Nov
18
Google Adds Hierarchy Display To Search Results
November 18, 2009 | 2 Comments
Before:
After:
“Google usually shows a green web address, or URL, at the bottom of each search result to let you know where you’re headed. Today we’re rolling out an improvement that replaces the URL in some search results with a hierarchy showing the precise location of the page on the website. The new display provides valuable context and new navigation options. The changes are rolling out now and should be available globally in the next few days.”
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/new-site-hierarchies-display-in-search.html
Nov
3
Yahoo to Add Real-Time Search Results
November 3, 2009 | 3 Comments
I’m not exactly sure how great this is, but:
“Unlike traditional Web search results, which are ranked largely by analyzing what sort of Web pages link to a particular Web page, OneRiot’s search results are based on the links that people are sharing in real-time through services like Twitter and Digg and other data. Searching OneRiot for “Michelle Obama,” for instance, may bring up a link to reports about her recent Halloween costume instead of a link to her biography on Wikipedia.”
I think a link to her biography on Wikipedia is more valuable to a person searching just the name rather than her recent Halloween costume. Sounds like a bunch of crap to me, but I’m not going to completely trash them before getting more information on it.
Oct
1
Percentage of Internet Users Clicking on Display Ads Down by 50%
October 1, 2009 | 9 Comments
New study is out that says internet ad clicking is down by 50%.
The percentage of U.S. Internet users who click on display ads has fallen 50 percent in the last two years, according to a study by comScore, Starcom and Tacoda. (link)
The big takeaway from researchers is that display ads should be measured by something other than click-through. Shelby Bonnie, former CEO of CNET, agrees and laid out a few ideas on TechCrunch.
Sep
26
ParkingPanel.com Shuts Down Early? Frustrated as Hell… Can’t Login!
September 26, 2009 | 8 Comments
Update: No, no ‘real’ updates. Parking Panel hasn’t been working since this post and now they have a “Now part of Sedo” placeholder. Sucks. E-mailed them, but no response. Got the e-mail of someone higher up, but again, they flaked on me. Ridiculous.
It was reported that Sedo has recently acquired domain parking provider Parking Panel a couple days ago. As a Parking Panel user, I knew I needed to get my Parking Panel domain situation figured out and most important get my stats for the year for tax purposes before they shutdown.
Well, to our convenience, it looks like the plug has been pulled early. I can no longer login to my Parking Panel account. GREAT! So much for the notice they sent:
After September 30, 2009, the ParkingPanel.com platform will no longer be operational. When you visit ParkingPanel.com.com after this date you will see a transition page with a link to Sedo.com. To secure a copy of your parking statistics please call or email ParkingPanel.com this week. Your portfolio statistics will not be transferred to Sedo.
I’m not sure why, but things in the domaining industry have been going downhill. I have registrars that refuse to answer my e-mails (can’t unlock domains so I can transfer them out–their phones are disconnected and support is non-existent), ICANN doesn’t answer their complaints about registrars, domain parking customer support has SERIOUSLY went down the drain. In specific “ND” hasn’t been answering important e-mails regarding their platform and I have a group of domains that have been on “Ownership Review” for OVER A WEEK already. They don’t seem to care!
Well, I guess this was more of a I’ve-had-a-long-week vent post regarding some things. Things have seriously been ridiculous lately. Professional service is something of the past for most companies.
Sep
12
WTF is Twitter And How Do I Use It?!
September 12, 2009 | 8 Comments
I’ve been asked by a couple people why I have a picture of a bird on the blog ( ::grin:: ), so I figured this mini post might be a bit helpful to those that are just wondering what the hell Twitter exactly is.
First off, in the easiest way I can possibly put this, Twitter is a website where you have people “follow” you. Once others are following you, you can update them on what it is you’re doing… whenever it is you’re actually performing the update. Are you going to the movies? Maybe for some odd reason someone wants to know… update your Twitter status! Going out shopping? Let them know! This day in age, people are putting their whole life on the spotlight and giving people access to this information. It’s something that some might not understand, but… AT TIMES it is in fact helpful.. like if a friend visits you at the grocery with coupons…? (it could happen!)
Wikipedia’s definition of Twitter:
Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters displayed on the author’s profile page and delivered to the author’s subscribers who are known as followers. Senders can restrict delivery to those in their circle of friends or, by default, allow open access. Users can send and receive tweets via the Twitter website, Short Message Service (SMS) or external applications. While the service costs nothing to use, accessing it through SMS may incur phone service provider fees.
Although I don’t really “Tweet” often, I do check these updates of the people I’m following. At times you can get interesting information, and see different conversations between people. Great way to get insight and different opinions on some things.
Here’s a great “How-to” Twitter video. Visuals are probably the best way to explain, so watch if interested:
There’s also a Twitter help page here.
Services have also been made, such as TweetScan, to help you find different tweets easily about a particular subject. Maybe you feel like seeing what the general opinions are of an event taking place in the world… it can be possibly with tweets. If you have a blog, you can also take advantage of your blogging and post links onto Twitter to try to pull in more traffic. Sites like TwitterFeed help with some of this. Sometimes the services get cooler. At TwitterVision you have a map of the world and you can see tweets in real-time and they pop-up on the map depending where the person updating their status is from.
I personally have some friends addicted to being on Twitter and others that might not understand what it is. Sort of late in the game posting this, but instead of having to explain to someone, I can just send them over a link 
.