SearchCap: The Day In Search, January 30, 2008

Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.

From Search Engine Land:

• 
  Google Universal Search: 2008 Edition
  It’s just over a half-year since Google launched Universal Search, its method of blending results from its own various topically-focused or "vertical" search engines. Since that time, the system has evolved. In particular, Google Universal Search now fills more than just 10 spots on the page, while shopping and…
• 
  SMX West: Preview Our Upcoming Conference In Sight & Sound
  Search Engine Land’s first three day search marketing conference — SMX West — is only about a month away. Thinking about going? We’ve got a great program lined up, and I’ve just finished a podcast giving those interested an audio preview of what to expect. Check it out here…
• 
  Visualize Earthquake Data In Google Earth
  The US Geological Survey and Google are now making global earthquake data available in Google Earth as one of the layers under “Places of Interest.”…
• 
  Scientologists Google Bombed Or Not?
  Just days after the one-year anniversary of Google’s Google bomb fix, a new Google bomb may have gotten through — dangerous cult, bringing up the Scientology web site, as shown above. But is it really getting past the fix? Considering one of the targeted words is being used on…
• 
  Search Engine Reputation Management: Setting & Managing Expectations
  The euphemistic phrase “reputation management issue” describes what happens when you have a problem arise in search engine result pages. Whether its the result of an algorithm change, bloggers or social media sites jumping on negative news or other negative linking bandwagons, reputation management issues are a major pain…
• 
  Yahoo Earnings Mixed, Company To Go Through With 1,000 Job Cuts Amid Uncertain 2008
  Despite the hopes of many and rumors that Yahoo would post “strong” earnings, Q4 2007 results (PDF) were mixed, and net income was down from a year ago. In addition, CEO Jerry Yang said the company faced “headwinds” in 2008 and offered weak guidance but promised a return to growth…
• 
  SEMPO State Of SEM Survey, SEOmoz Industry Survey & SEMMYS Need Your Help
  There are three surveys underway right now for the search engine marketing industry looking for participation. SEMPO and SEOmoz are both running surveys to collect data on the search marketing industry that, while the SEMMYS are a more fun look at search marketing articles up for awards….
• 
  The Big B2B PPC Mistake
  It’s been said that the three rules of marketing are brand recognition, brand recognition, and brand recognition. Given that, marketers spend considerable funds and resources to ensure that people recognize their brands and connect with them. In other words, brand matters. Yet, when it comes to PPC marketing, the…
• 
  Don’t Panic – Plan For Disaster
  If you’ve been in business for any length of time, you know all about the “hit by a bus” scenario. What happens when key members of your team leave? Is there knowledge sharing among the team? Can your business function effectively while you scramble to find a replacement, and…
• 
  4 Days to Save Big on SMX Social Media
  Registration is now open for SMX Social Media – but hurry, the current “pre-agenda price” will expire on February 2. SMX Social Media is coming to Long Beach, California, April 22 & 23. This SMX Social Media is an encore presentation of the standing-room only New York City edition presented…

Search News From Around The Web:

Applications & Portal Features

• Google fixes Gmail IMAP problem on Windows Mobile, InfoWorld
• 5 Top uses for Google Reader, Bloggle
• Google Finance UK open for business, Official Google Blog
• Subscribe to Feeds in Google Reader Mobile, Google Operating System

Business Issues

• The Gray Areas of Search-Engine Law, IEEE Spectrum
• Yahoo CAPTCHA Hacked, Slashdot
• Beyond Vertical Search to Business Networks, Read/Write Web
• Google Korea to intensify R&D efforts this yea, Korea.net
• As Downturn Looms, Google Looks Recession-Proof, Wired
• Let’s Trash Yahoo During Happy Hour, TechCrunch

Local, Maps & Mobile

• Google extends deadline for the Android Development Contest, Googling Google
• Display a Google Calendar in Google Maps, Google Operating System
• Google and Dell tipped to reveal iPhone rival plans, Marketing Week
• Google China’s Travel Help Map, Google Blogoscoped
• Portugal’s Marvo in 3D in Google Earth, Google Earth Blog

Paid Search & Contextual

• Gaming Google AdWords with Google Redirects, ShoeMoney
• Google AdWords: Geotargeting Options, Search Engine Guide
• Inside AdSense: Pinning it down (to $10), Inside AdSense
• Duplicate AdWords Headline in Description: Does It Work?, Search Engine Roundtable
• Enhance your campaigns with keyword research and optimization tools, adCenter Blog
• Generate More Qualified Leads Through Your Ad Text for B2B PPC Campaigns, PPC Hero
• How To Tell A Prospective PPC Client their Paid Search SUCKS!, SEM Geek
• Yahoo Forgets to Renew Security Certificate for Publisher Network, Search Engine Roundtable

Searching

• Bookmark Google Search Results, Google Operating System
• Google News Blog: We want to hear from you!, googlenewsblog.blogspot.com
• Google Bombing And SEM Is Evolving Into "Search Engine Activism", MediaPost
• Google’s I’m Feeling Lucky Button Enabling Spam, Natural Search Blog
• Primary Documents: Tools to Track Legal Cases from Some Major IT Companies (and Others), ResourceShelf

SEM Industry

• We Have A Critical Need for SEO Standards, SEO Theory
• Interview With The Editor of Sphinn – Rob Kerry (EvilGreenMonkey), Search Engine People
• SEMpdx Searchfest 08 Mini-Interview: Dustin Woodard (Wetpaint) , SEMpdx Blog

SEO & SEM

• Bruceclay.com – Hey Rand, Do You Mean Siloing?, BruceClay.com
• Do You Care About Google Glitches? : SEO Book.com, SEO Book
• Rewriting the Beginner’s Guide to SEO: Rewriting, Server , SEOmoz
• Hip-Hip Hurray | MSNbot Can Handle 301 Redirects, www.tellinya.com
• Lessons Learned from Positon 6 Filter and New Video for IM Ninjas, Jim Boykin
• How to Make Money from Trackback Spam, SEOCO Blog
• Magento SEO (search engine friendly Magento shopping cart), John Andrews
• Be an SEO White Witch or Face Meltdown, AIM Clear Blog
• Goodbye Google PageRank?, Search Engine Journal
• The Day the Agency Model Died, Search Engine Watch
• The New Age of Search Marketing, Search Engine Watch
• Understanding & Visualizing Network Effects, SEO Book

Social Media

• Tell the World About Your Twitter Profile, Stepforth
• Have Facebook Apps Peaked in Popularity?, Read/Write Web
• It’s Hard to Hide From Your ‘Friends’ – WSJ.com, Wall Street Journal
• The new weapons in crime fighting: YouTube and Facebook, The Globe & Mail
• Ajaxonomy Hacks Together del.icio.us Spy, TechCrunch

Video, Music & Image Search

• Zuula Adds Video Search, Launches Search Toolbar, and Increases Blog Search Options, www.prweb.com
• NBCU Exec Applaudes ‘Video-Snacking’ After YouTube Snub, Wired

Other Items

• Should Google Spice Up Their "404 Not Found" Pages?, Search Engine Roundtable

Last 20 Hot Items From Sphinn, Our Social News Sharing Site:

• Position 6 Penalty (Error) Confirmed by Matt Cutts of Google
• Persuasion Tactics: Two Ways to Improve Visitor Response for Your Website
• SEO Tools – Firefox Addons for Search Engine Optimization
• Deep Links to Business Week breaks their User Agreement
• In Search of Relevancy
• 12 Signs that You May Be a Social Media Addict
• Don’t Forget to Charge
• What does it take to rank for credit cards?
• Warning: Do Not Hire Sam’s Club for Search Marketing
• From 0 to 2000+ Subscribers in 120 Days
• Search Marketing Industry Survey 2008, Win an iPhone or $400 from Amazon
• The 19-Hour Website Analysis, in 20 Minutes or Less
• Who Really Could Buy Yahoo And Succeed
• Domain Tasting Goes Sour: ICANN Will No Longer Issue Registration Refunds
• Guest Blogging … A Risky Job?
• Happy Data Privacy Day!
• Search Illustrated: B2B Long Tail SEO
• 15 Fundamental Truths About Social Media Marketing
• Danny Sullivan goes black hat – Viagra spamming!
• Customer Focused Content
• I Twitter Therefore I Am
• 4 Lies to Tell Your Non-SEO Friends
• The Challenges of Multi-Author Blogs
• Social Search is all About Trust!

About The Author

Barry Schwartz

Barry Schwartz a Contributing Editor to Search Engine Land and a member of the programming team for SMX events. He owns RustyBrick, a NY based web consulting firm. He also runs Search Engine Roundtable, a popular search blog on very advanced SEM topics. Barry can be followed on Twitter here.