Google's April fools 2010

I was going about my business fully aware that this was one of the days where we can't trust much of anything. As I searched around I realized something odd was happening in the 'returned in' porrtion at the top of the SERP. Funny fella's over there...

Lol... ok, Star Trek reference, good geeks they be. I kept re-submitting the query to get more;

Funny feckers... and good geeks too! Anyway, I shall keep an eye out for more fun and keep them posted below;

More Google April Fools stuff

Google changes name to Topeka

"Early last month the mayor of Topeka, Kansas stunned the world by announcing that his city was changing its name to Google. We’ve been wondering ever since how best to honor that moving gesture. Today we are pleased to announce that as of 1AM (Central Daylight Time) April 1st, Google has officially changed our name to Topeka."

"Have you ever felt stressed or lonely, and the only conversation you’ve had has been a one sided one with your cat or dog? Well now it could be possible for your pet to communicate back, with an app developed by Google that’s called “Translate for Animals.”"

 

Maps Just Got OCCA

"Language and translation is a major focus of our work at Google because it’s so intimately connected to our mission of making the world’s information accessible to all. Australia, with its highly idiomatic local language, was found to be a perfect test bed for the next generation of language translation technology developed locally in the Sydney office. By synthesising millions of aggregated search inputs from Australians as well as scanning 23 seasons of Home and Away scripts, we are able to Optimise for Colloquial Cultural Articulation (OCCA) - which means our products can now be tailored specifically for the typical Strayan user "

 

A few weeks ago we had a poll that looked to better understand where SEO’s are weakest technically. The front runner in that one was ‘Link Building’. Ok, so we thought we might as well follow that up with a poll on common link building approaches to get a better idea of what was going on out there.

What types of link building do you most actively use?

Was the question and here’s how the answers played out;

1. Content strategy (content/syndication/social) - 21.7%   
2. Social media/networking (social sites/forums etc..) - 18.8%      
3. Foundational (article marketing/directories) - 15.9%     
4. Paid links - 8.7%         
5. Comment links - 8.7%
6. Link bait/magnets (contests, tools, etc..) - 7.2%           
7. Outreach (bloggers, email lists etc..) - 5.8%     
8. Guest blogging (content placement) - 4.3%      
9. Reciprocal linking - 2.9%         
10. Link Wheels (free blogs/social/Squido etc..) - 2.9%     
11. Link spamming (automated) - 2.9%     

Getting Social

This one was interesting in that, probably not all that surprising, social seems to be the flavour de jour. I am personally big on using a solid content strategy in SEO (and for links) but am not as overly concerned with getting actual links from social sites themselves (#2). For me social is more about the secondary links.

Begs the question though, will content and syndication alone garner one links? Or at least enough links to make it a viable first choice?

Hey gang…. I wanted to highlight here in the main blog some developments in the Dojo of late. You see for those that make a 6-12 month commitment we have a wide variety of Sponsor Bonuses from folks like WordStream, Raven SEO Tools, SEM Rush and others (details here). And now, we have even MORE great sponsors coming on board to make the offering well over $1000 in savings!

Here’s our new sponsors;

Majestic SEO Tools – if you haven’t heard of these guys, then it is entirely likely you’re living under a rock. Majestic is THE top link analysis tool out there using a proprietary database.

Link Assistant – are the guys behind the Power Suite of SEO tools and were recommended more than a few times in our boards as one of the best tools out there for managing SEO programs. We simple HAD TO have these guys.

INBOX International – are a great bunch of web design and development guys I’ve known for a few years that have one helluva CMS. And one thing I can guarantee is that it’s a kick ass app from an SEO perspective. How could it not be hanging around a bunch of search geeks like us?

You can learn more about the offers they've given Dojo members on the Sponsors page

A good time to get in!

You might want to get in on the Dojo premium membership plans ASAP as we’re currently considering raising the prices some because of the massive savings we’re now offering. So, if you’ve been considering signing up and haven’t, this is your chance to access the bonuses at the current price point.

I’d like to formally say THANKS to the new sponsors for believing in the future of the Dojo and getting on board. Sign up now!

Historians in Britain have recently made an amazing discovery indicating that Shakespeare not only knew about SEO, he embraced it in his works. This little-known draft of a passage from MacBeth leaves little doubt about his penchant for the search sciences. 

With apologies to the Bard...

"Henceforth be nerds, the first that ever Googled
In such an honour named.  What’s more to search,
Which would be displayed newly with results,
As calling home our topranked site declare
That fled the snares of watchful formula;
Producing forth the ideal arrangement
Of this our phrases and our keywords found,
Who, as ‘tis thought, by links and virulent clicks
Build up our fame; this, and what needful else
That calls upon us, by the grace of Web,
We will perform in profit and in aide."

Who Knew?

	About the Author; John McTigue is co-owner and inbound marketing evangelist at Kuno Creative, a strategic marketing company based in Avon, Ohio. Our blog, "Notes From the Edge" focuses on inbound marketing, social media and seo for the internet marketing world (follow him on Twitter)