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Since the huge rise in Twitter usage there has been a growing fascination with the so called ‘real-time web’. This has been particularly evident in recent weeks with news spreading of the major internet brands reportedly working on their search tools. Search Engine and Social Networking giants Google, Bing, Facebook and Twitter are all working on major changes to improve upon status updates and tweets to do a better job of indexing the web.

Of all the major online brands it seems as though Microsoft have won the race to get their update made first. Bing now displays recent Tweets from well-known people / celebrities. It seems that Microsoft were just rushing to win the race rather than implementing an exciting new tool to its search engine. The only way you can actually see these results is when you physically type in a celebrity name and ‘Twitter’ in the same search query.

The latest announcements from Facebook also suggest that they are looking at the advantages of ‘real-time web’. It seems as though Facebook is looking to transition towards becoming more public – some have said even more Twitter-like. Reports from last week also announced that Facebook will be beta testing a new publishing feature in which your Facebook status updates can be optionally made public. Essentially, this will allow users to use Facebook a lot like Twitter broadcasting your updates publically.

Source: Mashable

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Hitwise has recently revealed the latest online statistics for website usage. These include the UK’s most popular websites, search engines, social networks and search terms for the week ending 30/05/09. These are ranked by visits over the period.

Top 20 websites

Google and Facebook still display their supremecy in online usage. The main proportion of the top 20 websites is dominated by Social Networking sites, search engines and news portals.

Top 10 Search Engines

Google is stil by far the UK’s favourite search engine. Google.co.uk, Google.com and Google UK image search made up over 85% of visits to search engines.

Top 10 Overall Search Terms

Again search terms are dominated by Social Network search phrases as they continue to grow in popularity.

Top 10 Social Networks

As Facebook continues to grow and grow in the UK so does the websites rankings in terms of visits making up almost half of all visits to Social Networking sites as visits to competitors bebo and MySpace struggle to keep up with the pace.

Source: Hitwise

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Ever wanted to view somewhere on Street View that was off the main road?

Well, Google has now decided to advance its Street View service over the summer, utilising human power!

Using purpose built trikes mounted with their 360-degree Street View Cameras Google will begin to capture areas across the UK that could not be accessed by their cars.

The Search Engine Giants aptly named it “The Google Trike” which was described as: “a mechanical masterpiece comprising three bicycle wheels, a mounted Street View camera and a very athletic cyclist in customised Google apparel”. The contraptions will arrive in the UK to make some “special image collections”.

VisitBritain have shortlisted 5 categories: Castles, Coastal Paths, Natural Wonders, Historic Buildings & monuments/stadiums. From these categories the public can tell Google what they want to be captured by voting. This will allow visitors the opportunity to view attractions – inside and out – before they visit.

Got somewhere in mind vote where or what you want the Google Trike to capture. Click here>>

Sources:

ZDNet.co.uk

& CNET.co.uk

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A recent report from Hitwise revealed that Facebook, the UK’s most popular Social Network, was also the most searched-for brand by internet users in the UK.

The report was conducted over a twelve week period ending on the third of January 2009 and showed that one in every 42 online searches made contained the term ‘facebook’. With over 17million UK users Facebook is by far the most popular Social Network in the UK and the gap online between brands is ever increasing with Facebook receiving 52% more searches than the second ranked brand YouTube.

Behind YouTube was auction site ebay followed by the UK’s second most popular social network Bebo. The BBC completed the top 5 after Bebo.
10 most searched for brands by UK Internet users (ranked by market share of UK Internet searches, 12 weeks ending 3 January 2009)

1. Facebook (2.39%)
2. YouTube (1.57%)
3. eBay (1.25%)
4. Bebo (0.96%)
5. BBC (0.86%)
6. Amazon (0.47%)
7. Argos (0.44%)
8. Sky (0.27%)
9. Tesco (0.26%)
10. Yahoo! (0.26%)

Source: Hitwise

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So are are the search engine giants Google looking to buy Twitter?

Recent reports from the US suggest that the companies are in negotiations. Rumours also suggest that the Google are in the ‘late stages’ of acquiring the micro-blogging service which is currently topping fifty five million users per day.

There have been no official comments on the status of a possible purchase. It is also worth remembering that in 2008 Facebook were the first company to be rumoured to be in talks with Twitter with nothing coming of the discussions.

Twitter is estimated to be valued at around $250m (£170m).

Source: NMA

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Looking to feature ads on mobile searchesusing Adwords? Your wait is now over! Google recently launched Adwords mobile options that will display ads on the iPhone and G1.

Both devices have web browsers that display full HTML. With 95% of all mobile searches conducted using the iPhone (according to a Mobile Search panel at SES Chicago), it certainly seems the best avenue for Google to take for now and will certainly generate interest and no doubt revenue. However, will this option be as successful in the future, especially with the huge increase in 3G compatible handsets and soon to be HTML browsers?

Source: SearchEngineWatch

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Google’s agreement with Yahoo is over before it has begun.  Google have made the following announcement on their blog:

In June we announced an advertising agreement with Yahoo! that gave Yahoo! the option of using Google to provide ads on its websites (and its publisher partners’ sites) in the U.S. and Canada. At the same time, both companies agreed to delay implementation of the agreement to give regulators the chance to review it. While this wasn’t legally necessary, we thought it was the right thing to do because Google and Yahoo! have been successful in online advertising and we realized that any cooperation between us would attract attention.

We feel that the agreement would have been good for publishers, advertisers, and users — as well, of course, for Yahoo! and Google. Why? Because it would have allowed Yahoo! (and its existing publisher partners) to show more relevant ads for queries that currently generate few or no advertisements. Better ads are more useful for users, more efficient for advertisers, and more valuable for publishers.

However, after four months of review, including discussions of various possible changes to the agreement, it’s clear that government regulators and some advertisers continue to have concerns about the agreement. Pressing ahead risked not only a protracted legal battle but also damage to relationships with valued partners. That wouldn’t have been in the long-term interests of Google or our users, so we have decided to end the agreement.

We’re of course disappointed that this deal won’t be moving ahead. But we’re not going to let the prospect of a lengthy legal battle distract us from our core mission. That would be like trying to drive down the road of innovation with the parking brake on. Google’s continued success depends on staying focused on what we do best: creating useful products for our users and partners.

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Reported in the Guardian today – Starting today, gambling ads will be introduced for Google UK (excluding Northern Ireland).

“Web users in Great Britain will be the first in the world to see gambling ads on Google since 2004, when the US search engine giant introduced a global ban,” the Guardian writes, and later adds that Google’s “relaxation of gambling advertising follows new UK rules introduced last September under the Gambling Act 2005 allowing betting ads to run on TV around sports events and after the 9pm watershed.”

Gambling ads are classified as non-family friendly though, Google says, so they won’t show when SafeSearch is enabled.

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Google have announced today the aquisition of a leading Russian context advertising service called “Begun” for $140 million [£70 million]

Google Statement…

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (July 18, 2008) - Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) announced today that it has signed an agreement with Rambler Media to acquire ZAO Begun (”Begun”), a leading Russian context advertising service, for $140 million, subject to customary adjustments. This agreement emphasizes Google’s commitment to improving the service it offers users, partners and advertisers in Russia, where digital advertising is currently experiencing rapid growth.

The acquisition of Begun will give advertisers access to a broader network of sites to advertise on, and publishers will benefit from a wider set of adverts to run on their sites. Users will see more relevant advertising across a much wider set of websites. Google will bring its advertising expertise and experience to Begun’s network of websites.

“Google is very committed to giving Russian users, advertisers and partners the best possible service and experience,” said Mohammad Gawdat, Managing Director Emerging Markets, Google. ”This agreement will result in better search results and more relevant advertising for our Russian users and publishers.”

“Begun is an excellent business which can fully develop its potential under Google’s ownership,” said Mark Opzoomer, Chief Executive Officer of Rambler Media. “Google has the technological and financial capacity to improve Begun’s established advertising service in Russia.”

“The entire industry will benefit from this transaction as there is a high potential for synergies,” said Alexey Basov, General Director of Begun “It brings together Google’s visionary technology and Begun’s six years of successful experience in building advertising and dealer networks and direct sales in Russia.”

The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions and receipt of applicable regulatory approval and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2008.

Sources: Begun, Google

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Google’s Keyword tool has just been updated to publish approximate search volume figures at last!

This has long been a want of many internet marketing experts across the land and despite being “Approx Figures” this is a really useful addition to the tool.

Nice work.

Try the tool here >>

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