Source: free-seo-news.com

If your web site is listed in the Open Directory Project (ODP, dmoz.org) then Google and MSN will often use the text that the ODP uses to describe your web site in their own search results.

Unfortunately, the descriptions in the Open Directory Project are often outdated and they don’t reflect the current status of a web site. That means that your web site might be listed with an outdated description in the search results on Google and MSN.

How to get rid of the ODP description

Fortunately, there’s a way to tell Google and MSN not to use the ODP description for your web site. You can direct Google and MSN not to use the ODP as a source by adding a new Meta tag to your web pages.

To prevent all search engines (that support the Meta tag) from using the ODP description for the page’s description, use the following HTML tag:

<META NAME="ROBOTS" CONTENT="NOODP">

To specifically prevent Google from using this information for a page’s description, use <META NAME="GOOGLEBOT" CONTENT="NOODP">. If you just want to prevent MSN from using the description, use <META NAME="msnbot" CONTENT="NOODP">.

Note that once you add this Meta tag to your pages, it may take some time until a new description of your web page will appear in the search results of Google and MSN.

You might wonder why Yahoo does not support the NOODP tag. Yahoo operates its own directory so it does not need to pull the web page descriptions from the ODP.

There are many more Meta tags that allow you to influence search engines

In addition to the new NOODP tag, there are many more Meta tags that allow you to influence how search engines handle your web pages.

For example, you can tell search engines where your business is located (that’s useful for local search features), you can tell search engines if they should index a web page or not and much more.

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Source: news.searchenginestoday.org

Fox Interactive Media and Google have announced a multi-year search technology agreement whereby Google will be the exclusive search provider for Fox’s growing network of Internet properties.

The deal calls for Google to power Internet, vertical and site specific search for MySpace.com and the majority of Fox Interactive’s properties.

Google will be the exclusive provider of text-based advertising and keyword targeted ads through its AdSense program, for inventory on Fox Interactive Media’s network.

Google will also have a right of first refusal on display advertising sold through third parties on Fox Interactive Media’s network.

The integration of Google’s services including consistent search navigation across Fox Interactive Media’s network of properties is slated to begin in the fourth quarter 2006 and will provide users with access to Google’s industry leading search capabilities as well as text and display advertising from its global advertiser base.

Under the terms of the agreement, Google will be obligated to make guaranteed minimum revenue share payments to Fox Interactive Media of $900 million based on Fox achieving certain traffic and other commitments. These guaranteed minimum revenue share payments are expected to be made over the period beginning in the first quarter of 2007 and ending in the second quarter of 2010.

"Our partnership with Google underscores News Corp’s continued evolution to become a powerful force in the digital media marketplace. To have come this far and gained this much momentum in just over a year is truly remarkable," said Peter Chernin, President and Chief Operating Officer of News Corporation. "This is an exciting time in our history as a forward thinking media company and this is just the first of many steps we plan to take with Google. We look forward to expanding our relationship into many new areas over years to come."

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Source: searchenginejournal.com

Yahoo Search Marketing has basically been using the same auction bidding system since GoTo.com launched nearly 8 years ago and with the new direction of the Yahoo company and the success of Google AdWords, the public (advertisers) have been screaming for a new up-to-date system which compliments the diversity of the Yahoo Network.

No longer is search engine marketing soley the sponsored links above and beside (or integrated within) organic search results, but in Yahoo’s case the company has expanded search beyond the box and into their most used and popular channels. Enter Yahoo Trip Planner, Yahoo Answers, Yahoo News and Yahoo Local. All remarkable and defining offerings from Yahoo which have a glimpse of its (and ours) online future, which also grows beyond the PC and into our pockets, cellulars and navigation systems.

As a past advertiser and Yahoo Search Marketing Ambassador I have shared the frustration of many in the search marketing field when Yahoo launches a new service, take Yahoo Local City Guides w/ integrated Answers for example, but no basic geotargeting system to efficiently serve specific ads to that specific market.

It’s time for a change and such a transition is coming soon.

Yahoo Search Marketing Rollout

The new Yahoo Search Marketing application launch schedule has been set with the new Application Launch in Q4 2006 and Ranking Scheme rollout in Q12007 (but perhaps before Christmas shopping season).

Yahoo Search Marketing has been working on the planning of the application for 5 years along with up to 1,000 private testers of the new Yahoo Search Marketing system.

Read more at searchenginejournal.com

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