What’s so special about Microsoft’s Bing search engine?

Microsoft tried, with overall mild resolve, to compete with Google and Yahoo! in the search engine arena. Its Live Search service, by all means, didn’t deliver the kind of user experience that generated repeat uses. So they killed that service.

That’s right, the Live Search service is gone!

How’s that for big news?

But there’s even bigger news. The old “live.com” service is officially set to be replaced tomorrow by a new search service called “bing.com“. Another 4-letter .com which is easy to remember and cool to bookmark. That’s pretty much as far as the similarities go, however.

The Bing.com search engine is built, from the gound up, so to speak, to be completely different than Live.com in the sense that it’s more mature and precise. A lot of testing went on using the Live dataset so expect to find in Bing what was available through its [now retired] predecesor.

Steve Ballmer said this about its new web destination: “Bing [will] enable people to find information quickly and use the information they’ve found to accomplish tasks and make smart decisions.” at last week’s All Things Digital conference, in Carlsbad, CA.

And gosh, is Ballmer ever fired up about Bing!

According to Microsoft, in addition to offering search by category, Bing will offer…

more relevant search results;
snapshots of search results’ Web pages;
color-coded search results; and
search tools on the left side of the page.

This new search engine is also set up to organize query results in relevant groups rather than as a series of links. Google might want to pick up on this! So, for instance, a search for “travel to Seattle” may return Seattle destinations like hotels, restaurants and museums as almost a guidebook page. The same search on Live generated straight individual links that users had to go through one by one.

Microsoft has looked for ways to improve its search advertising revenue for years and maybe Bing will give them “more bang for their money”. It’s hard to imagine that advertisers will be leaving Google and Yahoo! for Bing anytime soon but overtime, maybe some people will get curious and want to see if Microsoft go its new search service right, this time around.

microsoft_bing_isnt_even_close_to_google

Everyone “in the know” regarding the search engine wars was aware that Microsoft’s search market share had been slipping for more than two years. It struggled to make its online advertising unit profitable but that wasn’t going too well. According to comScore, Microsoft maintains a meager 8.2% share of the market for core searches compared with 64.2% for Google and 20.4% for Yahoo!.

After trying a few searches in Bing’s “preview” search service for “new technology“, “local pizza“, “alternative cancer treatments“, “free education” and “open source scripts” yielded impressively relevant results which actually made sense. The pay-per-click results were generally related but not always useful. Maybe when Microsoft convinces more advertisers to sign-up, those results will become more interesting.

You may also appreciate the “quick information” that’s displayed at the right of the hyperlinks [and descriptions] to give you a sort of preview of what you’ll find, at any particular web site. Here again, Google and Yahoo! should send a few spies to check it out.

We’ll need at least a few months to see if Bing has what the users are looking for but until then, it’ll be interesting to see what the competition does to make sure they stay on top.

Tags: bing, about bing, bing.com, bing search, bing search engine, microsoft bing, steve ballmer, ballmer about bing, allthingsd, all things digital, live, live.com, search engine war, google, yahoo!, competition, users, visitors, internet, web, online

The IE8 InPrivate mode doesn’t prevent Google AdSense ads from being displayed

Have you downloaded InternetExplorer 8, yet?

As Microsoft introduces Windows 7, that’ll be the default browser so if you don’t do it by yourself on your current XP or Vista setup now, it’ll be done for you, in the next OS release.

Microsoft’s new web browser is packed with features and one of them has been quite a cause for concern, for the online advertising industry which heavily relies on external JavaScript calls to display ads.

Publishers displaying Google AdSense ads have been quite vocal about the possibility for a new feature, among many others, called InPrivate [browsing] mode (also called the “porn mode“) where the browser doesn’t record anything, may it be history, cookies or cache that’ll be wiped out at the end of the session (so you don’t get slowed down during that session), because it was feared that the ads, originating from Google, would cease to be visible.

If that were to happen, as is the case with AdBlock Plus for Firefox, it would have the potential to destroy large parts of the online advertising industry because IE8 is promising to become the browser of choice, over time.

But although things might change, right now, it looks like the InPrivate mode won’t prevent Google AdSense ads from displaying.

Millions of AdSense publishers might let go a long sight of relief, when looking at the following proof that AdSense ads display normally, even when using the InPrivate mode…

By the way, it should be noted that we used IE8′s “express settings”…

…and we also had InPrivate filtering turned on in such a way that IE8 would block content for us (with its own “default” settings)…

inprivate_filtering_turned_on

…with these settings “enforced” (none that we determined, actually)…

So that was pretty much as far as the typical web user would go, when using such settings. Assuming a “typical user” would be using them, in the first place.

In all fairness, it might be a while before this type of “filtering” reaches mainstream.

The AdBlock Plus extension, however, has prevented publishers from collecting untold amounts of advertising revenue, since it’s been released to the Firefox user base so the idea of seeing IE8 come out with a similar feature, not activated by default but easily available to all, has made honest and hard working —ad supported— publishers very nervous.

Fortunately, it doesn’t look like Microsoft will wage war with Google on that front. Perhaps the Redmond giant has a slight idea of what kind of “blogger-storm” it would attract upon itself by doing so or maybe it’s just common sense (yes, that too can happen at Microsoft, according to certains rumors).

Whatever the reason, Microsoft’s IE8 InPrivate mode seems to play nice with Google AdSense ads on all publisher web sites that we checked (and we checked many of them, from all over the world, in several languages) so for now, it’s all good.

Let’s hope —and perhaps lobby— for things to stay this way.

And for AdBlock Plus to grow up and stop hurting honest web publishers.

Tags: ie8, internetexplorer 8, microsoft, adsense, google adsense, google, online advertising, online ads, web ads, ppc ads, pay-per-click, ad zones, display ads, hide ads, prevent ads from displaying, adblock plus, inprivate, filtering, web browser, internet users, advertising revenue, money, finance, common sense

Google’s own definition of AdSense

For online advertisers, AdSense is a huge network through which they can sell themlselves, their products and their services. For web publishers, it’s a revenue stream but what about Google, what’s their take on the service?

Over the years, a large number of AdSense publishers have wondered what words Google would use to properly define the “publisher side” of its all important pay-per-click advertising system (comprising other elements, namely AdWords where advertisers purchase the ads [that are later shown through AdSense]).

If you’ve been wondering about that too, here’s how Google defines AdSense, in its 2008 annual report, on page 56:

AdSense for content is our online service for distributing ads from our advertisers that are relevant to content on our Google Network members’ web sites. Under this program, we use automated technology to analyze the meaning of the content on the web page and serve relevant ads based on the meaning of such content. For example, a web page on an automotive blog that contains an entry about vintage cars might display ads for vintage car parts or vintage car shows. These ads are displayed in spaces that our AdSense for content partners have set aside on their web sites. AdSense for content allows a variety of ad types to be shown, including text ads, image ads, Google Video Ads, link units (which are sets of clickable links to topic pages related to page content), themed units (which are regular text ads with graphic treatments that change seasonally and by geography) and gadget ads (which are customized —mini-sites— that run as ads on AdSense publisher web sites).

For our online AdSense program, our advertisers pay us a fee each time a user clicks on one of our advertisers’ ads displayed on our Google Network members’ web sites or, for those advertisers who choose our cost-per-impression pricing, as their ads are displayed. To date, we have paid most of these advertiser fees to our Google Network members, and we expect to continue doing so for the foreseeable future. We recognize these advertiser fees as revenue and the portion of the advertiser fee we pay to our Google Network members as traffic acquisition costs under cost of revenues. In some cases, we guarantee our Google Network members minimum revenue share payments based on their achieving defined performance terms, such as number of search queries or advertisements displayed. Google Network members do not pay any fees associated with the use of our AdSense program on their web sites.

Our agreements with Google Network members consist largely of uniform online —click-wrap— agreements that members enter into by interacting with our registration web sites. The standard agreements have no stated term and are terminable at will. Agreements with our larger members are individually negotiated. Both the standard agreements and the negotiated agreements contain provisions requiring us to share with the Google Network member most of the advertiser fees generated by users clicking on ads on the Google Network member’s web site or, for advertisers who choose our cost-per-impression pricing, as the ads are displayed on the Google Network member’s web site.

Whoever wrote this, at Google, did a very good job at explaining AdSense… in just three paragraphs!

If similarly-sized businesses, like IBM, Cisco or Microsoft had attempted to define such an important business operation as this one is such a short linespan, chances are they would’ve failed, filling page after page to eventually “get to the point”.

This AdSense definition, published in the annual report and reprinted here, follows the exact same logic as Google’s search home page. “Easy does it” seems to be the general rule of thumb behind what AdSense is and seeks to be. In itself, this is wonderful news for all the smaller web publishers out there because it means Google doesn’t intend to overly formalize its ad network, like some competitors have.

Take APT, Yahoo!’s unified digital advertising platform.

It’s probably good but you likely need millions of visitors per day to get any level of attention from them to be —considered— for their ad program. Which is basically out of reach for over 99% of the web publishers out there. So all these fine web enthusiasts flock to Google’s AdSense where such insane “barriers to entry” simply don’t exist.

Talking about Yahoo!’s ad network, one has to wonder why they insist on being so elitist about who gets to show their ads. Is it because Yahoo! hate smaller publishers? Are they convinced only “they” know how to deliver content, and value? It’s anybody’s guess why Yahoo!’s “external publisher base” is so severely skimmed to keep only astronomically huge publishers while slamming the door in the face of all others.

Oh! Well, it’s their problem, not Google’s.

For those who like to read annual reports (even if the very idea of it might seem odd, at first), Google’s 2008 review of its activities, amidst the economic downturn that has started to be felt at the end of that year, proves that Larry and Sergei still steer this search giant with agility and grace.

Tens of thousands of people stand behind Google’s success but even though the valuation of the company has skyrocketed in the last decade, the people at the top have kept cool about it.

And it’s probably why any web publisher with sound content (i.e.: unique, useful and valuable) and a legitimate desire to generate revenue can apply to Google’s AdSense and reasonably expect to be accepted.

If you’re looking for a true sense of entrepreneurial spirit, online, look no further that Google AdSense… even in these hopefully episodic times of economic crisis.

Tags: google, adsense, adwords, definition of adsense, what is adsense, why adsense, how does adsense work, adsense publishers, ppc, pay-per-click, online ads, ad network, advertising, contextual ads, yahoo, apt, online publishers, money, revenue, online revenu, content monetization

AdSense’s low eCPM for web publishers

This financial crisis isn’t good for Google, its AdWords advertisers and its AdSense publishers.

While Google’s 2008 annual report shows a dip in the pay-per-clic advertising revenue model, the situation hasn’t improved since the beginning of 2009. In fact, the eCPM levels many publishers are seeing are hitting what appear to be record lows.

What probably hurts the most is the roller-coaster effect, of sort, between the “banner year-like” revenues of 2008 and the abysmal counterpart, in 2009.

AdSense is still the most lucrative PPC ad program online but countless publishers can’t make ends meet anymore. One publisher saw eCPM metrics shrink threefold. In real life, it’s the difference between making some $75 a day (in 2008) and some $25 a day (in 2009).

While many publishers had quit their day job to build high-quality web destinations, financed through AdSense, in 2007 and 2008, this year’s revenue slide has convinced most to get back on the job market and basically forget (for a while, at least) about their newfound lifestyle, as work-at-home web publishers.

But the more creative web publishers continue to derive enough money from AdSense to hold on tight during these generally harsh financial times.

Here’s what’s being done by some web publishers to “stay in the AdSense game”…

Cater to niche markets (namely to the debt consolidation and troubled assets niches);
Bank on the social networking trend (including “spin marketing” in Facebook groups);
Reduce the number of AdSense “ad zones” to show only the most lucrative ads;
Redesign the looks and add new features to existing web destinations;
Find a way to get more visitors in order to make up for the lost revenues (with the “original” visitor count).

Let’s hope that you’ll get creative too and basically endure the current market downturn. This will likely put you in an enviable position when the market goes back up, again. Assuming that it will. Of course.

So, is it possible to survive even though AdSense’s eCPM levels appear to be lower than ever? Probably, yes. But it’s not going to be a joyride. This time around, AdSense publishers won’t be laughing all the way to bank, like so many were, in 2008, the year AdSense really shined — for Google, the advertisers and the publishers alike.

Mathematically speaking, known and [publicly] unkown factors affect AdSense’s eCPM.

Rather weird situations seem to have wildly unpredictable effects on this particular metric but suffice it to say that for a large group of AdSense publishers, it hasn’t been as good in 2009 as it’s been before.

Given Google’s inherent creativity and leadership, one can safely assume that this particular “revenue decline” issue is being dealt with quite seriously at the search king’s headquartiers, in Mountain View, CA.

In the meantime, web publishers are welcome to get creative in order to beat this financial crisis and prove, once again, that AdSense’s online advertising continues to be a huge bargain, even for cash-strapped advertisers.

Tags: google, adsense, adwords, ecpm, ppc, pay-per-click, ads, advertising, online ads, publicity, web ad zones, adsense publishers, adwords advertisers, revenue down, overall revenue, revenue generation, work-at-home, web publishers, web publishing

Third-party ads displayed through AdSense

Google - Third Party Ads If you’re an advertiser looking to manage all your online advertising through the powerful Google AdWords interface, things are looking up since Google has decided to display third-party ads, through AdSense.

At first, this new ad sourcing alternative will only be made available for English pages viewed in the United States but as the program evolves, it’s expected to be offered in other languages and countries.

For publishers, displaying these third-party ads is done automatically if the AdSense code is set to accept “images”. Since most publishers choose this option, the distribution network for the third-party ads should be quite large and varied.

This being said, countless publishers are looking to get more details about the revenue opportunities these third-party ads could bring. While the AdSense network is popular, in part, because of the “cost-per-click” model, the third-party ads are known to shy away that particular model in favor of a fixed price per thousand or per million ad banner displays. It’s still unclear how Google AdSense will reconcile these heavily differentiated payment models.

Publishers looking to filter out specific ads can still do so using the competitive ad filter and to make that job even easier, Google states that only advertisers with whom they have proven relationships and who’ve clearly demonstrated commitments to their quality standards may participate in their program — futhermore, Google policies governing ad content and formatting remain unchanged.

So, where do these third-party ads come from?

From a more technical standpoint, the ads will be served by both DoubleClick DFA and Mediaplex/ValueClick, for North America. Meanwhile, the third-party ads will come from DoubleClick Rich Media, Eyeblaster, EyeWonder, Interpolls, Pointroll and Unicast. On the research front, Dynamic Logic/Safecount, Factor TG, IAG and InsightExpress have all been certified by Google.

It seems malware will not be an issue with these new third party ads as Google specifically forbids fourth-party calls or sub-syndication to advertisers or vendors they haven’t certified. Also, publishers and users can rest assured all third-party ads are checked for malware when they’re initially entered into the AdWords system.

While this new announcement from Google will surely fire up the advertisers looking to make sense of the online advertising complexity using AdWords’ relatively simple interface, it’s still unclear if the publishers will feel this latest move contributes significantly to their bottom line or if it dilutes the currently profitable pay-per-click model.

Tags: third-party ads, google, adwords, adsense, pay-per-click, advertising, ads, banners, images

Rapid Keyword helps e-marketers

Successful e-marketers already understand the importance of choosing the most profitable keywords over those which yield a lot less return.

Just as every year brings new dictionary words, the keyword landscape is continuously shifting.

Wether you’re experienced in keyword research or not, the basic idea turns around the concept of “conversion”. The right keywords bring the visitors who have the most conversion potential, for your offerings.

Since the keyword research drill can become somewhat tedious and repetitive, perhaps it’s a wiser path to let your computer do the heavy lifting while you provide minimal (but nevertheless essential) guidance. Rapid Keyword (version 2.2, nowadays) installs on your Windows computer in just a few seconds and starts hunting down all the most lucrative keywords, for your business, within Google AdWords, Yahoo’s Overture and even MSN’s Digital Advertising Solutions.

The software is quite flexible as you can, for instance, analyze your competition’s keywords, generate highly probable typos and manage the relevant keywords lists that are produced. Furthermore, the META tag parser makes it fun to gather all the best keywords used at leading web destinations.

For the Google fans out there, it’s now possible to extract all the “Google Suggest” keywords that you want so, in this particular case, you’re absolutely certain these words (or expressions) are top performers. In every way, they’re “Google-approved”!

All the keywords are harvested in a live setting so your results are always fresh. That makes a huge difference since search patterns change all the time, especially in certain niches where new offerings come out frequently.

If you’re not sure about Rapid Keyword, you’re invited to download it for free and try it out for yourself. If you choose to buy this keyword research software, you’ll see it’s surprisingly affordable and continuously updated to reflect the latest updates, namely in the major search engines.

Other keyword generation tools either have less features or work too slowly to stay productive when using them so Rapid Keyword appears to be the leader in the keyword search market.

Tags: rapid keyword, e-marketing, marketers, keyword research

Google found its way into the M-W dictionary

The latest edition of the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary has added a new word into its pages. Netizens from around world will surely rejoyce when learning that “google” is now considered to a verb, a transitive verb, to be precise.

There are two inflected forms to this verb, such as “googled” and “googling”. Who hasn’t already heard a prospective employer say “I googled your name, before this interview”? Another example could’ve been chosen but this one seemed funnier, especially since employers are usually the ones being “googled” the most, before an interview!

I found it interesting to read about the etymology of this new verb: “Google, trademark for a search engine: to use the Google search engine to obtain information about (as a person) on the World Wide Web“. The word “google” is now considered both a trademark -and- a verb so, in accordance to this logic, can anybody -legally- use “google” for their own needs? For instance, will “googling-the-web.com” be considered trademark infrigement if it’s used for a personal homepage by someone blogging about what he, or she, “googled” on the web? If there’s a lawyer in the audience, please speak up!

Surprisingly, Merriam-Webster didn’t include this new verb in their online sampling of new words being added to the 11th Edition of their Collegiate Dictionary. In the technology and computers theme, words like “mouse potato“, “ringtone” and “spyware” were listed. While being significant, there’s little logic in not mentionning “google” in this sampling.

Of course, to be added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a word has to be more than a flash-in-the-pan fad. It definitely needs staying power.

In your opinion, does “google” fit the profile?

Tags: m-w, merriam-webster, google, googling, googler, dictionnary, new word, trademark

Google blogs all the time

Google It’s clear whatever Google says, Wall Street, Microsoft and basically the whole wired world listens.

Fortunately for “the rest of us” online citizens, there are ways to know what Google said, directly from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. Mountain View’s finest Google bloggers inform and entertain us through a dizzying array of blogs which are listed here for your browsing pleasure:

This list may not even be complete so please, if you know about more Google blogs, please submit them! Obviously, as Google Labs come out with more exciting services, we can expect accompanying blogs will be launched.

Still, you have to admit, Google loves blogging!