Pimp My Keywords

SEO Tactics, Tips & Helpful Advice - No. 95

With local search opportunities, you'll want to participate and create accounts in "mapping" services and websites (such as Google Maps) as well as review websites (such as City Search).

No, do not set up fake accounts and pad these sites with false reviews. Consumers are too smart and they're always suspicious, especially of your 20 raving reviews - all with perfect 5-star rankings.

Creating your accounts allows you to verify accuracy of your business name, address, telephone number, website URL, keywords and business category.

Google and other search engines are "pulling" reviews from many review websites (especially City Search), so be sure to monitor any posted reviews about your business, services and products.

If needed - and proceed cautiously into this area - you can respond to any negative or bad posts. Think before you post an emotion response to a negative review.

A few sites to consider for your business listings:

• Google, Yahoo and Bing (maps)
• City Search
• Yelp
• Judy's Book
• Trip Advisor
• Insider Pages
• Yahoo Travel
• View Points
• Also: Merchant Circle, Super Pages, Yellow Pages, Yellow Book, etc.

SEO Tactics, Tips & Helpful Advice - No. 75

While there are some obstacles in the way of the soon-to-be-realized Bing-Yahoo marriage, should you now stop your search engine optimization efforts for Yahoo and instead focus on Google and Bing?

While your main focus should be on Google (face it, Google's the King), don't discontinue your Yahoo and Bing efforts.

Keep going. Don't try to predict when the merger will take place or what it will mean, etc. Change your strategy only when it's time.

No Big Deal With Microsoft's Bing

Have you had the opportunity - or desire - to check out Microsoft's new search engine Bing?

Sigh.

The reviews are in and no one seems to think it's any big deal. Bing is Microsoft Live with a fresh coat of paint.

Microsoft is pumping $100 million in an advertising campaign, but does that mean regular Google users will switch to Bing? Or will some Yahoo users crossover? I seriously doubt it. Everyone is trying to catch up.

I did read one prediction: Bing will become a powerful e-commerce and shopping search engine.

We'll see.

Microsoft Considers Facebook

Microsoft Corp. is considering purchasing a portion of Facebook, Inc., a social media website which some say is worth $10 billion.

While an outright sale of Facebook is considered unlikely, sources say Microsoft is considering investing $300 to $500 million in Facebook.

Facebook owner, Mark Zuckerber, 23, rejected a $1 billion acquisition offer from Yahoo, Inc. a year ago.

You can bet Google is keeping a close eye on this one.