While the findings may be somewhat assumed, Microsoft researchers now have quantitative evidence behind “domain bias” in web search, or a preference for recognizable and trustworthy domains regardless of snippet description. The ramifications of this behavior affect SEO, PPC advertising and digital strategy in general. The researchers describe domain bias as “a user’s propensity to [...]

Measuring the success of your PPC campaign is less about CTR and more about how interconnected metrics influence each other.

Google AdWords sitelinks are now available for any advertiser and initial results show an improved click-through rate on premium SERP real estate.

Small business is increasingly turning to paid search ads and the conversions are starting to add up.

Advertisers have previously had the ability to include text ads within Google Image search results but it was just recently announced that thumbnail image ads would become available as well.

GroupM and Comscore recently announced the results of a study looking at the relationship between social media exposure and search behavior. The study’s results showed that users who engage with social media, especially those exposed to a brand’s influenced social media, are far more likely to search for and click on brand and product related terms than users who do not engage with social media.

Forrester recently reported that Search Marketing will far out-pace other forms of interactive marketing in 2009, and is expected to grow by a 15% compound annual rate through 2014.

Back in June we mentioned that Google's product ad format was being tested. Recently, during some routine Googling, I found myself in the middle of one of these tests. Below are several screen shots for a few CPG related searches.

"We have never been a search company." Carol Bartz, Yahoo CEO If the above statement wasn't true over the last fifteen years, it certainly is now. Yahoo is now committed to the content and ad game, forgoing search to Microsoft. This probably shouldn't be as big of news as it was. After all, Yahoo used Inktomi search results to help supplement their directory listings way back in the day. And it was only a few years ago that Yahoo search was powered by Google.

There are countless ways in which search marketing can affect consumer behavior. We've illustrated 50 such "moments", bringing to life many examples and benefits of search marketing to paint a picture of the larger impact it can have.