Marketing Pilgrim

Are you using AdSense Link Units? The block of links to related-topic ad pages are getting a new “feature” after testing showed positive results—i.e. increased revenue for publishers.

The old (and in case you aren’t familiar with the jargon—note that the page of ads looks a lot like ten blue links.):

And the new version of the ad page:

See the difference? That 2009 Special Olympics image at the bottom is new—and it’s an ad. The Inside AdSense blog gives a few vitals:

The only really exciting thing you missed by not attending Google’s I/O 2009 developer event was the chance to get a free Android phone–apparently Google can give them away after all!

The annual event is not as glamorous as Google’s other conferences, but if you dream in binary, then the chance to mingle with 3,000 other developers and listen to 130+ speakers would have been a delight for you.

For the rest of us, Google did make three announcements today.

Perhaps the most interesting for us non-developer types,  Google Web Elements allow you to incorporate Google products–like Maps, News, Friend Connect and YouTube–right onto your own website. They require no programming knowledge; all you need to do is use the customization wizard and Google automatically generates a snippet of text to paste on your page.

Brian Fetherstonhaugh, Chairman and CEO—OgilvyOne Worldwide

Once again SMX London was held at the rather grand New Connaught Rooms in Covent Garden. Unlike the typical chilly days of last November Spring was in the air and to begin the conference Brian Fetherstonhaugh of OgilvyOne took to the stage in front of a packed conference hall to deliver his keynote.

Brian began with addressing the concept that search was the holy grail of marketing. And even more so in a time of recession—the industry itself was still growing at a rate of 10-20% a year! He then told attendees that whilst OgilvyOne had worked with some top brands including American Express, Sears, Ford, Shell, Barbie, Pond’s, Dove and more. But as Brian pointed out, David Ogilvy was kind of crazy! “He was an “interesting and nutty guy”.

Have you had the big talk with your kids? You know, the one where you explain the risks and how one night of craziness can result in them throwing their life away?

Good. How about with your employees?

No, I’m not talking about the importance of abstinence/protection, I’m talking about the importance of ruining your company’s reputation via social media!

New data suggests you should sit down with them right this minute!

Yep, you read that chart correctly. A whopping 74% of your employees agree that their social media antics could damage your company’s reputation. With that in mind, you absolutely need to have the talk with your employees and let them know what they can and cannot do in social media.

The US web analytics market will grow to $953 million by 2014–a healthy 17% compound annual growth rate–according to a new Forrester Research five-year forecast being published today.

Wait, didn’t Google’s free Analytics offering sound the death knell for paid web analytics? Apparently not. While licensing fees will drop 15% over the next 5 years, support and service fees will increase by as much as 19%.

Want more trends data from Forrester? Forrester ForecastView clients have access to the more detailed data underlying the report.

Ashton Kutcher (@aplusk) is threatening to quit Twitter over (not so true) rumors the micro-blogging service had signed a TV deal. His exact Tweet:

Now, I have to admit, this is either brilliant or naive.

Brilliant, if Kutcher is punking the media with such a claim. After all, the guy is known for messing with people’s heads. It’s quite possible that the guy–who can’t live without the spotlight–is simply acting upset, in order to get even more attention than he received from his Oprah appearance. Heck, CNN fell for it.

On the flip side, if Kutcher is sincere with his tweet, then it shows a staggering amount of naivety–and should be a wake-up call for all of us.

He follows-up his first Tweet with: