Wow, what a difference 24 hours makes.

Suddenly 3 and 4d is all the rage. From the CAVEman above, to Google, Microsoft and Everyscape all releasing 3D mapping.

To Microsoft’s new table top computer.

Talk about a change in perspective.

Have a good one.

~The (SEP) Guy

Red Herring today features a story on Everyscape, a photo based 3D Search company.

It’s an intriguing proposition.

A virtual walk-through of a neighbourhood you’re considering moving to. A walk-through by day might differ from a walk-through might differ dramatically from a walk-through by night. A 3D tour of the restaurant you’re thinking of going to? The food may look particularly good, but other factors also begin to enter the equation… by example are there any people actually in the restaurant.

While still in beta mode, Everyscape is compelling inasmuch as it quite literally adds depth to search. Talk about geotargeting.

Conversion is always a key component to any marketing strategy and Google’s new one is rather inviting.

In short, it’s a “Don’t click here” call to inaction.

And the five year old in me say: Uh-huh.

Mea culpa. I had to click something.

The long and short of it is I really can’t decide if it’s a good thing or a bad thing. That little “don’t click here” order has stayed with me all afternoon.

And of course, if you see enough of those little don’t click here signs, I suppose it could prove enough incentive to move to the paid listings, but Google wouldn’t do that… would they?…

Today’s blog comes courtesy of Geri Rockstein of Writeforthenet.com. With that kind of domain, you have to know Geri is a web content writer. In fact, an esteemed content writer who knows of what she speaks. And on that happy note, over to Geri…

“Content Is King”

“Content is king” seems to be a buzz word in the industry. But what does that really mean? And does anyone really care?

And under the category of not news, Google announced today that is unveiling Universal Search but for the sake of convenience, let’s just call it AGATT. (ALL GOOGLE ALL THE TIME.)

Work with me here. Do a search for red roses on Google, not google images. Theses are the results and my, aren’t those just about the prettiest durn red posies you ever seen? Click on those results and you go to another Google property, not to the web site from which the flowers image orginated.

Do a search for car crash and there it is, as it’s been for months now, a YouTube result and now with pictures!!!

My boss and I had an interesting conversation yesterday around — I’m sure this will come as a surprise to everyone — Google.

Specifically around the amount of information Google gathers. I’ve been down this road before, I think it’s too much.

Andrew Goodman had an interesting article at SearchEngineLand.com: Your Paid Search Performance Is Relative detailing metrics and conversions all relative to paid search. Of course performance is measured all along the way.

All of this finessing should see a better spend, but the hope is a better spend will lend itself to a bigger budget, not only for you, but for your competitor as well. And up and up rates go.

problogger had a group writing project this week and the following 5 reasons are why we enjoyed it.

1. It made us think - The task was to post a top five list, but the real challenge was to create a top five list we hoped would engage comment and conversation and be pertinent to our business tract.

2. It helped prove the level of user engagement - With 893 entries the level of commitment was inspiring and a proof of concept in making blogs work as buzz generation tools.

3. The Link Love - Nuff said.

Tell me honestly, is this your taste in music? Is this then? Is this the color you want your car to be? Are these the foods you want to know more about? Are these the names your prefer? Are these your most popular web sites?

Can you honestly say 100% “yes” to all of them?

What if your life, from the products you see in a store to the content that reaches you, were based on these lists? Forget about Indie movies, forget about that awful looking but deliciously written fringe site, forget about that unheard of author: you’re everyone else.

What I like most about the possible Yahoo/MSN merger is that it will raise the profile of Ask.com which, to my mind has possibly the best interface of them all.

Saw the new Google search results page design and decidely do not like it. It seems forced and is redundant in ways.

Haven’t seen it? Google Blogoscoped has it covered.

Have a good one.

~The (SEP) Guy

On the heel’s of Rupert Murdoch’s surprise bid for Dow Jones, or more appropriately, the stalwart Wall Street Journal, comes whispers that Google may actually be interested in making a play for the property as well.

Danny Sullivan of SearchEngineLand thinks there’s not much substance to the rumour but why wouldn’t Google eventually make a content play?

It’s a step removed from search to be sure, but it’s not a step removed from advertising which is where Google’s makes it’s money, profits and margins. Google gets high margin business.