Google have announced that as from September 14^th 2010, trademark keywords and search terms will be allowed to be used within Adwords content and copy. In May 2009, Google adopted this policy in the US but many believed the complex UK legal system would prevent this from happening in the UK.

Adwords users will also be allowed to directly bid and advertise their Google Adwords Text ads under trademark keywords and search terms. Many large online retailers have complained about the current restricted use. An authorised supplier wanting to sell a trademark protected product would currently have to seek permission from the manufacturer in order to use the trademark term to advertise within the Adwords network. Non authorised suppliers, who purchased products through a distributer, usually smaller traders, who not have been allowed to use trademark terms. Many believe that this has lead to the Adwords network being controlled and restricted by big brands for product and brand specific keywords and search terms. Giving the trademark owner the ability to protect the RRP of a product line and preventing independent suppliers from directly competing with the trademark owner.

From September 14^th legitimate Independent suppliers and retailers will now be allowed to use trademark terms to advertise and market their products and services. Google have said

“We believe the right approach is to give users more choices and access to as much information as is relevant to their search or interest. This policy change balances the needs of our users while ensuring that competitive, critical, or negative uses of the trademark in ad text continue to be reviewed and removed per our trademark policy.”

There does still seem to be a number of restrictions attached to the use of the Trademark terms, Google will continue to review Adword Ad text which uses negative, critical or competitive keywords in relation to the trademark term.

“- ads that do not lead to a landing page that clearly facilitates the sale of either the goods and services corresponding to the trademark or parts or components related to the goods and services corresponding to the trademark

- competitive or critical information about the goods and services corresponding to a trademark

- ads that do not lead to a landing page which provides substantive information about the goods and services corresponding to a trademark.”

This seems to be more about protecting the quality of the Adwords network rather than controlling the use of trademark terms, ad text quality is already a key factor in its use.

The announcement will usher in some very positive changes to the Adwords network. Creative, non competitive and positive Ad text content will ensure campaign successfully serving. What will be interesting to watch will be the change in Google Adwords listings for existing trademark terms, and the new strategies adopted by the Trademark owners to combat the changes.

For more information and details about the changes, click here to read the official Google Change document.

Article by Creative SEO

Technorati Tags: Adwords, adwords trademark, Google Adwords Trademark, google trademark, Trademark, Trademark keywords

Since September 2009 Google have been beta testing a new version of their highly utilised keyword tool, we knew the day would come when Google would finally retire and phase out the original tool. As an announcement on the Google Adwords Blog confirmed, the original Google keyword tool will be phased out by the end of the month.

Google confirmed the tool will be removed by the 1^st September 2010, old links will be redirected to the new keyword tool and the beta label will be removed from the new version.

So if you want to remember the fun times you had researching keywords, why not revisit the old Google keyword tool one final time, before it is escorted to the Google retirement home…

Article by  CreativeSEO

Technorati Tags: Google, google keyword tool, keyword tool

Last August Twitter announced the launch of a new location sharing feature which allowed users to tag there Tweets with their Geographical location, this was only available as part of the API, until now.
Twitter will be adding the new functionality to its website, allowing Twitter users to tag their Tweets with their location, so what does this mean? Well on the one hand the prospect of real time search results which are based on location does seem very exciting. To be able to monitor and predict trends and public opinion based on location could offer some extremely valuable data. But is this new technology opening up a “Can of Worms”, with personal security potentially at stake, will 2010 be the year of the Stalker? Luckily the new service can only be enabled by physically opting in to location sharing. This will naturally police the situation and should hopefully prevent any potential security issues with location sharing and privacy.
Quite interestingly IE and Safari Users will be disappointed as the new location feature will only work on Firefox and Google Chrome at this time.
“Let’s say I’m at my office and I hear a loud boom. It sounded serious, so I search Twitter for “boom.” Among the first results could be someone who tweeted “Boom go the fireworks!” This could be anywhere in the world. However, if that person had activated the new tweet location feature then the neighbourhood data under the tweet would read, “SoMa.”

Now I know it’s just fireworks going off in my neighbourhood. Boom! Plus, the word “SoMa” is linked to a Google map so I can explore a bit more. There are many ways location data can be useful when paired with tweets.” Taken from the official Twitter blog.

It’s an interesting new technology and we would love to hear your thoughts?
Article by Creative SEO

Technorati Tags: geo tagging, location, location tweets, Twitter, twitter location

There has been an ongoing issue which has affected a large proportion of twitter users. Twitter users have been victimised by phishing scams through links in direct messages. In order to protect its users and to combat the issue Twitter has announced the launch of its very own URL shortener.

“Today, we’re launching a new service to protect users that strikes a major blow against phishing and other deceitful attacks. By routing all links submitted to Twitter through this new service, we can detect, intercept, and prevent the spread of bad links across all of Twitter. Even if a bad link is already sent out in an email notification and somebody clicks on it, we’ll be able to keep that user safe.” Twitter said.

Twitter will be initially focusing on Direct messages and notifications but its believed the new service will be rolled out to all areas of Twitter.

Author: Creative SEO

Technorati Tags: shortener, Twitter, url

Google have released a list of 5 key privacy principles which they use on a day to day basis, the list has been made public for the first time to allow Google users to understand how Google treats privacy from a product perspective.

“Like our design and software guidelines, these privacy principles are designed to guide the decisions we make when we create new technologies. They are one of the key reasons our engineers have worked on new privacy-enhancing initiatives and features” Google Official Blog.

The 5 privacy principles are as follows:

1) Use information to provide our users with valuable products and services.
2) Develop products that reflect strong privacy standards and practices.
3) Make the collection of personal information transparent.
4) Give users meaningful choices to protect their privacy.
5) Be a responsible steward of the information we hold.

You can find out more at the Google Privacy Center or click on the video below.



Article by Creative SEO

Technorati Tags: Google, google privacy, google privacy principles, privacy