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 4, 2010
Posted: January 4th, 2010, 10:00pm CET by rustybrick
Tags: Search Forum Recap
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Google's Blue Interface (AKA Jazz) Being Seen By More Searchers
Posted: January 4th, 2010, 2:42pm CET by rustybrick
Tags: Google Search Engine
In November, we reported on the Google Blue Jazz interface, a new Google user interface Google hopes to push sometime this year. Technically, it is not named Jazz, but I think that is the name that might stick. Only a few Google users saw the interface. But ever since the New Years period, I have been seeing more and more reports of users seeing the interface.
Here is a picture of the front page:
Actually, a reader sent me some crisp pictures of the various pages. You can see them all at [twitpic.com].
Anyway, the main thing here is that it is not "new" in that it was announced a few months back. But expect more and more people to see it in the upcoming weeks and/or months.
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorldand DigitalPoint Forums and many other threads which prop up at Google Web Search Help.
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Yahoo Paid Inclusion Still Live?
Posted: January 4th, 2010, 2:29pm CET by rustybrick
Tags: Yahoo Search Marketing
Yahoo's paid inclusion program was suppose to end on December 31st. But some are reporting in a WebmasterWorld thread that the paid inclusion results are still in the Yahoo Search index.
I have not looked myself, but this person is saying the paid inclusion (search submit) URLs are still in the index. He said:
I still see all the paid spots working.
This can be for two reasons:
(1) Yahoo's Search Submit product is still indeed active.
or
(2) Yahoo indexed the special search submit URLs and they show up in the free listings as free?
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.
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Malware in 2010 : Hiding in Google Search Results
Posted: January 4th, 2010, 2:11pm CET by rustybrick
Tags: Google Search Engine
No one will deny it, not even Google. Viruses, malware, spyware and so on, is currently a major issue on the Internet. Google and other search engines has stepped up how they detect and block malware from showing up in their index. But now, in 2010, expect it to get a lot worse. Expect those who produce malware to not look to just infect computers, but to look to get around Google's malware detection techniques and infect even more computers.
A WebmasterWorld thread has reports of more and more malware getting through Google's filters. For example, we reported a major malware breach using the keyword phrase blackberry news via CNN as some sort of 302 redirect malware hack. Google finally removed it, but I wonder how many computers were infected by that?
The WebmasterWorld thread is discussing several people's experiences with recent malware infections they or friends received via a Google search.
I know Google is doing what they can to prevent this, but it is hard to keep up. So just be wary of what you click on via email, Google, Facebook and so on. The best prevention is being smart.
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.
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Microsoft adCenter Offering Free Search Ads Over New Years?
Posted: January 4th, 2010, 2:03pm CET by rustybrick
Tags: MSN Microsoft adCenter
A WebmasterWorld thread and adCenter Forum thread have reports that Microsoft adCenter is reporting that clicks are not being charged. Yes, the adCenter reports are showing a $0.00 cost per click in their reports.
Here are some of the reports from the advertisers:
Whilst I'd love this to be real, looks like a bug as clicks priced at 0.00 aren't so common!
No matter which report I call up - I'm not being charged (according to the reports) for clicks.
Yes, I'm seeing the same thing. All reports yesterday and today show $0.00.
I'm guessing we'll see this resolved Monday morning. On the other hand, it might be Microsoft's way of thanking us for our business in 2009 ;)
Many suspect this is some sort of reporting glitch. I suspect so to. But it would be nice if it was not a glitch and Microsoft gave some of their advertisers a nice New Years bonus.
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld and adCenter Forum.
Update: I guess this is a bug, @adCenter tweeted:
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Yep, Googlers Working on January 1st, New Years Day
Posted: January 4th, 2010, 1:51pm CET by rustybrick
Tags: Other Google Topics
Many of those in the SEO, SEM, Web Design and related businesses find themselves working on holidays such as New Years and Christmas. I think it is more about the self-employed mentality versus it being computer related. Of course, computer related jobs tend to be good to work at any time. In any event, it is nice to know that you are not the only one working on these days. That is why we have Twitter and such. :)
I tend to report every year that I spot Googlers working on these holidays. Googlers were working on this past Christmas and they, JohnMu, was working on New Years day.
I spotted John posting not in just the Happy New Year thread but also in a couple webmaster related threads.
This is not new to John or Googlers, they did it New Years 2009 New Years 2008. Also Christmas 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006.
Happy New Year all!
Forum discussion at Google Webmaster Help.
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Isaac Newton 367th Birthday Brings Google's First Animated Doodle (Logo)
Posted: January 4th, 2010, 1:36pm CET by rustybrick
Tags: Google Search Engine
If you visit Google.com today, you will see a Google Doodle (logo) of an Apple tree. If you wait a couple seconds, you will notice that one of the apple's falls off the tree. Yes, it is Issac Newton's birthday, 367 years ago today, and it is also the first ever (I believe) animated Google Doodle (logo) in history.
Here is a picture of the logo:
Want to see how it was/is animated? Here is a short video:
Everyone, I think, knows the story behind Issac Newton's theory of gravitation. So hence the apple falling off the apple tree. It is great to see Google have a Doodle for Issac Newton. But you got to believe there will be two points of controversy with this Doodle.
(1) Like always, there are plenty of other important events that occurred on January 4th
(2) Google has never really animated their logo in the past. Why now? They did recently have a neat I'm Feeling Lucky easter egg. Too see that click here.
Forum discussion at Google Web Search Help, DigitalPoint Forums and Google Webmaster Help.