Digital Point's Cooperative Ad Network:
Digital Point's Cooperative Ad Newtork is a powerful link exchange program. I believe sites participating in the network are assigned an ad weighting based upon traffic, PageRank, and number of pages number of pages indexed in Google. On your pages you place the code and random static text links pointing at other network sites magically appear. On other participating sites links to your site will randomly appear based upon your weighting. Many of the sites are community driven forums with thousands of pages so there is a ton of link popularity being parsed around.

Search Google for eBay and you will see Shawn ranking in the top 10. When asked about his eBay page Shawn stated:

Started monkeying with it about 5 weeks ago... Broke the top 10 a week after I started.

Coop Ad Network Rating as Currency:
The Coop Ad Network rating is actually becoming a currency...

• selling question

• sales offer
• buy offer

Where there is Value...
When other people sign up under your account you gain added network credits. Some people are sending out affiliate link embedded emails recommending the coop ad network.

I haven't seen weight for sale on ebay, but I did get an email "reviewing" the ad network with someone's affiliate link in it. mattmdesign

Shawn replied to the thread saying that those who are spamming will be removed from the program.

Me Too:
The ad network has grown so popular that other cooperative networks such as
http://www.yourcan.com/ have sprung up.

The general take is, so long as it is trustworthy, the more the merrier. From a forum participant:

I just signed up as #47
It's a complete rip, but I couldn't care less...
Another network= More links

Is it a Link Farm?
More forum quotes:

I haven't used the co-op. there's no reason any sites will be penalized by participating it the network. what it does is to AUTOMATE a legitmate ad process.

Not possible because links are randomly picked. A link farm is a group of fixed links where linking partners have the same set of links.

Those are example quotes from supporters of the network. I think it is somewhat of a link farm in that there is absolutely no focus on relevancy. There still are some big holes in that ad program if it is to be sustainable.

No doubt that short term it has been amazingly successful for some, but at this point the network is something that is "above radar," and if search engines want to do something about it I am sure they can.

I think the community driven link partnership idea is a golden ticket though (it is essentially the AdSense of link building), and the first person who creates that type of network which is focused on relevancy will do exceptionally well. I do not think it is easy to be relevant without indexing and understanding the pages though, and that obviously much more expensive than the current network setups.

Another Link Building Program:
The community link building idea will continue to grow more popular over time. LinkItForward is another similar version of the community link idea. I have not tried out their network so I am uncertain as to how high of a quality the participating sites are, but with it you at least get to select who you are willing to link out to.

Questions Going Forward:
How do you build critical mass while focusing on relevancy? Is it possible? Any thoughts? If you were to start a community linking program what would you think would be important? Can you make a scalable community linking program that does not leave footprints?

Google vs Geico:
Huge news for many marketers, Google won.

U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled that there was not enough evidence of trademark violation to bar Google from displaying rival insurers when computer users search the word "GEICO."

Search Engine Filiters:
Three was a good thread on SEW forums about search engine filters. A couple people defaced the original thread with useless garbage, but ThreadWatch's coverage is a great read.

Search Engine Strategies:
I was going to attend, but decided not to at the last minute...anyhow, if you want coverage RustyBrick is posting about many of the sessions here...he may not be blogging the event though ;)

Funny:
GoogleGuy reviews a non-profit site: (really funny)

I'd recommend that he remove all links to these aggressive sites, and then send an email to us requesting reinclusion.

(found on ThreadWatch)

Google Suggest:
DaveN has opened up his scraper for public use.

MSN Desktop Search:
launched, & integrated into the MSN toolbar.

Search Stats:
ClickZ writes about a recent ComScore search survey

Of those consumers who converted on a trademark keyword, 91 percent did so after starting with a different term type. A full 80 percent started with a generic search term. Trademark searches, meanwhile, accounted for 20 percent of all online searches.

As for conversions, an estimated 92 percent of all computing and consumer electronics purchases occur offline. Meanwhile, 7 percent of conversions occur in the form of latent conversions. Only 1 percent of conversions occur in the same session online.

Google Library:
Google to digitize lots and lots of books...

Late to the Party:
Ask Jeeves desktop search

Brits Behind the Curve on Spam?
Nearly a quarter of all online UK consumers (23%) have purchased some form of goods or services from a spam email, according to new research. I wonder if thats why many of the UK SEOs are so good at what they do ;)

New Free SEO Tool:
Jim at WeBuildPages created a tool which shows the unique linking inboud domains. Currently I think the tool thinks a.com and a.com/ are two different sites, but I am sure Jim will have that fixed real quick-like...

The new link tool goes by the vapid name of WeBuildPages Tool #9. Hopefully Jim can get a bit more creative when he names any future tools he makes ;) ... I think #9 is a cool tool which will help at least a few webmasters save a good bit of time.

The Spam Wars
Chongq and the Spam Vampires (found on ThreadWatch)

What do Users Want in a Directory?:
this thread asks...

Sleezy Site Title of the Day:
"Make Your Millions with Vioxx"... that site offended many lawyers who were appearing in AdSense ads on it...they complained and, Google pulled the ads.

MSN Messenger:
It appears Chris Pirillo is none too impressed.

Google Patent for Searching Media:
Google could find a way to profit from Google news (and other media)... (found from MarketingVox)

Wikipedia:
Why Tim Bray thinks it competes well with encyclopedias.

Something Big is Coming?
Andy Beal says there is a big announcement tomorrow. MSN is sponsoring the Chicago SES which starts tomorrow. MSN also says they have a teleconference tomorrow (which starts at 10 a.m. PST)...wonder if thats all related or what the deal is...will know soon.

Tricks of the Trade:
Tips on how pros do their jobs just a little better. (found from Stephen Spencer's Scatterings)

Google Finance:
John Battelle has lots of yummy stats about Google's finances...

• nearly 17% of visitors click on ads.

• Google makes an average of 54 cents a click.
• Google makes on average nearly a dime from the average US search

Though Danny Sullivan makes a guest appearance in the comments to say the figures may be off (if they did not take in account for contextual ads).

Rob Frankel:
My favorite branding guru has a great rant blog. His view of Paxil and Prozac for children...

Trellian Seasonal Keyword Research:
Out of touch with the season?

Malcolm Gladwell:
One of my favorite authors gives a speech (about a month old, but his stuff is always good)

Contextual Ads:
Chitika is a new contextual ad network (their parent company has also been powering eBay's keyword driven banners)...rumor has it they might be writing some quality PR stuff too.

Laptops & Porn:
always a bad idea...

Mobile Search:
How it will change everything...or will it? I think there is a ton more to the world than just registering a name. Sure people will easily be able to link up regular publications and products to web locations, but the reason Amazon is successful is not just its product offering or customer service, but the rich feedback past consumers have left in their system. I think our social interactions and the trails we leave on the web are worth a ton more than this article seems to believe.

Mobile People Search:
US to use electronic passports.

Eventual RSS Doom:
Will its popularity destroy it?
Should People Run RSS Ads?

I think the links and attention you get from RSS subscribers will have more longterm value than their cost. If hosting costs are killing you go with Blogger or find a host who wants some cheap marketing (a hosted by link on your site).

Its not uncommon for businesses to have loss liters. If many of your readers / RSS subscribers also provide you tons of links then maybe you should look at the bandwidth as an advertising expense.

Those Random Late Night Purchases:
Internet Accelerator may help you download pages rack up credit card bills quicker.

Google Lecture:
Video: Eric Schmidt Lectures at Stanford's Business School

From the 101 Collection:
Page Hijacking 101: by Lots0

Oldie but a Goodie...
Why work output related bonuses do not work

SEO Articles:
I wrote a few more new SEO articles. I certainly feel a bit less original than I did at points in the past. Its like the more I learn the more I realize there is so much more to learn...

If you find my articles boring then you can have...
Hours of Fun:
with Bubble Wrap <-- cool