Google is now showing a new ad format for music related queries. If you search for [neil young, [the beatles], [led zeppelin] or any other band or artist, you will most likely see ads within the knowledge graph to “Listen Now” either via Google Play, Rhapsody..

Today across most Google home pages, not all, and currently not the Google.com US version, you will find a Google Doodle/Logo for the Perseid Meteor Showers. Here is a static picture of one of the frames from the video Google Perseid Meteor Shower Doodle…

Posted by Cyrus-Shepard The folks at Groupon surprised us earlier this summer when they reported the results of an experiment that showed that up to 60% of direct traffic is organic.

Facebook recently published a small but important update on their developer blog where they effectively put the ban on like-gating content. According to Facebook themselves, the definition of like-gating is: “when you force a Facebook user who has not already liked your Page to like your Page before they can see content on a particular custom tab.” Facebook announced a change to their platform policies that will now make like-gating an outdated practice.

The Wall Street Journal spotted Google testing new “listen now” ad units for music searches, in conjunction with Spotify, Rhapsody and Beats Music. When you search for the name of a musical artist Google will display ads grouped together under the “Listen Now” label. The ads are aimed at promoting music services, including Google Play

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today…

Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Indian Govt. Rages At Google Maps Outing Of Secret Bases In 2013, Google imitated a “mapathon” project in India, offering prizes to encourage people..

The ads appear in the Knowledge Graph for services like Google Play, Rhapsody, and Spotify. They are part of an effort that also includes “Watch Now” ads for movies and TV.

As you may remember, Google starting giving HTTPS a ranking boost last week and that morning, Thursday August 7th, at around 10am EST, I migrated http://www.rustybrick.com/ to https://www.rustybrick.com/. I promised to keep you posted on the status..

In 2013 Google imitated a “mapathon” project in India, offering prizes to encourage people to help fill in gaps and improve Google Maps in the country. At the time, India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) asked the company not to collect “classified data,” such… Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article