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.

Google's Search, plus Your World

Google branded "Search, plus Your World" using the slogan "Your photos, your friends, your stuff."

Google Transforms and Unites the Web

I imagine in the next few years Google will slowly transition the entire search experience into a social experience. Currently, there are two broad categories of user experiences on the web. Search or searching for information (the active experience) and Receptive or receiving information (passive experience). These two categories symbolize how the average person behaves when using the web. We either seek information or listen to and absorb information. Let's talk about social networks! Acquiring information through social personas or community voices receptive behaviors.

Social networks represent the receptive, listening and sharing oriented activities on the web. You receive and respond to information in a variety of ways: subscribing to an RSS feed, reading a friend's status update or following your favorite celebrity for the latest news. This active listening portion of the web is devoid of searching for information but involves listening and reacting to the voices of a community.

Search is an entirely different experience that I don't foresee going away, it will only evolve. Google dominates search. Search is the other half of how I categorize internet behavior. It involves seeking answers to your questions and queries. As internet users spend more time on Social networks, Google foresees the shift from acquiring information through search to acquiring information through Mavens or community experts via social networking.

The Share(d) Experience of the Web

For the past couple of years social networks have been flourishing with the concept of allowing people to share information they find on the web. Google is changing the way we use search and social networking by foregoing leaving your current network to share. Why share information to a different network? Social networks shouldn't become streams of aggregated data from other sources. Social networking is community. Search is finding information. I believe Google wants to transform the web by reversing current browsing habits and behaviors. The share(d) experience of the web will become part of Google's open network of +1 recommendations, personalized search, sharing and expanding your network Circle all from the SERP (branded within the same network).

With Search, plus Your World and Google+ - Google makes the Search engine itself a universal and open network. Log-in to your Google account and do a search for a general query. Immediately you'll see images, recommendations, items your friends have shared (or +1'd) and you have the option to either email, further the discussion further on Google+ or share to your social network of choice. Ultimately, the goal is for the web experience to start at search and Google has visions to keep it there. Your photos, your friends, your stuff!

18 things you need to know about SEO by Bing

Bing's 18 things you need to know about SEO is a great article which outlines the basics of SEO strategy. More in-depth knowledge and intuition is required for keyword research and link building but the article is a great resource from a credible source.

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