• Facebook Messenger Arrives

     

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    Facebook has now officially launched the much anticipated Facebook Messenger app for smart-phones.  Following on from the acquisition of messaging service Beluga, Facebook has redeveloped its existing messenger format to offer users a new and simple platform to send messages to contacts.

    The free app, which is made for iOS and Android devices, allows users to chat and send messages instantly over Wi-Fi, 3G and 4G connections, or via SMS text message.   Given the simplicity and practical use of the app combined with group messaging capabilities, the new Facebook Messenger app will have wide appeal, having already claimed the number 1 spot in the US app download charts.

    In the UK, the mobile messaging market is dominated by Blackberry and whilst Facebook (along with Apple imessenger, due for release in 2011) will bring serious challenges to that dominance, there will still be a place for everyone.  Over the course of 2011 we will keep you updated on the scheduled roll-out of the new messaging applications, and we will keep you informed on the impact they are having on the mobile messaging markets. Follow us now on Twitter for more on developments in search and mobile.

     

    By Julie Ferguson
    Published: 11 August 2011
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  • Google +1 (Plus One) meets the world.

    Google today launched its answer to Facebook’s 'Like' button, by introducing              +1 (plus one).  In Google’s boldest social move to date, the one-click button will allow users to recommend websites and share those recommendations with their friends.

    At present +1 is only accessible to 2% of Google’s English Language users and can only be seen via the google.com engine.  The introduction of +1 is seen by many as Google’s attempt to rival Facebook’s now famous 'Like' button.  Perhaps the most significant difference between +1 and ‘Like’ is +1 buttons will appear on search engine results pages (SERPs), alongside natural and paid listings.  Below is the official video from Google on +1:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAyUNI3_V2c&feature=player_embedded

    Google is keen to point out that recommendations can only be shared within the context of relevant searches, so results will go to users based on their individual preferences, rather than hitting all contacts.  At present +1 recommendations can be shared via, GMail, Google Reader and Google Buzz contacts, it is expected that Twitter contacts will also be added to this later, however the question around Facebook contacts remains unanswered.  

    One answer that is clear, +1 will have some impact on search both in natural and paid listings.  The +1 button will adding a new level of social search to Google. Previously social results had been based on content created by your social network and content shared by social network.  Google +1 will now display results based on recommendations made by your +1 network.  The will impact how natural and paid listeds are displayed through the SERPs.

    With the +1 search functionality already launched, the next step for Google will be +1 integration onto websites.  This is an area where the Facebook 'Like' button has been unchallenged.  Facebook's vast traffic levels has always allowed them to be the dominate factor in social recommendations.  However, with Google's equally vast traffic levels, Google is a now serious challenger in the social space.

    Google has been very clever in its approach to Facebook, rather take the social networking platform head on, it is selecting those areas of Facebook that will improve the social layer of the search engine, recommendation data.  Whilst Google will become a serious player on the subject of recommendation data, Facebook is still a very compelling platform and will undoubtedly evolve to fight off any perspective challengers to its social throne.

    On the other had if Google +1 works, it will improve overall search quality in both organic and paid search.  +1 could Google's most important social product to date and might just enable Google to finally become a major player in social.

    By Julie Ferguson
    Published: 31 March 2011
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  • Google Farmer Update - Is it the end for Article Marketing?

    In our SEO in 2011 blog post, we mentioned that Google was about to deploy an algorithm change that would combat spamming issues on the web.  Earlier this month Google launched the change, which has been dubbed the “Farmer Update”.  From the outset Google made its stance clear, it will no longer support low quality content on the web.  In terms of significance this is one of the biggest changes that Google has made in the last 5 years. 

    The reason this change is so significant is due to the impact it has had on article farms.   Article farms are websites that publish other websites articles for the purpose of article promotion and links back to the originating website.  One of the biggest article farming websites is ezinearticles.com, for years ezinearticles has dominated search results, and in fact it was only in 2010 that it became one of the top 100 websites in the world.  

    Since the algorithm update, it has been reported that ezinearticles.com has lost 80% of its visibility online, indicating that content on this website is seen as weak and of low quality.  Ezinearticles.com is just one of many content farms reporting similar losses, these include, buzzle.com, hugpages.com and squidoo.com.  

    So is article marketing dead? 

    In a word, No! Article marketing is not dead, but the way that article marketing has been used in recent years is certainly dead.  Low value content that is repeatedly duplicated will no longer hold any sort of linking value.  Therefore, the era of quality content is returning to the web, something that Google has always pursued. 

    Unique and engaging content has always held value in terms of search engine success, therefore, webmasters should invest in creating good content for their website first and foremost then promoting that content to the web.  Webmasters can no longer rely on article farms to promote content or gain links.

    The focus should now be on social media marketing to promote content.   Social media marketing is effective and has a higher impact on good quality and more importantly natural links to the website. Using platforms such as blogs, social networking sites and news sites will create a much stronger link portfolio rather than relying low value and low quality linking. 

    Search engines serve users, therefore you have to make your content and articles engaging to those users not just machines.  Content combined with a true grasp of real SEO will give you the best chance of success with search engines.

    By Julie Ferguson
    Published: 22 March 2011
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  • Search Engine Optimisation update for the coming year

    2011 promises to be an interesting year in the world of search engines. Content and Local search will be at the forefront of all successful SEO strategies throughout 2011, with integration of social media and mobile following closely behind. The role of SEO with regards to your website, will not only change but will become vital to your search engine success.  

    At tictoc we are already engaging with search and the current early developments of 2011. Here are just a few to mention:

    Google algorithm update
    Google has long been combatting the challenge of omitting spamming websites from the search index, however with over 800,000,000 spam pages created since the beginning of January this has proved to be a difficult challenge. In order to combat content spammers, Google rolled out a new algorithm change in January. The purpose of the change was to reduce levels of content spamming and bring unique content (purpose written content for the pages on your website) to the forefront. For websites and clients that embrace unique content - search performance will improve. For websites that rely on scraped content or existing content sadly search performance will drop.  

    Unique and engaging content will always be key which is why at tictoc we always recommend that clients invest in original content. For too long, many web-masters have been able to reproduce existing content from the web, however with the latest algorithm changes they won’t receive any benefits from this route. 

    Google local/maps
    Over the course of 2010, local listings became a focus for Google’s algorithm, with more relevant search results related to local services. This has been reflected in search results, with local results forming a more prominent place within the search engines results pages (SERPs). According to Google, over 20% of searches through the search engine are now related to location.   

    Google Local can often appear before natural listings, so all clients should be considering how they adopt Google Local in relation to their business products/services.  Over the course of 2011 we expect to see Google put in place stricter guidelines on Google Listings and how it is used. In 2011, Google Local will be a key driver in traffic and conversions to your website.

    Social media optimisation
    Social media optimisation (SMO) will be a new key phrase for 2011. SEO managers will now take a strong role in leading and creating social media strategies that work with best practice search engine optimisation. To stay ahead in search, companies need to start leveraging social media for scalable and focussed link building efforts. At tictoc we ensure that social media strategies are created in-line with core business requirements for our clients.

    Facebook/Bing! integration
    2011 will prove to be interesting if, as expected Facebook will offer a search function within its own platform. Currently if you do a company search within Facebook and the company does not have a profile or page, you will have to go into another search engine to get the information you want. In 2011 we expect to see the full search function integrated into the Facebook platform, therefore changing the way users will search - this could dramatically change the landscape of search and the 500 million users on Facebook.

    Mobile SEO, no just SEO
    Much has been made of mobile SEO and mobile sites over the past 3 years, with 2008, 2009 and 2010 all being tipped as the years that turn SEO on its head. The truth is, over the course of 2010 we did see a surge in mobile based search queries, however, this will not change how SEO is adopted. Mobile and desktop web browsing are now merging towards a single experience with the advance in smart phones. Website displays are replicated in mobile web experience, thus removing the need for mobile specific versions of websites. 

    Mobile web browsing will have other areas to offer such as mobile specific advertising, however for the most part, the browsing experience will be the same as it is on a desktop. At tictoc we ensure that our websites have the same user experience, whether accessed from a desktop or a mobile device.

    Natural listings wins the war
    Although pay-per-click generates huge revenue for search engines such as Google and Bing! - over the course of 2011, with the search engine updates delivering more accurate and relevant results the focus will be on natural listings over pay-per-click. It is expected that in some areas, clicks on natural listings will improve by 50%. At tictoc we always put emphasis on natural search, and only use pay-per-click (ppc) to boost specific campaigns. Natural search will always provide higher return on investment (ROI) than ppc in the long term.

    Throughout this article, we have focussed on new developments for 2011, however,  best practice SEO methods still apply and your website should be able to compete online. SEO should be at the heart of your website - everything from your page structure, navigation, content, keyword analysis and linking.   Search focusses on everything on your website, without SEO the rest just won’t work.

    We realise that some this is quite complex and difficult to understand but we are very happy for you to get in touch and we can explain things more fully. So for more information on our SEO services or more on this article, please contact our head of SEO Julie Ferguson, on 0141 564 2020 or julie@tictocfamily.com

    By Julie Ferguson
    Published: 8 February 2011
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  • Google Ranking Algorithm Update

    Google has announced a fundamental change to its Ranking Algorithm, from now on, search results will display single brand dominance across its search results.   

    Previously Google search results would only allow two results from the same domain name on the search results page, however last week they made the announcement that they have updated the ranking algorithm to make it easier for users to find a large number of results from a single site.     

    The impact to the search results is significant, as users will no longer have the diversity of multiple domain results, i.e the image below indicates the keywords “espn football” and how the ESPN domain dominates every listing until the last two;

    Google Ranking Change

    This is an interesting development considering only a short time ago Google representatives where talking about the need for search diversity,  this update goes against diversity and allows the larger and more powerful brands to dominate the search results.  

    The new update will certainly go a long way in solving brand management issues as brands have the opportunity to dominate the search results on products, services or information, but what will be the overall impact on search engine optimisation remains a burning question.

     

    By Julie Ferguson
    Published: 23 August 2010
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