Search Engine Marketing

Kenshoo, a search marketing and online advertising technology firm, released its full Kenshoo 2010 Online Retail Holiday Shopping Report. The report shows strong improvement in the U.S. economy and performance of retail search advertisers.

For an online retailer, there's no greater accomplishment than being in the No. 1 spot on Google for a lucrative keyword or keyword phrase like "computer," "flights to Las Vegas" or "used cars." These listings can be worth tens of millions of dollars.

Social commerce has shifted into high gear. E-commerce continues to grow at increasingly rapid rates and experts predict that online sales could grow to as much as 30 percent of total retail sales over the next few decades.

For an interesting look at the inner workings of the customer service industry, try Emily Yellin's "Your Call Is (not that) Important to Us."

This complimentary whitepaper outlines the 10 most popular SEO copywriting myths, discusses current best practices and is chock-full of real-world examples on effective SEO copywriting

Brands that buy rankings through paid search on engines powering retail websites experience better sales.

When integrated, search engine marketing (SEM) and online display advertising can deliver far greater results than the same campaigns planned in isolation.

As temperatures across the US have skyrocketed this summer, searches for warm weather fashion products have also soared. In the last month, searches for warm weather apparel and footwear correspond with the rising temperatures.

A common gripe among U.S. soccer fans is that vuvuzelas, the South African horns heard buzzing throughout the World Cup tournament, are obnoxious noisemakers. But for 365 Inc., the plastic trumpets represent the sweet sound of success. Late last year, the 10-employee online retailer ordered several thousand vuvuzelas on a hunch that they'd become popular among U.S. soccer fans. The Birmingham, Ala., company then promoted the instruments mainly using paid-search advertising on Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc. amid minimal competition for relevant search terms such as "soccer horn" and "stadium horn." Since then, the small firm has sold nearly 30,000 vuvuzelas for about $8 each, pulling in roughly $240,000 in revenue.

For multichannel retailer Deb Shops, a seller of junior and plus-sized apparel and accessories for women aged 13 to 25, combining the power of two of online retail's most profitable channels — social media and search — has brought increased brand awareness, more site traffic and ultimately increased sales.