Marketing Pilgrim

Still think that search marketing is not important? FTD just realized they screwed-up their Christmas marketing efforts by not utilizing search. The result? The marketing exec was fired.

“The consumer business’s order growth for the 2005 Christmas season was below expectations [because of] our decision not to pursue high-cost order volume associated with online search,” FTD president/CEO Michael J. Soenen said in a statement. “In anticipation of continued competitiveness in the online search environment and to better manage the consumer segment business going forward, we have made management changes within this segment including the replacement of our head of marketing.”

I’m thinking of a new line of t-shirts – “Friends Don’t Let Friends Handle Their Own SEM Campaign“

Just three weeks ago, I wagered that we’d see Google Pack pre-installed on Dell computers before the end of the year.

According to eWeek, it may come sooner than later with news that some Dell laptops and desktop computers are being sold with two Google search features pre-installed.

Speaking to Brett Crosby last week, I know that “Don’t be evil” is something Google really does consider when making any business decision. That being said when Eric Schmidt makes comments like this, should they just go ahead and abandon it altogether?

“We concluded that although we weren’t wild about the restrictions, it was even worse to not try to serve those users at all,� Schmidt said. “We actually did an evil scale and decided not to serve at all was worse evil,� he said, referring to the company’s famous “don’t be evil� creed.

C’mon, since when does one wrong make a right? How large is this “evil scale” and how subjective is it?

Guys, I want to believe that you’re out to do what is right, but statements like this just add fuel to the “mockery-fire” you’re facing right now.

If you’re interested, we just added a sample list of search marketing clients to Fortune Interactive.

Google just announced an upgrade to its search toolbar.

The new beta versions of Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer are open and customizable, with new features that enable users to customize their search experience and share information with friends.

The new versions of Google Toolbar now offer customizable buttons, online bookmarks, enhanced search features, new sharing capabilities, and an open API. Google Toolbar for Enterprise beta also includes administration and control for business environments.

ClickZ reports on Microsoft’s recent earnings. Looks like they’re seeing modest growth from their MSN advertising unit.

Advertising revenues grew 12 percent year-over-year at MSN in Microsoft’s fiscal second quarter amid ongoing investments in the area the company said would continue.

After Brett Crosby of Google Analytics teased me from the audience about the “tricks� search marketers use to optimize web sites, during my session, I was looking forward to heckling him during his session on web analytics. Alas, Brett’s role was mostly as moderator and the opportunity to return the favor, was limited.

That being said, Brett did a great job of keeping the conversation flowing and threw in his own thoughts along the way. I’ve listed below some of the interesting soundbites from the panel.

Katherine Craig (Starwood Hotels) – they tag everything. Need to understand which marketing vehicles were most effective. They tag banners, search, emails. They can then measure cost of each medium.