Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.
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Daily Search Forum Recap: January 30, 2009
Posted: January 30th, 2009, 10:00pm CET by rustybrick
Tags: Search Forum Recap
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(Text) Recap of Weekly Search Buzz :: January 30, 2009
Posted: January 30th, 2009, 11:57am CET by rustybrick
Tags: Search Buzz RoundUp
I am still on that quasi vacation so, this will be a text recap, instead of the video recap. Next week, I hope to resume the videos, because I know how much you guys love looking at me.
This week, I covered over twenty-five threads, the topics I found most interesting were the following. Matt Cutts discussed how Google reacts to Google Bombs. Google also is testing favorite icons to the search results. Yahoo explained why they are doing auto-optimization for some advertisers. Google has a new display URL policy, which might be a big deal for some advertisers. Google's new did you mean feature seems to be here for good. People are seeing AdSense in AOL instant messenger. Google pushes the new interface to some AdWords advertisers. Google fixes SMS search. The click fraud rate is higher. Google helps parents catch their son looking at porn. Yahoo and Google celebrate New Years. Those were the highlights this week from the Search Engine Roundtable.
- Google Bomb Defusing Has Two Algorithms
- Google Testing Site Fav Icons in Search Results?
- Yahoo Now Calling Us Liars Regarding Their Auto-Optimization of Campaigns
- Google AdWords Requiring One Domain Per Ad Group?
- Google Confirms New Display URL Policy: One Domain Per Ad Group
- Google's Enhanced "Did You Mean" Now Default
- Is AOL Testing Google AdSense Ads in Messenger?
- Google Invites More Advertisers To Test Beta AdWords Interface
- Google Finally Confirms Fixing SMS Search
- Click Fraud Rate Reaches 17.1 Percent
- Google Helps Parents Catch Son Searching For Porn
- Chinese New Year At Yahoo.com & Google's Malaysia Site
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The Colorblind Want To Use Google Maps Traffic Data
Posted: January 30th, 2009, 8:12am CET by rustybrick
Tags: Other Google Topics
Google Maps has very useful traffic data but it plots that traffic data using colors. For example, here is a screen capture of traffic new NYC:
But those that are severely colorblind are not able to see traffic data. One such person posted a complaint in Google Help Groups asking for an "alternative way" of displaying such data on Google Maps for those that are colorblind.
Interesting point, making Google Maps more accessible for the colorblind.
Forum discussion at Google Help Groups.
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Google Confirms New Display URL Policy: One Domain Per Ad Group
Posted: January 30th, 2009, 8:06am CET by rustybrick
Tags: Google AdWords
On Sunday, we reported that Google will now be requiring one domain per ad group as part of their new display URL policy in the AdWords program. In short, what this means is that you cannot advertiser for rustybrick.com and seroundtable.com in the same AdWords ad group.
We were unable to confirm that this change is indeed going to happen until today. AdWordsAdvisor in that WebmasterWorld thread confirmed the change by saying:
I can confirm that there is a change coming up, the intent of which is to make sure users are sent to the site to which they expect to be sent.
That said, I am so far behind in general (which, by the way, also accounts for my less than sterling attendence in the forum the past week and more) that I am not yet up-to-speed on the details.
I will look into it and post again later. To set reasonable expectations, it is not likely to be earlier than late in the day tomorrow (Friday) - just looking at what I've got to get done before I can even start digging into it.
My apology for not having a concise answer, right now.
So if you are very interested in these details, I would visit WebmasterWorld again later today.
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.
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Google Reader Recommendation Lists Stops Updating
Posted: January 30th, 2009, 8:01am CET by rustybrick
Tags: Other Google Topics
We have confirmed reports that Google Reader's recommendation list feature stopped updating some time over the past day or so. The recommendation list is suppose to show you other blogs or feeds that you might be interested in, based on your current feed subscriptions at Google Reader.
In a Google Groups thread, one Google Reader user noticed that he/she stopped receiving recommendations. So he/she reported the issue, and Google confirmed the bug. Google said they hope to fix it in a day or so.
Roger from the Google Reader team said:
Thanks for reporting this. After a bit of investigating, we think we've found something that might be keeping some recommendations from updating. We're hoping to have this fixed by the end of the day. Please let us know if you're still having trouble after a few days.
Forum discussion at Google Groups.
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Google AdWords XML Reports Missing Decimals
Posted: January 30th, 2009, 7:55am CET by rustybrick
Tags: Google AdWords
Confirmed reports at a Google AdWords Help thread show that if you use the XML format for Google AdWords reports, you will be missing decimal values in the report.
The advertiser who reported this noticed the discrepancy when he generate duplicate reports, one in Excel format and one is XML format. The advertiser said:
When I generate reports in excel format, I get the right number for avg cpc with decimasl, and when I generate an xml format it gives me a different one without the decimal. e.g. In Excel it is avgcpc = 1.50 while in XML avgcpc= 1478393. I think there is a bug in the reports when converted to XML format.
AdWordsPro Stephen confirmed the issue and said he will follow up on why this is the case and let us know if it is a bug or a 'feature.'
Forum discussion at Google AdWords Help.
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Google Invites More Advertisers To Test Beta AdWords Interface
Posted: January 30th, 2009, 7:51am CET by rustybrick
Tags: Google AdWords
Back in November 2008, we reported Google was testing a new AdWords interface. It seems like we are getting more reports from blogs and WebmasterWorld that more advertisers are now able to see this new interface.
It is an opt in feature, where Google is asking some of their advertisers if they would like to participate in the new interface.
Tim Cohn posted some additional screen captures at his blog, taking you through some of the new features and sleeker designs and reports.
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.