This is the look of the new page:

You can choose from one of the four categories of users to submit your content. These are: Website Owners,  Business Owners, Publishing and Media and Public Agency. Explore the different submissions URLs on each of these landing pages. How do you like the new design? Do share your views.

Previously, this feature was limited to big cities around the world. Google's Flight Search, now provides information about domestic flight routes in the US including domestic airports, of lesser known cities, through which they pass. With so much achieved, we still have numerous flight routes that haven't made the cut yet. We are assuming it's only matter of time, before all the domestic US routes and domestic airports are made available on Flight Search feature.

However, the good news is that  it seems Google as finally taken note of this matter, a Google spokesperson has confirmed that this was happening due to a bug in the AdWords Keyword Tool.

Here is what a Google representative told Search Engine Land after they asked for confirmation of the issue:

Were aware of a potential issue that is affecting the keyword tool in AdWords, and are working hard to fix it.

Although a list of exact keywords affected was not available it was found that a random selection of keywords were reporting zero for volume including long tail, middle tail, short tail and head keywords were affected at both global and local volumes. A number of popular terms like ipod, dogs and wine, were among the list of affected keywords. Here is a screen shot of the some of the impacted keywords as they appeared in the AdWords keyword tool report.

Some users tried testing to see if this problem was region specific but it seems to be a global problem rather than being confined to any particular continent or country.

Google havent provided a date/time on when they expect this bug to be fixed, but as soon as we know anything more, we will be sure to update this post.

This was first spotted by Mike Blumenthal who pointed out that Google+ pages were showing up in Google's local results when he randomly searched for the keywords "transmission servicing lexington ky". The results page showed not only the expected Google Places listing but also an unexpected element; a grey colored Google + Page icon appeared next to selected Place Page results. When clicking on the icon, Mike was redirected to a search result page containing Google+ pages only.

Mike was able to replicate these results for another set of keywords "Cake Box New Jersey"

With reports of Google+ pages showing up everywhere including online commercials, it is reasonable to think that these incidents are not just isolated events, but instead might be an indication that Google will soon integrate Google+ Pages with their local results.

The implications of this move by Google are potentially huge. Firstly businesses can mark their presence oan the Place Page results and should be a reason valid enough for everyone to get their Google+ Page up to date with meaningful information. Secondly the huge clutter of Google products will be reduced and users might find it easier to manage their various Google products.

However there are some concerns that with Google pushing its own products higher on the search result pages will eventually push down web pages without a + page further down the list.

So is this just a glitch or some testing on Google's part or a sign of things to come?

According to Google, Automated Rules have been designed to let advertisers to plan and set automatic adjustments to an AdWords account. These adjustments can be based on specified criteria like modifying the daily budget for heavy shopping days.

As Google is quoted, Campaign experiments: Experiment serving status, name, start and end dates, % and other fields now appear in the campaigns tab. All fields are read-only. Top of page bid estimates: Top of page bid estimates appear on the keywords tab, in the "Select duplicates" menu and in advanced bid changes.

You can create this rule, by following these steps:

1. Go to All Online Campaigns click on Keywords


2. Select Automate


3. Choose to Raise bids to top of page CPC when

Once you are through with these categories, you need to fill out the campaign form and submit it.

The updated version has improved targeting options too. You can target user interest categories as well as user lists. Using the the Language option, one can create international campaigns.

Wifi targeting is also possible, as Google is quoted, Wi-Fi traffic: The option to target Wi-Fi traffic is available in your campaign device targeting. Advanced location options: On the campaigns tab, edit settings for targeting method and exclusion method.



The TakeAway:

Going back to the Bid Estimates update, make sure that you set bidding at maximum. Use good quality keywords to achieve the best results.

As Yahoo declared that the transition process is complete, and also explained why Korea remains outside the loop, Yahoo! has completed the algorithmic transition to Bing in all global markets (except Korea), across desktop and mobile, for all Yahoo! and syndication traffic. This has been a huge effort spanning 20-plus months involving many people across Yahoo! and Microsoft. Only Korea, which involves a three-way integration between Yahoo, Microsoft and Daum, remains, and is expected to complete by the end of the year.

This process of transferring the search algorithms started in August 2010, when Yahoo Search stopped providing their own algorithmic search results in the USA and Canada. The process of transfer has been slow and they have moved one country at a time, whilst Yahoo handing over their search technology and search engine to Microsoft.

The transfer process has not been easy, as Yahoo explains the process, We had to confirm Bing could handle Yahoos capacity across multiple global datacenters, including new ones that were brought online to serve the needs of the Search Alliance. The fact that all the cutovers went remarkably smoothly and were essentially non-events from an operational perspective is a testament to the thorough job both teams did.

Now, the transition is nearly complete, with the exception of Korea. And that too will be done by the end of 2011. The transition wave reached Australia, Brazil and Mexico, and then Yahoo UK was powered by Bing. The Bing Yahoo Search alliance reached Asia markets in September, and now it is nearly done.

This transition is for organic search only. Paid search transition is still mid way. Do you think this search alliance will impact Google in any way? Do leave your comment.

Google Page Speed is an online tool that will let you know the load speed of your site on a scale of 1 to 100. That's not all, it will also give you suggestions about what needs to be done to improve the page loading speed.

As Google says, Page Speed Online analyzes the content of a web page, then generates suggestions to make that page faster. Reducing page load times can reduce bounce rates and increase conversion rates.

Why The Need Of Fast Loading Sites?

Site load time is one of the major factors in reducing visitor's bounce back rates. It is an essential part of the entire user experience of your site, and a slow site leads to poor user experience. So, probably Google wants you to speed things up in the interest of the users!

Try out the online tool, drop your URL in the box and see the results for your site. Make the changes and ensure better user experience. How did you find the tool, do share your views.

The team includes these 5 companies- Engeeno, Improove, Integral Web Solutions Optimanova, Webhelps! SEO Consulting and WoptiMo. And the team of the Search Quality Alliance includes-Alfonso Verdugo, Ariel Lambrecht, Jonas Weber, Michael Schwarz, Pedro Dias and Sebastien Monnier.

All of these people were a part of Googles search quality team for various countries and international projects. While with Google, their duties included implementing the ranking algorithm, spam fighting and addressing the appeals and queries from webmasters. It is quite obvious that this alliance may seem to be the best bet in understanding Google search and even outsmarting the algorithm with certain tips. But the Alliance has clearly stated that they are here to use their expertise for implementing White Hat SEO techniques and nothing else. As it says on their site, Search Quality Alliance is not Google. Nor do we, as a group, speak for Google, work for Google, or claim to be representatives of Google in any kind of official capacity whatsoever. Any and all information contained within this site is based solely upon our professional experience within the field of marketing online.

Now, it is common practice for former Google employees to turn to SEO or internet marketing as their career, but this is the first time that an alliance of sorts has been formed by ex-Googlers. What do you think of this alliance? Do you think they have an edge in search marketing? Do leave your comments on the same.

For example, when a scholar doing research on a particular phase of Indian history will browse Google for research purpose, he will do it with the objective to have an in-depth knowledge about his field/subject. In this case the reading level can be dubbed as "advanced".

On the other hand, when a teenager is browsing Google to know about the smartphone he is planning to buy, all that he is looking for are the features and the price of that handset. It may be termed as just a "basic" reading level.

So if Google categorizes a website on the basis of its reading level (advanced or basic or intermediate), then it clearly reflects Google's understanding of the website's content depth and quality.

Now the question is, is it related to Google Panda update?

It might be assumed that when the content of a website is branded as a poor quality one, then it will be assigned to either basic reading level or below it. On the other hand, a favourable evaluation of a website's content will get that website categorized as one of advanced or intermediate reading level.

So it might be concluded that -

• A website having a huge volume of good quality content is to be categorized as a website of advanced reading level.

On the other hand, a website is to be categorized as a website of basic reading level, if -

• its content is of low quality Or
• the content is of good quality but suffers from lesser depth and volume.

But why did Bing decide to set up a deals site?

Well, Bing has said that a comScore data reveals a 24% growth in the deals audience last year, while a recent Bing/Impulse survey shows 61% of people to have become more dependent on daily deals in the last six months. But an overabundance of deals is getting these people exposed to irrelevant deals, thus finding a proper deal a painful experience. Nevertheless, 87% of people have told Bing, as per the latter's claim, that they will be more dependent on deals provided they can find a one-stop source of all relevant deals.

Bing claims to have tried to address this need of daily deals sites users by setting up this new deals site.

Bing has said that it has gathered deals from prominent providers and retailers to ensure that the target users can locate all the best deals in one central location, instead of wading through a crowd of deal sites. Bing has also promised the rolling out of more money saving features in the coming weeks.

The key features -

• One-Stop Shop- It represents an aggregation of more than 200,000 deals cutting across the USA, which also include local deals. This helps the user to compare the various deals and identify the best one.


• Browse for the Best Deals- Bing has tried to organize the deals in a manner that irrelevant deals do not come in the way. The user is able to browse the deals on the basis of retailer, location, keywords or category, or can simply have a look at the best deals of the day.


• Visual Search Results- Steps have been taken to make the deal search results visually organized on the screen, so that the user can easily browse through the options and identify the deal most appropriate for him.


• Daily Deals- Just one click will expose the user to the best deals in his area, entailing significant savings.



• More Deals on the Go- Availing Bing Mobile Deals at m.bing.com will make the user benefit from those same deals which are accessible on the PC as well.

Bing's decision to set up this deals site comes close on the heels of some other additions/changes/makeovers, such as going for a homepage makeover or incorporating "Action Buttons" to book flights/hotels and rent cars.