Search engine news and the unlikely social media advocate

25/01/10 posted by Liz Niland

In search engine optimisation news, reports released by comScore (via TechCrunch) show that while Google is still firmly positioned atop the search tree, Microsoft’s Bing is proving to be quite the grower. Increasing their percentage of search queries by 70% in 2009, Microsoft’s rise in search can only continue with new features and deals being rolled out globally. While we know Bing Australia’s big improvements are set to be released this year,  the biggest Bing news around at the moment is the potential deal with Apple to be become the default iPhone search engine. The tech world is waiting with bated breath for this Wednesday’s Apple launch, which may include the rumoured iPhone 4.0. It will be interesting to see if a Bing deal is struck for the new software.

If you’re interested in figuring out just how Google’s systems in China got attacked, hacker-turned-good-guy Jody Melbourne has written an article about the whole case on The Punch. While we reported last week that a hole in Internet Explorer 6 was the primary trouble maker, Melbourne explains that any browser can be susceptible to a threat. Citing the German and French warnings for IE6 abandonment, he explains that, “in reality switching browsers does not make you any more or less of a target to someone like me”. To maximise your online safety, be sure to always run those pesky browser updates. 

Following on from the blessing of the IT tools earlier this year, an unlikely advocate of social media and search engine optimisation has emerged - Pope Benedict XVI. As noted on Mashable this morning, the web-savvy Pope has urged Catholic priests to begin “exercising their proper role as leaders of communities which increasingly express themselves with the different ‘voices’ provided by the digital marketplace”. The Pope has suggested blogs, videos and websites be utilised in the online move. Regardless of your religion, the Pope’s advice is sound for anyone thinking they can avoid full online engagement of their business. Who knew an octogenarian could be so enlightened when it comes to matters of online marketing and search engine optimisation!