In The Trenches is a weekly spotlight of tips, tricks, and news about the tools search engine marketing professionals use to give them a leg up on the competition. Today: News from the search engines, today's in-depth look, "The Single Best Report in SEM," and this week's free tips and tools.
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So far in the Human Hardware series, we??™ve dealt with working memory (a just released study confirms the limitations of this. See my note at the end of this column), differences between sexes, and Dunbar??™s number (Parts One and Two). Today, I want to explore how we can look right at something and not see it. This is particularly true in online engagement, whether it be a home page, a portal, a landing page, or a search results page. You??™ve probably heard it referred to as banner blindness. It??™s caused by two hardwired limitations, one in our eye and one in our brains.
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The Wall Street Journal is yet again providing Microhoogle scoops this morning. First up, Yahoo may announce a deal with Google to run its search ads. A few weeks ago, we learned that the tests of those ads were successful. And though the Justice Department is concerned about the partnership, the agreement will likely be nonexclusive, which should alleviate regulators' fears.
But regulators are not the only ones with fears that Yahoo needs to alleviate. Wall Street and shareholders have been waiting with baited breath to see if Microsoft and Yahoo could reach an agreement on price for the proposed acquisition. But the two remain divided on the value of Yahoo, and Microsoft is expected to make an announcement about whether it will pursue a hostile takeover of Yahoo or walk away from its unsolicited bid.
Even if Microsoft announces a hostile takeover, the Yahoo-Google deal could still go through. The agreement will likely use Right Media's ad exchange which employs a real-time auction system. Yahoo acquired Right Media last year. At least one analyst, Citigroup's Mark Mahaney, has the deal as bringing Yahoo an additional $1 billion a year in revenue. Mahaney previously predicted that Microsoft would increase it's offer to $34 per share based on Yahoo's revenue projections for the next three years. Earlier this week, Microsoft indicated it would offer $32-33, while Yahoo wants upwards of $35-37. The original offer is for $31 per share.
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Last night, the big news was again Microsoft/Yahoo/Google business dealings. You can see all the headlines at Techmeme, including (1) Microsoft might start the hostile takeover today (tomorrow) and (2) Yahoo might announce they will continue to carry Google ads...
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News from our sister company, Search Marketing Expo:We??™ve just opened the registration for SMX Social Media, which will be held April 22-23 in Long Beach, CA. The pre-agenda rate is only $995 and available until February 2.This intimate two-day, one track event is an encore edition of the critically acclaimed SMX Social Media event held [...]
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Posted by great scott!
This week Rand discusses the topic of Personal Branding. What are the pros and cons of having a personal brand for yourself or within your company? How can you build a personal brand, and what benefits personal branding can have above and beyond corporate branding. Enjoy!
SEOmoz Whiteboard Friday-Building a Personal Brand from Scott Willoughby on Vimeo.
As Rand mentions in the video, if you'd like to learn more about personal branding, head over to Neil Patel's blog; he's got a ton of good info on the subject.
(This week's video runs 9:50)
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On Thursday during a meeting with staff, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer revealed that the company has three options available to them with regards to Yahoo, and that they would announce in “short order” which path they would decide to take.? According to Ballmer, the three options available were to walk away, complete a negotiated deal, [...]
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