Yahoo! rolled out new search upgrades last Tuesday, introducing a more targeted and helpful search tool that enhances the overall search experience.

Of note is the new Yahoo! Search Assist feature, which, according to Yahoo! Search Marketing website, goes beyond basic search suggestions and “gives consumers real-time query suggestions as well as related topics and concepts.” Somewhat similar to recently introduced Google and Ask search functions, Search Assist detects user hesitation during keyword searches and offers refinements in an attempt to reduce the number of times user queries. While similar tools are available with other engines, users credit Yahoo! for their compelling presentation of the information and ease of use.

Another significant upgrade is the integration of video, audio and photos directly into search results. This means that all major engines now feature blended results, leaving the door open for multimedia advertising to work its way into paid search. Users will also see additional Shortcuts across a range of popular categories such as events, shopping, travel, health, music and more. New Shortcuts have been introduced over the past several weeks accompanied by related ratings, reviews, photos, and related websites. Yahoo! hopes these new Shortcuts and blended search results will give consumers a more complete search experience.

Later this month, we can expect a new Blocked Domains feature to see public launch. Yahoo!. Blocked Domains aims to give search marketers more control of where their ads appear. Advertisers will be able to block up to 250 websites in the Yahoo! partner distribution network, skirting sites where they do not wish their ads to appear. The result: more qualified clicks and improved value of traffic for advertisers.

While the improvement to the Yahoo! engine is significant, Yahoo! is ultimately just catching up to Google and its competitors by mimicking Google’s Universal Search and Site Exclusion. These new tools will, however, make for an easier, more effective search experience. The real question remains: will these changes be enough to draw users back to Yahoo?

By Lauren Deppe

Following the acquisition of Zingku two weeks ago, Google has snatched up yet another property designed to appeal to mobile users: Jaiku. As Jaiku’s acquisition FAQ explains, the service aims to integrate mobile and social networking:

Jaiku is an activity stream and presence sharing service that works from the Web and mobile phones. Jaiku, Ltd. was founded in February, 2006 by Jyri Engeström and Petteri Koponen from Finland. The service was released on the Web in July 2006. Jaiku is based in Helsinki.

Like Twitter, the service allows for short blogging on the fly. Your Jaiku activity stream can include text messages, photos, events, and recommendations – offering a flash of social networking appeal.

As noted in their blog, the Jaiku team is notably excited about the turn of events. Google acquisitions generally create a massive influx of user sign-ups, and Jaiku is quite aware. The number of new user sign-ups will be restricted until further notice. Existing Jaiku users will still retain full account functionality and are advised to read the new Google FAQ concerning the acquisition.

There’s still no word from Google concerning specific plans for Jaiku. The search engine giant stated only that they "plan to use the ideas and technology behind Jaiku to make compelling and useful products."

The purchasing of small mobile services has left many people wondering two things: just what does Google have in mind, and why by startups instead of Twitter? The online community must wait and see how Google chooses to employ its new mobile capabilities.

Article by Ron Sansone

If you’re looking to market your business through social media, you need to ask yourself, “Is Digg right for me?” Better yet, ask yourself if your business is right for Digg. Sure, the coveted “Digg Effect” traffic is mighty tempting, but you’ll never get out of the Upcoming section if your offering isn’t of interest to the site’s audience.

What is Digg’s audience you ask? For starters, it’s male, liberal (ok, there’s a smattering of libertarianism there too), and tech savvy. If you’re Rudy Giuliani, you have a better chance at replacing Joe Torre than receiving positive coverage on the front page of Digg.

The former New York mayor might find a more receptive audience at GOPhub.com, a conservative social news site that launched in beta last summer. The audience may be smaller, but the message will not fall on deaf ears.

With “me too” social news and bookmarking sites springing up all the time, the natural progression in the competitive environment is to branch out. This is great news for online marketers, however, as the chance to hit specific audience segments becomes a lot easier. Search engines love fresh content, and some of these niches not only boast a decent amount of page rank clout but also drive a sizable chunk of traffic.

Eco-friendly sites can now swap their yellow “digg it” buttons for wheat grass-colored “huggs.” With its feet in the topsoil and an eye on tomorrow, Hugg.com may be the greenest social news site on the web. Here you can find the perfect Birkenstock-clad audience for your latest public service campaign or all natural body wash.

Strong social niche marketing starts with understanding your audience and their needs. Take the time to find social news communities and learn how they function. Read the articles, follow the trends, and get involved. Social news startups launch every day, so even if one is in its infancy now it may be a viable option in a year’s time. Sites like motorpulse, “real news for real drivers,” may yet expand their audiences.

While it’s easy to submit your article to Digg or Reddit, directing your content to the right niche can be far more rewarding.

Article by Ron Sansone

What do you do when you’re Organic Search Rankings Drop…Don’t Panic says Account Director Ray Rosti.

Though Ask continues to make strides to provide an independent offering they have continued to work closely with Google.   However, there is news that Ask may not renew their Google deal.

Does Google top the world in search?