Komodo Links: Anonymous Google Bomb, Open Access Wireless Spectrum, and G-phone by Dell?

Introducing Komodo Links, stories and posts from the news world and blogosphere that we found interesting. Yes I know posting links is nothing new and that pretty much 99% of blogs do it. This is just our version. We will probably start out posting links to our favorite stories once a week to start. It could be more than once a week real soon, just don't hold me to it. So without further ado....our Komodo Links for this week:

• Anonymous drops a Google Bomb on the Church of Scientology, and teach marketers a thing or two about campaigns. Great article, though I disagree with Jason about "keyword density."
• Open access for all: prime 700MHz Block C hits reserve price. And Google rejoices! (and so will I...when it happens.)
  
• Google wants Dell to make a G-phone? Most say its doubtful. I guess we will just have to wait and see.

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Marchex and Idearc Media Announce Local Advertising Agreement

Marchex, Inc., a local online advertising company and leading publisher of local content, and Idearc Media Corp., home to Superpages.com and publisher of the Verizon Yellow Pages, announced a local advertising distribution agreement under which Idearc Media will place its Superpages.com performance-based advertisers on Marchex's network of Web sites through Enhance Interactive, Marchex's advertising network.

Marchex's local network attracts more than 25 million unique monthly users who rely on the company's more than 150,000 local Web sites to get relevant and refine-able information about local businesses nationwide. Enhance Interactive provides additional distribution across local Web sites, online publishers, and leading search engines.

This sounds like a good partnership to me. Marchex offers phenomenal reach to potential customers. As long as local businesses have effective landing pages and overall good website usability, I can see the value in paying for advertising on their network. I'm hoping that's what Idearc means by "performance-based advertisers." ;)

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JupiterResearch Reports Local Online Advertising Poised for Significant Growth

Online local advertising is expected to grow substantially over the next five years, according to a recent report from JupiterResearch.

According to the US Local Online Advertising Forecast - 2007 to 2012, local advertising will increase by 13 percent from 2007 to 2012, faster than online advertising as a whole, of which a 12 percent growth rate is anticipated during the same period. But it will be local display and search advertising that are poised to make the biggest impact. With compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) of 18 percent and 16 percent, respectively, during the next five years, the categories will gain lift from an ongoing strategic push by newspaper and yellow pages publishers as well as improved local performance by the major search engines. While this trend represents a shift from old media to new media, it in no way suggests tactics of the past are becoming extinct. (Business Wire)

As the local search space becomes less fragmented it will become easier for small businesses to reach an ever-growing number of consumers turning to the internet to find local businesses. A WebVisible and Nielsen//NetRatings survey released September 2007 found that search engines are now the number one source for consumers looking for local businesses. As this trend continues it will be critical for local businesses to have an optimized website and effective online ad campaigns to gain new customers.

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Bill Gates - Last Day at Microsoft

Check out this hilarious video shown at CES this year.


Video: CES: Bill's Last Day

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