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In what could be a preview of an impending battle between Facebook and Google in the coming days, Facebook has beaten Google as the most visited website on both Christmas Even and Christmas Day, says a tweet from Hitwise’s Twitter account. It was the first time that Facebook become the number one site during Christmas Day. Last year it was Google as the most visited site with Facebook closely following behind. But come to think of it, it is not surprising for Facebook to be visited more both during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day since majority of people are spending their online time during those days probably greeting their Facebook contacts, sending Christmas wishes and greetings to their loved ones, friends and family who are not with them on those days. Facebook after all is more of a communication tool than Google. What made the event surprising was due to the fact that Facebook has been lagging behind both Google and Yahoo! Mail all through out the year in terms of site visits. It only goes to show that email is a thing of the past during these days, as Facebook and perhaps other social sites like Twitter are the more preferred ways of communicating online especially during special occasions. Most importantly it is also quite surprising that online users still visited Facebook despite the slew of privacy issues that came out during the year. Check out the SEO Tools guide at Search Engine Journal . Facebook Beats Google as the Most Visited Site on Christmas
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It’s Christmas Eve, or the Night Before Christmas, and the time has come again to track the route of Santa Claus as he travels the globe, bringing presents to the good boys and girls. Want to track Santa’s whereabouts on Christmas Eve? Here are the online tools you need. Official NORAD Santa Tracker NORAD continues it more than 50 years tradition of tracking Santa’s whereabouts especially on Christmas Even. Read more about why NORAD tracks Santa as well as spirit of voluntarism during this event. Google
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Every year as the holiday shopping season ramps up, people ask me the same question over and over again “ What do you want for Christmas this year? ” I consider myself a pretty simple fellow, and always have a difficult time answering this question for a couple of reasons : one because I’m not used to getting gifts, and two because most of the gifts I receive I never use, and they end up in my misfit toy chest, packed away somewhere with my mini-DVD camcorder, PSP, iPod Shuffle, collection of hats too small for my enormous head and other stuff I just do not use or is outdated. Then I think about the stuff I really want, like the new Rolls Royce Ghost or a HAL Robot Suit , and as those items are just way too over the top, I keep my mouth shut, go into “aww shucks” mode, and end up with a giftcard or something. So while the rest of the world is busy preparing a wish list for Christmas (or the winter holiday of choice), I got to thinking about how SEO is not just a job, but also a way of life, and how us “Google nerds” had better be smart in wishing for things you want this year. And if you play your cards right and ask Santa for the right things, your next year in SEO could be an easier passage. So I’ve made a list of 5 things that I believe can help me, in the coming year, to retain my sanity as well as my hair, and improve my standard of SEO life. 1. Verizon MiFi The Mifi is one thing that I definitely want from Santa this Christmas. For the (un)blissfully unaware, the Mifi is a tiny portable device that can convert incoming 3G signals to a small Wi-Fi network which can then be accessed by my laptop, notebook or tablet. MiFi’s are basically mobile hotspots, that I own and control, and keep me online almost anywhere the Verizon network has connectivity (sorry AT&T). The Mifi is, actually, a battery powered modem that you can use to latch on to WiFi networks using a simple Wi-Fi radio. What this means is that now I don’t have to worry about signal drops or connectivity issues as long as this gadget is in my pocket. The Orioles have moved their Spring Training home to Sarasota, which is about an hour from Search & Social’s Tampa office, and I forsee myself attending many Spring Training games and working on location. Furthermore, with all of the travel people in this industry seem to do, this tiny gizmo in my pocket can put paid to a lot of worries at conferences, where wireless connections are always an issue. 2. Subscriptions to Inc, Fortune, Wired, Webmaster Magazine I spend a lot of time in front of the computer, but when I’m away from the screen, like on Sundays, I enjoy reading or watching business related media that sparks my interest and can also get creative biz ideas flowing. This may sound lame, but I like to sprawl out on the couch on Sundays, put football on, and thumb through Inc. and Fortune. Sometimes at work I’ll go eat lunch away from my desk and flip through Wired. Every once in a while I’ll come across an SEO related story, which really gets me excited, almost as much as the time I heard NPR report on Yahoo dropping Google search earlier in the decade. That stuff just gets me excited. What’s kind of nice is that magazines like Fortune, Wired, Webmaster Magazine and Inc don’t cost much if you get a subscription (I suggest Subscription.com ), and they are all vital sources of information. The ROI is huge! Mix the magazines with episodes of Shark Tank & CNBC specials, and you’ve got a recipe for success! 3. Head Massager Like I said earlier, I’ve been losing quite a lot of hair, lately, probably due to the brainstorming sessions we have here at Search and Social, working across from Dave Snyder and simple genetics. This one makes my wish list because it promises me the elixir I’m looking for to regain my lost hair, youthful looks and sanity. Skeptics might argue on this one, but I’m going to include this in the wish list, because, even if I don’t stop losing hair, I can, at least, go to sleep earlier with a soothing massage. Furthermore, head massagers can really be great in the middle of the day, when you are starting to get your headaches or eyes are hurting from staring at the monitor, slap one of these babies on your head and relax for 10 minutes, dreaming of links & rankings. I suggest the Head Spa Massager as featured in Skymall, another one of my favorite magazines. 4. Google Socks This might come as a surprise to many of my friends, peers, and competitors and even Santa himself when he sees this on my wish list, but I just think that Google Socks are the collest thing ever! Do they come in size 16? The fact is…the gentle, grateful soul that I am, acknowledging the power of Google and paying tribute to the search giant by wearing a pair of Google Socks with the Google colors is my way of showing my gratitude, if only they could be pulled up all the way to my knees and not ankle socks. I think I’ll take some Google Beanbags too! So those are the four things I want on my Christmas SEO Wishlist, but I’m sure that other search marketers also want other things for the holidays. So I asked on Twitter this morning, and here are the responses : @ themlsmith I want a Chrome cookie jar. oh an more seo extensions too @ monicawright Painless SEO reporting. Oh and @ lisabarone ’s writing skills. @ davesnyder an android tablet http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/20/icd-ultra-android-tablet-hands-on/ @ mjleonard I want one of the electric Google scooters. I believe they have been banned due to colliding Googlers. Makes them more enticing. @ leeodden Good service from ATT in NYC! @ creditgoddess Maybe some SEO certification courses http://tinyurl.com/y8p7oqf or extension on SEO Dojo membership http://tinyurl.com/yeaqsn4 What’s on your SEO Christmas Wishlist? Check out the SEO Tools guide at Search Engine Journal . SEO Christmas Wishlist : Perfect Presents for an
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Couldn’t decide on what to get for your techie friends who got almost all the gizmos released this year? Google has a solution for that. How about giving them the gift of Google Chrome instead? Google quietly rolls out this new marketing campaign for its Chrome browser. It’s actually a neat and clever way of marketing the Chrome Browser, tying it up with the Christmas festivites. The idea is, you as the gift giver can prepare an interactive online greeting card introducing Google Chrome to a friend. The link goes to your friend’s email which if he clicked will lead him to a site where he will be introduced to Google Chrome. You can customize the Christmas greeting by putting your photos or attaching your videos to the electronic Christmas card as well as type in a personalized message. Of course the bottomline is that Google hopes that your friend who believe you so much will download Google Chrome. It’s really a neat and clever idea, although the site doesn’t load so fast which is ironic since Google is promoting Chrome as a fast browser. I hope my friends would not even think of sending me this gift since I’ve been using Google Chome since it was first launched. I have it installed in my desktop PC, Mac and Eee PC netbook. I would prefer an iTunes gift card or Amazon GC instead. Check out the SEO Tools guide at Search Engine Journal . Give the Gift of Google Chrome this
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Although local shopping search engine Milo.com has been around for two years already, it is only now that the site is going full blast as it leaves beta stage. Before you start thinking that Milo.com is just another local shopping search engine that will only tell you specific online deals, well actually it does more than that. Milo also gives you available inventories of products available on stores near your location. Sounds good, right? Wait, there’s more. As it leave beta and since real-time search is all the rage right now, Milo.com is also rolling out a search interface that shows real-time product inventory results. If you’re familiar with another product search engine Kayak, well it’s almost similar in features. And like other consumer online shopping sites, Milo.com gives you full details of the products you want to purchase including reviews from other buyers. While this is useful when shopping for products, it would have been more useful if the reviews featured are actually that of the store where a user purchased the product. It’s more appropriate that way since Milo.com is supposed to be a tool for finding the nearest local stores that offer consumer products. Still, it’s a good site and the real-time feature is a welcome treat. However, we could not discount the fact that Milo.com is up against major search engines who offer similar search verticals. Although real-time results and local store finder are not yet in the major search engines’ agenda. Well except for Google which is reportedly preparing to offer offer product inventories of local stores in product searches. In the meantime, check out Milo.com and enjoy it for what it offers especially if you’re still rushing on your Christmas shopping chores. Check out the SEO Tools guide at Search Engine Journal . Local Shopping Search Engine Milo.com Goes
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local search,
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shopping,
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