You’ve probably read stories about the police using YouTube to catch criminals. One guy even accidentally ratted himself out for mentioning his own YouTube videos. Now, Google is sharing a story in which the cops used Google Maps Street View to help find a kidnapped child from Massachusetts all the way in Virginia.
Google as an Example of How to Blog for Business
Many business owners know they should be blogging. There are plenty of reasons to do so (particularly in a recession) as discussed by Jennifer Laycock here:
Getting More Conversions While Branding for Google Checkout
Back in October, when Google offered some tips for the then-upcoming holiday season, they suggested using Google Checkout badges in your AdWords ads. They said that ads that do this have a 10% higher clickthrough rate than those that don’t.
Google Earth Enterprise Wherever You Want it
Google is now offering a portable version of Google Earth Enterprise. Users can now access Google Earth Enterprise, without having the means previously necessary to do so.
Google Examines Its 2008 Blogging Trends
One of the reasons Google gets so much press coverage is, frankly, that its representatives are so good about discussing corporate developments. And now things have been taken an informative/slightly ridiculous step further with a blog post summing up Google’s blogging habits this year.
Google Clarifies Bounce Rate Confusion
Google clarifies misconceptions about bounce rate, showing its importance and factors influencing it for website owners and digital marketers.
Google Crowd-Sources For Ideas
Google nearly sneaked this one by us. Probably for the best. They wouldn’t want word to get out their actually listening to people—the comments would never cease. In mid-December Google launched the Google Product Ideas blog, focusing initially on ideas for Google Mobile. The initial blog post reads:
Rumor: Mayer Leaving Google?
This is strictly rumor, but Valleywag is reporting the gossip that one of Google’s more "famous" employees may be on the way out. That would be Vice President of Search Products & User Experience, Marissa Mayer. Owen Thomas at VW writes:Top Googlers, overheard at a holiday party, chattered about Mayer’s departure as a matter of if, not when. And in some ways, it’s surprising she’s stayed as long as she has.
Phishers Using Google Calendar Invites
Phishing attempts have been spotted that appear as Google Calendar event invitations. Be wary of any invitations that ask for your password. This should be obvious by now, but these phishers still manage to trick people.
The Google Government in 2008
It has been a big year for Google in a number of capacities. The company constantly begins new projects, and many are ones that have a tremendous impact on users’ lives. Whether that be something as simple as allowing video chat in Gmail, tracking the flu virus, or helping to educate the young.