Finding an experienced SEO expert is not easy, when most are either in top-level positions at an agency or have their own successful consulting firms. In today's enterprise search marketing column, " Recruiting SEO Talent for Big Sites ," Aaron Shear advises that, to begin your search, you must first throw everything you know about hiring out the window.

In a full-blown recession, what's the future of paid search? In today's Search Engine WarGames column, " Bernstein Research Predicts the Future of Paid Search ," Kevin Heisler looks at a new study from Sanford C Bernstein's research arm that's a virtual crystal ball into Google and search engine marketing.

Dealing with sites that steal your content is not fun. But it doesn't have to be difficult. In today's organic SEO column, " Duplicate Content - A True Story ," Mark Jackson outlines a few simple steps before and after you discover the offending scraper sites.

comScore today reported that U.S. Internet users viewed more than 12 billion online videos during May 2008, a 45 percent increase from a year ago. Google Sites ranked as the top U.S. video property that month with 4.2 billion videos viewed )representing a 35 percent share of all videos viewed(. YouTube.com accounted for more than 98 percent of all videos viewed at the property, making Google Video less popular than Hulu.com, a joint venture of NBC and Fox,

In language much more formal than his blasting of Icahn and Microsoft in interviews , Yahoo's Jerry Yang responded - with capital letters - to the proposed board of directors designed to unseat him. Today on Bastille Day, Yahoo's fighting its own revolution. There was no mention of liberte, egalite or fraternite, but Yang could have easily addressed his shareholders: "Chers Les Miserables," Yahoo Inc. mailed this letter to stockholders. July 14,

In news that is likely to make my software-developer husband happy, Google has incorporated Code Search results into its main search results. Blended search results is often referred to as universal search , and in the past has included news, images, videos, etc. Code Search, which launched in October 2005 , competes with other vertical code search sites, such as Krugle. Krugle has a deal with IBM , a partnership with the Yahoo Developers Network ,

Think you know the right way to set up a new PPC campaign? In today's search advertising column, " Creating PPC Campaigns: the 'Live or Die' Settings ," David Szetela shows you how to pay close attention to the details many advertisers miss, which can position you for success and help you avoid common pitfalls.

Just a few weeks after the US Department of Justice formally opened its investigation to the Yahoo-Google search advertising partnership . Now, about a dozen states are looking into the matter, according to the Washington Post . Not at all surprising, Connecticut is one of those states. Earlier this year, a bill was introduced to the state's General Assembly that sought to tighten the rules of data collection for companies who serve ads on sites they don't own.

Recently, Google's Matt Cutts gave USA Today readers 5 SEO Tips , which many of our readers found quite basic )albeit good(. Then, last week, Google gave an overview of its ranking system . Both come in the midst of Google's latest push to inform about its privacy policy . Now, Google has taken to the AdSense blog to inform publishers of basic SEO tips. Here's what Ambroise Fensterbank, Search Quality Evaluator,

Recently, Microsoft and Carl Icahn got quite cozy , and the budding relationship spawned a new Yahoo offer. Despite Yahoo's insistence that they remain open to an offer from Microsoft , they have, once again , rejected the software giant. The new deal would split up Yahoo, selling the search portion to Microsoft. That sale would be overseen by Carl Icahn and his board. The new proposal was rejected for the following four reasons: Yahoo!

The board of the Dallas-Fort Worth Search Engine Marketing Association is scratching their heads over a decision by Google to close their Dallas office. The group says Dallas-Fort Worth are search marketers are responsible for spending $100 million on search advertising, the majority of it going to Google. "Our association members have worked with many different vertical Google sales offices across the country,

In the wake of Carl Icahn's declaration that Microsoft would buy a Yahoo run be a different board )and Microsoft's affirmation of the claim(, Google CEO Eric Schmidt hasn't changed his position on what should happen with Yahoo . Speaking to reporters in Idaho yesterday, he reiterated that he believes an Independent Yahoo is best for the industry. Schmidt called Microsoft's bid for Yahoo "anti-competitive," something Google has been saying from the beginning .

Over at Yahoo's Search Marketing blog , Marketing Communications Manager Roger Park is offering up tips on converting your search ads. He breaks down a bunch of best practices principles to three main steps: Optimize, Navigate and Track. Optimize Optimizing your landing pages is crucial to a profitable search marketing campaign.

Apple is releasing the next generation of its popular iPhone today, and users of the first gen phone )including yours truly( get a software upgrade that enables downloading of applications available for the iPhone 3G. Of course, search has made its way onto several applications, so let's take a look at what's available. Straight Up Search First up, Google is the only one of the major search engines to offer up an iPhone search app.

One of the smartest people I know is Gord Hotchkiss, the president and CEO of Enquiro . He's smart because he asks questions about how people use search engines, navigate websites and engage with advertising - and then conducts groundbreaking research to find answers before anyone else.

TechCrunch is reporting that NowPublic has acquired Truemors , a rumor site launched by Guy Kawasaki in May 2007. NowPublic bills itself as a"participatory news site." The startup has raised two rounds of financing. Kawasaki will serve on the company's advisory board as well. This is one acquisition rumor TechCrunch got right: Guy Kawasaki confirmed it on his blog and Twittered the buyout. NowPublic is an unusual site to say the least.

David Utter over at WebProNews has written an insightful piece on the possibility Microsoft wants Yahoo mainly for the old Overture patents it holds, in particular patent 361. Between his article which clarifies much of Usman Latif's posts on the topic as well as Latif's own detailed post from 2005 when Google fired the employee for blogging - shows a very good conspiracy and Machivellian business theory. Is 'patent 361' the Holy Grail of our industry?

In April, Google launched image ads as part of their mobile ad service. 5 days later, the Mobile Marketing Association released new guidelines for mobile image ads . Today, Google is announcing that their mobile image ads are compliant with the new MMA specifications. But don't freak out if you're using the old formats. Writing on the Official Google Mobile blog , Product Marketing Manager Alexandra Kenin said,

In the wake of a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on online advertising and privacy, Mintel has released survey data revealing Americans are more concerned than they were 5 years ago about online security. 65% are more concerned than they were 5 years ago 28% are significantly more concerned than they were five years ago But the actual risk is declining. The number of American identity thefts declined 12% from 2003 to 2006 )10.1 million to 8.9 million(,

Ask.com and Photobucket )think Flickr + YouTube( have announced a multi-year partnership. Photobucket will now display an Ask.com search box, and includes syndication of sponsored listsings and display ads. Photobucket sees 44 million unique users worldwide each month. "Photobucket has one of the largest online audiences, and now Ask.com provides these consumers with the answers to the questions they ask every day," said Andrew Moers, Senior Vice President & General Manager,