If you log onto Google.com, you will notice at the bottom of the page there is a message from congress which states “Tell congress: Please don’t censor the web”, and by clicking this link, it will take you to another section of Google in which you can sign an online petition to stop SOPA and PIPA, on top of that… information about the two bills are available. More importantly the effects of these bills are explained which is something that is hard to find. Then there is a community section that proves the growing community that are opposing the movements. Internet giants such as Facebook, Twitter, eBay, PayPal and of course Google, not to mention the countless others who are opposing the censorship of the internet.

The Effects

According to Google, SOPA and PIPA will do more harm than good. This is because it will force internet businesses to closely monitor everything linking to their site and if they are in violation of any new laws according to SOPA and PIPA, then it could potentially mean the end of the business, which will leave a huge number of people jobless.

It would be different if SOPA and PIPA actually worked, according to the big G!, these acts won’t stop online piracy. The regulations written in these bills wont successfully shut down their sites, they will simply transfer them to another domain and continue until they are caught again.

Conclusion

Anyone who works on the internet frequently has had their work stolen and pirated before. Whether you’re a writer or film maker, it happens so often and there is not much we can do about it. We do need a bill or law to prevent online piracy. However we need one that will work and not end up crippling the internet as we know it. This change will have a huge effect on social media and could potentially put a stop to it, not to mention SEO and PPC as the algorithm will be a completely different and most likely biased, and that is if it hasn’t been banned by a government.

Step Up

Google is the search giant; there is no dispute about that. However, we all know that Yahoo have been slowly declining and have been in need of a comeback. This alliance could be exactly what Yahoo needs to begin to bring back higher user activity on their site. Especially since Yahoo site explorer went down, which was a tool that displayed incoming links, this tool was heavily used by SEO ‘s around the world. Now the alliance has been formed, this could be Yahoo’s big break.

What The Bing?

The question must be raised, what is in it for Bing? Well the most obvious reason would be a higher volume of search. Although Yahoo is on a downhill slope right now so the search volume required would not be that great. I think there are other reasons for this Alliance. Possibly Yahoo’s tech heads are better with PPC or may have a more technical algorithm than Bing.

Taking On The G!

Since Google is the king of search, I believe this is an attempt for the two engines (Y! + Bing) to team up and group together their current volumes of traffic and make an attempt to beat Google, this will be tough to accomplish straight away, any search engine to take on Google will not receive an instant win. So unless an awesome advance in the industry is made by Yahoo and Bing, then it will be difficult for them to overcome Google and become the top source of information on the web.

Conclusion

It is unlikely that we will be informed the true reason for this alliance. It is most likely an attempt to combat Google but the reason why they are teaming up is much more than we know. Yahoo are most likely part of this to bring themselves back from their decline. However the reasons for Bing to be a part of this alliance are unclear.

Microsoft has recently launched its dedicated search app for the iPad, which isn’t big news for the hordes of violently loyal Google fanatics, but is important news for the industry. Bing’s simple, concise search app is already being tipped as a great alternative for those who find the Google search iPad app a bit awkward. Put simply, Bing’s focused approach to search has made many iPad users sit up and consider life beyond Google.

Google have also faced criticism in the past for overwhelming users with an interface that links heavily to other applications – some users are pleased with the practicality this provides but others argue that access to such sensitive information as their calendar schedule and personal emails should be more heavily guarded. Bing counteracts this issue by developing their app to deal with search and search only. There are all the usual links to news stories and Bing Shopping entries, but without all the fuss and frills, a concept that many iPad owners will appreciate.

From an SEO point of view, SEO consultants should be taking note of similar recent innovations from the smaller search engine companies such as Bing. As it stands, many established SEO companies deal exclusively with Google purely because of its unquestionable worldwide reputation, but perhaps developments such as these that seem to be trumping Google’s efforts will cause SEO firms to look into the advantages of dealing with less popular search engines. After all, sales of mobile devices are on the rise and this represents an interesting shift in the search trends of users – fresh ground for smaller search brands such as Bing and Yahoo to claim as their own.

Not to mention the fact that Google was able to acquire several small companies that would help augment the different departments or divisions of the search engine giant. Microsoft, in its effort to again attempt to topple Google from the number one spot, recently released a new application, this time one that would pertain to the next generation in search and that is through mobile search. Microsoft recently released an application that is for the iPhone and the iPod touch, this is the new version of their search application which is said to collide head to head with the mobile application of the search engine giant Google. The search engine application of Microsoft would include a visual scanning features that is similar to that of Google’s Goggles application that is currently being utilised in smartphones running on Android platforms. Microsoft says that their new Bing mobile application also includes social features, one that would show status updates from a persons twitter or facebook account. It also has improvements on its Shopping and Movies sections which includes additional store links, product prices, show times and video trailers.

Another Upgrade that Microsoft is going to implement in their search engine algorithm is the real-time search, with its newly formed ties with Twitter, a real-time microblogging site, Microsoft is seen to be also focusing its resources in developing the real-time capabilities of the search engine, among the different real-time features are the real-time search and real-time content via the most popular shared links. For an SEO company and an SEO consultant these area’s that are lined up for upgrade should be focused on as it may give due advantage for those who are first in following the new features.

The biggest merger in terms of internet companies was that between Yahoo and Microsoft but this merger came under fire as there were contentions that such deal was unfair and biased. The complaint reached the U.S. Department of Justice and proceeded to investigate the case. After the investigation was done the U.S. Department of Justice found the deal to be valid as it is beneficial to Microsoft’s Bing. The Department of Justice further contended that since Microsoft will be able to handle the backend of Yahoo searches Bing will have three times the search queries. This will thus enable Bing to increase the speed of its automated learning capacity which would thus enable the search engine to display more accurate and relevant results. This would thus further mean that searchers or users will be able to find what they are looking for the first time around.

With the steady gain in terms of search engine users Bing is now seen as a valid and strong competitor against the search engine giant Google, and with the approval of the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the merger it is clear that Google is being threatened in its hold to the number one position in terms of user share.

Microsoft also added a feature that is centered on the different tasks for the search engine to do, this is integrated in the homepage of Bing. At first glance there is not much change but if you click on  the different categories you will be given a more centered search option pertaining to that category, like for example if you click on travel several related keywords would be seen such as cheap flights among others.

Microsoft is also enhancing Bing’s database of local information that would cater to hundreds if not thousands of cities, mostly these would center on incorporating neighborhoods, local attraction and information and other points of interests. The data gathered would later be placed or integrated in a high resolution slide show.

With its integration with the social media network facebook, connecting with friends, finding events and shopping through facebook is now made easier and a lot more convenient for both Facebook and Bing users.