CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-05-23 14:34:13 (11 comments, 5 reshares, 21 +1s)

Google Doesn't Support Schema Mark-Up for Breadcrumbs

Maybe everyone already knew this or maybe you were a bit confused (like I was). But I've confirmed that Google doesn't support schema mark-up for breadcrumb snippets. 

You'll want to use data-vocabulary mark-up instead as detailed in the help section: http://bit.ly/14ChFzt

#seo   #structureddata  

2013-05-23 13:50:55 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 2 +1s)

Showrooming Might Not Actually Be So Common

Fresh off a research release showing that webrooming is actually far more common amongst Millennials than showrooming, new statistics from xAd and Telmetrics demonstrate that retailers’ concerns over showrooming may be unnecessary. According to new data released from the “Mobile Path to Purchase” study specific to the retail sector, just 6% of smartphone users conducted their most recent mobile retail search in-store. What’s more, that figure doesn’t vary much among different retail categories, ranging from 4.7% of apparel shoppers to 7.1% of electronics shoppers.

The truth is that physical location creates a ton of friction and takes advantage of inertia. Maybe another store has it for $10 less but you'd have to drive x number of miles to get there and you probably have some doubt that they have it in stock and you windup decidi... more »

2013-05-23 13:43:27 (9 comments, 5 reshares, 11 +1s)

Matt Cutts Talks About Penguin 2.0

Most interesting takeaway here is that 2.0 targets link schemes beyond the home page. 

#seo  

2013-05-23 13:16:03 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 24 +1s)

I did not wake up in Lilleøre, Denmark.

#ididnotwakeupin via: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaaregade/5738249978

2013-05-23 00:46:31 (12 comments, 7 reshares, 36 +1s)

Penguin 2.0 Live

We started rolling out the next generation of the Penguin webspam algorithm this afternoon (May 22, 2013), and the rollout is now complete. About 2.3% of English-US queries are affected to the degree that a regular user might notice. The change has also finished rolling out for other languages world-wide. The scope of Penguin varies by language, e.g. languages with more webspam will see more impact.

via: http://bit.ly/10RoFb5

2013-05-22 23:49:20 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Tiny Heads Robot

2013-05-22 21:25:27 (2 comments, 6 reshares, 15 +1s)

Google Analytics Goal Templates

We’ve redesigned and added new templates to the Goals set-up flow so you can add meaningful and actionable Goals to your Analytics account quickly.

_When you use a template, the Goal setup flow is prefilled with suggested values (based on your industry) that you can either keep or change as you walk through the process. The templates are organized into four business objectives (Revenue, Acquisition, Inquiry, Engagement) to help you think about the purpose of each Goal, plus you can still create custom goals. _

Many people struggle with Goal creation so I'm interested to test these out and see how they work. 

P.S. - The link in this piece (https://developers.google.com/adwords/api/docs/appendix/verticals) is something a savvy SEO should be looking at.

#googleanalytics   #analytics  

2013-05-22 14:18:32 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 8 +1s)

Rimm-Kaufman Group Acquires Nine By Blue

The Rimm-Kaufman Group has acquired Vanessa Fox’s company Nine By Blue for an undisclosed amount consisting of 100 percent cash and stock deal.

The acquisition includes hiring the talent behind Nine By Blue, including our very own Vanessa Fox, a Contributing Editor editor here and at Search Engine Land, as well as the Blueprint search analytics and diagnostics software.

More movement in the agency landscape. Congrats to +RKG | Rimm-Kaufman Group, +Adam Audette and +Vanessa Fox.

#seo    

2013-05-22 14:11:56 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 6 +1s)

Google Now Search Reminders

Google Now is now more baked into Google Search. For example, if you do a search for [when is fathers day 2013 or other factual dated queries, Google will not just show you the knowledge graph answer but also let you set a reminder via Google Now.

#googlenow   #awesome  

2013-05-22 13:16:04 (9 comments, 2 reshares, 36 +1s)

I did not wake up in Zion National Park, Utah.

#ididnotwakeupin

2013-05-21 23:29:33 (7 comments, 4 reshares, 13 +1s)

Shifting to Disposable Personas

“We tried creating personas and it was hard. It took us months and they never got traction. Eventually we abandoned the project.”

I’ve heard this dozens of times from design team managers. They all embarked on these big persona projects, often with energy and excitement, only to find that energy dissipate and the project lose its momentum. Personas that don’t help make design decisions are a waste.

However, it doesn’t have to be that way. These projects fail because of a perspective problem. The design teams think of making personas as a project in itself. I’ve come to the conclusion that thinking this way will lead to failure.

I have soured on personas because of just this problem. People approach them as a project and begin to think of those personas as some sort of pantheon of site gods that must be catered toat every tu... more »

2013-05-21 22:12:54 (1 comments, 2 reshares, 19 +1s)

Awesome.

2013-05-21 17:32:12 (2 comments, 4 reshares, 19 +1s)

I did not wake up in Chenonceaux, France.

#ididnotwakeupin via: http://www.flickr.com/photos/b-rad/145256446

2013-05-21 17:31:47 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Mining Google's ved Parameter

Love the work +Tim Resnik has done here to get some information out of Google's referrer. I've been playing around with ways to identify personalized search clicks via the referrer. So far I haven't found the pattern but ... I'll keep trying.

#seo  

2013-05-21 15:20:01 (17 comments, 1 reshares, 6 +1s)

So it looks like some of my posts are not making them to the stream at all. Not even on my own public profile. #wtf  

2013-05-21 14:32:18 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 5 +1s)

Google Domain Clustering Update?

The filtering appears to be controlled by the omit results filter parameter “filter=” with a setting of 1 or 0.

Good find by +Justin Briggs. I can confirm that one of my test cases for host clustering (one I sent to +Matt Cutts) is impacted by this filter (on the first page of results).

https://www.google.com/search?q=haircut+concord+ca&filter=1 (4 Yelp results)
https://www.google.com/search?q=haircut+concord+ca&filter=0 (8 Yelp results)

This is very good news from my perspective, not just for a handful of clients where I find this troublesome but for users over all.

#seo   #hostcrowding  

2013-05-21 01:40:21 (8 comments, 10 reshares, 18 +1s)

Path Intelligence

The data these folks are collecting really is interesting and useful, albeit does get a bit creepy. But watching this I thought about how it might give rise to shielding or jamming devices which thwarted these types of collection efforts. 

As this type of tracking and data gathering becomes more pervasive might there be a business opportunity to defeat it or perhaps a type of do not call list variant that would opt-out certain cell phones. 

It's interesting to think about how this will all evolve and play out. 

#mobile   #retail   #privacy  

2013-05-21 00:20:02 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Does thinking too specifically about a bet make you more likely to lose?

The researchers think it's essentially because by trying to be too specific, we trip ourselves up. For example when you try to guess the score of a soccer match, you are more likely to focus on specific factors like the form of the striker, their goalie's recent divorce settlement or the colour of the manager's shirt. In doing so you neglect the fact that the match is an away fixture.

When you just try to predict the outcome of the match, though, you'll tend to take a more global view. This encourages you to concentrate mainly on really important factors.

If I understand it right, it's not that they get the score right, but that by trying to also predict the score they got the outcome wrong more often than those only trying to predict the outcome. 

That's a... more »

2013-05-20 23:21:20 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

A Better, Brighter Flickr

In the beginning, Flickr innovated the way people share and discover photos. Today, we are shifting the photo-sharing landscape again. We’re releasing a Flickr that’s more spectacular, much bigger, and one you can take anywhere.

In some ways you might think it's a little too little a little too late but ... I just don't see any other photo community really being that far ahead of Flickr now that these changes (big changes) won't get them back on top. 

#flickr  

2013-05-20 21:02:11 (11 comments, 3 reshares, 9 +1s)

True story?

2013-05-20 20:39:26 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 6 +1s)

2013-05-20 20:00:27 (2 comments, 17 reshares, 57 +1s)

Introducing Keyword Planner

We’re constantly working to simplify the process of building campaigns, and today we’re happy to announce the launch of a new tool, Keyword Planner, which combines the functionality of the Keyword Tool and Traffic Estimator into a smooth, integrated workflow. You can use Keyword Planner to find new keyword and ad group ideas, get performance estimates for them to find the bid and budget that are right for you, and then add them to your campaigns. You’ll also see some new features in the tool - some of which we’ll highlight below.

We'll see about this. I'm wary when Google launches something based on simplicity within the AdWords interface. #ppc  

2013-05-20 19:58:04 (1 comments, 2 reshares, 17 +1s)

How does Google think about search quality when it relies on subjective signals?

I love this answer by +Matt Cutts. Algorithms are inherently subjective because they are designed by people who have a certain perspective, bias or strategy for ranking sites. This is just fine.

It's also the reason why I look for how Google is approaching or thinking about problems. That's where you can gain some insight that goes beyond the now and can prepare you for the future.

#seo  

2013-05-20 17:12:26 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

The One Phrase That Must Exist in an Entrepreneur's Vocabulary

No.

The one word the best entrepreneurs never accept.

I said it.

Now let me walk you through a broader story because avoidance of the word in and of itself will seem cliche.

I actually love the word No and I think +Mark Suster might agree because there are hundreds of times when saying no helps you focus and stay on task or avoid a bad hire even though you've got pressure to grow. No can be good. Very good.

But what this post is really about is the phrase you must have in business and ... life:

It never hurts to ask.

This I believe in 138% and I live by it every day. Don't be scared if they say no, or if that email you sent is never returned. You just can't know what will happen if you just ask. The pretty girl in high... more »

2013-05-20 13:32:45 (4 comments, 6 reshares, 8 +1s)

2013-05-20 13:13:03 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 30 +1s)

I did not wake up in Obersee, Germany.

#ididnotwakeupin

2013-05-19 13:14:01 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 27 +1s)

I did not wake up in Chenzhuang, China.

#ididnotwakeupin

2013-05-18 16:07:07 (1 comments, 4 reshares, 17 +1s)

Shoppers who use mobile more, spend more in store

While many marketers assume that smartphone shoppers use shopping apps or navigate directly to brand and retail websites while in a store, we found that 82% of smartphone shoppers use mobile search to help make purchase decisions. This represents a critical moment where businesses can win or lose customers - whether they’re navigating the aisle in your store or your competitor’s. Mobile shoppers are looking for information or savings in the key decision moments, so businesses should own the digital shelf by making sure they’re present when customers are searching and that relevant information is easy to find.

At the end of the day not embracing mobile from a retail perspective is a rejection of reality. Consumers are going to use mobile and retailers simply need to ensure they're doing everything they can to keep thoseusers... more »

2013-05-18 15:24:37 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 9 +1s)

Superhero Alternative Singers

As a child of the 80's I was heavily influenced by everything from saturday morning cartoons on TV to the music coming from the radio. Ian Curtis or Johnny Rotten are as iconic to me as Superman or Batman. Real people or imaginary characters, the incorruptible ideals of perfect superheroes or the human flaws and desires sometimes so desperately depicted in song lyrics - all of those influences affect us to the point of defining our character and personality, career paths and life choices.

via: http://www.behance.net/gallery/The-Post-Punk-New-Wave-Super-Friends-by-Butcher-Billy/8688795

2013-05-18 15:04:50 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 6 +1s)

Should you include the same keyword with all match types?

There are many ways to structure your account and everyone does it differently. Some think that adding all three match types will bring in traffic and clicks which will lead to conversions. Others think that having all three in an ad group will capture all audiences out there which they think is the best approach. Personally, I’d rather have less traffic if I know I’m bringing in the right traffic. However, everyone has an opinion on this topic and I would love to hear yours!

I've had a lot of luck using all match types in my campaigns, but it's not an absolute and you better be minding your bid strategies by match type to really benefit from this tactic. I too would like to hear from some savvy pros on the topic.

cc: +Todd Mintz, +Terry Whalen  #ppc   

2013-05-18 14:49:30 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 5 +1s)

Tablet Impressions Growing Quicker That Smartphones

The volume of smartphone impressions on the Millennial Media platform is increasing, but not as quickly as impressions from non-phone connected devices, represented primarily by tablets.

It's a multi-screen world folks and you should be optimizing for each platform if you have the dev resources. 

#mobile   #multiscreen  

2013-05-18 14:48:04 (5 comments, 7 reshares, 30 +1s)

Cool #caturday

2013-05-18 14:41:46 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 4 +1s)

Connect Loyalty Programs to Google Wallet

Consumers want access to all of their loyalty cards, offers, and more on their smartphone. An average household has 18 loyalty cards but use less than half of these cards regularly because of the inconvenience. And the same goes for tickets, membership cards and other items.

With this vision in mind, we are announcing the Google Wallet Objects API

So smart and Google Wallet has the inside track here with their position in the smart phone market. Wallet has always seemed to struggle (despite a pretty strong offering IMO) but is now executing far more effectively. It can't come soon enough in my book.

#googlewallet   #mcommerce  

2013-05-18 14:38:04 (2 comments, 9 reshares, 5 +1s)

Send Money With Gmail and Google Wallet

To send money in Gmail, hover over the attachment paperclip, click the $ icon to attach money to your message, enter the amount you wish to send, and press send.

I'm a big Google Wallet fan and am stoked for this integration. Configuring a few things today in hopes of getting in early on the rollout. And if you get it before me, send me a small amount of money so I can get in too.

#googlewallet  

2013-05-18 14:26:13 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Quantum Computing Meets Machine Learning

We’ve already developed some quantum machine learning algorithms. One produces very compact, efficient recognizers -- very useful when you’re short on power, as on a mobile device. Another can handle highly polluted training data, where a high percentage of the examples are mislabeled, as they often are in the real world. And we’ve learned some useful principles: e.g., you get the best results not with pure quantum computing, but by mixing quantum and classical computing.

Read this post. It's one of the more eloquent and concise presentations of machine learning and why it's both hard and important. 

#search   #quantumcomputing   #whoa  

2013-05-18 14:13:22 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 16 +1s)

True story.

2013-05-18 13:16:04 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

I did not wake up in Niagara Falls, New York.

#ididnotwakeupin via: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joshangehr/5629889413

2013-05-17 14:27:09 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 12 +1s)

Will Yahoo Buy Tumblr?

“One of our challenges is we have had an aging demographic,” said Goldman at the Boston event. “Part of it is going to be just visibility again in making ourselves cool, which we got away from for a couple of years.”

According to sources close to the situation, that could mean a strategic alliance and investment in or outright buy of perhaps the coolest Internet company of late: Tumblr.

Sources said the talks were serious, but any kind of deal — of course — could come to naught.

But it’s not the first time Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer has been interested in the New York-based hipster blogging service. As an executive at Google, she had closely watched its fast growth, along with that of Foursquare. Since she took over at Yahoo, several sources said that she has met with its top execs, including founder and CEO David Karp.
This ... more »

2013-05-17 13:10:42 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 23 +1s)

I did not wake up in Brooklyn, New York.

#ididnotwakeupin  via: http://www.flickr.com/photos/severalseconds/8734610213

2013-05-16 16:06:52 (3 comments, 7 reshares, 16 +1s)

Local Businesses Get New Rating System

Users who opt-in to the new Google Maps will now rate businesses on a scale that ranges from one to five stars. The system maintains the precision of the former 30 point scale while improving the readability and accessibility of the business listings. Your customers will be able to find up-to-date, accurate information on your business faster than ever. As a business owner, you’ll notice that past ratings have been mapped to the five star system.

Scraping the Zagat 30 point scale sort of seemed inevitable. 

#local  

2013-05-16 13:49:17 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

Avoiding Misinformation While Learning from Search Related Patents

Google might not currently be using a process described in a patent, but they may have in the past, or might in the future. Regardless, don’t take the existence of a patent as gospel, but also don’t automatically tune patents out. They provide a chance to learn about assumptions from search engineers about search, searchers, search engines, and the Web. We can learn from them about research directions from Google and Microsoft and Bing and others, and what they found valuable enough to protect as intellectual property.

I agree with both +Matt Cutts and +Bill Slawski when talking about the issues of patent review and analysis. Those who take patents on their face are missing the point. To me the greater value is in understanding the mindset, assumptions, trends, direction and patterns that emerge in thesedocum... more »

2013-05-16 13:37:26 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

The Backslappy Nature of Social Media

I'm a nice guy, right? I generally root for people to succeed, even in situations when I'm skeptical of their plans. And a pat on the back - of encouragement, or a job well done - I know that matters. But I'm sorry, I can't do it any more. The "congrats" tweets. They need to stop.

I completely agree with +Hunter Walk. I can't really stand these fauxgrats. If i know someone or they know me, then I think it makes complete sense. But the random 'congrats to x company for your new round, I knew you'd make it' are more empty calories of social media.

#twitter  

2013-05-16 13:15:20 (1 comments, 4 reshares, 12 +1s)

True story.

2013-05-16 13:11:07 (1 comments, 2 reshares, 7 +1s)

Take Action Right From The Inbox

Email is an important part of how we get things done -- from planning an event with friends to organizing that family vacation to Costa Rica. And today, getting those things done is getting a little easier with new quick action buttons in Gmail, designed to help you tackle your digital to-do’s as quickly as possible.

Interactive posts come to email. I really, really like this, particularly since I'm already in the Gmail field trial.

#email   #google  

2013-05-16 13:07:58 (2 comments, 4 reshares, 4 +1s)

Using Markup For Organization Logos

Today, we’re launching support for the schema.org markup for organization logos, a way to connect your site with an iconic image. We want you to be able to specify which image we use as your logo in Google search results.

Google wants a little help figuring out how to associate logos to entities. Seems simple enough. 

#search   #structureddata  

2013-05-16 13:02:34 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

A Multi-Screen and Conversational Search Experience

Today, we previewed what this conversational experience will look like in Chrome on your desktops and laptops. Soon, you’ll be able to just say, hands-free, “OK Google, will it be sunny in Santa Cruz this weekend?” and get a spoken answer. Then, you’ll be able to continue the conversation and just follow up with “how far is it from here?” if you care about the drive or “how about Monterey?” if you want to check weather somewhere else, and get Google to tell you the answer.

With the new reminders in Now, not only can you save things to remember later, but you can actually pick a time or place to trigger those reminders, so they pop up at just the right time. Because a note to buy milk, paper towels and food for the dog, is a lot more helpful when you’re actually at the grocery store. Or if you’re about tomiss the last train... more »

2013-05-16 11:46:03 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 12 +1s)

I did not wake up in Concord, California.

#ididnotwakeupin  

2013-05-16 01:39:08 (8 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

Walking back to the hotel.

2013-05-15 22:22:34 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 20 +1s)

You know what this new photo layout means? I can use more vertical photos in my #ididnotwakeupin  series!

2013-05-15 22:18:22 (18 comments, 8 reshares, 43 +1s)

New Google+.