Official Google Blogs for Insight

I find the official Blogs are the best resources for accurate and up to date information for all things related to Google and Bing's Search products and services. Google has an individual blog dedicated to each of their properties. Google's Blog Directory is a directory for each official blog including ones for Google Maps, Google Places, The Official Google Blog, Webmaster Tools and more. I always make sure to check each from time to time for the latest information. Usually the Official Blogs either intentionally or unintentionally give insight into best practices for content SEO by displaying proper content writing and format, appropriate anchor text, and overall layout and format for content.

Search Engines Solidify Position as Source of Local Business Info - eMarketer

Search Engines Solidify Position as Source of Local Business Info

Search Engines Solidify Position as Source of Local Business Info - eMarketer

Asked about frequency of usage, most demographic groups agreed that they turned to search engines most often to find local business information. A majority of those ages 18 to 34 preferred search, as did a plurality of respondents ages 35 to 54. Among older users, yellow pages—and even print yellow pages alone—beat out search engines like Google.

HOW TO: Optimize Text Ads for Search

Search Engine Marketing

Mashable interviewed Search Engine Optimization Specialist Michael Gold, co-founder of Midtown SEO, for a great article on Search Engine Optimization and more specifically Search Engine Marketing. I have to admit, I had a slight smirk on my face after reading the article. Michael clearly outlines SEM strategies, how and why they work and the value it brings to a company.

Search is such a heavily underrated and misunderstood part of Marketing. It's practical and economical and when done correctly gives great ROI and influences the bottom line. Just think about it for a sec. Google is one of the most visited websites in the world. People often use search when looking for a service or product. If you're able to go into the mind of the average Search consumer and use keywords targeted to their search as well as create an ad that specifies exactly what the User is looking for, you've applied the basic underlying strategy of marketing - bringing together a business and consumer.

Here's the Mashable article