home james News Feed

Are Canonical Tags About to Take Off?

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:14:00 GMT

It has been a year since Google, Yahoo! and Bing jointly announced the canonical tag but only last week did it emerge that Yahoo! and Bing were going to start supporting it.

Tackling the issue of duplicate content the canonical tag allows a specific URL to be chosen as the main port of call. Google announced in October 2009 that they will be fully supporting it but it has taken until now for Yahoo! and Bing to follow suit.

The announcement came during the much talked about ‘Ask The Search Engines’ session at SMX West last Thursday (4 March 2010). Both search engines confirmed they are currently supporting rel=canonical now and canonical tag support will be in place soon.

Only Using Canonical Tags as a Hint

Sasi Parthasarathy confirmed it on behalf of Bing whilst Arnab Bhattacharjee made a similar statement for Yahoo! Mr. Bhattacharjee did stress though that Yahoo! will only be using it as a hint tool as opposed to a definitive practice.

The practice of canonical tagging has the potential to greatly improve the life of Webmasters and can also help a site generate better exposure to their better content.

It is surprising that it’s taken these major search engines so long to pick up on this following the announcement. Yet with Google’s support of canonical tags across different domains now supported by Yahoo!’s and Bing’s uptake, its use and relevance is likely to grow in stock.

Is Mobile Shaping the Future of Search?

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:37:00 GMT

Last month we asked the question and now it would appear that the results of Yahoo! and Bing’s merger are taking effect sooner than anticipated, which could have repercussions for the future of search. AT&T this week (3 March 2010) announced that they will be using Yahoo!’s search engine on their new Android-powered Motorola Backflip.

An interesting choice, especially considering that Android is Google’s mobile operating system. So what persuaded them to shirk tradition and plump for Yahoo! as their mobile search engine on this handset? And could this also affect search in the future?

“Mobile is a key corporate priority”

This move could be AT&T pre-empting a shift in the mobile search market that could gain force when Microsoft release their Windows phones with Bing hardware. One thing is for sure, Yahoo! are excited about the announcement. They told Search Engine Land:

“We are happy that AT&T has chosen Yahoo! Search as the default mobile search service on the Motorola Backflip, AT&T’s first Android device. Mobile is a key corporate priority for Yahoo! and we are focused on making our personally relevant mobile Internet services, like search, available to the broadest audience possible on the widest range of devices.”

Perhaps the most important part of that statement is the beginning of the second sentence, “mobile is a key corporate priority for Yahoo!” which echoes sentiments of Microsoft’s planned $billion investment.

Changing the Landscape of Search

Mobile search is growing exponentially but, like its desktop-based older sister, has been dominated by Google and continues to be dominated by Google. This announcement by AT&T to shift to Yahoo! may well be the start of search engines competing for connectivity with different smartphone models.

As more smartphones enter the market people’s search habits could be shaped by the search engine that is conveniently already available on their handset. The familiarity with a particular search engine could be transposed onto the desktop. Or, as smartphones garner a greater percentage of our search time, it could create a change in the mobile search landscape.

We wait to see if AT&T’s decision to switch to Yahoo! will have any implications on the market. But the growth of mobile search is likely to alter habits, which could move the goal posts of search.

To speak with a home james campaign manager to understand how we could help you implement an effective mobile marketing and SEO strategy, please get in touch with us.

SEO Helps Airline Jet into Regular Page One Listings

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:25:00 GMT

As Jet2.com extends their bases and number of routes they have also enjoyed a greater share of page one listings online making it easier to navigate around the globe as well as the World Wide Web.

The north’s leading leisure airline has embarked on a period of considerable growth over the past couple of years and this increased exposure online has helped them steer more traffic to their sites.

The detailed work provided by home james has helped Jet2.com’s sites to soar with a dedicated SEO campaign. A Jet2.com statement read:

“homejames are responsible for Jet2.com's search campaigns which encompasses flights, canaries and ski. They have increased our page 1 listings by 201% in 12 months. Over the past year, we have seen page 1 listings increase to over 8,000 instances.

As a result, our cost per site visitor and cost per customer from SEO has decreased significantly.”

“We Don’t Just Rely on a Handful of Keywords”

Much of the success has been attributed to the level of long-tail keywords which has seen Jet2.com generate traffic for over 55,000 generic keywords on average per month. The Jet2.com statement concluded by saying:

“The campaign is successful because of the massive amount of terms we rank for, and it doesn't just rely on a handful of keywords."

To speak with a home james campaign manager to understand how we could help implement an effective Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) campaign for your company, please get in touch with us.

Will Bing and Yahoo! Merger Change Search?

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Last week the US Department of Justice and European Commission sanctioned Yahoo!’s and Microsoft’s merger which will see the two search platforms combine to take on Google

Google’s position as the market share leader in search is unquestionable – you only have to look at the statistics (Google have over 65% of the market searches). So can this merger provide sufficient competition to something that is now an accepted verb in our language and what does it mean for advertisers?

Creating Two Quality Search Engines

There does seem to be quite a bit of confusion about how things will change but the clearest point is that Yahoo! will incorporate Microsoft’s Bing searches into their results whilst Yahoo! will be charged with delivering better sales and richer content.

They anticipate that the changeover will take full effect in late 2010 in the US and next year in Europe. The hope is that the merger will improve the quality of services and performance of not only Yahoo! and Bing but also Google.

Another benefit will improve the management of advertising with Microsoft’s adCentre the sole platform to deal with accounts.

Additionally, a greater wealth of results that are more relevant will be generated to help provide a more personalised service. This can be measured by Twitter’s inauguration into Yahoo! search results that began this week.

Early Confusion Fuels Concerns of Poor Organisation

Yet for all the benefits, an early and cumbersome structure is showing few signs of organisation which could ultimately drive away advertisers and users keen for a simplistic experience.

There is also a sentiment that combining two ailing search engines won’t all of a sudden create a good one.

The Jury Is Out but Only Time Will Tell

The question remains though - will they be able to provide a better service and challenge Google in the process? Well, they will have a greater market share - circa 30% in the US where we usually see trends emerge - and combined funds should allow them to focus their combined expertise to create a better search experience for advertisers and users alike. However, despite the furore of excitement these changes are a long way off.

The World In Your Pocket

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:45:00 GMT

It’s true you can now go anywhere you want at the swipe of your finger after Google Earth became available on Android 2.1. It also exemplifies the closing gap between what you can do on a desktop and what you can do on your phone.

So is the mobile experience likely to enjoy parity with the desktop? Well things certainly are improving.

Desktop Features in the Palm of Your Hand

Google have invested a lot of money and talk into their Nexus One phone so it comes as little surprise that this is the only handset able to accommodate this tasty little feature. Although expect it to roll out on other handsets as they upgrade their version of Android to 2.1.

After plenty of playing around by Google’s engineers they have managed to transpose the 3-D rich interfaces of Google Earth, commonly found on your desktop, onto the smartphone. This includes the Roads layer – very popular for instantly finding out where you are.

However, the crème de la crème is the voice recognition platform, common in Android software, which works in harmony with Google Earth. So if you want to find an Italian restaurant in Leeds just speak “Italian restaurant Leeds” and a number of searches will be displayed on the Google Earth interface.

Still a Long Way to Go for Mobile

This is a cute new application for the Android software, which has already stirred quite a bit of excitement and it will no doubt strengthen Android’s position in the market. However, mobile experience overall still has a long way to go to compete with the capabilities of the desktop. Businesses, though, should take note of the rising prominence of the mobile online market!

Streamlined AdWords Campaign Data

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Day-to-day account management in AdWords has just got slicker. The introduction of a new analysis toolbar in the Campaigns tab now gives you quicker access to existing data as well as making new data available. What’s more, all of this is now only a single click away!

This new functionality has made it easier to compartmentalise data for the selected date range by pre-defined periods, e.g. daily, monthly, day of week etc and also data type, i.e. clicks, calls, mobile devices.

You can use the new format in a new drop-down menu in the AdWords interface. This means a single click can organise the data you need rather than having to set up a report.

The new feature could become particularly valuable should the on-set of click-to-call take off in PPC ads.

This new streamlined approach to reporting should help to add value to AdWords data and, most importantly, your advertising campaigns by streamlining management and creating more succinct analysis.

Is Google Buzz The Missing Link?

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Google have once again managed to create a, err, buzz about their latest product...Google Buzz! But can this latest foray into creating a social network really challenge the established behemoths of Facebook and Twitter?

Much of the success of their social platform - which is integrated into Gmail as well as being available in a standalone mode – depends on the mobile experience; and apparently addressing early concerns!

A Gmail Integrated Service

Google Buzz will allow users to post comments, images and videos as well as comment and view friends’ updates. It is also set-up to allow you to share content from sites like YouTube and Flickr. Its micro-blogging feature shares comparisons to the famed Twitter – you can even follow people - whereas its interface and features are similar to Facebook.

Because it is an extension of Gmail, it is likely to have some traction with their 170 million users. Initial privacy concerns have also been remedied which could see the social platform separating from Gmail at a user’s discretion.

Additionally, its connectivity with other Google applications like maps could make it popular with Android-based smartphones and iPhones.

Designed With Mobile Technology in Mind

As smartphones flood the market, mobile connectivity is on a rapid rise. According to the GSM Association, Facebook was viewed for 2.2 billion minutes in December whereas Google sites enjoyed 395million minutes. Marrying a social experience with your emails and other Google apps could push more of this traffic in Google’s direction.

Being able to see where someone is when they Buzz or chatting to people in the same vicinity as you about a poplar Buzz is a unique tool designed with mobile connectivity in-mind. In fact Google Buzz has an interface moulded to mobile use.

The encouraging early uptake in people trying out Google Buzz suggests that being social whilst mobile is the next step. Combining a social network with your email isn’t perhaps what it’s all cracked up to be though!

New Click-to-Call Feature Boosts Click Through Rate

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:09:00 GMT

Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is becoming more in-tune with mobile search after Google Adwords launched their click-to-call (CTC) feature.

The continued advancements in the technology of smartphones are aiding a rise in mobile-browsing as documented by the GSM Association (GSMA). Their data showed that 16 million people accessed the Internet via their mobile-phones during December 2009 alone and clocked up 4.8 billion minutes of time online.

To accommodate this growing demand, Google Adwords’ click-to-call feature will now include telephone numbers in PPC ads.

“To easily call your business is a key distinguishing feature of searches made on mobile phones versus computers”

Only users with full Internet access on their mobile devices can access the ads but it is already proving successful following a beta version earlier in the year. During this trial period, advertisers noticed a reported five to 30% rise in click-through-rate (CTR).

The idea behind this latest offering is to allow users to immediately call your company after searching for a particular service. As Surojit Chatterjee, product manager for Google’s ad team, said: "sometimes when you're searching for a local business on your mobile device, you're not looking for their web site, but rather to connect by phone."

Users of smartphones like the iPhone and Android-based devices can now directly call from an ad rather than having to go through the site. There is a mutual benefit for both the advertiser, who pays the same cost as a click to the website, and the user, who can now ascertain the information they want quicker.

A Google statement said: "whether they're placing a direct order, making a reservation, or inquiring about services, the ability for prospective customers to easily call your business is a key distinguishing feature of searches made on mobile phones versus computers."

Creating Synergy Between Mobile Ads and a Mobile Audience

This new function is more intuitive to mobile browsing, especially as most local advertisers want to receive calls rather than visits. It will also intensify the need for strong, message-driven PPC ads.

To access this function you will need to make sure that you’ve chosen to show your ads on iPhones and other mobile devices in Adwords. You will also need to set up local extensions and add your company phone number.

This is the next step in creating synergy between a mobile audience and mobile activity.

Contact home james for expert PPC services.

Job Vacancy - Search Account Manager

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Job Title: Search Account Manager
Salary: DOE
Location: United Kingdom, Leeds
Job Type: Permanent

hôme james is a well established search and social media marketing agency based in Leeds. Dealing with a number of blue chip clients in the UK, hôme james is well regarded as one of the leading search marketing agencies and its reputation is built on consistently achieving success in competitive sectors. We are looking for an experienced, dynamic and proactive person to join as an account manager within search marketing – 12 months minimum experience is required.

Key responsibilities of the role include:

Developing and maintaining exceptional client relationships at senior level
Understanding the client marketplaces and industry developments
Accurately forecasting and delivering against revenue and profit targets
Developing and owning account plans
Working closely with the campaign management team to provide direction and support for the search campaigns
Acting as the main contact point for key clients
Maximising the value clients receive from their existing investments and can identify growth opportunities
Creating supporting documents for any client recommendations along with projections where appropriate
Interpreting client reports, making recommendations and agreeing deliverables

Candidates for the role will:

Be extremely well organised with good communication skills
Be fluent in written and spoken English
Be able to work well within a team
Have experience in account managing within search engine marketing and are likely to have an understanding of social media optimisation
Have experience of working with other account managers and campaign mangers (CM)
Have the ability to direct campaign improvements and educate the CMs
Be aware of developments in search and social media
Have an understanding of the technical demands for successful search marketing

Candidate Requirements:

The role is suited to someone with a proven track record as an account manager and a good understanding of search marketing.

Contact:

Michael Ward on 0844 576 8965 or email michael.ward@home-james.co.uk (no canvassing)

Don’t Get Confused By Twitter – Part Three

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:35:00 GMT

So by now you have set up your Twitter account, you’re tweeting away with friends and following people you’re interested in. But what is all this jargon being thrown at you? Re-tweet this, hashtag that, check out this meme! We have put together a list to help you.

Understanding Twitter Terminology

Part of the fun of Twitter is getting to know all the little terms that help to make you feel part of a community but to speed up the process we have taken some of the most popular terms and given them a short description.

DM or Direct Message

You might have come across the term DM before as it infiltrates contemporary communication language. On Twitter, like most other social platforms, a DM or direct message is the private conversation between you and one of your followers. It is a way to talk to someone directly. Direct messages can be found on the right side of the screen.

Hashtag

You might have noticed us mentioning these in part two of our guide when talking about finding people to follow. To put it simply, by employing a hashtag in your post it will become organised into a category, or if enough people are using the same hastag at that moment, it could feature in Twitter Trending Topics. For instance, let’s say you post, “Voted sixty times in tonight’s showdown. #PopIdol.” Your message would then be part of Twitter search results for “#PopIdol.” It is a great way to organise your posts and find like-minded people.

Lists

Lists are, well, lists of Twitter users created and categorized by other Twitter users. You can follow entire lists rather than having to follow each individual user. You can also set up your own lists with the option of making them public or private. I’ve found them incredibly useful to sort out people I am following and followers.

Reply or @reply

To reply to another Twitter user, or include them in a tweet, you put an @ symbol before their username. If the @symbol is the first character in the tweet, the reply will be shown to them and anyone following both of you. If the @ symbol is not the first character, then the tweet will be shown to all of your followers, plus the person whose username follows the @. This is useful to remember when replying to someone with something that you feel would be off use to all your followers.

RT or Retweet

Ahh, perhaps the most popular of Twitterisms. Retweets are re-broadcasts of another user’s tweet. This is traditionally done by including an “RT” before the original poster’s @username. In the right hand control panel you’ll also find a retweet section which shows which of your tweets have been retweeted and by whom along with whose tweets you’ve retweeted yourself. Handy to see what traction, if any, you’re tweets are having with people and it also offers a chance to connect with users interested in your tweets.

Shortened URLs

With just 140 characters at your disposal, Twitter doesn’t give you much room to include URL links - some of which are longer than 140 characters themselves. There are also a number of services - URL shorteners - that take regular links and shrink them down to a manageable length for tweets, and some even let you track clicks if you sign up for an account (bit.ly being one of the most popular).

Memes

Twitter Memes are trends, activities or sayings associated with Twitter. It might be something you do individually, things that have grown up around Twitter that make it more useful (Retweets and Hashtags are two examples), or might be something people do as a group for fun. Popular Twitter memes to look out for are:

#musicmonday – share what you are listening
Follow Friday (#ff) – this is a great list for building your followers
#wisdomwed – a fun fact of the day type group
#rtthursday – the popular way to thank your retweeters

By understanding Twitter you can make the most of your experiences on the popular social network, unlike Mr. Gervais. I just hope that this three part guide will help basic understanding of Twitter so that you can start squeezing the value out of it.

Has this guide been helpful? Let us know in the comments below.