"Hitwise Data Shows Overall Visits to Video Search Sites Up 164%"
Hitwise.com

Dave's Comments: Video viewing, in ALL forms, is simply exploding on the Web! Here's the latest example of just how popular it's become. And the REALLY interesting thing about YouTube phenomenon is that's becoming as much a SOCIAL networking site (think MySpace) as it is an aggregtor of (mostly) amateur video content.

According to Hitwise, the leading online competitive intelligence service, the market share of Internet visits to the 10 leading online video sites has increased by 164 percent in the past three months (week ending May 20, 2006 versus week ending February 25, 2006).

"The rapid growth of online video sites in the past six months demonstrates a major shift in online behavior" said LeeAnn Prescott, senior research analyst at Hitwise. "The Internet is quickly moving from static web pages to an environment rich with interaction and user generated multimedia content."

Read the entire press release by clicking on this link:
Hitwise Data Shows Overall Visits to Video Search Sites Up 164%

Technorati Tags: Business, Internet, Marketing

"Google Click-To-Play Video Ads for AdWords"
by Lauren Baker
Search Engine Journal

Dave's Comments: Another big announcement regarding the emergence of online video advertising from a major Internet ad serving company. Between the use of free video content containing embedded, short (and "unskippable") advertisng "clips", and the emergence of online video ads, online video use in advertising is exploding!

"Google has just announced that they have found a way to effectively monetize Google Video beyond the Google Video Store model they are currently using. Google Click-To-Play Video Ads will be a part of the Google Adwords content network; in a sense - AdSense Video."

Read the entire article at:
Google Click-To-Play Video Ads for AdWords

Technorati Tags: Business, Internet, Marketing

"Yahoo Details Search Platform Revamp"
By Zachary Rodgers
Clickz News

Dave's Comments: Yahoo fires back! Just as Micorsoft gets it's adCenter launched and publicized in the US, Yahoo has decided to release details of upgrades to its Yahoo Search Marketing service. Zachary Rogers has provided a nice concise overview for Clickz News.

"Yahoo is today expected to share details of its impending search platform revamp, which will begin a phased implementation in Q3.

The new platform will add a range of features not currently available to marketers running their campaigns with Yahoo Search Marketing and its distribution network. These include keyword grouping enhancements, IP-based mapping features to support geo-targeting, better scheduling capabilities, the expression of business goals such as cost-per-acquisition, and indirect conversion tracking."

Read the entire article at:
Yahoo Details Search Platform Revamp

Technorati Tags: Business, Internet, Marketing

"MSN adCenter Officially Launches & Changes Name to Microsoft adCenter"
SearchEngineWatch Blog

Dave's Comments: adCenter is Microsoft's attempt to strike at the heart (and the overwhelming source of revenue/profit) of arch-rival Google. And with BOTH Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer on hand to hype the official launch of this latest, and very different, Microsoft venture, it's a call for "all hands on deck" in Redmond! And as Web marketers, it's the third major search-related online ad platform that you must know and utilize to its fullest potential.

"While MSN adCenter has been in pilot mode since mid-October, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is announcing the official launch of adCenter at Thursday's MSN Strategic Account Summit... as well as the new name change to Microsoft adCenter.

Along with the launch comes news that adCenter will launch in the UK market on a limited basis in June, begin testing their contextual advertising this summer, provide ads on multiple Live products and drop Yahoo! Search Marketing ads from all US-based searches on MSN Search."

Read the entire article at:
MSN adCenter Officially Launches & Changes Name to Microsoft adCenter

Technorati Tags: Business, Internet, Marketing