luni, 2 ianuarie 2012

Search Industry Surprises of 2011

Posted: 01 Jan 2012 01:30 PM PST

It’s the 1^st of January 2012. You've been inundated with well-wishing SMS messages from numbers you don't have saved. You got up late and have only just showered. More than likely, you’re unbearably hungover. Like many others you have just begrudgingly thought about remedying the sour taste in your mouth...

worked out how much you have consumed over the last few days...

before hastily working out how you can fix the consequences...

and wondered how to get rid of the faded, malting shrub which has engulfed your living room.

Although quaint and mildly amusing, the seasonal nature of these search trends was easily predicted. The same is not true for much of 2011, which turned out to be a year filled with of change, uncertainty and amazement. Below is a lighthearted rundown of 10 of the most surprising search industry happenings of last year.

Tales of the Unexpected

1. We're actually using a social network created by Google

Google+ finishes the year with a user base claimed to be around the 62 million mark, indicating that this time, they may have just got it right.

Through comprehensive Integration with existing Google profiles and aggressive marketing across the main Google platform, G+ appears to have hit the ground running, despite uncertainty about where it will fit into our current framework of social sharing and networking in the long term.

While 2010 saw the announcement, launch and immediate critical dismissal of the ill-fated Google Buzz, Google+ spent most of 2011 being taunted, lauded and speculatively compared with Facebook in varying degrees of favourable and unfavourable comment. It seemed as if the world, uncontent with continuously arguing over the merits of differing smartphone operating systems, wanted nothing more than to see two digital networking platforms wage an all-out bloody battle against each other -- like some sort of contemporary Tron that wasn't as terrible as Tron Legacy.

As it turns out, G+ ends the year in an uncertain, but interesting territory; occupying a space somewhere between the open, public broadcast realm of Twitter and the restricted, personal networking of Facebook.

Negatively....Google+'s openness, its complex encircling system and the ability to encircle people without a G+ account, means it lacks the feelings of control and privacy valued in Facebook while offering fairly disparate and confusing methods of locating individuals you may wish to connect with. Going forward, we may find that actually, the vast majority of people don't see a great deal of value in the Circles system - finding fragmented and factional communication a level of complexity above their requirements.

Positively...Google+ pages for businesses and public figures could turn out to be incredibly valuable, as writers vie for rel="author" attribution and companies compete for ever expanding rich snippet opportunities. The +1 sharing system could herald the marriage of search and social, especially if social sharing data in SERPs begins to dramatically alter CTR. Google+ hangouts offer a beautifully designed feature which should really have been available on Facebook and the Circles system has merit for informal interaction across real-life companies and organisations. In the end, it may be that the smaller elements of Google+ become its ultimate virtue -- succeeding to unite presences across the web; acting as a résumé for an individual's personal and professional web activity.

2. MC Hammer announced the launch of a search Engine

Of all the high profile entrepreneurs one could have foreseen staking interest and venture capital in a search start-up - low down on the list was early 90's rapper and reality TV star - MC Hammer. Wiredoo, currently in pre-beta is planned to be a deep search engine - offering uses related information about their search query - as well as results. In 2012, we should see Wiredoo beta launched alongside Vanilla Ice's new social network - Stop, Collaborate & Listen.

3. Google crept in Flight Search and Hotel Search

In another blow to small-time affiliates, Google sneakily crept in their own flight and hotel information, allowing users to compare prices, dates and quotes without having to leave SERPs.

While worrying many SEOs, with the view that Google is moving into a place of monopolistic power with regards to consumer choice; the feature was generally welcomed by users who found it helpful, accurate and valuable. In 2012, we may see Google making the foray into more temporal searches, such as train times, museum opening hours and TV listings. Google Shopping will probably be given a further revamp in 2012.

4. Adobe abandoned development on Flash Player for Mobile Devices

Adobe realised that Flash was unlikely to stand strong in the future; with the expanding war on site-speed, lack of iOS compatibility and YouTube shift towards HTML5 amongst a multitude of factors. Seeing the writing on the wall, Adobe made the brave move to lose some staff and shift their focus towards HTML5 and AIR development, in order to maintain relevancy in an increasingly mobile internet space. Adobe Edge, HTML5 & CSS3 content creation software has been released in preview mode.

In 2012, we'll now see an enormous collective push towards providing exciting, search-engine friendly HTML5 & CSS3 content - with all major parties pulling in broadly similar directions. Now is the time to revamp any legacy Flash content and get on-board the HTML5 train.

5. Microsoft fixed Internet Explorer (sort of)

The haunting presences of archaic IE versions were offered an exorcism in 2011, after Microsoft announced that it would bring auto-update to IE. Starting in Brazil and Australia early this year, IE updates will be included within the wider Windows Update system. Those with auto-update on will be automatically upgraded to IE9. Assuming success in Brazil and Aus, the updates will likely roll out progressively to the rest of the world, allowing us to finally get really creative with all that nice HMTL5 & CSS3 business without worrying too much about old browser compatibility. On the downside, Internet Explorer will probably still be rubbish throughout 2012.

When this auto-update system comes into full force, we can expect complaints from thousands of IT and software companies who have made a good living out of offering pop-up blockers and Internet security systems. The United Kingdom Civil Service will also likely make some fuss as in a feat of unprecedented irony, they have so far refused to allow staff to use anything other than IE6 because of "security concerns".

6. Anonymous took down Visa.

Everyone's favourite V for Vendetta fans made a quite astonishing display of their capabilities in 2011, as they attacked both Mastercard and Visa under what was termed "Operation Payback" - a campaign to target firms the organisations viewed as being against Wiki-leaks. Who knows what we could see from this group in 2012....

7. Apple's voice search was xenophobic

Although pundits were expecting voice integration with the iPhone following Apple's purchase of Siri back in 2010, few expected it to make the huge leap above Google voice search into passive aggressive comments and sarcastic humour. Seemingly unable to effectively decipher the majority of non-north American accents, Siri patronisingly asks most Scottish people to repeat their request and currently refuses to give local search data outside of the US. In 2012, we might see a tempering of Siri's nationalistic bias, with yelp powered local search data offered in Europe and around the world. We'll also likely see Android produce a similar functionality for their handsets - perhaps with a more liberal, multicultural vibe.

8. Exact match domains became more powerful

Despite what i think will be a general consensus that the quality of Google SERPs improved dramatically over the past year, exact match domain names seemed to be ranking better and appearing in greater number, even for extremely competitive keywords.

I'm looking at you cheappackageholidays.co.uk

This was, of course, extremely frustrating for those of us who hold a romantic vision of a world where spammy tactics are redundant and SEOs, clad entirely in white, run around meadows in harmony with Google; gaily laughing at the fools from paid-seo-friendly-links.com.

While we can assume and hope that this problem will eventually get fixed, we can take solace in the introduction of rich snippets and schema.org which also happened this past year - giving genuinely good sites another way to prove their worth in the SERPs.

9. Google stopped providing keyword referral data for logged in users

To the sounds of justified indignation and uproar from the SEO community, Google announced they would be blocking keyword referral information in Google Analytics for logged in users.

Will this affect the day-to-day SEO? I'm not sure. But we'll have to sit tight in 2012 in case any other nasty surprises come our way.

10. Digg fell to insignificancy while Reddit went exponential

Russ Jones spoke about the Fall of Digg and the rise of Reddit at his 2011 Linklove presentation, but few could have predicted how right on the money he was. As we move into 2012, Google Trends shows Reddit on an almost exponential rise while Digg trickles out to nothing.

and It's good news for SEOmoz, whose strong performance in 2011 suggests that they too may overtake Digg in 2012.

A happy and prosperous new year to you all!

Do you like this post? Yes No

Seth's Blog : On creating a hassle

On creating a hassle

To quote Merlin Mann, "You don't let the guy with the broom control how many elephants are in the parade."

Harsh to say, but the fact is that great storytellers and artists and ruckus makers manage to insulate themselves from the people they're going to hassle. And the job of those that are being hassled by the commotion is to be hassled by the commotion. No commotion, no job.

• Email to a friend •

duminică, 1 ianuarie 2012

Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis

Promises Go Out the Window as Spain Undertakes Huge Tax Increase Coupled With Biggest Budget Cut in History; Depression in Spain will Worsen

Posted: 01 Jan 2012 01:53 PM PST

Courtesy of Google Translate, please consider Rajoy approves the biggest cut in history and a large tax increase

Everyone knew it. Above all, Mariano Rajoy , who had already pointed to the environment for months that the deficit would be 8%. Not counted in public, but privately the PP did not talk about something else. And yet, throughout the campaign, and the investiture debate, said the PP government would not raise taxes. But at the moment of truth, the vice president, Soraya Saenz de Santamaria , and Rajoy, who avoided appearing, announced the second largest tax increase in recent history of Spain. And the biggest cut in public spending of democracy in one fell swoop: 8,900 million euros.

And that, he said, is only "the beginning of the beginning." The vice president announced that the estimated deficit will go to 8% , two points above the 6% expected, mainly because of the autonomous communities. She and the finance minister, Cristobal Montoro , dropped the previous government the responsibility for not having told what the situation was real to them or the Spanish.

This new deficit figure implies that the total cut to achieve the 4.4% in 2012, will be more than 36,000 million. It was the figure that ran for months in the PP-and well-published, but Rajoy made the debate with the official inauguration: 16,500 million. Before happened in Portugal, where the Conservatives won the election promising not to raise taxes and then did the opposite. Now comes Spain.

Rajoy promised until the last moment, even in the investiture debate , it would not raise taxes. "I will keep my election commitments," he repeated. "The greatest effort can not lie with the citizens, has to be from the Administrations" he said at the inauguration when asked if he would raise taxes.

Politically, the package is very measured to launch a very clear message: the cuts are huge, brutal, affect everyone and no doubt deepen the recession even Guindos ruled out reaching a fall of 2% of GDP, but to change the tax increases are progressive and are concentrated in high incomes.It has sought to tap equity without VAT, a tax is not progressive.

While the top rate of income tax in the new section to be created from 300,000 euros, up seven points at once, something unheard of, and will arrive in some autonomous-advancers his leg while the PSOE-ruled up to 55 %, a level high even by European standards. The Government also tried to point out that higher capital income is a six-point rise. And the rise in property tax is also designed especially for those with more expensive properties.

They are so strong that increases Guindos Montoro and insisted on trying to limit their impact: "They are temporary, are valid only in 2012 and 2013," he repeated.

Depression in Spain will Worsen

With those tax hikes and budget cuts, Spain is just back to where it claimed (lied) to be a couple months ago.

In theory these cuts will put Spain on target. In practice they won't. Unemployment rate is already 22.8% and it will rise. Spending will plunge and so will estimated revenues from VAT and other taxes. Expect more business bankruptcies as well, and those bankruptcies will impact the solvency of banks. In short, these moves will backfire and the depression in Spain will worsen.

Raising taxes at the onset of a depression or in a severe recession is one sure-fire way to make things worse.

Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com
Click Here To Scroll Thru My Recent Post List

sâmbătă, 31 decembrie 2011

Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis

17 States Still Project Budget Deficits (It Will Get Much Worse); Moving Targets and the Slowing Global Economy

Posted: 31 Dec 2011 12:19 PM PST

State economies have partially recovered from the depths of 2009 and early 2010, but 17 states still project deficits. Moreover, there are no rainy day funds or untapped revenue sources, and some "temporary" tax hikes are set to expire. California is $13 billion in the hole but that is a huge improvement compared to the $40 billion hole previously.

Yahoo!Finance reports State revenue rises, but not enough to offset cuts

Twenty-nine states are spending less from their general funds today than they did before the recession, according to a recent joint survey from the National Governors Association and the National Association of State Budget Officers.

More than 30 states have raised taxes since the recession began, but some of those increases were temporary and are expiring soon, as in Arizona. With the economy slowly reviving and unemployment rates dipping, many governors and lawmakers say they don't want to jeopardize the recovery by raising taxes again.

But tax revenue is not expected to grow enough to make up for the impact of four years of dismal economic times. Rainy-day funds, internal transfers and other one-time sources have largely been tapped, so governors and lawmakers must look for new places to cut spending.

Changes to public employee retirement benefits and sweeping reforms to health care programs such as Medicaid are among the most likely targets.

At least 17 states project budget gaps for the next fiscal year, while a handful need to balance budgets in the remaining six months of the current budget year. The revenue of all 50 states combined remains $21 billion below 2008 levels, according to the National Governors Association-NASBO report.

Budget gaps in states projecting shortfalls in the 2012-13 fiscal year are estimated to total $40 billion. By comparison, California alone closed a deficit of $42 billion in 2009, during the worst of recession.

Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown and state lawmakers have fewer options to close the $13 billion shortfall that is projected over the next 18 months.

In December, Brown ordered $1 billion in midyear spending reductions to public schools, universities and social services because tax revenue did not meet projections. The state has given school districts the option of slicing another seven days from the current school year, now 175 days long. That already is five days shorter than before the recession.

Low-income seniors and the disabled will get less in-home care when the reductions start in January. School advocates warn that an estimated 1 million students will have trouble getting to class with a drop in home-to-school transportation funding.

"The cut to transportation is absolutely devastating," said Steve Henderson, a lobbyist for the California School Employees Association. "What that means is a lot of low-income and rural kids will not have the ability to get to school."

Brown has proposed a 2012 ballot initiative to raise $7 billion annually through 2016 by boosting income taxes on individuals making $250,000 or more a year and increasing the state sales tax by a half-cent. He also has submitted a plan to the Legislature to revamp public employee pensions.

Washington state is considering similar cuts to cope with its shortfall, including shortening its school year, eliminating medical programs for 55,000 low-income residents and letting some low- and moderate-risk offenders out of prison early.

Missouri is reducing funding for elementary and secondary education to close a mid-year budget deficit tied to tornado recovery. North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue, a Democrat, is warning of thousands of teacher layoffs next fall because federal aid to local school districts is running out.

Moving Targets and the Slowing Global Economy

Things look better than the depths of the recession, but there are two major problems

Moving Targets
Slowing Global Economy

Unlike 2011, the US will not be immune from slowing global economy, especially in the Eurozone and China. Europe will enter a massive recession and there will be spillover effects. I expect an outright recession in the US, but more certainly a profit recession.

In turn, this will mean states will face moving targets and revenues will not meet expectations, just as is happening in Europe right now.

Worse yet, there are no rainy day funds anywhere, and many feel states have already cut services to the bone. This time around, don't expect much help from Congress. It's simply not coming.

Finally, with the stock market flat in 2011, it's safe to assume state pension plans are deeper in the hole than a year ago. Most pension plan assumptions have expectations of 8% or 8.5% growth. It did not happen in 2011, and I expect 2012 to be much worse.

Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com
Click Here To Scroll Thru My Recent Post List

Correction: Weekly Address: Working Together in the New Year

Your Daily Snapshot for
Saturday, December 31, 2011

Correction: Weekly Address: Working Together in the New Year

President Obama tells the American people that, by joining together, we can move past the tough debates and help to create jobs and grow the economy in the new year.

Watch the video:

President Barack Obama tapes the weekly address in Kailua, Hawaii, Dec. 29, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Must-See White House Videos of 2011

All week, we've been sharing some highlights from 2011. Now it's time for another special list.

After much debate, the interns in the White House Office of Digital Strategy have decided on their 10 must-see videos of 2011. These funny, memorable, inspirational—and even quirky—videos highlight the best behind-the-scenes moments at the White House and feature sensational musical performances, holiday preparations, civil rights leaders, impressive young Americans, and more.

Take a closer look inside the White House and see the behind-the-scenes footage that you don’t want to miss.

Get Updates

Stay Connected

This email was sent to e0nstar1.blog@gmail.com
Manage Subscriptions for e0nstar1.blog@gmail.com
Sign Up for Updates from the White House
Unsubscribe this email address | Privacy Policy
Please do not reply to this email. Contact the White House

The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111

Weekly Address: Working Together in the New Year

Your Daily Snapshot for
Saturday, December 31, 2011

Weekly Address: Working Together in the New Year

President Obama tells the American people that, by joining together, we can move past the tough debates and help to create jobs and grow the economy in the new year.

Watch the video:

President Barack Obama tapes the weekly address in Kailua, Hawaii, Dec. 29, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Must-See White House Videos of 2011

All week, we've been sharing some highlights from 2011. Now it's time for another special list.

Take a closer look inside the White House and see the behind-the-scenes footage that you don’t want to miss.

Get Updates

Stay Connected

luni, 2 ianuarie 2012

Search Industry Surprises of 2011

Search Industry Surprises of 2011

Tales of the Unexpected

1. We're actually using a social network created by Google

2. MC Hammer announced the launch of a search Engine

3. Google crept in Flight Search and Hotel Search

4. Adobe abandoned development on Flash Player for Mobile Devices

5. Microsoft fixed Internet Explorer (sort of)

6. Anonymous took down Visa.

7. Apple's voice search was xenophobic

8. Exact match domains became more powerful

9. Google stopped providing keyword referral data for logged in users

10. Digg fell to insignificancy while Reddit went exponential

Seth's Blog : On creating a hassle

On creating a hassle

More Recent Articles

duminică, 1 ianuarie 2012

Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis

Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis

sâmbătă, 31 decembrie 2011

Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis

Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis

Correction: Weekly Address: Working Together in the New Year

Weekly Address: Working Together in the New Year

Pagini

Persoane interesate

Arhivă blog

luni, 2 ianuarie 2012

Tales of the Unexpected

1. We're actually using a social network created by Google

2. MC Hammer announced the launch of a search Engine

3. Google crept in Flight Search and Hotel Search

4. Adobe abandoned development on Flash Player for Mobile Devices

5. Microsoft fixed Internet Explorer (sort of)

6. Anonymous took down Visa.

7. Apple's voice search was xenophobic

8. Exact match domains became more powerful

9. Google stopped providing keyword referral data for logged in users

10. Digg fell to insignificancy while Reddit went exponential

More Recent Articles

duminică, 1 ianuarie 2012

sâmbătă, 31 decembrie 2011

Pagini

Persoane interesate

Arhivă blog

Subscribe to