The Zunch Communications, Inc. (http://www.zunch.com) team arrived in Chicago today to participate as a Premier Plus sponsor of JupiterMedia’s Search Engine Strategies conference. As a sponsor and exhibitor, the Zunch team will be available in booth 305 for consulting and information regarding agency services. Jeff Martin, Director of PPC Auditing and Fraud Detection Services for Zunch will be serving on Thursday’s panel entitled, “Auditing Paid Listings and Click Fraud Issues.” MORE

Terrence Ou Checks in From Shanghai...

Our APAC Business Director for Zunch, Terrence Ou, has continued to keep us updated of his adventures in Shanghai following Ad:Tech on his blog. While we know he's working hard, we're glad to see that he's still having fun!

This time next week we will be in the "windy city" for SES Chicago 2005 ~ December 5th - December 8th.

Always a great time and a great event! Work hard in the day time and play hard in the evening. I had the opportunity to attend last years event and was surprised at how far the conference has come along. Last SES I attended, prior to joing Zunch, was SES Dallas back in 2001.

Feel free to stop by our booth (305) and visit with John Sanchez and other Zunchers!

AD:Tech 05 in Shanghai ended on November 17th. Terrence Ou, Zunch APAC Directory of Business Development, has informed us back at the "mother ship" that the conference went very well and that Chinese businesses are in need of Zunch's interactive search marketing solutions...

With all kinds of applause, respect and glory, AD:TECH marks Zunch's being recognized as the technology guru in China. Chinese major Internet players are desperate to team with Zunch to offer search marketing solutions in this huge market. Certainly, individual clients are also seeking SEO solutions for their web marketing. more

Our friend and Zunch APAC director of business development, Terrence Ou, has arrived safe-and-sound in Shanghai and has been very busy since his arrival. Visit Terrence's blog - a Zuncher in China - to keep up with Mr. Ou.

AD:TECH 05 - Shanghai - November 15-17, 2005 - Shanghai International Convention Center, PRC

Be sure to stop by booth E12 and visit with Zunch Communications' APAC Business Director Terrence Ou. Terrence will also be speaking on Tuesday November 15th about SEO methodology and will be giving a site clinic on Wednesday November 16th.

Very cool tool to help with URL detection --> Yahoo Site Explorer

We have been using this utility extensively since it launched a few weeks back for determining old URLs that are indexed that need to be 301-redirected to new URLs of pages that we are building out.

* This utility is in Beta

Finally...Google rolls out Google Local integrated with Google Maps.

Not much to rave about over the launch of Google local or MSN local for that matter. If I had to choose which search engines local search features I like best it would have to be Yahoo! local IMO...much cleaner user interface, results are more organized, and easier to navigate. Elements that create a positive user experience.

Opinions?

IAC Bows New Ad Campaign For Ask.com

I think it's really cool to see TV advertisements for search engines and even more so for Ask.com.  I have used Ask.com for quite some time now and feel that it's newly added features create a more unique search experience than the other primary engines.

It's like a play-ground fight over who is THE king of the monkey bars only in this case the future of information technology and billions of dollars are at stake. 

This is going to get really good in the coming months!

Microsoft and Google Set to Wage Arms Race

Search engine optimization guru Mike Waltman - aka "SEO Mike" has joined our ever growing SEO team as account executive --> MORE

PROMOTION WORLD Rates Zunch Communications the Best SEO Company

The Top 10 SEO Company Awards are based on the offered services, package diversity, value, customer service, feedback and website popularity of the selected companies. More

Way to go Zunch SEO Team!

Danny Sullivan blogged on this topic yesterday on the SEW blog --> Google Tests New Local Ads On Maps so I thought I would check it out for myself.

My keyword query of choice -- hotels in Dallas

I quickly spotted the textual paid sponsor links in the top left-hand corner...but like Danny and many others who have blogged on this topic...I too don't see the mysterious blue push pins like David Galbraith originally spotted!

IMO...I believe placing some sort of graphical identifier (blue pins work fine) on the map that is associated with the textual paid sponsor links would generate a much great CTR than having just the textual paid sponsor links in the top left-hand corner.

Laura and I had the honor of attending a luncheon at the Microsoft offices in Las Colinas with David Jakubowski (the General Manager of MSN Search) and a few select agencies and coporations from the DFW area.

The main topic of discussion...the future of the MSN AdCenter paid advertising program.

Some very cool things on the horizon for MSN Search and AdCenter is a big part of that!

More to come in the near future!

Just for the holidays...WINDOWS LIVE LOCAL!

May give it a spin but doubt that I will use it much. Still like Google for information gathering and Yahoo! for shopping...that's just me though.

Zunch Communications: Top 5 Most Requested Consultants Profiles for 2005 December

That makes 11 out of 12 months in 2005!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

~ The Zunch Bunch

Yahoo! 'Instant' Search (beta version)

Another utility to make searching the web more efficient (or make us more lazy)

Will I use it on a regular basis...probably not. I don't use Google's 'Im Feeling Lucky' button which is basically what Yahoo! Instant Search is. Only major difference between the two...Yahoo! Instant Search pops up a bubble with the most popular related search term in Yahoo!'s data base (in relation to the search query entered)

I like my search engine like I like my coffee...without cream and sugar. You get my point?! : )

Truveo to battle with the big boys (Google and Yahoo!) in the video search arena!

Very clean format and easy to use. Another new "search toy" to add to my favorites.

Thoughts/opinions?

Truveo Launches Video Search Engine

Ask Jeeves or should I say Ask is 86'ing the Butler icon.

IMO...I don't see the value in doing away with an icon that is synonymous with this engine from it's inception. I like Jeeves (fat or thin Jeeves...no preference here). Could it be that Ask "bit" on a rebranding pitch from the agencies - TBWA/Chiat/Day or Hanft Unlimited????

Here is an idea...take the money that you have budgeted to spend on your new branding initiative and put that money into improving your search technology!

Interesting article in ClickZ News - -> http://www.clickz.com/news/article.php/3528611

It appears that Google is doing some heavy testing on mixing commercial results in with organic results in the SERPs. From what Google is saying...,"the results are not paid listings, saying the demarcated results are a search relevancy experiment."

OK...to see what we are talking about...

Perform a search on "on demand" (without the quotes) in Google and you will see that positions #6 - #8 are segmented out and show pages from Comcast.com (Google deems these as "commercial results"). However, Comcast.com also appears in the organic listings in the #30 postion...oops...the #31 position...oops...the #29 position. Ah...the ever-flux...Jeff and I are comparing our results from two different machines and it seems to vary (I am sure that we are querying different data centers)

This is totally boggling our minds! How does Google determine that Comcast.net should be served up in the "commercial" results and not network websites like Starz!, Cinemax, TMC, etc.? Jeff and I believe that it must be based on Comcast.net's impressions to click-through rates for that keyword phrase. That is IF Google is trying to serve those results based on relevancy.

We know that these listings aren't paid...unless Google is breaking the US FTC's guidelines on disclosure of paid content in SERPs

We agree with Levin and Lee...this could have a major impact on the way we optimize websites.

Eager to see how this unfolds!

Google Software Engineer, Matt Cutts, has launched his own blog. He is sharing valuable information, suggestions, and insight on Google indexing and SEO in general.

Pretty good stuff!

New music search utility provided by Yahoo! Search - Yahoo! Audio Search

Not really SEO/SEM related but a pretty cool way to search your favorite music, interviews, podcasts, speeches, etc.

I guess if you are looking for a podcasts on SEO/SEM this could be a good place to start!

Microsoft Virtual Earth launched this week...very similar application to Google Earth but with a few added features...

Pretty cool application...a lot of the same basic features as Google Earth...what and where search fields, ability to scroll on the map, lables with address/landmark information, aerial images or road map images...all very useful stuff!

The only minor issue that I have with Virtual Earth (and Google Earth for that matter) is the aerial images are outdated. I searched my home address and the aerial image only shows my sub-division which tells me that the image is over 5 years old.

Still...both are very cool tools and it just shows how far technology has come with mapping software.

It looks like we will be seeing a lot more of Virtual Earth in the future...Microsoft is going to open the source code to developers in order to integrate the application into Web site / Web pages.

E-Commerce Solution, Other Wares to Be Shown in San Jose

Zunch Communications, Inc. is once again a premier sponsor of JupiterMedia's Search Engine Strategies conference being held in San Jose, California August 8-11. Zunch has sponsored similar JupiterMedia events in New York City and Chicago. According to JupiterMedia, “Search Engine Strategies is the premier conference series that keeps you informed about search engine marketing and optimization issues. Because this industry keeps reinventing itself at an amazing pace, we assure you that the content will be cutting-edge.”

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) July 19, 2005 -- Zunch Communications, Inc. is once again a premier sponsor of JupiterMedia's Search Engine Strategies conference being held in San Jose, California August 8-11. Zunch has sponsored similar JupiterMedia events in New York City and Chicago. According to JupiterMedia, “Search Engine Strategies is the premier conference series that keeps you informed about search engine marketing and optimization issues. Because this industry keeps reinventing itself at an amazing pace, we assure you that the content will be cutting-edge.”

John Sanchez, Chairman and CEO of Zunch and also the Vice-President of the Search Engine Marketers Professional Organization (SEMPO), says that the Search Engine Strategies conferences have been excellent showcases for the growing line of Zunch services and products. “We've got some incredible new tools that we like to demo at these shows, and the value to us as premier sponsors is immeasurable,” said Sanchez, “The opportunities to meet with others in the industry, while always enjoyable and informative, is second to meeting with companies that have real interactive issues that we hope to help them solve.”

The conference features workshops, lectures and roundtable discussions aimed at educating the business community as a whole and the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) community in particular. Conference attendees visit exhibitor booths before and after sessions and during breaks. Manning the Zunch booth (#501) and demonstrating Zunch products will be Giovanni Gallucci, Zunch's President and COO.

“Gio is a real trooper,” offers Sanchez, “He's usually the first guy on the floor and the last one to leave. He's really the best one to demo our search engine friendly e-commerce solution, zWebCommurce. Since he helped design and build it, he’s very effective at communicating its unique features. At the risk of wearing him out, I'm inviting everyone to stop by booth #501 in San Jose to ask Gio to show you how zWebCommurce works.”

Gallucci says it is the constant problem-solving and unique challenges that make this industry exciting, “As JupiterMedia says, the industry is indeed changing and reinventing itself, and we believe that Zunch is right at the edge of those reinventions, helping pave the way. I really do get a kick out of helping our clients tackle their unique interactive problems and ultimately, grow their businesses,” said Gallucci.

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Zunch Communications, Inc. (http://www.zunch.com) is a search engine optimization, website design and Microsoft Certified application development company dedicated to achieving measurable results for its clients. Top-ranked worldwide in search engine optimization; Zunch Communications is a member of DFWIMA, SEO Consultants, seopros, DFWSEM, topseos and a Circle Member of SEMPO. Zunch also maintains offices in New York City, Orlando and Mumbai.

To compliment Google Maps and "Google Earth" ...Google launches "Google Moon"

In honor of the first manned Moon landing, which took place on July 20, 1969, we’ve added some NASA imagery to the Google Maps interface to help you pay your own visit to our celestial neighbor. Happy lunar surfing. More about Google Moon

* Zoom in to find the lunar secret!

So it's been a little over a month now since Google launched "Google Sitemaps" - the program that allows webmasters, site owners, and SEO professionals to submit an XML feed of their Web pages to Google in order to expedite the crawl-and-index process.

From talking with Tyson and Dan as well as reading SEO blogs and other SEO related newsletters, there isn't a whole lot to be said about the program. In fact, Tyson mentioned that he submitted a feed for his blog three weeks ago and Google is still showing some of the pages in their 'supplemental' results.

Do I believe that Google Sitemaps has inherent value? My answer is yes...IF you have a large dynamic site with hard to reach pages AND updates often. i.e. Target.com, Amazon.com, Wal-Mart.com, etc. If you are faced with this dilemma...give Google Sitemaps a shot...it's free...for now : )

Now, if you have submitted a feed to Google and are looking for this program to boost your rankings...forget about it! This program simply helps Google index pages of your site more efficiently. Improving your rankings in Google and the other search engines takes a lot more than an XML feed. If that's what you are looking for...let Zunch help you with search engine optimization.

OK...we want to believe that several SEO/SEM writers are visiting ZEN-SEM as a source of inspiration / information. Reason for our belief - there have been several articles written in the past month on "How to Not Work With an SEO/SEM Firm", "Why You Don't Rank on Search Engines", and "More Ways to Not Work With an SEO/SEM Firm" - all of these were written after I blogged on, "What Makes a Good SEO Client?".

Are we complaining? Absolutely not!  Zunch welcomes all of our SEO/SEM brothers and sisters and encourage you to visit ZEN-SEM anytime you like. Hey...if any of you are ever in Dallas...feel free to stop by Zunch corporate headquarters for a game of foozball, dartz, or XBox.

Yahoo! Search's second algorithm update has come and gone like the spring rains here in Texas. Much like a summer afternoon rain shower on the Texas prairies, we haven't seen any significant impact - positive or negative, in terms of client's search engine rankings resulting from this algorithm update.

IMO...Yahoo! Search is seeking publicity knowing that Google's recent algorithm update (code name: Bourbon) created a significant buzz in the SEO world. Both updates conveniently made before the WebmasterWorld conference in New Orleans. Strategic PR at it's finest!

So Google has yet another new feature that has created a buzz in the SEO world..."Google Sitemaps"

In short...

Webmasters, site owners, SEO specialists, etc. now have the ability to "feed" Google web pages they would like to have included in Google's indices. It's free to submit but not guranteed. Pretty simple!?

Here is how it works...

You create an XML feed of URL's you want indexed along with details such as when the page(s) was/were last updated and how often the page(s) change and you tell the Googlebot where to find the XML file. NOTE: The XML file (Sitemap) must be hosted on the web server. Pretty simple!?

This is great news for large dynamic sites that have issues being "deep crawled". However, there has already been a report from someone stating that they installed "Sitemap" on their beefy 3200MHz Pentium 4 running Debian Linux and 2 GB of RAM and it caused the server to crash.

I look forward to reading more reports on this when I get back into the office on Monday morning.

Search Engine Watch Blog - Google Sitemaps

I had a client forward an email he received from a company (let’s call them Company X) wanting to place a link on his site and in return they would pay him .60 every time someone clicked on the link. Since I am not familiar with this type of link request / linking strategy, I immediately forwarded the email on to John and Tony asking if they have ever heard of this type of linking strategy and if we should recommend it to our client.

After discussing this internally (with some debate), we came to the conclusion that we wouldn’t recommend this type of linking program because it’s a way of creating artificial links for clients of Company X which in no way benefits our client’s website from a linking stand-point.

Is this the “get new backlinks quick” strategy that will replace the three-way linking strategy?

Came across the recently launched SEM resource Search Brains this afternoon. It is basically an online source for keeping up to date with the Search Engine industry.

My .02...

Good SEM related information including articles, blog posts, resources, etc. that updates every 15 minutes but the format is a bit cumbersome. I would like to see the font size increased and a link to "archived" articles/posts so that you don't have to scroll so much.

I really like their call-out on "roll" of Bloggers so that you can directly access an individuals blog...Tony is working on getting ZEN-SEM on their roll as we speak. : )

I am going to bookmark this one and see how it develops.

I have read several articles on "Selecting a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Agency" but something that we have been talking about in account services is the inverse of that, "What makes a good SEO client?".

Nothing is more perplexing for us as SEO specialists and account managers as a client that...

* Doesn't implement our recommendations for page content, title tags, META tags, alt tags, etc. OR overwrites our recommendations
* Makes changes to their site or site pages without notifying us prior to making the changes
* Doesn't provide access to their site analytics OR doesn't take advantage of our web analytics solution - zWebTulz

Our clients that have the best ROI from SEO take full advantage of our SEO knowledge and proven methodologies. Why wouldn't they?... that's what they pay us for right!?