Posted by Riccardo Campaci @ May 12th, 2008 in Marketing Analysis

comScore.com has recently released the March 2008 statistics for European search engine market share. Google’s figures are very impressive: according to comScore.com data, nearly 8 out of 10 search queries originate from Google’s web site. Google currently has 79.2% of the search market share in Europe, meaning that we can talk about a unopposed monopoly of the Mountain View-based company.

Surprisingly, as number two in the EU market (not an entirely “official” number two) is eBay, but its not even a downright search engine. However, eBay holds the number two position and its market share is ridiculous compared to Google’s percentage. The auction site is just at 3.1%. But the worst has yet to come, following in number three we have Russian search engine, Yandex, whilst Yahoo! has only 2.0%, followed by Microsoft, at 1.9%.

These statistics are pushing me to two conclusions. Number one, in Europe Google seems really invincible: there is no competition, which leaves Google as the unquestioned leader in online search and it is the main door for European users to get connected to the Internet. The fact that eBay holds the second place, considering it does not qualify as a search engine as does Yahoo! Search and Live Search, it is definitely an aspect that strongly underlines Google’s leverage.

Secondly, the EU search market looks very different from the U.S. market mainly because here in Europe, Google’s competitors are not able to offer a valid alternative to surfers. Personally, I think this is the point: if we compare Yahoo.com’s services with correspondent ones on Yahoo.it, Yahoo.fr and so on, we will find that non-U.S services show several flaws.

Popularity: 28% [?]

Posted by Manuela Barreto @ May 9th, 2008 in Media News

Tomorrow May 10th, 2008, the first European WordCamp ever to be organized will take place in Milan, Italy. This one-of-a-kind initiative will be hosting one of the most important names behind the highly reliable blogging platform existent today, Matt Mullenweg from WordPress.

Tomorrow’s journey will be divided into three stages. First one being an outdoor talk amongst participants, hosts and Matt. Followed by a lobbying session where everyone will be accommodated into seats and tables and finally the formal WordPress video presentation, which I assume will be led by Matt himself.

A group of us at 77 will be assisting such event, we hope to come back to you with pictures and further updates regarding the outcomes of the I WordCamp/European WordCamp 2008.

This event is being hosted by Guglielmo, LinkLift and Internetpinstore.

Popularity: 24% [?]

Posted by Manuela Barreto @ May 9th, 2008 in Display Advertising

Tremor Media, the leading online video advertising network has launched its next generation Video Monetization Platform, Acudeo. Tremor Media has become a handy tool for Web publishers that are ready to grow their business through online video and rich media banner advertising. This updated version has currently incorporated Google’s AdSense for Video into the Acudeo platform.

Acudeo is the practical and innovative alternative to the many complexities involved in the delivery of video ads. It provides a solution that allows publishers to easily incorporate Acudeo’s superior functions to their already existing video applications which help maximize revenue and in turn allows advertisers to create spiced-up, eye catching ads that cut through the clutter, leading to web traffic increase.

Streaming video is finally making a difference in todays online video tendencies. Demands are increasing thanks to the advanced technologies presented by Acudeo which due to its media expertise, soothes the many challenges evident to selling online video advertising.

Acudeo allows publishers and advertisers to develop effective campaigns by displaying an array of options to program execution, tracking, reporting and planning. Furthermore, campaigns can be categorized and specifically oriented through using behavioral targeting, contextual targeting, standard channels, geography, operating system, and even connection speed, all these which guarantee reaching ‘your’ specific audience, thus delivering more accurate results. Visit Acudeo to see examples of in-stream and in-banner videos.

Popularity: 23% [?]

Posted by Manuela Barreto @ May 8th, 2008 in Other Marketing

Nike has aggregated a new member to the family. It has developed a new gadget that traces, records and displays your running experience. The Nike+SportBand wrist device is the new way to get connected with your run and track your progress all at once. Reminds me a little bit of the FiatEco Drive concept. Part of the idea the Nike+SportBand offers is an alternative for those individuals who find the thumping of their footsteps stimulating while running rather than listening to music on an iPod.

The way it works is, there is a sensor chip you throw into your shoe which is highly sensitive to movement, therefore, it is what will read and record every step you take during your entire routine. At the same time, there is a wrist band that comes with it which will registered all the data taken in by the sensor. Hence you’ve got the sender and the receiver. As part of the data collected by the device, it can also translate speed, elapsed time, distance and calories burned.

Basically, you’ve got your own personal trainer on your wrist. Next step after your run would be to detach the Nike+ Link from your wrist band and plug it into a USB on your personal computer. Go into nikeplus.com and upload the information. This will display your entire routine along with a recommended training program as well as the option to set your own goals. At nikeplus.com you may opt in to sharing your records with the whole entire Nike community and challenge fellow runners from all parts of the world.

In addition, when you’re not running, the Nike+SportBand displays the time of day, together with a review of your last run and total mileage for the week.

Popularity: 26% [?]

Posted by Riccardo Campaci @ May 7th, 2008 in Search Engine Marketing

Google AdSense is probably one of the most revolutionary products in Big G’s history: together with AdWords, it is without a doubt one of the most important Google tools. While AdWords is the perfect technology for advertisers, AdSense is publisher oriented… and in this case we are talking about EVERY publisher. That’s the power of AdSense: its easily used by everyone.

AdSense was originally developed by Acquires Applied, a Santa Monica based company acquired in 2003 by Google. Soon after, Google rolled out AdSense, thus iniciating a new revolution in contextual advertising.

The mechanism behind AdSense is as simple as it is smart; every webmaster can use an advertising space for displaying Google ads (text ads, banners or video ads). The only requirement is inserting a javascript code into the site, choosing a media format for the ads to be displayed on and that’s it!

The webmaster will be paid for every click on the ads displayed: the publisher earns from clicks while the advertiser has the opportunity to find an appropriate space inside Google AdWords network.This network includes the content targeting network, where ads are automatically and contextually placed, and the placement targeting network, where an advertiser can choose the website where his ads are going to be displayed in.

Google’s Network reaches a vast audience, meaning that every advertiser should think about taking advantage of AdSense using the content network and the placement network offered by AdWords.

As for most of Google’s tools, AdSense’s success is also determined by its concept, since it’s easy to understand and easy to use by everyone: it is not necessary to be a geek. To implement AdSense into a website, a user should just sign up for a Google AdSense account and copy the few code lines provided by Google into the website itself. In few minutes everyone can be a publisher and can start to earn from website traffic.

Popularity: 27% [?]