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A program that searches documents for specified keywords and returns a list of the documents where the keywords were found. Although search engine is really a general class of programs, the term is often used to specifically describe systems like Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft Live that enable users to search for documents, images, videos and other content found on the World Wide Web.
Typically, a search engine works by sending out a spider to fetch as many documents as possible. Another program, called an indexer, then reads these documents and creates an index based on the words contained in each document. Each search engine uses a proprietary algorithm to create its indices such that, ideally, only meaningful results are returned for each query.
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Most Recent Search Engines Clips
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Search Engines - Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc. How Yahoo! Actually Leads Paid Search | clipped by: fuordigital
The Undiscovered Best: How Yahoo! Actually Leads Paid Search Looking at paid clicks, or referrals, as a % of total search queries, we see a fairly familiar picture.
However, not all queries are created equal. As Jeremy Crane pointed out many queries do not lead to referral. Many of the unfulfilled queries are probably due to searchers not finding what they’re looking for. Many queries are also informational and can be answered right there on the SERP.
As you can see, Google answers the query on the top of the SERP with a handy conversion calculator, while Yahoo! doesn’t. Instead, Yahoo! offers paid results from Calibex and BizRate.
For users, it’s great to get the desired information right there on the SERP, without having to click-through to another page. For search engines, it’s a missed opportunity to monetize a search.
Thus a more appropriate online metric for measuring search monetization might be paid referrals as a % total referrals.
| | 11/3/2008 7:13:38 AM |
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Search Engines - Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc. Google Slips Image Ads into Search Results | clipped by: fuordigital
Google Slips Image Ads into Search Results
Google's sponsored search now includes expanded product results and images.
A search for diamonds, for example, brings up a text ad from Blue Nile that enables users to see more information without leaving the search page. When clicked, product listings — complete with images — appear, "[consuming] the entire window," writes MarketingPilgrim.
Google is also running sidebar ads with images, reports Steve Rubel:
The search giant also began experimenting with display ads on Image Search, reported TechCrunch.
| | 10/29/2008 1:01:59 PM |
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Search Engines - Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc. MSN Cashback Search Strategy Successfully Attracting Visitors | clipped by: fuordigital
MSN Cashback successfully attracting visitors
This week MSN announced the launch of SearchPerks!, a new promotion that rewards visitors that use Live Search with tickets redeemable for various prizes. The latest endeavor is separate from the Live Search Cashback rebate program launched a few months ago, but certainly uses a similar tactic (pay for search) to reach the same goal (drive search activity) on MSN’s search properties (including both MSN Search & Windows Live Search). So far the question has been are people using Cashback? Is it a successful promotion - particularly with the launch of another?
Who is visiting MSN Cashback? For the 4 weeks ending Sept. 27, 2008, the visitors to MSN Cashback were skewed slightly more female and represented 55% of traffic. Nearly half of the visitors were between the ages of 25 to 44: 22% were aged 25 to 34 and 27% aged 35 to 44. The majority of the visitors have a HH income of under $100k.
| | 10/4/2008 8:25:23 PM |
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Search Engines - Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc. Google Learns to Crawl Flash | clipped by: fuordigital
Posted by Ron Adler and Janis Stipins, Software Engineers
Google has been developing a new algorithm for indexing textual content in Flash files of all kinds, from Flash menus, buttons and banners, to self-contained Flash websites. Recently, we've improved the performance of this Flash indexing algorithm by integrating Adobe's Flash Player technology.
In the past, web designers faced challenges if they chose to develop a site in Flash because the content they included was not indexable by search engines. They needed to make extra effort to ensure that their content was also presented in another way that search engines could find.
Now that we've launched our Flash indexing algorithm, web designers can expect improved visibility of their published Flash content, and you can expect to see better search results and snippets. There's more info on the Webmaster Central blog about the Searchable SWF integration.
| | 8/15/2008 7:06:17 PM |
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