When you see a strong, social visual interface like Pinterest or Instagram, or even the revitalized Facebook and YouTube interfaces, you realize how far social search has to come. Search engines are generally not visual, don’t port well for sharing to networks, and are closed to commenting. Google, Bing and Yahoo! index a blend of news and social conversations, but this early concept of social search is pretty stale. The content presentation and simple link interaction is very 1.0 with text links, and a complete lack of dynamic commenting and sharing. The Google, Bing and Yahoo! MORE >>

Posted in Behavioral Targeting Conversion Optimization Online Testing Web Analytics Web Design. While focus groups attempt to simulate and gain insights on what the customer potentially thinks, nothing can substitute truly anonymous, honest and unbiased feedback. Websites, however, can now provide this level of data in real time. Using a combination of online testing, web analytics and CRM data, today’s marketers know what actual people, doing actual searches, on their actual sites are actually thinking—and responding to—when in the browse and buy mode. What do they like? MORE >>

Pinterest recently launched Secret Boards. Pinners will appreciate this new feature and it will encourage more personal users to join as well. This new feature is fantastic for businesses, especially those who are planners. If a company is planning to launch a new product or host a special event a Secret Board can be created in advance, along with content, images, and descriptions for each pin. Upon completion the board can be made public and shared with the user’s followers. Each pinner is only allowed three Secret Boards at this time. Let us know your thoughts! Blog Social Media MORE >>

Google+ is a site that you can connect to on the social influencing tool, Klout, however if you want the activities you make on Google+ to actually count towards your overall Klout score you need to go beyond your circles and extended circles. If you have not set up your Google+ account to share publicly your actions on G+ are not actually contributing to your Klout score. Read more Social Media News on the Soshable Blog. Google+ Klout Social Games Social Influence Social Media Social Networks google How-to klout public circles MORE >>

This is the time of year where work grinds to a halt. We have another two weeks or so before the holiday frenzy, parties, hangovers and the general professional apathy creeps in and productivity becomes a dirty word. But don’t give up hope yet. I think there’s still a few things we can get done before we all sing Auld Lang Syne. Here are the five things I think you should focus on as the year winds down. Your website: Take the time to look at every page, click on every link and make a list of what’s missing. Call it quits: Look back over the past 12-24 months. MORE >>