YouTube is getting a batch of hot new features, including a "merch store" for music partners; a new sign-up process for indie labels; the option for users to integrate their YouTube and Google+ accounts; and a new "related videos" format. The Me.

Google announced that several products will be shut down by January 15, 2012. This includes Google Buzz, Code Search, the University Research Program for Google Search, iGoogle social features, Jaiku, and several APIs associated with these service.

Paid search or pay-per-click )PPC( advertising can yield substantial returns on investment, but also needs careful control to keep budgets in check. To make sure you maximize your ROI but minimize your risk, consider the following. The Basics .

Approximately 100 million tablets and smartphones are in the marketplace. As more and more of these devices get into the hands of consumers the way in which search market evolves for both consumers and brands is critical. For consumers, this spa.

Everyone's primary goal in search optimization is to get their own site's content to rank first )or as close as possible to first( for specific keywords. If, however, you are having a bit of trouble doing that, it doesn't hurt to help content.

Google is about to launch its first online safety campaign. Teaming with the Citizens Advice Bureau )CAB(, Google will promote "safe computer usage" for users: by logging out of computers when they're finished using them, specialized c.

Google is giving more trust to user reports on the address, hours, and operating name of businesses. Submitted updates will show up regardless of business verification, though business owners will receive a notice and have the option to halt the c.

25 percent of the top 1000 websites have adopted Facebook plugins, with over 65 million Likes and home page Shares generated since the last major Facebook update a year ago. As Facebook evolves from social graph to Open Graph, marketers continue t.

Google's Cloud-based music service may soon give users both the option to buy music and have the highest quality version of their song played back. However, Google is still struggling to win over the labels. What Google Music Is Looking For Ac.

A plethora of articles have been written about the convergence of SEO and PPC, most of them fairly elementary. I think everyone understands that, at least from a keyword level, each channel can )and should( inform and reinforce the other. That ide.

It's October, which means that football season is in full effect! Suffice to say I was eagerly anticipating a resolution to the NFL lockout to ensure there would actually be a season. I can't even begin to wonder what I would do on F.

I'm a big believer in the increasing role of social signals in search. Likes, +1s, and social links are still a noisy signal, which affects their use by search engines. In addition, it should affect how you view your social strategy from an SEO pe.

Facebook's Timeline Profile design has still yet to be officially released to the public due to privacy concerns and a trademark dispute, but the latest rumors are that they will be made public on the 19th of October, according to The Next Web. .

I feel as if I should preface this with a warning label: Potential Controversy Ahead. But then I realized I'd have to put that on almost every column, and then I'd have to make a graphic and then it all just starts to sound like a project and I th.

Google's profit reporting for and the distribution of "intangibles" to foreign divisions is under review by the IRS, which is reviewing for illegal tax evasion strategies. The SEC and a French probe have conducted similar reviews. Google's Forei.

An early-stage study from EdgeRank shows the Facebook's new "hybrid feed" is decreasing the exposure of posts while increasing post interaction. Companies on Facebook should adapt their strategy to match a new set of priorities. The Hybrid News .

Google+ is refining its search by adding real-time results and additional support for hashtags. The first feature, real-time search results, allows users to click either the "Most recent" or "X more recent posts" to see the current real-time .

One question I get asked a lot is "Are you more of a 'technical SEO' or a 'marketing SEO'?" This question used to puzzle me a bit in the beginning as in my head the answer was pretty clear: I'm a marketer .

A recent research report developed by TriComB2B and the University of Dayton School of Business Administration provides insight into the B2B purchasers' decision making process. Key findings from the benchmark report, for B2B sea.

The Federal Reserve is receiving proposals for a "Sentiment Analysis and Social Media Monitoring Solution" that would track public perceptions on the economy and enhance the government's public communications. Just the Facts Before leaping int.