As this simple site states:
Can’t choose default search engine? Want to compare Bing & Google results? This is the right place to be. Just put your query in the search box and press Enter. You’ll see results from both engines side by side.
Archive for the 'Google' Category Page 2 of 2
When you consider that in 2007, Google brought in over 14 billion dollars from Adwords alone, it was only a matter of time until Microsoft invested big bucks and completely redesigned their flagship search engine. The result is Bing, and it has been getting a lot of attention lately. The world of searching now has three main options: Bing, Google, and Yahoo, but which one really provides the best results? As it turns out, it depends on what you are searching for and what kind of answers you want.
On the surface, you can tell that Bing’s home page has been heavily influenced by Google. Even though most of us visit Google’s snow white and stunningly empty home page every day, it still causes many to do a double-take at the lack of ads, the paltry number of links, and the complete lack of graphics. With Bing, instead of pure white, you get a stunning photograph, a search bar, and a handful of links placed around the search field. Even the links provided appear to have been Google-influenced, with images, video, and maps all appearing in plain view. To the first time user, it remains to be seen why anyone would use Bing over Google when the newcomer appears to be trying so hard to copy what Google is doing.
Once you have performed your search, the differences between Bing and Google are made a bit clearer. With Bing, you have three panels of display: a left panel which offers refinements in your search, a center panel with your search results, and a right panel with paid advertisements tailored to your search. The display isn’t all that different from Google, and after trying a few searches, the left hand panel seems a bit tacked on and unnecessary. Here is to hoping that Microsoft uses this space for something a bit more useful in the future.
The add-ons like Microsoft Live Maps versus Maps.Google.Com are a toss up. Microsoft’s maps program provides better clarity, but the interface is jerky and more difficult to use compared to Google’s. The image search on Bing does come with a Safe Mode that can be turned off just like on Google, although Microsoft’s interface here is smoother and less obstructionist.
In the end, Bing is a vast improvement over Microsoft’s previous browser, but Bing has a long way to go to differentiate itself from Google enough so that people will use it. Currently, it feels like a rip-off of Google’s entrenched product.
What do you think?
Google Voice is about to change your life.
If you’re a busy person who’s always juggling several phones (your work number, your cell, your home number, etc.) you’ll never have to worry about which number to give people again.
Google Voice applies the principles of e-mail to telephones. All calls will go to one number, but you will get to set rules about where and how to route them.
It will work like your personal switchboard. If your cell phone is out of range, you will be able to forward calls to your other line without a caller being aware of any change. You will even be able to switch from one phone to another mid-call.
That may mean the end of interruptions like, “Are you still there?” and ” Can you hear me now?”
Google Voice (previously known as Grand Central) is being released to the general public soon. You can sign up now for it so you’ll be first on the list.
Other features that may make life easier for any road warrior include voice mail transcripts and the ability to access voice mail online or off.
Google Voice has been endorsed by TechCrunch’s Michael Arrington, king of online trendsetters, as Google Voice’s Secret Weapon: Number Portability.
“Once you’ve jumped in head first … it will straighten out your phone life forever. Give them one number …your Google voice number .. . and then use rules to determine where your calls go, based on who’s calling and what you are doing,” he wrote.
Another great benefit: Google’s planning to introduce number portability later this year, so you will be able to transfer existing phone numbers over.
Read more about Google Voice.
Today, Google launched their Pay-Per-Action service. Although PPA is not new, Google’s PPA version will probably make other lead generation networks (CJ, Clickbank, ShareASale, LinkShare, etc.) very nervous. Basically, with this beta launch, Google has officially entered the affiliate market.
http://services.google.com/payperaction
What does this mean to advertisers? It should decrease your costs and increase conversions. Why pay someone to send a visitor to your website (PPC) and hope they do something (buy a product, fill out a form, complete a poll, etc.), when you can pay them only for a completed action?
I would much rather pay an affiliate to send me a lead that is actually interested in what I offer than to pay that same affiliate for every click over to my website in hopes they’ll convert. This is why PPA works. I can offer a higher cost per action to affiliates, because I know that 1) I’ll only pay for a conversion that I set (form, sale, poll, etc.) and 2) I’ll get more affiliates wanting to promote my products or services because they’ll get paid more.
I’ve signed us up so hopefully we’ll get an invite soon.
