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Though just about everyone in the online marketing business has something to say about the latest Google Penguin Update, conflicting information and mass confusion abound. Even the so-called experts are struggling to understand and articulate the effect that Penguin has had across the web. Google's system of numbering the Penguin updates hasn't helped.

Take a look at this Timelapse site, created by Time Inc. and Google. According to Google's blog: Google worked with the USGS to make an archive of earth imagery available online. Using Google Earth Engine technology, Google sifted through 2,068,467 images to find the highest-quality pixels (e.g., those without clouds), for every year since 1984 and for every spot on Earth. Google then worked with the CREATE Lab at Carnegie Mellon University, recipients of a Google Focused Research Award, to convert these annual Earth images into a seamless, browsable HTML5 animation. 

Both! In spite of the rash of Google updates and other covert maneuvers, link-building is still necessary for search rankings. Google has made it crystal clear that high quality content is what it wants. But Google is not quite so upfront about links. We do know that quality onsite and offsite content is just part of effective SEO. You still need to get those links. Link building tactics have changed and will continue to change in response to Google updates. Looks like another Google update is coming soon. 

Like many in the online marketing business, we are fascinated by Google Glass, though mostly because it's very futuristic and very cool (OR ridiculous, depending on who you ask). Whether or not we'll someday consider Google Glass users when we're developing marketing strategies remains to be seen. Remember, there was once a time when we didn't put any thought into mobile devices like phones and tablets. Maybe Google Glass will catch on and we'll all be talking to our glasses and taking a picture with just a wink!
 

More than 1 billion unique users visit YouTube each month and over 4 billion hours of video are watched. YouTube is the third most visited site, just behind Google and Facebook (source: Alexa). Some of those videos go viral, creating a YouTube sensation. (Where would Justin Bieber be without YouTube? Probably back home in Canada).

Scared of Pay Per Click? Don’t have the budget? Set up a retargeting only campaign. 'Retargeting' is literally re-targeting people; showing ads only to people who visit your website. They were interested in a product or service you have to offer--that’s why they visited your site in the first place. Your ads will appear on other publisher's websites as a reminder to come back to your website. It’s an easy, simple, friendly, inexpensive way to get more customers who don’t convert when they first check out your website. Call us to learn more about the varieties of Pay Per Click campaigns.

What is 'newsjacking,' other than a term that we’ve started to hear tossed around lately? For starters, it is a natural extension of content marketing and it is NOT a bad thing. It’s really just another smart way to do SEO right. To newsjack is to contribute to the conversation on highly visible breaking news relevant to one’s own industry.
 

How To Newsjack:
1) Pay attention to breaking news
2) Identify the keywords being searched for related to the breaking news
3) Produce high-quality content relevant to your business incorporating the keywords you have identified
4) Syndicate content quickly so that it can be found by other media outlets

For instance, if breaking news is 'President Obama Releases Budget', you can write about how the new budget may affect your specific industry using the keywords you’ve carefully researched. Then people who are searching for the news might see your content and become interested in your business!

Newsjacking leverages breaking news and the search demand on the corresponding keywords to gain visibility in the search rankings. Give it a try.

Google Places for Business continues to merge Google’s offerings. Now users will be able to access their Google+ and Google Local page from the same place, making Google Local and Social more unified. Will Google local search and social media continue to become one? We’ve been wondering for awhile! Google Places for Business is still in its infancy, but we’ll keep you posted on changes and new features in Google’s offerings.

50% of businesses don’t have a website! You probably do because you’re our client, but that doesn’t exempt you...