Search Lately: Issue 33

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Highlights brought to you by Search Lately @SMGSearchUK this week include:   

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Google Encrypted Search Goes Global Facebook Logout Page Ads Coming Soon Cookie Legislation Law Approaches Google lets users thank their friends for +1ing results Google Introduces a new local search experience across devices Microsoft Advertising adCenter Introduces Location Extensions Baidu To Take On Google In South America

Browse last week’s Search Lately for more details and initial reaction from industry experts on recent hot topics.

Google Encrypted Search Goes Global – 6th Mar 2012 Google announced just yesterday that they will be rolling out encrypted search results for logged in users globally in the coming weeks. This feature gives users that added privacy and security by encrypting search query and search result pages to HTTPS by default. Google advertisers will of course still have access to search terms through paid search activity, however it has been highlighted that up to 20% of keywords may be affected by this change from an organic perspective through Google Analytics. – Kevin Ting More Details: searchenginewatch.com/article/2157519/Google-Encrypted-Search-GoingGlobal

Facebook Logout Page Ads Coming Soon – 6th Mar 2012 Facebook have started testing a new ad format that will replace the current logout page. With an estimated 31 Million users logging out of Facebook daily, they are aiming to drive more revenue by making this space available to advertisers. This wasted space could be used to target users as they log out of Facebook to a user relevant page rather than returning to the Facebook homepage. Facebook hope to utilise this extra ad space and offer it out to advertisers in the hope of generating incremental revenue. It may also provide an added benefit to users after they have left Facebook without damaging their user experience. With over 750 million users worldwide and the highly targetable nature of this social platform, it could be a key driver in reaching audiences even before they have begun their search for your product. By using the reach and vast numbers that Facebook has to offer, this new ad opportunity could be vital in the ever-competitive advertising world. – Kevin Ting More Details: searchenginewatch.com/article/2157235/Bing-Search-First-to-TestFacebooks-New-Logout-Page-Ad


Cookie Legislation Law Approaches – 6th Mar 2012 There are three months left before UK legislation is enforced that states that websites must make users opt-in before tracking technology and cookies are deployed on their web-enabled devices. This article points out that as of yet it appears as though brands are not ready for the changes in the law as there have been no noticeable changes to their sites. The author does point out that it is probable that brands are waiting for the law to be enforced and therefore opt-in notifications will roll out at the same time. At Starcom MediaVest a couple of employees who work in search have noticed these opt-in notifications already; they were spotted on Skyscanner and Say Media. As the law will help educate users about the collection and utilisation of their data by brands, it will probably help to relieve allegations of people feeling that the internet is unsafe or targeting them in a suspicious way. It could therefore be argued that brands should comply sooner rather than later, however the worry that people will choose not to opt-in therefore decreasing user data substantially, is credible. Let us watch this three month space. – Hannah Struve More Details: wallblog.co.uk/2012/03/06/cookie-legislation-is-the-law-are-brands-ready/

Google lets users thank their friends for +1ing results – 6th Mar 2012 Google have launched a new feature as part of their social overhaul which lets you thank users who have +1ed a website. Apparently, it's always polite to thank your friend for helping you find something that was useful! A thank you link was spotted on a natural listing next to the Google + users who had +1'ed it. Users will need to be logged in order to view this feature (although it is important to note that this has not been rolled out to all users just yet) and the “thank you” has to come from someone within your circle. This new feature is yet another example of Google’s strategy to bring Social and SEO together, to further promote the use of their own social network, and show users the further benefits of being logged in. There has been mixed reactions to this feature, with many people being confused by it. The thank you appears on your wall so if you start seeing these in your Google+ account, don't be confused! Google have not made any official comments on this yet so watch this space! - Jimisha Lakhani More details: www.webpronews.com/google-1-thank-you-links-appearing-in-searchresults-2012-03


Google Introduces a new local search experience across devices – 5th Mar 2012 How often are you doing a Google search from your computer to find information about a place before going there? Now, the next time you go to Google.com on your Android phone or iPhone, information about that place will be conveniently available under the new “Recent” icon. Calling, getting directions or seeing details about the places you just searched for, is now only one tap away. Google provides this new convenience feature for users who have Web History enabled and are logged into Google when doing their search. Start by searching for a place on your PC or other devices, then log into Google.com’s mobile homepage and check the “Recent” icon. Information about previously searched places will be available under the “Recent” icon for about a day. – Blair Liu More details: insidesearch.blogspot.com/2012/03/introducing-new-local-searchexperience.html

Microsoft Advertising adCenter Introduces Location Extensions – 1st Mar 2012 Location extensions enable advertisers to display the business address and phone number in their text ad, allowing users to see additional details about the business in the ad result before they even click on the ad itself. Those who have already tried location extensions in their Google Adwords accounts will be pleased to know that this feature is now available in Microsoft Advertising adCenter. It’s interesting to note that a recent Microsoft Advertising study of 850 advertisers in the United States, found that campaigns using Location Extensions had click-through rates 8 to 16 percent higher than campaigns without Location Extensions. – Blair Liu More details: community.microsoftadvertising.com/blogs/advertiser/archive/2012/03/01/d rive-local-leads-with-location-extensions-in-microsoft-advertisingadcenter.aspx


Baidu to Take On Google In South America – 1st Mar 2012 The Chinese search engine giant Baidu, is opening an office in Sao Paulo in order to gain a better understanding of the Brazilian and Latin American markets. Baidu has disclosed that this is the first step in its plans to challenge Google’s dominating position in South America, where it currently has around a 90 percent share of the total search market. Internet analysts said the room for growth in China is not big for Baidu and so it is an inevitable choice for it to seek revenue growth internationally. – Blair Liu More details: www.stateofsearch.com/baidu-about-to-conquer-south-america-themarket-to-be/ www.multilingual-search.com/baidu-to-take-on-google-in-southamerica/24/02/2012/ www.sinocast.com/readbeatarticle.do?id=71335



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