Google captures 75% share of U.K. search engine market in February 2006

(Internet Retailer)

Co-operative search

Google Co-op is Google's foray into social networking and the new system signals a shift in the future of search...

In the true meaning of the word "co-op" it's a co-operative collective community of individuals, businesses and organisations where knowledge forms the currency.

The Co-op takes its influence from social networks like Digg, Flickr and De-licio-us however doing what Google does best and in a simplified structure, with no pop-ups or distractions.

The structure of Google Co-op is such that if an expert has researched an area then you can subscribe to them and keep up-to-date, rather than doing the work yourself! Likewise, if you are an expert on something then you can start a directory of your own!

The search engine giant has also hinted that the Co-op could affect search results in the future as the idea develops.

At this point, you might be thinking, what does this all mean for me?

It signifies another route to drive traffic to your website! You can become a Google contributor and in doing so let Google know that you are an authority in your field, then watch as people subscribe to your website.

Google Co-op builds search around the users interests and, as a contributor, if you have content on a subject that a subscriber is searching for then your site will appear in the search results.

Find out more about Google Co-op…

• Learn about "how to" use Google Co-op
• Read Wikipedia's description of internet social networks
• "Stumble" upon websites that interest you

See how rapidly the medium has grown over the past six years, industry insiders suggest email marketing in the UK was worth £325 million in 2005 *compared to just £90.65million in 1998!

(*DMA census 98-99)

A study by IPT in 2006 into email marketing estimated that around 20% of people open direct marketing emails on a daily basis.

Email changes communication. It sells, promotes, brands, informs, reminds and creates buzz.

This year is viewed as the year where email will really have a sting in its tail as part of the marketing toolbox.

Here are just some reasons why you should think about using email, if you aren't already:

• Cheaper and faster - when compared to a direct mailshot, email can save you money.
• Captive audience - email occupies a unique personal space and creates more of a personal relationship with your customers.
• Measurable - find out what your customers are reading, where they are clicking and you can even look at data in REAL TIME!

If you use email as a marketing tool already - do you measure its effectiveness? Have you thought about revamping your strategy and adding a buzz?

We have an impressive record of devising marketing strategies for clients' newsletters. Whether it's a one-off event or more long term - contact us to find out how you can make the most of email marketing.

Read more about email marketing…

Lucy's vital statistics

Young people increasingly get news online and younger web brands were also shown to have won significant public trust. (Globescan poll, May '06)

"April’s top 10 social networking sites collectively grew 47 percent year over year, increasing from an unduplicated unique audience of 46.8 million last year to 68.8 million in April 2006, reaching 45 percent of active Web users." (Nielsen/Netratings 11/05/06)

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is technology that can transform your website and the way you get information from other internet sources.

There is debate over RSS v email, and some commentators say that they do the same thing. However, the advantage of RSS over email for receiving and providing information is that it's fully customisable, like switching on and off a TV channel.

The technology is like having your own personal Trevor McDonald whether you want a newsreader for your company site, or to capture information for your own development about the latest news in your industry.

So you should be interested in it as it's good for busy people like you!

Tell me more about RSS…

• 35 different ways to use RSS, if you can be RSS'd

A bit of fun....

• Find out where your time is going at work
• Don't be tempted to skive, download this handy tool!