Yahoo goes Israeli, teaming up with Walla

For many years, Israel has been an important center for global tech powerhouses like Google, Microsoft and Intel, who have recognized that the nation's technical expertise, plus its strategic Middle Eastern position, can make a presence here decisive in the struggle for a piece of the billion-dollar Internet pie. Now Yahoo will follow in the footsteps of these giants by opening a research and development center in Haifa, and entering into a strategic partnership with sabra search portal Walla!, according to a report in Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz . The California-based company is currently negotiating office space in the Matam technology park in Haifa, which is already home to 50 other high-tech firms, including international players like Intel, Microsoft, Elbit Systems and Philips. Its research center, due to open within a few months, will attempt to carve out a greater share in the nearly $50 million Israeli search market, currently dominated by Google, which has R&D centers in Tel Aviv and Haifa. Through the partnership with Walla!, Yahoo will develop local expertise in search-based advertising technologies such as pay-per-click and targeted search. Google currently maintains hegemony over this market, but Yahoo hopes to develop the technologies and databases behind Walla's existing AdVantage platform, which will continue to be managed by Walla!. "The agreement with Yahoo allows us to offer Walla's surfers an excellent search product," Walla CEO Ilan Yeshua told Ha'aretz. "The existence of another strong player in the search and textual advertising sector will contribute to competitiveness, both in the search experience and in the range of possibilities available to advertisers." Providing news, search and email services, 12-year-old Walla! is one of the most popular Israeli internet portals, holding the title of the nation's most visited website for many years until it was overtaken by Google.co.il in 2006.

Comparison Shopping Feature Announced on SpivO

Price compare feature on the new upgraded SpivO search engine was launched today. SpivO Shopping has added many new stores and product feeds to their price comparison shopping channel. SpivO’s newest channel launched from the upgrade is SpivO Shopping, a price comparison web site that allows users to compare prices of thousands of items from hundreds of online stores. A beta version of the shopping channel was launched last year in the SpivO Workshop, but it was not finalized until today’s official launch.

The SpivO Shopping channel, like most of the new channels to be released on the new network, is based on simplicity. Since 2004, when SpivO became a search engine, they have tried various ideas for improving the profitability potential of the search engine. During 2007’s renovation meetings, the profitability of the search engine was under guidance of SpivO’s parent company, American Marketing Management and Motivational Services, Inc., SpivO’s technology management company, Adviatech Corp., and Adviatech’s fifty percent shareholder, Jason Standard Corp.

Adviatech held the final decision authority on where to position ad space. SpivO’s revenue is generated from ad impressions on their interactive news channels, commission compensated advertisements from retailers and service providers such as iTunes, Sirius Satellite Radio, and Movielink, job postings on the soon to be launched SpivO Job search, hotel, rental car, and flight bookings on the soon to be relaunched, SpivO Travel, advertisements from SpivO’s direct sponsors, Google Ads to supplement un used ad space, and credit card applications.

Adviatech’s Vice President, Jason Bland, worked closely on the project’s technical and business planning objectives. Bland commented today “It’s a fragile balancing act of simplicity, clean page styles, and profitable ad placement. We carefully weighed out the pros and cons on what to do with SpivO Shopping. Ultimately, we decided that our focus should be on bringing product content into SpivO Shopping to display the most relevant ads. We are not ready, at this time, to pursue a business model similar to Shopping.com which allows store owners to upload product feeds and pay per click.”

Google News Inside Launches New Attractive Website Design

Google News Inside has been through many changes. But without a doubt, this design is perfect for what Google News Inside represents. Professionalism, quality, and accurate information about Google.
New York City, New York (PRWEB) January 14, 2008 -- The answer to the question "What is Google up to?" can now be easily answered: Simply visit Ginside. Ginside is a regularly updated space where information relating to current Google news and other hot happenings within the quickly growing Internet empire is shared. The owner of the website, Jonathan Dingman, puts his own personal spin on all of the news on Ginside's website.
Ginside provides an important service to anyone who is interested in keeping up with current events at Google. This includes new features, stock information, and information relating to the faces behind the search engine empire. This may also include changes in algorithms and guidelines relating to affiliate marketing, search engine optimization and pay-per-click advertising through Google AdWords and Google AdSense, plus more. Ginside will often feature search engine tips as well.

The list of interested parties includes webmasters, Internet marketers, affiliate marketers, search engine optimization firms, website designers and plain old Internet enthusiasts. What this means is that Ginside is quickly developing a strong reputation that will continue to grow as interest in the behind-the-scenes aspects of Google does.
With such a strong understanding of Google and the way that search engines work, it really is no wonder why Ginside decided to update their website design to include a visually appealing and user friendly design. Ginside understands that both form and function are necessary in order to create a well balanced website, and a well balanced website is exactly what they have created with their new website design.
Ginside is also known as Google Inside, and is dedicated to providing all of the most recent and relevant Google news by following current activities and speculating about future activities relating to Google. With so much going on at Google all the time, it is important to know what is going on, and what is what Ginside strives to provide.
The founder of Ginside, Jonathan Dingman, was recently quoted by SearchNewz.com, "I honestly feel that if Google is doing this to bully the paid link market, the industry will just find another way to determine link values. Technorati, Compete.com, Alexa, Y! backlinks, you name it, there's another metric out there." He has a strong background in search marketing and has worked for companies such as Commission Junction and ROO Media.

Registration is Open for The 2008 As Was Conference for eBay PowerSellers

PowerSellers finally have an event (other than eBay Live!) where they can learn about techniques, strategies, and tools that will help them grow your online sales business, on and off eBay. Registration is now open for eBay sellers, trainers, and consultants to attend The 2008 As Was Conference for only $299 per person. It will be held at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort at Walt Disney World, Florida on Thursday 28 February, Friday 29 February, and Saturday 1 March 2008. Most recently added to our event are our Business Clinics. These are free, one-on-one consulting sessions where eBay sellers can get advice from a team of experts. Our expert panel includes staff from eBay, As Was, and other companies.TAWC Will Teach You How to Make More Sales, Be More Profitable, and Attract More Customers Through:* Software and systems that will make your eBay and off-eBay selling easier, automated, and more efficient.* Blogging, shopping comparison websites, pay-per-click advertising, and your own email mailing list.* Finding the right products to sell and the strategies for selling them successfully.* Item presentation, listing design, and how to build the most effective eBay Store.* Faster and cheaper shipping.* Hiring part-time, full-time, or seasonal staff. Highlights of TAWC Include:* Informative sessions designed to teach you with the newest and best ideas, techniques, and strategies that will make you more profitable.* Sessions presented by eBay staff, industry experts, and successful online sellers.* FREE Business Clinics; get personalized advice from a team of industry experts.* Plenty of time to meet speakers and exhibitors, and join roundtable discussions.* A fun environment with three FREE networking lunches in our banquet room.* Networking dinners around Walt Disney World.* Learn what you're not going to hear at eBay Live! or any other conference. Sessions and PresentationsOur sessions are all in one track so that you're not missing one by listening to another. Represented programs from eBay include Seller Development, Affiliate Program, and eBay Stores. Speakers at the event include representatives from eBay, As Was, Monster.com, Six Apart, Constant Contact, ChannelAdvisor, Kyozou, buySAFE, Worldwide Brands, JDT Technologies, Keepmore.net, HammerTap, Merchant Advantage, Z-Firm, and Refund Retriever. Check out the whole agenda & schedule!“Remember how it feels when you discover something that sets you apart and ahead of other people? Attending our conference is going to be two-and-a-half days of that feeling.” explains As Was President, Debbie Levitt. “We know that many sellers are hungry for the type of education they can receive at the annual eBay Live! conference. In our day-to-day consulting work, we are constantly asked what companies, products, and services will help eBay sellers grow right now. We decided to combine these two with the fun environment we knew we could create, especially at Disney, and The As Was Conference was born.”Unlike traditional conferences, the two-and-a-half day conference is designed to spur attendees’ excitement with sessions packed with actionable information and demonstrations. Early bird registration is $299 per person through February 14th, and includes all of the presentations and sessions, round table discussions, and sit-down lunch networking events in a festive atmosphere. Attendance will be capped at 400 so that attendees can have quality time with speakers and vendors. To learn more about the As Was Conference and to register to attend, visit www.aswasconference.com.About As WasAs Was is a full-service consulting firm specializing in branding, design, sales and marketing strategies, operations management, and training for eBay and online sellers. As Was has been making the world’s marketplace your marketplace since it was founded in April 1995, and has been an eBay Certified Service Provider since August 2004. For more information, please visit www.aswas.com or call 520.204.1935.

Obesity website calls in marketing firm

A website aimed at struggling slimmers has called in the services of a digital marketing agency to create an email marketing campaign and boost its search engine rankings.Healthier Weight commissioned the services of twentysix Leeds last year and the firm is now launching an email marketing and customer relationship push.The marketing firm also plans a pay-per-click and organic search engine optimisation campaign for the dieting site.Chrissie Twigg, managing director of Healthier Weight, commented that obesity is a sensitive issue and that the internet provides the "perfect environment" for those seeking information.Managing director of twentysix Leeds Gail Duddleston continued: "The aim is to engage users who like the anonymity and convenience of online by providing them with a space where they can share their experiences and get expert advice."According to Marketingservicestalk, the site will gather email information by tempting users to sign up in order to receive discounts, access to a forum and online help. Government agency Business Link suggests firms plan their email marketing campaigns carefully to ensure the content is "relevant and interesting" to recipients.