SearchInfluence

A few months ago, I wrote a blog post about the difference between comScore’s organic search market share numbers and what I’ve seen in Google Analytics accounts over the years. In the numbers I’ve seen, Google’s share of search was always much more dominant than the approximately 65% market share reported by comScore.

So, what does comScore say this time?

In the graph above, you will see that Google, Bing and Yahoo had 66%, 15% and 14% of the search market share respectively in February 2012 (read the official report here).

Getting Google Adwords Certified can be an invaluable update to your resume. Why? With this professional SEO accreditation, you’re making sure you’re doing everything you can to increase your worth to your clients or company.

Whether you are planning to start a paid search campaign for your business or if you’re just trying to understand what your PPC manager is always talking about, Adwords certification is an extremely beneficial feather in your cap. However, don’t think you can just roll out of bed, think “I’ll get certified today!” and pass the test with ease.

LeGoogle

Google has landed in hot water in France after offering its Google Maps product for free in the country. America is known as the land of the free, and we all know big businesses get to do pretty much whatever they want. The idea of a government stepping in to say a business can’t give away a service for free strikes me as particularly French.

But while this move may not slow down the Google machine, it could open the door to similar lawsuits as Google sets its sights on new markets in previously un(Google)mapped countries. Could this be the beginning of a real life game of Risk that Google might not want to lose?

Why SOPA Is Going to Screw us All The Movie – Gizmodo

The biggest thing happening in technology this week is far and away the backlash against SOPA and PIPA. If you somehow missed the issue or need a refresher, check out the 10 minute video below, promoted via the Gizmodo page linked above or this Forbes article. Basically, Congress is trying to protect intellectual property in the United States with a bill that many people think will interfere with the safety and or architecture of the internet, and bring about the possibility of rather arbitrary government demands that sites be shut down or prevent transactions via court order. The blackouts seem to have been very effective. According to Reuters, Congress recently balked at the issue.

Google released their annual “Year-End Zeitgeist” last month, a look back at the most popular search terms of 2011. The corporation defines zeitgeist as “the spirit of the times.” Despite the self-aggrandizing name, the Google Zeitgeist paints a mostly trivial picture of the past year.

I hardly know what zeitgeist means. I do know the term lends itself to pretension. It is probably more accurately defined here as the “general cultural, intellectual, ethical, spiritual, or political climate … along with the general ambiance, morals, [and] sociocultural direction” of a particular time. Though I hardly know what any of that means either, it sounds measurably less romantic and nebulous than the “spirit of the times.”