Search Engine Recap for September 2008

Here is a summary of search marketing industry news for September 2008:

Chrome

Google launched Chrome, its open source web browser. While it carries some bugs to be worked out, we like some of the features that Chrome has brought up. We will be posting our take on Chrome very soon.

Adwords Geographic Report

Adwords has added geographic report – This report provides us with an approximate account the geographic distribution of impressions, clicks, and conversions.

You can use this report to find out how well the ads are performing/not performing in certain geographic locations.

Google Search for Mobile

Last November, Google introduced its My Location feature in Google Maps for Mobile. It uses cell tower IDs to triangulate the location of the phone and then identifies that location on the Google Maps interface. With a bit less precision, it essentially does the same thing that GPS does: eliminate the need to enter a geomodifier to find things nearby.

Google has now taken that same cell tower triangulation approach and brought it directly into Google Search for mobile. Users need to install Google Gears on their mobile phones first before it will work.

What is in it for Advertisers?

1. Google Maps for Mobile currently has no ad inventory - opportunity for advertisers to take advantage.

2. Google Mobile Search has ads, though typically they're well "below the fold." As Google introduces more search ads in mobile and makes them more prominent Search with My Location becomes a potential boon to search marketers.

Search with My Location will initially be available in the US and UK and on Windows Mobile phones.

Yahoo Mobile

Yahoo announced oneConnect and Blueprint for the iPhone.


The oneConnect application is something like a smart address book and communications management tool -- allowing users to see IM, SMS and emails in one mobile environment. It also allows users to integrate social networking apps along the same lines.


Blueprint is a mobile development platform and rendering engine that is supposed to be much easier to use and write for than other tools. Publishers, developers and advertisers can use it to build mobile sites and landing pages.

Android

T-Mobile announced availability of the first Android phone. Android is the first truly open and comprehensive platform for mobile devices. It includes an operating system, user-interface and applications -- all of the software to run a mobile phone, but without the proprietary obstacles that have hindered mobile innovation.


The objective of Android is to move the entire mobile industry forward by opening it up. If Google succeeds, on the shoulders of the iPhone's early success, it will benefit consumers and, ultimately, Google. Our SEA specialist has blogged his take on Android.