Controversial Search Feature From Google
Google has launched a controversial new feature in the United States that allows consumers to search some popular brand sites without actually leaving Google. How does it work? Well, the results for a brand-specific search on a big online brand such as Best Buy will return the usual info and links plus a new, secondary search box and button that reads: “Search bestbuy.com”. Do that for a certain product type, and virtually all the organic results will be from the Best Buys website. But – and here is the controversial bit – the paid results won’t. They’ll be from any company that has bid on that particular search term. So there’s a chance that the consumer – who originally just wanted to visit the Best Buys site – may not end up there at all. In fact, they may buy their goods from a rival retailer, one that is actually paying Google to advertise. Many businesses are upset with the new search box and a number, including Amazon.com, have reportedly asked Google to remove it. A Google spokeswoman quoted in the New York Times says the company has honoured such requests from a couple of businesses. These companies, however, may not be able to reverse their decisions. "So we ask them to try it out and see if they want it removed," the spokeswoman says. "We think it could be a really useful feature." Search Engine Room: March 28, 2008 Latest News
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Events
Australia’s original search marketing and optimisation event, Search Engine Room, is returning to Sydney with a fresh theme and approach. Highlights include:
Search Engine Room an Australian-owned event that strives to reflect the market in which it operates while embracing international trends. It’s outward rather than inward looking, taking great care to incorporate consumer and marketing priorities into innovative and provocative programs. The program will be launched the week beginning July 21. Informative, educational, provocative and sometimes controversial, Search Engine Room is the leading event for Australasia's rapidly-growing search industry. It's held annually, attracting widespread industry support, and has a reputation for quality content, excellent event management and staging. The program focus is on respected, well-connected speakers delivering topical, relevant information. Search engine optimisation and marketing is well-covered, while broader industry issues are also addressed through interviews with leading search industry figures. There are case studies and debates, plus panels led by informed journos. Audience interaction is encouraged and Search Engine Room always makes an effort to be forward-looking, tracking the latest search and digital trends. Consumers are also given the once-over, enabling delegates to gain a better understanding of their customers. This format has great appeal and delegates come from around the country. Apart from search marketers, marketing managers, e-commerce managers, online business owners, senior management, digital media executives and agency types predominate. Companies large and small from diverse industries are represented. Some have been in the game for years, others are just starting out. A good way of keeping in touch is to subscribe to Search Engine Room News, which is packed with original content and comes out every five or so weeks. If you have any questions, please call Martin Kelly on 612-9882-1575. Meanwhile, here are some images from the 2007 event.
Bookings are now open for TRAVELtech 2008 - Australia's leading online travel marketing, distribution and tech event. This year's theme is the open-ended Year of Living Dangerously? It can be taken a couple of ways ... the obvious: oil, inflation, interest rates and marketing costs up - challenges ahead. But it's also a question, and the good news is there's increasing evidence the online channel may be the place consumers turn at times like these. Find out more at TRAVELtech 2008. Confirmed speakers are listed below, while the latest program has just been posted - it's packed with industry leaders and topical content.
TRAVELtech, founded in 1999, focusses on the latest online travel marketing and web-based innovations. It has a well-established reputation for delivering relevant, high-quality content and excellent networking - more than 300 delegates attended in 2007. If you have any questions, suggestions or would like to sponsor, please call Martin Kelly on (612) 9882-1575. Please visit the TRAVELtech photo gallery to see some photographs from the 2007 event. |
