Intelligenx Outraces Competitors for the Kia Account in Chile
September 25, 2011
Digital marketing agency Intelligenx launched a major viral campaign for Kia in Chile. The ad promotes the new Kia Morning car model. The press release, “Campaña de marketing viral Kia Morning,” gives more details. The official white paper can be accessed here.
The ad campaign joined with the major social networks and platforms, providing participants interactive components to share with your friends.
Analysis of the campaign proves it was a major success, greatly increasing positive buzz surrounding Kia and its new car model. The power of such campaigns is clear, and innovators like Intelligenx will continue to move and shape the way web chatter is utilized and influenced by companies.
Emily Rae Aldridge, September 25, 2011
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Yandex Becomes More Social
September 24, 2011
To be successful in the media these days, it seems you have to become completely ingrained with social media sources in addition to your typical news content.
Russia’s top search engine is getting in on the action. Search Engine Watch reports, “Yandex Buys Social Newspaper The Tweeted Times.” The newspaper will be using the service to improve their social networking capabilities, just like big brothers Google and Bing (pun intended.) We learn more about the merger in the article:
The Tweeted Times is a service that looks at news content shared by those you’re following on Twitter. The stories are then compiled in a “newspaper” that includes the tweet from the person who originally shared the content. Founded in 2009 by Maxim Grinev and Maria Grineva, a pair of Swiss computer scientists, the service has been fighting to compete with services like Paper.li and Flipboard.
This purchase is big for Yandex in many ways. The search engine will now have a much larger base of user information collected (in addition to the information gained in last year’s purchase of WebVisor, a user behavior analysis company, and Loginza, a sign-in technology company.)
In unrelated news, anyone read any good dystopian novels by George Orwell lately?
Andrea Hayden, September 24, 2011
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Bing Introduces Action Buttons: Are These Confusing?
September 24, 2011
As people worldwide groan over the new Facebook layout, I am seriously focused on the big changes over at Bing.
Bing has recently introduced action buttons to their search results. Basically, when you search across seven popular categories (such as airlines, banks, and software downloads,) you will be presented buttons for popular actions on relevant sites instead of given a simple list of links.
Search Engine Watch covers the news in the article, “Bing Introduces Action Buttons to Search Results.” We learn:
Action buttons will attempt to go beyond simple site links to drill into a site’s deeper content. In some cases, the action buttons are the same. However in other cases, they are all new links. For example, checking in to or viewing the status of your flight are both site links and action buttons, yet Book a flight is an action button that does not exist in extended site links. Bing director Stefan Weitz states the site will be constantly looking for actions to add and requests that we “stay tuned.”
So, while others are aiming their “Internet-encourages-stalking” complaints at the new Facebook layout, I can’t tear myself away from this news from Bing. Since when did I need to be told what actions I am intending to take? If I want to book a flight, can’t I just search “book a flight” on my own, instead of being shown a series of action buttons I might be interested in? Thanks, but I don’t need training wheels or “nanny” culture buttons.
Andrea Hayden, September 24, 2011
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Software Giants Race to Solve the Big Data Puzzle
September 23, 2011
Other software companies have also put their hats in the ring to come up with a potential solution to this issue. The Computing.Co.UK article, Essential Guide to A Big Data: Part One states:
Microsoft, Oracle, SAP and Endeca are looking to sell enhanced database, analytics and business intelligence tools based on the big data concept, though the very definition of the term tends to be manipulated to play to individual product strengths in each case, meaning big data remains a moving target in many respects.
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Relevance: Once Ignored, Now a Core Issue
September 23, 2011
The Google recipe for its Web site placement order for searches is closely guarded despite the company’s open-source policy. The article, Google Discusses Their Algorithm Change Process, on Search Engine Journal, explains the lengthy and arduous process Googlers must go through in the quest for search engine impact.
Google explains that they must guard the algorithms to keep the manipulation of its numerical recipes which contain mathematical formulas and secret sauce, within Google defined boundaries. In fact, an entire industry has grown up around trying to crack Google’s search algorithms in an effort to bolster one’s relevance in Google’s recipe. Google isn’t just sitting around; rather, the company is constantly updating and tweaking their algorithms. We learned:
Each idea is based on improving the user experience, but not every idea actually shows a positive user impact; while over 500 changes were made last year, over 20,000 experiments were conducted in that same time period. The key takeaway is that, while it’s a good idea to pay attention to experiments, only a small cut will ever become a part of the standard – and, with 500 changes a year, even those alterations are subject to reversal.
With many changes occurring behind the curtain, how are Web masters who want users to find their content to achieve findability? Although 500 changes may be made in a year, not all of them (hardly any at all) have an impact of the majority of site rankings. The sites which may be affected are, we have heard, on their own. Google does not offer support, but it does provide a useful list of guidelines.
The few changes that do impact some sites can pack a wallop. The search engine optimization industry typically responds with suggestions, ideas, and work arounds. Google then changes its algorithm and the process begins again.
What’s the fix? Our conclusion is that one may have to “go Google”. Embrace all things Google, and buy Adwords. Trying to outwit Google may be a time consuming and unrewarding activity.
Catherine Lamsfuss, September 23, 2011
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Semantic Technology: Coming for Everyone?
September 23, 2011
Some strong assertions have been made regarding the importance of semantic search and many companies are delving into the process of understanding and utilizing the data.
An important trend of semantic search and extraction of data is supported by Hewlett-Packard’s confirmation that it would acquire Autonomy, a semantic-based tool used to extract information from non-structured data.
MediaPosts’ blog post, “Semantic Search and Raw Data on Rise” tells us more about the purchase:
Autonomy makes software that searches and keeps track of unstructured data in databases and on Web sites such as Google-like searches through hospital databases and records. Unstructured raw data could increasingly become the next diamond in the rough, allowing brands to target ads based on information extracted from text and images. Some companies already do this.
Google, Bing, and Yahoo are just three of the companies that are expanding their technology to understand semantic search on the web. Vertical Search Works is even launching mobile voice search for the iPhone. There is much promise in this venture, yet many challenges ahead because semantic technology may be one of the technologies best left an an enabler, not something the user must think about doing.
Andrea Hayden, September 23, 2011
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Foodchannel Vertical Search: More Stickiness?
September 23, 2011
Foodchannel.com has become one of the first consumer food sites to deploy a new semantic search bar technology.
Vertical Search Works announced the launch of VSW Search, a new search bar that publishers can use free of charge. The search bar will direct visitors to a publisher-branded results page rather than immediately being directed away from the publishers’ site. PR Newswire’s article, “Vertical Search Works Launches VSW Search™, a Semantic Search Platform for Web Publishers” details the release:
‘We believe VSW Search™ is the “killer app” for search,’ said Colin Jeavons, CEO of VSW. ‘Publishers on the Web are thirsty for page views, and by delivering a semantic-powered search, we can help them better engage consumers by offering relevant, actionable search results.’
The technology understands a search term as a concept instead of as a keyword. By understanding the searcher’s intent with the semantic technology as well as keeping visitors on a publishers’ results page, I wonder how much a user’s search is going to be dictated by these results. It is an interesting approach to say the least.
For more information, visit www.verticalsearchworks.com.
Andrea Hayden, September 23, 2011
Sponsored by Pandia.com
IBM Totes Up Its Analytics Properties
September 23, 2011
IBM owns more analytics functions than an Escalade filled with math PhDs on their way to an American Mathematical Association shin dig.
IBM recently acquired Algorithmics, a Toronto-based company which makes risk-analysis software for the financial industry. IBM paid $387 million for the company and will gain all of Algorithmic’s 900 international employees.
The tools provided by Algorithmics help businesses automate much of their financial risk management and also helps customers meet regulators’ data oversight demands. We learn more about the deal in ZDNet’s article, “IBM Snaps Up Algorithmics for Risk-Management Tools.” The article reports:
‘What Algorithmics brings is risk-analytic capabilities for credit risk, market risk and liquidity risk that is incredibly timely,’ Laurence Trigwell, an executive in IBM’s European business analytics unit, told ZDNet UK. ‘Regulators are asking for more frequent analysis and more frequent exposure… also the regulators are doing a lot more analytics of those disclosures.’
With such a specific financial niche being so boldly approached by IBM, I’m left with a few questions. Can IBM successfully integrate this wide collection of math centric properties? Or will the licensee pay IBM to make a seamless system of the many moving parts? Time will tell if the software purchase helps the company improve their ability to assist customers in managing financial risk.
My question: “Is IBM angling for services revenue from its collection of numerical recipes?” And another, “Will this math goodness enhance IBM’s search offerings so that the company can win another round on Jeopardy?”
Andrea Hayden, September 23, 2011
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Protected: Microsoft Debugger Download Available: DebugDiag 1.2
September 23, 2011
Autonomy Deal a Big Go
September 23, 2011
Short honk: I learned that the deal to buy Autonomy for $10 billion is a big go. Navigate to “HP’s Whitman: PC Spinoff, Autonomy Deal Still On.” Here is the passage I noted:
With regard to the potential spinoff of PSG, we’re committed to doing work right now to determine the best path forward and we expect the board to make a determination by the end of the calendar year if not sooner. This decision is solely based on the value to and investors and value to customers. Second, the Autonomy acquisition is proceeding as planned and is expected to be completed by the end of the calendar year and third, we continue to explore options to optimize the value of WebOS software.
Do I have some views of this deal? You bet. Will these be snapped into my free blog? Not a chance. Why make life easy for the failed Web masters, unemployed history majors, and repurposed home economics poobah-ettes.
Stephen E Arnold, September 23, 2011
Sponsored by Pandia.com
-
- Subscribe to Beyond Search
Feature archive
News archive
-
