Would You Outsource Your Search Marketing Activity to a Third Party?

This seems to be a topic for debate at the moment. Julie Batten of Klick Communications wrote a pretty convincing article on ClickZ last month, in which she talked about the integrated structure that an agency could offer, bringing to the table expertise that could only be replicated by hiring an entire team in-house, which for 99.9% of businesses is not an option. She also talked about the increased return on investment (ROI) that could be achieved by outsourcing, along with the fostering innovation, reserving capital and time saving that can be invested in focusing on your core.



Despite the overwhelming argument outlined in the article and multiple other articles out there, there is still much resistance from business owners to let go of their PPC and SEO efforts for reasons that don't necessarily make sense to me. Okay, I can understand that some company's may have had their fingers burned by hiring a shady company, however, there are plenty of legitimate Search Marketing specialists and PPC shops, with a great reputation of delivering upon their clients objectives. So, given a little bit of research this issue can be avoided and the argument should not stand.

The bottom line is this: If you have a tooth ache, you go and see a dentist. If you need your can fixed, you go to a mechanic. This should not be any different with marketing.

Search Marketing is important and the difference between success or failure in this area could make or break a company. With that said, I can not understand why this is even a debate.

I would love to hear from you with your outsources experiences, good or bad. Sphere: Related Content

Google Facing Lawsuit Over 'Android' Platform

Illinois based software development company, Android Data, has filed a lawsuit against Google and other company's for what it say's is an act of "steeling first and asking questions later".

Google is among 48 international corporations being sued for infringing on the use of Android Data's trademarked name, for which it has owned for over 6 years. The company is seeking a total of $96 million or $2 million for "each use of the trademarked term by each defendant." in compensation.

Along with Google, well-known international organizations such as, Vodafone, T-Mobile, Motorola and Texas Instuments are accused of the trademark violation.



According to sources, Google left themselves exposed to potential legal problems in October of 2007 when it's original application to trademark Android was denied. Since then, it has filed objections and asked the Trademark office to suspend the trademark until further clarification of its use could be determined. The reason for the denial was because "consumers are likely to conclude that the goods are related and originate from a single source." But in Google's rebuttal, the Register reported that Google said that the "Android Data" trademark hadn't been used for more than three years, that the company has been dissolved for more than four years, and that there couldn't be any confusion between the two names.

Despite the suspension, which was granted by the US Patent and Trademark Office, Android Data has decided to pursue the case.

We will keep you posted of developments. Sphere: Related Content

Bigmouth Strikes Again

Bigmouthmedia has been named the UK’s number 1 SEO and PPC agency in the New Media Age Marketing Services Guide 2009.

Widely regarded as the definitive guide to Britain’s digital marketing landscape, the NMA league table is ranked on income, with bigmouthmedia’s range of big brand client wins, cross-channel expertise and experienced management team cited as being key to the company’s industry-leading status.



Highlighting the international expertise offered by bigmouthmedia’s offices in the UK, US, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, France and Spain, New Media Age attributed the company’s success to an unequivocal impact on clients’ bottom lines: "The increased investment in search during the recession reflects the drum beaten by specialists and search pioneers over the past decade: that it’s an incredibly effective, cost-efficient and wholly trackable marketing discipline"

Citing the latest available research, the guide’s editors expect to see further growth in the year ahead. According to the recently published 2009 UK Search Engine Marketing Benchmark Report, half of Britain’s senior marketers are set to increase their online budgets over the next 12 months.

The 2009 guide pointed to bigmouthmedia’s retention of British Airways’ combined PPC and SEO campaign - together with winning both the Sky and Europcar accounts - as the highlights of another successful year for the UK business. Editors also noted the launch of the agency’s Online PR division and a raft of high profile executive appointments. Sphere: Related Content

Google gets the Flu!

With the number one subject being on everyone's lips and minds over the past few days, being Swine Flu, Google, Wikipedia and other web properties are really benefiting from the curiosity and morbid fascination surrounding the fast-moving epidemic.

"As the number of swine flu cases continues to climb, so does public interest in the (flu) outbreak. Americans are looking for more information on the outbreak and specifically for symptoms to look out for," said Heather Hopkins, analyst for Hitwise, which tracks Internet usage.

Online searches for the phrase "swine flu" during the past week have sent millions of Internet users to Wikipedia, Google and other websites according to online tracking experts.

Although Barack Obama and other senior government officials are suggesting that this is not a time to panic, it is clear that the heightened sense of alert being driven by the extensive coverage of the mass media and school closures across the United States is turning people to search engines to find out all they can regarding symptoms, vaccines, number of cases and the effect on their communities.

Meanwhile, has released an experimental version of Google Flu Trends to track the spread of the swine flu in Mexico. Google on Monday said flu activity remained low, as seen by its flu-tracking system, but the country-specific version published Wednesday shows a spike in flu activity.

Google says it is able to track swine flu levels in Mexico bylooking at how many people search terms such as "aches and chills."

Google is cautioning they haven't yet been able to verify the data.

An expansion to their existing flu trends tool for the U.S., Google says its data showed a small increase in many parts of Mexico before swine flu hit the news last week.

Jeremy Ginsberg, the lead engineer for Flu Trends, says his team is looking at the potential to use the approach in a number of other countries.

Ginsberg says Flu Trends is able to distinguish people just searching for information on swine flu from people who think they may have the flu.

Some of the search terms they look for include stomach problems, aches and chills and searches on where to buy a thermometer.

"For Flu Trends US we found a set of terms that, going back a number of years in different places across the U.S., really matched," Ginsberg said in a conference call Wednesday.

"The popularity of these terms increased exactly when official surveillance data said more people were experiencing flu-like symptoms."

Although this technology is very young and unproven, it really does show that by capturing and analyzing certain search data, it is possible for Google, working with government and the World Health Organizations to better equip themselves in the prevention or limitation of epidemics like Swine Flu Sphere: Related Content