Another (Former) Yahoo Heads to Microsoft

Earlier this year, Dr. Qi Lu left his role as Executive Vice President of Search and Advertising Technology at Yahoo in the aftermath of the failed Microsoft acquisition for the Sunnyvale search engine.

Now, Microsoft is bringing Lu on president of the Online Services Group. A couple weeks ago, it was confirmed that Yahoo's VP of Search Technology, Sean Suchter, was heading to Microsoft.

I'm starting to actually believe Steve Ballmer's insistence that he's not coming back around to pick up Yahoo at a reduced price. Why buy a company when you've snagged two of its top talents?

Posted by Nathania Johnson on December 4, 8:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Related: Microsoft

Why Retailers Should Be Day Trippers to SES Chicago

Okay, so I’m an old Beatles fan. But there are lots of very current reasons why retailers should consider becoming day trippers to Search Engine Strategies Chicago next week.

Hidden in plain sight on the rates & registration details page is this nifty option: “One-Day Package” for SES conference sessions is $895. I’m not making this up. Check it out for yourself.

And which day might a retailer consider being a day tripper? Check out the SES Chicago Agenda Overview and retailers will see two options.

The first is Tuesday, Dec. 9. You can start with the morning keynote presentation by Bill Tancer, General Manager of Global Research at Hitwise and author of “Click: What Millions of People Are Doing Online and Why It Matters.”

Bill is going to talk primarily about what search term data can tell us about the economy and consumer sentiment. He’ll also spend some time on finding insights on the effect of an economic downturn on search. You could get an ROI on your day trip just by attending the keynote.

But wait! There’s more!

Tuesday features a Retailer Track. There are three sessions focused on:

Squeeze More Sales Out of Your Existing Online Campaigns
Given the economic downturn, learn how companies are using the latest tools, like Google Website Optimizer and others, to maximize online sales without increasing their ad spend. Three internet retailing companies will discuss how they are increasing the ROI of their ad campaigns in these tight budgetary times.
• Moderator: Kayden Kelly, CEO, Blast Advanced Media
• Speakers:
Chris Benson, CTO, AudioEditions.com
Todd Curry, VP of Marketing, ifbyphone
Sandra Niehaus, VP, User Experience and Creative Director, Closed Loop Marketing

Google Site Search: Fast, Relevant, Customized Search Results for Your Website
Over the past decade, website search has increased in importance from a technical feature to a core marketing and sales asset. End-users are increasingly losing patience with multiple navigation options on websites and are looking to search as the answer. To this end, Google’s Nitin Mangtani will be discussing how customers are using Google Site Search to grow their businesses and how you can do the same for yours in this sponsored session.

Rebecca%20Lieb.jpg A Case Study From American Greetings: Rethinking Optimization
What happens when you combine thousands of keywords across 2 engines with 3 products and a single, optimized landing page? Nothing much really. In this session, attendees will learn how American Greetings became post-click marketing mavens by discovering the inherent value of AdGroup-level testing and iteration for increased lift. American Greetings and ion interactive will explain how and why they moved from a single optimized landing page to testing over 40 landing pages tightly matched to each individual search AdGroup--enabling them to deliver the right content to the right people in the most compelling format. Attendees will hear real American Greetings examples — what worked and what didn't — that achieved increased engagement, increased conversions and increased behavioral data that impacted their bottom line. Session takeaways include best practices for running simple, high-impact A/B tests that any front-line marketer can easily implement and understand.
• Moderator: Rebecca Lieb, Contributing Editor, ClickZ
• Speakers:
Tessa Fraser, Marketing Manager, Online Media, American Greetings
Anna Talerico, Executive Vice President, ion interactive

Now, if retailers have a conflict on Tuesday, then they should check out what's being offered on Wednesday, Dec. 10.

The morning starts with a keynote by Josh James, President and Chief Executive Officer of Omniture. The title of his presentation is “Avoiding the Chasm of ‘Anticipointment’” To drive to the next level of conversion and optimization, Josh thinks it's time for online marketers to consider the entire marketing value chain and bridge the gap between ads and a personalized, relevant online experience for each visitor.

Then there is a Vertical and Retail Track that features sessions on:

Advanced B2B
Forget consumers. You want leads! Leads that become opportunities that convert into booked business! Join our seasoned panel of B2B marketing professionals as they share the latest tips and trends in using search to find those niche decision-makers that drive your business.
• Moderator: Aaron Kahlow, Chairman & Founder, Online Marketing Summit
• Speakers:
Karen Breen Vogel, President and CEO, ClearGauge
Patricia Hursh, President & Founder, SmartSearch Marketing
Adam S. Goldberg, Chief Innovation Officer, Clearsaleing

Getting Vertical Search Right
The need for specialized search capabilities has never been more prevalent than it is today. Established leaders and experts in vertical search application and execution will discuss the state of the industry, positive and negative experiences, and best practices for answering needs of today's demanding searchers.
• Moderator: Elisabeth Osmeloski, Founder, AdventuresinSearch.com
• Speakers:
Paul Forster, CEO, Indeed
John Ellis, Senior Online Marketing Manager, ResortQuest
Jeff Tinsley, CEO, Reunion.com

Shopping Search Tactics
Learn how content from your e-commerce or merchant site can - and should! - be included in shopping search engines.
• Moderator: Brian A. Smith, Analyst, ComparisonEngines
• Speakers:
Greg Hintz, General Manager, Yahoo! Shopping
Jonathan Ashton, VP of SEO & Web Analytics, Agency.com
Dave Moran, Sr. Manager Search Marketing, Performics
Aaron Shear, Partner, Boost Search Marketing

In House: Lessons Learned & Victories Won
As Search Engine Marketing (SEM) grows in popularity, many companies are attempting to handle the SEM function in-house despite the inherent complexity and challenges. Join us for a spirited discussion and get a chance to meet some of these intrepid do-it-yourselfers behind the in-house movement, as we debate the pros and cons of developing and training a dedicated in-house team. Laying the foundation for in-house SEO success, long-term cost savings, gaining project support at the executive level, leveraging innate knowledge and creating accountability are just some of the topics to be discussed.
• Moderator: William Flaiz, VP, Search Engine Optimization & Web Analytics, Razorfish
• Speakers:
Olivier Lemaignen, Group Manager, Global Search Marketing, Intuit
Jessica Bowman, SEO Strategist & in-house SEO Expert, SEMinhouse.com
Maura Ginty, Senior Web Manager, Web Content Team, Autodesk, Inc.
Mark Ruzomberka, Traffic.com

Oh, and the exhibit hall also happen to be open Tuesday and Wednesday, so retailers can what’s new on the show floor.

I think these are some pretty compelling reasons why retailers should consider becoming day trippers to SES Chicago next week. Of course, I’ve got a ticket to ride for the entire week. So, I also think there are some pretty compelling reasons for attending the entire conference and expo.

Posted by Greg Jarboe on December 4, 11:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Related: SEM Industry: Trade Shows

Alessio Signorini Tapped as Director of Search Technology at OneRiot

Social search engine OneRiot has a new Director of Search Technology and it's Alessio Signorini, former Director of Technology at Ask.com. While at Ask.com, Signorini oversaw natural language processing, ranking optimizations, and query classifications.

"It's testament to the work we're doing that someone as talented as Alessio has joined our team," said Kimbal Musk, OneRiot CEO. "His experience and expertise will help us continuously improve our efforts to enable users to find the pulse of the web."

"OneRiot is unique in its ability to help users find the pulse of the web -- to find the news, videos and products that people are talking about right now," said Alessio. "OneRiot is a very attractive search company. I can't wait to get started!"

Related Reading:
Expedia Chooses Baynote Social Search to Improve Site Usability
Social Search Site Scour Now Speedier (Say That 10 Times Fast)
Google Xooglers Launch Social Search Engine Mechanical Zoo
Social Search: Welcome to the World of Socialommerce
Mahalo Adds New Social Search Tools

Posted by Nathania Johnson on December 4, 10:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Related: Search Types: Social

CitySquares.com to Begin National Expansion

CitySquares.com began as an online neighborhood community site for 7 neighborhoods in Boston. Over the summer, they expanded to include New England and recently added 1.7 million businesses to their New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania communities. They are one of the fastest growing local search sites on the web.

Now, CitySquares has their sights set on a national expansion, but they are proceeding with caution. They stress that they don't want to be just another directory, but to truly offer online communities for local cities and neighborhoods across the United States.

Writing on the CitySquares blog, co-founders Bob Leland and Ben Saren said,

Whether a county in Montana, a borough in NY, a village in Vermont, or a neighborhood in Seattle, we want to get all the information about that community, that locale, online. Get the geopolitical information online, municipal information, local government, post office, libraries, public schools, trash and recycling collection schedules, historical facts, playgrounds, parking lots, public transportation, local school lunch menus, athletic program information, July 4th fireworks locations, and so much more. CitySquares’ vision is, and has always been, to be “Your Neighborhood, Online.” Not easy, but necessary. And it will happen.

Posted by Nathania Johnson on December 4, 10:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Related: Search Types: Local

AOL Releases Top Searches for 2008

In the ongoing end of year list season, AOL has released its top searches for 2008. Unlike Yahoo and Ask.com, AOL inexplicably only released the top searches for select niches, not a top 10 list of overall searches. Nevertheless, here they are:

‘American Idol’ - Top TV & Movies
NASCAR - Top Sports
Britney Spears - Top Celebrity
Flat Belly Diet - Top Health
iPhone - Top Shopping
Jonas Brothers - Top Musician
Presidential Election - Top News

To see the full lists, click here.

All I have to say is: Seriously, people - Britney Spears!!?!?

Posted by Nathania Johnson on December 4, 9:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Related: AOL

Yahoo Adds Search Assist to Image Search

Yahoo has added Search Assist to their image search. If you're not aware, Search Assist is Yahoo's technology that brings up search suggestions when you start typing in your search.

Here's what it looks like for an initial search:

But Yahoo has added a second tier to Search Assist for Image Search. On a results page, if you click in the search box, you'll get the search suggestions plus image suggestions.

Posted by Nathania Johnson on December 4, 8:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Related: Yahoo: Images

UPDATE: Jonathan Miller Seeks Funds for His VC Firm, Not Yahoo

It turns out yesterday's news about former AOL CEO Jonathan Miller trying to gather money to buy Yahoo was false. Miller has been raising money, but it's for his own venture capital firm, not for buying Yahoo.

Miller's firm is Velocity Interactive Group and it does invest in digital media.

This is the second false rumor in a week regarding a purchase of Yahoo. Over the weekend, media reported that a new Microsoft-Yahoo deal had been reached.

Posted by Nathania Johnson on December 3, 11:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Related: Yahoo

Cyber Monday Spending Up 15% to $846 Million

Cyber Monday sales were up 15% reaching $846 million, making it the second highest online spending day recorded, according to comScore.

Earlier this week, comScore said that rate of growth for Cyber Monday sales have traditionally indicated the overall rate of growth for holiday spending in general. If that remains the case this year, that's good news. While the rate has certainly declined, it is still growing.

Here's a look at historical weekly online sales during the holidays:

Posted by Nathania Johnson on December 3, 9:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Related: Stats: comScore

Live Search Flags Questionable Sites

Microsoft's Live Search is now flagging sites which they deem questionable in terms of malware. Users can still visit the site, but you'll have to click a special link in the warning box, as the main link has been disabled.

If you find that your site has been flagged (perhaps a third party hacked your site), you can use Live Search's webmaster tools to get back on track.

Here's a screenshot of what a warning would look like:

Posted by Nathania Johnson on December 3, 9:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Related: Microsoft: Live Search

Advertising to Cretins Expected To Drop in 2009

While the News Corp founder's biographer Michael Wolff may think Rupert Murdoch's MySpace users are "cretins", the company's CEO Chris DeWolfe believes profits will "continue to grow in spite of the poor economy".

"If you're on MySpace now, you're a (expletive) cretin. And you're not only a (expletive) cretin, but you're poor," said Wolff."

"Nobody who has beyond an eighth grade level of education is on MySpace. It is for backwards people," Cnet News reported.

Guess Wolff will not be getting Murdoch to promote his book, The Man Who Owns The News, any time soon.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported the MySpace CEO has seen a drop in the value of many online companies over the past six months - which we have all seen - but the numbers mentioned are interesting.

"Web companies that were worth between $200 million and $300 million just six months ago are now willing to sell themselves for $20 million to $25 million, and some have begun knocking on his door recently," DeWolfe told Reuters.

DeWolfe said the company was interested in some international companies, as well as some music ones. So will MySpace be rolling out an iTunes competitor in the new year?

Guess 'cretins' like music.

Posted by Frank Watson on December 3, 2:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Related: Social Media: Communities

Google Makes New Ad Quality Videos

Perhaps in an effort to become more transparent, or maybe just hoping more people start advertising, Google has published two new videos on Quality Scores.

As their Inside AdWords blog describes the first is an introductory video, "an overview of Quality Score and answers to some common questions about Ads Quality." Great for people curious about how Quality Scores work and some idea of what elements impact them.

The second is a little more advanced.

Good job guys...

Posted by Frank Watson on December 2, 9:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Related: Google: AdWords

Dogpile.com's Search & Rescue Program Raises First $100,000 for ASPCA

Dogpile.com searchers have raised $100,000 for the Search & Rescue Program, a philanthropic arm that donates money to animal-related charities. The program is on its way to reaching its goal of raising $1 million for the ASPCA by the end of 2009.

“Whether people are using Dogpile.com for their online holiday shopping or just for general information searches, the traffic to the site has helped us raise a significant amount for the ASPCA already,” said Stacy Ybarra, senior director of corporate giving, InfoSpace. “Search and Rescue allows any individual with access to a computer to support a worthy cause without significantly changing their habits or spending a penny of their own money.”

Posted by Nathania Johnson on December 2, 1:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Related: Other Engines: Dogpile

Former AOL CEO Jonathan Miller Trying to Raise Funds to Buy All or Part of Yahoo

This is breaking news and it is literally just a headline from the Wall Street Journal at this point. Jonathan Miller, former CEO of AOL, is trying to raise funds to buy all or part of Yahoo.

It was suspected that Miller would have been tapped to run things if Microsoft had indeed acquired Yahoo earlier in the year, but of course they didn't.

Miller may have trouble coming up with the funds with credit markets in their current dried up state.

Just yesterday, we learned that Carl Icahn bought 7 million more shares of Yahoo. Was that move a little too coincidental in light of today's news?

Have your say in the comments.

Posted by Nathania Johnson on December 2, 12:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Related: Yahoo

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