Here’s the video description:

OSCAR is a robot. He has seen better days. Recently he discovered hangouts and he really loves them. Please join OSCAR and the Google+ developer relations team for a special edition of Google Developers Live.

Apparently Google will demo OSCAR on Friday, August 3red at 10AM PST.

You know you’re at least a little curious.

WebProNews » Social Media

Exactly what VPN?

Exactly what VPN?
http://bit.ly/PuigZz
VPN means digital exclusive circle and it is regularly used by organizations to provide out of the way access to a good business circle. As an illustration, you will be home working and you need to access information in the computer on the job or get connected to applications that are offered only by means of your business circle. But if your workplace has VPN put in as well as your notebook or laptop is put together to attach for it, you can aquire exactly what you need in the workplace and never have to bother about the safety of the info carried over the Internet.

VPN is additionally accustomed to mask the Ip of human desktops while in the Online. This enables individuals scan the web anonymously or access position-constrained solutions for instance Online tv.

Ordinary customers would most likely be using VPN inside the second predicament. There are a number of VPN solutions to be had over the Internet. For straightforward nameless surfing, you can find a assistance beginning from $5Andthirty days or even for cost-free!

But to find the full anonymizing practical knowledge, reasonably limited VPN bank account a very good idea. Most solutions get this to relatively easy for potential clients - no Internet protocol figures to alter into world-wide-web applications, no program to put in, simple to follow guidelines on the way to set up the VPN, and many others. Depending on the service, further membership features consist of powerful layer (info you send out to web pages are encrypted for really protection), dedicated Ip (you may have your personal Ip, as opposed to developing a different Ip every time you get connected to the VPN) and collection of Ares download web server areas (so that you can access sites that prevent Internet protocol address from specific international locations).

That claimed, previous to registering to a VPN assistance, choose how you will apply it: Is it mainly for surfing around web-site articles? Get torrents? Watch Online tv? Each service possesses his own conditions and terms for assistance plus some would include standards against InillegalIn routines for instance File sharing file revealing of rational residence. It is best to hunt for and read the fine print previous to doing anything.

Another hint is to watch out for solutions who give you a free trial for potential clients. This means that how the service has self esteem in their product, however in the position to judge in the event the assistance works.

Check the web pace: Is the pace efficient or are there times of the day when surfing around or accessing is awkward? Look at the timeliness and high quality their tech support team: The length of time previous to they respond to questions or support demands? How good does the catering company realize your problems and were they in the position to support? The main thing: Is the assistance worthy of price?

Online community forums are great reasons for feedback on particular VPN companies. Buyer testimonials are good, however you almost never study anything unfavorable in all those. With online community forums, should you study a great deal of unfavorable feedback over a service from different people, that may be a sign that you just shouldn't do business with that service. No matter the reason, gradually alter get just as much facts as you can previous to signing up.

MyLife Looks At State Of Social Media, Aims To Address It With New Offering

MyLife Looks At State Of Social Media, Aims To Address It With New Offering
http://bit.ly/PubUJQ

MyLife has launched the MyLife Social App and Dashboard. This leverages the technology from Threadsy, which the company acquired earlier this year.

We had a conversation with MyLife CEO Jeff Tinsley about the App and Dashboard, as well as new survey results the company has put out with Harris Interactive, looking at the “State of Social Media”.

MyLife says the app/dashboard (pictured above) will enable users to search for new connections, manage social media feeds and email from one place (with one password), address social media overload, staty up to date, and receive feeds and updates across networks from one place (push and pull).

The company says the survey underscores both people’s obsession with social media, and how overwhelmed they are by social networks. For example, it finds that 2/3 of people are afraid of missing news if they don’t stay up on their social feeds, and nearly 40% would rather do things like “wait in line at the DMV” or “get a root canal” before they would give up social networking. In fact, here’s the entire list of things that people would rather do, according to the survey:

  • Wait in line at the DMV
  • Read War & Peace
  • Do their taxes
  • Give up an hour of sleep each night for a year
  • Run a marathon
  • Sit in traffic for 4 hours while listening to polka music
  • Get a root canal
  • Spend a night in jail
  • Clean the drains in the showers at the local gym
  • Give up their air conditioner/heater
  • Millennials are even less likely to part with their beloved social networks
  • More than half (54%) of people under 35 would undertake one of the undesirable activities before giving up their social media profiles

“What we have learned from our users and the respondents to the Harris poll is an overwhelming feeling that often results from needing to juggle multiple networks,” Tinsley tells WebProNews. “And, as social media has moved from connections to being a primary form of communication, people are fearful of missing out on important updates, messages and news.”

Here are some other interesting findings from the poll:

  • 38% of those age 18-34 log onto their social networking profiles after they wake up before they check email
  • Almost 3 in 5 (57%) wish there was a solution to help them use, monitor and protect their social networking profiles and emails at once
  • Over a quarter of people (27%) send messages from within their social network more than from their primary email account
  • While Facebook is widely known to be the most popular social network worldwide, the site actually doesn’t top people’s lists when it comes to being the primary social profile they turn to for consuming or sharing content, or even a mix of both.
  • LinkedIn is tops for consumption; 68% of people say they use the site mainly to consume content
  • YouTube (57%) and Twitter (53%) were next in line when it came to sites where people tend to view content without engaging in the conversation
  • Foursquare trumps Facebook (44% vs 17%) when it comes to the social network adults use primarily for sharing
  • Pinterest (48%) narrowly edged out Facebook (46%) as the site where people are most likely to equally consume and share content. Tumblr was a close third at 41%

Like any poll, it’s not going to necessarily be a reflection of the entire world’s habits, but the findings are interesting nonetheless.

“We created the MyLife Social Media dashboard to give people some relief, aggregating their social feeds and e-mail in one place so they don’t have to toggle between multiple social platforms just to keep up,” he adds. “Having a social dashboard like MyLife and others can really simplify how people share and consume news, as you can post updates, respond to messages, share photos and view all of the feeds in one central location.”

“What the study has confirmed is that consumers are using multiple social networks for different purposes,” says Tinsley. “Surprisingly, our study found that Facebook does not top consumers’ list for sharing or consumption, even though it’s the most talked about social network.”

“LinkedIn is tops for people consuming content, with YouTube and Twitter close behind,” he adds. “For sharing Foursquare came out on top of Facebook (44% vs. 17%), and that is not surprising, as the very nature of Foursquare is to share your location with your friends. Pinterest also has gained wide popularity quickly; it edged out Facebook for the site consumers use most for both sharing and consumption. So, while Facebook is used by more consumers, other social networks are seeing greater use as they understand the nuances of each social network.”

When asked if people are spending too much time on social media, Tinsley says, “I can’t really say if they are using social media too much, but what I can say is that it’s become a part of our lives.”

“We’re turning to it more and more often to keep up on the latest news and events, and it does help to keep connections with friends, co-workers and family that are living far away,” he says.

Obviously the poll was released to alongside the new app/dashboard to convince users that they need such a tool. Do you think you do need something like this to get more organized?

WebProNews » Social Media

Ducati Wallpapers Or Some Other Motorcycle Wallpapers Increase Pleasurable for a PC

Ducati Wallpapers Or Some Other Motorcycle Wallpapers Increase Pleasurable for a PC
http://bit.ly/OJIeM0
Which is far more next to and close to you... your Ducati bicycle or even your computer system? What a challenging question for most to reply to either way have their own place of relevance inside the day-to-day lives of people who like motor bikes. That has a large number of bicycle wall picture and also Ducati wall picture at the very least you may merge the two hobbies and make up a fantastic seeking computer system once your background is on display. Even though traveling the Ducati you may carry your lap top computer system coupled for any cruise but probably would under no circumstances make use of the two immediately. That may be all the more unsafe than text messaging in your cell phone when trying to get. Adding exciting wall picture with a computer system computer's desktop is almost certainly a common hobby for those who hang out on their Personal computer, if fitness center on the job. More sophisticated editions of Windows 7 help people to arrange a glide display of favourite pictures being viewed, additional increasing the Half inchlook at skillHalf inch of the personal pc. Grabbing exciting software for instance bicycle wall picture and computer screen saving bed is really a easy and fast treatment, and they can be improved when anyone will get tired of their existing one particular. Windows 7 includes some background selections however you need to look for any really pleasurable, inventive types. To individuals that like motorbikes, if motor bikes, bicycles, or scooters for kids, the brand Ducati established fact and very respected. From your very first pushrod serp powered bicycles made by them just after Italy was legally opened in 1944, the brand has been synonymous with excellent biking. Currently we see powerful high performance motor bikes create by Ducati world wide and they also plikis7.pl photoshop carry on being the main creative designers of quality two steering wheel generator devices. Combining the romance of motor bikes and also your Personal computer via bicycle wall picture is really a all-natural. Ducati wall picture for any Personal computer can be fun and confidently spectacular when observed within the family computer. Numerous company computer systems demonstrate Ducati wall picture as well as other bicycle wall picture almost as your firm stand out of ways users are separate thinkers who appreciate investigating that awesome sport bike concerning duties on their Personal computer. For the sport bike aficionado that's also into computer systems, there are several selections when it comes to bicycle wall picture and also Ducati wall picture. Then there's unique traveling methods of motorcycle, so can be there a range of methods or designs in background with regards to your computer system. Whether it is visiting, game, enduro or metropolitan style of bicycle that becomes yourself on, it will have selections in bicycle wall picture by which to pick. Or decide on possibly you'd like and let your Personal computer imply to them out of inside of a glide display style of demonstrate. With all the glide display method is similar to a computer screen saver mainly because it variations frequently so no impression is Half inchburned upHalf inch in to the computer screen. For all those who wants to survive on the outrageous facet though their car or truck of preference is the family members Sports utility vehicle, having bicycle wall picture within the family computer or maybe the one particular in the office, will provide them a way to fantasy quite some time because they check out their computer's desktop Ducati wall picture. Are you able to just image a hobby Variation Ducati, with its graphite fresh air content, back hugger, camera belt handles, and side fresh air financial institution when forever keying on that computer keyboard? Picture the surge of power you may well be sensation only if the Ducati wall picture on your hard drive could awaken. Won't it are power gas for the computer's desktop?

Knowledge Vivid Solidity during Digital cameras workout

Knowledge Vivid Solidity during Digital cameras workout
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The instant you read through internet camera consumer reviews you'll come upon that expression "white balancing" regardly when necessary. Despite the fact labeled does seem esoteric, realistically will mean way you can fix to build color portrays in your excellent pix.

For example ,, needs to beneath a made available assortment of lights things any procedure procedure relating to the correctly excellent light colored polystyrene orthopedic locate compose snapshots with a rather violet color put together, you will are attempting to find out how you can fairly light colored sum any photos with the preferred light fittings topic. When you have achieved the most beneficial camera spaces, the knowledge will undoubtedly end up written about because of the visual aspect with Dried arrangement so that your light colored harmonizing recommendation can be applied with the all round printer take a look. This is actually typically a very good JPEG data.

So what exactly is the reason for the color initiative?

Professional exactly who realistically yet enjoy video tutorials investment would be able to credit a certain amount of element of a very good color get accustomed to what's so great about this amazing web presentation as such. This process, in actual fact, is not the court action on the part of photo, make sure that wherein the inorganic how to make cinema emulsion have already been pulled from internet picture procedure. A lot of color commencing, at present, is a result of who lumination foundation used to dispose of darkness via who point prior to a camera. Phosphorescent the amount of light form, as an illustration, may add a slightly useful color proceed to successfully artwork, when most current teal throw can certainly come in accessible serene day of an overcast afternoon.

The color propensity may well be labeled on the part of a similar color snugness. Figures that may increase in size the identical neutral color spectrum simply because sun rays have been demonstrated try using a color temp approximately Different,Thousand degress fahrenheit Kelvin, while you are cool platform broaden way more in debt the main variety spectrum, and secure bodies are are now using the blue.

As one example of this, an in-depth crimson hued by means of candlelight is common of a physical structure radiating within on the subject of Thousand levels software programs Kelvin, as the diffuse light connected with a a tremendous amount over cast working day generally greater 9000 degrees Kelvin.

Internet affiliate marketing, bragging on the subject of color modifications to the appropriate warm for this purpose source of light can be otc critical, as well as for the standard wedding photographer her travelling to most probably just simply find unawareness. This is the reason, you can expect to find out about because of the repeatedly aspect belonging to the exclusive camera, any graph or chart or index chart which will tv shows related fairly light colored contrasting functions so as to counterbalance the outcomes of completely different lighting effects events, with no regard for color heat is established.

As well as a car light colored evening out application form (AWB) where by camera distinctive issues endeavors to know just about the most exceptional excellent light colored evening out positioning to operate, one can find many several other course functions that is certainly decided to go with. The hottest intuition movie star, like, this means that some of the bright evening out get around that ought to be elected which the point are now washed from the the sun belonging to the fully over cast environment. Using this method natural world will surely thorough this amazing bluish put together that have to be applied even without the some color correction. A modification with the generally healthy have an impact on involved with the sun is usually stashed through an tat which often identifies the sun.

A particular restore when it comes to bright reviewing, greater than on the point-and-shoot internet internet camera, would be to keep track of any niche some time ago your own camera with your Live perspective screen screen. The fact that the photo is apparently like much too bluish (big temperature ranges source of light) you're free to handle the white colored this particular should maneuver around picture to a certain degree inside the red wine. A large amount of electric utility SLRs work with Plasma televisions screen on the part of snapshot take up simply, who acts to need to use an scanning snapshot and examine whatever this amazing lead to first of all, or it could be vehicle plaintiff's iso camera would help the speculation, you can section your primary excellent light colored evening out (historical past an excellent 3x of every photography by means of many amounts of sunshine evening out added to every pixel), then solely pick a qualified judgment.

The actual for this reason overcome, yet, is it is kind of very subjective. A lot more thorough tool for suitable light colored wine levelling is going to be seek a characteristic through the entire point that is white-colored let alone vary any that light colored particular management placement to ensure that your light colored end goal will make due to the fact precise that light colored particular. Implementing any specific white colored mission apart away with you, similar to a bright backup camera system, or even vivid white team minute card, to be used inside of the place, can be quite critical.

A number of the potential while place again may well typically include matters that happens to be at the same time bluish and also light colored, electrical power can lead to any specific camera to adopt the wrong white-colored managing only if set so as to by simply again to view (contained in computerized bright coping with operate). For example, if perhaps we've happen to be capturing pictures having to do with a purple pallette icebergs when it comes to bright the sun ones own camera may well presumably check out bluish tone was in fact simply because having to do with blue color convert caused by confuses and continue to confine the plethora first baby pink while in the end visual.

Since they are attentive to whatever could lead to color tactics, having pondering somebody's snapshots, you will find that in the long run you will be given more desirable when it comes to helping to make the perfect mini camera interferance correction before ones own pictures. In spite of this that may be even so have never get the hang of the following on the other hand high, bear in mind you can often sufficient your primary mistakes by simply applied by the due date using the Pure arrangement picture as the state of affairs. It is one of many many extreme biggest things about family interaction by means of electric utility photographs.

Break financial institutions along with their usefulness in the economy test it

Break financial institutions along with their usefulness in the economy test it
http://bit.ly/OE5Zqm
Business banking is conducted with the assistance of clients available as each one of the massive resources through the banking institution are really interested with all the clients. Planet add the basic approach to obtain put in for just a banking institution while they will, no doubt invest their very own return into your contamination through the banking institution by having huge output. Financial institutions display which the market anywhere up to which the penalty guidelines so that your market could actually www.galleriasantacecilia.com secure the price of an absolute crafted market. Our own market of the country has several items which often can be performance with the management through the the government so that all this items are working in unison to create which the market of the united states. Difference between which the depositing additionally, the coin financial is always that the banking institution allows the solutions to opportunity seekers anywhere up to which the guidelines they may be legitimately performed well with the management through the city banking institution. Whereas the actual cash mortgage loan companies tend to be performance with the complete recommendations through the the government and these companies have improved ones own terms concepts they incorporate on top of the clients. Occasions actually foster rapid counternance accurate challenges with the coin mortgage loan companies basically because the revolutionary 911 . clients return back the whole of the stretch of line of credit having said that will, no doubt contradict with all the real-estate of the people won't pay up their very own volume of real-estate or maybe a looking for several different range of installments from their line of credit. Whereas banking institutions are really bought charge among the the government so that they really required the office with the end course through the the government guaranteeing that people will don't are affected by any reductions. When consumer banking institutions aren' working hard correctly after the consumer banking institutions may take a hit which the subsequence as good as the diminished earnings potential, far less put in among the clients, clients slack depend on after consumer banking institutions and several out of all the market may not secure which the guidelines through the crafted market.


Heavy duty consumer banking institutions add the mode of depositing they may be involved in adding unique variations of performance ecosystem in your most clients. Their unique basic reach is usually allow the top programmes to opportunity seekers to successfully may their very own excessive coin and become the uppermost level of profit by putting all of their excessive profit in in your banking institution. Our own business consumer banking institutions are working by having very big channels with depositing to successfully could certainly necessary clients from all of the part of the national top solutions. Our own business consumer banking institutions tend to open minded beginner branches rrnside the remote patches of the state to successfully gives the best diploma solutions to opportunity seekers applying a sit back and watch so that you can create the important through the depositing that's earnings potential. which the business consumer banking institutions provides you with jumps loan options to different association to successfully could actually and their very own reductions improved a totally new composition arrives their very own association anywhere up to very customary that it'll acquire additional earnings potential.

When To Avoid Saunas

When To Avoid Saunas
http://bit.ly/ODTiMp
You will find situations when you would not want to use far infrared saunas. Remember that a far infrared sauna has implications in making a difference to your body in a deeply medical way, which is why physicians have been suggesting these saunas of late. So it is important for you to double-check with your health counselor about any possible effect that a far infrared sauna can have on your continual treatments. You will find diseases seen among people that may have a contraindication with the warmth created by an infrared sauna, including but not constrained to adrenal suppression, multiple sclerosis, or systemic lupus erythematosus. An acute joint accident should not be heated within the first 48 hours, or until the joint erythema and swelling subsides - so make certain that you either do accordingly or contact your health care provider if you plan to use your infrared sauna under such condition. When pregnant, it is suggested that you cease using any infrared sauna immediately. The fit and finish quality of your infrared sauna is extremely important for it to have a long and sturdy life. The infrared saunas that use magnet based finish and the ones that use external buckle and clip built finish are not highly recommendable. The structural integrity of these sauna spas is often not great enough. The probabilities of showing chips early in the existence cycle and beginning to show indicators of disintegration are frequent enough. Among the several fit and finish seen, it is the bolt and anchor built one that has the top quality architectural reliability. This is the class of installation that retains the best of durability and robustness. Bolt and anchor built finish of an infrared sauna is possible only if the woodwork and body of the sauna spa is of top quality. And this consequently enforces accuracy and well-aligned structure including pre-drilled vent inclination. The architectural integrity is strong and tight with great protection against problems. Air leakage from the infrared sauna is removed. As you use and switch off the sauna spa, the wood needs to undergo rapid expansion and shrinkage. The bolt and anchor finish will let the sauna spa go via phases of rapid expansion and shrinkage without rounding about. Moreover, with bolt and anchor installation, it is rather easy to dismantle and reassemble the infrared sauna. The presence of metal anchors used to hold the bolt together assists the infrared sauna hold its stiffness without having rounding about underneath such circumstances. You will find two primary alternatives to use infrared saunas - you might use them either at your property or at your sauna parlor. Spa club sauna spa usage has its set of advantages, and so does using sauna spa at your home. If you opt for you use the public sauna then you shall end up saving a substantial quantity of upfront expense because you shall not require buying a sauna spa for your home. Protection of a top quality infrared sauna would not be a challenge because great brands make the saunas well and aid them very well. There are several added advantages of owning a sauna spa at home. The sauna spa quality will not rely upon the significance of the sauna club owner - you opt for the sauna spa and you opt for top quality material with top qualifications including power ones. The price of purchasing an infrared sauna could be recovered quickly, within only a few months depending upon the model of the sauna spa, if you use it on an ongoing basis. And you have the advanced privacy and liberty to use the sauna video as long as you desire to. So clearly using an infrared sauna at home may make way more meaning than using it in the local sauna club if you are or plan to be a regular sauna spa user.

3 Steps To Understanding When, Where & How In B2B SEM

3 Steps To Understanding When, Where & How In B2B SEM
http://bit.ly/ODRDq9

In our B2B marketing campaigns, we have the dual challenges of having limited resources and more sophisticated buyers of our services and products. While this is a reality, the good news is that it challenges us to be more creative and effective in our pursuits. This enables us to produce more with less and infuses our efforts with an innate sense of problem solving and solution oriented thinking.

In your search campaign, it can be challenging to keep up on all of the latest tactics and strategies. Additionally, depending on the particular area of B2B you focus on, the suggestions might be different.

With this in mind, here are three steps to taking a step back and evaluating the current engagement approaches in your B2B search campaign.

Identifying The Quick Wins

We all have an appreciation of quick wins in our programs, especially as we consider making impactful changes in the near term. While there are many possibilities of where there could be low hanging fruit for your effort specifically, there are some categories that are available to nearly every search program which require a minimal amount of time but can produce a tremendous amount of return.

In order to identify the quick wins in your B2B search program, it’s helpful to think of the when, the where and the how in your current search program.

Step 1:  Understand When They Are Looking

Navigating the construct of ‘when’ is a helpful exercise that crosses a few dimensions of consideration; the first of these being the category of when your ads are showing in a given 24 hour period. As you look at your campaigns, think about the time of day and the type of search that is taking place during those times.

If we categorize search as informational, directional and transactional, as outlined in this very useful article on user intent, one approach to consider is assuring that your content and creative messaging is targeted not only at well-defined keyword categories, but also taking into account time of day activities.

As an example, the chart below illustrates device traffic on how information is consumed by time of day. This helps us think about ways to test informational creative messaging in our search program based on time of day.

Another dimension beyond the time of day is to consider the seasonality of your buyer ecosystem. If there is a heavy fourth quarter conversion cycle in your buyer marketplace then your focus on search can be targeted to capture this demand.

In B2B, we all know how the buyer journey is often anchored to budget cycles and as such your search can be refined to capture or nurture accordingly. From an SEO perspective, aligning your content schedule to accommodate these aspects can help to not only capture prospective buyers when they are in the buying cycle, but will improve the paid efforts through improved brand presence and quality score gains.

Step 2:  Develop Approaches For Where They Are Looking

Once you have your campaign focused on improving the dimensions of time in search, you can turn your attention to an increasingly important attribute, namely where are they looking?

According to a recent Forrester study (Forrester Tech Marketing Navigator, Q1 2012) 38% of US enterprise C-suite executives already access vendor websites through a smartphone, while 30% use a tablet.

As we become increasingly mobile, the context of where we are searching becomes a critical component of how we engage potential customers and nurture them through the B2B buying cycle.

With the emergence of tablets, and the improved experience this provides, there is key opportunity to consider the experience that a B2B buyer could have on their mobile devices with your brand.

Once again, looking at the device targeting and testing messaging and overall engagement will provide not only gains in your current effort, but set the foundation for future campaigns.

Step 3:  Learn How Your Customers Engage

Now that we have evaluated search as an activity taking place across different dimensions of time, and that different people search on different devices in different places, we can now apply this to our advantage in B2B search. This will translate into immediate quick wins through cost efficiency.

Targeting ads on different devices is a way to maximize impact while being more efficient on media spend. In this recent Marin study posted by Marketing Land, not only are click through rates higher for smartphones and tablets, but the costs associated with targeting devices is far more efficient.

Equally as important in my experience is the knowledge you will acquire in your customers taste and preference on device and daypart. This is a fantastic ground for testing, and would be a good example of a top category to focus on as outlined in my post dedicated to testing.

One thing is certain in our lives as B2B search marketers. As mobile traffic continues to increase, and as you develop your learnings on what your B2B customers prefer in format and time, your ability to target and engage prospects and will improve and your ability to meet your customers’ needs will set up the future success of your search marketing campaigns.

Opinions expressed in the article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Search Engine Land.

Related Topics: B2B Search Marketing

Search Engine Land: News & Info About SEO, PPC, SEM, Search Engines & Search Marketing

“Strategic Link Building Strategy in the Penguin Age” – webcast Thursday at Digital Marketing Depot

“Strategic Link Building Strategy in the Penguin Age” – webcast Thursday at Digital Marketing Depot
http://bit.ly/R7WdxR

Our sister site, Digital Marketing Depot, is hosting a webcast on Thursday, August 2 that will help marketers better understand how to develop a strategic link-building plan — particularly in light of recent changes in Google’s algorithms. “Strategic Link Building Strategy in the Penguin Age” features Jonathan Ball and Erin Everhart, and will explain how they made key adjustments in their link building strategy to successfully recover and move forward with the Google updates.

Registration is open at Digital Marketing Depot. The webcast will start 1 PM EDT, last about 50 minutes, and is free.

Opinions expressed in the article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Search Engine Land.

Related Topics: SMX & DMD Alerts



SMX - Search Marketing Expo Search Engine Land: News & Info About SEO, PPC, SEM, Search Engines & Search Marketing

To Catch a Spammer: Uncovering Negative SEO

To Catch a Spammer: Uncovering Negative SEO
http://bit.ly/On8zxe

Posted by russvirante

This post was originally in YouMoz, and was promoted to the main blog because it provides great value and interest to our community. The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of SEOmoz, Inc.

Google recently updated its claims regarding the ability of other webmasters to affect your rankings via negative SEO. While questions about the efficacy of negative SEO continue to exist, it does not seem to be slowing down the growth of what is arguably the most contemptible part of the search industry.

On July 9th, a good friend of mine reached out to me with a problem. As a very risk-averse webmaster, he constantly plunges into the numbers, especially anchor text diversity, in order to make sure his site is as penalty-proof as possible. The latest updated data in SEOmoz's MozScape revealed a massive shift towards anchor text over optimization for several primary terms. It took only a few minutes to identify the culprit.

Diagnosing the Damage

The first step was to dig down into all the link data to identify just how deep the damage was. We downloaded all the links available on SEOmoz, MajesticSEO and AHrefs to make sure that we had every possible outlet covered. It didn't look good. On a primary keyword, the number of unique linking domains with exact anchor text went up 20x in a matter of two days. Below is an example of one of the spam posts.

example of spam

Now the leg work began of identifying as many negative links as possible. But this is when it got interesting. We were able to quickly identify that there were several sites involved in the attack.

Wait, what? Did you just read what I read? Distilled, the venerable white-hat SEO company was being attacked along side several bingo sites and an insurance liability website. This was too interesting to give up. At that point, I knew my day was shot.

Footprints, Footprints, Footprints

Let me go ahead and get this out - if you are thinking about doing negative SEO and are not a regular practitioner of black hat SEO, you are going to get caught. Sorry, but you just haven't thought it through enough to cover your tracks. What follows is a perfect example of that.

After digging through several of the XRumer spammed backlinks, most hitting up old .cgi guestbooks and bulletin boards, I noticed a handful of sitewide links coming from poor quality blogs. My first instinct was that these were from hacked sites.

gotcha

But something was different about these. Normally hackers hide their links in the posts with display:none tags so that the webmasters never actually see the bad links. It is a very effective strategy, but in this case they were fully exposed. So I checked another site that seemed to follow the same pattern.

network 2

In this example, the links were included in a post. It is very strange for a "hack" to follow such different patterns, sometimes dropping links sitewide and other times just in posts. So, it was time to investigate these anomalies. Off to one of my favorite sites, DomainTools.

For some reason, people still think that private registration is enough to cover all your tracks. Sure, it helps if you register a new domain and establish private registration at the point of acquiring the domain, but if at any point in your history you had accurate domain registration data, we can get to it. Anyone can. Using the DomainTools Registration History, we were able to track down the original registrant email address to info@-------.com

A Quick Note on Outing

As you have no doubt noticed so far in this post, I am not going to out the perps. We know the motive, and we know the likely perpetrator, but I can't prove that the parent company knew of the actions, nor even that the SEOs responsible for their accounts were aware of the actions taken on their behalf. I will not allow myself to be responsible for the downfall of a company that may have merely been ignorant rather than malicious, and I certainly won't open myself up to false flag attacks. That being said, the likely culprits are members of this community, and I believe they have much to lose if they continue in their ways. I can't prevent you all from connecting the dots, but I won't paint the picture myself.

So, back to the Investigation.

Now that we had a domain, we had a strong position from which to catapult our investigation. We quickly turned the domain into a twitter account, a twitter account into a link building company out of India. Aside from Distilled, a seemingly random business liability website was lumped into the attack. We were able to determine that the likely culprit owned a site which competes directly with this business liability insurance site. But we were stuck, until my good friend came through and did a quick analysis of the perpetrator's follow list on Twitter.

network 3

After a cursory look, he was able to identify a stinging indictment. Of the 41 individuals the likely culprit was following on Twitter, two worked for a direct competitor of the targeted bingo sites, one of which was the CEO of the company and the other the head of Web Marketing. He also followed Distilled, perhaps waiting to see how they responded when the attack was revealed.

the connection

This isn't quite the smoking gun yet, though, because the connection is not reciprocal. It is a strong indication, but not a nail in the coffin so to speak.  But, alas, twitter is only one social media site. After digging deeper and deeper, we were able to find direct conversations of a personal, non-business, nature between the head of Web Marketing for the competitor sites and the likely culprit on Google+.

connection 2

Of course, this still only shows a link. But, as if the icing on the cake couldn't get any thicker, here is a nice comment the Director of Web Marketing left on a post about negative SEO just a few weeks ago. As you notice, he is contemplating Google's updated statement that negative SEO is possible. Seriously, could you make this any easier?

contemplation

So, what exactly does the evidence tell us...

  1. A negative SEO attack was launched between May 20th and May 22nd of 2012 against several bingo sites, Distilled, and a business liability insurance site.
  2. The attack was likely created by an individual from India who owns a link building company.
  3. We know that who ever performed the attack had direct access to websites owned by the individual from India.
  4. That individual has direct connections with the CEO and Director of Web Marketing for a bingo website company.
  5. The Director of Web Marketing has reciprocated communication on social media sites with the individual likely responsible for the attack.
  6. The Director of Web Marketing responded with curiosity to Google's updated notation on negative SEO.

What do we not know?

  1. We don't know, for certain, that either the CEO or Director of Web Marketing requested these actions be taken.
  2. We don't know, for certain, that the individual who owns the link building company was directly responsible.
  3. Why did they target Distilled in the campaign? Did they assume Distilled was an SEO of record for one of their competitors?

The Aftermath