Google currently running a small experiment of a new ad format!

Email marketers might be very happy to know that Google is testing an AdWords format that will allow Google searchers to subscribe to their emails directly from search results pages. It’s not set in stone yet. This may or may not become widely available to all advertisers, but I’d be surprised if it didn’t open up to a wider set.

Notice the “privacy” link. If you click that, it says, “When you submit this form, your email address will be sent to the advertiser.”

The testing has been going on for a little while, but from the sound of it, it’s expanded a bit. Alexia Tsotsis at TechCrunch shared the following statement from a Google spokesperson:

“We’re currently running a small experiment of a new ad format that helps users sign up more easily for email subscriptions or other free newsletters. This new ad format contains a box within the ad that displays a user’s Google email address (if logged in). If a user chooses to click ‘Subscribe to newsletter’ then the email address is sent to the advertiser directly, which is clearly disclosed within the ad itself.”

Some email marketing firms like VerticalResponse, Constant Contact and AWeber are already using the ads.

While social networking continues to rise, email and search are still the most popular online activities, and these new ads take advantage of both.

Google now auto-pick the appearance of AdSense text ads!

Recently Google announced that they may now auto-pick the font size and face depending on the viewer's screen.

Google said they will "optimize your ad units for your unique site and users." That means, if you selected to use the "default" font option, Google will select the "best-performing option" automatically for you. The "best-performing option" may differ based on the type of user visiting your site, so to determine that, Google looks at operating system and browser and the ad unit itself (language, size, number of ads, etc).

Google said this only will work if you have your fonts set to “AdSense default font family” and “AdSense default font size” selected.

Google+ Hangout!

Nearly all Google’s stupendous profits still come from search and its Adwords programme but the company also seems serious about its latest big venture, Facebook rival Google+.

As Facebook prepares to celebrate its display advertising take heading through $4bn by launching an equally stupendously valuable IPO ($100bn? $150bn?) Google is trying to throw a spanner in the works by promoting its ‘Hangouts’ video chat service on Google+, arguably a whizzier version of what Facebook currently offers.

And, demonstrating its new-found commitment to broadcast advertising, it’s signed up the Muppets to do so.

 

How To Target Parts Of One Website To Different Locations!

Google’s Matt Cutts often posts insightful videos for webmasters. He has recently posted one about the options in Google Webmaster Tools to geo-locate or geo-target for multiple locations. The video is a must watch for webmasters with a site that targets different locations:

 

Mobile Search Advertising is the new Gold mine for Local Business !

There is no doubt that Smartphone’s are changing the way we consume information and navigate through our lives. In an independent study by IPSOS OTX in 2011, 82% of Smartphone users notice mobile ads and 71% searched because of that advertising. The big news is that 9 out of 10 of the people that searched took some type of action as a result of that search.

Mobil advertising trends indicate that 2012 will continue to set new standards. Mobile marketers agree that the time is now to optimize your mobile website presence for both Proximity Marketing & Hyper Local Advertising

If you are trying to drive traffic into your local retail store, restaurant or entertainment venue, nothing works better than the hyper local search ads. Most Smartphone’s integrate the geo IP technology of the device (iPads and tablets included) with the search feature.

The advertising for mobile in Adwords also uses this information to display ads. Therefore your mobile ads are only served to users that are in a close proximity to your business if you have set up your mobile campaign properly.

 

Adwords ‘Dimensions’ Tab to Increase Conversion Rates!

Since the launch of Google’s  PPC (‘Pay-Per-Click’) advertising network, ‘AdWords’, countless reporting features have been added to the platform to give advertisers as much insight as possible into exactly what kind of traffic they’re getting. One of the more recent features to be added to the platform is the “Dimensions” tab.

In a nutshell, the ‘Dimensions’ tab allows users to break down their traffic data in various ways such as the time of day their ad clicks occurred, which search queries triggered their ads to show, the geographical location of their visitors and much more. This sort of transparency is what separates AdWords from most other marketing channels, and the information provided can be used to make intelligent changes to your campaign which results in significant increases in conversion rates.

Now you can download all your search queries!

Google announced a new application, a Python script that lets you download all your search queries available from Google Webmaster Tools.

Google is offering this for two reasons:

(1) They don't have the ability to download search query data via the Google Webmaster Tools API - yet.

(2) They removed about 10% or so of the search queries that show in your analytics when moving to SSL search.

To see details on how this script works, please go to the Google Webmaster blog.

When searching for local businesses and restaurants most people rely on search engines!

PEW Internet recently conducted a survey in which 1087 adults (age 18 and older) were interviewed in both English and Spanish about their habits when searching for local businesses and restaurants. They were asked about both their online and offline searches and which they were more likely to do.

Some 60% of adults say they get news and information about local businesses other than restaurants and bars. When they do:

47% say they rely most on the internet, including:

• 36% on search engines.
• 16% specialty websites.
• 1% relies on social network sites like Twitter.

31% rely most on newspapers, of which only 2% rely on the online version.

22% rely most on word of mouth from family and friends.

8% rely most on local TV, either broadcasts or the websites of local stations.

5% rely most on local radio.

What is more, of the 55% who look up information for a local restaurant, bar or club, the online numbers increase a few percent.

51% percent of people turn to the internet including:

• 38% on search engines.
• 16% on specialty websites.
• 3% on social media (e.g. Twitter).

Of the 31 percent rely on newspapers, 5% rely on the online version.

Local business could use this information to set up local PPC campaigns.  Buy bidding on their own branded keywords and keywords that people will be searching for they can get more customers coming into their local business at a cheap affordable cost.

Google+ brands pages now shows added details in Search results!

Google+ brand pages has been showing in search results for a week or more but when you search for popular brands in Google's search results, if they have Google+ Brand pages - the search results for that brand will add the Google+ information.

The added details include:

• Link to the Google+ Brand page
• Most recent Google+ post
• Most recent Google+ photo

Here is a picture of a search for “Macy's”

Google Adwords now include Offers!

Recently, Google integrated Google+ into AdWords . Now they have launched another ad extension beta for promoting offers/coupons for brick-and-mortar or online stores – Offer Extensions. This new feature allows you to attach coupons, discounts, rebates and more to your ads – integrating Google Offers into AdWords.

As expected, these extensions are reserved for high-quality ads that display above the search results. They will be shown to both desktop and mobile users with full internet browsers.

Now, users have a more direct path to conversion and advertisers have a great, new opportunity to promote their product or service.