Filed under: acquisition, google | Tags: acquisition, google, mergers, partnerships, publicis
It was announced on brand republic last week that Google and Publicis have been working closely together for the past year and plan to step up their alliance with a proposed staff swapping system which could see “possibly hundreds of Google employees” taking placements with the huge media giant. This strikes me as being slightly wrong, seen as Publicis owns Digitas, ZenithOptimedia, Zed and Starcom, all of whom work with the Google system for their clients, trying to get the best from paid and natural search results.
Surely there is something wrong with such an alliance which could potentially mean Google staff giving favourable treatment and inside information to agencies who operate in the search sphere, therefore giving them an advantage on the competition. And if they did, it surely gives the Publicis owned agencies an unfair advantage in their market place. Im sure the parties invovled are going to claim it is just to learn from each others strategies, processes procedures etc etc but theres has got to be more too it than that. Am I the only one who is worried by this?
Full article here
Filed under: acquisition, google | Tags: acquisition, google, mergers, partnerships, publicis
It was announced on brand republic last week that Google and Publicis have been working closely together for the past year and plan to step up their alliance with a proposed staff swapping system which could see “possibly hundreds of Google employees” taking placements with the huge media giant. This strikes me as being slightly wrong, seen as Publicis owns Digitas, ZenithOptimedia, Zed and Starcom, all of whom work with the Google system for their clients, trying to get the best from paid and natural search results.
Surely there is something wrong with such an alliance which could potentially mean Google staff giving favourable treatment and inside information to agencies who operate in the search sphere, therefore giving them an advantage on the competition. And if they did, it surely gives the Publicis owned agencies an unfair advantage in their market place. Im sure the parties invovled are going to claim it is just to learn from each others strategies, processes procedures etc etc but theres has got to be more too it than that. Am I the only one who is worried by this?
Full article here
Filed under: adwords, content search, google, google content, google sign in, internet demographics, search engine marketing, the future of search engine marketing | Tags: adwords, contextual search, demographic targeting, google, google content
The adwords blog has announced the launch of a demographic bidding beta test and is offering the chance for advertisers in the UK and the US to sign up for the trial. Reading into the release the targeting is only going to be available on the content network placement network and is dependent on the publisher site having the capability to provide the information on the users. If the site has this information, more often than not through a sign in system, then it will be shared anonymously to Google and the appropriate ads.
From the detail in this article the benefits of this system over MSN’s own demographic targeting system is that the system will allow you to up weight your bids by a higher percentage (MSN’s limit is 150%) and that you will also be able to choose not to show your ads to certain audiences. This is certainly an advance on MSN but the impact of it will be limited by the reliance on the publisher site and the fact that the targeting wont apply to the main Google search results, where it could have most benefit. This is obviously due to the fact that you dont need to be signed in to Google to use it although they could have implemented it for those people who have a Google account and perform searches whilst signed in. Maybe that will be in the next release, I suppose we’ll have to wait and see.
Filed under: acquisition, double click, doubleclick, google | Tags: acquisitions, double click, doubleclick, google
Google are one step closer to the doubleclick buy out! as reported below on bbc news and here on Google’s own blog:
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US clears Google-Doubleclick deal
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US regulators have approved Google’s $3.1bn (£1.56bn) takeover of online advertising firm Doubleclick. The Federal Trade Commission ruled that the deal would not lead to a substantial fall-off in competition for internet adverts. However, the EU Commission is still probing the deal and Google has said it would not complete the takeover until it was cleared by Brussels. Google and Doubleclick have different roles in online advertising. Doubleclick helps to link up advertising agencies, marketers and web site publishers hoping to put ads online and track them. Google allows firms to target advertising at people using particular search terms and also stores information about users’ internet surfing habits. Microsoft and AT&T have lobbied heavily against the deal going ahead. |
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Filed under: google, google maps, google mobile, mobile ads, mobile internet, mobile search | Tags: google, google maps, gprs, mobile internet, mobile marketing, panama, yahoo panama
There have been two new announcements in the world of mobile marketing in the last few days.
Google have announced that their Google maps tool will now be available on mobile handsets along with location pinpointing effectively making it a GPRS tool. The mobile version of maps will be able to pinpoint your location along with providing real time traffic reports, directions to a specified location, integrated search results (this is where the money is made!), and satellite imagery of a location. Depending on its usability this could be a big step forward for maps as it actually brings a bit more use and functionality to the product. It could be especially useful in central London when trying to navigate the capital on foot. It could also be the start of Google’s entry into the Sat Nav market with a little more advancement in the technology and the appropriate handset. Full details
Yahoo also announced today that the Panama platform (the latest incarnation of the advertising center) is to become integrated with mobile devices from January onwards, according to an article in NMA. This is another development in Yahoo’s aim to become a major player in the mobile advertising market and should allow them to pitch the integrated platform approach to advertisers. From an advertiser perspective if the platform truly does allow you to create and manage mobile campaigns it will significantly increase availability of this channel and enable more companies to begin trials. I am predicting mobile to become more widespread in 2009 with more and more of the big brands embracing it as part of their digital strategy. This means that publishers and agencies need to be preparing themselves so that they are in a position to make the most of it when it takes off. This is exactly what Yahoo are doing with this launch.
Filed under: google, innovation. search engine marketing, search engine marketing, search engines, the future of search engine marketing, the future of search engine optimisation, travel search, universal search | Tags: flight status, google, google flight search, google flight status, universal search
Google announced on its blog yesterday the launch of a new tool for universal search, the flight status function. All you have to do is search on the airline and the flight number and Google will tell you whether it is delayed or on time and its departure and arrival times. its a useful little tool this one as it removes the need to find the airlines web page and with a lot of people having Google as their homepage or using a tool bar it speeds up the process. I would be interested to see if it cover ALL airlines though and how accurate and frequently updated the information this as this is key. Without accuracy the tool may as well not exist.
Filed under: content search, google, google content, natural search, search engine optimisation, sergey grin, serp, universal search, wiki, wikipedia
It was announced last week on the official google blog that Google are currently testing out their latest project Google Knol which is a wiki based information source populated by knowledgeable contributed and edited by the users. This is obviously a direct competition to Wikipedia and is based on the same principles and ideas.
Apparently the challenge posed by Larry, Sergey and Eric was to find a way to help people share their knowledge, and this was their solution. At the moment the tool is only open to a select group of invited individuals and the tool is in its first stage of development and testing but with the speed at which Google tend to do things I cant see it being long before its launched to the public. According to the article goal is for Knols to cover all topics and to highlight and credit authors, something which is rarely done online.
Much like on Wikipedia users will be able to submit edits, questions, comments, additional content etc etc but they can also include Adsense ads in relation to their article and earn a percentage of the revenue earned through these ads. This is where Knol might steel a march on Wikipedia as Wiki users participate for free and have no option to earn money. It is a nice touch from Google as they are appearing to be giving back to the contributors when in reality they are obviously taking the Lion’s share of the profits for themselves.
One question that does need to be asked is what does this mean for Wikipedia, and in particular their search rankings? They do very well in the natural results and Google have often been criticised for ranking the site so well. Could it be that we will start to see the demise of Wiki’s search rankings once Knol is introduced, now that would be convenient! However Google might not even need to do this as they say in their article “A Knol on a particular topic is meant to be the first thing someone who searches for this topic for the first time will want to read.” Which suggests to me that the Knol’s may become a part of the Universal Search page and appear above all the natural results anyway. Could the end be nigh for Wikipedia?
Tags: wikipedia, Google, universal search, google knol, knol
It was reported yesterday on the Google Lat-Long Blog that a deal had been struck between the Google maps team and US fuelling and retail management company Gilbarco Veeder-Root. This deal will allow for the integration of Google maps into their systems providing local business information and directions. I can see how the directions functionality could work but am struggling to see the use of the local business information would be of use, after all, most people using a petrol station would be local anyway.
I am also thinking that they may be planning to charge for this service as well which makes it even worse. Not many people are going to want to use the internet in a petrol station anyway and if you start telling them they will have to pay for the privilege then I cant see many people going for it.
It will be interesting to see how they integrate the system though and whether they can actually make it work.
Filed under: google, mobile ads, mobile internet, mobile search | Tags: google, mobile
Email received from Google today, interesting stuff!
Dear Agency partner
As you may have already heard, today a broad alliance of leading technology and wireless companies today joined forces to announce the development of Android, the first truly open and comprehensive platform for mobile devices. We thought you might like to receive some further information on this announcement. As well as detailed information on the release, please also see attached two additional pieces of information- an FAQ on Android and an overview of Google and mobile.
Google Inc., T-Mobile, HTC, Qualcomm, Motorola and others have collaborated on the development of Android through the Open Handset Alliance, a multinational alliance of technology and mobile industry leaders.
This alliance shares a common goal of fostering innovation on mobile devices
and giving consumers a far better user experience than much of what is
available on today’s mobile platforms. By providing developers a new level
of openness that enables them to work more collaboratively, Android will
accelerate the pace at which new and compelling mobile services are made
available to consumers.
With nearly 3 billion users worldwide, the mobile phone has become the most
personal and ubiquitous communications device. However, the lack of a
collaborative effort has made it a challenge for developers, wireless
operators and handset manufacturers to respond as quickly as possible to the
ever-changing needs of savvy mobile consumers. Through Android, developers,
wireless operators and handset manufacturers will be better positioned to
bring to market innovative new products faster and at a much lower cost. The
end result will be an unprecedented mobile platform that will enable
wireless operators and manufacturers to give their customers better, more
personal and more flexible mobile experiences.
Thirty-four companies have formed the Open Handset Alliance, which aims to
develop technologies that will significantly lower the cost of developing
and distributing mobile devices and services. The Android platform is the
first step in this direction — a fully integrated mobile “software stack”
that consists of an operating system, middleware, user-friendly interface
and applications. Consumers should expect the first phones based on Android
to be available in the second half of 2008.
The Android platform will be made available under one of the most
progressive, developer-friendly open-source licenses, which gives mobile
operators and device manufacturers significant freedom and flexibility to
design products. Next week the Alliance will release an early access
software development kit to provide developers with the tools necessary to
create innovative and compelling applications for the platform.
Android holds the promise of unprecedented benefits for consumers,
developers and manufacturers of mobile services and devices. Handset
manufacturers and wireless operators will be free to customize Android in
order to bring to market innovative new products faster and at a much lower
cost. Developers will have complete access to handset capabilities and tools
that will enable them to build more compelling and user-friendly services,
bringing the Internet developer model to the mobile space. And consumers
worldwide will have access to less expensive mobile devices that feature
more compelling services, rich Internet applications and easier-to-use
interfaces — ultimately creating a superior mobile experience.
Open Software, Open Device, Open Ecosystem
“This partnership will help unleash the potential of mobile technology for
billions of users around the world. A fresh approach to fostering innovation
in the mobile industry will help shape a new computing environment that will
change the way people access and share information in the future,” said
Google Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt. “Today’s announcement is more
ambitious than any single ‘Google Phone’ that the press has been speculating
about over the past few weeks. Our vision is that the powerful platform
we’re unveiling will power thousands of different phone models.”
“As a founding member of the Open Handset Alliance, T-Mobile is committed to
innovation and fostering an open platform for wireless services to meet the
rapidly evolving and emerging needs of wireless customers,” said René
Obermann, Chief Executive Officer, Deutsche Telekom, parent company of
T-Mobile. “Google has been an established partner for T-Mobile’s
groundbreaking approach to bring the mobile open Internet to the mass
market. We see the Android platform as an exciting opportunity to launch
robust wireless Internet and Web 2.0 services for T-Mobile customers in the
US and Europe in 2008.”
“HTC’s trademark on the mobile industry has been its ability to drive
cutting-edge innovation into a wide variety of mobile devices to create the
perfect match for individuals,” said Peter Chou, Chief Executive Officer,
HTC Corp. “Our participation in the Open Handset Alliance and integration of
the Android platform in the second half of 2008 enables us to expand our
device portfolio into a new category of connected mobile phones that will
change the complexion of the mobile industry and re-create user expectations
of the mobile phone experience.”
“The convergence of the wireless and Internet industries is creating new
partnerships, evolving business models and driving innovation,” said Dr.
Paul E. Jacobs, Chief Executive Officer of Qualcomm. “We are extremely
pleased to be participating in the Open Handset Alliance, whose mission is
to help build the leading open-source application platform for 3G networks.
The proliferation of open-standards-based handsets will provide an exciting
new opportunity to create compelling services and devices. As a result, we
are committing research and development resources to enable the Android
platform and to create the best always-connected consumer experience on our
chipsets.”
“Motorola has long been an advocate of open software for mobile platforms.
Today, we’re excited to continue this support by joining Google and others
in the announcement of the Open Handset Alliance and Android platform.
Motorola plans to leverage the Android platform to enable seamless,
connected services and rich consumer experiences in future Motorola
products,” said Ed Zander, Chairman and CEO of Motorola, Inc.
Regards
Google Agency Team UK
One for the conspiracy theorists amongst you!
Who appears top when you perform a search for the word “search” on google? Well surely its on of Google’s pages right? Wrong! MSN’s live search is the top ranked page for this phrase.
And what about when you perform the same search on the live platform? You guessed it, Google appears in position 1 with yahoo relying on a paid listing to gain some exposure.
Coincidence? Or a hint of an underlying alliance? Ill leave that up to you to decide!
