El Goog is Testy

Today I came across a couple new features that I have not seen before. It looks like Google is testing a few new paid search offerings.

Paid Search Product Links

The first one

I noticed is paid search product links. It appears that advertisers will soon have the ability to ad product links in their premium paid search listing.

This snazzy little feature is sure to make those retail clients drool. Expectations? I assume that this little feature is sure to bring in a high CTR while it is new and shinny. Once it becomes common place it is likely to result in a higher conversion rate as it will provide additional information pre click to help qualify search traffic.

Paid Search Ads and Natural Links Don’t Shake hands, Paid Search Ads and Natural Links Hug.

Another change I have recently noticed is that the right bar of paid search ads has shifted from the right of your screen (no matter you monitor size) to right up on the natural links.

Expectations? This is likely to result in higher CTR. Reason for Google to make this change? As wide screen monitors quickly become the norm those text ads have started to feel a little lonely. Also Google is a public company and needs to keep on growing its revenue…

"Going Google?" More Like "Get Going Google"

Today Tech blogs and Media blogs alike are reporting about Google’s new ad campaign “Going Google.” Without going into details here the campaigns purpose is to promote Google apps for business, a direct competitor for Microsoft’s Office products.

This is yet another battle cry for Microsoft’s head from the big G. As Microsoft moves into Google’s search turf with heavy promotions of its new search engine Bing, and it’s recently announced search deal with Yahoo, Google had to fire back. Right?

Well this news didn’t so much spark my enthusiasm for Google and its cloud based office applications. Instead it yet again shifted my image of Google. Every move they make simply seems like a direct hit against Microsoft. They have thrived off of this and tried to build an image as the anti-Microsoft. In my opinion by doing this they have sealed their fate as becoming the next Microsoft.

As Google gets bigger and bigger it will be easier for smaller and fresher products to slowly chip away at the search/app/advertising/telecommunication behemoth, hence the title of this article. As Google pimps its new ad campaign “Going Google” I will be launching my own personal campaign “Get Going Google.”

Now to be completely transparent I have been what you call a Google fan boy. I am also in search marketing and technically need to be a search agnostic. I have tried and tried again to ditch the Google habit without success.

In the name of competition and progress I will be switching from Google search and News (the two products I use most heavily) to a wide mix of alternative search and news sources. First up? Bing!

Wish me luck.

Great news from Facebook everyone.

"Soon you will be able to have a username

Starting on Friday, June 12th, at 11:01pm, you'll be able to choose a username for your Facebook account to easily direct friends, family, and coworkers to your profile.

Check out the Facebook Blog for more information or send yourself an email with the details."

Don't trample me on your way in... This will have to be an iPhone update for me since I will be out. All of you other 500+ Matthew Marshalls out there better start thinking of a new alias....

Matt