News and Information Blog 03 2009

Robots Text Generator

This generator creates the meta tag for robots. It also includes the code for the Googlebot.

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Review: Skype Version 4.0 for Windows

Skype's versatile VoIP software gets an aesthetic and functional makeover. Isn't it time you took it out for a spin?

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Smartphone App Use Set to Quadruple

The growth of app stores, and the devices that run them, signify a hot new platform for advertisers.

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New Google SERP Features

Google recently announced 2 new improvements to Google Search. The first is an expanded list of related searches, and the second is the addition of longer search result descriptions.

The company says it's deploying a new technology that better understands associations and concepts related to searches. Google explains:

...one of its first applications lets us offer you even more useful related searches (the terms found at the bottom, and sometimes at the top, of the search results page).

For example, if you search for [principles of physics], our algorithms understand that "angular momentum," "special relativity," "big bang" and "quantum mechanic" are related terms that could help you find what you need.

Google says it's able to target more queries, more languages, and make suggestions more relevant to what users are looking for. We've heard Google talk about wanting to get better with intent-based search, and it looks like they're now doing something about it.

"Additionally, we're now offering refinements for longer queries — something that's usually a challenging task," says a post on the Official Google Blog. The feature is available in 37 languages all around the world."

As for the longer snippets, users will see them when they search for longer queries (which users are using more of these days). They will display more text to show more of the keywords used in the query and how they are used on the page.

These changes may not be the final word in intent-based search. The "java" example discussed by Bruce Clay late last year isn't addressed very well here. The related searches suggested when I search for that keyword do not include coffee or country related items. Still, the features are an indication that Google is indeed looking in this direction.

The longer snippets feature is not exactly delivering more relevant results than before, but it could go a long way toward helping users determine if results in fact are relevant by giving them more info to reach a conclusion.

Tell us what you think about Google's SERP changes.

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Last call for 2 a.m. stampede?

For the better part of a decade, designer and copywriter Kim Snow, co-founder of Providence’s Downtown Neighborhood Alliance, has lived in a loft above Tazza Caffe and Symposium Books in Westminster Street’s Alice Building.

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Tip of the Week

Linkshare has launched a new “Deep-Link Interface”
that allows affiliates to send traffic deep into a merchant site to the most-qualified page possible, leading hopefully to higher conversions. Follow the link to see a short instructional video. They have a five-point step-by-step available for further explanation too.
No Tags

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A Personalized "Thank You" Page With Any Form

This tutorial will show how to personalize the "thank you" page in your forms. The personalization uses information the visitor provides on the form.

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Microsoft's Mobile Storefront Has Familiar Terms

Developers for the next generation of Windows Mobile applications will find terms similar to what Apple charges.

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How to Set Up a Blog for Your Business

If you haven't added a blog to your Web site, now is a good time to do it, as they are an affordable way to market your business.

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Gmail Tasks Lab Gets New Useful Features

Back in December, Google introduced a new feature in Gmail Labs called "Tasks" that provides Gmail users with a window to keep track of their...tasks (go figure). Today, they have announced a couple new features for Tasks.

Users can now easily move a task (along with its sub-tasks) to another list by clicking on the arrow (or using Shift-Enter) to the right of the task, then selecting another list in the drop down at the bottom of the screen.

The second new feature lets users split a single task into two separate tasks or merge two into one. This is done by simply pressing enter or backspace as you would in any word processor.

Don't forget that Google also offers a mobile version of Tasks for iPhones and Android devices (it's also accessible by any xhtml-enabled phone).

To activate the Tasks lab, go to the Labs tab under your Gmail settings. You will find it near your contacts. Google says more tweaks to Tasks are being worked on.

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Save, save, save, Chatzky urges Women’s Summit

SMITHFIELD – The most important way for women to protect themselves financially during difficult economic times is to save money. Forego those impulsive purchases and save, save, save, urged award-winning journalist and best-selling author Jean …

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A HodgePodge of Online Marketing Happenings

Just in case you missed anything going on this week, I’ve gathered a few items to help get you back in the loop.

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