Local Newspaper Websites Dominate Metro Markets
According to the The Media Audit, local newspapers have the leading websites in 74 of the 81 metropolitan markets regularly surveyed. TV station websites have the largest audience in five markets and websites operated by a combination of TV station and local newspaper lead in two markets.
For several years The Media Audit data has shown the Washington Post to have the most successful “local” newspaper website among the markets surveyed. The Post is still number one with a rating of 40.5 percent, but now WRAL-TV, serving the Raleigh-Durham market, has succeeded in attracting 39.0 percent of the Raleigh real estate agents adults in its immediate market to its website.
“WRAL-TV, KUSA-TV in Denver, KXAS-TV in Dallas, KTHV-TV in Little Rock and some others make it clear that newspapers are not going to ‘automatically’ dominate any market. Like the www.record-eagle.com in the The Detroit News website leads with 16.9 but WDIV-TV attracts 16.1 percent.
Of the 898 websites surveyed (newspapers, alternative news weeklies like the Metro Times in Detroit) in the current report, 236 attracted 10 percent or more of the adults in their immediate market. Of the 236, 117 were TV stations. Only one newsweekly, The Austin Chronicle, attracted 10 percent or more.
Much like the Yellow Pages, Dialy newpapers print circulation is dwindling as consumers get their news and information without commercial interruptions.
Advertisiers are beginning to understand that their media mix needs to be revamped as traditional sales drivers like the Yellow Pages and the Thursday and Sunday newspaper just don't make the needle move like the old days.
Maximize reach with organic website optimization that drives search engine placement for your company website...contact Peak Positions SEO.
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Friday, March 25, 2005
The next time any Internet Marketing Company asks or informs you that Cookies need to be set on your website ask them a most important question: "How will these cookies serve our website users?"
Expect to wait a very long time for any type of relevant answer.
This recent article provides an in-depth review of cookies and the problems that they create.
Crumbling Cookies Threaten SEM and Online Advertising
A recent Jupiter Research study found "as many as 39 percent of online users may be deleting cookies from their primary computer every month, undermining the usefulness of cookie-based measurement and leaving many site operators flying blind." Client data we've seen indicates the problem may not be quite as dire as all that... yet. But the trend toward blocked or deleted cookies is clearly increasing.
(It's about time that internet marketing company executives address the nagging cookie issues)
Over the last few years, spam nearly killed the e-mail marketing industry, at least as far as opt-in e-mail as a customer acquisition vehicle is concerned.
In an overall ecosystem, the cheaters who sent the spam caused mailbox clutter and consumer outrage. Users found themselves digging out from under mountains of spam.
ISPs and independent software companies stepped in to offer technology to reduce spam.
Yet no solution really works perfectly, and the e-mail marketing industry is moving too slowly. Domain authentication still isn't standard for e-mail sending. Bummer. Now, even legitimate opt-in communications from publishers and companies to their customers and subscribers are often flagged as spam or not delivered.
A lesson can be learned from e-mail's demise as a customer acquisition vehicle. Self-regulation must be early and decisive when there's preventable activity that threatens an entire industry.
A similar threat looms over the entire online advertising industry, the Web analytics business, online publishers, and even paid search. That threat is cookie blocking, cookie removal, and cookie scrubbing by consumers and businesses alike.
The proliferation of spyware and unwanted adware has resulted in a surge in popularity of spyware removal programs. Many of these also remove third-party cookies. Simultaneously, many Internet security software packages include cookie blocking, cookie removal, or cookie management features that are turned on by default. (and with good reason!)
Without third-party cookies, many marginal online marketing technologies would have to rely on alternate means to measure ad performance. The user also loses. Cookies, like an e-mail or a postal address, or a customer phone number, can be used by marketers wisely or poorly. Instead of using cookies to enhance the user experience with highly targeted advertising, some have instead focused on short-term gain.
Many Internet adverting businesses (not reputable organic search engine optimization solutions providers) worry it's too late. They think wild hysteria and paranoia fueled by spyware, privacy advocates, and media will kill the cookie as a viable way to bring users better site experiences, easy log-ins, relevant advertising, and personalization.
Who Can Save the Cookie? (ONLY SPAMMERS !!!!!!!!!!! )
Several trade associations are positioned to help save the cookie as a viable ad tracking method (if it can be saved). They have several weapons at their disposal, including:
Proactive consumer PR efforts, so consumers will understand cookies' positive effect in helping them manage their online experiences
(MANAGE OUR ONLINE EXPERIENCE ? -- USERS SEARCH OR LOCATE THE CONTENT THAT THEY NEED -- ONLY USERS MANAGE THEIR ONLINE EXPERIENCES)
and even to see more relevant advertising
(WE HARDLY NEED MORE RELEVANT ADVERTISING MESSAGES PER DAY )
Lawmaker education on the realistic levels of privacy "invasion" caused by non-personally-identifiable cookies served by first- and third-parties. Trade associations that should add cookie preservation to their agenda include, but aren't limited to:
Cookies need to go away. If you want to track performance analyze your website server logs.
Be wary of any party looking to ADD NEW COOKIES to your web pages.
Expect to wait a very long time for any type of relevant answer.
This recent article provides an in-depth review of cookies and the problems that they create.
Crumbling Cookies Threaten SEM and Online Advertising
A recent Jupiter Research study found "as many as 39 percent of online users may be deleting cookies from their primary computer every month, undermining the usefulness of cookie-based measurement and leaving many site operators flying blind." Client data we've seen indicates the problem may not be quite as dire as all that... yet. But the trend toward blocked or deleted cookies is clearly increasing.
(It's about time that internet marketing company executives address the nagging cookie issues)
Over the last few years, spam nearly killed the e-mail marketing industry, at least as far as opt-in e-mail as a customer acquisition vehicle is concerned.
In an overall ecosystem, the cheaters who sent the spam caused mailbox clutter and consumer outrage. Users found themselves digging out from under mountains of spam.
ISPs and independent software companies stepped in to offer technology to reduce spam.
Yet no solution really works perfectly, and the e-mail marketing industry is moving too slowly. Domain authentication still isn't standard for e-mail sending. Bummer. Now, even legitimate opt-in communications from publishers and companies to their customers and subscribers are often flagged as spam or not delivered.
A lesson can be learned from e-mail's demise as a customer acquisition vehicle. Self-regulation must be early and decisive when there's preventable activity that threatens an entire industry.
A similar threat looms over the entire online advertising industry, the Web analytics business, online publishers, and even paid search. That threat is cookie blocking, cookie removal, and cookie scrubbing by consumers and businesses alike.
The proliferation of spyware and unwanted adware has resulted in a surge in popularity of spyware removal programs. Many of these also remove third-party cookies. Simultaneously, many Internet security software packages include cookie blocking, cookie removal, or cookie management features that are turned on by default. (and with good reason!)
Without third-party cookies, many marginal online marketing technologies would have to rely on alternate means to measure ad performance. The user also loses. Cookies, like an e-mail or a postal address, or a customer phone number, can be used by marketers wisely or poorly. Instead of using cookies to enhance the user experience with highly targeted advertising, some have instead focused on short-term gain.
Many Internet adverting businesses (not reputable organic search engine optimization solutions providers) worry it's too late. They think wild hysteria and paranoia fueled by spyware, privacy advocates, and media will kill the cookie as a viable way to bring users better site experiences, easy log-ins, relevant advertising, and personalization.
Who Can Save the Cookie? (ONLY SPAMMERS !!!!!!!!!!! )
Several trade associations are positioned to help save the cookie as a viable ad tracking method (if it can be saved). They have several weapons at their disposal, including:
Proactive consumer PR efforts, so consumers will understand cookies' positive effect in helping them manage their online experiences
(MANAGE OUR ONLINE EXPERIENCE ? -- USERS SEARCH OR LOCATE THE CONTENT THAT THEY NEED -- ONLY USERS MANAGE THEIR ONLINE EXPERIENCES)
and even to see more relevant advertising
(WE HARDLY NEED MORE RELEVANT ADVERTISING MESSAGES PER DAY )
Lawmaker education on the realistic levels of privacy "invasion" caused by non-personally-identifiable cookies served by first- and third-parties. Trade associations that should add cookie preservation to their agenda include, but aren't limited to:
Cookies need to go away. If you want to track performance analyze your website server logs.
Be wary of any party looking to ADD NEW COOKIES to your web pages.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
MSN Announces New Pay Per Click Search Advertising Program
At an annual gathering of its most important advertisers last week, MSN officially announced during it will enter the paid search arena with a full-blown self-service paid listing program similar to those run by Yahoo! and Google.
The program will be tested in France and Singapore during the close of 2005. A date for a worldwide rollout has not been set.
MSN needs to establish its own program, something that seemed inevitable once Yahoo! announced it would purchase Overture in 2003. The move meant Overture -- which had been providing paid listings to both Yahoo! and MSN -- effectively lost its "neutrality" and really couldn't continue to be a long-term partner for MSN.
In addition, MSN had already decided at that point to build its own robot spider crawling search technology that is similar to how google works to produce editorial search listings. Developing a paid listings capability seemed almost a requirement for MSN , given competitors Google and Yahoo! have their own PPC search marketing programs.
MSN's PPC program is set to operate on a broad match basis, similar to Google's. Advertisers will also be able to target specific words and phrases such as sign design company , in addition to having exclusion video game testing options.
Beyond Google's and Yahoo!'s programs, the new MSN program will offer features such as dayparting, geotargeting, and demographic targeting based on age group, lifestyle, and topic such as: honda car parts .
Until MSN's new Pay Per Click search marketing program rolls out, MSN will continue its long-standing featured sites in the U.S., where search advertisers that spend at least $75,000 per month can get top placement for terms they want to target, above any results provided by Yahoo!
What does this MSN Pay Per Click development mean for Yahoo? Obviously, Yahoo stands to sacrifice significant chunks of income that it receives by providing paid listings to MSN. Advertisers won't flock to MSN and forsake the other two however portions of their Pay Per Click budgets will be reissued towards MSN's program.
MSN will be a third chocie PPC program that most everyone will enroll in.
Is it too little too late from MSN only time will tell. At least Redmond has finally found the lucrative search party, makes one wonder if they intend to continue improving their organic search shortcomings.
At an annual gathering of its most important advertisers last week, MSN officially announced during it will enter the paid search arena with a full-blown self-service paid listing program similar to those run by Yahoo! and Google.
The program will be tested in France and Singapore during the close of 2005. A date for a worldwide rollout has not been set.
MSN needs to establish its own program, something that seemed inevitable once Yahoo! announced it would purchase Overture in 2003. The move meant Overture -- which had been providing paid listings to both Yahoo! and MSN -- effectively lost its "neutrality" and really couldn't continue to be a long-term partner for MSN.
In addition, MSN had already decided at that point to build its own robot spider crawling search technology that is similar to how google works to produce editorial search listings. Developing a paid listings capability seemed almost a requirement for MSN , given competitors Google and Yahoo! have their own PPC search marketing programs.
MSN's PPC program is set to operate on a broad match basis, similar to Google's. Advertisers will also be able to target specific words and phrases such as sign design company , in addition to having exclusion video game testing options.
Beyond Google's and Yahoo!'s programs, the new MSN program will offer features such as dayparting, geotargeting, and demographic targeting based on age group, lifestyle, and topic such as: honda car parts .
Until MSN's new Pay Per Click search marketing program rolls out, MSN will continue its long-standing featured sites in the U.S., where search advertisers that spend at least $75,000 per month can get top placement for terms they want to target, above any results provided by Yahoo!
What does this MSN Pay Per Click development mean for Yahoo? Obviously, Yahoo stands to sacrifice significant chunks of income that it receives by providing paid listings to MSN. Advertisers won't flock to MSN and forsake the other two however portions of their Pay Per Click budgets will be reissued towards MSN's program.
MSN will be a third chocie PPC program that most everyone will enroll in.
Is it too little too late from MSN only time will tell. At least Redmond has finally found the lucrative search party, makes one wonder if they intend to continue improving their organic search shortcomings.
MSN Announces New Pay Per Click Search Advertising Program
At an annual gathering of its most important advertisers last week, MSN officially announced during it will enter the paid search arena with a full-blown self-service paid listing program similar to those run by Yahoo! and Google.
The program will be tested in France and Singapore during the close of 2005. A date for a worldwide rollout has not been set.
MSN needs to establish its own program, something that seemed inevitable once Yahoo! announced it would purchase Overture in 2003. The move meant Overture -- which had been providing paid listings to both Yahoo! and MSN -- effectively lost its "neutrality" and really couldn't continue to be a long-term partner for MSN.
In addition, MSN had already decided at that point to build its own robot spider crawling search technology that is similar to how google works to produce editorial search listings. Developing a paid listings capability seemed almost a requirement for MSN , given competitors Google and Yahoo! have their own PPC search marketing programs.
MSN's PPC program is set to operate on a broad match basis, similar to Google's. Advertisers will also be able to target specific words and phrases such as sign design company , in addition to having exclusion video game testing options.
Beyond Google's and Yahoo!'s programs, the new MSN program will offer features such as dayparting, geotargeting, and demographic targeting based on age group, lifestyle, and topic such as: honda car parts .
Until MSN's new Pay Per Click search marketing program rolls out, MSN will continue its long-standing featured sites in the U.S., where search advertisers that spend at least $75,000 per month can get top placement for terms they want to target, above any results provided by Yahoo!
What does this MSN Pay Per Click development mean for Yahoo? Obviously, Yahoo stands to sacrifice significant chunks of income that it receives by providing paid listings to MSN. Advertisers won't flock to MSN and forsake the other two however portions of their Pay Per Click budgets will be reissued towards MSN's program.
MSN will be a third chocie PPC program that most everyone will enroll in.
Is it too little too late from MSN only time will tell. At least Redmond has finally found the lucrative search party, makes one wonder if they intend to continue improving heir organic search shortcomings.
At an annual gathering of its most important advertisers last week, MSN officially announced during it will enter the paid search arena with a full-blown self-service paid listing program similar to those run by Yahoo! and Google.
The program will be tested in France and Singapore during the close of 2005. A date for a worldwide rollout has not been set.
MSN needs to establish its own program, something that seemed inevitable once Yahoo! announced it would purchase Overture in 2003. The move meant Overture -- which had been providing paid listings to both Yahoo! and MSN -- effectively lost its "neutrality" and really couldn't continue to be a long-term partner for MSN.
In addition, MSN had already decided at that point to build its own robot spider crawling search technology that is similar to how google works to produce editorial search listings. Developing a paid listings capability seemed almost a requirement for MSN , given competitors Google and Yahoo! have their own PPC search marketing programs.
MSN's PPC program is set to operate on a broad match basis, similar to Google's. Advertisers will also be able to target specific words and phrases such as sign design company , in addition to having exclusion video game testing options.
Beyond Google's and Yahoo!'s programs, the new MSN program will offer features such as dayparting, geotargeting, and demographic targeting based on age group, lifestyle, and topic such as: honda car parts .
Until MSN's new Pay Per Click search marketing program rolls out, MSN will continue its long-standing featured sites in the U.S., where search advertisers that spend at least $75,000 per month can get top placement for terms they want to target, above any results provided by Yahoo!
What does this MSN Pay Per Click development mean for Yahoo? Obviously, Yahoo stands to sacrifice significant chunks of income that it receives by providing paid listings to MSN. Advertisers won't flock to MSN and forsake the other two however portions of their Pay Per Click budgets will be reissued towards MSN's program.
MSN will be a third chocie PPC program that most everyone will enroll in.
Is it too little too late from MSN only time will tell. At least Redmond has finally found the lucrative search party, makes one wonder if they intend to continue improving heir organic search shortcomings.
Copyright Suit Targets Google News
Internet search and content giant Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) , known as one of the top aggregators of news and other information online, has been sued by Agence France Press (AFP) for allegedly publishing copyrighted content without permission.
The French media publisher -- which is seeking more than US$17 million in damages and an injunction barring Google from further publishing its news stories and photos -- took its action in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in March of 2005.
The suit follows Google's defeat in French court in February of 2005 over trademark infringement allegations from fashion designer Louis Vuitton, despite Google's victory in a similar trademark infringement case involving the insurance company: Geico.
This case is somewhat different in that AFP is suing Google for theft and distribution of copyrighted content and materails. The Google News site aggregates and indexes the headlines and first few lines of news stories from more than 4,000 sites. Users who click on the headlines are then sent to the site of the original publisher.
The opt-out feature was cited by Google in response to the AFP suit. AFP went on to argue that Google had been informed of the alleged infringement, yet ignored requests to avoid the publication of AFP's copyrighted content. A similar suit, which is ongoing in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, was brought against Google by pornography publisher Perfect 10 last year.
American Internet publishing and copyright cases in recent years have largely depended for precedent on the Total News case of more than five years ago, in which the courts held that permission to publish is required if companies present content online inside their own window or under their own logo.
Is google stealing copyrighted content with its news headlines at the top of the keyword search results pages ? It could be years before the judges and governing legal bodies are ablt to issue precedent setting rulings on these matters. One question is what is preventing any newspaper, magezing, ezine, or any publication from republishing another party's content and re-labeling the distrbution channel with another ownership logo?
Do traditional publishing laws and established truth in advertising trademark policies apply to the internet?
Internet search and content giant Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) , known as one of the top aggregators of news and other information online, has been sued by Agence France Press (AFP) for allegedly publishing copyrighted content without permission.
The French media publisher -- which is seeking more than US$17 million in damages and an injunction barring Google from further publishing its news stories and photos -- took its action in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in March of 2005.
The suit follows Google's defeat in French court in February of 2005 over trademark infringement allegations from fashion designer Louis Vuitton, despite Google's victory in a similar trademark infringement case involving the insurance company: Geico.
This case is somewhat different in that AFP is suing Google for theft and distribution of copyrighted content and materails. The Google News site aggregates and indexes the headlines and first few lines of news stories from more than 4,000 sites. Users who click on the headlines are then sent to the site of the original publisher.
The opt-out feature was cited by Google in response to the AFP suit. AFP went on to argue that Google had been informed of the alleged infringement, yet ignored requests to avoid the publication of AFP's copyrighted content. A similar suit, which is ongoing in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, was brought against Google by pornography publisher Perfect 10 last year.
American Internet publishing and copyright cases in recent years have largely depended for precedent on the Total News case of more than five years ago, in which the courts held that permission to publish is required if companies present content online inside their own window or under their own logo.
Is google stealing copyrighted content with its news headlines at the top of the keyword search results pages ? It could be years before the judges and governing legal bodies are ablt to issue precedent setting rulings on these matters. One question is what is preventing any newspaper, magezing, ezine, or any publication from republishing another party's content and re-labeling the distrbution channel with another ownership logo?
Do traditional publishing laws and established truth in advertising trademark policies apply to the internet?
Google Loses Trademark Infringement Case in Europe
Google loses French court appeal
Google is one of the world's most popular search engines Internet search engine Google has lost its appeal against a court ruling over trademark infringement brought about by two French travel companies.
Google must now pay 75,000 euros ($100,300; £52,000) in damages and costs to Luteciel and Viaticum. A lawsuit was filed after Google users searching for the two French companies found themselves directed instead to rival sponsored links.
Google's failure to follow an order quickly enough triggered the fine. In October 2003, the French courts told the search engine to stop displaying rival sponsored links. The court said that Google AdWords had been guilty of "trademark counterfeiting".
Companies pay to have their websites linked to particular terms on Google. Under current Google policy, if it is judged that an advertiser uses a trademarked term as a "keyword trigger", those words are taken out of its campaign.
However, the Google AdWords still does not offer upfront protections against potential AdWords sponsors creating Pay Per Click advertising accounts intended to sponsor and advertise on established trademark terms.
This ruling could set precedent and lead to hundreds of trademark infringement judgments against Google AdWords in the European courts.
Google loses French court appeal
Google is one of the world's most popular search engines Internet search engine Google has lost its appeal against a court ruling over trademark infringement brought about by two French travel companies.
Google must now pay 75,000 euros ($100,300; £52,000) in damages and costs to Luteciel and Viaticum. A lawsuit was filed after Google users searching for the two French companies found themselves directed instead to rival sponsored links.
Google's failure to follow an order quickly enough triggered the fine. In October 2003, the French courts told the search engine to stop displaying rival sponsored links. The court said that Google AdWords had been guilty of "trademark counterfeiting".
Companies pay to have their websites linked to particular terms on Google. Under current Google policy, if it is judged that an advertiser uses a trademarked term as a "keyword trigger", those words are taken out of its campaign.
However, the Google AdWords still does not offer upfront protections against potential AdWords sponsors creating Pay Per Click advertising accounts intended to sponsor and advertise on established trademark terms.
This ruling could set precedent and lead to hundreds of trademark infringement judgments against Google AdWords in the European courts.
Friday, March 11, 2005
Peter Norvig
Director of Search Quality Google
"Meta Data Cannot Be Trusted, Content is King" says Peter Norvig
Recent Interview with Google Director of Search Quality, Peter Norvig, confirms that content is king and meta data cannot be trusted.
"In general, search engines have turned away from metadata, and they now try to hone in more on what's exactly perceivable to the user in the browser. Our hypertext spiders (robot crawlers) are seeking to parse text content, text elements, and engage semantic matching logic with page text compositions."
Content Relevancy is the determining factor in Google's binary-based, data retrieval keyword search system.
"For the most part we throw away the meta tags, unless there's a good reason to believe them, because they tend to be more deceptive than they are helpful."
Website Optimization needs to hinge on Content Relevancy in order to make the greatest impact on our system, not links, PageRank, cloaking, or SPAM, the deciding factor is: CONTENT RELEVANCY.
Mr. Norvig also goes onto discuss the advancements being made by Google to target cloaking, sneaky redirects, and web sites using misleading meta tags.
The closing paragraph of this interview with Peter Norvig og Google is a must read for anyone interested in securing and maintaining premium, natural keyword search positions on the Google results pages.
Learn more about Google's ongoing search quality challenges involving automation, knowledge, spam, growth and more. Mr. Norvig addresses the four leading individual challenges at Google Organic Search.
Director of Search Quality Google
"Meta Data Cannot Be Trusted, Content is King" says Peter Norvig
Recent Interview with Google Director of Search Quality, Peter Norvig, confirms that content is king and meta data cannot be trusted.
"In general, search engines have turned away from metadata, and they now try to hone in more on what's exactly perceivable to the user in the browser. Our hypertext spiders (robot crawlers) are seeking to parse text content, text elements, and engage semantic matching logic with page text compositions."
Content Relevancy is the determining factor in Google's binary-based, data retrieval keyword search system.
"For the most part we throw away the meta tags, unless there's a good reason to believe them, because they tend to be more deceptive than they are helpful."
Website Optimization needs to hinge on Content Relevancy in order to make the greatest impact on our system, not links, PageRank, cloaking, or SPAM, the deciding factor is: CONTENT RELEVANCY.
Mr. Norvig also goes onto discuss the advancements being made by Google to target cloaking, sneaky redirects, and web sites using misleading meta tags.
The closing paragraph of this interview with Peter Norvig og Google is a must read for anyone interested in securing and maintaining premium, natural keyword search positions on the Google results pages.
Learn more about Google's ongoing search quality challenges involving automation, knowledge, spam, growth and more. Mr. Norvig addresses the four leading individual challenges at Google Organic Search.
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Amazon Search Engine A9 Seeking Search Technology Patent
Story from: www.Internetnews.com
A9 Search Looks to Patent Its Shtick
By Susan Kuchinskas
The A9 search service tries to boost search relevance by taking into account what the searcher did before. Now, it hopes to get a lock on the method.
On Tuesday, the United States Patent & Trademark Office published the Amazon.com subsidiary's patent application No. 2005003380. "Server architecture and methods for persistently storing and serving event data," filed in July 2003, describes A9's method of personalizing search results by including an individual's past searches and other behavior. The same application is on file in the European Union.
The patent application discloses what is likely already Amazon.com's de facto search architecture, both for A9 and the e-commerce site. The online retailer launched a beta version of the A9 portal in April 2004.
Its three-column search results return algorithmic results from Google and from Amazon.com's own "search inside the book." The third column, which can be hidden, displays the user's search history -- but only if the user logs in.
In May of that year, Udi Manber, the former chief algorithms officer at Amazon.com who now leads the A9 subsidiary, promised a trade show audience that the company would continue to develop new ways to increase the relevancy of search results. Manber is listed as an inventor of the technology, along with Taylor Van Vleet, Yu-Shan Fung and Ruben Ortega.
The very detailed patent application includes a search application and a server that records which search results were clicked on by the user. It also can tell which results were displayed and which were clicked on during previous searches. The system could flag those URLs the searcher had previously selected.
Searchers could opt to restrict a search to items previously viewed, items not previously viewed or items viewed within a particular time period.
Similarly, the system could highlight which search results were not displayed the last time a searcher used the same query. The system could do the same with things someone clicked on from the product catalog or other Amazon.com services.
For example, search results within an online auction site could indicate which of the located auctions the user had already viewed, when each auction was viewed, and possibly whether the user has submitted a bid on each such auction. A similar system could be used to show which blog or bulletin board postings or Michigan SEO Company document had already been read.
In the application, Amazon claims that the server architecture described is much more sophisticated than those used by other e-commerce sites. While others track clicks, it states, "these types of records typically lack the level of detail and structure desired for flexibly building new types of real-time personalization applications."
"They're talking about a sophisticated event architecture for personalization, which certainly shows how far ahead of the game they are already," said Guy Creese, a principal in Ballardvale Research, a firm that consults on best online practices for businesses. He noted that the patent describes not only click analysis but also mouseover events. He also said researchers at MIT found that mouse movements are a valuable adjunct to click analysis in predicting Web users' interest in content.
"An interface might allow searchers to manage and save their searches, the application reads. As mentioned above, users may also be permitted to 'delete' specific events from their respective event histories," it says. The patent application makes clear that these results would not actually be deleted from the servers, but merely eliminated from the search results.
Creese said that while most e-commerce sites don't have such complicated tracking and personalization schemes, there's a trend for the biggest, richest competitors to gather highly detailed information about site visitors. " I can see where [such a patent] could lead to some problems for them," Creese said.
Slashdotters focused on one item in the patent describing how a searcher can choose not to have results from the search history displayed in the results. Even when they select this option, however, A9 will continue to store their histories, a fact that might not be clear to users.
While Amazon.com doesn't follow the best practice of asking users to agree to its privacy policy before they register, its tracking bank design practices are clearly disclosed within the site's privacy policy, available via a link on the main page. A9 will read Amazon.com cookies and make use of that information, it says, and it also may combine it with information from other sources.
Those who don't want to be tracked can use generic.a9.com, an alternative search service that doesn't track search histories or behavior.
"You can't fault them on failure to disclose," said Lee Tien, a staff attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). "Their honesty is so refreshing that you can see you have no privacy." The EFF advocates for consumer privacy and the security of online information.
Still, Tien said, the fact that Amazon.com is a seller of books, Honda Civic Parts and other information goods and, yet, collects so much user information, is troubling. In his view, the optional nature of A9 search doesn't ameliorate the harm.
"Part of the problem is that people aren't all that careful," he said. "We have a gazillion consumer protection laws that exist precisely because, in the real world, people make a lot of mistakes about this stuff."
The patent application, which could be granted either soon or within a year or two, only seeks to put a lock on the system Amazon.com likely already uses. If granted, it could slow down similar personalization schemes by search rivals.
An Amazon.com spokeswoman said she couldn't comment on pending patents.
www.A9.com could become a search engine player in the months to come.
Peak Positions SEO is also enthusiastic about another new search engine http://www.dipsie.com/ based in Chicago this search engine upstart is focused on depth and turning the light on the billions of URLs yet to be included in Google, Yahoo or MSN's databases. If Dipsie can become as deep as their technology promises they are destined to become a top five search engine by 2010. For an in depth review of dipsie visit this search engine optimization news service.
Story from: www.Internetnews.com
A9 Search Looks to Patent Its Shtick
By Susan Kuchinskas
The A9 search service tries to boost search relevance by taking into account what the searcher did before. Now, it hopes to get a lock on the method.
On Tuesday, the United States Patent & Trademark Office published the Amazon.com subsidiary's patent application No. 2005003380. "Server architecture and methods for persistently storing and serving event data," filed in July 2003, describes A9's method of personalizing search results by including an individual's past searches and other behavior. The same application is on file in the European Union.
The patent application discloses what is likely already Amazon.com's de facto search architecture, both for A9 and the e-commerce site. The online retailer launched a beta version of the A9 portal in April 2004.
Its three-column search results return algorithmic results from Google and from Amazon.com's own "search inside the book." The third column, which can be hidden, displays the user's search history -- but only if the user logs in.
In May of that year, Udi Manber, the former chief algorithms officer at Amazon.com who now leads the A9 subsidiary, promised a trade show audience that the company would continue to develop new ways to increase the relevancy of search results. Manber is listed as an inventor of the technology, along with Taylor Van Vleet, Yu-Shan Fung and Ruben Ortega.
The very detailed patent application includes a search application and a server that records which search results were clicked on by the user. It also can tell which results were displayed and which were clicked on during previous searches. The system could flag those URLs the searcher had previously selected.
Searchers could opt to restrict a search to items previously viewed, items not previously viewed or items viewed within a particular time period.
Similarly, the system could highlight which search results were not displayed the last time a searcher used the same query. The system could do the same with things someone clicked on from the product catalog or other Amazon.com services.
For example, search results within an online auction site could indicate which of the located auctions the user had already viewed, when each auction was viewed, and possibly whether the user has submitted a bid on each such auction. A similar system could be used to show which blog or bulletin board postings or Michigan SEO Company document had already been read.
In the application, Amazon claims that the server architecture described is much more sophisticated than those used by other e-commerce sites. While others track clicks, it states, "these types of records typically lack the level of detail and structure desired for flexibly building new types of real-time personalization applications."
"They're talking about a sophisticated event architecture for personalization, which certainly shows how far ahead of the game they are already," said Guy Creese, a principal in Ballardvale Research, a firm that consults on best online practices for businesses. He noted that the patent describes not only click analysis but also mouseover events. He also said researchers at MIT found that mouse movements are a valuable adjunct to click analysis in predicting Web users' interest in content.
"An interface might allow searchers to manage and save their searches, the application reads. As mentioned above, users may also be permitted to 'delete' specific events from their respective event histories," it says. The patent application makes clear that these results would not actually be deleted from the servers, but merely eliminated from the search results.
Creese said that while most e-commerce sites don't have such complicated tracking and personalization schemes, there's a trend for the biggest, richest competitors to gather highly detailed information about site visitors. " I can see where [such a patent] could lead to some problems for them," Creese said.
Slashdotters focused on one item in the patent describing how a searcher can choose not to have results from the search history displayed in the results. Even when they select this option, however, A9 will continue to store their histories, a fact that might not be clear to users.
While Amazon.com doesn't follow the best practice of asking users to agree to its privacy policy before they register, its tracking bank design practices are clearly disclosed within the site's privacy policy, available via a link on the main page. A9 will read Amazon.com cookies and make use of that information, it says, and it also may combine it with information from other sources.
Those who don't want to be tracked can use generic.a9.com, an alternative search service that doesn't track search histories or behavior.
"You can't fault them on failure to disclose," said Lee Tien, a staff attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). "Their honesty is so refreshing that you can see you have no privacy." The EFF advocates for consumer privacy and the security of online information.
Still, Tien said, the fact that Amazon.com is a seller of books, Honda Civic Parts and other information goods and, yet, collects so much user information, is troubling. In his view, the optional nature of A9 search doesn't ameliorate the harm.
"Part of the problem is that people aren't all that careful," he said. "We have a gazillion consumer protection laws that exist precisely because, in the real world, people make a lot of mistakes about this stuff."
The patent application, which could be granted either soon or within a year or two, only seeks to put a lock on the system Amazon.com likely already uses. If granted, it could slow down similar personalization schemes by search rivals.
An Amazon.com spokeswoman said she couldn't comment on pending patents.
www.A9.com could become a search engine player in the months to come.
Peak Positions SEO is also enthusiastic about another new search engine http://www.dipsie.com/ based in Chicago this search engine upstart is focused on depth and turning the light on the billions of URLs yet to be included in Google, Yahoo or MSN's databases. If Dipsie can become as deep as their technology promises they are destined to become a top five search engine by 2010. For an in depth review of dipsie visit this search engine optimization news service.
Review of AOL Local Search
Published by: www.MeidaPost.com
America Online today introduced a local search service that’s integrated with its AOL Search product, which is available both to AOL subscribers and consumers, Web-wide, who use the company’s online properties.
From all appearances, AOL Local Search is like a one-stop shop. AOL Local Search, the company says, aggregates information listings and content from AOL Yellow Pages, CityGuide, Moviefone, MapQuest, and other AOL properties. AOL Local Search is like a one-stop shop for people to find local restaurants, Caribbean Honeymoons, events, Honda Car Parts, movies, rocker switches, video game testing or shopping deals. It also offers directions on how to find all of these things.
It will be interesting to see how MapQuest plays into the local search services equation as Google now offers a block-by-block, close-up view of local destinations and businesses including companies like sign design company Washington. By all appearances, MapQuest looks like it dovetails nicely with AOL Local Search.
“Local search is an important and growing category of search services given that 20 percent of all online look-ups are for something nearby,” comments Jim Riesenbach, senior vice president, AOL Search and Directional Media, in the company’s statement on AOL Local Search.
AOL Local Search boasts features including one-click sorting to help consumers find exactly what they’re looking for. For example, they can choose an enhanced view or scanned view and refine results by type, such as business, movie, or event, as well as distance away, and rating.
Searchers can also view maps, photos, sharps containers, online greeting cards, descriptions, even unique businesees like learn how to play pool and billiards and event schedules directly within the search results, access recent searches for quick reference, and save multiple ZIP code locations to automatically see results customized to specific geographic areas. AOL says it has up-to-date listings and information for more than 13 million businesses and points of interest from the AOL Yellow Pages, as well as restaurants, bars, music, and events in more than 300 cities across the country from AOL CityGuide.
Moviefone offers the latest information for 31,000 movie screens and video game playability testing services nationwide. AOL Local Search automatically displays the next movie show times from the three theaters nearest to the user on the results page, complete schedules of all nearby showings for the next three days, and the ability to purchase tickets on Moviefone.com.
Built-in maps and driving directions from MapQuest appear next to search results, with customized features to see all nearby results on one map and view the closest subway stations.
AOL Local Search also offers a shopping and transaction service with features like "what's on sale," that highlight weekly specials on apparel, chevy truck parts , consumer electronics, cell phone ringtones , home improvement products, and food offered via local retailers on ShopLocal.com; opportunities to make restaurant reservations online through OpenTable; the ability to purchase $25 dining certificates for only $10 from Restaurant.com; and ticket purchasing for events and concerts through AOL Tickets.
AOL, through its partnership with Ingenio, will offer local businesses the opportunity to use the Pay Per Call Advertising Platform. AOL Local Search flags sales and specials and offers printable coupons for local merchants that are hoping to geo-target predisposed consumers who are ready to buy. AOL says AOL Local Search will soon offer the ability to find local news for communities and neighborhoods in every ZIP code nationwide through Topix.net, a hub for local news.
Published by: www.MeidaPost.com
America Online today introduced a local search service that’s integrated with its AOL Search product, which is available both to AOL subscribers and consumers, Web-wide, who use the company’s online properties.
From all appearances, AOL Local Search is like a one-stop shop. AOL Local Search, the company says, aggregates information listings and content from AOL Yellow Pages, CityGuide, Moviefone, MapQuest, and other AOL properties. AOL Local Search is like a one-stop shop for people to find local restaurants, Caribbean Honeymoons, events, Honda Car Parts, movies, rocker switches, video game testing or shopping deals. It also offers directions on how to find all of these things.
It will be interesting to see how MapQuest plays into the local search services equation as Google now offers a block-by-block, close-up view of local destinations and businesses including companies like sign design company Washington. By all appearances, MapQuest looks like it dovetails nicely with AOL Local Search.
“Local search is an important and growing category of search services given that 20 percent of all online look-ups are for something nearby,” comments Jim Riesenbach, senior vice president, AOL Search and Directional Media, in the company’s statement on AOL Local Search.
AOL Local Search boasts features including one-click sorting to help consumers find exactly what they’re looking for. For example, they can choose an enhanced view or scanned view and refine results by type, such as business, movie, or event, as well as distance away, and rating.
Searchers can also view maps, photos, sharps containers, online greeting cards, descriptions, even unique businesees like learn how to play pool and billiards and event schedules directly within the search results, access recent searches for quick reference, and save multiple ZIP code locations to automatically see results customized to specific geographic areas. AOL says it has up-to-date listings and information for more than 13 million businesses and points of interest from the AOL Yellow Pages, as well as restaurants, bars, music, and events in more than 300 cities across the country from AOL CityGuide.
Moviefone offers the latest information for 31,000 movie screens and video game playability testing services nationwide. AOL Local Search automatically displays the next movie show times from the three theaters nearest to the user on the results page, complete schedules of all nearby showings for the next three days, and the ability to purchase tickets on Moviefone.com.
Built-in maps and driving directions from MapQuest appear next to search results, with customized features to see all nearby results on one map and view the closest subway stations.
AOL Local Search also offers a shopping and transaction service with features like "what's on sale," that highlight weekly specials on apparel, chevy truck parts , consumer electronics, cell phone ringtones , home improvement products, and food offered via local retailers on ShopLocal.com; opportunities to make restaurant reservations online through OpenTable; the ability to purchase $25 dining certificates for only $10 from Restaurant.com; and ticket purchasing for events and concerts through AOL Tickets.
AOL, through its partnership with Ingenio, will offer local businesses the opportunity to use the Pay Per Call Advertising Platform. AOL Local Search flags sales and specials and offers printable coupons for local merchants that are hoping to geo-target predisposed consumers who are ready to buy. AOL says AOL Local Search will soon offer the ability to find local news for communities and neighborhoods in every ZIP code nationwide through Topix.net, a hub for local news.
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Bad Things Happen to Ad Excutives who Ignore Organic Search Engine Optimization
(including jail time!)
Time to Review Those Invoices From The Advertising Agency.
Two Found Guilty for Conspiracy at Ogilvy & Mather
Ad executives Shona Seifert and Thomas Early were both found guilty by a jury in New York City yesterday for conspiring at Ogilvy & Mather to fake timesheets on a federal government account, according to AdWeek.
Seifert had since moved to become president of Chiat Day. Early stepped down after being indicted. Sentencing dates have not been set. The charges could involve prison terms of up to five years. The prosecution asked the judge to order an electronic monitoring device placed on Siefert prior to sentencing because she is a foreign national, but the judge decided it was not necessary.
This is Ridiculous much like the Martha Stewart Jail Sentence, especially when you consider he amount of corruption that involves any government.
(including jail time!)
Time to Review Those Invoices From The Advertising Agency.
Two Found Guilty for Conspiracy at Ogilvy & Mather
Ad executives Shona Seifert and Thomas Early were both found guilty by a jury in New York City yesterday for conspiring at Ogilvy & Mather to fake timesheets on a federal government account, according to AdWeek.
Seifert had since moved to become president of Chiat Day. Early stepped down after being indicted. Sentencing dates have not been set. The charges could involve prison terms of up to five years. The prosecution asked the judge to order an electronic monitoring device placed on Siefert prior to sentencing because she is a foreign national, but the judge decided it was not necessary.
This is Ridiculous much like the Martha Stewart Jail Sentence, especially when you consider he amount of corruption that involves any government.
The Drive For Organic Search Engine Optimization at an all-time high
Interest in organic search engine optimization has re-emerged with vigor among management teams and advertising agencies. As companies become more knowledgeable regarding web analytics, server log files and website markering strategies decision makers are realizing that site visitors and referring urls delivered from the organic search engine results are some of the most valuable website visitors.
It also is becoming clear the users are seeking content and information as they navigate websites that lead with information first are reaping the benefits.
A recent study,"Search Before the Purchase " from DoubleClick and comScore Networks shows that 50% of all online purchases follow several product and category keyword searches.
The doubleclick study analyzes consumer trends and specifics as to how users interact with the major search engines to become information enabled on pending purchases. Search Engines are helping companies impact consumers and B2B purchasing managers just prior to major purchases.
An example of a great B2B website that markets, profiles and distributes electric components including: rocker switches is this dynamically driven database website from the www.dnagroup.com notice how DNA leads with research and information on the hundreds of products that they istribute.
Doubleclick studied the online tendencies of 1.5 million U.S. Internet users. The researchers tracked the web usage habits of consumers that had made at least one online purchase from the total of 30+ websites involved in the survey.
The study reports that securing and maintaining premium keyword positions in the organic search engine results pages cna significantly impact the bottom line revenues of any company.
Companies need to address search engine placement.
Approx. one mnth prior to purchase B2B decision makers begin researching a given product, topic, or solution. The keyword searches usually begin with broad-based generic terms, as the window closes, searchers begin to qualify their keyword searches by adding a descriptive third or fourth word to their query.
Most qualified, in-market, keyword searchers (even on b2b keyword searches like: retail sign design company begin to interact with the companies they find in the top 7 listings on the organic earch results pages approx. two weeks before the make a buying decision.
The study further confirms that organic website optimization is the most effective form of online advertising.
Interest in organic search engine optimization has re-emerged with vigor among management teams and advertising agencies. As companies become more knowledgeable regarding web analytics, server log files and website markering strategies decision makers are realizing that site visitors and referring urls delivered from the organic search engine results are some of the most valuable website visitors.
It also is becoming clear the users are seeking content and information as they navigate websites that lead with information first are reaping the benefits.
A recent study,"Search Before the Purchase " from DoubleClick and comScore Networks shows that 50% of all online purchases follow several product and category keyword searches.
The doubleclick study analyzes consumer trends and specifics as to how users interact with the major search engines to become information enabled on pending purchases. Search Engines are helping companies impact consumers and B2B purchasing managers just prior to major purchases.
An example of a great B2B website that markets, profiles and distributes electric components including: rocker switches is this dynamically driven database website from the www.dnagroup.com notice how DNA leads with research and information on the hundreds of products that they istribute.
Doubleclick studied the online tendencies of 1.5 million U.S. Internet users. The researchers tracked the web usage habits of consumers that had made at least one online purchase from the total of 30+ websites involved in the survey.
The study reports that securing and maintaining premium keyword positions in the organic search engine results pages cna significantly impact the bottom line revenues of any company.
Companies need to address search engine placement.
Approx. one mnth prior to purchase B2B decision makers begin researching a given product, topic, or solution. The keyword searches usually begin with broad-based generic terms, as the window closes, searchers begin to qualify their keyword searches by adding a descriptive third or fourth word to their query.
Most qualified, in-market, keyword searchers (even on b2b keyword searches like: retail sign design company begin to interact with the companies they find in the top 7 listings on the organic earch results pages approx. two weeks before the make a buying decision.
The study further confirms that organic website optimization is the most effective form of online advertising.
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Nielsen Rating Services Faces Fire - an Update from Mediapost
(do broadcast media like: TV & Radio actually deliver 'real' ratings points and/or actually make an impact on consumers ?)
From www.Mediapost.com - THE P&L BEHIND NIELSEN’S R&D –
If Nielsen needed to make a strong statement to demonstrate its commitment to its clients, and to the future of audience measurement, it certainly seems to have made one in the eight-page letter sent to (retail sign design) leading clients Friday by CEO Susan Whiting.
The letter appears to address most of the significant concerns surrounding recent criticisms of Nielsen, including access to ratings data, the cost of contracts to access that data, and, perhaps most importantly, how Nielsen derives the data itself.
On the surface, Whiting says all the right things, “we’ve heard our clients loud and clear when they tell us they want more from Nielsen.”
How much more, isn’t exactly clear. With the exception of the $2.5 million budget Nielsen says it has allocated for new (honda car parts) , independent research and development on TV audience measurement, it’s hard to pin the specifics down. Even that fund is somewhat subject to interpretation.
Is it an annual budget? Is it a budget to be allocated over an unspecified duration of pharmaceutical drug development R&D initiatives? Does it include the salaries and overhead of Nielsen employees Nielsen intends to allocate to the initiative? It’s unclear, and seems to be up to the “small group of video game testing clients” Nielsen will name to steer the custom 3 ring binders initiative and “direct the spending over the course of a year.” Adds Whiting, “Once we and our learn how to play pool clients have evaluated the success of this initiative during the first year, we will determine the size of the fund on an ongoing basis.”
An Inside Look at the TV Ratings Racket:
Without knowing the specifics of the R&D plan and its budget, let’s use some assumptions to do some math. Let’s assume that ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX are each paying an average of $15 million dollars a year to Nielsen for their network ratings contracts. That adds up to $60 million annually.
Now let’s assume that Nielsen continues to charge the networks additional annual surcharges of at least 4 percent based on CPI (cost of living index). In essence, Nielsen is offering to return to the industry as a whole, last years' CPI increase for the Big 4 broadcast networks combined: .04 x $60 million = $2.4 million. Okay, so $2.5 million is nothing to sneeze at, but given Nielsen’s already high profit margins – about 23 percent – it is a reasonable gesture, and some overdue payback to the industry that creates its bottom line.
It’s also a necessary reinvestment on Nielsen’s part to protect its bottom line and the future of audience measurement. And posssibly an admission of guilt that the ratings system is quite flawed and out of date and has no way of keeping up with cable and satellite fragmentation or the lack of attention span that commercials has created with millions of American viewers.
If products and companies are seeking to actually make a lasting impact on consumers they need to address organic search engine optimization by working SEO into their annual media mix.
Television and Radio advertising campaigns have been losing impact and reach on the North American consumer markets for the last decade and the trend continues. Think about it, what can you recall from the last three TV commercials or radio commercial messages you were exposed to ?
Did these commercial messages or today's newspaper persuade your buying decisions?
We Doubt it.
Consider that the most accurate, recent consumer studies document that consumer spending habits will be substantially impacted by fact-finding sessions on the internet.
Content is King !
Are target consumers finding your content on Google, Yahoo, and MSN ?
(do broadcast media like: TV & Radio actually deliver 'real' ratings points and/or actually make an impact on consumers ?)
From www.Mediapost.com - THE P&L BEHIND NIELSEN’S R&D –
If Nielsen needed to make a strong statement to demonstrate its commitment to its clients, and to the future of audience measurement, it certainly seems to have made one in the eight-page letter sent to (retail sign design) leading clients Friday by CEO Susan Whiting.
The letter appears to address most of the significant concerns surrounding recent criticisms of Nielsen, including access to ratings data, the cost of contracts to access that data, and, perhaps most importantly, how Nielsen derives the data itself.
On the surface, Whiting says all the right things, “we’ve heard our clients loud and clear when they tell us they want more from Nielsen.”
How much more, isn’t exactly clear. With the exception of the $2.5 million budget Nielsen says it has allocated for new (honda car parts) , independent research and development on TV audience measurement, it’s hard to pin the specifics down. Even that fund is somewhat subject to interpretation.
Is it an annual budget? Is it a budget to be allocated over an unspecified duration of pharmaceutical drug development R&D initiatives? Does it include the salaries and overhead of Nielsen employees Nielsen intends to allocate to the initiative? It’s unclear, and seems to be up to the “small group of video game testing clients” Nielsen will name to steer the custom 3 ring binders initiative and “direct the spending over the course of a year.” Adds Whiting, “Once we and our learn how to play pool clients have evaluated the success of this initiative during the first year, we will determine the size of the fund on an ongoing basis.”
An Inside Look at the TV Ratings Racket:
Without knowing the specifics of the R&D plan and its budget, let’s use some assumptions to do some math. Let’s assume that ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX are each paying an average of $15 million dollars a year to Nielsen for their network ratings contracts. That adds up to $60 million annually.
Now let’s assume that Nielsen continues to charge the networks additional annual surcharges of at least 4 percent based on CPI (cost of living index). In essence, Nielsen is offering to return to the industry as a whole, last years' CPI increase for the Big 4 broadcast networks combined: .04 x $60 million = $2.4 million. Okay, so $2.5 million is nothing to sneeze at, but given Nielsen’s already high profit margins – about 23 percent – it is a reasonable gesture, and some overdue payback to the industry that creates its bottom line.
It’s also a necessary reinvestment on Nielsen’s part to protect its bottom line and the future of audience measurement. And posssibly an admission of guilt that the ratings system is quite flawed and out of date and has no way of keeping up with cable and satellite fragmentation or the lack of attention span that commercials has created with millions of American viewers.
If products and companies are seeking to actually make a lasting impact on consumers they need to address organic search engine optimization by working SEO into their annual media mix.
Television and Radio advertising campaigns have been losing impact and reach on the North American consumer markets for the last decade and the trend continues. Think about it, what can you recall from the last three TV commercials or radio commercial messages you were exposed to ?
Did these commercial messages or today's newspaper persuade your buying decisions?
We Doubt it.
Consider that the most accurate, recent consumer studies document that consumer spending habits will be substantially impacted by fact-finding sessions on the internet.
Content is King !
Are target consumers finding your content on Google, Yahoo, and MSN ?
Friday, February 18, 2005
New York Times To Buy About.com
by Wendy Davis, Friday, Feb 18, 2005 7:00 AM EST
THE NEW YORK TIMES CO. announced yesterday that it intends to purchase About.com from magazine company Primedia Inc. for $410 million in cash. The deal could more than double the online reach of the Times Company, which currently draws 13 million monthly viewers to its 40-plus Web sites, including NYTimes.com and Boston.com. Around 22 million users a month visit About.com, a consumer information site; the acquisition will also give the Times additional advertising inventory.
About.com was founded in 1996 as The Mining Co. by Scott Kurnit, an Internet pioneer who had been a top executive at MCI/News Corporation Internet Ventures and Prodigy Service Co. Kurnit's vision was to create a Web portal consisting of countless microsites produced by individual enthusiasts covering any topic an Internet user would want to access.
Kurnit sold About.com to Primedia in 2001 for $690 million, one of the last of the big Internet acquisitions before the crash. Under Primedia's ownership including at one point one of America's largest Franchise Directory , About.com was integrated with and linked to an array of sites operated by Primedia's array of niche magazines.
by Wendy Davis, Friday, Feb 18, 2005 7:00 AM EST
THE NEW YORK TIMES CO. announced yesterday that it intends to purchase About.com from magazine company Primedia Inc. for $410 million in cash. The deal could more than double the online reach of the Times Company, which currently draws 13 million monthly viewers to its 40-plus Web sites, including NYTimes.com and Boston.com. Around 22 million users a month visit About.com, a consumer information site; the acquisition will also give the Times additional advertising inventory.
About.com was founded in 1996 as The Mining Co. by Scott Kurnit, an Internet pioneer who had been a top executive at MCI/News Corporation Internet Ventures and Prodigy Service Co. Kurnit's vision was to create a Web portal consisting of countless microsites produced by individual enthusiasts covering any topic an Internet user would want to access.
Kurnit sold About.com to Primedia in 2001 for $690 million, one of the last of the big Internet acquisitions before the crash. Under Primedia's ownership including at one point one of America's largest Franchise Directory , About.com was integrated with and linked to an array of sites operated by Primedia's array of niche magazines.
Thursday, February 17, 2005
An Update on Motor Trend Magazine
OF ALL THE ENTHUSIAST MAGS OUT THERE, few can claim the cult-like following of Motor Trend (MT). It's a publication that hearkens back to the nonfragmented media days of yore, when information-craving readers gazed out bay windows as they awaited the arrival of the mailman. Given the mag's glut of tie-ins (a Speed Channel TV show, a syndicated radio show, a line of CDs with titles like "Rockin' Down the Highway"), it wouldn't be surprising if the MT brand was more recognizable than those of many of the automobiles it test-drives.
Alas, now that anybody with working knowledge of the '72 Nova, the ability to string together two coherent sentences, and high-speed Internet access can be an "expert" on all things auto, it's inevitable that there will be further shakeout among enthusiast titles. The March issue of Motor Trend, however, proves once again that the magazine isn't ready to let any of the whippersnappers invade its turf.
It also boasts a consistent rhythm - words, stats, recommendation - and an expansive point of view. For an example of the latter, check out Angus MacKenzie's March editorial, a decidedly non-jingoistic take on the ongoing Honda Civic Parts domestic/import car debate ("the reality is that the auto industry is a business, not a national monument"). Does this jibe with the opinions of his readers? Who knows, but he articulates his case with surprising elegance.
The March issue is headlined by a look at "43 hot drives worth waiting for," which gives equal consideration to a $21,000 Saturn Aura Concept and a $150,000 Lexus LF-A. It poses the questions that car aficionados or Chevy Truck Parts are likely to ask, "Does that particular Lexus fit in with the company's brand image?" "Will the Cadillac STS-v be too mellow?" and offers smartly reasoned answers.
Another winner is the improbably titled feature, "In Search of the P.C. SUV" (it's improbable because, to hear our Birkenstock-wearing friends tell it, such an entity doesn't exist). One part investigative report and one part review of three aspirants to the title, the piece underscores the difficulty of simultaneously satisfying road warriors and environmentalists.
Motor Trend also scores points by resisting the temptation to worship at the altar of celebrity. Even the mag's Page Six-ish "We Hear..." sidebars traffic in a different breed of bold-faced name, like Peter Schwarzenbauer (hint: he's not a recurring player on "Boston Legal"). The mag's idea of a feud? Apparently the Ford Fusion is "taking on Accord. Again." Hilary Duff versus Lindsey Lohan it ain't.
To be sure, Motor Trend has its share of drawbacks. Despite the astonishing photography, the magazine is surprisingly flat from a design perspective; it could use more in the way of quick-hit info boxes, such as the listing in the March issue of test spots preferred by Aston Martin engineers. It also goes without saying that if, like me, your idea of hot-rodding involves a gently worn 2002 Passat, much of MT 's content will go straight over your head.
On the other hand, after 55-plus years, why screw with a formula that works for millions of readers Motor Trend excels at, uh, discerning motor trends, and is savvy enough not to stray from that singular Detroit Internet Marketing strength. Half the publishing world could learn from its example.
OF ALL THE ENTHUSIAST MAGS OUT THERE, few can claim the cult-like following of Motor Trend (MT). It's a publication that hearkens back to the nonfragmented media days of yore, when information-craving readers gazed out bay windows as they awaited the arrival of the mailman. Given the mag's glut of tie-ins (a Speed Channel TV show, a syndicated radio show, a line of CDs with titles like "Rockin' Down the Highway"), it wouldn't be surprising if the MT brand was more recognizable than those of many of the automobiles it test-drives.
Alas, now that anybody with working knowledge of the '72 Nova, the ability to string together two coherent sentences, and high-speed Internet access can be an "expert" on all things auto, it's inevitable that there will be further shakeout among enthusiast titles. The March issue of Motor Trend, however, proves once again that the magazine isn't ready to let any of the whippersnappers invade its turf.
It also boasts a consistent rhythm - words, stats, recommendation - and an expansive point of view. For an example of the latter, check out Angus MacKenzie's March editorial, a decidedly non-jingoistic take on the ongoing Honda Civic Parts domestic/import car debate ("the reality is that the auto industry is a business, not a national monument"). Does this jibe with the opinions of his readers? Who knows, but he articulates his case with surprising elegance.
The March issue is headlined by a look at "43 hot drives worth waiting for," which gives equal consideration to a $21,000 Saturn Aura Concept and a $150,000 Lexus LF-A. It poses the questions that car aficionados or Chevy Truck Parts are likely to ask, "Does that particular Lexus fit in with the company's brand image?" "Will the Cadillac STS-v be too mellow?" and offers smartly reasoned answers.
Another winner is the improbably titled feature, "In Search of the P.C. SUV" (it's improbable because, to hear our Birkenstock-wearing friends tell it, such an entity doesn't exist). One part investigative report and one part review of three aspirants to the title, the piece underscores the difficulty of simultaneously satisfying road warriors and environmentalists.
Motor Trend also scores points by resisting the temptation to worship at the altar of celebrity. Even the mag's Page Six-ish "We Hear..." sidebars traffic in a different breed of bold-faced name, like Peter Schwarzenbauer (hint: he's not a recurring player on "Boston Legal"). The mag's idea of a feud? Apparently the Ford Fusion is "taking on Accord. Again." Hilary Duff versus Lindsey Lohan it ain't.
To be sure, Motor Trend has its share of drawbacks. Despite the astonishing photography, the magazine is surprisingly flat from a design perspective; it could use more in the way of quick-hit info boxes, such as the listing in the March issue of test spots preferred by Aston Martin engineers. It also goes without saying that if, like me, your idea of hot-rodding involves a gently worn 2002 Passat, much of MT 's content will go straight over your head.
On the other hand, after 55-plus years, why screw with a formula that works for millions of readers Motor Trend excels at, uh, discerning motor trends, and is savvy enough not to stray from that singular Detroit Internet Marketing strength. Half the publishing world could learn from its example.
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