Amazon now using Google A9

Amazon has switched it's search from Google to A9. Not really sure if that will make much difference to you or me, but if you like the color brown it is surely a good thing.

The Register also noted that sometimes Amazon's related products may not be related to what you are searching for.

Some Automated Bots are off the mark. When I linked into my page about Traffic Power & Cold Call SEO Google decided to reject the ad because I did not state my affiliate status? Clearly this was the action of an automated bot or a person who did not look at the page...I know that sometimes they do review pages because one time on my other site they sent me an email about a page for speaking of the AdSense ads which "were off to the side." Clearly though this is not an affiliate ad...

Campaign: 'Campaign #16,' Ad Group: 'Traffic Power'
----------------------------------------------

AD TEXT:

Cold Call SEO is Bad
Were you recently cold called by
someone selling SEO services?
SEObook.com/cold-call-seo-facts

Action taken: Suspended - Pending Revision
Issue(s): Identify Affiliate Status

The Link Appeal Tool has link appeal since I am linking to it. I think I used the word link to much...anyway here is the link.

This is another one of Will's cool free tools over at Webmaster Toolkit. It looks at the PageRank of a page as well as the number of outgoing links on that page to give you a guestimate of how much value that link would have to help you decide whether or not it is worth going after.

Google launches keyword based contextual based banner advertising.

Effect on Other Companies:

• If Google can get many of their AdSense publishers to sign up for this then they will have access to one of the largest, most targeted contextual based banner programs on the web.

• Interactive media agencies and webmasters may be able to do nearly all of their advertising at Google. Exceptions:
  • Overture still will be used by many due to it's large distribution network.

  • Link buyers will obviously not be able to buy links through Google...
• Google can no longer in any way shape or form claim to be "just a technology company." This move cements their position as a large media company.
• DoubleClick's stock is down 1% on the day (last I checked...this move by Google has to make their CEO cringe!).

Google AdWords Images:
Google Images AdWords FAQ's Here.
Google AdSense: What's New

Google AdWords Sizes: You may choose from four standard ad sizes: Banner (468 x 60), Leaderboard (728 x 90), Inline Rectangle (300 x 250), and Skyscraper (120 x 600). Sizes may be adjusted slightly to display the "Ads by Google" tagline.

Example Google Ads

Placing Image Ads on Google:
"At this time, we won't show image ads on Google. The initial launch of image ads is focused on sites already showing graphical ads. Because Google image ads are targeted specifically to a page's content, advertisers showing ads on these sites would realize the greatest benefit. (Please note that a content site publisher must opt in to the image ads program before your image ads may appear on his or her site.)"

How Does Google Know When to Display Image Ads?
If your image ad is more relevant, it will appear. If not, your text ad may appear in its place. This targeting model ensures you're reaching your prospects with the most effective ads.

Will Google Put Image Ads on My Site?
Google AdSense publishers can chose to opt in to graphic ads. Graphic ads will not automatically appear on AdSense publishers websites. You can choose to run image ads by simply selecting the image ads checkbox from the Ad Preference page of your AdSense account. Or, set your preference at a page level by selecting the type of ads you'd like to show when generating your ad code.

Update: Backlink Analyzer is free link analysis software which has probably the best feature set of any of the link analysis software products on the market.

The Original Link Analysis Software
When OptiLink ($224) came out a few years ago it was a software product like no others. A few weeks ago the second version of PageRank Prowler ($97) was released. PageRank Prowler is a product similar to OptiLink (which only lacks the link text features).

Dirt Cheap PageRank Software
Now I haven't tried the full version of it yet, but recently software by the name of PageRank Digger that only costs $39.99 via PayPal was released. I guess it's claim to fame is speed. "You will be able to scan over 2000 domain names per minute." It is not just scanning links and getting PageRank that matters though. Being able quickly evaluate and rearrange the raw data is what makes it really useful. I think this tool is targeted more toward the expired domain community vice the seo community.

Branding & Creating Better Products
It is amazing to see how quickly advanced link tools (or any technology) can become commodities. I wonder when someone will be smart enough to market a link product which is BETTER vice cheaper. I can think of a few upgrades that would make the best link software way better and am surprised that nobody has marketed them yet. I wish I had more time to learn programming... :)

Example Link Analysis Software Upgrade
I am surprised there is no specific parameter link analysis software on the market. Software which scans Yahoo! or Google for .edu links which link to your competitors. That is just one example of a useful modification I don't think has been marketed yet. I got a couple other ideas too...email me if you are a programmer who wants to make really cool link analysis software.

Do you know of any link software which better than OptiLink? What on your site makes it better, vice cheaper? The competitive nature of the web will eat up most people who use cheap as a sales angle. Branding is where it's at.