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Tag: Google

  • Are Your Keywords Sabotaging Your SEO Efforts?

    Choosing the right keywords to target is one of the most important aspects of a successful SEO campaign. The goal of SEO campaigns is to get more online visibility, more traffic to your site, and more sales and leads. Keyword selection is central to bringing these goals to life.

    MoreThanTheSumOfMyKeywordsImage

    Keyword Selection Must-Haves

    When choosing keywords, make sure they:

    1) Are RELEVANT to your business

    Keywords should answer the questions: What do I do? What products and services do I offer?

    2) Are SEARCHED often

    If the goal is to bring more users to your site, you need to make sure users are actually searching for the keywords you select. Hint: use Google’s Keyword Planner to help you decide what keywords have the greatest search value.

    3) Bring up the RIGHT SEARCH RESULTS that your business should appear in

    You always want to do a Google search of the keywords you are considering. Make sure they represent a search that you have a realistic chance of ranking for and that your direct competitors are appearing in. For example, a bedding store in Mobile, AL might think “Mobile Bed” is a good keyword. In actuality, that keyword brings up national sites that carry movable beds.

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    Your Go-To Keyword Research Tips

    With those 3 items in mind, below are a few tips to use during your keyword research process. Take it from me, comprehensive and strategic keyword research and selection can make or break your SEO efforts.

    1) Be very thorough when brainstorming keyword variations. You’d be surprised how much search value differs for small variations such as “buy gold,” “gold buyer,” and “cash for gold.” The goal is to think of every possible way people are searching for your business and then narrow them down from there!

    2) If you are a local business, be realistic when choosing what geo-modifiers to target. If you are a dentist in Metairie, LA (a suburb of New Orleans), it will be very difficult for you to rank on the first page for “dentist new orleans.” Check out the search results for that keyword, and you’ll see why! It’s best to be practical and start your focus on where you have a reasonable chance of ranking on the first page.

    3) Try and try again! Sometimes you might target a keyword for 6 months to a year and don’t see the results you want. Don’t give up; Google is constantly changing its algorithm, so revisiting your keyword strategy and making changes is perfectly normal and to be expected.

    Do you have more keyword research tips and tricks to share? Leave them in the comments below!

  • Five For Friday – Off With Your Map Packs: Google Changes Algorithm, Yelp Is An SEO Genius, And More!


    1. Upload 12 Second Videos Via Yelp’s iPhone App

    As promised back in May, the roll-out of Yelp’s video review upload for iPhone users happened this past Monday. This update allows local businesses to add 3 – 12 second videos via the Yelp Mobile App. We don’t want you to get confused though, these videos aren’t your typical spam annoyance. These videos are more than just “video reviews”. They offer business owners the opportunity to give their visitors a short glimpse into what their company is truly about (the atmosphere, employee interaction, etc.), and all before ever stepping foot in the business.

    While there is no determined roll-out date as of yet, don’t frown Android users. Your video claim to fame will be coming soon via Yelp’s Android app.

    2. Moz Updates to Local Search Query Triggers 23.4% Drop In Google 7-Packs

    MozCast has attempted to set their search query so that it accurately reflects what viewers are looking for. As a result, the seven map-packs originally provided in search results have now dropped an estimated 23.4% due to the Google Local algorithm change. Some queries, such as wedding makeup, train tickets, bed & breakfasts, etc., seemed to have actually lost local map packs all together.

    We aren’t sure what other changes this update will bring to the table, but we do know that its impact on the search results for small, local businesses has substantially been affected. Overall, it is unfortunately resulting in decreased visibility. All we can do now is wait on the real world results of this update, and come up with a solution to advise our clients accordingly.

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    3. Yelp: Seo Genius or Manipulative Mastermind

    Ever wondered how Yelp, the business review site less formally known as “online urban guide”, could possibly outrank Google in its own search results? Whether it be amazing SEO tactics, pure manipulation, or sheer luck, we suggest that you jump aboard the Yelp train. Go out of your way to claim, optimize, and actively manage your Yelp listing. Whether it is by encouraging satisfied consumers to leave positive reviews on the listing, or just making sure all your information is completely accurate and consistent, glam it up as much as you can.

    Until further notice, a good SEO strategy is having a good Yelp strategy.

    4. What Are You Really Exposing When Logging In Socially?

    We all are guilty of it, signing into websites using social media. It’s quick, simple, and there are fewer logins to remember, right? Wrong. Logging in with social media basically allows anyone to access the map of your road trip through life. Any personal information you have throughout your social media accounts, whether it is public or hidden, can be accessed when agreeing to login socially. While this may not be as alarming to some as it is for others, it can be kind of creepy.

    Whether it stems from attempting to save your precious time for something more valuable, or if it’s just sheer laziness, no one bothers to read further into what they are actually signing up for. Next time you decide to “Login With Facebook”, take a few minutes to login into the nifty Social Profile Navigator created by industry leading social login provider, Janrain. You’ll be surprised at the data you’re allowing these websites to see.

    5. Where Do Your Consumers Leave Their Online Reviews?

    Getting positive reviews can be a grueling task, but is ultimately worth it due to the positive effects it can have on your online visibility. Owner of GetFiveStars.com, Mike Blumenthal, strives to provide insight to local businesses and connect them with their consumers to ultimately create a strategy based on leveraging only positive reviews to increase their online visibility. Mike conducted a study to better understand what percentage of consumers actually take the time to leave reviews, as well as to find out where they prefer to leave reviews online. Out of the 2,671 respondents, a whopping 22.2% admitted to actually leaving reviews at least once a year. Then, they were asked where they preferred to leave their online results. Here are their answers:

    There is no surprise that Google comes out on top, but take a look at who even trumped Yelp, the SEO mastermind and the top business review site. Without even having any designated section to place reviews for a business, consumers prefer leaving reviews on Facebook. Most consumers feel extremely comfortable when navigating through Facebook. Users are more likely to leave a review at their own free will because of Facebook’s non-threatening environment.

    Although Facebook currently has no way of leveraging these assets in a concrete way, we believe that its popularity in the local review space on the web will continue to grow and remain a strong contender in the future months to come. We strongly encourage your business to partake in this natural (and free) SEO strategy — before competitors begin to catch on!

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  • Survive Your Serving of Google’s Pigeon Pie

    Late last week, influencer Erika Karas wrote an informative blog about Google’s algorithm update, Pigeon. The new Pigeon update might make it more difficult for individual businesses to rank among sites that Google deems more useful and relevant to local searchers’ results. Most local directories received a boost in rankings thanks to Pigeon. It makes sense if you consider the fact that when most people search for things like “pizza New Orleans,” they want to see a list of their options along with reviews, making sites like Yelp and Zagat more relevant than just a link to one pizza place in the area.

    So, how can you make sure you stay relevant with this in mind? First, search for common phrases that your targeted audience looks for. Next, see what sites Google is ranking highest and get your business on there with detailed and correct information.

    In the research I’ve done since the algorithm update, these are the sites I’ve found most often: Yelp, Zagat, Urbanspoon, Thumbtack, TripAdvisor, and Yellowpages. For obvious reasons, Google Plus is the first place your listings should be claimed and optimized. Yellowpages and Yelp are also great places to start, because they both have backend business portals that make it easy to claim and update your listings. They also require phone verifications by the business, which makes them more authoritative and trusted by Google. It’s best to provide as much information as possible in these listings and be consistent in the information you provide. Your name, address, phone number, website, and hours of operation should all be the same on your listings as they are on your website.

    Also, look out for categorical sites like HealthGrades, RateADentist, HomeAway, and the like that are relevant to your industry. You might want to look into getting your business on these industry sites, as they will also play a key role in rankings post-Pigeon. In some of my Pigeon research, I noticed our golf and dental clients were affected the most. These clients were pushed down in rankings in favor of categorical sites like RateADentist and GolfNow.

    Although these tips aren’t guaranteed to aid your rankings, they will help keep you relevant and appearing among industry-specific results.

  • “Pigeon” Algorithm Update Released Thursday 7/24/14

    Pigeon: The New Google Local Search Algorithm Takes Flight

    Google “Pigeon” algorithm update pic on Search Engine Land

    Yesterday, July 24th, 2014, Google pushed live what Search Engine Land is calling the “Pigeon” update. SEO sources are reporting that this update is specifically affecting the local search algorithm. This update has further intertwined organic and local indicators, algorithms and results, and it has the potential to affect the rankings of many small businesses.

    Matt McGee said it best on Search Engine Land: “[Update will] benefit big directory sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor — sites that have stronger SEO signals than small, individual restaurants and hotels are likely to have. For those businesses and websites, local search has just gotten a lot more difficult.”

    Small businesses will likely notice an effect on their rankings. Whether the effect is positive or negative is yet to be seen.

    Additional Details:

    • Major directories such as Yelp, Zagat, Urbanspoon, TripAdvisor, and others are seeing increased page 1 rankings and influence in the search results
    • The update has only been released to US English results, but the percent of queries impacted has not been reported
    • Google said that this new algorithm improves their distance and location ranking parameters, and aims to provide a more useful and relevant experience for searchers seeking local results, although it may make it more difficult for individual businesses to rank in the search results

    Like so many of Google’s updates, this is a first pass which will certainly have tweaks and updates as it goes along. In every algorithm update it typically takes a few weeks before we understand the full impact.

    This update from Google plays into a long-term strategy we’ve practiced at Search Influence: Barnacle SEO. Barnacle SEO has been getting a lot of attention lately because of Google’s love of big sites. What we’ve learned, over the years, is that it’s important to be present in all the places Google, and customers, would look for a business like yours.

    Rest assured, like the other updates before it, we’ll assure our clients are well positioned for the future.

    For more information check out these articles:

    Google “Pigeon” Updates Local Search Algorithm With Stronger Ties To Web Search Signal

    Pigeon: Search Engine Land’s Name For The New Google Local Search Update

  • Call Me, Tweet Me (If You Wanna Rank Me) – Google Update Favors Mobile Sites

    UpdateAllTheCrustySitesImageRecently, Google released a blog about the importance of having a modern website that supports modern devices. Google has always put emphasis on the user’s experience. Now, they are trying to avoid sending users to sites that don’t promote a good user-friendly experience.

    Google explains that flash sites will display a warning in their search engine results. This warning can be detrimental to business owners with flash sites, or any site Google deems not compatible with modern devices. If users see this warning in the search engine results pages they will be less likely to click on the site. Essentially, it does not matter if a business’s site is ranked at the top of the page or the bottom; if this error warning is displayed the click through rate will be obliterated and the traffic to the site will plummet.

    How does this update affect you?

    Google is pretty vague in their blog, using Adobe Flash sites as an example and leaving it open ended insinuating that other types of sites may also be affected. Even though Google doesn’t provide a list of sites that may be affected, this should be a wake up call for all site owners. Any business with a website that is not compatible with mobile devices should be prepared to make upgrades. At this point, not doing so can bring site traffic to a standstill.

    Google is not saying it, but sites that are affected by this updated should expect to see their keyword ranking drop as well. With the stress put on user experience, it is unimaginable to think that Google would possibly allow sites that don’t promote a good user experience to rank higher than sites that do.

    Next Steps!

    Google recommends to all sites that don’t support various devices, to make the appropriate upgrades. Google references Web Fundamentals and Web Starter Kit, two resources that can be utilized by Webmaster to make the upgrade process smoother.

    It will be interesting to see how this update will evolve in later updates, and to see its effects on ranking algorithms. Will Google begin to rank sites according to their responsive design? Will they begin to rank those sites with responsive designs higher than sites that don’t? We will just have to wait and see. Business owners with a site that is not does not support all devices should call a web developer straight away!

    Image Source:
    Thanks to Hyperbole and a Half for All The Things image.

  • Five for Friday – LG Hires Bros to Build Brand, Your New Favorite Robot & Google Sees the Future of Eye Care

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    1. LG Teams Up With Bro-tastic YouTube Network for Content Marketing Campaign
    – Advertising Age

    YouTube famous stars known as Dude Perfect are getting more than just views from their unbelievable, athletic trick shots. They have already acquired advertising leads with brands such as Pringles, Nerf, and as of this week, smartphone maker LG.

    LG hopes that by standing behind these bros, they can extend their reach to younger audiences and hopefully create some competition for other dominating brands in their industry.

    Incorporating this “jaw dropping” content may boost LG’s brand recognition, but stealing market share from Apple may be a bit of a reach.

    RobotWavingHandSmallImage2. Say Hello to the Robotic Personal Assistant of Your Dreams
    – Entrepreneur

    Meet Jibo, a robotic personal assistant created by Dr. Cynthia Breazeal, a Boston-based professor and entrepreneur. Jibo is a “family robot,” designed to interact with your household, take photos and remind you of important events.

    Having had a strange personal experience with Siri, I’m a bit skeptical of personalized interaction with a computer. Jibo seems to break the mold, but will this technology continue a pattern of diminishing personal interaction in today’s culture?

    3. Novartis, Google to Develop Contact Lenses to Monitor Blood Sugar
    – Mashable

    Google is currently joining with Novartis, a Swiss pharmaceutical research and sales company, to develop smart contact lenses. These lenses, expected to make their debut as early as next year, will be equipped with blood glucose monitors and autofocus for troubled vision.

    “The promise here is the holy grail of vision care, to be able to replicate the natural functioning of the eye,” Jimenez said in the Bloomberg report.

    As if being “the holy grail” of the internet was not impressive enough, Google is taking it a few steps further and improving health care and the quality of life as well.

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    4. Prototype Improves Mobile Typing by Ditching the Keyboard
    – DNews

    Are you fed up with ineffective, awkward mobile and tablet typing methods? Well, a startup based in Austin, Texas is in the early stages of creating a nonexistent keyboard to solve that #FirstWorldProblem.

    Just as the name implies, the AirType project’s goal is to create a system allowing the user to type freely with no restriction but the mobile sensors around your hands and knuckles. Not only does this keyboard (or lack there of) allow you to type freely, it will also adapt to your activity and begin recognizing your habits, like voice recognition for your hands.

    5. Retargeting Is Flawed; the Future Is Pretargeting
    – Digital Next

    What if ads were designed to service needs that we don’t even know we have? Retargeting will soon be a thing of the past, the future of advertising is our future behavior.

    Most are familiar with retargeting efforts, taking products and services we already recognize and driving marketing for those brands. Marketers are beginning to refocus their goals to be more predictive and create wants and needs we may have in the future. The more information consumers divulge, the more predictive marketers become.

    Image Sources:

    Niek Beck, Moms contact

     

  • Five for Friday – Google Launches Click & Drag for Maps, A New Twitter Record, & Pinterest Gets Even Easier!

    FireworkFiveImageMarketing Land publishes new research on tweet indexing in Google search results. Google Maps rolls out handy “click and drag” update. Why your content needs images to get the attention of engaged readers. The most talked about World Cup game breaks a Twitter record. Big brands begin testing a new way to interact with Pinterest followers.

    1. Twitter A-Listers Are More Likely To Have Their Tweets Indexed In Google Search Results
    -Marketing Land

    It’s official: your tweet will never be on Google search.  A study by Stone Temple Consulting reveals that Google will likely only index your Tweets if you have over one million followers.  After analyzing 963 Twitter accounts, the study found that tweets from accounts with a million+ followers were indexed 30% of the time.  As the number of followers increased, so did the indexing percentage.  Although there were a very small percentage of tweets indexed by Google from accounts with fewer than a million followers, the amount is negligible compared to Twitter’s heavy hitters.

    On the bright side, we can all rest assured knowing the wit and wisdom of Kanye West in 40 characters or less is only a quick Google search away.

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    2. Click And Drag To Measure Distance In New Google Maps Update
    -Search Engine Journal

    Do you often take the road less traveled, only to be frustrated by not being able to measure just how far you’ve gone?  Relief has arrived!  Google announced a Google Maps update this week that allows users to click and drag to measure distances.

    Google might call me a perfectionist, but I’ve already thought of five practical applications for the new feature:

    1. Settle the argument whether you or your friend lives closer to your favorite hangout, and see if it’s truly in the middle (shortcuts finally included).

    2. Calculate how long it will actually take to detour from your road trip to see the world’s largest ball of twine.

    3. Get an accurate distance when Google’s driving directions fail because you know Maple Street is closed for repairs but it insists on sending you there anyway.

    4. Enjoy your next run (or bike or leisurely stroll) sans Nike app and still be able to calculate how far you went.

    5. Answer the age-old question: how far would it be if I wanted to walk in the shape of my name through this park?

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    3. Use Images (Not Just Words) to Turn Your Distracted Visitors into Engaged Readers
    -Copyblogger

    It’s an adage as old as time: a picture is worth 1,000 words. Pamela Wilson makes the very relatable analogy of the oversaturation of words in content marketing to an overstimulated child (if you don’t have kids, think about the one throwing a temper tantrum at the park last week).  We are visual people, so why aren’t we incorporating images while producing content online more often?

    Her tips vary from basic (remember to actually use images and not just words) to creative and insightful (doctor up a purchased stock photo to make it more unique).  Much like the sight of an image itself, lost in a sea of text, the blog is refreshing in its take on reaching your audience through content production.

    4. Germany’s Stunning World Cup Win Over Brazil Is The Most-Tweeted Sports Game Ever
    -TechCrunch

    The spirit of Brazil’s soccer team wasn’t the only thing broken after Tuesday’s World Cup match against Germany; the game was the subject of 35.6 million tweets, breaking the record for the most-discussed single sports game on Twitter. At the peak of the Twitter fury was Sami Khedira’s goal against Brazil to bring the score to 5-0 Germany, which resulted in 580,166 tweets per second.

    The record replaces this year’s Super Bowl, which garnered 24.9 million tweets.

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    5. Pinterest Makes It Easier to Follow E-commerce Brands
    -Adweek

    Pinterest has been busy working towards winning the title “Big Brand’s Best Friend.”  Following the release of its API in November, they’ve now tweaked the “follow” button to make it easier for consumers to connect with eCommerce sites.

    Currently being tested by Wayfair, Whole Foods, ModCloth, and GoPro, the new “follow” feature improves user experience by pulling in the company’s latest pins in a pop-up window instead of taking the shopper off-site.

    As a lover of Pinterest, I say bring it on!  Anything that lets me connect with my favorite brands quicker and more easily is a winner in my book.

  • Google Changes The Way Authorship Shows In Search Results

    John Mueller Post - Update To Google Search Image - Search Influence

    Last Wednesday, June 25, John Muller, Webmaster Trends Analyst at Google, made a pretty big announcement on his Google plus page. In the ongoing effort for a better and more consistent mobile experience, Google has decided to remove authorship circle count and profile photos from search results. Muller said, “Our experiments indicate that click-through behavior on this new less-cluttered design is similar to the previous one.”

    So, essentially the pretty but cluttered results weren’t positively influencing clicks.

    What Does This Update Look Like?

    Basically, the only change is that the author’s photo and circle count is gone.

    Google Search Results Update - Example Image - Search Influence

    So Why Bother With A Photo?

    You might be thinking that this update means you’re now saved a step in optimizing your profile and content to appear in search results. In Google’s News section, however, your photo associated with your author Google+ will still appear. In fact, Google’s support page on “Author information in search results” still currently says that if “you want your authorship information to appear in search results for the content you create, you’ll need a Google+ Profile with a good, recognizable headshot as your profile photo.” You can also follow that link to find steps on how to get it set up properly.

    I’m continually impressed by Google’s consistent updates to improve user experience. Many businesses could benefit from this kind of consumer-centric behavior.

  • 5 for Friday – G+ On Your Phone, Teens On Facebook, & Tips For Powerful Images

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    1) CNBC: This 17-Year-Old Website Devastated By Google’s Panda Update – Search Engine Roundtable

    Once upon a time, there was a woman named Linda Stadley. Her recipes brought so much joy to her and those around her that she generously decided to share them with the Internet. So she created www.whatscookingamerica.net, and for 17 years her recipes reigned supreme. She lived happily ever after until Google unleashed its mighty Panda 4.0 paw and ended her domination of the search engine results page faster than you can say Jack Robinson. Users everywhere weep for her loss of traffic.

    …that website though. The writer of this article says it all with his closing statement, “I feel bad but the site does need a facelift.” Well, yeah. This article speaks to the very nature of Google updates: even though they may not make everyone happy, the goal is to help all users find the best information first. Let’s be real here. This site lacks a lot of the features that make a website useful to users looking for recipes (like reviews, for example); therefore, more useful websites will get better rankings because they give people more of what they’re trying to find. Google would probably reply with something along the lines of “sorry we’re not sorry.”

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    2) Google My Business iPhone App Now Available – Blumenthals

    Do you want Google all up in your business? You’re in luck. Google just released the My Business iOS app (as discussed by Mary Silva). The noteworthy features (for both the iOS and Android app) include the ability to edit your business listings and view local insights. Missing from this app is Google Analytics and Adwords Express. You can also access all the features of your Google Plus account. JUST WHAT WE’VE ALWAYS WANTED, said no one ever. The thought behind this was probably something along the lines of, “hey wait a minute, no one seems to be posting to their Google Plus account, maybe they would if they could do that on their phones?” We will see Google, we will see.

    3) Wait A Minute. Facebook Is Still A Big Hit Among Teens? – Marketing Land

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    Facebook hasn’t been poisoned by moms and businesses? What?! As it turns out, Facebook is still popular with teenagers. Forrester Research released a report revealing that 75% of Facebook users ages 12 to 17 use Facebook once a month, with 28% of this age group claiming to use Facebook “all the time.” Of course, numbers don’t always give the whole story. Yeah, these kids are logging on, but are they actually using Facebook? Who’s to say these kids using Facebook everyday are not just scrolling through the newsfeed absentmindedly? Well, this may be the case, because a niche study reveals Facebook lost to Instagram for the most engaging platform.

    There’s a lot to consider here. For one, how will this trend change in the future? Have teens just been classically conditioned to check their Facebooks like a hopeless romantic checks Craigslist missed connections? Do more engaging platforms have more of an advantage in retaining and attracting new users? Time will tell.

    4) Net Neutrality Protesters Arrested At Google HQ – Techcrunch

    Well, this is a fun one. A group of activists in favor of net neutrality were arrested for protesting outside Google Headquarters. What were they doing there, you ask? The group calls for Google to “stand with us in support of an Internet that is free from censorship, discrimination, and access fees.” The group asked Google, among other demands, to change their homepage for a day to include a link to the FCC petition. You may be thinking, ‘but Google isn’t exactly the bad guy here trying to end net neutrality for all, why are they protesting there anyway?’ And you would be thinking correctly. According to this article, Google declined to comment on the arrests. I can’t blame them, as it seems these protesters might have a classic case of misdirected rage.

    5) The 8 Types of Images That Increase the Psychological Impact of Your Content – Copyblogger

    Quality images matter because they increase user experience. Yes, we know this. The advice in this article seems rather obvious, but there’s something to take away here. Specifically, what makes an image useful? This article proposes eight different types of images that provide users with the information they need. The top eight being: stock photos, screenshots, charts and graphs, personal photos, still frames from popular movies and TV shows, infographics, custom art, and comics. I would like to point out that most of these (except stock photos) could and maybe should fall under #7 “custom images.” I feel this article missed out on the opportunity to highlight the way that custom images serve more of a functional purpose for marketing than non-custom images. An infographic, comic, or screenshot that is custom and directly relevant to your business would obviously be more useful to users than one that is not.

  • Five for Friday – Google Does the World Cup, Pinterest as the Next Big Search Engine, and Facebook Playing Catch Up!

    FiveForFridayJuneGoogle revamps its algorithm, and its Doodles. Businesses are finding their audience on Pinterest more than ever before. Meanwhile, Facebook finally finds a way to mimic Snapchat, but with a catch.

    1. World Cup Google Doodles – Google

    If you haven’t noticed Google’s Doodles this week, here is a recap of the clever, funny, and sometimes interactive animations created by to promote the FIFA World Cup and the many countries trying for the title. Each Doodle changes several times during the day depending on the countries currently matched up. If you click on the Doodle you will also be taken to a live scoreboard of the current game. GO USA!

    GoogleDoodle

    2. PayDay Loan 3.0 Algorithm Update – Search Engine Land

    In other Google news, Matt Cutts has announced the rollout of another update to the ever-changing search engine algorithm that determines website rankings on the results page. This update is primarily focused on “very spammy queries,” which is an extension of the PayDay 2.0 update released couple of weeks ago. The types of queries and links that will be affected are pornography, payday loans, casinos, Viagra, and other similar topics most usually associated with “spammy” links and queries. It’s another great move by Google, an effort to clean up their search results and provide users with only the most relevant, and non-spam websites to choose from.

    3. Four Pinterest Statistic you Need to Know – Search Engine Watch

    As for any business or marketer, you should always know both where your customers or potential customers are, and how they are interacting with you online. Pinterest, one of the fastest growing and most influential sharing sites currently on the web, could give your business just the right insight about their target audiences. You should understand the following statistics before starting a Pinterest campaign:

    1.  Women are the primary Pinterest users, and they out-pin men every day by far.
    2.  What are these women pinning?
      -DIY projects, home decor, weddings, recipes, beauty, fashion, travel, fitness, photography, and many other topics.
    3. Who is your competition on Pinterest?
      -Etsy, Urban Outfitters, West Elm, Brides.com., and Poketo among hundreds of other businesses.
    4. When are these women pinning?
      -Between 4p.m. and 10p.m.

    PinterestStats

    4. Bing Attempts to Predict the World Cup – Search Engine Land

    Using their prediction technology (a combination of team stats, weather forecasts, player line up, and homefield advantage among other things) Bing is attempting to predict the FFIA World Cup! Although it is not a perfect system by any means, Bing is getting a lot of attention for their prediction technology, which certainly is the end goal. If you search for something along the lines of “world cup predictions group b” you can see for yourself how Bing thinks your favorite team will fare.

    BingWorldCupPredictions

    5. Facebook Launches Slingshot App – ABC News

    Facebook has launched the anticipated Slingshot app, which is very similar to the already widely popular SnapChat application. The biggest difference between the two image sharing apps is that there is a “pay to play” incentive to Slingshot. In order to the see the image that someone shared with you, you must first share an image back. The reason behind this feature is so that everyone becomes an active creator of content and images instead of just viewing from the sidelines. It is a clever attempt to force engagement of its users and incentivize overall creativity. As a direct challenger of SnapChat, it will be interesting to see how Slingshot fares in this highly competitive genre of apps.

    slingshot