Eye-Tracking Study of Google

SEOmoz just released the results of a pretty cool eye-tracking study and a few of the results are surprising. Google’s different SERPs formats seem to have varying effects on users and those using video and local search listings will find these results promising.

A few of the results actually suggest that if you’re targeting a query with local connotations, you may be better off skipping those coveted top 3 organic spots and shooting for the local listings. To be clear, the study was small and examined just eight subjects shown five SERPs each. It would be very useful to see the results of a larger, broader study, given the promising outcome of this one for blended search results.

Source url : http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2115682/Google-Eye-Tracking-Study-Highlights-Impact-of-LocalPlaces-Results

All AdWords Phone Numbers made clickable by google on mobile

When AdWords advertisers place a phone number in their ad copy, the phone number will be clickable by default, Google has announced. Advertisers will be charged the same rate as their standard PPC when users call through the advertisement.

The Added Features

Google has been offering a click-to-call feature for AdWords since January 2010.

Previously, AdWords users who placed a phone number in their ad copy could only get a call if the searcher entered the number manually. Now, the phone numbers inside the creative are clickable by default.

Additionally, advertisers can view details on the performance of the clickable number by looking at the "click type" campaign segment of their campaign reporting.

Source url : http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2104995/Google-Makes-All-AdWords-Phone-Numbers-Clickable-for-Mobile

Offshore outsourcing cuts down facebook page costs

Should brands outsource their Facebook presence in part or full, to a company in another continent and hence become the brand’s eyes, ears and voice on social media?

Budgets for social media are growing at unprecedented rates and these numbers will come under scrutiny more often than not as companies optimize their social media spending. By outsourcing social media activities (in part or full), a brand can cut its social media spend by anywhere between 25 percent 60 percent and still achieve the same, if not better, results.

When we talk about social media outsourcing, I always tell brands that there are some things that are outsourcable and some that are not. About 60 percent 65 percent of all social media work done is outsourcable, and about 35 percent 40 percent is not.

Source url : http://www.allfacebook.com/facebook-page-outsourcing-offshore-2011-07

Google+ had 2.85 mn unique visitors from India till now

According to data from Comscore, the number of unique Google+ visitors stood at 19.93 million between June 29 and July 19. Users from the US and India stood at 5.31 million and 2.85 million, respectively. The two countries also emerged as the top countries on Google+. Another 0.87 million users were from the UK, 0.71 million from Germany, and 0.5 million from France. The site is still in its beta phase and one needs to be invited to join it.

Video calls and group chat by Facebook

Facebook has announced the roll out of its video chat feature powered by internet telephony company Skype. Facebook has also introduced a group chat feature through which users can now create instant group chats if they want to quickly message a small group of their friends.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg says Facebook now has 750 million users and they share 4 billion things such as photos, links and status updates on the site every day. The video calling feature is browser-based inside Facebook, and is currently only one-to-one video calling as Skype charges for group video chat.

Source url : http://www.alootechie.com/news/facebook-launches-video-calls-group-chat-features

Zuckerberg is No. 1 page on Google+

Any guesses as to who is the most popular person on Google(PLUS), the company's new social networking service? Ashton Kutcher , perhaps? Or Lady Gaga?

Actually, that title is currently held by Mark Zuckerberg , the founder and chief executive of Facebook - the very service that Google(PLUS) was meant to challenge.

As of Tuesday evening, Zuckerberg had nearly 35,000 people following his updates on the service, more than anyone else in a broad survey of Google(PLUS) profiles by Social Statistics, an outside service. His fan base exceeds that of Larry Page , one of the founders of Google and its recently appointed chief executive, who had only 24,000 people following him.

Source url : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/facebook-founder-mark-zuckerberg-is-no-1-page-on-googleplus/articleshow/9123905.cms

China's Baidu English results to be powered by Bing

China’s dominant search engine Baidu is trying to expand its reach beyond Chinese-language speakers. Reuters is reporting that Baidu and Microsoft have done a deal that will offer Bing powered English-language results for the Chinese search engine.

It’s not clear whether this is limited to China or will be used in other markets where English is spoken. We’ve asked Microsoft for some additional color and perspective.

Source url : http://searchengineland.com/report-bing-to-power-baidu-english-results-84164