Smart Keywords

There seems to be some serious moves over at Yahoo! of late. They are revamping the PPC system, and as Mike Ewan over at Developer’s Shed pointed out in a recent article they have bought Flikr (a photosharing software co.), OddBall (a email co.), VOIP co. DialPad and now desktop widget Konfabulator.
These moves seem to paralell all the recent moves of Google – though a with a lot less noise.
So when is Yahoo! releasing their version of Talk IM – well considering they already have a full fledged video messaging system do they need to?
The recent letter by Ted Meisel (or Dean Capobianco if you received it in Australia) shows a little more than what people are talking about in response to it.
While it mentions the problems the new system upgrade and that any minor difficulties will be addressed quickly and hopefully be finished soon – it was an earlier comment that I think as more telling:
twice this is mentioned: “help us meet the needs of our growing customer base” and “to meet the increasing level of demand”.
While growth at Google seems to be a given the recent numbers support these statements. Yahoo! has improved its position in relation to Google for basic search – if searchers’ actions are the same then PPC is getting similiar increased numbers.
They will definitely take a broad hit when MSN spins off – but they have definitely created a solid safety net to help pick up the missing income.

Got to love the sense of whimsy Google brings to itself. They are now giving a recipe for Spam Quiche at the top of the GMail account Spam folder.

May have to try this recipe just to say I have.

Though if we are to believe real men don’t eat quiche, I am wondering if this is never intended to be made… merely laughed at by the numerous “real men” in this industry!

The recent diatribe by Doug over at I help You forum against the evil spammers and the pervasiveness of the conspirators who use or accept others doing it. Have a piece of quiche there Doug and calm down a little.

The New Media Report seems to share my view of the Google/Skype ties with their report today:

VoIP pioneer Skype Technology has decided to open up its IM network to allow other programs to take advantage of and expand their user base. The company’s text-based instant messaging service can now be integrated into web sites and internet applications. “Skype’s mission is to make communicating through the Internet natural and easy to do, so in addition to voice communications we offer the power of both instant messaging and presence,” said CEO Niklas Zennström in a recent statement. From online gaming to e-commerce, Skype IM integration will allow users to build a community almost anywhere, adding more warm bodies to a network 51 million users strong. The new SkypeNet and SkypeWeb API’s will give software developers access to the company’s IM protocols, allowing easy integration into other programs, including rival instant messenger clients. SkypeWeb will even let you post your Skype online status on your web site or blog with a few lines of HTML. Taking cues from Google much?

51 million users….

The speculation on the soon to happen announcement at Google is getting interesting. The mention of possibly buying Skype is one I think is a strong possibility of happening.

May have to look at what Skype is trading for tomorrow morning.

ImLive has rolled out international language versions of ImLive.com – the web’s leading site for live videochat with experts.

After 6 months of work by a team of languages experts, this sizeable expansion makes ImLive the first VideoChat site to ever provide services for users in multiple different languages.

These new sites will enable people to enjoy the ImLive experience in Italian, French, Spanish, German and Portuguese along with English. More languages are soon to follow.

These sites are more than just translated versions of ImLive.com – they feature only Hosts who speak the sites’ language to provide the user with a more localized and personal experience, and each site is tailored to the mentality of its users’ nationality. As opposed to the current domain of ImLive.com, these 5 new sites will be located at ImLive.net.

The new languages sites will expand ImLive’s user base by millions of non-English speakers from all over the world, an augmentation that everyone can gain from. Host and Agent sign-up have already begun and Guests will be able to sign up starting September 5th.

If you have websites in any of these languages contact Assaf the ImLive affiliate program representative, at ace@imlive.com, for more details on this exciting new undertaking. In addition, ImLive.net is hiring!

Though largely a rewrite of their press release I really think this site will be around for a long time to come and are offering something that has a lot of merit. Definitely worth checking out and seeing if there is anything there you can make some money with.

Since Google is in a second round of investment, it seems the “quiet time” rule is in effect. So speculation about the possible product rumored to be made public tomorrow is getting some attention at the search forums.

From what I have gathered the product will be Google Instant Messaging – using the Jabber-based platform which offers a wide scope of uses.

Apparently, Google has also been involved with VOIP so the messages may be going audio… instant voice messaging, add the Hello software they offer and you pretty much have an upclose and personal experience.

How long before people start using this technology to make a large portion of their phone conversations?

Google has a great working relationship with AOL – providing the PPC and organic results when everyone else is striking out on their own – if these two get together on the IM level then AOL goes vocal at the same time…. now that is a user base.

How long will it be before your computer starts saying “You’ve Got Voice Mail”?

The LA Times has a story on this today.

Reuters have done a follow up.

While the battle for Search Engine dominance rages between the Titans Google, Yahoo! and MSN… another skirmish is brewing in the industry.

Aaron Wall, SEOBook author and counterculture search authority, has started to develop and distribute an impressive array of free tools for the search community.

His latest addition is the back link analyser, which seems to offer many of the features of tools like SEO Elite – but does not come with the sticker price.

This tool is FREE!

A couple of weeks ago he gave us a free hub analyser…. guess his goal is to be the philantropist of search…..

Keep them coming Aaron!!!

Guess the push to attract more advertisers is getting more emphasis these days. I remember when Overture refused to have referrals – except in Europe (which started its own problems).

Now apparently it is becoming more important.

They are going to copy the Google Qualified Professional approach (even charging the soon to be industry standard $50) and give incentives for the new customer signups – though they will offer $80 referrals for new high-end advertisers sent to them (as was already being done through Commission Junction).

They have also announced an enhanced program for smaller agencies.

It seems the decision to release 14.159265 million Class A shares has a little numeric whimsy to it.

It is the decimal rounding of Pi 3.14159265….

Boys we are getting really geeky!

Google needs a little more cash. They have applied to be able to sell over 14 million more Class A common stock. Putting another $4 billion plus in the company coffers.

Didn’t think the bar tab for the Google party was that high….

Or maybe they are filling the war chest so they can make a cash offer for Baidu stock!