The Seattle-Search.com Blog

Microsoft has decided that a new manager and management structure may be the wining combination for it to turn the corner in Internet search.

The company has named Satya Nadella, an executive in charge of Microsoft’s line of business software, to head research and development for a new group that will now merge Internet search with the advertising platform through which search generates cash.

Nadella, who will take over by April 19, assumes responsibility for a high-profile, high-pressure part of the business where Microsoft has struggled against entrenched competition.

Last month, more than half of the estimated 3.6 billion U.S. Internet searches were done using Google. Yahoo! was second and Microsoft’s MSN/Windows Live Search was third with a 9.6 percent share, according to data released earlier this week by Nielsen//NetRatings. What’s more, Google expanded its market share by 40 percent in the previous year; Microsoft grew 9 percent.

Medio Systems, the Seattle-based company that provides search technology to wireless operators, has launched a Google-like pay per click advertising product with several top carriers, including the youth-focused Amp’d Mobile wireless service.

The new Medio Mobile Now Ad Network will offer advertisers the ability to purchase text ads that run in conjunction with mobile search results, much in the same way that paid search ads run on search results pages on Google and Yahoo. Like such ads, Medio’s mobile search ads are sold using a Web-based auction, and advertisers pay for ads only when users click on them. In addition, Medio says that its proprietary technology incorporates data from users’ mobile Web surfing habits, making its ads more relevant that straight paid search ads.

According to Omar Tawakol, chief advertising officer for Medio Systems, the new network will initially be focused on direct response mobile advertisers. “Mobile search is a unique advertising platform where advertisers can reach consumers who are actively looking for their services and ready to transact at that moment,” he said. “By providing consumers a click-saving experience that returns actionable answers matched with highly relevant ad messages, the Medio MobileNow Ad Network can drive a much higher ROI for advertisers.”

In addition to the new ad product, Medio has announced a deal with pay-per-call advertising vendor Ingenio to feature its ad listings within Medio search results. As a result of this partnership, local advertisers, which may not have robust mobile Web capabilities, will be able to instruct users to call them directly by clicking on a mobile search ad.

Farecast.com, the airfare prediction pundits, have announced the launch of Farecast Deals, a new service that leverages the science of airfare data and advanced analytics to provide consumers a usable and authentic approach to airfare deals.

No other travel website helps consumers know “what” is a deal and “why” to buy now when shopping for cheap flights. Each day, Farecast utilizes billions of airfares to provide its free airfare predictions, and now uses this data to help consumers uncover cheap tickets from their airport.

“Any website can claim to have the best deals, but many of those deals
are based on marketing, not science,” said Hugh Crean, Farecast’s president
and chief executive officer. “Farecast.com is the only travel website that
uses the power of over 175 billion airfares to help consumers understand
what is truly a good deal and why to buy now.” Read the rest of this entry »

How does Microsoft challenge Google’s hegemony in Web search as an unaccustomed challenger brand? One frequent flier credit at a time. The mighty Redmondites are offering large enterprise customers free service and product credits if those customers promote Live search inside their enterprises.

Called “Microsoft Service Credits for Web Search,” a Powerpoint overview of the program sent to me states: “Employees search the web daily with tools from Google, Microsoft, or Yahoo. OEMs and web sites are already earning credits based on searches that their users bring. Now, your organization can earn credits for Microsoft web searches and redeem them for Microsoft or preferred partner deployment and training services. More searches earns more credits towards the services you value.”

Acccording to the story which broke on John Batelle’s Weblog, the value is non-trivial - the Powerpoint deck estimates companies can get from $2 to $10 per computer annually, plus a $25K “enrollment credit”. For sites that have tens of thousands of computers, that can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars in free stuff from Microsoft. Most large enterprises spend millions on Microsoft services and software each year. It’s not hard to imagine a CFO getting jazzed over savings like these.

The Google Local Business Center has just added four new features for business owners who want to maintain a Google Local Business listing.

You can now:

* Add photos to your Google Maps listing (within the guidelines)
* Add custom attributes to your business listings
* Correct and adjust your Google map marker location, so if it is slightly off, you can move it to the right spot
* View statistics on how many people viewed and clicked on your local business listings

New custom attribute choices include information on price, specialty, free estimate provided, and areas served by default and you can also add your own, such as In Business Since.  The new photo options allows you present an image alongside your marker location on the map.

PublicRoutes.com, a directions-based Web resource, has announced the launch of a complete navigational service for public transportation throughout the entire Seattle area including: King, Pierce and Kitsap counties.

PublicRoutes.com is a handy resource for people who need to get around to meetings, arrange directions for friends, find cool attractions around town, or simply get to and from their favorite coffee shop safely.

Touting recently added features and state-of-the-art, patent pending technology, the website provides users with point-to-point directions for all modes of transportation - from rail to ferry to driving and walking directions.

“From grunge rockers to coffee brewing pioneers, Seattle is a renaissance city that thrives upon its cultural diversity and operates as a central hub in the Pacific Northwest,” said Marc Sellouk, CEO of PublicRoutes.com. “By using PublicRoutes.com a person will save the time and hassle associated with an unfamiliar commute and will be able to find exactly where they’re going without getting caught in the rain.”

Merging multiple city resources, PublicRoutes.com also allows users to obtain information and door-to-door directions to the city’s top points of interest including restaurants, tourist attractions like the Space Needle, sporting arenas and nightlife venues. In addition, the website offers a one-stop resource to search for, compare and book hotels, flights and vacation packages for those visiting Seattle as well as other travel add-ons including car services and tickets to events.

PublicRoutes.com plans to expand to serve more cities within the U.S. and internationally. For more information and to access the new PublicRoutes.com navigation resource, please visit www.publicroutes.com.

America can vote for its favorite finalist at http://www.ideawins.com March 5-10 and the winner will be chosen on network television; prize package includes $100,000, a rent-free storefront for a year, and a comprehensive suite of Microsoft software and services.

Microsoft has announced the four finalists in the Ultimate Challenge contest, the nationwide search for the best small-businessThe Ultimate Challenge kicked off in New York City last fall and nearly 5,000 entrepreneurs from across the country entered with a wide array of innovative ideas. The contest, along with the launch of Microsoft(R) Office Accounting Express 2007, spurred the imagination of aspiring small-business owners. Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2007 is Microsoft’s free financial management software for home-based and newly formed small businesses.

With over 1 million downloads to date, Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2007 is available as a free download at http://www.ideawins.com/. Microsoft created this campaign and contest to show its commitment to helping small businesses and demonstrate its belief that everyone has a great business idea inside waiting to happen; all that’s needed are the right tools. Read the rest of this entry »