instead of retweet? Invent rather than exploit?

Read Original: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/sethsmainblog/~3/rRz9OqjsbgY/the-initiator.html

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From: sitepronews.com

Twitter is growing by leaps and bounds as people begin to appreciate its clean and easy-to-use interface. Twitter, at this point, does not look like one of the many flash-in-the-pan Internet applications that we have seen in times’ past.
Twitter’s 140 character micro-blogging platform has gained a lot of traction, as individuals and business people have [...]

Post from: SiteProNews: Webmaster News & Resources

%%Twitter Marketing Explored%%

Twitter Marketing Explored

Read Original: http://www.sitepronews.com/2009/07/30/twitter-marketing-explored/

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From: google.com

If it’s worth doing, it’s probably worth paying to do it very well. If you’re going to do a presentation or write an eBook, spend the money to do it right.

Paul Durban created this example of motion graphics. It’s a lot easier to do now than it used to be, so you get a lot for the energy and money you invest. If you can’t be there in person (with an eBook, for example), the energy you get from great design really matters.

If someone sends me a PDF that’s just a word file, I rarely make it past the first page any longer. Time to raise your bar.

Read Original: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/sethsmainblog/~3/Jb7LB2yyogk/ebook-design-and-motion-graphics.html

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From: searchenginewatch.com

A bright young couple decided to have a non-traditional beginning to their St. Paul wedding. The entire wedding party, bride and groom included, danced down the aisle of a church to “Forever” by beleaguered R&B;singer Chris Brown. They put the video up on YouTube and it currently has received over 12 million views.

While watching the video, links pop up allowing users to buy the song from Amazon or iTunes. Many have done just that.

Google took to their Official Blog to tout this YouTube is touting this as proof YouTube does can indeed make money. Amazon and Apple are benefiting from links guiding people to buy the song. Sony and Chris Brown are making money from song purchases as well.

Everyone is making money except the couple. None of the above companies would have made this money without their content.

Anyone else see something wrong here?

Ironically, many times videos with unauthorized use of music simply get taken down here. I guess it’s a good thing for the companies monetarily that this was allowed to stay up.

Hopefully the next step in the evolution of their education is to let content makers profit from their creations as well. After all, this entire money-making situation is nothing without it.

But that’s just my opinion? What’s yours? Share it below in the comments section.

Read Original: http://feeds.searchenginewatch.com/~r/sewblog/~3/5fni4cAWZXM/090730-201444

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From: searchenginewatch.com

One of the biggest questions regarding the new Microsoft-Yahoo! deal is what will happen to Yahoo!’s search offerings in its Developer Network. Yahoo! is known for being pretty open, which was a major reasons that many thought last year’s Microsoft acquisition offer was a bad idea. The cultures just didn’t seem to mesh.

Fast forward to yesterday and the deal was severely watered down from 2008 proposals. Yahoo! will maintain the UI in its search pages and the two companies will essentially engaging in a revenue-sharing agreement, powered by Bing.

But what will happen to Yahoo! offerings like BOSS, which allow developers to harness Yahoo! search technology for their sites and applications. The answer: even the BOSS team doesn’t know. Not yet.

Chris Yeh, head of the Yahoo! Developer Network (YDN), did take to the YDN blog to ensure that YUI, YQL, and Pipes will remain unaffected by the deal. But the deal is just too new to know how it will affect YDN’s search offerings.

Hopefully, Microsoft will adopt BOSS and SearchMonkey into Bing.

Around the beginning of the year, Microsoft snagged a bunch of former Yahoo! execs with experience in search. It won’t be surprising if their influence encourages Microsoft to incorporate more openness into search there.

Actually, Microsoft is much more of an open company than people think. For example, the Windows Mobile operating system was been open to developers for years before the iPhone came on the scene. They don’t approve or reject apps (like Apple does), and there are many sites on the web where you can get the apps. When you think about it, it’s a big strange that Live Search was so closed.

What do you think should happen to BOSS and SearchMonkey? Leave a comment and give your opinion.

Read Original: http://feeds.searchenginewatch.com/~r/sewblog/~3/Y5R54_bnjeQ/090730-185635

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