Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Articles

As mentioned in one of my previous posts, the Christmas period has a major effect on Search Marketing campaigns, and Christmas 2008 was no exception. I was reading in the Independent this morning that online sales hit a new high this Christmas. The article compares the fact that as high... read more

I have been monitoring with interest Google's response and actions regarding the sensitive subject of Click Fraud. There seems to be a welcome and interesting change underway with those nice people at Google, a far more open approach. This is good news because probably the biggest reason... read more

We already know that Christmas can have a massive impact on the online industry, and this year, despite the ‘credit crunch’, there has been no exception.  Already we are seeing considerable fluctuations in the CPCs as more advertisers compete for position in the paid search results. It... read more

I was doing a bit of research earlier and noticed the following ad appearing for the search term "injury caused by an animal": The SERPS look something like this: Presumably, as shown by Google's organic results and the top 3 sponsored results, somebody searching for information... read more

  I was fascinated to read an article on just how Barack Obama has utilised the web to promote his Presidential campaign.   Just how did a junior Senator from Illinois manage to rocket to campaign front runner?  A much needed pledge for change, a fantastically... read more

Previously it has not been permitted to advertise gambling related activity via Google Adwords as it was against their policy.  Until now that is....From tomorrow, Google will be allowing the use of Adwords Gambling Ads provided the advertiser has a valid licence. There is also a separate... read more

I have a theory that social demographics have an impact on search behaviour. I've looked all over for quantifiable evidence to support my theory but been unable to find any. It's my theory that products and services aimed at the more professional social demographic groups have better click... read more

Today I have received an email from Yahoo! stating that they are no longer fixing the minimum bid for UK search keywords at £0.05, although the content network bids will remain at a £0.05 minimum. This change is to take place in the coming weeks. Yahoo!’s reasoning behind the change is... read more

I-COM have discovered that the Google Adwords External Keyword Tool is now providing approximate search volume stats. This created quite a buzz around the I-COM offices as we have been wishing that Google would provide the actual numerical stats for so long.   The Inside Adwords blog... read more

When the last recession hit the UK, of all the different types of advertising media Yellow Pages was perhaps the least affected, as advertisers saw it as the most direct way of attracting real customers. Today, however, things are much different. Recent reports in The Times, The Economist and... read more