Google wants your website to be speedy
Posted on 29. Jan, 2010 by Dave in SEO
We all know that Google is obsessed with speed. When we made the switch in 1998 from Yahoo to Google for our searching needs we did so because Google delivered better results and it was MUCH faster.
Recently we have seen more evidence of Google’s need for speed – the release of the ultrafast Chrome browser (and soon Chrome OS), the launching of Google’s own Public DNS and the development of a faster protocol (SPDY) to replace HTTP.
The latest speed obsessed products from Google are those designed to measure web page speed.
Speed Tracer is a Google Chrome extension that helps you identify and fix performance problems in web applications. The extension helps you detect the slowest parts of accessing your website — be it javascript parsing and execution, CSS style recalculation, DOM event handling etc.
A new labs feature of Google Webmaster Tools tracks website performance over time. It uses information collected from individuals who have the Google Toolbar installed in their browser to compare your websites speed to the aggregate speeds collected – Google tells you in what percentile your site ranks.
So what’s my point? With the latest Google speed obsession focusing on individual site performance we can speculate that from now on your Google search rankings will be affected by this factor. Meaning that if you want to rank high you must have a speedy website.
Google purchases GrandCentral
Posted on 12. Jul, 2007 by admin in General Interest, Uncategorized
Google recently purchased a company called GrandCentral – A company I had previously never heard of … after taking a look at their website I was somewhat impressed. As a closed invitation only service I wasnt able to test out their technology but basically they are a voip provider with a nice looking suite of web-based features. It’s exciting to think of how Google’s presence will affect the voip market. This is definately something to follow for small business owners.
Missing Adults Google Maps Mashup
Posted on 27. Jun, 2006 by admin in Google, Website Launch
Following the successful launch of Missing Kids Map in May, Ekamtech has teamed up with the National Center for Missing Adults and has launched the Missing Adults Map. As with Missing Kids Map, Ekamtech hopes that Missing Adults Map will assist in finding missing adults.Any feedback regarding this endeavour and the technology behind it is welcome. Please email us using our contact form.Google Maps mashup using data from the National Center for Missing Adults (NCMA). National maps of the US and Canada show recently missing adults and state maps show the missing adults from each US state. Profiles of each missing adult are found by clicking on each map’s markers. Designed by the same people who designed missingkidsmap.com.
Google to Charge for use of Adwords API on July 1st
Posted on 23. Apr, 2006 by admin in Google
<p>In a move that has angered many developers and search engine marketing firms, Google has announced that as of July 1st it will <a href=”http://groups.google.com/group/adwords-api/browse_thread/thread/1344697a36f8607c”>start charging for the use of its Adwords API</a>. Pricing for the Adwords API will be based on a usage fee structure where $0.25 USD buys 1,000 units.</p>
<p>The Google Adwords API allows adwords users with a My Client Center to create their own programs to interface with the Adwords system. Using the Adwords API, developers and SEM Firms have created custom and commercial reporting, automation, bidding anc cross-PPC platform comparison tool that greatly improve efficiency and scalability of the Adwords platform.</p>
<p>From its initial launch, the Adwords API has been free to use and based on a quota system that was calculated for the most part based on the number of accounts one administered within their My Client Center</p>
<p>In addition to the new fee structure, Google is making some changes to their Adwords API terms of use. Rohit Dhawan, Google product manager explains that the new terms of use were needed to “to simplify developers’ abilities to commercialize their applications while at the same time ensuring that advertiser returns are maximized through the promotion of certain functional standards”. Google has made available a <a href=”http://www.google.com/apis/adwords/terms_preview.html”>preview copy</a> of the new terms of use. We will blog about the changes in the new tos once we have had a chance to thoroughly examine it.
</p>
Google Launches Google Calendar
Posted on 13. Apr, 2006 by admin in Google
Google has expanded their empire a little bit more with the introduction of Google Calendar. The calendar is still in beta, but it’s early features show that it is quite a good system. Sharing your Google Calendar is a snap, either as a public or group calendar, and adding on holidays, both religious and regional is just as simple.
The calendar can be configured to be integrated right into your Gmail account, for easy viewing of your events and upcoming holidays.
To test out the new Google Calendar system, find it here.
Google Adwords To Add Bid Management?
Posted on 04. Apr, 2006 by admin in Google
Things definitely don’t move slowly at Google. There are rumblings in the online SEM community about Google Adwords adding additional “bid management tools”. This news, no doubt, has bid management software makers shaking a bit.
It seems this new feature will help you determine the position of specific keywords in your Adwords account. You will be able to activate each campaign and decide for each keyword, where you would like it to be placed. This feature brings Google’s operating methods closer to that of Yahoo.
The cost for bidding on a specific position will be based, as with Google’s typical structure, on the keyword, the position you choose, your maximum bid and, the all-important, Quality Score (more on that later).
Why is this feature necessary? Well, it’s not, but it is useful to those who are interested in holding their position. For instance, if a company wants to hold the 3rd position for their keyword, and are willing to pay for that privelege. If your bid is higher than required to get your ad in 3rd place, Google will lower your bid automatically…which will put you in 3rd position and save you money. In the opposite case, where your maximum bid does not qualify you for the position you desire, your ad will not show, because Adwords rules still apply and thus the Quality Score is of utmost importance.
In addition to specifying a single position, you can specify a range of preferred positions. Again, each keyword is monitored separately.
Our advice is to be careful when using this new feature. Google’s representatives warn that setting your position preferences errantly can contribute to a sharp decrease in your impressions, as your ad might not show in many circumstances. If you find your impressions have drastically reduced using this option, try to broaden your preferred position range and consider making changes to your keyword and your ad, to improve your quality score.
Google Adwords Goes Local
Posted on 04. Apr, 2006 by admin in Google
As many of you may have seen, Google Adwords has very recently added a new Adwords ad format – sponsored local business ads within Google Local. These local business ads appear in google local as a highlighted ad in the results column as well as an enhanced map marker that expands to display your business’s details.Google displays up to three sponsored local business ads per search result page. The highlighted listing contains the business name, address and URL as well as two user-inputted description lines. The map marker denotes the location of the business using an icon that can be chosen (from 11 possibilities) during ad creation. The info window that expands from the map can display the business information in the listing as well as a phone number and 125×125 pixel image/logo.
Having your ads appear on Google Local when a browser enters a relevant query is one way to reach even more customers look for your product or service in your geographic location. Ekamtech has begun to incorporate Adwords Local campaigns into its clients SEM portfolios with excellent success. If you would like more information about how Adwords Local can benefit your business please contact us.